Central Michigan University
OP-10: Biodiversity

The Great Lakes Basin Coastal Wetland Habitats are internationally recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as areas of conservation importance. Further, many locations along the coastal regions of the Great Lakes Basin, are identified by the EPA as legally protected areas, as well as priority sites for biodiversity.

The Great Lakes Institute for Research, through Central Michigan University engages in the Great Lakes Coastal Monitoring Program. "This program involves monitoring of Great Lakes coastal wetland biota, habitat, and water quality to provide information on coastal wetland condition using fish, birds, calling amphibians, wetland vegetation, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and water quality." http://greatlakeswetlands.org/Home.vbhtml All further information presented are excerpts from : GLIC: Implementing Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Semiannual Progress Report  October 1, 2015 – March 31, 2016  Prepared for:  U.S. EPA GLNPO (G‐17J) 77 W. Jackson Blvd. Chicago, IL 60604‐3590  Contract/WA/Grant No./Project Identifier:  GL‐00E00612‐0  Prepared by:  Dr. Donald G. Uzarski, Principal Investigator   CMU Institute for Great Lakes Research  CMU Biological Station  Department of Biology  Central Michigan University  Brooks 127  Mount Pleasant, MI 48859  Dr. Valerie J. Brady, QA Manager  Natural Resources Research Institute  University of Minnesota Duluth  5013 Miller Trunk Highway  Duluth, MN 55811‐1442  Dr. Matthew J. Cooper, QA Manager  Burke Center for Freshwater Innovation  Northland College  1411 Ellis Avenue   Ashland, WI 54891 Please reference attached report for specific methodology of the Great Lakes Coastal Wetland Monitoring Program.

This study resulted in the identification of the following, along land owned and operated by Central Michigan University Beaver Island Biological station, as well as areas all over the Great Lakes Basin:  Comparative study of Bulrush growth between Great Lakes coastal wetlands and Pacific  Northwest estuaries. This study includes investigation of water level effects on bulrush  growth rates in Great Lakes coastal wetlands. With leveraged funding from NSF for the primary project on bulrush ability to withstand wave energy.   Please reference table 14 within the attached report for a list of avian species identified within this monitoring program to be wetland-obligate and/or habitat health indicators.

Important results:    A high quality Lakeplain Lake Prairie complex, a rare plant community throughout the  Great Lakes region, was found during our plant survey of St. Johns marsh in an area that  had been proposed for a dike enhancement project by the Michigan DNR (Figure 29).  The site contains abundant milkweed plants, which appear to include both common  milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and rare Sullivant’s milkweed (A. sullivantii, awaiting  confirmation), both of which were being used by monarch butterflies. The survey has  resulted in ongoing discussions concerning the proposed boundaries of the project.   CMU Fabiano Botanical Garden certified as Monarch Waystation and Pollinator Habitat These certifications and their posted signage help educate the campus community of the importance of habitat preservation. As certified by Monarch Watch: “This site provides milkweeds, nectar sources, and shelter needed to sustain monarch butterflies as they migrate through North America.” As certified by The Xerces Society for Invertibrate Conservation: “This area has been planted with pollinator-friendly flowers and is protected from pesticides to provide valuable habitat for bees and other pollinators.”