CENTER FOR AQUATIC ECOLOGY
David P. Philipp, Director
The mission of the Center for Aquatic Ecology is to conduct basic and applied research investigating all aspects of the biology of the flora and fauna associated with aquatic ecosystems. The Illinois Natural History Survey has employed respected and competent aquatic researchers since its inception under the direction of Stephen A. Forbes. The present Center staff is composed of nationally and internationally recognized scientists working in concert with a talented and dedicated support staff.
The Center for Aquatic Ecology maintains eight field stations: the Aquatic Research Field Laboratory in Champaign, the Sam Parr Biological Station at Kinmundy, the Ridge Lake Station near Charleston, the Lake Michigan Biological Station at Zion, the Kaskaskia Biological Station on Lake Shelbyville, the River Research Laboratory at the Stephen A. Forbes Biological Station in Havana, the Great Rivers Research Station at Alton, and the Illinois River-LaGrange Reach Research Station at Havana. This important system of field stations allows Center scientists to conduct intensive sampling for field research on site.
The primary activity of Center scientists is to conduct original scientific research, and the Center for Aquatic Ecology is extraordinarily active in that endeavor. This high level of activity is made possible by research grants and contracts sought and obtained by individual Center scientists. Once again, all senior staff scientists in CAE had extramural funding to support last year's research efforts; a total of over 50 separate projects were funded in 1997. Support for these projects, totaling almost $4 million, was obtained from a number of state and federal sources (e.g., National Science Foundation, National Biological Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Environmental Protection Trust Fund, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Program, and the Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kansas, Colorado, and Ontario Departments of Natural Resources).
The findings of CAE research are disseminated in a number of ways, including publication in a variety of quality peer-reviewed journals. Presentation to peers at scientific conferences represents an additional and timely avenue. This past year, Center scientists delivered 14 departmental seminars at a variety of universities within and outside the country and made over 53 scientific presentations at international, national, regional, and state conferences. In addition, two Center scientists organized major symposia at the Ecological Society of America Meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico: Dr. Richard Sparks helped organize "Natural and Managed Flooding," and Dr. Daniel Soluk organized "Predicting the Combined Impact of Multiple Predators in Aquatic and Terrestrial Systems." Two CAE scientists also conducted major workshops: Dr. David Philipp conducted "Fisheries Genetics for Managers" at an American Fisheries Society meeting in Bozeman, Montana, and Dr. Robert Herendeen served on the steering committee for and helped conduct an international workshop on "Advances in Energy Studies: Energy Flows in Ecology and Economy" that took place in Italy. Center scientists also recognize the importance of providing information directly to the citizens of Illinois, including presentations to many local and state nature clubs, fishing groups, governmental organizations, and other groups. Finally, Center scientists also provide timely findings to the governmental agencies that are funding specific research projects; over 30 technical reports were submitted this year alone.
A second major activity of Center scientists is participation in graduate education. All Center scientists are affiliated with academic departments in at least one major university within Illinois, including the University of Illinois, Eastern Illinois University, Western Illinois University, Northwestern University, and Loyola University, as well as the University of Waterloo in Ontario. During this past year's academic semesters, Center scientists taught three full lecture courses and supervised five graduate seminars. In addition, Center scientists supervised four post-doctoral associates, 31 graduate students (13 Ph.D., 18 M.S.), and over 50 undergraduate research projects.
A third activity of Center scientists is to serve in an advisory capacity to local, state, and federal agencies, as well as nongovernmental and professional organizations. Dr. William Resetarits served as a member of the National Science Foundation's Special Advisory Panel for Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in the Biological Sciences. Dr. Sparks served at several levels as an advisor to The Nature Conservancy and served on the National Research Council's Committee to Review the Water Resources Planning Activities of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Drs. Sparks and Schneider served on the Lieutenant Governor's Illinois River Task Force. Dr. Schneider also served on the City of Champaign's Environmental Advisory Commission. Center scientists were also active in federal endangered species recovery activities, Dr. Philipp serving on the Colorado River Endangered Fishes Recovery Program's Genetics Panel and Dr. Soluk as a member of the Endangered Species Recovery Team for the Hine's emerald dragonfly.