Co-Directors Give Aquatic Research Lab Presentation 
By: Jessica A. Bunke

On Thursday, September 21, Ashley Moerke and Geoff Steinhart, Co-Directors for the Aquatic Research Lab (ARL), spoke before members of the faculty and student body of LSSU about the history, goals, and programs of the ARL.  The ARLs mission is to provide undergraduate students with the needed hands-on skills and experience vital to future careers. We have a very important goal here, said Co-Director Ashley Moerke, and that is to continue promoting and creating opportunity for undergraduates to get involved in freshwater research.

In 1977, the ARL was established in a joint effort between Lake Superior State University and the Edison Sault Electric Company in order to support local sport fishery and monitoring the water quality of the St. Marys River.  For the first few years, the ARL supported itself, until 1984, when the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MIDNR) presented the ARL with a grant to aid in research and operations.  During the ARLs existence, the lab has always been run and operated by biology career students.

Today the ARL still maintains its original function, but has expanded into many different projects.  Currently, the research lab rears Atlantic Salmon to be released into the St. Marys River.  Approximately 25,000 to 40,000 yearlings are released every year.  Students also conduct research at the lab on topics including how to increase fish survival and how bacteria affect the fishs health.  Also, the lab has been taking fish surveys of the Lake Sturgeon in hopes of reviving the Sturgeon populations in the Great Lakes.  
Another branch of research is the genetics of fish population.  Students look closely at the hybridization between different species of fish.  Since the ARL is located near the Soo Locks, the lab is working to discover how the Locks affect the movement and reproduction of the local fish species.  ARL is also looking into how much damage contaminated water influences fish and how it can be harmful to other species of animals through the food web.  
Recently, the Aquatic Research Lab has had great success with its latest feature, the fish cam.  The fish cam has reached15,000 hits per month and the internet link can be found on the ARL website (http://www.lssu.edu/arl/)
ARL does not only include the students of LSSU, but involves the whole community.  Members of the lab staff are members of or have founded the St. Marys River Bi-National Public Advisory Counsel, the Citizen Science Program, Sustainable Sault Coalition, and the Kids Fishing Pond Tours. They also provide mentoring programs for younger students such as Career Days, job shadows, and summer camps.
Besides researching the fish and waters of our Great Lakes, the ARLs main focus is to provide undergraduates the education they need through courses, clubs, hands-on experience, assisting in building a Senior Thesis, and to help build connection in professional networks.
