In an endeavor to unravel the complexities of freshwater coastal wetlands along Lake Erie, Ph.D. candidate Taylor Michael, from the Department of Biological Sciences at Kent State University, explores the dynamic relationship between waterfowl and the health of these vital ecosystems.
Ph.D. candidate researcher Taylor Michael.
Coastal wetlands are key habitats for migrating waterfowl and play a crucial role in mitigating nutrient loads in the Great Lakes, often plagued by harmful algal blooms. Michael's research, under the guidance of Dave Costello, Ph.D., aims to investigate how waterfowl, such as geese and ducks, contribute nitrogen and phosphorus to freshwater coastal wetlands along Lake Erie.
“Our goals are to estimate the amount of nutrients that waterfowl contribute via the excretion of guano to Great Lakes coastal wetlands and understand how these guano inputs affect nutrient cycling and shape algae communities in wetlands," Michael said.
Opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students to conduct important environmental research are indicative of the high level of research activity that happens at Kent State each day, research activity that earned the university its esteemed, top-tier R1 designation.
David Costello, Ph.D., Center for Ecology and Natural Resource Sustainability, Environmental Science and Design Research Institute.
Out in the Wetlands
The research was conducted from June 2022 to November 2023 at two freshwater coastal wetlands in northwest Ohio: Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve in Huron, Ohio, and Turtle Creek Bay Wetland within Magee Marsh State Wildlife Area in Oak Harbor, Ohio.
A group of American Wigeon as seen through a spotting scope at Turtle Creek Bay Wetland. Photo by Taylor Michael.
Michael and the research team employed a combination of point count observations, using binoculars and spotting scopes, and drone surveys to count waterfowl in the wetlands. Drone surveys are a non-invasive method that provided accurate waterfowl counts even in densely vegetated wetlands. The waterfowl density data, coupled with nutrient content measurements in waterfowl guano, forms the basis for estimating the nutrient contributions by waterfowl to the wetlands. This comprehensive approach allows the team to compare these contributions to the nutrient influx from landscape runoff, monitored through Heidelberg University’s Watershed Tributary Loading Program.
Drone take-off executed by Taylor Michael at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve. Photo by Matthew Wuensch.
To test how effectively sediments in the wetlands can take up the nutrients provided by the guano, they collected water and sediment samples and added varying levels of guano, then assessed changes in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Lastly, the team wanted to know how guano from different species of waterfowl influenced algae. To test this, they took bottles of wetland water and added guano from different waterfowl, then monitored which types of algae grew.
What the Research Discovered
Preliminary findings indicate that wetland sediments efficiently remove guano-released phosphorus from the water but not nitrogen. The research also highlights the significant impact of different waterfowl species on the types of algae dominating wetland ecosystems. “We have found that different species of waterfowl can strongly shape what types of algae dominate based on the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus that are supplied and the favored nutrient conditions of different algae species,” said Michael.
Wetland sediment core experiment used to measure nutrient uptake of guano. Photo by Taylor Michael.
This research is poised to inform management decisions that balance priorities of waterfowl habitat and nutrient retention services of coastal wetlands, contributing to effective nutrient reduction strategies.
Bottle experiment used to quantify changes in the algae community. Photo by Taylor Michael.
Taylor says she could not have done the research without the support of collaborators and funders. Paisley Kostick (a zoology student who graduated May 2021), was a former undergraduate student in the Costello Lab as well as a lab technician through 2022 who assisted with this research. Steve McMurray, research coordinator at Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve, and Brendan Shirkey, research coordinator at Winous Point Marsh Conservancy, were also essential collaborators. Funding for this research was generously provided through the Garden Club of America Coastal Wetlands Grant and the KSU Graduate Student Senate Research Award.
Research drone flying over Turtle Bay Wetland. Photo, and header photo of Turtle Bay Wetland by Taylor Michael.