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Michigan Tech Researchers Receive DEQ Grants
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Michigan Tech researchers have received three grants totalling about $200,000 from the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund.
The Department of Environmental Quality, which administers the fund, distributed $1.2 million to various agencies that undertake Great Lakes research. The grants focus on aquatic species, persistent toxins and bacteria tracking.
Two of the studies, including one at MTU, will enhance resource managers' understanding of the impacts that zebra mussels have on Great Lakes fisheries by studying Diporeia, a tiny crustacean that is a main food source for many fish, including whitefish.
Professor Martin Auer of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering will receive $98,284 to fund the study "Energy Pathways Supporting the Diporeia Community in Lake Superior." He will characterize the abundance and health of Diporeia populations, food availability, and carbon change in Lake Superior. Diporeia are a key indicator species in the Great Lakes. Results will be used to determine effects of zebra mussels and other factors in the dramatic decline of Diporeia in the Great Lakes.
Assistant Professor Casey Huckins , of the Department of Biological Sciences, was awarded $64,298 for his proposal "Micrometeorological Measurements of the Air-Water Exchange Rates of PBTs in Lake Superior." Results will be used to evaluate models of air-water exchange, predict concentrations of persistent, bioaccumulative, toxic chemicals in water, and formulate control strategies.
Associate Professor Judith Perlinger , of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, will receive $42,134 for "The Influence of Forest Management on Stream Communities in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan." The study will improve understanding of the relationship among forest conditions, stream habitat and macro-invertebrate diversity and abundance. Results can be used for determining buffer zones around riparian habitats for various forest management practices. |
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