Conduct biological research pertaining to population genetics, conservation genetics, and biodiversity of aquatic species (vertebrate or invertebrate) within the Great Lakes Basin that fall in the scope of the mission of the Great Lakes Science Center and the USGS strategic plan.

Awards and Grants:

Genetic Origins of Coaster Brook Trout from Four National Parks and Four Indian Reservations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Co-PI with Henry Quinlan, US Fish and Wildlife Service. Science Support Project (2006-2007 $22,000)

Are Splake Reproducing in Lake Superior? Co-PI with Lee Newman, US Fish and Wildlife Service Gerry Smith University of Michigan, and Edward Rutherford Michigan DNR. Science Support Project (2003-2004 $10,000)

Natural Lake Trout Strain Identification in Lake Huron. Co-PI with David Reid, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and James Johnson, Michigan DNR. Great Lakes Fishery Commission Fisheries Research Project (2003-2004, $10,000) Spatial Genetic Structuring of Forage Fish in the Upper Great Lakes. Co-PI with Kim Scribner, Michigan State University. Michigan Sea Grant (2003-2005, $140,000)

Research Interests:
My academic research and work with government agencies have involved introducing fishery biologists to the theories and uses of molecular biology in aquatic resource management. In particular, my work has been directed towards integrating the use of genetic markers into hatchery management and in the use of various marker systems for mixed stock analysis. I have also been involved in developing databases and software to capture, manage, and analyze both genetic and fisheries data. My current research program involves the use of genetic technology to develop economical, efficient, reliable procedures to evaluate species and stock identity. The information is used to manage wild populations, hatchery supplementation programs, devise informative indicators for exploited fisheries, and determine stock identity of fish involved in harvest disputes.

Selected Publications:
Wilson, C.C, Stott, W., Miller, L., D'Amelio, S., Jennings, M., and Cooper, A. (in press) Coaster brook trout management, biology, and rehabilitation: a synthesis of genetic research and current information. North American Journal of Fisheries Management.

Moore, S. A., Bronte, C.R., Quinlan, H.R., Gorman, O.T., and Stott, W. (in press) The Use of Morphometric Analysis as a Tool to Differentiate Stocks of Coaster Brook Trout in Lake Superior. North American Journal of Fisheries Management.

Stott, W. and Todd, T.N. 2007. Genetic Markers and ‘The Coregonid Problem’ Archives fur Hydrobiologie. 60:3-23.

Roseman, E.F., G.W. Kennedy, J. Boase, B.A. Manny, T.N. Todd, and W. Stott. 2007. Evidence of lake whitefish spawning in the Detroit River: Implications for habitat and population recovery. J. Great Lakes Res. 33:397-406.

Stott, W., T.N. Todd, and L. Kallemeyn. 2004. Genetic variability among lake whitefish from Isle Royale and the Upper Great Lakes. Annales Zoologici Fennici. 41:51-59 Stott, W., P. E. Ihssen, and B. N. White. 1997. Patterns of inheritance of RAPD molecular markers in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush). Molecular Ecology 6:609-613.

Noakes, D. L. G., M. M. Ferguson, B. Ashford, and W. Stott. 1995. Size and shape variation in Laurentian Great Lakes pink salmon. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. S17:185-194.