University of Wisconsin–Madison

Year: 2024

As Lakes Warm, Small Gains in Freshwater Fisheries are Offset by Bigger Losses 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Madison, Wis.  When it comes to water temperatures, fish can be a lot like Goldilocks. Some water bodies are too warm, others too cold, and a handful are “just right” – providing the perfect thermal habitat for a species to flourish.   As lakes across the Midwestern United States continue to warm …

Study Offers Key Takeaways from Long-Term Research on Aquatic Invasive Species

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [MADISON, WI] By Adam Hinterthuer and Madelyn Anderson – A report on more than forty years of research on Wisconsin lakes is highlighting some of the lessons scientists have learned about aquatic invasive species.  For example, far more ecosystems are playing host to non-native species than were previously thought. However, the authors …

From the Lake to the Sea: A Week Exploring Saltwater Systems with Sea Grant

by Madelyn Anderson – “Don’t fall out of love with freshwater.” That’s what my colleagues told me as I announced I’d be spending a week in North Carolina, catching waves and getting to know  coastal communities.  While my summer has been spent diving deeper into Wisconsin’s waters, during the school year I work for Wisconsin …

Life On the Edge (and Under the Surface) In Lodi, Wisconsin

by Madelyn Anderson –Have you ever wondered what happens to a lake when the water rises? Aquatic plants, lake sediment, fish communities and more can be affected and, here at Hasler Lab, we’re uncovering how.  Last summer we introduced you to Cassie Ceballos, a PhD candidate investigating the ecological impacts of rising water levels at …

Unthreading the Mussel Mystery: Part 3

We’re back with CFL postdoc Tyler Butts and his team as they explore how invasive species interact with eutrophic lakes. As you may have noticed, they are a dedicated crew! by Madelyn Anderson – When I first met undergraduate invasive species technician Joey Munoz, he had a pile of live zebra mussels in front of him …

A Day in the Life of the Long-Term Research Crew

by Audrey Hoey-Kummerow – Arriving at Allequash Lake early in the morning, I was filled with excitement and curiosity. I was about to get a front-row seat to the work that goes into being part of the Long-Term Ecological Research crew. Trout Lakes Station’s LTER Crew consists of three members: Jean Traudt, who specializes in …

Unthreading the Mussel Mystery: Part 1

This is first post in a series exploring a CFL project that hopes to shed new light on a familiar invasive species. by Madelyn Anderson – “D” shaped shells, light and dark stripes, sticky byssal threads. These are all characteristics of zebra mussels, an invasive aquatic species. Only around an inch long, these little creatures …

Small Ponds, Big Impacts: CFL Researchers Explore Urban Ponds to Better Understand Human Influence

by Madelyn Anderson – Fieldwork comes in many forms. Some researchers spend their days wading through Wisconsin’s wetlands, looking for bugs in local rivers, and boating through Lake Mendota, the birthplace of limnology in North America.  But other scientists are at work right in your own backyard or neighborhood park.  PhD candidate Jessica Briggs is …