Recent research has uncovered significant insights into the migration patterns of sea lampreys, an invasive species in the Great Lakes region. Kandace Griffin, a MSU doctoral student in fisheries and wildlife, led the study with Michael Wagner, a fisheries professor at MSU. Their research uncovers how parasitic fish make their treacherous journey through watersheds. The findings, published in the Journal of Experimental Biology, could have profound implications for fishing practices and conservation efforts in the Great Lakes.
The team’s primary interest was tracking the movements of 56 sea lampreys in the White River, southeast of Whitehall, Michigan. To track the fish’s behaviors, they used an innovative acoustic telemetry technology for the first time. Typically, researchers used a technique that required surgically implanting her tags. These tags produce their own sound waves, allowing researchers to precisely determine the movement patterns of sea lampreys.
Understanding Sea Lamprey Behavior
These findings indicate that a large percentage of sea lamprey life history stages are intentionally using the deepest areas of the river. This behavior is repeatable across their population. Of 56 sea lampreys, 26 demonstrated a strong bias towards the deepest quarter of the river channel. This represents 46% of all the observed. This research uncovers a significant behavioral trend. Researchers are hopeful that it can inform future management strategies to better combat this invasive species.
Griffin went on to explain acoustic telemetry as one of those technologies like GPS that fundamentally change the game, allowing for unprecedented tracking of fish movements. This sophisticated new capability to track exactly where sea lampreys decide to settle down provides enormous potential to more strategically plan how best to control their populations. Learning more about these seasonal movement patterns is critical for effective management of sea lamprey. It goes a long way towards protecting native fish species from the Great Lakes ecosystem.
Implications for Conservation and Fishing Practices
Michael Wagner underscored the important real-world applications of this research to fishing practices all across the Great Lakes region. By pinpointing areas with high sea lamprey migratory traffic, fisheries are able to more effectively implement management techniques to target and minimize treatment in those specific areas. This knowledge is important for planning successful control interventions. For instance, we can set traps or other treatment devices on riverbanks in locations where sea lamprey smolts’ paths converge.
Griffin was optimistic, noting that the new information about migration patterns provides a new tool to supplement current control methods. She knew that good management was key to saving our native fish from extinction. It’s vital to sustaining the intricate web of life in their aquatic ecosystem.
The economic stakes of this research are huge, as evidenced by these comments from a Ford Foundation representative. Further, the Great Lakes fishing industry adds about $7 billion to the regional economy and 75,000 jobs. Smart management techniques that keep invaders such as the sea lamprey at bay are essential to protecting this key economic driver.
Future Directions for Research and Management
The impacts discovered in this study are not unique to the White River. Together, they offer a broadly replicable framework for exploring such sites around the Great Lakes basin. Scientists and fishery managers alike can use these results to develop holistic, data-driven approaches. This will allow them to better fight the invasive sea lamprey across a broader swath of waterways.
There is ongoing research into the behavior of sea lamprey and the potential for utilizing this behavior. They expect future studies to continue to hone management practices. The ongoing collaboration between academic institutions and fisheries management agencies will play a crucial role in fostering sustainable practices that benefit both the ecosystem and local economies.