Zooplankton play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems as they feed on phytoplankton and transfer energy up the food chain. Our understanding of zooplankton ecology in the Great Lakes, and lakes around the world, is largely based on data collected during the day in pelagic zones. In Lakes Michigan and Huron, invasive dreissenid mussels have decreased phytoplankton and subsequently zooplankton abundances, but these plankton data are primarily from deeper zones. Further, zooplankton density and biomass can vary day and night among different habitats because of diel vertical and horizontal migration. More information is needed to better understand zooplankton populations at various shallow water locations and times of day, and how those population estimates may affect larval fish that consume these zooplankton. Our objectives are to determine (1) how zooplankton density and biomass vary day and night on the beach (<1 m water depth) and nearshore (1-10 m water depth), and (2) zooplankton relations to larval fish across different habitats and time of day. Zooplankton, larval fish, and other environmental variables were and will be collected during the day and night at numerous beach and nearshore sites in spring of 2023 and 2024 across Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Superior. Samples are paired day and night, and a subset of beach sites are paired with nearshore sites for the same variables. This study provides important insight into zooplankton ecology in shallow waters in the Great Lakes, with applications to lakes around the world, and has implications for fisheries management.

Authors:

Elliana Prow, Lake Superior State University  (eprow@lssu.edu)

Jose Bonilla-Gomez, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Alpena  (jose_bonillagomez@fws.gov)

Ben Breaker, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay  (ben_breaker@fws.gov)

Kennan Bruening, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay  (kennan_bruening@fws.gov)

Ethan DePauw, Lake Superior State University  (edepauw@lssu.edu)

Brett Diffin, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians  (brett.diffin@gtbindians.com)

Silas Dunn, Lake Superior State University  (sdunn@lssu.edu)

Simon Freeman, Lake Superior State University  (sfreeman3@lssu.edu)

Ian Harding, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa  (Ian.Harding@redcliff-nsn.gov)

Chris Hessell, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians  (chris.hessell@gtbindians.com)

Andrew Honsey, USGS Great Lakes Science Center  (ahonsey@usgs.gov)

Joshua Hug, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay  (joshua_hug@fws.gov)

Samuel Johnston, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation  (Samuel.Johnston@odwc.ok.gov)

Jory Jonas, Michigan Department of Natural Resources  (jonasj@michigan.gov)

Kevin Kapuscinski, Lake Superior State University  (kkapuscinski@lssu.edu)

Kevin McDonnell, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources  (kevin.mcdonnell@state.mn.us)

Gary Michaud, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians  (GMichaud@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov)

Erik Olsen, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians  (erik.olsen@gtbindians.com)

Gwendolyn Phillips, Lake Superior State University  (gphillips3@lssu.edu)

Paul Ripple, Bay Mills Indian Community  (pripple@baymills.org)

Katherine Skubik, Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians  (KSkubik@ltbbodawa-nsn.gov)

Jason Smith, Bay Mills Indian Community  (jbsmith@baymills.org)

Mason Spiess, Lake Superior State University  (mspiess@lssu.edu)

Jacob Synnott, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay  (jacob_synnott@fws.gov)

Jack Tuomikoski, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians  (JTuomikoski@saulttribe.net)

Christina VanDoornik, Little River Band of Ottawa Indians  (christinavandoornik@lrboi-nsn.gov)

Sarah Woody, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Green Bay  (sarah_woody@fws.gov)

Jonathan Doubek, Lake Superior State University  (jdoubek@lssu.edu)