• Identify key parameters of turbulent flow that influence fish space use and energetic cost of swimming in complex flows found around in-stream structures
• Develop – and evaluate under realistic field conditions – a quantitative model that links key parameters of turbulent flow to energetic cost of swimming

Our overall goal is to is to is to gain insight into the basic biology of Craspedacusta in order to better predict its ecological impact in response to climate change. In particular, we are interested in the following questions:

1. What are the environmental cues for Craspedacusta jellyfish blooms and can these cues predict when and where Craspedacusta blooms will occur in southern Lake Michigan?
2. Can these conditions be replicated in a laboratory environment to induce jellyfish formation?
3. Are the genetic mechanisms that control jellyfish blooms in Craspedacusta similar to that of their marine relatives, and thus likely to have a parallel response to climate change?

To address these questions we have three primary objectives:

1. Determine environmental parameters required for jellyfish blooms through field work and citizen science approaches;
2. With the involvement of undergraduates we will design and conduct laboratory experiments utilizing environmental parameters and zooplankton composition data from objective 1, with the intention of culturing Craspedacusta medusae to their reproductive stage.
3. Conduct transcriptional analyses to document differential gene expression in the different life cycle stages to determine the genetic cues for life cycle transitions. 

We have a fourth objective to improve scientific literacy on invasive aquatic species though developing educational modules with live Craspedacusta jellyfish for the public, K-12 classrooms, focusing on underserved communities.

The goal of this research is to purify and identify cell growth-promoting activity found in fish embryo extract.

• Determine if land use patterns and physiological traits are correlated in stream fish species 

• Develop an optimal methodology for largemouth bass (LMB) muscle hydrolysis using digestive enzymes representing LMB digestive tract
• Evaluate the effect of LMB muscle protein hydrolysate used as first feed on the growth and survival of LMB larvae
• Provide feed/additive manufacturing industry with knowledge and tools required for production of high-quality, cost effective, and well-digested dietary muscle hydrolysate as a source of protein in larval fish feeds

The objectives of this project are to:

• Describe the longitudinal distribution of adult and larval zebra mussels in streams owing from colonized lakes.
• Test mechanisms contributing to the apparent “settlement bottleneck” for zebra mussels in streams.
• Test whether predators may influence the invasibility of streams by zebra mussels.
• Measure responses of other aquatic biota to the presence of zebra mussels in lake-outflow environments.