New Greenhouse at AWRI

The newest addition to AWRI’s campus is a greenhouse located on the west side of the Field Station. Nicknamed ‘The Baby Greenhouse’, it measures 8 ft x 12 ft and is currently being used by Dr. Charlyn Partridge’s lab to grow the ornamental plant, baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata). Baby’s breath is a highly invasive species throughout the northwest Michigan sand dunes system. It outcompetes native species for space and resources, and alters the natural shifting patterns of the dunes. Through funding provided by an Environmental Protection Agency – Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (EPA-GLRI) grant, Dr. Partridge and her students are using genetic tools to understand how baby’s breath colonized the area and track how it is spreading throughout the region. They are also working to determine whether a newly identified color morph in the sand dunes represents a different species of baby’s breath. The greenhouse is currently being used to grow two commercial strains of baby’s breath, as well as specimens from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. These specimens will be used to gain more genetic data for this species so that we can better understand their success as an invasive in the region.   

Paula Capizzi and Diane Veneklasen hosted an AWRI display and hands-on activities at the Lake Macatawa Water Festival in Holland on July 15.

Greg Chorak, graduate student working with Carl Ruetz, successfully defended his master’s thesis on July 6.  The title of his presentation was: “Yellow perch genetic stock structure in eastern Lake Michigan: What is the importance of drowned river mouth lakes?”

Suse LaGory, graduate student working with Carl Ruetz, successfully defended her master’s thesis on July 7.  The title of her presentation was: “Seasonal ecology of mottled sculpin and brown trout in a coldwater Michigan stream”

Amanda Potter, graduate student working with Rick Rediske, successfully defended her master’s thesis on July 17.  The title of her presentation was: “Polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations in fish from Lake Michigan tributaries and a preliminary risk assessment concerning their consumption by sport and tribal fishermen”

Rick Rediske attended the Ph.D. defense for Brandon Gerig at the University of Notre Dame on July 7.  Brandon successfully defended; Rick was on his committee.

Carl Ruetz was a special guest of Vic McCarty on The Ron Jolly Show (WTCM NewsTalk 580) on July 26.  Carl called in to the radio show to discuss the threat posed by Asian carp to the Great Lakes and take caller questions.

Rajesh Sigdel, graduate student working with Rick Rediske, successfully defended his master’s thesis on July 5.  The title of his presentation was: “Assessment of environmental stressors in the Indian Mill Creek Watershed”

Al Steinman hosted members of the conservation, education, and administrative teams from Shedd Aquarium for a science cruise on the research vessel D. J. Angus on July 10.  The group is investigating the possibility of acquiring their own vessel to be docked in Chicago and run science cruises.

Al Steinman and Bopi Biddanda hosted representatives from NOAA on July 14.  The hydrodynamic model of Muskegon Lake that post-doc Qianqian Liu is working on was presented.

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

Al Steinman is a co-author on a publication recently accepted to Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety:

Cao, Q., Steinman, A.D., Yao, L., and L. Xie. In Press. Increment of root membrane permeability caused by microcystins result in more elements uptake in rice (Oryza sativa). Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety.

Presentations

(Presenter listed first)

Qianqian Liu, postdoctoral researcher working with Bopi Biddanda, gave a presentation at a NOAA-AWRI workshop held at AWRI on July 14.
Liu, Q.***, E. Anderson, and B. Biddanda.  A Physical-biogeochemical simulation of Muskegon Lake. NOAA HFA (GLERL-AWRI) Workshop. July 14, 2017.

Rick Rediske gave a presentation on qPCR Beach Monitoring in Muskegon County for the Muskegon County Environmental Coordinating Council on July 11.

Al Steinman gave a presentation to the Fremont Rotary Club on July 25.

There were no new awards or recognition for this issue.  Check again next month!

Mark Luttenton recently received a contract to do monitoring of Higgins Lake in the amount of $6,251.00.

AWRI In the News

“Scientists team up to track fish”
Traverse City Record Eagle, June 29, 2017
Carl Ruetz is quoted regarding the tracking of fish using acoustic telemetry.

“WMEAC Spotlight: Mike Hassett”
The WMEAC Weekly Newsletter, week of June 30, 2017
Mike Hassett is featured as a WMEAC volunteer.

“GVSU expert: role of freshwater in global carbon cycle needs urgent study”
GVNext, July 3, 2017
Bopi Biddanda’s recent article which was published in Eos was highlighted.

“AWRI researchers studying phosphorus, nitrogen in Spring Lake”
GVNext, July 7, 2017
Al Steinman was quoted regarding work his lab is doing and has previously done on Spring Lake.

LMC Events

July 20
The West Michigan Clean Air Coalition held a meeting in the Annis Educational Foundation Classroom.

July 25
United Way of the Lakeshore held their Board Retreat at the Lake Michigan Center.