Geology topics

Research about Lake Michigan, Lake Superior

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Lake Michigan, Lake Superior.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2026

Competition between invasive round goby and native slimy sculpin in a coldwater laboratory setting

Slimy sculpin ( Cottus cognatus ) abundance has substantially declined in many regions of the Laurentian Great Lakes coincident with the arrival and range expansions of invasive round goby ( Neogobius melanostomus ). Previous studies have shown that round goby can outcompete native mottled sculpin ( C. bairdii ) for shelter and negatively affect native spoonhead sculpin ( C. ricei ) growth, but direct behavioral interactions of slimy sculpin and round goby have not been observed. We conducted a laboratory experiment in which a pair of slimy sculpin were placed in an aquarium that contained an artificial spawning shelter and one round goby (treatment, n = 10) or no other fish (control, n = 10) for at least 30 days at temperatures reflective of their potential offshore overlap. We measured slimy sculpin egg deposition, aggressive interactions, artificial shelter occupancy, growth, and survival. Slimy sculpin were less likely to occupy shelters and experienced increased intraspecific competition when a round goby was present. In contrast, round goby rarely chased slimy sculpin, slimy sculpin were more likely to chase round goby, and slimy sculpin growth, egg deposition, and survival were not significantly different between groups. Differences in density between treatments and the relative size of fish could confound our observations. However, the dominant slimy sculpin occupied the shelter at similar rates between experimental groups if the round goby was smaller. Our results indicate that larger round goby overlapping with slimy sculpin could affect slimy sculpin shelter and space use, but the Great Lakes environment may create more stress for slimy sculpin than we observed.

Lake Michigan, Lake Superior↗

USGS2000

Glacial and nonglacial sediment contributions to Wisconsin episode loess in the Central United States

The relative contributions of various glacial and nonglacial sediments to Wisconsin Episode loess units along the lower Illinois and central Mississippi Valleys are estimated on the basis of a comparison of magnetic susceptibility and silt and clay mineralogy. A mathematical method of source area calculation, using four compositional parameters, was guided by current knowledge of the regional glacial history. On the basis of this technique, the Roxana Silt, along the Illinois and Mississippi River Valleys, is composed of significant Superior lobe sediment (35%-40%) as well as Wadena or Des Moines lobe sediment (about 35%). This can account for its high magnetic susceptibility, feldspar content, kaolinite content, and pink hue. Lower Peoria Silt contains about 25%-35% Lake Michigan lobe sediment with reduced contributions of the other sources. After the Mississippi River's diversion (20.4 ka), the supply of Superior, Des Moines, and Wadena lobe sediment was cut off from the Illinois Valley in favor of Lake Michigan lobe sediment (75%- 80% contribution). This major source area shift accounts for higher dolomite and illite contents and a more yellow hue in approximately the upper two-thirds of Peoria Silt in the study area. In loess south of St. Louis, less pronounced compositional shifts occur because Superior lobe sediment was not cut off and because Des Moines lobe, Wadena lobe, and Missouri River sediments, having more intermediate composition, compose 40%-50% of the loess, thereby diluting other source area changes. Nonglacial sediment, from fluvial and periglacial sources, is estimated to compose 10%-40% of loess in both regions.

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebr↗

USGS1997

Regionalized loads of sediment and phosphorus to lakes Michigan and Superior—high flow and long-term average

Daily loads of suspended sediment and total phosphorus for the 10-year, 1-day design high flow and average of the 16-year period (1975 to 1990) were computed for 18 well-monitored tributaries to Lake Michigan and Lake Superior by use of constituent-transport models. The loads from these 18 reference tributaries were used to estimate the loads from all the United States tributaries (with drainage basins greater than 325 km 2 ) to Lake Michigan and Lake Superior by selection of a reference tributary with the most similar physical characteristics and use of a unit-area yield. Statistical comparisons between computed yields and environmental factors were used to determine the physical characteristics that were most influential in selecting a reference tributary. Suspended sediment yields were affected primarily by river gradient and secondarily by the texture of surficial deposits, whereas total phosphorus yields were affected primarily by the texture of surficial deposits and secondarily by river gradient. Average total phosphorus loads were greatest in rivers entering the middle to southern part of Lake Michigan, especially those draining clayey surficial deposits in agricultural areas. During high flow, loads of phosphorus and suspended sediment from tributaries entering the southwestern part of Lake Superior dominate the total input of these constituents because of the steep gradients of the rivers and the clayey surficial deposits that they drain. These loads were used to compute regional loads and to rank the tributaries on the basis of their respective loads during a specified high flow and over extended periods.

Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin↗

USGS1996

Use of frequency-volume analyses to estimate regionalized yields and loads of sediment, phosphorus, and polychlorinated biphenyls to lakes Michigan and Superior

In most rivers, transport of various constituents occurs largely during short-term, high-intensity events. A method is described to make regionalized estimates of the long-term average loads of selected streamwater constituents, as well as loads occurring during high-flow events with specified recurrence intervals. This method is used to estimate the load of suspended sediment, total phosphorus, and sediment-borne constituents, such as poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCB's), from all the rivers in the United States that drain into Lake Michigan and Lake Superior whose drainage basins are greater than 325 square kilometers. Statistical comparisons of estimated loads and environmental factors indicate that suspendedsediment loads were primarily affected by river gradient and secondarily affected by the texture of surficial deposits, whereas total phosphorus loadings were primarily affected by the texture of surficial deposits and secondarily affected by river gradient. Total phosphorus loads were highest in rivers entering into the middle to southern part of Lake Michigan, especially rivers in areas draining clay surficial deposits and agricultural areas. During high flow, inputs of phosphorus and suspended sediment from rivers entering the southwestern part of Lake Superior become very important to the total input of these constituents; these rivers have steep gradients and drain surficial deposits with high clay content. The single largest contributor of PCB's during the entire period and during each type of high-flow event was the Fox River, which supplied 46 to 64 percent of the total PCB load to both lakes.

Michigan, Wisconsin↗