Biological Science Technician, Denise Clay, from the Lower Great Lakes Fishery Resources Office presented at the Regional Science Consortium Research Symposium at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center at Presque Isle, PA (http://www.regsciconsort.com/).  A poster entitled "Aquatic Invasive Species Early Detection and Monitoring Programs in the Lower Great Lakes" outlined aquatic nuisance species surveys conducted by the LGLFRO along the U.S. shores of the lower Great Lakes.  These surveys target new invasive species, as well as provide monitoring for range expansion of existing invaders.  Surveys include trawling for Eurasian Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus), trammel netting and electrofishing for Asian carp, ponar and kicknet sampling for New Zealand mudsnail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum), and trapping surveys for Bloody Red Shrimp (Hemimysis anomala).  Although efforts have not yet yielded Eurasian ruffe and Asian carp in either of the lower Great Lakes, New Zealand mudsnail and Bloody Red Shrimp have been found in Lake Ontario.

A presentation entitled "Trends in Fish Assemblages in the Lower Great Lakes: 1993 - 2007" was also given discussing preliminary data from 14 years of Eurasian Ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) field surveillance in the lower Great Lakes.  Surveys included bottom trawling in seven harbor locations along the U.S. shore of Lake Erie, and one location on Lake Ontario; all of which are conducted twice per year (May and September).  This presentation was designed to introduce the existence of this data that is currently being analyzed.  This data set is unique in that no other agency is known to have trawled in harbors of the lower Great Lakes, especially for such an expanse of time.