The objective of this research is to quantify differences molecular level genetic damage to bullhead catfish in the heavily contaminated Lake George reservoir versus levels of damage in bullhead catfish from the virtually uncontaminated Jasper Pulaski reservoir using the alkaline DNA unwinding method.

Aquatic invasive species pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems. In the Great Lakes, new fish species that are non-native to the environment have been introduced due to transoceanic activities. These species compete with native species causing a heavy toll on the environment and economy by shifting ecological balances and disrupting food chains. While many methods exist to sample fish, due to the increasing availability of underwater video, fish can now be sampled by crowd sourcing or using Image recognition techniques. These methods have highlighted the challenges associated with identifying fish based on their appearance against a cluttered background. This graduate student scholars project aims to identify and model fish behavior in underwater video using machine learning methods that are suited for classification of classification of time series data. Video data of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) from literature will be used to test the approach. The methods proposed here will significantly increase the usability of existing datasets and enable the creation of life-like animations for use in virtual training environments. 

The goal of the proposed pilot research study is to investigate the feasibility of utilizing dredged material collected from a single source along southern Lake Michigan area (stockpiled next to Calumet Harbor in coordination with USACE) as a substitute of sand in a unique sustainable construction material called flowable fill. The research will use laboratory-based performance tests on a set of flowable fill mixes prepared by substituting sand with different percentages of flowable fill. Then, flowable fill mixes and cylindrical specimens will be tested for flow, setting time and compressive strength using standard molding/test methods. The potential products of the proposed study are a thorough literature review report, laboratory testing results/analysis in the form of manuscript for conference proceeding, and an external grant proposal.

Quantifying the introductory impacts of an artificial reef on the nearshore community in Lake Michigan have not been made a priority in any experimental design. This project aims to mend this lack of understanding by combining biology and geology to create a new understanding of the effects of a newly constructed artificial reef (Rubble Ridges). This will be accomplished by observing the effects of sediment accumulation around a newly constructed artificial reef on benthic community diversity and growth. Sampling at the reef site will include sampling for invertebrates, encrusting organisms, and fish once a month during the sampling season. We will compare the trends from the Rubble Ridges site to the trends from the control site.

The objectives for this study are (1) to determine the difference in abundance and diversity of benthic organisms between the submerged shoreline stabilization structure site and the control site over a 2-year period, (2) to determine if the development of nearshore artificial reefs positively impact benthic communities in Southern Lake Michigan, and (3) to determine if benthic community diversity and abundance changes due to sediment accumulation and changes in sand grain size. We hypothesize that there will be an increase in abundance and diversity in benthic communities at the submerged shoreline stabilization structure site in comparison to the control site, that these artificial reefs will have a positive impact on the benthic communities in Southern Lake Michigan, and that sediment accumulation and larger sand grain size provide suitable habitat areas that will increase the diversity and abundance of the surrounding benthic community. Project managers and scientists can utilize this information in upcoming projects, whose intent is to prevent shoreline erosion, as a means to further understand this relationship.

• To determine the extent of dietary overlap between bighead carp and native filter-feeding fishes in the Mississippi and Illinois river systems
• To use data from the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program to examine whether specific environmental factors correlate with successful reproduction of bighead carp in the Upper Mississippi River System
• To test the effectiveness of an electric barrier in restricting the spread of bighead carp

The extent of PFAS contamination in the waterways surrounding Southern Lake Michigan is in need of further characterization. The current understanding of PFAS risks in contaminated sites is limited by knowledge of the competitive behavior of PFAS sorption in complex mixtures in the subsurface, the significance of various bioaccumulation routes from source zones to humans and biological receptors, and the existence of models to simulate the evolution of contaminated sites.

The specific objectives of the proposed project are to:

• Understand the fate and transport processes, including competitive sorption, of complex PFAS mixtures from shallow groundwater to organisms in surface sediments
• Identify key PFAS that are likely to drive bioaccumulation risk assessments for benthic invertebrates
• Assess the potential for a passive sampling device to act as a biomimetic for PFAS bioaccumulation
• Understand public perceptions of risks posed by PFAS-contaminated fish tissue to inform public policymaking