Justin L. Heslinga interned with the U.S. Geological Survey.

Through the generosity of the Sussman Foundation, I had the opportunity to work with the U.S. Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center on the restoration of degraded Lake Erie coastal wetlands in the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge.  A major project was a study of short-term fish migration into and out of the Crane Creek wetland using a high-resolution sonar.  I was involved in all aspects of the project, including literature reviews, fieldwork, and data analysis.  I also worked on a variety of smaller projects, including creating a digital elevation model the Crane Creek wetland and maintaining an array of water quality gauges throughout the Refuge.  Throughout the summer I was able to work with a variety of scientists and wildlife managers from the U.S.G.S. and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, giving me a broader sense of possible government careers.  Overall, this internship was an excellent experience.

My main duties were to provide research support to scientists investigating the restoration of degraded coastal wetlands at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge in western Lake Erie.  My supervisor, Kurt Kowalski, has been working on a long-term evaluation of restoration strategies at the Crane Creek wetland complex that includes an analysis of hydrology, revegetation techniques, invasive species control, and habitat usage by fish. 

One of my tasks was to create a digital elevation model of the Crane Creek wetland to help identify potential changes to hydrology if the diked wetlands were to be reconnected with Lake Erie.  Another major responsibility throughout the summer was the maintenance of an array of water quality gauges throughout the refuge, which involved weekly cleaning of the gauges and downloading of the data.  This required me to meet regularly with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, as well as technical support personnel from the water gauge manufacturer.  I also worked on a variety of smaller projects at the lab, including the maintenance of a large collection of scientific literature relating to wetland ecology and restoration.

My main project for the summer involved a study on short-term (i.e. daily) patterns of fish movement between the Crane Creek wetland and Lake Erie using a dual-frequency identification sonar (DIDSON).  Specifically, we were interested in the influence of varying dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and temperature due to seiches (wind-driven tides) on daily fish migration.  Prior to the study, I conducted a thorough literature review of water quality effects on fish behavior, drafted the introduction to the project proposal, and worked on logistics of the study, including designing a mount to deploy the sonar unit in the wetland.  During the three-week field study, I helped with running the sonar unit, setting and checking fish nets, downloading water quality data, and a variety of other activities.  Once field work was over, I began analyzing the data for inclusion into a scientific paper, a task I will continue as a work-study student this fall.

The variety of experiences gained from this internship has enhanced my academic and professional development and broadened my personal perspective.  Most notably, I gained valuable experience in many aspects of the research process, including performing a literature review, writing a proposal, conducting fieldwork, and analyzing data.  Those experiences will certainly be valuable as I continue my own ecological research at the University of Michigan and beyond.  I also had the opportunity to work with several scientists from the Great Lakes Science Center, gaining a broader familiarity with how research is conducted within a government agency. Through conducting fieldwork at the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, I worked with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service personnel, allowing me to get a glimpse of possible careers in wildlife and habitat management.  Back at the lab, I became more confident in my abilities to use GIS data to synthesize ecological information. Additionally, throughout the summer, I had the opportunity to read and review current literature on restoration ecology, which has expanded my knowledge and given me a broader sense of current research in the field.  Overall, my experiences over the past summer with the U.S. Geological Survey have given me practical research tools and more direction in pursuing a career after graduation.

Internship Details