Geological Survey

Description

U.S. Geological Survey⿿s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center is offering a funding opportunity for research on ⿿Lake Superior Coregonus egg development and larvae survival dynamics.⿝ This research will provide insight about potential factors limiting recruitment of several Coregonus (whitefish) species in Lake Superior. These species include Coregonus artedi, C. hoyi, and C. kiyi. These efforts will include a combination of field and laboratory study. Lake Superior Coregonus stocks have been plagued by poor recruitment and just a few year-classes (1998, 2003, 2005, and 2009) are present in the current population as measured by annual spring age-1 Coregonus surveys and age analyses of the adult population from agency assessments and commercial fishery catches. The reason for declining recruitment is unknown, but winter ice conditions appear to play a role in recruitment success and ice and water temperature regimes in Lake Superior have changed over the past 20 years. The U.S. Geological Survey Lake Superior Biological Station along with state, federal, tribal, and international partners have several research projects underway to evaluate commercial harvest of adult Coregonus and to determine factors underlying their poor recruitment.

Who can apply

• Others

Contact

Faith Graves 703-648-7356<br/>fgraves@usgs.gov<br/>
fgraves@usgs.gov