Fish Assemblages and Environmental Variables Associated with Gobiids in Nearshore Areas of the Lower Great Lakes

We investigated which fish species and environmental variables were associated with the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and tubenose goby (Proterorhinus marmoratus) in nearshore Canadian waters of the Huron-Erie corridor of the lower Great Lakes. We measured a suite of environmental variables and used triplicate beach seine samples to collect fishes in summer 2006. Thirty sites were sampled in the day and a subset (n = 14) at night. Of 1,955 individuals caught in daytime samples, round goby (21.0 %), spottail shiner (17.3%) and emerald shiner (14.2%) were most abundant. Of 1,521 individuals collected at night, the most abundant species were round goby (42.3%) and emerald shiner (24.1%). Tubenose gobies represented 1% and 1.7% of all individuals caught in the day and night, respectively. Rarefaction analysis showed that overall species richness was greater in the day than night. Significantly more emerald shiner (P = 0.017), rock bass (P = 0.046) and round goby (P = 0.035) were caught at night than in the day; more logperch were caught in the day than at night (P = 0.042). Round gobies were positively associated with water temperatures up to 24°, but there was no relationship between round goby abundance and warmer temperatures. There were too few tubenose goby captured to determine their statistical association with environmental factors; however, tubenose gobies were found only where round gobies were collected. Round goby and tubenose goby were associated with yellow perch and rock bass. The benthic round goby was the most abundant species, whereas other abundant species were pelagic, schooling fishes that occupied a habitat distinct from round goby.     

Genetic and Biogeographic Relationships of the Invasive Round (Neogobius melanostomus) and Tubenose (Proterorhinus marmoratus) Gobies in the Great Lakes Versus Eurasian Populations

Population genetic structure and systematic relationships were investigated for two exotic fishes introduced to the Great Lakes in 1990, the round goby Neogobius melanostomus and the tubenose goby Proterorhinus marmoratus, using DNA sequences from the left domain of the mitochondrial DNA control region. Samples of round gobies were compared from different sites in the Great Lakes, an introduced population from the Gulf of Gdansk in Poland, and a native population from the northern Black Sea. The round goby was characterized by relatively high genetic variability, and 17 haplotypes were identified from 64 individuals. Levels of genetic variation for the round goby were similar in the invasive and native sampling sites, suggesting relatively large founding populations and lack of bottlenecks. The northern Black Sea was eliminated as a probable founding source for both the Great Lakes and the exotic population in Poland. Substitutions in the left domain of the control region revealed significant differences among samples from the Great Lakes and Eurasia, and between Lakes Erie and St. Clair, suggesting non-random mating. No variation was detected in the tubenose goby population in the Great Lakes, which has been less successful in terms of spread and population growth. A molecular clock calibration suggested that the genera Neogobius and Proterorhinus diverged about 5.2 ± 1.0 million years ago, apparently separating from a common ancestor shared with Gobius during the isolation of the Paratethys basin from the Mediterranean Tethys Sea.     

Escherichia coli toxin and attachment genes in sand at Great Lakes recreational beaches

The United States Environmental Protection Agency recommends density thresholds for the fecal indicator organism Escherichia coli in order to ensure the safety of recreational waters. A number of studies published over the past ten years indicate that E. coli is encountered frequently in sand at recreational beaches. While a majority of the sand-associated E. coli may be commensal or environmental strains, the potential for pathogenic strains of E. coli to be present exists. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the presence of attachment and virulence genes associated with enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic strains of E. coli (EPEC and EHEC) in populations of E. coli recovered from swash zone sand from seven recreational beaches along Lake Huron and Lake St. Clair in eastern Michigan, USA. Genes coding for attachment proteins in EPEC and EHEC were very prevalent in sand E. coli, but genes coding for toxin genes were uncommon. The paucity of genes associated with E. coli toxins suggests that the EPEC and EHEC pathotypes are not common in sand; however, the high prevalence of genes associated with attachment in E. coli pathotypes suggests that these genes are being retained within the beach sand E. coli population.     

Genetic Analysis of the Chinese Mitten Crab (Eriocheir sinensis) Introduced to the North American Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway

The Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis) is an invasive organism of concern, with established non-native populations in Europe and California, USA. The species is thought to pose a risk to other North American waterways, including the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Since 1965, there have been sixteen confirmed adult E. sinensis caught in the North American Great Lakes or adjoining waterways. Analysis of their mitochondrial DNA sequence variation for part of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene discerned three haplotypes among seven individuals (caught between 1973 and 2005), identical to common haplotypes in Europe. Analysis of mitochondrial haplotype frequencies and shipping patterns suggests that E. sinensis has been introduced to the Great Lakes from Europe, although we are unable to preclude native Asian populations as putative sources. The species is catadromous, migrating between salt and fresh water to complete its life cycle. This trait makes it unlikely that E. sinensis will establish a breeding population in the Great Lakes proper, which are separated from saltwater by a considerable distance and significant instream barriers such as waterfalls and navigation locks. However, the recent discovery of two confirmed mitten crabs in the St. Lawrence River, which could be more readily colonized, underscores the risk posed by the repeated introduction of this species into the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.     

Relationship of road density and marsh condition to turtle assemblage characteristics in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Human-induced degradation of coastal wetlands often leads to altered trophic dynamics and species assemblages. Here we use data from 77 coastal marshes in three Laurentian Great Lakes collected between 2001 and 2007 to examine the relationship between human disturbance (road density and wetland quality) and characteristics of aquatic turtle assemblages, including species richness and abundances. Painted turtles (Chrysemys picta) were encountered disproportionately in degraded wetlands and the probability of occurrence decreased with improved site quality. Abundance of painted turtles peaked, however, at intermediate road density in surrounding 1- and 2-km buffers. Across all sites, species richness was highest and common snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) were most abundant in wetlands with intermediate water quality. The common musk turtle (Sternotherus odoratus) was absent from degraded wetlands in the lower lakes (Erie and Ontario) that fell within their historical range, but reached high abundances in marshes of Georgian Bay and the North Channel, a region with relatively low human disturbance. Analysis of sex ratios in painted turtles revealed a significant male bias in an area with high road density, while the sex ratio did not differ significantly from 1:1 in a less developed region, consistent with reports of high female mortality in urban areas.     

Trends in Diporeia populations across the Laurentian Great Lakes, 1997-2009

Benthic communities in the Laurentian Great Lakes have been in a state of flux since the arrival of dreissenid mussels, with the most dramatic changes occurring in population densities of the amphipod Diporeia. In response, the US EPA initiated an annual benthic macroinvertebrate monitoring program on all five Great Lakes in 1997. Although historically the dominant benthic invertebrate in all the lakes, no Diporeia have been found in Lake Erie during the first 13 years of our study, confirming that Diporeia is now effectively absent from that lake. Populations have almost entirely disappeared from our shallow (< 90 m) sites in lakes Ontario, Huron, and Michigan. In Lake Ontario, three of our four deep (> 90 m) sites still supported Diporeia populations in 2009, with densities at those sites ranging between 96 and 198/m². In Lake Michigan, populations were still found at six of our seven deep sites in 2009, with densities ranging from 57 to 1409/m². Densities of Diporeia in 2009 at the four deep sites in Lake Huron were somewhat lower than those in Lake Michigan, ranging from 191 to 720/m². Interannual changes in population size in Lake Huron and Lake Michigan have shown a degree of synchrony across most sites, with periods of rapid decline (1997-2000, 2003-2004) alternating with periods of little change or even increase (2001-2002, 2005-2009). There has been no evidence of directional trends at any sites in Lake Superior, although substantial interannual variability was seen.     

Great Lakes Cladophora in the 21st century: same algae—different ecosystem

Nuisance growth of the attached, green alga Cladophora was considered to have been abated by phosphorus management programs mandated under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. The apparent resurgence of nuisance growth in Lakes Erie, Michigan and Ontario has been linked conceptually to ecosystem alterations engineered by invasive dreissenid mussels (Dreissena polymorpha and Dreissenabugensis). Here, we apply contemporary modeling tools and historical water quality data sets in quantifying the impact of long-term changes in phosphorus loading and dreissenid-mediated changes in water clarity on the distribution and production of Cladophora. It is concluded that reductions in phosphorus loading in the pre-dreissenid period achieved the desired effect, as model simulations were consistent with the biomass declines reported from the early 1970s to the early 1980s. These declines were, however, largely offset by dreissenid-driven changes in water clarity that extended the depth of colonization by Cladophora, increasing total production. We were not able to isolate and quantify the significance of dreissenid mediation of phosphorus cycling using the historical database. Phosphorus management remains the appropriate mechanism for reducing nuisance levels of Cladophora growth. The development of action plans will require an improved understanding of nearshore phosphorus dynamics such as might be obtained through regular monitoring of soluble reactive phosphorus levels, internal phosphorus content and Cladophora biomass in impacted nearshore regions of the Great Lakes.     

First Report of the Asian Fish Tapeworm in the Great Lakes

The Asian fish tapeworm (Bothriocephalus acheilognathi) is an introduced species that has spread throughout much of the United States and into Canada. This cestode was found in a specimen of bluntnose minnow (Pimephales notatus) collected from Grosse Îsle in the Detroit River in September, 2002. This parasite is a known pathogen that can cause weight loss, anemia, and mortality in young fishes. This is the first report of B. acheilognathi in the Great Lakes.     

Historical changes and current status of crayfish diversity and distribution in the Laurentian Great Lakes

Despite increasing recognition of the importance of invertebrates, and specifically crayfish, to nearshore food webs in the Laurentian Great Lakes, past and present ecological studies in the Great Lakes have predominantly focused on fishes. Using data from many sources, we provide a summary of crayfish diversity and distribution throughout the Great Lakes from 1882 to 2008 for 1456 locations where crayfish have been surveyed. Sampling effort was greatest in Lake Michigan, followed by lakes Huron, Erie, Superior, and Ontario. A total of 13 crayfish species occur in the lakes, with Lake Erie having the greatest diversity (n = 11) and Lake Superior having the least (n = 5). Five crayfish species are non-native to one or more lakes. Because Orconectes rusticus was the most widely distributed non-native species and is associated with known negative impacts, we assessed its spread throughout the Great Lakes. Although O. rusticus has been found for over 100 years in Lake Erie, its spread there has been relatively slow compared to that in lakes Michigan and Huron, where it has spread most rapidly since the 1990s and 2000, respectively. O. rusticus has been found in both lakes Superior and Ontario for 22 and 37 years, respectively, and has expanded little in either lake. Our broad spatial and temporal assessment of crayfish diversity and distribution provides a baseline for future nearshore ecological studies, and for future management efforts to restore native crayfish and limit non-native introductions and their impact on food web interactions.     

Factors governing the distribution and fish-community associations of the round goby in Michigan tributaries of the Laurentian Great Lakes

The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) is increasingly being reported in tributaries of the Laurentian Great Lakes where these fish have been shown to adversely impact native stream biota. Determining the characteristics and distribution of invaded streams are the first steps toward effective round goby management. We sampled 30 tributaries in the Great Lakes basin and characterized each in terms of nine physical reach-scale attributes. Round goby were detected in 14 streams where abundances ranged from 4% to 53% of the fish sampled in each stream. Round goby was the single most abundant fish species sampled, constituting 14% of all fish encountered across all sites, and 30% of individuals in round goby-present sites. Round goby-present sites were larger, had lower channel slopes, less large wood, and less canopy cover than round goby-absent sites, suggesting that these attributes may promote round goby establishment. Mottled sculpin, cyprinids, brook stickleback, white sucker and rainbow trout were associated with goby absence while centrarchids, percids, yellow bullhead, and mud minnow were associated round goby presence. Collectively these results demonstrate that round goby are widespread in eastern Michigan tributaries to the Great Lakes, present in streams with a range of physical habitat characteristics, and that round goby presence is associated with certain fish species.     

Satellite ocean color algorithms: A review of applications to the Great Lakes

We review the literature dealing with retrievals of chlorophyll concentrations in the Great Lakes from satellite observations. Most studies show that the satellite estimates of chlorophyll concentrations are linearly related to the observed concentrations, though they tend to overestimate concentrations at lower values and underestimate them at higher values. Deviations from a consistent, accurate, linear relationship can be attributed to temporal and spatial variations in the inherent optical properties of the color producing agents in the water as well as to varying concentrations of non-algal substances that interfere with the retrievals. We confirmed these results by using a simple optical model to examine the sensitivity of the retrieved chlorophyll values to the concentrations of interfering substances and to differences in model parameters. Because the spatial and temporal optical properties of the Great Lakes are unpredictable, no retrieval method is likely to produce accurate results all the time. The papers we reviewed show that simple band ratio algorithms can provide chlorophyll estimates that are proportional to in situ concentrations. The published literature suggests that the band ratio methods will be of most value in regions where the concentrations of non-algal interfering substances are minimal. Because of these limitations we recommend that future papers presenting chlorophyll analysis based on satellite data provide confirming field observations that include measurements of chlorophyll, suspended particles and dissolved organic carbon. We also recommend that Great Lakes scientists explore novel methods for retrieving chlorophyll concentrations from satellite observations that have proven useful in other optically complex waters.     

Occurrence and Food Habits of the Round Goby in the Profundal Zone of Southwestern Lake Ontario

Little is known about the ecology of round goby (Neogobius melanostomus), an invasive benthic fish, in the profundal zone of the Great Lakes. In April 2002–2005 we caught increasing numbers of round gobies with a bottom trawl in the 45–150 m depth range of southwestern Lake Ontario. In 2005, we examined gut contents of 30 round gobies from each of three depths, 55, 95, and 130 m, and qualitatively compared gut contents with density of benthic invertebrates determined by Ponar grabs. Round goby guts contained mostly Dreissena spp. and opposum shrimp, Mysis relicta (Mysis); the frequency of occurrence of dreissenids in guts decreased with depth, whereas the frequency of occurrence of Mysis in guts increased with depth. Abundance of these invertebrates in the environment followed the same pattern, although dreissenids of optimum edible size (3–12 mm) were still abundant (1,373/m²) at 130 m, where round gobies primarily consumed Mysis, suggesting that round gobies may switch from dreissenids to more profitable prey when it is available. Other food items were ostracods and fish, with ostracods generally eaten by smaller round gobies and fish eaten by larger round gobies. Occurrence and increasing abundance of round gobies in the profundal zone and predation on Mysis by round goby could have far-reaching consequences for the Lake Ontario fish community.     

Distribution of nuisance Cladophora in the lower Great Lakes: Patterns with land use, near shore water quality and dreissenid abundance

Selected shorelines and offshore shoals in Lakes Erie, Huron and Ontario were surveyed with a high frequency hydroacoustic system to investigate current spatial patterns of nuisance benthic filamentous algal (e.g., Cladophora) cover and stand height. Cladophora reached nuisance levels at all sites in Lakes Erie and Ontario, but not in Lake Huron or Georgian Bay. Despite clear gradients in coastal land cover, near shore water quality gradients were generally weak, and for Lakes Erie and Ontario, measures of near shore water quality were similar to that at offshore shoals. Hierarchical partitioning analysis suggested that while dreissenid mussel abundance appeared to be important in determining the magnitude of Cladophora standing crop, the joint contribution of catchment land cover, near shore water quality (nutrient levels and suspended matter) and dreissenid mussel abundance explained nearly 95% of the total variance in nuisance Cladophora standing crop observed in this study. Although the results from this study are necessarily correlative in nature and definition of causal relationships is not possible, these results provide corroborating evidence from sites across a gradient within and across the lower Great Lakes that is consistent with the operation of the near shore shunt model.     

A band-ratio algorithm for retrieving open-lake chlorophyll values from satellite observations of the Great Lakes

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) has collected water quality data from the five Great Lakes annually since 1993. We used the GLNPO observations made since 2002 along with coincident measurements made by the Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS) and the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to develop a new band-ratio algorithm for estimating chlorophyll concentrations in the Great Lakes from satellite observations. The new algorithm is based on a third-order polynomial model using the same maximum band ratios employed in the standard NASA algorithms (OC4 for SeaWiFS and OC3M for MODIS). The sensor-specific coefficients for the new algorithm were obtained by fitting the relationship to several hundred matched field and satellite observations. Although there are some seasonal variations in some lakes, the relationship between the observed chlorophyll values and those modeled using the new coefficients is fairly stable from lake to lake and across years. The accuracy of the satellite chlorophyll estimates derived from the new algorithm was improved substantially relative both to the standard NASA retrievals and to previously published algorithms tuned to individual lakes. Monte-Carlo fits to randomly selected subsets of the observations allowed us to estimate the uncertainty associated with the retrievals purely as a function of the satellite data. Our results provide, for the first time, a single simple band ratio method for retrieving chlorophyll concentrations in the offshore “open” waters of the Great Lakes from satellite observations.     

Distribution and abundance of nesting common and Caspian terns on the North American Great Lakes, 1976 to 1999

Canadian and US federal wildlife agencies completed three surveys (1976–1980, 1989–1991, and 1997–2000) to census colonial waterbirds breeding on the Great Lakes. We here summarize and comment on nest numbers and colony site distribution of common terns (Sterna hirundo) and Caspian terns (Hydroprogne caspia). Common terns are in serious trouble on the Great Lakes. Numbers declined with substantial losses in nests (− 19.1%) and colony sites (− 23.2%) between the first and third censuses. An increase in numbers at US sites (+ 26.6%) did not compensate for losses (− 33.1%) at Canadian sites. Caspian terns increased in nest numbers (+ 65.9%) and colony sites (+ 50.0%) over the same period. The increase at US sites (136.5%) was greater than at Canadian sites (11.5%). Most (70.7%, n = 186) common tern sites had nests during only one census; 17 sites (6.5%) had nests during all censuses. In contrast, 9 of 33 (27.2%) Caspian tern sites had nests during all censuses and contained a majority of nests (50–82%) in each census. Pairs of both species nested on natural substrates across the Great Lakes. Common terns nested mostly on artificial (human-constructed) substrates on the lower Great Lakes. We identify site characteristics that may have contributed to long-term (three census) occupancy by common terns (small size, artificial substrates, absence of ring-billed gulls) and Caspian terns (natural substrates on large, remote islands). We suggest an urgent need for protection and conservation of common tern colonies and identify specific priority sites for implementation of management protocols.     

The Great Lakes Cladophora Model: Development,testing, and application to Lake Michigan

A recent review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement has concluded that while controls on phosphorus inputs to Lake Michigan achieved the desired effect in offshore waters, the nearshore region continues to suffer from elevated phosphorus levels. Failure to achieve trophic state goals in the nearshore is manifested in nuisance growth of Cladophora and attendant impacts on property owners, utilities, and the public health and welfare. This study focuses on a site in Lake Michigan near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where nuisance growth of Cladophora and associated beach fouling occur regularly. A mechanistic model simulating Cladophora growth, suitable for guiding nutrient management in the Great Lakes nearshore, is presented. The model represents an update of the Canale and Auer framework, reflecting current understandings of Cladophora ecology and offering a user-friendly interface making the software more widely available to decision makers. This Great Lakes Cladophora Model (GLCM) is first validated for the Auer/Canale data set collected in 1979 at a site on Lake Huron and then for a data set developed in 2006 for a site on Lake Michigan. Model performance under the strikingly different forcing conditions (depth, light, phosphorus levels) characteristic of these two sites affirms the widespread applicability of the tool. The GLCM is then extended to examine the impacts of ecosystem perturbation (dreissenid colonization) on Cladophora growth and to future approaches to monitoring and management.     

Shifting status and distribution of range margin chorus frog (Pseudacris) populations in eastern Great Lakes watersheds

Contiguous with their range across major rivers into Canada, two different species of chorus frogs are now thought to inhabit the Great Lakes watersheds of New York. Pseudacris triseriata is found along the western Lake Ontario and Lake Erie plains while P. maculata (tentatively a new frog species in NY) inhabits the lowlands of eastern Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Both species are on their extreme range margins in NY. In 2010 we detected distributional declines of both putative chorus frog species based on a broad survey following standardized occupancy detection protocols. Causes are unclear but could relate to reforestation and urbanization of formerly more extensive agricultural lands, climate change, pathogenic fungal outbreaks and/or the contaminant effects of intensive agriculture. On the other hand, the prior overestimation of ranges because of misidentification may have inflated earlier perceived distributions (positive survey bias) because false positives are problematical for this cryptic frog. At broad geographical scales, chorus frog (meta)populations are highly dynamic and are likely shifting their ranges in response to rapidly changing overall environmental conditions in the northeastern U.S. and Canada.     

Investigation of viruses in Diporeia spp. from the Laurentian Great Lakes and Owasco Lake as potential stressors of declining populations

The benthic amphipod Diporeia is an ecologically and biogeochemically important constituent of deep freshwater lakes in North America. The proliferation of dreissenid mussels in the mid-1990s coincided with a sharp decrease in Diporeia populations in several Laurentian Great Lakes; however the ultimate cause and mechanisms of their decline are still unknown. Here we examined the composition of DNA viruses associated with Diporeia collected from populations of Lake Michigan that had declined and stable populations in Lake Superior and Owasco Lake (Finger Lake in central New York State). Viral metagenomic libraries from Owasco Lake and Lake Superior were comprised primarily of bacteriophages, which may infect bacteria within the amphipod microbiome. In contrast, the metagenomic library from Lake Michigan contained well-represented ssDNA circular viral genomes. The prevalence and viral load of one putative Type V ssDNA circular virus (LM29173) that recruited almost 30% of total viral sequence reads in the Lake Michigan library was analyzed by quantitative PCR. The prevalence of LM29173 was over two orders of magnitude greater in Lake Michigan compared to the other two lakes. Although further research is necessary to establish the pathology and epidemiological extent of viral-Diporeia interactions, our data suggest that viruses may be numerically significant constituents of the Diporeia microbiome, and if pathogenic some of these viruses may be a stressor of Great Lakes Diporeia populations. Our data further indicate that special attention should be given to the circovirus that was prevalent in the declining Michigan population but uncommon in the other two lakes.     

Detection and expression of genes for phosphorus metabolism in picocyanobacteria from the Laurentian Great Lakes

The pelagic regions of Lake Superior and eastern Lake Erie (Laurentian Great Lakes) are typically phosphorus (P)-limited environments, and picocyanobacteria of the genus Synechococcus spp. are prominent primary producers during the summer. As a proxy for their utilization of organic P, the expression of two genes, phnD and phoX, was monitored. The phnD gene encodes the phosphonate binding protein of the ABC-type phosphonate transporter, whereas the phoX gene encodes a calcium-dependent alkaline phosphatase. Furthermore, to assess the ability of freshwater Synechococcus spp. to substitute sulfolipids for phospholipids, sqdX gene (cyanobacterial sulfolipid synthase) expression was examined. We employed PCR primers to detect the presence of all three genes in the endemic Synechococcus spp., and RT-PCR assays of cultured freshwater strains and environmental samples to assess the degree of P-stress in the phytoplankton. We show that the phnD gene was constitutively expressed, suggesting that freshwater picocyanobacteria were metabolizing exogenous phosphonate compounds in Lakes Erie and Superior. By contrast, phoX was regulated by P bioavailability. We also provide evidence that sqdX is expressed during increased growth rates in phosphorus-replete conditions, suggesting that sulfolipid synthesis is not a P conservation mechanism for freshwater Synechococcus spp.     

Variations in chromophoric dissolved organic matter and its influence on the use of pigment-specific fluorimeters in the Great Lakes

The variability of colored material (yellow substances, chromophoric dissolved organic matter [CDOM]) in Great Lakes water on the operation of a submersible pigment-based fluorimeter (FluoroProbe) was assessed. The FluoroProbe is designed to account for the influence of ambient CDOM on fluorimetric analysis of natural waters by using background yellow substance content to correct for fluorescence that is not due to phytoplankton. The objective of this study was to assess FluoroProbe performance as well as determine the variability of CDOM that has a bearing on instrument use. This study focused on Lakes Ontario and Huron in spring and summer and employed up to three FluoroProbes for simultaneous comparisons of performance, as assessed by comparing in situ versus extracted concentrations of chlorophyll-a. Conclusions from this study are: FluoroProbes are not equally accurate; yellow substance correction factors obtained by FluoroProbes are instrument specific; there are seasonal differences in yellow substance correction factors between summer and spring and among thermal strata in summer, in Lakes Huron and Ontario.The observed differences among yellow substance correction factors are attributed to chromophoric material that was assessed independently by measuring CDOM using a separate fluorimetric technique and by measuring in situ UV absorption coefficients. These results suggest that the use of FluoroProbes and related instruments for phytoplankton surveillance and monitoring initiatives must account for differences in ambient CDOM.