Forsythe lands $235,000 for fisheries studies

Wisconsin Sea Grant on Thursday announced a $2 million omnibus grant to fund Great Lakes research, education and outreach, including a project at UW-Green Bay. Assistant Prof. Patrick Forsythe of Natural and Applied Sciences received a $235,000 share to contribute to a larger study of the role wetlands play as refuge for fish including prized sport and table species such as perch and walleyes. Forsyth’s research will involve “Quantifying Coastal Wetland – Nearshore Linkages in Lake Michigan for Sustaining Sport Fishes,” and put him in company with senior Great Lakes researchers at the University of Notre Dame, Loyola of Chicago and Central Michigan. The scientists will look at the impact of wetland degradation and wetland remediation on local fisheries. Other Wisconsin institutions receiving grants from Sea Grant for various Great Lakes projects are the UW System campuses in Madison, Milwaukee, Oshkosh, Stevens Point and Superior as well as at St. Norbert College, Northland College and Marquette University.

Fisheries project will bring a post-doc to campus

The $235,000 Sea Grant award to fisheries biologist Patrick Forsythe will result in something that hasn’t happened in recent memory (or longer): the hiring of a post-doc researcher. The advantage for the institution and its students is the grant will bring to campus an additional individual holding a doctoral degree and significant skills and experience in high-level research. That person will benefit from working alongside UW-Green Bay faculty members, while at the same time serving as a resource for colleagues and undergraduate and graduate students.