Dr. Russell Cuhel
Senior Scientist
Center for Great Lakes Studies
School of Freshwater Sciences
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

This video is centered on Dr Cuhel’s study of invasive species and their effect on the phytoplankton population in Lake Michigan. It is important to understand the impact that non-native species like the quagga mussel have on the plankton availability to native fish species since phytoplankton are the base unit of the lake’s food web.  His work illustrates the current conditions of the Lake Michigan ecosystem and provides baseline data for future comparisons.

Physical-chemical coupling to microbiological productivity in aquatic habitats; heterotrophy:autotrophy relations in coastal and open water systems; microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of freshwater hydrothermal vent systems; nutrient flux to deep chlorophyll maxima; biogeochemistry of mineral nutrient assimilation by algae and bacteria; bench research education at high school to post-graduate levels.

Student Filmmaker: Kyle Probst

Project Director and Producer: Ryan Sarnowski
Producer: Jenny Plevin
Associate Producer: James Michaels

Post-Production Specialists: Travis Torok & Kyle Probst

Animations: Danny D’Acquisto