Effects of Substrate and Water Depth on Lotus Nelumbo lutea and Wild Rice Zizania aquatica Frequency in Mississippi River Lower Pool 4, 1998-2015

Color poster with text, charts, photographs, maps, and graphs.Observable trends in MN DNR data indicate Lake Pepin is gradually filling in, increasing sedimentation in lower pool 4, a 15-milestretch of river extending from the bottom of Lake Pepin to Lock and Dam No. 4 at Alma, WI. Lake Pepin acts as an enormous filter, slowing water and allowing sediment to drop out. Vegetation levels and water clarity rise dramatically below the lake, especially during low-flow years. High-flow years, such as the Great Floods of 1993 and 2001, result in extremely low vegetation levels due to limited sunlight and the inability of plants to establish a root system in deep and turbid water. Historically, high water levels invariably drown out wild rice and are linked to poor yields. Locations in our sampling area that have historically been lotus beds appear to be shifting toward emergent-type vegetation such as wild rice. From 1998-2010, wild rice had nearly disappeared in lower Pool 4. A threshold level of plants was able to establish a solid root system during recent low flow years and the population now appears to be thriving. This study examined the frequency of lotus and wild rice in lower pool 4 backwater and side channels from 1998-2015, which until now have not been systematically studied. It was hypothesized that over time, frequency of lotus decreased and frequency of wild rice increased. It was our objective to verify the hypothesis and place these frequency changes in the context of water depth and substrate type.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program

International Research Fellowship with the Charles Darwin Research Station: Sustainable Ecological Restoration in the Galápagos Islands

Color poster with text, images, maps, photographs and graphs.The Galápagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago located 600 miles off the coast of Ecuador, are home to ecosystems and endemic species found nowhere else in the world. Historically, human populations here have been very low, but recent increases in tourism and related urbanization have directly increased introduced species to the islands, which are the single largest threat to the unique biodiversity of the Galápagos. Endemic and native plant species, as well as the animal species that depend on them, are experiencing rapid declines throughout the islands due to the direct effects of these invasive species and island urbanization. The Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galápagos Islands (CDF) is an international, non-profit scientific organization that has worked closely with the Galápagos National Park Directorate (GNPD) since 1959 to oversee the safeguarding of the islands’ natural resources. Through the CDF, Galápagos Verde 2050 was formed. This project aims to restore the islands to their native and endemic states by the year 2050 through conservation management practices and the implementation of sustainable growing technologies in both natural and agricultural settings.University of Wisconsin--Eau Claire Office of Research and Sponsored Program