Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant has announced more than $300,000 in funding awards for three research projects over the next two years. Funded projects seek to improve understanding of the Lake Michigan near shore food web, uncover connections between sediment removal projects and a community’s ability to weather environmental hazards, and identify why people adopt storm water management practices.
“We are very pleased to continue our support of outstanding research projects on topics with real significance for the region,” said Tomas Hook, IISG associate director for research. “These projects address some of the biggest concerns facing the Great Lakes and their results will help policy makers and natural resource managers preserve Lake Michigan habitats and strengthen lakeside communities.”
IISG is continuing to fund projects focused on Lake Michigan near shore food webs with a study examining the importance of wetlands in the lives of sport fishes like yellow perch, walleye, and largemouth and smallmouth bass. Gary Lamberti, professor and chair of biological sciences, will use location monitoring data and tissue samples from fish across the lake to pinpoint the types of wetlands species rely on the most for food and shelter. The results will help natural resource managers target protection and restoration efforts on areas critical to the overall health of the lake. Lamberti will work with Patrick Forsythe from University of Wisconsin-Green Bay as part of a larger project with Wisconsin Sea Grant.
The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program (IISG) is one of 33 National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to address coastal and Great Lakes’ needs. Funding is provided by the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University at West Lafayette, Indiana. To learn more, visit the IISG blog..