• Establish methods for the culture of fish primordial germ cells (PGCs)

• Determine what factors impact year class strength in yellow perch

Evaluate the following:

• Surfactant when present at nontoxic concentrations will increase the rate and extent of utilization of high three-and four-ringed PAHs
• Components of mixtures of PAHs may inhibit the degradation of PAHs which are otherwise utilized by bacterial strains
• A sediment slurry system will be favorable for bioremediation of contaminated sediments

The objective of this project is to develop a rapid, sensitive assay for detecting the exposure of fishes to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated aquatic ecosystems.

• Identify the factors responsible for variable mortality and growth of Dreissena larvae in the Illinois River and Hudson River Estuary.
• Model the interaction of flow with growth and mortality to predict the spatial and temporal patterns of settlement across systems.
• Determine how larval dynamics contribute to spatial and temporal patterns of settlement in the field.

Our overall goal is to provide quantitative  descriptions of species characteristics that increase the probability of successful invasion.