Morphometric differentiation and gene flow in emerald shiners (Notropis atherinoides) from the lower Great Lakes and the Niagara River

Abstract Suspended sediment and extracts of the aqueous phase were collected in 1981 at eleven locations in the Lower Great Lakes Region and analyzed for 17 organochlorine pesticide residues and PCB's. Mirex, and p,p'-DDE when found were predominantly in the suspended sediment fraction, whereas α-BHC, γ-BHC, dieldrin, endrin, p,p'-TDE and trans-chlordane were most abundant in the aqueous phase. Several pesticide residues, notably cis-chlordane, p,p'-DDT and p,p'-methoxychlor were found to have variable distribution characteristics between the suspended sediment and aqueous phases. The greater proportion of organochlorine pesticides present in Lake Erie and the Niagara River were found in the aqueous phase samples, which contained at least 90% of the total pesticide concentration at 5 of the 6 stations sampled. Virtually all of the organochlorine contaminants present in Lake Ontario were found in the aqueous phase, which contained 100% of the pesticides and 91% of total PCB's. Similar results were obtained for the St Lawrence River.

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Distribution and Dispersal of the Zebra Mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) in the Great Lakes Region

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f91-165 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 48 (8) ◽

pp. 1381-1388 ◽

Cited By ~ 239

Author(s):

Ronald W. Griffiths ◽

Donald W. Schloesser ◽

Joseph H. Leach ◽

William P. Kovalak

Keyword(s):

Great Lakes ◽

Dreissena Polymorpha ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Isolated Populations ◽

Western Basin ◽

High Fecundity ◽

Detroit River ◽

Niagara River ◽

Nuisance Species ◽

Small Mussel

Dreissena polymorpha (Pallas), a small mussel common throughout most of Europe, was discovered in June of 1988 in the southern part of Lake St. Clair. Length–frequency analyses of populations from the Great Lakes and review of historical benthic studies suggest that the mussel was introduced into Lake St. Clair in late 1986, probably as a result of the discharge of ballast water from an ocean-crossing vessel. Following the 1990 reproductive season, Dreissena populations ranged from the head of the St. Clair River, through Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River, Lake Erie, the Welland Canal, and the Niagara River to the western basin and southern shoreline of Lake Ontario. Isolated populations were found in the St. Lawrence River and in harbours in Lakes Huron, Michigan, and Superior. The rapid dispersal of this organism has resulted from its high fecundity, pelagic larval stage, bysso-pelagic drifting ability of juveniles, and human activities associated with commercial shipping, fishing, and boating (research and pleasure). Virtually any waterbody that can be reached by boaters and fisherman within a few days travel of the lower Great Lakes, particularly Lake Erie, seems to be at risk of being invaded by this nuisance species.

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Subspecific identification of the Great Lakes' first Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) using DNA

The Canadian Field-Naturalist ◽

10.22621/cfn.v129i1.1667 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 129 (1) ◽

pp. 53

Author(s):

Jeffrey H. Skevington ◽

James Pawlicki ◽

Scott Kelso ◽

Kevin C.R. Kerr ◽

Marcie Jacklin

Keyword(s):

Mitochondrial Dna ◽

Great Lakes ◽

Control Region ◽

Adult Female ◽

Genomic Dna ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Great Lakes Basin ◽

Niagara River ◽

Sula Leucogaster ◽

First Time

The first Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) recorded in the Great Lakes basin was discovered on Lake Erie near the source of the Niagara River on 7 October 2013 by J. P. Morphologic evidence suggested that this bird was an adult female of the nominate Atlantic subspecies. We obtained genomic DNA from feces left by the bird. Mitochondrial DNA from the control region (CR2) was sequenced and compared with extensive CR2 data for Brown Booby available in GenBank; this corroborated the morphologic hypothesis. This is the first time that a vagrant bird in Canada has been identified using DNA extracted from feces.

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The coincidence of ecological opportunity with hybridization explains rapid adaptive radiation in Lake Mweru cichlid fishes

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-019-13278-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Joana I. Meier ◽

Rike B. Stelkens ◽

Domino A. Joyce ◽

Salome Mwaiko ◽

Numel Phiri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Gene Flow ◽

Great Lakes ◽

Adaptive Radiation ◽

Ecological Opportunity ◽

African Great Lakes ◽

Cichlid Fishes ◽

Haplochromine Cichlid ◽

Genetic Potential ◽

Adaptive Radiations

AbstractThe process of adaptive radiation was classically hypothesized to require isolation of a lineage from its source (no gene flow) and from related species (no competition). Alternatively, hybridization between species may generate genetic variation that facilitates adaptive radiation. Here we study haplochromine cichlid assemblages in two African Great Lakes to test these hypotheses. Greater biotic isolation (fewer lineages) predicts fewer constraints by competition and hence more ecological opportunity in Lake Bangweulu, whereas opportunity for hybridization predicts increased genetic potential in Lake Mweru. In Lake Bangweulu, we find no evidence for hybridization but also no adaptive radiation. We show that the Bangweulu lineages also colonized Lake Mweru, where they hybridized with Congolese lineages and then underwent multiple adaptive radiations that are strikingly complementary in ecology and morphology. Our data suggest that the presence of several related lineages does not necessarily prevent adaptive radiation, although it constrains the trajectories of morphological diversification. It might instead facilitate adaptive radiation when hybridization generates genetic variation, without which radiation may start much later, progress more slowly or never occur.

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Postglacial Recession of Niagara Falls in Relation to the Great Lakes

Quaternary Research ◽

10.1006/qres.1994.1050 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 20-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Keith J. Tinkler ◽

James W. Pengelly ◽

William G. Parkins ◽

Gary Asselin

Keyword(s):

Great Lakes ◽

Lake Erie ◽

Upper Great Lakes ◽

Niagara River ◽

Niagara Falls ◽

Ottawa River ◽

Valley Fill ◽

History Of ◽

Recession Rates ◽

Late Wisconsinan

AbstractThe recessional history of Niagara Falls in the present Niagara Gorge during the postglacial period has been a focus of study throughout this century. Radiocarbon ages of clam shells suggest that Niagara Falls migrated very slowly around the narrowed gorge section at Niagara Glen from 10,500 to 5500 yr B.P., when upper Great Lakes water bypassed Lake Erie and flowed to the Ottawa River via the outlet at North Bay, Ontario. Prior to that interval, river discharge and recession rates were similar to those at present, and similar rates resumed after 5200 yr B.P. By about 4500 yr B.P., the present gorge had intersected a buried gorge of the pre-late Wisconsinan Niagara River (St. Davids Gorge). The sediment derived from the excavated buried valley fill may be present as a distinct marker horizon in the sediments in southwestern Lake Ontario.

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Status and Trends of the Lake Ontario Macrobenthos

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences ◽

10.1139/f91-184 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 48 (8) ◽

pp. 1558-1567 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Thomas F. Nalepa

Keyword(s):

Great Lakes ◽

River Mouth ◽

Lake Ontario ◽

The Other ◽

Niagara River ◽

Major River ◽

Trends Over Time ◽

The 1960S ◽

River Mouths ◽

The Impact

The benthic macroinvertebrate community of Lake Ontario was examined relative to communities found in the other Great Lakes and also relative to trends over time. In the nearshore, populations are heavily influenced by municipal and industrial inputs. For example, oligochaete abundances in the nearshore are higher than in any of the other Great Lakes (excluding shallow Lake Erie), communities have been altered even to relatively deep depths near the major river mouths, and the pollution-sensitive Pontoporeia hoyi is scarce along the southern shoreline east of the Niagara River mouth. In the profundal, benthic composition is similar to that found in the other Great Lakes, but biomass is less than might be expected given the amount of organic material settling to the bottom. Benthic standing stocks in this region have apparently declined almost threefold since the 1960s. Reasons for this decline do not appear to be related to trends in water column productivity or to predation pressure, but may be related to the accumulation of contaminants. Research needs include studies to assess benthic trends over a much broader area of the lake and studies to examine the impact of sublethal levels of contaminants.

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