Dreissena veligers in western Lake Superior – Inference from new low-density detection

The notion that Lake Superior proper is inhospitable to dreissenid mussel survival has been challenged by recent finds on shipwrecks and rocky reefs in the Apostle Islands region. Motivated by concerns surrounding these finds, we conducted an intensive sampling campaign of Apostle Islands waters in 2017 to understand Dreissena prevalence and distribution. The 100-site effort combined random and targeted sites and collected zooplankton, benthos, video, environmental DNA, and supporting water quality data. We did not find settled Dreissena in any video footage or benthos samples, and quantitative PCR applied to eDNA samples was negative for Dreissena. Dreissena veligers were found in almost half the zooplankton samples but at orders of magnitude lower densities than reported from other Laurentian Great Lakes. Veligers were most prevalent around the western islands and associated with shallower depths and slightly higher phosphorus and chlorophyll, but did not spatially match known (still very localized) settled Dreissena colonies. This is the first study to conduct veliger-targeted sampling in western Lake Superior and the first to report consistent detection of veligers there. We speculate that these Apostle Islands veligers are not a new locally-spawned component of the zooplankton community, but instead are transported from an established population in the St. Louis River estuary (~100 km away) by longshore currents; i.e., low-density propagule pressure that may have been present for years. Small-mesh zooplankton data collected along a gradient from the Apostle Islands to the St. Louis River estuary and enumerated with thorough veliger searching would help elucidate these alternatives.     

Burbot Consumption and Relative Abundance in the Apostle Islands Region of Lake Superior

Burbot (Lota lota), are native Lake Superior piscivores that share similar habitat and food resources with other predators including lean and siscowet lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). To better understand their ecological role in the fish community, we combined fisheries assessment information from 1970 to 2002 with a bioenergetics model to estimate their predatory impact in the Apostle Islands region of Lake Superior. Relative abundance declined in the Apostle Islands region from 3.41 fish/1,000 m in 1978 to 0.27 fish/1,000 m in 1998. Fishing mortality was minimal based on creel estimates and observed bycatch in the commercial fishery. Burbot < 400 mm consumed a higher fraction of small prey items such as Mysis relicta, fish eggs and sculpins (Cottidae) while larger burbot were almost exclusively piscivorous. Overall diet composition (by mass) was represented primarily by Coregonus spp. (64%) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) (17%). We estimated the burbot population size in the Apostle Islands between 1970 and 2000 at 56,541 to 1,585,035 age 1+ fish. This population consumed between 56 and 1,584 metric tonnes (0.13 to 3.54 kg/ha) of prey. Increases in both lean and siscowet lake trout abundance have likely contributed to the decline in burbot abundance through predation and/or competition for food resources. Given the current burbot population in the Apostle Islands, this species is unlikely to control production of prey fish or invertebrate taxa.     

Trends and patterns of PCB,DDE, and mercury contamination in bald eagle nestlings in the upper Midwest

We analyzed concentrations and trends of DDE, total PCBs, and mercury in bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) nestlings at six study areas in the upper Midwest, 2006–2015, and long-term trends at two Lake Superior sites, 1989–2015. Eaglet plasma from the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior had the highest concentrations of DDE (geometric mean [GM]?=?10.6?μg/L), and DDE concentrations decreased at 5.8% per year across the region from 2006 to 2015, and at 5.5% per year at Lake Superior sites from 1989 to 2015. Concentrations of the sum of 75 PCB congeners (ΣPCB₇₅) were highest at Pools 3 and 4 of the Mississippi River (GM?=?114.8?μg/L) and did not decline significantly region-wide (all study areas together) between the years of 2006 and 2011. However, at Lake Superior, ΣPCB₇₅ declined from 1995 to 2011 along the south shore at 3.6% per year, with a non-significant decline at the Apostle Islands. Concentrations of mercury in nestling breast feathers were highest at the upper St. Croix River (GM?=?6.66?μg/g wet weight). At Lake Superior study areas, mercury declined at 1.6% per year from 1991 to 2015; however, from 2006 to 2015 we found no significant trend at one of these same study areas and mercury concentrations apparently increased at two study areas. Mean concentrations of contaminants were below levels associated with significant impairment of reproduction at all sites and mean reproductive rates were?>?1.4 young per nest. However, increasing concentrations of mercury in some areas, combined with relatively high concentrations at some nests, suggest that continued monitoring of mercury should be a management priority.     

The Stonefly Isoperla bilineata in Lake Superior

Large numbers of nymphs of the stonefly Isoperla bilineata were found on gill nets set on the bottom off the west shore of the Keweenaw Peninsula in May, 1978. A fisherman said they were common there every year, but extensive Ponar grab sampling in the area in 1974 yielded no stoneflies. Similar sampling experience in the Apostle Islands by Selgeby (1974) suggests that grab samplers do not capture this species. Observations of stonefly nymphs on gill nets at three well-separated locations indicate a wide distribution of this species in Lake Superior.     

Hydroacoustic Estimates of Abundance and Spatial Distribution of Pelagic Prey Fishes in Western Lake Superior

Lake herring (Coregonus artedi) and rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) are a valuable prey resource for the recovering lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Superior. However, prey biomass may be insufficient to support the current predator demand. In August 1997, we assessed the abundance and spatial distribution of pelagic coregonines and rainbow smelt in western Lake Superior by combining a 120 kHz split beam acoustics system with midwater trawls. Coregonines comprised the majority of the midwater trawl catches and the length distributions for trawl caught fish coincided with estimated sizes of acoustic targets. Overall mean pelagic prey fish biomass was 15.56 kg ha⁻¹ with the greatest fish biomass occurring in the Apostle Islands region (27.98 kg ha⁻¹), followed by the Duluth Minnesota region (20.22 kg ha⁻¹), and with the lowest biomass occurring in the open waters of western Lake Superior (9.46 kg ha⁻¹). Biomass estimates from hydroacoustics were typically 2–134 times greater than estimates derived from spring bottom trawl surveys. Prey fish biomass for Lake Superior is about order of magnitude less than acoustic estimates for Lakes Michigan and Ontario. Discrepancies observed between bioenergetics-based estimates of predator consumption of coregonines and earlier coregonine biomass estimates may be accounted for by our hydroacoustic estimates.     

基于小波变换的畸形波生成过程时频特性研究

畸形波是一种波高极大的灾害性波浪,实测资料的缺乏限制了其研究进展.实验室实现畸形波可控制生成弥补了这一不足.该文将利用小波变换对实验室畸形波生成过程中记录的波面时间序列进行时频分析,研究畸形波生成时的小波谱分布特征,对比畸形波生成前后能量分布和频率组成的区别,得到畸形波生成过程中在时间-频率域内的分布特性和变化规律,并运用这些规律对实测资料中无法识别的畸形波生成阶段进行判别,有助于更深入的掌握这种灾害性波浪的特征.     

Genomics reveals identity,phenology and population demographics of larval ciscoes (Coregonus artedi,C. hoyi,and C. kiyi) in the Apostle Islands,Lake Superior

We demonstrate, for the first time, the ability to reliably assign an assemblage of larval coregonines [Salmonidae Coregoninae] to shallow and multiple deepwater species. Larval coregonines from the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior, were genotyped using restriction site-associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) and were assigned to species using reference genotypes from adult corgonines from the same region. Of the 193 genotyped larvae, 101 were assigned as Coregonus artedi (average assignment probability = 97.6%), 57 were assigned as C. kiyi (average assignment probability = 95.5%), and 28 were assigned as C. hoyi (average assignment probability = 89.0%). Coregonus artedi were collected earliest in the season, followed by C. kiyi and then C. hoyi. Estimates of genetic diversity within each species provide a baseline for future monitoring in the Apostle Islands. Our success with species assignment indicates the promise of leveraging genomic data for larval coregonine identification, which could enable assessing and evaluating early life history dynamics and recruitment processes at the species level to the benefit of ongoing coregonine restoration and management efforts.     

Changes in a Population of Exotic Rainbow Smelt in Lake Superior: Boom to Bust, 1974–2005

Changes in a population of rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) in the Apostle Islands region of Lake Superior were chronicled over a 32-yr time series, 1974-2005. At the beginning of the time series, rainbow smelt was the predominant prey species, abundance of lake herring (Coregonis artedi) was very low, and the dominant predator was stocked lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Following a period of successful lake trout stocking in the 1970s, the rainbow smelt population declined sharply in 1980, largely through mortality of adult fish and subsequent poor recruitment. In the succeeding 4 years, rainbow smelt populations reached historic low levels, resulting in reduced food resources for both wild and stocked lake trout. During 1985–1990 lake herring stocks began a spectacular recovery following the appearance of a very strong 1984 year class and subsequent 1988, 1989, and 1990 year classes. Rainbow smelt benefited from the high abundance of young lake herring as an alternate prey source for lake trout and showed a partial recovery in the late 1980s. However, a growing lake trout population coupled with an 8-yr period of low herring reproduction after 1990 resulted in a diminished rainbow smelt population dominated by age-1 and 2 fish and showing a pattern of alternating recruitment attributed to cannibalism. Low productivity of rainbow smelt and intermittent production of herring over the past decade has left lake trout populations with a diminished prey base. Although lake trout recovery benefited from the presence of rainbow smelt as a prey resource, the Lake Superior fish community was fundamentally altered by the introduction of rainbow smelt.     

Chemical Loadings to Southwestern Lake Superior from Red Clay Erosion and Resuspension

Inputs of chemical parameters were calculated from estimated erosion and resuspension data and by using experimental measurements of chemical releases from both bluff samples and Lake Superior sediments in suspensions with Lake Superior water. The ability of suspended clay particles to remove manganese and copper ions from Lake Superior water was investigated. The loadings of easily leachable dissolved solids, phosphorus, nitrogen, chloride, silica, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, aluminum and heavy metals from shoreline erosion and resuspended sediment were small compared to Lake Superior tributary inputs. Suspended sediment particles have a large capacity to remove copper and manganese ions from Lake Superior water. Each kilogram of suspended sediment particles of clay size can remove 175 mg of copper and 11 mg of manganese in Lake Superior water spiked to contain 10 μg/L of each metal.     

太湖长兜港固体悬浮物再悬浮的室内模拟

定量研究浅水湖泊动力扰动与沉积物再悬浮的关系,目前仍是湖泊研究中的难点之一。实验利用再悬浮发生装置,对太湖长兜港沉积物风浪扰动进行室内模拟,建立扰动强度与有效波高之间的关系,定量分析风浪对太湖水体中悬浮物的影响及固体悬浮物在水体中的垂向分布,初步得出风浪对太湖沉积物扰动深度一般在毫米级的结论。     

Distribution of Diatoms in Lake Superior Sediments

Four maps showing semiquantitative abundance patterns of diatoms throughout Lake Superior were made by examination of 170 cores at sediment depths of 0–1, 10, 20, and 50 cm. These maps show a decrease in diatom abundance with sediment depth and an absence of diatoms in most open-lake sediments. Diatoms in surficial sediments are most abundant in Jive regions in Lake Superior: Thunder Bay, Keweenaw Bay, the Thunder Bay and northshore troughs, and a region to the southwest of Isle Royale. Only three of these five regions still show relatively abundant diatoms at the 50-cm sediment depth. Diatom abundance in the sediments is positively correlated with sedimentation rates, water depth, and proximity to shore. Nearshore deep-water troughs act as depositional traps for diatoms in western Lake Superior and Keweenaw Bay. Later transport of diatoms by waves and currents generally erases any relationship between diatom abundance in the sediments and diatom biomass in the overlying water. Diatom abundances at 10- and 20-cm depths correlate positively with sedimentation rates, suggesting that biogenous and terrigenous components are eroded, transported, and redeposited as a mixture, rather than being hydraulically separated. Diatoms are abundant at 0–1 cm in regions of both low and high sedimentation rates.     

Rip currents near coastal structures in Lake Michigan: Characterization and assessment for warnings

Rip currents near coastal structures commonly occur in Lake Michigan in the Great Lakes region of the United States. Lack of timely warning due to undocumented characteristics of rip currents and no assessment tool can contribute to tragic drownings incidents. In this paper, we characterized rip current occurrences near breakwater structures and developed an assessment tool for providing timely rip current warnings to beachgoers at the study site, City of Port Washington, WI. Characteristics of rip currents near the structure were observed from field measurements or visual images. Deflection rip currents had speeds of ～ 0.2 m/s and lasted for several hours. The rip current occurrences were associated with environmental proxies. It was found that rip currents can occur even when the water appears calm near the structure. A Structure Rip Checklist and Assessment Matrix (SRiCAM) with a four-tiered risk was developed and validated using observations. Furthermore, the SRiCAM was integrated into cyberinfrastructure with a data contingency plan to provide real-time warnings to the public. The applicability of the SRiCAM to other locations across Lake Michigan was further tested and results are promising. Overall, the SRiCAM has the potential to be widely extended to foster recreational water safety and resilience to rip current hazards in the Great Lakes.     

Larval Coregonus spp. diets and zooplankton community patterns in the Apostle Islands,Lake Superior

With the exception of lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), relatively little is known about the early life history of larval coregonines in the Laurentian Great Lakes. For example, our knowledge of the feeding ecology of larval coregonines (excluding lake whitefish) is based on only 900 stomachs reported in the literature. Here, we describe the diets and demographics of larval coregonines from ice-out to late July, and the contemporaneous zooplankton community, in the Apostle Islands region of Lake Superior in 2018. Exogenous feeding was evident among the smallest larvae (down to 6 mm). Percent of larvae with food in their stomachs increased and yolk reserves decreased as larvae grew from 10 to 13 mm. A majority of the diet (58%) was copepod nauplii, with generally positive selection for adult copepods and Holopedium. The patterns in exogenous feeding and yolk sac absorption were similar to observations in Lake Superior in the 1970s. Diets were also generally similar, although Limnocalanus, Holopedium, and zooplankton eggs were more prevalent in 2018 than the 1970s. Demographic data suggested at least two distinct cohorts and/or coregonine species in 2018. Post-hoc genetic testing of larvae in a parallel study suggested our samples comprised a mix of predominantly cisco (C. artedi), kiyi (C. kiyi), and bloater (C. hoyi). Early life history studies, when coupled with emerging genetic techniques that can identify larval coregonines to species, will provide a powerful combination to better understand population dynamics of coregonines at a time of ongoing restoration and rehabilitation efforts throughout the Great Lakes.     

A three-dimensional model of Lake Superior with ice and biogeochemistry

The formation of winter ice on Lake Superior has been shown to be important in determining the annual thermal cycle of the lake and long-term trends of surface water temperature increase. However, modeling studies of Lake Superior to date have not included dynamic and thermodynamic ice cover. These physical characteristics of the lake in turn can have significant impacts on biogeochemical cycling within the lake. We present a new three-dimensional model of Lake Superior that includes a dynamic and thermodynamic ice model and a biogeochemical model. Results from the model forced by observed meteorological conditions for the period 1985 to 2008 are discussed and compared with available observations. Modeled long-term interannual trends in increasing water temperature and decreasing ice cover are compared with observed rates. In the model, total annual gross primary productivity is found to correlate positively with mean annual temperature and negatively with mean winter ice-cover magnitude.     

A comparison of mercury cycling in Lakes Michigan and Superior

Mercury cycling in Lake Superior and Lake Michigan was evaluated based on measurements of mercury levels, modeling of evasional fluxes, and development of first-order mass balance models. Total mercury, methylmercury, and dissolved gaseous mercury were measured on sampling cruises in Lake Michigan (2005) and Lake Superior (2006). Average total mercury concentrations in unfiltered surface water were higher in Lake Michigan (420 ± 40 pg/L) compared to Lake Superior (210 ± 20 pg/L). Methylmercury levels were below the detection limit in Lake Michigan. Larger sample volumes were collected to lower detection limits in Lake Superior in 2006 and methylmercury levels averaged 7 ± 6 pg/L. Dissolved gaseous mercury concentrations were also higher in Lake Michigan (27 ± 7 pg/L) compared to Lake Superior (14 ± 8 pg/L). Evasional fluxes were estimated using a two-film model for air–water exchange. The annual evasional flux in Lake Michigan was determined to be ~ 380 kg/yr from Lake Michigan and ~ 160 kg/yr from Lake Superior. Total mercury burdens in each lake were estimated to be ~ 2500 kg in Superior and ~ 2100 kg in Lake Michigan demonstrating that evasional fluxes play an important role in the mass balance of each lake, particularly Lake Michigan. A simple first-order mass balance model demonstrates the importance of air–water exchange and sedimentation as primary removal processes for Hg in each lake. Uncertainties in the mass balance model are highlighted due to lack of key data, particularly in Lake Superior.     

Retention of morphological and ecological traits of Lake Superior cisco Coregonus artedi after translocation into inland lakes

Introductions of Coregonus artedi from Lake Superior into several inland lakes in Minnesota in the 1920s and 1930s constituted a natural experiment of how phenotypic plasticity and adaptation can shape cisco diversity. Genetic data were consistent with a Lake Superior origin for the introduced populations, which resembled contemporary Lake Superior cisco in possessing large, elongated bodies and short fins, and in maturing at older ages. Native inland cisco had smaller, deeper bodies, longer fins, and matured at younger ages. Introduced populations also retained the Lake Superior characteristic of inhabiting the upper portion of the water column and showed a high degree of planktivory. However, introduced cisco exhibited small but measurable shifts in body shape and fin lengths toward native inland forms. These morphological shifts were possibly associated with greater benthivory after translocation. Assuming that native inland populations were well adapted to inland lakes and that selective pressures on native and introduced populations were similar, these results indicated that substantial further phenotypic, behavioral, and life history change is required before the introduced populations become similarly adapted to their new environments. The findings suggest that anthropogenic environmental alterations such as climate change and eutrophication might occur at a faster pace than adaptive evolutionary responses. In addition, translocated Great Lakes coregonines could possibly maintain traits exhibited in their source lake, and may not fully restore ecological functions of extirpated populations.     

风浪对浅水湖泊水质的影响机制

以太湖重要的浅水湖湾——东太湖为例,应用经典风浪经验公式,将风速转化为浪高,以直接体现风浪强度,在分析其与污染底泥卷起、水质指标相关关系的基础上,对风浪影响湖区水质的机制进行进一步探究。结果表明:随着风速、浪高的增加,水体浑浊度增加,偏北风作用下湖区浑浊度更高;DO的质量浓度呈降低趋势,全年浓度呈现冬季偏高而夏季偏低的规律;COD的质量浓度呈增加趋势,全年浓度呈现冬季偏高而夏季偏低的规律;TN的质量浓度与风速相关关系不明显,全年浓度呈现夏季偏高而冬季偏低的规律;浑浊度与COD存在较好的相关性。确定风浪对湖区水质的影响机制,旨在为针对性地制定湖泊水质改善措施提供技术支撑。     

Effects of warming winter embryo incubation temperatures on larval cisco (Coregonus artedi) survival,growth, and critical thermal maximum

Freshwater whitefishes, Salmonidae Coregoninae, are cold stenothermic fishes of ecological and socio-economic importance in northern hemisphere lakes that are warming in response to climate change. To address the effect of warming waters on coregonine reproduction we experimentally evaluated different embryo incubation temperatures on post-hatching survival, growth, and critical thermal maximum of larval cisco (Coregonus artedi) sampled from lakes Superior and Ontario. Embryos were incubated at water temperatures of 2.0, 4.4, 6.9, and 8.9 °C to simulate present and increased winter temperatures, and hatched larvae were reared in a common environment. For the populations from both lakes, larval survival and critical thermal maximum were negatively related to incubation temperature, and larval growth was positively related to incubation temperature. The magnitude of change across incubation temperatures was greater in the population sampled from Lake Superior than Lake Ontario for all traits examined. The more rapid decrease in survival and critical thermal maximum across incubation temperatures for larval cisco in Lake Superior, compared to those from Lake Ontario, suggests that Lake Superior larvae may possess a more limited ability to acclimate to and cope with increasing winter water temperatures. However, the rapid increase in growth rates across incubation temperatures in Lake Superior larvae suggests they could recover better from hatching at a small length induced by warm winters, as compared to Lake Ontario larvae. Our results suggest propagation and restoration programs may want to consider integrating natural habitat preferences and maximizing phenotypic variability to ensure offspring are set up for success upon stocking.     

Wave height from planing and semi‐planing small boats

The increasing number of small boats has raised concerns about their effects on the environment, particularly their waves. Bank erosion is one of the foremost concerns of boat waves but disruption of habitat, resuspension of bottom sediments, and damage to aquatic plants are other areas of concern. A large programme of field measurement of boat waves was conducted on Johnson Lake in Alaska to evaluate boats typically used on the Kenai River. The boat wave study compared wave characteristics of four boats under a variety of loadings, speeds, distances and motor powers. Over 400 tests were run on Johnson Lake with each test providing wave measurement at four locations. Two measures of waves and two types of tests were used in the study. MAXPOW was the wave height at the maximum power of the motor. MAXWAV was the maximum wave height produced by the boat which required runs at a range of speeds to determine the MAXWAV. While the MAXWAV data herein have considerable scatter in magnitude, the conditions at which MAXWAV occurs are consistent from boat to boat. To prevent generation of maximum wave heights, small boats should operate as far as possible either above or below length Froude number of 0.6, displacement Froude number of 1.3, or beam Froude number of 1.0. A general boat wave height equation was developed for the four boats based on boat speed, volume displaced by the boat and distance from the boat, and are applicable to semi‐planing and planing boats based on MAXPOW and MAXWAV data. The predictive equation for V‐hull boats was compared to independent data not used in the development and was found to be in agreement with the data. The predictive equation is limited to depth/boat length greater than 0.35. Published in 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Effects of Rainfall on Escherichia coli and Total Coliform Levels at 15 Lake Superior Recreational Beaches

Fifteen beaches along Lake Superior were monitored over the course of the 2003 and 2004 summer swimming seasons from mid-May through mid-September. Water samples were collected at these 15 beaches less than 24-h after a rainfall event of at least 6 mm. The effect of rainfall on bacterial concentrations along the Wisconsin shores of Lake Superior was investigated. Water samples were collected at a water depth of 24–30 inches as specified by the requirements of the WI BEACH Program. The Colisure® test was utilized for Escherichia coli (E. coli) and coliform determinations. No relationship between rainfall amount and bacterial concentrations at any of the 15 beaches tested was found. Although other researchers have observed a direct positive relationship between rainfall and E. coli levels in beach water, we found no significant relationship for Lake Superior beaches. This is an important finding given the fact that beach closures are often based upon rainfall alone, rather than on actual E. coli concentration measurements. This study reinforces the fact that the data obtained at one location should not necessarily be extrapolated to beach closure decisions at other locations.