Director's Overview

Primary Ecosystem Focus

The majority of our ecological research is conducted in support of Department of the Interior issues and lands in the Upper Midwest. UMESC links its research closely with other USGS science centers to broadly address ecological and population concerns throughout the Nation’s heartland.

• Most research is conducted on the upper basin from St. Louis to Minneapolis and spans nearly 30 years.
• The river is nationally valued for its continuing multi-use benefits

• Research spans many decades.
• Previous research has focused on the development of tools to control the impact of sea lamprey on the area’s fisheries.
  
• Research has expanded to include other invasive species

• UMESC has conducted extensive series of commercial navigation and water management on large rivers.
• Staff expertise has been used on the Ohio, Mississippi, and Columbia Rivers, among others.

• Our unique blend of aquatic and wildlife contaminant-ecology talents are directed to national issues
  • Mercury in the aquatic food web (studies from New England to the Midwest)
  • Chronic effects of contaminants on birds
  • Nutrient enrichment in the Upper Mississippi River

• UMESC conducts a wide range of research on birds, fish, and amphibians of national concern.
• UMESC also has lead responsibility for the DOI Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative for the Upper Midwest.
• Imperiled freshwater mussels

• Invasives (e.g., round goby, asiatic carps, zebra mussels, sea lamprey, reed canary grass) into the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River basin are studied to assess control and management options and ecological consequences.
• UMESC’s expertise in invasives has led to new collaboration:
  • Studying the effects of aquatic invasives on endangered southwest fishes
  • Examining invasive plants in the western United States

• The Center has developed DSS approaches now being used by many National Wildlife Refuges as they develop their Comprehensive Conservation Plans.
• Center models are used to bring biologists and engineers together to better plan habitat projects.
• The Center’s Habitat Needs assessment Tool is central to Upper Mississippi River restoration planning.
• Our newest effort is a DSS for the Middle Mississippi River to aid in conflict resolution over navigation development and endangered species.