Dr. Jacques Rincard and his collaborators at Cornell University, Eureka Aquatic Research LLC, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and United State Geological Survey (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center received a research grant ($195,377) from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission to study the cause and consequences of the recent decline of mysids on the Lake Michigan fishery.
Mysis diluviana density is one of three key lower foodweb indicators (with spring phosphorus and chlorophyll) regulating fish production in Lake Michigan. All prey fish depend on mysids during at least part of the year, and many of these fish are experiencing declines in energy density. Thus, Dr. Rinchard’s lab received $27,977 from this project to identify (1) condition and nutritional deficiencies of the mysid population on spatial, seasonal, and age class scales using fatty acid analysis, and (2) determine the current importance of mysids for fish in Lake Michigan. This project will support undergraduate students.
The grant will be administered by The Research Foundation for SUNY at SUNY Brockport.