A historical comparison and habitat associations of benthic macroinvertebrate communities in southern Green Bay, Lake Michigan
My graduate thesis research compared benthic macroinvertebrate community metrics from 2019 (e.g. richness, diversity, abundance) to those from historical surveys (Howmiller and Beeton 1971, Markert 1982) and examined the effects of periodic hypoxia, sediment type, and water depth on community distributions and compositions. The ponar data that I collected was incorporated into a modified Oligochaete Trophic Index developed by Burlakova et. al. 2017 to estimate trophic status at each station. Describing the macroinvertebrate community structure will aid in the management and rehabilitation of the lower Green Bay and Fox River Area of Concern by directly addressing the Degradation of the Benthos Beneficial Use Impairment (BUI).
Green Bay: A saga of life, destruction, and restoration
On October 22, 2020, I presented with Brandon Falish, a fellow UWGB graduate student, about the historical uses, resulting water quality problems, and remedial objectives within the Fox River and lower Green Bay. We also preliminarily summarized our own research, which included assessing the benthic macroinvertebrate community and analyzing food web interactions through stable isotopes.
Gill Lice (Salmincola edwardsii) infection and effects on Brook Trout in streams on Fort McCoy, Wisconsin
During my undergraduate career, I investigated gill lice (Salmincola edwardsii) impacts on Brook Trout in two driftless region streams. My objectives were to determine if relationships existed between Gill Lice infection prevalence and Brook Trout densities, lengths, and water quality characteristics (i.e. flow, water temperature, dissolved oxygen), and if Gill Lice severity negatively influenced Brook Trout body conditions. I presented my research at my university’s research symposium.
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