Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) are facing a number of threats, including both climate change and predation by invasive species. Despite these ongoing threats to multiple life stages, research has rarely investigated pressures in combination. When studies do assess one of these threats, they often focus on a single life stage, and it is not often the embryonic stage. Our study aims to understand how climate change could impact predator recognition, memory, and avoidance in the two earliest life stages of lake sturgeon. We will “train” lake sturgeon embryos to recognize a predator using associative learning of olfactory alarm and predator cues. We will also raise the embryos in different thermal conditions. At the embryonic stage, we anticipate that those in the warmest water will exhibit the weakest antipredator behaviors, and those in the coolest will exhibit the strongest. At the larval stage, we anticipate those that were raised in the warmest water will have the weakest memory of the predator, and will lose their antipredator behaviors most quickly, while those raised in the coolest water will retain their memory of the predator the longest. Our research will help inform conservation plans for hatcheries looking to rear early-life lake sturgeon for release into Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes region more broadly.

This study will evaluate the extent to which exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of a representative SSRI (citalopram) during early development (embryonic and larval stages) impairs learning and cognition and alters innate behaviors in a model species for ecotoxicological research, fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). Specifically, this study will test the hypothesis that exposure to SSRIs alters the behavior of fish at vulnerable early life stages in ways that reduce fitness (i.e., reduced ability to learn during foraging, impaired risk perception and social behavior).

This research will expand our comprehension of pharmaceutical water pollution in the Great Lakes— specifically behavioral effects on key prey species–which is relevant to the IISG’s focus on healthy coastal ecosystems. Forage fish are primary food sources for many important recreational fish species in the Great Lakes. Individual-level changes in learning, cognition, and perceptions of fear that increase early mortality, can translate into long-term population and community impacts. Furthermore, this work will aid in efforts to address threats like legacy contaminants and emerging pollutants, to mitigate environmental degradation in these crucial waterbodies. The outcomes of this research will allow a more complete understanding of organismal health and fitness in urban-impacted waters and improve ecosystem stability in lake Michigan.

This project aims to evaluate the feasibility of using a conductive CNF-TPU foam as a wave-responsive material for low-power aquatic energy harvesting. The specific objectives are:

• To optimize and characterize the electromechanical performance of CNF-TPU foam under cyclic loading in both dry and submerged conditions.
• To fabricate a floating prototype and simulate lake-like wave motion to assess signal response and repeatability.
• To integrate a basic energy harvesting circuit and benchmark the output, identifying its potential to power low-energy electronics in freshwater environments.

• Investigate the feasibility of a new treatment process, based on microbial fuel cells and membrane-supported biofilms reactors for removing nitrogen and sulfide in simulated recirculating aquaculture systems wastewater.
• Determine the nitrogen and sulfide removal efficiencies, and levels of electric power production
• Test different reactor configurations under variable loading conditions

Lake Michigan is a vital artery that sustains both the ecological balance and the agricultural prosperity of the neighboring communities. Yet, with climate change, excessive groundwater extraction, and agricultural runoff polluting the lake, its future is increasingly tied to the practices of local agriculture. Our research addresses this challenge by leveraging advanced UAV-borne Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) technology for precise soil moisture estimation. By optimizing irrigation practices through accurate soil moisture data, we aim to significantly reduce groundwater extraction and minimize agricultural runoff, thereby contributing to the preservation of Lake Michigan’s ecological balance. This project represents a critical step towards sustainable water management that underscores the profound connection between agricultural practices and the health of Lake Michigan. This research is aligned with the IISG strategic plan in promoting resilience and sustainability in the community by safeguarding our natural heritage and ensuring the prosperity of future generations.