Current Research at the Illinois River Biological Station
Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP): USGS, EMTC
The five states of the Upper Mississippi River basin and the federal government are partners in the Environmental Management Program to monitor, maintain, and restore the natural resources of the Upper Mississippi River and its navigable tributaries, including the Illinois River and a portion of the Kaskaskia River. Since 1989, the Illinois Natural History Survey has operated two of the six field stations that monitor water quality and the health of plant communities and fish and macroinvertebrate populations of these river-floodplain ecosystems.
Long Term Illinois River Fish Population Monitoring Program (LTEF): IDNR
The Long-term Illinois River Fish Population Monitoring program was initiated in 1957 by William Starrett, former Director of the Forbes Biological Station at Havana. Fishes have been collected annually at fixed sites throughout the Illinois River waterway utilizing a boat-mounted AC electrofishing gear. The configuration of this gear and the protocols of this sampling have not changed throughout the years of the survey. We sample fishes at sites primarily in side channel borders and along the main channel border during late August and September each year, when water levels are at seasonal lows. Since 1989, the project has been funded by Sport Fish Restoration funds provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (project F-101-R). Twenty-seven sites are sampled annually along the Illinois River waterway and one site is sampled on Pool 26 of the Mississippi River. Overall, the survey has accounted for 94 fish species and six hybrids; 74 species and four hybrids have been collected by F-101-R sampling (since 1989).
Model of Lake Michigan-Illinois River Zebra Mussel Metapopulation: Illinois-Indiana Seagrant
The zebra mussel has had profound impacts on the ecology of aquatic ecosystems in which it has invaded. Despite the evident problems caused by the zebra mussel, we still lack ecosystem control strategies. This project will evaluate a possible ecosystem control strategy for the zebra mussel. We hypothesize that the population structure of the zebra mussel itself may facilitate its control in certain instances. A system of local populations of sessile adults that depend on colonization by pelagic larvae can be analyzed using metapopulation approaches. The zebra mussel in the connected waters of Lake Michigan and the Illinois River system represents such a metapopulation. We propose inverting metapopulation approaches to conservation biology, and suggest that species may be controlled, rather than conserved, by changing the probability of colonization among populations.
Peoria Habitat Rehabilitation Enhancement Program-Fish Monitoring 1998:USGS, EMTC
Knowledge of how fish community structure responds to major habitat alteration is essential for planning of future projects. This study is designed to determine effects of island and side channel construction on fish populations of Peoria Lake (at the request of the Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers).
Lake Chautauqua Habitat Rehabiltation Enhancement Program-Larval Fish Production: USGS
This project will provide evaluation of larval fish production in and escapement from an area managed for moist soil plant production (at the request of the Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Management of some moist soil units might be modified to enhance production of larval fish without significantly reducing the quantity or quality of vegetation produced. This research will increase our understanding of how factors such as temperature, water level regulation and fish access affect production of selected species of larval fishes.
Effects of Dredge Material Placement on Macroinvertebrate Communities: US Army COE
This project will help determine effects of dredge spoil on invertebrate communities (at the request of the Rock Island District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). An understanding of the effects of dredge spoil disposal on invertebrate communities is needed to properly plan, manage, and mitigate dredging operations used to maintain the navigation channel for commercial traffic.
Abundance and Size Distribution of Zebra Mussel Veligers in the Mississippi River: Wisconsin DNR
Through extensive field sampling and laboratory analysis, we can determine zebra mussel veliger production in the Mississippi River (at the request of the Wisconsin DNR). Assessment of veliger production will facilitate management of this invasive aquatic species.
Sediment Resuspension and Budget for Peoria Lake Land Management System: USGS, US Army COE
Through monitoring of weather parameters (wind speed and direction) and turbidity at upper Peoria Lake (at the request of the Waterways Experiment Station), sediment resuspension and budget can be determined. These data will be used to understand relationships between wind-generated waves, sediment resuspension, and turbidity.
