Limnology of Oneida Lake

Lars Rudstam, Kristen Holeck, Christopher Hotaling, Zoe Almeida, John Cooper, with additional projects led by Thomas Evans, Alexander Karatayev, Lyuba Burlakova (Buffalo State), Vadim Karatayev (Univ Maryland), David Andrews (UFI), interns (Funded by NYS DEC and Cornell University)

Limnological studies to complement fish sampling started early in the 1960s in recognition of the importance of ecosystems for understanding fisheries - the beginning of ecosystem-based fisheries management approaches. Sampling includes physical metrics such as temperature, oxygen and water clarity, nutrients (P, N, Si), phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthic invertebrates, and mussels.  This data series is important not only for Oneida Lake fisheries but for analysis of the dynamics of ecosystems and effects of climate trends across the world. The program is tightly coupled with the fisheries studies, and the arrival of Bythotrephes, the return of Hexagenia, and the decline in quagga mussels and other benthic invertebrates following the arrival of round goby are all subjects of analyses and mechanistic studies (with Karatayev and Burlakova).  The displacement of zebra mussels by quagga mussels by 2009 accentuated the effect of mussels on the ecosystem. Quagga mussels and many benthic invertebrate groups declined since the arrival of the round goby, and we expect to see ecosystem impacts of those changes.  In 2023, we also worked with data support for modeling Oneida Lake and its watershed as part of the Nine element plan, studied Bythotrephes effects on zooplankton, surveyed Hexagenia abundance, experimented with mussels and Hexagenia (with Evans), and compared mussel condition in Oneida with surrounding lakes (with David Andrews).