O N THE O PEN WATER

nearly all species of Great Lakes fish, as rom the earliest inhabitants to modern-day well as many types of birds and mammals at some point in their life cycles. The residents, people throughout history in the water in these areas has the warmth and shallowness to support warm-water fish United States and Canada have prized the and other aquatic organisms. Almost the entire Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor as a source of is categorized as nearshore waters. F Unfortunately, because of their closeness water, food, transportation and recreation. Despite human to the land and human communities, nearshore waters are most vulnerable to pressures, the Corridor continues to support a remarkable pollution and degradation. Pollution not only affects the water that passes through amount of aquatic biodiversity. Protecting this precious the Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor, but also settles into the bottom sedi- water resource is essential to the continued prosperity ments of the Corridor’s rivers and lakes, thus impacting aquatic life for decades.

of the surrounding region. MEYER JONATHAN The nearshore water environment has The shoreline of Lake St. Clair in Tecumseh, Ontario. The Land and Water Connection Trees along a stream provide been changed physically, chemically shade and habitat for Nearshore Waters ecologically, they are not as biologically and biologically by human activity. While waterways and land may seem aquatic organisms. Raw sewage, fertilizers and pesticides, The undercut banks provide diverse or productive as the fringes and to connect only at shorelines, the The Great Lakes cover one-third of industrial discharges and polluted interconnectedness of water and land hiding and feeding areas the region known as the Great Lakes shallows of those lakes. for fish and insects. stormwater runoff are among the goes far beyond a simple beach. Basin. Although the vast waters of These shallow water areas are known contaminants that have entered the activity, affects the the deeper, larger Great Lakes domi- as nearshore waters. They are home to Corridor, to the detriment of wildlife Many animals know this. For example, nate the Basin geographically and the beaver fells trees on shore and uses health and biodiversity and humans. them to build lodges in the water. The of waterways. An bald eagle nests in trees on land, yet feeds example is removing on prey caught in the water. Many trees and shrubs from reptiles and amphibians feed and live in a riverbank. It may wetlands but nest in uplands. Humans seem like a simple, DEBORAH J. BASSETT-MAXWELL DEBORAH J. live on land but go on or into the water isolated action. But it to fish, boat and swim. can have widespread effects on the run-off. The increased water complex system of the river: The loss volumes can increase the river’s Nearly everything that takes place of roots that anchor soil and absorb speed, leading to erosion of on land, especially human rainwater can result in greater surface embankments downstream. The increased amounts of soil going into the river can bury a fish spawning bed. That can reduce fish populations, resulting in smaller catches for anglers. Whether we live upstream or downstream, on hills or lowlands, in rural or urban areas, we are all connected by water – to each other, to fish and mammals, to birds and insects, to reptiles and amphibians, to wildflowers, shrubs and trees.

Turtles and ducks bask together on a log at the Lower Thames Valley Conservation Authority’s Lighthouse Cove Conservation Area. Woody debris along watercourses

ERNIE BERGEN provide habitat for many animals. A coastal marsh in the St. Clair River Delta near Walpole Island

24 EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR| ON THE OPEN WATER ON THE OPEN WATER| EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR 25 Aquatic Food Web FOOD WEB OF THE GREAT BLUE HERON IN LAKE ST. CLAIR The food web within nearshore waters has many links, extending from extremely tiny microorganisms Phytoplankton to large fish, birds, mammals and can be seen only with humans. Individual food chains can a microscope, be incredibly complex. They may which reveals involve hundreds of different types their of organisms. A food chain can fascinating be understood by examining the shapes and colors. different levels, called trophic levels, Fragilaria spp. through which energy flows. These (above) are diatoms include producers, consumers and that are common in decomposers. the waters of the Lake Huron to Lake Erie Primary producers form the first Corridor during link in a food chain. In a freshwater winter, spring and WYNNE DR. MICHAEL ecosystem, such as the Lake Huron fall while the blue-green algae, Oscillatoria spp. (below), dominate in to Lake Erie Corridor, primary the summer months of July and August. producers include phytoplankton, periphyton, and aquatic macro- An energy pyramid is a useful way to visualize the phytes. These are plants that depend transfer of energy in food chains. (ILLUSTRATION LEFT) THE ECOLOGY OF LAKE ST. CLAIR on the sun for their energy. Energy is lost as it passes through each WETLANDS: A COMMUNITY PROFILE, U.S. FISH AND trophic level. The presence of producers, WILDLIFE SERVICE, BIOLOGICAL REPORT 85 (7.7), Phytoplankton, also called algae, or autotrophs, far outweighs the presence SEPTEMBER 1986. grow suspended in the open waters. of consumers, or heterotrophs. In the biosphere, plants account for 99 percent More than 80 species of phytoplank- of all biomass. All other organisms constitute ton inhabit the Detroit River and 71 the remaining one percent. and stonefly nymphs. Some feed The top, or quarternary consumers, species have been identified in Lake on dead organic matter (detrius) in the aquatic food chain are fish St. Clair. Periphyton are larger algae, shallow water, usually less than 23 ft or filter feed. Other species are predatory, eaters–humans, mammals and birds, which are attached to the lake bot- (7 m) deep, where there is good light feeding on other smaller organisms. such as cormorants and bald eagles. tom or to other aquatic plants. penetration. They are the dominant primary producers in the St. Clair Secondary consumers in an aquatic Decomposers are bacteria and other Aquatic macrophytes, or submersed River, Lake St. Clair and Detroit ecosystem include reptiles and microorganisms that break down aquatic plants, are large, rooted River system. The macrophyte beds amphibians such as bullfrogs, painted and feed on the decaying remains plants that live under the surface of that grow on the fringes of coastal turtles, and water snakes. They eat of aquatic organisms. The marshes and along the shoreline insects and other small prey. breakdown of the organic matter also creates nutrients for green provide food and cover for waterfowl Tertiary consumers include such large and fish. plants. Decomposers play a critical predatory game fish as walleye and role in maintaining the complex Zooplankton are the most numerous muskellunge. They feed on smaller biological and chemical animals in the open waters. These fish that in turn had fed on zooplankton systems of the open water microscopic creatures move about and insects. environment. and eat by straining algae from the water. In turn, zooplankton are eaten Primary Producers Tertiary Consumers by many small fish, such as sunfish phytoplankton, periphyton muskellunge, white bass, walleye and minnows, and the larval stages and aquatic macrophytes and northern pike of many game fish species, including yellow perch. Primary Consumers Quaternary Consumers zooplankton, mussels, snails, osprey, tern, bald eagle, great

DENISE M. STYKA Benthic macroinvertebrates are THE ECOLOGY OF LAKE ST. CLAIR WETLANDS: A COMMUNITY PROFILE, U.S. FISH spineless creatures that live in the crayfish and aquatic insects blue heron, raccoons and humans AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, BIOLOGICAL REPORT 85 (7.7), SEPTEMBER 1986 The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) bottom of a waterway for at least feeds mostly on small fish, but insects, Secondary Consumers Decomposers frogs, and mice are occasionally eaten part of their lives. These creatures minnows, gizzard shad, emerald shiner, invertebrates, bacteria and other microor- This diagram shows the complicated relationships within the food chain of the great blue heron. too. When hunting, the heron will stand include mussels, snails, crayfish, Hundreds of organisms may be involved in any single aquatic food chain. A disturbance in one level motionless waiting for the right moment frogs and turtles ganisms can affect many other creatures. to strike its prey. leeches, worms, sow bugs, mayfly

26 EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR| ON THE OPEN WATER ON THE OPEN WATER| EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR 27 Return of the Mayfly The burrowing mayfly (Hexagenia spp.) is one of the most important fish foods in open waters. The burrowing mayfly nymph feeds on

JOHN SCHAFER JOHN the decaying remains of aquatic plants. In turn, both the aquatic nymph and the flying adult mayfly are food for many animals, especially fish and birds. Large swarms of flying insects are The canvasback duck a common sight around water (Aythya valisineria) frequently during the summer. These are can be seen on the open waters. It was named “valisineria” after burrowing mayflies that have wild celery, its favored food source. emerged from their aquatic larval stage as adults and are mating. They may seem like a nuisance but it is important to remember that they, like many other aquatic insects, INSTITUTE RESEARCH WATER NATIONAL STATON, SHAWN The northern riffleshell (Epioblasma torulosa rangiana) is a freshwater mussel that requires well- BRUCE MANNY BRUCE provide an important link in the oxygenated, swiftly flowing water and prefers to live in fine to coarse gravel substrate. The northern food chain. riffleshell has suffered dramatic declines in North America and is now globally endangered. A population Burrowing mayflies are sensitive in the middle to lower reaches of the east branch of the Sydenham River in Ontario still appears to be relatively healthy and is one of three reproducing populations left in North America. A second to poor water quality. In the 1960s, population may be persisting in the upper portions of the Black River in Sanilac County, Michigan, they became scarce because of toxic and a small population was recorded recently in the shallow waters of Walpole Island. pollutants in the water and Wild celery (Valisineria americana) sediments. With improved water ILLUSTRATION COURTESY OF CARL KORSCHGEN AND GARY DONNERMEYER quality their population has Freshwater Mussels biodiversity. Today, virtually all of the freshwater mussel species that are listed rebounded, to the benefit of Historically, the St. Clair River, Wild celery (Valisineria americana) populations declined by 72 percent from the 1950s to the 1980s in the Detroit River. They have since rebounded and as endangered, threatened or of special wildlife and people. Lake St. Clair and Detroit River and now exceed levels of 50 years ago. This increase is attributed to greater water clarity, which is believed to be the result of water filtration by the zebra concern in Michigan and Ontario are their tributaries supported large, diverse mussel, a non-native, invasive aquatic species. Wild celery is the preferred food of diving ducks such as canvasbacks, redheads and scaup. confined to southeastern Michigan populations of freshwater mussels. and southwestern Ontario waterways, The Detroit River had one of the biggest Submersed Aquatic Plants with large, continuous stretches of they do occur around the river’s including Lake St. Clair, the Sydenham varieties of freshwater mussels in the More than 20 species of submersed submersed aquatic plants, or “weed beds”, islands, shoals and shoulders. The River in Ontario, and the Raisin, Huron, entire Great Lakes Basin, with at least plants occur in the St. Clair River, which are primary producers in extensive coastal marshes of the St. Clinton, Belle, Black and Pine Rivers 35 species recorded in the early 1900s. Lake St. Clair and Detroit River system. the aquatic food chain. Clair River Delta and in Michigan. In fact, the Sydenham Lake St. Clair had 32 recorded species. The most common species are listed Today, the beds are the shallows of Lake River is now the most significant refuge fragmented and only St. Clair support the in the chart below. The diversity of freshwater mussel for freshwater mussels in the Corridor. a fraction of their largest beds. species is related to glacial history. At one time, the shoreline of the Lake original size. In the Freshwater mussels are in the Unionidae Eurasian watermilfoil During the late stages of the Wisconsin Huron to Lake Erie Corridor was lined lower reaches of the (Myriophyllum spicatum) family, also known as pearly mussels. glacial period, there were many drainage Detroit River, south is an invasive aquatic species They are natural water cleansers and an routes that flowed through southeastern Submersed Aquatic Plants common to the of Grassy Island, that has spread throughout important part of the aquatic food chain. North America since its Michigan and southwestern Ontario. Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor submersed beds occur They are food for muskrats, river otters Listed in order from most abundant to least abundant introduction in the These drainage routes enabled aquatic near coastal marshes, and waterfowl. The mussels also have 1940s. This feathery species to move in from other river Common Name Scientific Name especially in the been important to humans. Early natives looking aquatic plant basins, such as the Mississippi, Wild celery Valisineria americana Canard River Marsh, forms thick mats in used them for food, jewelry and tools. St. Lawrence and Allegheny. Redhead grass Potamogeton richardsonii Humbug Marsh and rivers, lakes and streams From 1890 to 1950, mussel shells were Consequently, many different Eurasian watermilfoil Myriophyllum spicatum Gibraltar Bay. The where it displaces native used by the button-making industry. Waterweed Elodea canadensis aquatic plants, thus freshwater mussels were able to St. Clair River’s swift Between 1920 and 1946, freshwater Water stargrass Heterantha dubia impacting fish and wildlife. colonize in the Corridor’s water bodies. Pondweeds Potamogeton spp. current and straight Once an area is infested, mussels were harvested for this purpose Bushy pondweed Najas flexilis channel prevent the it can interfere with boating Mussels that persist today are a globally along a 19-mi (30-km) stretch Coontail Ceratophyllum demersum widespread growth of by entangling propellers and ALLEN CHARTIER significant component of the Lake of the Thames River below London, degrading swimming areas. emergent aquatic plants but AMELIA HANSEN, CORVUS ART An adult mayfly on a leaf blade Huron to Lake Erie Corridor’s aquatic Ontario.

28 EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR| ON THE OPEN WATER ON THE OPEN WATER| EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR 29 The Biology of Freshwater Mussels Mussels’ movement upstream and surveys indicate it may no longer Freshwater mussels may appear to be a reproduction capability are intricately exist in the river because simple lifeform, but they actually have linked to fish. Female mussels’ eggs are of the exotic mussel invasion. a complex lifecycle. Most species spend fertilized when sperm is drawn in from surrounding water, so a male of the same Native freshwater mussels have their time buried in sand or gravel at the found a few refuges. Researchers bottom of rivers and streams. Some species needs to be nearby to avoid localized extinction. The fertilized eggs recently discovered isolated mussels live to be 100 years old. Only populations of native mussels in the a few species make their home in the still develop into the larval stage inside the female. Once they are developed, the nearshore coastal marshes of western waters of lakes and ponds. They usually Lake Erie, the mouth of the River remain in one place, although they do female releases her young when she senses a fish is near. Some mussels will Raisin and the St. Clair River Delta have a “foot” that helps them to burrow at Walpole Island. Scientists are and move limited distances if disturbed wave specially adapted tissues that look like fish prey in order to lure a fish. conducting investigations to better by drought or floods. This foot also helps understand how these populations to anchor them against strong currents The young mussels, called glochidia, have to attach themselves to a host fish survive and if they remain stable. and predators such as muskrats that dig Research into freshwater mussels, deep in the sand for their dinner. or they will die. This generally harmless and the impact of exotic mussels on DTE ENERGY Freshwater mussels draw water into their parasitic stage lasts a matter of weeks before the glochidia mature and drop them, is critical to managing and shells so their gills can absorb oxygen preserving the Corridor’s rich and filter plankton, their food source. off the fish to begin a new life, in a different place than the mother. aquatic heritage. Mussels are an excellent indicator species, or gauge, of local water quality because they are relatively stationary. They face many more threats now than in the past, including poor water quality, sedimentation, loss of larval fish hosts, channelization of rivers and streams, and invasive species. The greatest threat in the Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor Workers remove zebra mussels from a water intake pipe at DTE Energy’s Monroe Power Plant is the zebra mussel, a non-native species A native freshwater mussel that reproduces at a tremendous rate colonized by zebra mussels. without need for a fish host. It displaces The zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha), like many aquatic nuisance native freshwater mussels and wins the species, was brought here in the ballast water of a transatlantic freighter. Originally from Russia, the zebra mussel was discharged in 1988 into Freshwater Mussel Species at Risk in the Lake Huron competition for food and oxygen. Zebra Lake St. Clair, where it quickly multiplied. Within 10 years, it spread to Lake Erie Corridor mussels even colonize the shells of native throughout the Great Lakes Basin and into the Ohio, Mississippi, mussels, encumbering and starving Tennessee and Hudson River basins. Common Name Scientific Name them to death. Purple wartyback Cyclonaias tuberculata Besides decimating native freshwater mussel species, the zebra mussel White catspaw Epioblasma oblique perobliqua

DOUG SWEET DOUG The zebra mussel has decimated native SWEET DOUG has taken a huge financial toll. The cost of just keeping zebra mussels from clogging water intake pipes is estimated at more than $2 billion a year. Northern riffleshell Epioblasma torulosa rangiana The snuffbox (Epioblasma triquetra) freshwater mussel populations in the The rayed bean (Villosa fabalis) is one Corridor. The original number of 35 Snuffbox Epioblasma triquetra is a small freshwater mussel with unique of the smallest freshwater mussels. It lives Zebra mussels have increased water clarity in many rivers and lakes. markings that look like dripping paint. species in the Detroit River had been in rivers and along lakeshores swept by In doing so, they have changed habitat and food webs, and depleted nutrients. Wavy-rayed lamp mussel Lampilis fasciola It lives deep within the sediment of small- to dropping relatively slowly, but fell faster shallow waves, where it is often found An example of the impact is in Lake St. Clair, where the increased water Hickorynut Obovaria olivaria medium-sized rivers and streams, preferring after zebra mussels arrived. Surveys found deeply buried in sand or gravel among clarity has allowed sunlight to penetrate to deeper waters, enabling more clean sand, gravel or cobble substrate with roots of aquatic plants. It is extremely rare Round hickorynut Obovaria subrotunda 28 different species in the 1980s but aquatic vegetation to grow. With more vegetation, the lake can support swiftly flowing water. The banded sculpin globally. Its distribution overlaps that greater numbers of bass, northern pike and muskellunge but it has become Round pigtoe Pluerobema coccineum and logperch are fish hosts. Distribution only 24 in the early 1990s. The Detroit of the northern riffleshell. It is important less suitable for light-sensitive fish such as walleye. Mudpuppy mussel Simpsonaias ambigua of the snuffbox has been reduced significantly River once supported one of the last to protect rare fish associated with the Purple lillyput Toxolasma lividus throughout North America; most populations strongly-reproducing populations of the habitats of mussels like the rayed bean, Anglers and boaters can help control the zebra mussel’s spread. One precaution have become small and isolated. It is listed as northern riffleshell, which is on the whose larval fish hosts are not known. is to not dump bait into the water. Another is to run the engine briefly while Rayed bean Villosa fabalis endangered in both Michigan and Ontario. Once widespread in southern Ontario, federal list of endangered species the boat is still on the trailer before launching it into a different water body. Rainbow Villosa iris the rayed bean is now found only in the east in the U.S. and Canada. However, recent branch of the Sydenham River. In Michigan, Many freshwater mussel species have colorful names, such it is still found in the Pine River in St. Clair as purple wartyback and round pigtoe, which give clues to County, the Clinton River in Oakland their appearance. County, the River Raisin in Monroe County and the upper Detroit River.

30 EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR| ON THE OPEN WATER THE LAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR IS A MIGRATIONROUTE ANDSPAWNING AREA FOR GREAT LAKES FISH

Fish are the most numerous animals of the are present throughout the year. FISH SPAWNING AREAS open water in the Corridor. Of the 174 Populations of these fish also come species of fish recorded in the Great Lakes from other lakes in large numbers Basin, 116 are known to occur in the St. during the spring and summer for Clair and Detroit River systems and their feeding, spawning and nursery habitat. tributaries. This incredibly large and Larger cold-water fish, such as salmon diverse fish fauna is due to a wide variety and rainbow trout, use the Corridor of aquatic habitats, as well as the fact that to migrate between Lakes Huron and some species found here are at the north- Erie or to dine on seasonally abundant ern or southern limits of their range. forage fish. Since the arrival of European settlers, there Different types of aquatic habitats have been significant changes in the fish support different fish species. Some community, particularly during the past fish, such as northern pike and century. Exploitation by commercial and pumpkinseed, are highly dependent recreational fisheries, extensive shoreline on coastal wetlands. Others, such as modification, pollution and introduction smallmouth bass and largemouth bass, of exotic species have changed the abun- can be found both in coastal wetlands dance and distribution of fish species. and non-vegetated waters. Larger fish, These dramatic changes become apparent such as walleye and muskellunge, when current conditions are compared frequent deeper channel waters. The with this account, written by Bela loss of coastal wetlands and riparian Hubbard, who lived near the Detroit River habitats has contributed to the decline in the late-19th Century: of many fish that depend on aquatic vegetation for spawning, feeding “… All the world is now familiar with this and cover. lustrous and exquisite fish (lake whitefish), with which our strait and lakes abound, and The loss of coastal wetlands and their which has become an important article of associated beds of submersed aquatic commerce. In our river they are only taken plants can affect fish populations with seine and dragnets, in the spring and because they provide spawning and fall. The latter is the season of the great run, nursery habitat for many popular and commences with the approaching of cold sport fish species. Largemouth bass, weather in October, lasting until nearly win- smallmouth bass, northern pike, ter…many a time I have watched the boats LAKES MUSEUM, BELLE ISLE, MICHIGAN GREAT DOSSIN POLASCEK, JOHN BY PROVIDED 1899, 12, NOVEMBER FREE PRESS, THE DETROIT walleye, yellow perch and as they pull upstream – a song keeping time Illustration taken from an article that appeared in the Detroit Free Press, November 12, 1899. The muskellunge reproduce in Great Lakes to the oars—drop the net, and row rapidly article,“Fishing on a Big Scale,” described the commercial fish operations of the United States Fish coastal marshes. back to shore. Here both ends are drawn by Commission on Belle Isle. The process used a seine, over 1,000 feet in legnth and 12 foot in depth, first hauled out by men on a boat and later drawn in by horsepower. The wetlands and reefs of the lower horse windlass, the bag of the net soon Detroit River are the most significant appearing, distended with the shining cap- spawning and nursery habitat for the tives. They are thrown into a pile, from Lake whitefish, lake trout and lake common. Today, the lake sturgeon, entire river and for most of western (Above) This map is a which the finest and largest may be selected herring still occur, but are no longer sauger and lake herring are species Lake Erie. It is estimated more than generalized view of spawning at five to ten cents a piece.….The seine of major seasonal components of the St. at risk in the region. The blue pike 10 million adult walleye migrate areas. The Lake Huron to course catches all kinds of fish that come Clair River, Lake St. Clair and Detroit is extinct. there annually. Other major spawning Lake Erie Corridor provides within its sweep, and are not too small to River system. Historically, these large areas include Lake St. Clair and valuable spawning and nursery Great Lakes fish use the Lake habitat for more than 45 escape its two and half inch meshes. Among cold-water fish were not residents, but the Thames River. these occasionally a huge sturgeon, often Huron to Lake Erie Corridor species of fish. Among them migrated through the corridor from are minnows and small game as a permanent home, a seasonal (Right) Yellow perch caught from Lake of forty pounds weight. And more rarely that Lakes Erie and Huron to spawn in the fish that spawn in coastal St.Clair by local fisherman. Fishing is a prince of a fish and delicate bonne bouche, home or a migratory pathway. wetlands near shoals, shallow fall. These three fish species largely popular activity in the Lake Huron to Lake Most warm-water fish, such as waters around islands, and the muskellunge. The latter is also taken by disappeared from the region during Erie Corridor. The extensive wetlands of sunfish, sucker, catfish and drum, river shoulders with gravel hook and line in our river and in Lake Ste. the early 1900s due to over-fishing, the St. Clair River Delta contribute to or silt substrates. Large game Claire.” are permanent residents. Lake St. Clair’s distinction as one of North construction of the shipping channel fish, particularly lake sturgeon, Cool-water species such as walleye, America’s most productive sport fisheries –BELA HUBBARD, and water pollution. Lake sturgeon, spawn in deep water where for bass and muskellunge. Lake St. Clair "MEMORIALS OF A HALF CENTURY", 1887 lake sturgeon, yellow perch, the current is swift and the sauger, and blue pike also were once and the Detroit River are recognized as muskellunge and northern pike bottom is hard.

fishing hot spots worldwide. L. FRANCIS DOROTHY

32 EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR| ON THE OPEN WATER ON THE OPEN WATER| EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR 33 A VERY OLD FISH

The Return of the Lake Sturgeon fast-flowing water, usually at a depth of Historically, the lake sturgeon 5 to 25 ft (7.5 m). Currently, two lake (Acipenser fulvescens) has been sturgeon spawning sites are known to a significant member of the exist in the St. Clair River. One is in the Great Lakes fish community. upper river near the Blue Water Bridge, where the water is approximately 60 ft During the past century, lake (18 m) deep. The other is in the lower sturgeon populations have become river, near the opening into Lake St. so low that fishing is extremely Clair, on an artificial reef composed of limited. It is listed as an endangered coal cinders put into the river in the species in the U.S. Causes of the SWEET 7DOUG Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) 1880s by commercial ships. After decline include human alteration of hatching, young sturgeon migrate into Several primitive physical features the landscape as well as sedimentation adjacent marshes and larger lakes. make the lake sturgeon unique. Instead DAVID JUDE DAVID and pollution in the water, all of which changed the amount and of overlapping scales, it has five bony Many agencies and universities have The common carp (Cyprinus carpio), which is quality of spawning habitat. shields and a head covered with bony been working to restore the lake thought to have originated in Eastern Asia, was plates. Like sharks, its skeleton is sturgeon. Since 1997, researchers from brought here as a potential food fish in the JUDE DAVID Commercial over-fishing in the cartilage and its spinal column 1800s. It adversely affects coastal wetlands the University of Michigan School of The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is a small fish that arrived in the early 1990s. late 19th Century is also partly continues to the upper lobe of the tail. Natural Resources have been using because it uproots aquatic plants as it feeds, It appears to be displacing many native darters and sculpins. The round goby feeds on the eggs destroying valuable submergent beds. of native sport fish as well as zebra mussels. Scientists are studying this new invader’s impacts responsible for the population The underside of the lake sturgeon’s telemetry to track the population’s on the aquatic food chain. decrease. Annual commercial lake snout contains four fleshy barbells, or seasonal movements in the St. Clair sturgeon production in the Lake Erie feelers, that drag on the bottom and have River and Lake St. Clair. Through this Exotic Fish in the Lake Huron carp, round goby and white perch impact on native fisheries and and Lake St. Clair system peaked chemical sensors to locate snails, clams, tracking, scientists hope to identify are found in abundance. are popular with anglers. Other to Lake Erie Corridor at five million pounds in 1885. It has crayfish, worms and insect larvae on key spawning grounds and to better exotic fish, such as the round goby, More than 15 species of exotic fish been near zero since 1910. which it feeds. Behind the feelers, understand migratory patterns. Other These fish began to appear in the Great were released accidentally through live in the Lake Huron to Lake Erie Lakes system in the 1800s. Some were a tube-like mouth sucks up food like agencies and institutions such as the the discharge of ballast water from However, the lake sturgeon appears to Corridor. Of these, alewife, rainbow deliberately introduced to boost sport a vacuum cleaner, as it has no teeth. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, transatlantic freighters and have be making a comeback in the region. smelt, coho salmon, chinook salmon, fishing. Among them are salmon and Recent observations have found the lake Michigan Department of Natural reproduced in extraordinary numbers. For the first time in decades, juvenile rainbow trout, brown trout, common trout, which have had little negative sturgeon feeds on exotic species such Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife lake sturgeon have been found in the as zebra mussels and round goby. These Service, U.S. Geological Service and Canadian waters of the western Lake findings reveal the adaptable foraging Central Michigan University also are Erie Basin. Today, the Lake Huron to behavior of the lake sturgeon, a researching lake sturgeon and their COMMON COLD-WATER, COOL-WATER, WARM-WATER, AND FORAGE FISH Lake Erie Corridor supports the testimonial to its long existence on Earth. habitat. Information gathered from all largest river-spawning lake sturgeon SPECIES FOUND IN THE LAKE HURON TO LAKE ERIE CORRIDOR these efforts is essential to the population in the Great Lakes. The lake sturgeon has an extremely late development of long-term strategies for maturity, which has slowed the recovery increasing the sturgeon population and • Cold-water: Lake whitefish, lake herring, lake trout, brown trout#, coho salmon#, The lake sturgeon belongs to a group of its native population. Sexual maturity protecting spawning locations. Recent Chinook salmon#, rainbow trout#. of fish that predates the dinosaurs is not reached until age 15 for males and research found an increase in two-and by 40 million years. It is one of the age 25 for females. They return to rivers three-year-old juveniles. This is • Cool-water: Lake sturgeon, northern pike*, muskellunge*, walleye* and yellow perch* longest-living and most primitive in the spring, even when there is still ice, encouraging news. With continued animals in the world. A lake sturgeon to spawn from early May through June. • Warm-water: Black crappie*, brown bullhead*, yellow bullhead, black bullhead, largemouth bass*, research and proper management, it is may grow to eight feet (2.4 m) in They spawn on large rocks and coarse rock bass*, bluegill*, smallmouth bass*, freshwater drum, channel catfish*, common carp# hoped this ancient fish will be as length, weigh up to 300 lb (136 kg) gravel in a rapid current. A large female abundant in the third millennium as at maturity and live up to 125 years. may lay as many as three million eggs, • Forage: Gizzard shad, minnows, trout perch, killifish, silver sides, sticklebacks, sculpins, it was in ages past. rainbow smelt#, alewife# depositing them on gravel bars in *= Important game fish species # = Exotic fish species

34 EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR| ON THE OPEN WATER ON THE OPEN WATER| EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR 35 F ISH AT R ISK

These islands are just the beginning of the new Many fish species found in the St. Clair Fish Species at Risk in the Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

River, Lake St. Clair and Detroit River Common Name Scientific Name Lake sturgeon Acipenser fulvescens are considered to be at risk in either Eastern sand darter Ammocrypta pellucida Lake herring Coregonus artedii Lake chubsucker Erimyzon sucetta Steel Corporation purchased the island Michigan or Ontario due to declining Mooneye Hiodon tergisus in 1945 from the U.S. government. Silver chub Hybopsis storeiana The Army Corps of Engineers has used populations. Decreases in the Northern brook lamprey Icthyomyzon fossor the island as a disposal site for dredged Bigmouth buffalo Ictiobus cyprinellus material from the Rouge River bottom, Spotted gar Lepisosteus oculatus so the island’s size has increased over the abundance and diversity of fish are years. In 1962, Mud Island’s size was Black redhorse Moxostoma duquesnei increased by the addition of material caused by various factors, including River redhorse Moxostoma carinatum dredged from the bottom of the Trenton Northern madtom Noturus stigmosus Channel. Currently it is an 18.5-acres Pugnose shiner Notropis anogenus (7.4-ha) island with 71.5-acres (28.6-ha) of submerged aquatic shoals. National water pollution and invasive species. Bridle shiner Notropis bifrenatus Steel donated the island to the U.S. Fish Pugnose minnow Notropis emiliae and Wildlife Service on June 14, 2001. The main causes, though, are loss Channel darter Percina copelandi Grassy Island was a favored whitefish Sauger Stizostedion canadense spawning area in the 1800s. Records and degradation of fish habitat. show the fishery on the island employed 30 men, working day and night from The Detroit River of Interstate 75 and Jefferson Avenue. September to November to harvest The extensive draining and International Wildlife Refuge This area covers riverfront, islands, 45,000 adult whitefish per spawning shoals, marshes, and coastal wetlands season. The island was used mainly for The Detroit River International along the Detroit River and western Lake navigation purposes until 1961 when it filling of coastal wetlands, Wildlife Refuge is North America’s Erie. Initially, the former Wyandotte was designated as a national wildlife first international wildlife refuge and National Wildlife Refuge made up most refuge because of its natural resource joint habitat management project. of the new Refuge. More recent additions values. The abundant beds of wild celery dredging of the navigation Public Law 107-91 established it JOSEPH R. TOMELLERI include Mud Island, Calf Island and a surrounding the island attract thousands in the U.S on December 21, 2002. 152-acre parcel in Monroe County. In of diving ducks during their spring and This was a landmark event in the addition, a cooperative management fall migrations. Bald eagle, lake sturgeon, channel and hardening of the shoreline The northern madtom (Noturus stigmosus) is a small, bottom-dwelling quest to protect, manage and restore agreement has been signed with DTE spotted turtle, osprey and common tern catfish that is sensitive to poor water quality. the biologically significant ecosystem Energy’s Fermi II Nuclear Power Facility are rare species that have been identified of the lower Detroit River, often have all significantly reduced and to manage over 600-acres of habitat on at the refuge. referred to as the “Conservation that site at the newly established Lagoona Crescent.” The new refuge presents The dominant features of these Detroit Beach Unit of the Refuge. This landmark an opportunity for dynamic River islands are hardwood forests, degraded habitat. Fish surveys confirm agreement doubled the amount of partnerships between the U.S. swamps, lakeplain prairie and various property under the jurisdiction of the Fish and Wildlife Service and types of wetland, most importantly Great Wildlife Refuge. Due to the unqiue the impacts. For example, few governments, industries, local Lakes coastal marsh. Mammals found on naure of this urban Refuge, property communities and various agencies the islands include coyote, gray fox, donations, acquisitions and cooeprative and organizations. white-tailed deer, raccoon, woodchuck, NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT agreements are essential to its expansion fish species are found near the steel OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION muskrat, rabbit, voles and mice. Overall, Two seperate laws in the U.S. within the designated area. the new refuge will conserve, protect established an acquisition boundary The lands of the refuge have a long and and restore habitat for 29 species of break walls that now dominate The eastern sand darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) is a small member for the Refuge which stretches nearly of the perch family. It lives almost exclusively in sandy-bottomed areas, colorful history. During the prohibition waterfowl, 65 kinds of fish and 300 40 mi from the mouth of the Rouge where it likes to completely bury itself. Its translucent body era of the 1920s and early 1930s, Mud species of migratory birds along the River south to the Michigan/Ohio and burrowing nature afford it camouflage from predators. Island was a center of illegal alcohol lower Detroit River and western much of the Corridor’s shoreline. state line and includes the lands east transport, or “rum-running.” National Lake Erie.

36 EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR| ON THE OPEN WATER ON THE OPEN WATER| EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR 37 Riparian zones are the areas along the banks WHAT’SINARIVER? of rivers or streams. These zones serve as an important transitional Riffles area and buffer between water and land. Riffles are shallow areas with faster flows where rocks break the Because riparian zones surface and aerate the water. include both land and They are important spawning water, they are rich grounds for fish. with diverse plant communities that are Floodplain Runs adapted to fluctuating Pool water levels, nutrient Runs are fast, deep areas where rich soils and warm the water surface is turbulent but microclimates common rocks do not break the surface. to riparian lowlands. Riffle Pools STREAMS These plant communities, along with moisture Pools are wide, deeper areas with

variations and natural E.MAURA MCNICHOL slow currents that occur between floating objects such as The south branch of the Pine River at the Pine River Nature Center in Goodells, Michigan. riffle-run complexes and are tree limbs and leaves, favored habitats of fish. provide habitat, and fluid movement corridors for Floodplains a wide variety of aquatic, & avian and terrestrial Floodplains are lands surround- fauna, especially reptiles ing a stream that are periodically and amphibians. covered with water. They are important for absorbing excess Today, natural buffers stormwater and reducing stream- of vegetation along bank erosion. watercourses are TERRY LOU A view of the Huron River in the fall important habitat. Meanders They provide a migratory corridor for wildlife in Meanders are bends in stream an increasinly fragmented channels. They form naturally as natural landscape. streams flow through floodplains. Streamside vegetation also AUTHORITY ESSEX REGION CONSERVATION They help reduce downstream helps to both retain water The Canard River at the Essex Region Conservation Authority’s Canard Valley Conservation Area. flooding by using the energy of and maintain good water water to create longer streams quality. In contrast, in with more erosional and deposi- landscapes where forests tional areas. Meanders increase and wetlands have been the quantity and quality of removed, streams often stream habitats. dry up in late-summer and have poor water quality. Water that does remain has a higher temperature and lower dissolved oxygen content,

impairing biological AUTHORITY ST. CLAIR REGION CONSERVATION communities.

RIVERS The Sydenham River is one of the most biologically diverse watersheds in all of Canada, supporting at least 82 species of fish and 34 species of freshwater mussels. F ISH D IVERSITY IN THE T RIBUTARIES

The tributaries that flow into the Many of the smaller endangered and River systems in southwestern Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor are threatened fish species of Michigan, such Ontario also support a great diversity generally too small for large fish but as redside dace and silver shiner, live in of fish. The Thames River supports they provide habitat for smaller fish the watersheds of southeastern Michigan. nearly two-thirds of Ontario’s known species such as darters and minnows. Populations of those fish declined fish fauna. The Sydenham River Historically, the Corridor’s watersheds because urbanization degraded their supports eight fish species at risk. have supported a diverse fish fauna. waterways. Preserving the remaining Twenty-three species of minnows, pristine headwaters and improving such as the pugnose, have been Unfortunately, changes in riparian habitat in the lower reaches of rivers is identified in Essex County’s many zones, such as the clearing of streamside key to maintaining the presence of the creeks and small rivers, the highest vegetation, have altered the habitat and fish in the state. Undeveloped headwater minnow diversity recorded for any resulted in siltation, pollution and areas are important sources of diverse region in Canada. Restoring and increased water temperatures lowering aquatic species that may re-colonize maintaining the health of the the suitability of rivers and streams to degraded reaches downstream once tributaries will help to ensure a support diverse fish populations. water quality improves. diverse fish community remains. ROBERT STEWART ROBERT

Right is Stony Creek in the late fall, which is the headwaters of the Clinton River. Its natural state sharply differs from the urbanization that defines the Clinton River’s lower reaches. JESSICA PITELKA-OPFER

JOSEPH R. TOMELLERI The Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor is characterized by tremendous aquatic biodiversity. From tiny plankton to giant lake sturgeon, many different types of The silver shiner (Notropis photogenis) is a small, slender minnow that likes the quieter pools of creatures are connected to one another larger river systems. The watersheds of the Corridor are at the northern end of its distribution in through the aquatic food chain. Sport fish North America. This minnow is becoming rare due to habitat loss. are abundant and the bald eagle has returned to shorelines in the region. But despite humans’ efforts to protect water THE REDSIDE DACE quality, prevent habitat loss and guard against invasive species, many aquatic organisms continue to decline. A few he redside dace (Clinostomus elongatus) are close to extinction. More actions to is an endangered fish in Michigan. protect and restore wildlife habitat are It lives in Johnson Creek, a clear, cool critical to ensuring the aquatic headwater stream of the Rouge River. communities of southeastern Michigan TParts of Johnson Creek are still relatively and southwestern Ontario remain healthy and diverse. To learn more about how to undisturbed. Headwaters like Johnson Creek help protect and restore rivers, lakes and hold important potential for re-colonizing KONRAD SCHMIDT, GENERAL COLLEGE streams contact your local watershed DEBORAH BASSETT-MAXWELL DEBORAH AND JAMES FORD BELL MUSEUM OF ecologically sensitive species in the lower organization listed in Appendix C. NATURAL HISTORY, UNIVERSITY OF The annual leaf fall into rivers and creeks supplies organic matter to the stream system. It is a first link in the food chain, MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL. reaches of degraded watersheds. feeding benthic macroinvertebrates and other aquatic organisms.

ON THE OPEN WATER| EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR 41 40 EXPLORE OURNATURALWORLD: A BIODIVERSITYATLAS OF THELAKE HURON TOLAKE ERIE CORRIDOR| ON THE OPEN WATER