What colors of light can fishes perceive at low light intensities? To determine if walleye, bluegill and perch are well-adapted to the light available in their environments, we performed electroretinography (ERG). ERG's essentially tell us when neurons are firing in response to a color and intensity of light; we can then quantify based on the response. This work is being done with Tom Hrabik, Al Mensinger, Kelly Harrington and LJ Rogers and is currently in preparation for publication. Visual sensitivity research link. |
Walleye thermal-optical Study
Dr. Sass, Dr. Hrabik and I have written a grant for the WI DNR to fund a study on the effects of water quality, light intensity and temperature on walleye foraging. This study currently has three objectives: 1) Determine foraging characteristics of adult walleye including reaction distance, angle of attack, and foraging success for ecologically relevant light intensities, temperatures, and water clarities, 2) determine effect of these variables on foraging success for young of year (YOY) walleye, and 3) assess YOY walleye predator avoidance of Large Mouth Bass under these variables. Update: proposal accepted 7/16. Walleye thermal-optical research link |
Barotrauma and FishesAnother area of my studies has involved reducing the effects of barotrauma on deep water fishes. Owen Gorman and I have been working on a report for the USGS on the effects of a hyperbaric vessel that helps alleviate barotrauma by rapidly compressing fish after capture and then slowly readjusting to atmospheric pressure, much like with divers. We are currently comparing non-decompressed and decompressed fish survival times and have submitted our initial report findings. Barotrauma research link |