Geology topics

Edward Roseman

Publications and source records attributed to Edward Roseman.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2026

Bayesian hierarchical model of lake whitefish cohort strength from sparse trawl data

Recruitment indices for rare or intermittently recruiting fishes are needed to compare year classes and evaluate recruitment drivers, but sparse trawl data with many zero-catch observations complicate estimation. We used fall bottom trawl data from New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio surveys in Lake Erie's central and eastern basins to estimate annual relative cohort strength of age-0 lake whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis ) from 1992 to 2021 and evaluate whether a Bernoulli-Bernoulli presence-absence model retained enough information for an annual relative cohort strength index compared with a Binomial-Poisson count model. We fixed detection probability at 0.31 in the primary analysis and refit both models using alternative fixed values in sensitivity analyses. Among 2879 tows, 173 were positive and 368 fish were collected, with positive catches ranging from 1 to 20 fish. Annual catch per unit area and both models recovered a similar recruitment pattern, with variable recruitment from 1992 to 2005, little to no recruitment from 2006 to 2014, and renewed recruitment in most years from 2015 to 2021. Cohort rank order was stable across fixed detection values (Spearman r s = 0.996 to 1.000), and annual median estimates maintained high agreement with the primary analysis (Pearson r = 0.966 to 1.000). However, Bernoulli-Bernoulli estimates were not one-to-one with Binomial-Poisson estimates, and relative magnitude depended on assumed detection probability. These results indicate that the Bernoulli-Bernoulli simplification is adequate for recovering cohort strength patterns, but the Binomial-Poisson model is more appropriate for distinguishing relative cohort strength among years.

New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania↗

USGS2026

Review of Grasse River Lake Sturgeon habitat use and possible post-Superfund remediation agency actions

The Grass River (hereafter Grasse River) historically served as a major source of fisheries production for the Saint Lawrence River (hereafter St. Lawrence River) basin, providing critical spawning habitat and support for other life history stages of numerous species including the culturally and ecologically significant Lake Sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ). Decades of environmental degradation resulted in designation of the lower Grasse River as the Grasse River Superfund site and part of the St. Lawrence River Area of Concern (AOC) at Massena/Akwesasne. The primary problems were severe contamination of sediments and fish, with numerous environmental beneficial use impairments (BUIs) including losses and degradation of habitat and diminished animal populations that limited fisheries production and reduced ecosystem services provided by the Grasse River. Efforts to restore the lower Grasse River within the AOC were initiated in 2019 to remove or isolate contaminants, repair damaged habitats, and rebuild fish and wildlife populations. The purpose of this report is to 1) summarize the history and contemporary status of environmental conditions and fisheries in the Grasse River, with an emphasis on Lake Sturgeon; 2) summarize remediation and restoration activities and how they may affect fisheries habitat and populations; and 3) discuss potential options for continued habitat remediation in addition to currently proposed restoration actions.

New York↗

USGS2025

Larval fish export in response to altered discharge in the St. Marys river rapids

The St. Marys River (SMR) forms the border between Michigan, USA, and Ontario, Canada, connecting lakes Superior and Huron. Discharge is controlled by a 16-gate water control structure upstream of the SMR rapids. The SMR rapids are a critical spawning habitat in the Great Lakes, yet the influence of regulated discharge on larval fish export remains poorly understood. From 2018 to 2021, larval fish were sampled across four locations to assess community composition and export dynamics under varying discharge releases. Rainbow smelt ( Osmerus mordax ) dominated catches (87.9 %), followed by species in the family Leuciscidae (i.e., native minnows) and burbot ( Lota lota ). Larval densities were strongly influenced by water temperature and, to a lesser extent, discharge. Bayesian state-space models estimated a total export of ∼ 41.3 million larvae from the rapids across 3 years, with the highest export in 2019. Rainbow smelt larvae exhibited peak densities at intermediate flows (300–600 m 3 s −1 ) and temperatures (∼18–19 °C), while non-rainbow smelt taxa showed species-specific, less consistent responses. Nighttime sampling consistently yielded higher larval densities. Export estimates varied by analysis but both manual and Bayesian approaches captured similar interannual and taxonomic trends. Despite past expectations, the larval community was largely composed of prey species, with limited representation of lake sturgeon ( Acipenser fulvescens ), lake whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis ), or walleye ( Sander vitreus ). These results suggest the SMR rapids currently support significant forage fish production and highlight the importance of discharge and temperature in structuring larval export.

St Mary's River rapids↗

USGS2025

Angler dynamics in the St. Clair-Detroit River System after decades of change

Habitat and water quality were historically degraded within the St. Clair-Detroit River System (SCDRS). Beginning in 2004, extensive habitat restoration projects were implemented remediating losses of fish spawning beds and shoreline areas. Monitoring of post-restoration activities documented recovering fish populations; however, angler response remains unknown. Extensive creel surveys were conducted pre-restoration (2002–2004), but post-restoration (2012 and later) surveys were intermittent. The goal of this project was to examine both to create a comprehensive picture of the effects of restoration on angling. We calculated catch and harvest rates and inspected answers to supplemental questions collected by state and provincial agencies. We estimated economic impact of angling with a combination of lodging and gas expenses. Post-restoration, catch rates were higher, but harvest rates were variable for Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River. The 2017 open water boat fishery on Lake St. Clair was worth ∼$26 million. Increased fishing opportunities resulting from continued habitat and population recovery are leading to increased catch rates and likely attracting anglers to the area.

Michigan, Ontario↗

USGS2024

A larval “recruitment kernel” to predict hatching locations and quantify recruitment patterns

Larval recruitment, a critical component of population connectivity, has been under investigated compared to larval dispersal. We developed a backward-in-time Lagrangian particle tracking model to predict larval hatching locations and proposed a larval recruitment kernel, to quantify recruitment patterns. Combining field data and a hydrodynamic model, our backtracking model predicted Lake Whitefish ( Coregonus clupeaformis ) hatching locations in Lake Erie. We found a strong linear correlation ( r = 0.95–0.98) between travel distance (i.e., distance along a trajectory) and pelagic larval duration (PLD), and a moderate correlation ( r = 0.66–0.68) between linear distance (i.e., displacement) and PLD. This questions the wide use of PLD as a proxy for dispersal distance. We defined the recruitment kernel using the probability density function of the linear recruitment distance. Characteristics of the recruitment kernel, such as theoretical self-recruitment, median-recruitment distance, long-distance recruitment, and openness convey significant information about population connectivity that are distinct from those derived using the well-known dispersal kernel (e.g., theoretical local retention).

Water Resources Research↗

USGS2019

Habitat rehabilitation in the Detroit River area of concern

Loss and degradation of fish and wildlife habitat is a long-standing issue in the Detroit River. The Detroit River Remedial Action Plan helped agencies and stakeholder groups reach agreement on impaired beneficial uses, including loss of fish and wildlife habitat, and helped mobilize all stakeholders to rehabilitate habitat. Many organizations played key roles, including the Detroit River Public Advisory Council, Detroit River Canadian Cleanup, State of the Strait Conferences, American and Canadian Heritage River Initiatives, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and Western Lake Erie Watersheds Priority Natural Area. Accomplishments include: 14 habitat restoration projects on both the Canadian and U.S. side of the Detroit River; 53 soft shoreline engineering projects in the watershed; nine fish spawning reefs in the river, common tern habitat in four locations; and many wetland and green infrastructure projects. Based on Detroit River habitat restoration efforts over the last 32 years, the following advice is offered: reach agreement on severity and geographic extent of the problem; practice adaptive management; involve habitat experts up front in project design; establish quantitative targets for project success; ensure sound multidisciplinary technical support; start with demonstration projects; treat habitat projects as experiments; involve citizen scientists in monitoring; measure benefits; communicate and celebrate successes; and promote education and outreach.

Michigan, Ontario↗