USGS - Biological Resources Division

On the basis of morphological measurements, previous investigators concluded that three cyprinid species, fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), blacknose shiner (Notropis heterolepis), and pearl dace (Margariscus margarita), from Harvey Lake in Isle Royale National Park were unique enough to warrant subspecific status. Other investigators, however, have questioned these designations and concluded the Harvey Lake fish do not merit such designation.

The introduction, both incidental and intentional, of non-native fishspecies into national parks, including Voyageurs National Park, is a significant issue both from the biological and political perspective. Although these introductions often have strong public support, in many instances they have the potential to negatively impact the parks aquatic ecosystem, including the native fish stocks. Six of Voyageurs National Parks small lakes have established populations of non-native largemouth bass as a result of plantings made before establishing the park.

The U.S.

The National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program(NCBP)was established todocument trends in the occurrence of persistent toxic chemicals that may threaten fish and wildlife resources.Begun in the early 196 s as part of the National Pesticide Monitoring Program,the NCBP has expanded its initial focus on persistent organochlorine insecti- cides to include industrial chemicals,herbicides,and potentially Toxic elemental contaminants.The program also provides necessary feedback to the process by documenting the success(or failure)of regulatory actions related to environmental contami

The objectives of this study are to: (1) determine the number of daily foraging trips and distance that cormorants travel from their breeding colony to forage on western Lake Erie; and (2) determine the distribution of fish based on foraging behavior of DCCOs in western Lake Erie. Keywords:Assessment, Diet, Double-crested, Fish-eating birds, Fishes Movement

A revised and expanded contaminant monitoring program is necessary toassess existing, and anticipate future, contaminant-related impacts to fish and wildlife and their habitats. To achieve these objectives, the revised program, to be named Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST), will use a biologically integrated approach to monitor. Keyword: Analytical chemistry, Aquatic, Biological, Contaminant, Development, Fisheries Mgmt., Indicator, Invertebrate, Lead, Methods

The most sensitive portion of a fishs life to the toxic effects of chemicalcontaminants is from embryonic development through the fry stages. This has been demonstrated to be true for numerous classes of chemicals. However, there are two shortcomings of the standard protocols for testing the toxicity of chemicals to early life stages of fish. First, the current tests to determine the toxicity of chemicals to early life stages of fishes rely upon waterborne exposure.

These studies will evaluate commercial immunoassay kits, improve our understanding of the capabilities and limitations of this new methodology for contaminant analysis, and develop immunochemical assays for new chemicals. We are investigating the extent to which thiaminase activity in forage fish and the food chain of Great Lakes salmonids may be causing a depletion of thiamine in the eggs of these fish and resulting in an early mortality syndrome. Keyword: Biochemical, Contaminant, Enzyme, Fish