Potential Impacts of Invading Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) on Benthic and Pelagic Ecosystems of the Great Lakes

Major Goals and Objectives

Our three major objectives are to determine:

  • The potential competitive interactions between exotic
    Eurasian ruffe and native yellow perch in Lake Michigan and throughout the Great Lakes, through new knowledge of their preferences for prey and habitat.
  • How predators (e.g., pike) and another exotic animal, zebra mussels, might affect the success of ruffe and their interactions with yellow perch in the Great Lakes.
  • The current composition of benthic macroinvertebrates in Lake Michigan to generate a baseline prior to the anticipated invasion by ruffe.

Research Information

Principal Investigator:
Gary Lamberti
Initiation Date:
1995
Completion Date:
1999
Affiliation:
University of Notre Dame

Contacts

Gary Lamberti
glambert@nd.edu
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