Ph.D. Student from China to Study at AWRI

Xiaomei Su is a Ph.D. candidate from Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NIGLAS). Xiaomei received her B.S. Degree in Environmental Science in 2012 from Ocean University of China (OUC). She was sponsored by the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) to come to the Annis Water Resources Institute (AWRI) for one year as an exchange student. While at AWRI, she will be working in the Steinman lab, conducting experiments, assisting with field work, and completing her Ph.D. requirements. 

Xiaomei's research explores the spatiotemporal dynamics of Microcystin variants and their relationships with environmental parameters, as well as the potential effects of Microcystins on the composition and structure of the bacterial community in Lake Taihu, China.

Mark Luttenton hosted the monthly meeting of the West Michigan Chapter of the Michigan Botanical Club on November 12 at GVSU.

Al Steinman participated in a conference call for the Science and Information Subcommittee of the Great Lakes Advisory Board on November 17. The subcommittee discussed their final report to charge questions on the GLRI Action Plan.

Al Steinman met with representatives from the Frey Foundation at their office on November 30. He updated them on projects currently being funded by the Foundation.

AWRI staff are bolded, undergraduate students are denoted with a single asterisk*, graduate students are denoted with two asterisks**, and post-doc researchers are donated with three asterisks ***.

Publications

Bopi Biddanda is a co-author with former graduate student Deb Dila of a “Postcard from the Field” entry onto the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Tumblr titled “Like stars in the sky: Lake Michigan’s microbes glow in their lakescape”.
https://americangeophysicalunion.tumblr.com/tagged/postcards+from+the+field

Bopi  Biddanda and his former graduate student Anthony Weinke wrote an analysis of an article from Aquatic Microbial Ecology for the Interchange.
Biddanda, B. and A. Weinke**. 2016. Finding a lake’s productivity peak and nap time.  InterChange: News magazine of the Regional Science and Math Center, GVSU. Stem Connections for the Classroom, https://www.gvsu.edu/rmsc/interchange/connections-for-the-stem-classroom-299.htm

Delilah Clement, recent graduate student who worked with Al Steinman, has a manuscript, based on her thesis work, accepted to Journal of Great Lakes Research.
Clement, D.R.** and A.D. Steinman. In Press. Nonpoint phosphorus loading from agricultural tile drains in a West Michigan Watershed. Journal of Great Lakes Research.

Charlyn Partridge has a manuscript accepted to PLOS One.
Partridge, C., M.D. MacManes, R. Knapp, and B.D. Neff. In Press. Brain transcriptional profiles of male alternative reproductive tactics in bluegill sunfish. PLOS One.

Rick Rediske is a co-author of an article accepted to Scientific Reports.  Co-authors were Liqiang Xie, a former post-doctoral researcher at AWRI, and Brian Scull.
Xie, L, R. Rediske, and B. Scull. In Press. The role of environmental parameters in the production of microcystins in dialysis bag experiments. Scientific Reports.

Michael Snider, one of Bopi Biddanda’s former graduate students, had a manuscript accepted to Aquatic Microbial Ecology.  Bopi is a co-author.
Snider, M.**, B. Biddanda, M. Lindback*, S. Grim, and G. Dick. In Press. Versatile photophysiology of compositionally similar cyanobacterial mat communities inhabiting submerged sinkholes of Lake Huron.  Aquatic Microbial Ecology.

Presentations

(Presenter listed first)

John Koches was a guest lecturer for NRM 250 on November 30.  The title of his presentation was “Drones for water quality research”.

Mark Luttenton gave a presentation on the introduction and ecology of New Zealand mudsnails in Michigan at the Freshwater Summit in Traverse City on Oct 28.

Al Steinman was the lead presenter in a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Conservation Training Center’s Restoration Webinar Series. Aquatic Habitat Restoration and Hydrologic Re-connection of a Former Celery Farm on Bear Creek within the Muskegon Lake Area of Concern on November 10. Co-presenters included Kelly Rice (GEI Consultants), Terry Heatlie (NOAA), and Kathy Evans (WMSRDC).

Janet Vail presented a session on an online lesson about climate change at the Science Update conference in Allendale on November 16.   

There were no new Awards and Recognition for this issue.  Check again next month!

Carl Ruetz and Suse LaGory received an award through the Milton and Susan Meston Environmental Fund of the Community Foundation for Muskegon County in the amount of $1000 to support her research.

AWRI In the News

“Keiser distinguished lectureship in the Life Sciences features Dr. Alan Steinman”
The Northern Review online, October 30, 2016
Al Steinman was chosen as Keiser Distinguished Lecturer at Northern Ohio University this fall.  He gave a couple of presentations and interacted with students and faculty at several events held on campus as part of this lecture series.

“Community buy-in in West Michigan is improving water life”
Bridgemi.com, November 2016
The article talks about two very different water projects – one to return the rapids to the Grand River, and one to reduce sediment, nutrient, and bacterial pollution in Lake Macatawa, Holland, Michigan.  AWRI has a part in this project.

“Microbial mats in Lake Huron sinkholes move for light, sequestering carbon”
Environmental Monitor, November 8, 2016
Bopi Biddanda is interviewed regarding his work with the Lake Huron sinkholes.

“Invasive mud snail went unnoticed in Michigan for at least 3 years”
MLive.com, November 20, 2016
Mark Luttenton is credited with discovering the mud snails while studying the impacts of the Grayling Fish Hatchery.

“Michigan ecologists scour rivers for invasive mud snails”
San Antonio Express – News, November 21, 2016
Mark Luttenton is interviewed regarding the New Zealand mud snail recently found in some Michigan cold water streams.
This same article was also published by:
Huron Daily Tribune
Times Union
Petoskey News – Review
The Grand Rapids Press/MLive.com

LMC Events

Nov 11
Seminar Speaker: Dr. Natalie Griffiths, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Environmental Sciences Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory presented:  “Utilizing long-term ecosystem experiments to examine the effects of human activities on hydrology and biogeochemical cycling”

Nov 14
The Grand Haven Chamber of Commerce held a Lakeshore Youth Program event at the Lake Michigan Center.

Nov 17
The Muskegon Lake Watershed Partnership held a public meeting at the Lake Michigan Center.