Nancy A. Auer

Contact

naauer@mtu.edu
906-487-2353
Dow 732

Emeritus Research Professor, Biological Sciences

PhD, Michigan Technological University, 1995

Research Description

Conduct field studies with aquatic organisms. These studies involve fish feeding, reproduction, habitat and survival studies. Among the species studied are sturgeon, lake herring and lampreys. Reproductive success of both beneficial as well as deleterious species is dependent upon proper habitat condition and food availability.

Links of Interest

Research Interests

Fish Biology
Zooplankton ecology
Limnology
Conservation Biology

Recent Publications

Oyadomari, J.K. and N.A. Auer. 2004. Inshore-Offshore distribution of larval fishes in Lake Superior off the western coast of the Keweenaw Peninsula, Michigan. Journal of Great Lakes Research. Vol. 30. Supplement 1, 369-384.
Oyadomari, J.K. and N. A. Auer. 2007. Influence of Rearing Temperature and Feeding Regime on Otolith Increment Deposition in Larval Cisco. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society 136(3):766-777.
Auer, N.A. and E.A. Baker. 2007. Assessment of Lake Sturgeon Spawning Stocks Using Fixed-location, Split-beam Sonar Technology. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 23:113-121.
Oyadomari, J.K. and N. A. Auer. 2007. Influence of Rearing Temperature and Feeding Regime on Otolith Increment Deposition in Larval Cisco. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 136 (3):766-777.
Auer, N.A. and E.A. Baker. 2007. Assessment of Lake Sturgeon Spawning Stocks Using Fixed-location, Split-beam Sonar Technology. Journal of Applied Ichthyology. 23:113-121.
Oyadomari, J.K. and N. A. Auer. 2008. Transport and growth of larval cisco (Coregonus artedi) in the Keweenaw Current region of Lake Superior. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 65: 1447-1458.
Chiotti, J.A., Holtgren, J.M., Auer, N.A. and S.A. Ogren. 2008. Lake Sturgeon Spawning Habitat in the Big Manistee River, Michigan. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 28:1009-1019.
Auer, N.A. 2009. Importance of woody material in Great Lake aquatic food webs. International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology. 30(8):1298-1300.
Auer, N.A. Requested Book Critique. 2009. Anadromous sturgeons â€“ Whatâ€™s in a name? Environmental Biology of Fishes. 84:153-155.
Auer, N.A., B.A. Cannon and M.T. Auer. 2009. Life History, Distribution and production of Diporeia near the Keweenaw Peninsula, Lake Superior. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 35:570-590
Auer, M.T., L. A. Bub, N. A. Auer and N. R. Urban. 2010. Primary production, carbon flux and the distribution of the amphipod Diporeia in Lake Superior. International Association of Theoretical and Applied Limnology. 30(10):1499-1505.
Homola, J.J., K. T. Scribner, E. A. Baker, and N. A. Auer. 2010. Genetic assessment of straying rates of wild and hatchery reared lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in Lake Superior tributaries. Journal of Great Lakes Research. 36 (2010):798â€“802.
Mann, K.A., J. M. Holtgren, N. A. Auer and S.Ogren. (2011) Comparing size, movement and habitat selection of wild and streamside-reared lake sturgeon. North American Journal Fisheries Management. 31(2):305-314, First published on: 25 April 2011 (iFirst).
Auer, M.T., N.A. Auer, N.R. Urban and M.T.A.Auer (2/6/2013) Distribution of the Amphipod Diporeia in Lake Superior:The Ring of Fire. International Journal of Great Lakes Research, vol. 39 (1):33-46.
Auer, M.T., Auer, N.A., Barkdoll, B.B., Bornhorst, T.J., Brooks, C., Dempsey, D., Doskey, P.V., Green, S.A., Hyslop, M.D., Kerfoot, W.K., Mayer, A.S., Perlinger, J.A., Shuchman, R., Urban, N.R. and Watkins, Jr., D.W. NOV 2013. The Great Lakes: Foundations of Physics, Hydrology, Water Chemistry, and Biodiversity. In, J. Schnoor (ed.), Water Quality and Sustainability, Elsevier Publishers, London. Auer, M.T., Auer, N.A., Barkdoll, B.B., Bornhorst, T.J., Brooks, C., Dempsey, D., Doskey, P.V., Green, S.A., Hyslop, M.D., Kerfoot, W.K., Mayer, A.S., Perlinger, J.A., Shuchman, R., Urban, N.R. and Watkins, Jr., D.W. NOV 2013. The Great Lakes: Nutrients, Sediments, Persistent Pollutants, and Policy Perspectives for a Sustainable Future. In, J. Schnoor (ed.), Water Quality and Sustainability, Elsevier Publishers, London.
Dempsey D. and N. Auer. (editors and authors) 6/2013. The Great Lake Sturgeon. Michigan State University Press. Chapters: Auer, N. Form and Function Chapter, Auer, N. Preface and Conclusion Chapter, Importance of Connectivity and Corridors for Migration and Future Management and Stewardship of Lake Sturgeon, and Baker, E.A. and N. Auer, Sturgeon Habitat, Foods, and Feeding

Recent Funding

USFWS 2012-2014 $70,000 Ecosystem and larval lake sturgeon
C2E2 MTU grant 2011-2012 $4,669 Aquaponics for research & education MTU
Mitigate & Enhance. Fund 2012-2014 $86,376 Adult sturgeon spawning movements Menominee River
USEPA – GLRI 2010-2013 $306,000 Predicting Ecosystem Change L. Sup.
LRBOI – USFWS 2011-2013 $183,884 Evaluation for suitability for native species restoration in the 1836 treaty area (MI) with prescriptions for Arctic Grayling.
USGS 2010-2012 $60,610 Evaluation of larval lake sturgeon production on fighting island reef in the Detroit River, MI
NSF – IGERT 2010-2014 $2,499,351 (all) Auer =$37,000 GK12: Global/Watershed: Integrating Rural and Global Perspectives with Research and Technology.”
Great Lakes Fishery Trust 2009-2013 $55,320 Collaborative Fish Mgmt

Presentations

Auer, N.A., A. L. Maclean and B. E. Cookman. Mapping Change in Critical Lake Sturgeon Habitat In The Lake Superior Basin Via Aerial Photographs World Sturgeon Conference - July 2013 - Nanaimo, B.C.
Auer, Nancy. August 2 2013. "A 25 year journey working toward lake sturgeon restoration in the Great Lakes." Cornell Biological Field Station.

Research Projects

USFWS 2012-2014 $70,000 Abiotic and Biotic Constraints on survival of Age-0 lake sturgeon
C2E2 MTU grant 2011-2012 $4,669 Aquaponics for research & education MTU.
Mitigate & Enhance. Fund 2012-2014 $86,376 Adult sturgeon spawning movements Menominee River.
USEPA – GLRI 2010-2013 $306,000 Predicting Ecosystem Change L. Sup.
LRBOI – USFWS 2011-2013 $183,884 Evaluation for suitability for native species restoration in the 1836 treaty area (MI) with prescriptions for Arctic Grayling.
NSF – IGERT 2010-2014 $2,499,351 (all) Auer =$37,000 GK12: Global/Watershed: Integrating Rural and Global Perspectives with Research and Technology.”
Great Lakes Fishery Trust 2009-2013 $55,320 Collaborative Fish Mgmt
USGS 2010-2012 $60,610 Evaluation of larval lake sturgeon production on fighting island reef in the Detroit River, MI

Teaching Experience

General Biology for Majors fall 2008-2013
Fish Biology Spring 05, 07, 09, 11, 13
Biological Oceanography 2012, 2013
Larval Fish Identification 2012
Biomimicry 2011
Biodiversity and Human influences on Freshwater Ecosystems -06, 08, 10