Waterbirds play a significant role in the ecology and food dynamics of lakes. Our research on this topic focuses on abundance and distribution of waterbirds using different techniques such as distance sampling. We’ve focused on two topics:
1) Estimating abundance of common loons on Lake Opeongo: Estimating loon abundance on large lakes requires more than counting. It requires sampling such as distance sampling. This is a project by Nicole Paleczny on estimating the size of waterbird assemblage on Lake Opeongo and relating this to overall lake fish productivity.
2) Over the past 20+ years the abundance of double-crested cormorants has increased exponentially in coastal regions of Lake Huron, as well as other Laurentian Great Lakes. Cormorants are found in densities ranging from 1 to 5 birds per square kilometer along the coasts of Georgian Bay and the North Channel. The purpose of this project is to better understand the relationship between coastal fish populations and the abundance of double-crested cormorants.
This is a large scale project with extensive monitoring and assessment in Georgian Bay and the North Channel. The question was: Do indexes of coastal fish abundance and biomass increase in response to experimental egg oiling? This question was addressed using a staircase design. The above figure of northern Lake Huron shows seven sample frames used in this research project. Each frame is 20km x 20km. More information on methods and study sites is available in a pdf report. The report is 16 megs so be patient during the download.
The database on fish and bird abundance and distribution is extensive and capable of addressing a number of questions beyond the ecology of double-crested cormorants.
Current questions being addressed are:
- What is the relative distribution of cormorants among coastal regions of Lake Huron andManitoulinIsland?
- What is the relative role of anglers and cormorants in removal of annual fish yield amongManitoulinIslandlakes?
- What is the response of fish to experimental egg oiling of double-crested cormorant nests on the coast ofLake Huron?