Dr. Jacques Rinchard, Environmental Science & Ecology Professor, received $10,800 research grant from the University of Vermont to evaluate fatty acid signatures in Lake Champlain lake trout and their prey species.
Fatty acids have been used successfully to assess the diets of aquatic organisms as they are conservatively transferred from prey to predators following the principle “you are what you eat”. The results of this study will allow a better understanding of the lake trout diet in Lake Champlain. This work is part of an ongoing collaborative research project between Dr. Ellen Marsden and PhD student Matthew Futia, both at the University of Vermont, and Dr. Rinchard. It is worth noting that Matthew Futia graduated with his Master of Science degree from SUNY Brockport, Environmental Science & Ecology Department, where he also took part in research activities.
Undergraduate student researchers will be involved in this research grant and gain valuable skills that go beyond classroom learning. They will also contribute to new knowledge aimed at the restoration of this native species in the Great Lakes region.
The grant will be administered by The Research Foundation for SUNY at SUNY Brockport.