NMU
Biology Department
Marine Biology
Field Course
Trout Unlimited & Coaster Brook Trout
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Coaster Brook Trout - Migration and Movement Telemetry
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Coaster Brook Trout - Physiology of Growth
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Effect of Lamprey Wounds on Lake Trout
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Fish-Parasite Community Dynamics: The Impact of Barriers
Coaster Brook Trout - Migration and Movement Telemetry
This project focuses on the restoration projects currently underway in the Lake Superior drainage to bring the coaster brook trout back to historical population levels. Our work is centered on the efforts in Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore (PRNL).
We
are using stationary passive integrated transponder systems to continually
monitor tagged fish as they move between PRNL streams and lake Superior.
We are developing a greater understanding of the patterns of movements of
multiple age classes of brook trout and the environmental variables that are
linked to these movements. In addition, we monitor the progress of
"coaster" strain brook trout that have been stocked into the area and the
selection of habitat by both stocked and wild brook trout. Students
working on this project include Sean Stimmell, Todd Anderson and Gerrit Cain.
Coaster Brook Trout - Physiology of Growth
This project is linked to our other coaster work and focuses on the elevated
growth potential that is characteristic of coasters (the world record brook
trout is a 14.5 lb coaster). We are attempting to characterize both
growth potential of the various strains of brook trout involved in the
Lake Superior restoration as well as the underlying physiological
variables that are responsible for differences between the strains. To
date, we have been able to demonstrate differences between resident and coaster
strain brook trout in metabolic enzymes and condition under a variety of
circumstances. We have also shown differences in morphology between
coasters and resident brook trout. Students working on this project
include Ashwin Sreenivasan.
Effect of Lamprey Wounds on Lake Trout
Shawn Nowicki, a NMU graduate student and US Fish and Wildlife Service employee has started a project through our lab to examine the effects of sea lamprey wounding on lake trout. The overall goal is to 1) characterize how lamprey wounds change as they heal on wild, lake dwelling lake trout and 2) examine the physiological condition of these lake trout during the healing process. To accomplish this project, Shawn is collaborating with the Hammond Bay Biological Station (USGS) on Lake Huron. Much of the project focuses on wounded fish that are captured by fishermen, tagged by Shawn, and then released back into the lake were they are later (hopefully!) recaptured. At each capture, we collect photos, measurements and blood samples of these lake trout.
Fish-Parasite Community Dynamics
Nicole White, an NMU graduate student, is currently embarking on a project
aimed at understanding the interplay between fish distribution and the
occurrence of fish parasites. She is focusing of the Miners River in
Pictures Rocks National Lakeshore. One of the advantages of this site is
that is offers both natural and artificial barriers to fish movements which may
have an impact of the distribution of fish parasites.