Research collaborations: The best way to tackle big ecosystem issues

A comparison of lake committees in the Laurentian Great Lakes and advisory groups in the African Great Lakes reveals a promising framework for transboundary collaboration and resource sharing.

The binational success of ballast water regulations in the Great Lakes, which reduced invasions by 85%, offers a model for achieving global biodiversity targets under the COP15 framework.

The removal of three dams on the Boardman River restored connectivity and cultural significance, showcasing a successful collaboration between Indigenous communities, government, and local stakeholders.

A special section of the Journal of Great Lakes Research highlights the spectrum of actors in ecosystem-based management and the necessity of integrating social and natural sciences.

Large, multidisciplinary teams are essential for tackling "wicked" problems like climate change and biodiversity loss, offering broader perspectives and greater impact despite management challenges.

USGS and partner agencies are using Saildrones and autonomous underwater vehicles to correct biases in sonar surveys, improving the accuracy of prey fish abundance estimates for Great Lakes fisheries.

A survey of fishery professionals reveals that while virtual engagement maintains existing relationships, in-person interaction remains critical for building trust and new collaborations in the post-pandemic era.

Kiersten McCutcheon coordinates the Visual Assessment Survey Tool (VAST) for Niagara Coastal, engaging citizen scientists to collect data on changing Great Lakes conditions.

Nick Boucher, a Ph.D. student at Michigan State University, focuses on analyzing acoustic telemetry data and assessing arrays to improve fish tracking in the Great Lakes.

Edina Illyes studies how historical glaciation and human activity shape fish species distributions in northwestern Ontario, blending landscape processes with contemporary ecology.