While at NOAA’s Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory between 1975 and 1990, I carried out a wide range of laboratory and field studies focused on understanding biogeochemical cycles and food-web dynamics of Great Lakes ecosystems. Most of my empirical work on southern Lake Michigan included process studies related to bacterial heterotrophic production, nutrient and light limitation of phytoplankton production, zooplankton grazing, and nutrient excretion, as well as the role of physical transport and vertical mixing in shaping the temporal and spatial profiles of production. Laboratory studies during that period included studies of size-selective zooplankton feeding, controls of zooplankton nutrient excretion, and the production and impacts of micro-scale nutrient patches.
At the University of Michigan starting in 2004, I worked on field programs designed to explore the impacts of Lake Huron nutrient loads on Lake Erie.
Related Publications
Scavia, D., T. J. Calappi, C. M. Godwin, B. Hill, M. Veliz, Y-C Wang. 2022. Wind-driven sediment resuspension in the world’s fourth-largest lake contributes a substantial phosphorus load to the eleventh-largest lake. ES&T https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.2c02820 Supporting Information
Scavia, D., E. J. Anderson, A. Dove, B. Hill, C. M. Long, Y-C Wang. 2020 Lake Huron’s Phosphorus Contributions to the St. Clair-Detroit River Great Lakes Connecting Channel. Environ Sci. Tech. 54:5550-5559 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00383
Roberts, J.J., S. B. Brandt, D. Fanslow, S. A. Ludsin, S. Pothoven, D. Scavia, T. O. Hook. 2011. Effects of hypoxia on consumption, growth, and RNA:DNA ratios of young yellow perch. Trans. Amer. Fisheries Soc. 140:6, 1574-1586
Mida, J.L. D. J. Jude, J.S. Schaeffer, D.M. Warner, D. Scavia 2011 Response of Mysis diluviana lipids and fatty acids to changes in lower food webs in Lake Michigan and Huron, J. Great Lakes Res.
Evans, M.A., G.A. Fahnenstiel, D. Scavia 2011 Incidental oligotrophication of North American Great Lakes. Environ. Sci. Technol. (ES&T News Article)
Roberts, J.J., S. B. Brandt, D. Fanslow, S. A. Ludsin, S. Pothoven, D. Scavia, T. O. Hook. 2011. Growth and condition of yellow perch in response to hypoxia: Synthesis of lab and field results. Trans. Amer. Fisheries Soc.
Arend, K.K, D. Beletsky, J.V. DePinto, S.A. Ludsin, J. J. Roberts, D. K. Rucinski, D. Scavia, D. J.Schwab, T. O. Hook(2010) Hypolimnetic hypoxia in the central basin of Lake Erie: understanding seasonal and interannual effects on habitat quality of important fish species. Freshwater Biology 56(1): 366-383
Fahnenstiel G.A., T. Nalepa, S. Pothoven, H. Carrick, D. Scavia. 2010. Lake Michigan lower food web: Long-term observations and Dreissena impact. J. Great Lakes Res. 36:1-4
Fahnenstiel, G.A., S. Pothoven, T. Nalepa, H. Vanderploeg, D. Klarer, D. Scavia. 2010 Recent changes in primary production and phytoplankton in the offshore region of southeastern Lake Michigan. J. Great Lakes Res. 36:20-29
Mida, J.A., D. Scavia, G. L. Fahnenstiel, S. A. Pothoven, H. A. Vanderploeg, D. M. Dolan. 2010 Long-term and recent changes in southern Lake Michigan water quality with implications for primary production. J. Great Lakes Res. 36: 42-49
Conley, D.J. and D. Scavia. 1991. Size stucture of particulate biogenic silica in Lake Michigan. J. Great Lakes Res. 17: 18-24.
Laird, G. and D. Scavia. 1990. Distribution of labile dissolved organic carbon in Lake Michigan. Limnol. Oceanogr. 35:443-447.
Pernie, G.L., D. Scavia, M.L. Pace, and H.J. Carrick. 1990. Micrograzer impact and substrate limitation of bacterioplankton in Lake Michigan. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 47:1836-1841.
Fahnenstiel, G.l., J.f. Chandler, H.j. Carrick, and D. Scavia. 1989. Photosynthetic characteristics of phytoplankton communities in Lakes Huron and Michigan: P-I parameters and end-products. J. Great Lakes Res. 15:394-407.
Scavia, D., G.A. Lang, and J.F. Kitchell. 1988. Dynamics of Lake Michigan plankton: A model evaluation of nutrient loading, competition, predation. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 45: 165 – 177
Fahnenstiel, G.L., D. Scavia, G.A. Lang, J. Saylor, G. Miller, and D.J. Schwab. 1988. Impact of internal waves on conventional primary production estimates. J. Plankton Res. 10: 77-87.
Laird, G.A., D. Scavia, G.L. Fahnenstiel, L.A. Strong, and G.A. Lang. 1988. Dynamics of Lake Michigan phytoplankton: Relationship to nitrogen and silica fluxes. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 45: 1459-1466.
Scavia, D. 1988. The role of bacteria in secondary production. Limnol. Oceanogr. 33:1220-1224.
Fahnenstiel, G.L. and D. Scavia. 1987. Dynamics of Lake Michigan’s phytoplankton: changes in surface and deep populations. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44: 509-514.
Fahnenstiel, G.L. and D. Scavia. 1987. Dynamics of Lake Michigan’s phytoplankton: Primary production and growth. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 44: 499-508.
Scavia, D. and G.L. Fahnenstiel. 1987. Dynamics of Lake Michigan’s phytoplankton: Mechanisms controlling epilimnetic communities. J. Great Lakes Res. 13: 103-120.
Fahnenstiel, G.L. and D. Scavia. 1987. Dynamics of Lake Michigan’s phytoplankton: The deep chlorophyll layer. J. Great Lakes Res.13: 285-295.
Scavia, D. and G.A. Laird. 1987. Bacterioplankton in Lake Michigan: Dynamics, controls, and significance to carbon flux. Limnol. Oceanogr. 32: 1019-1035.
Fahnenstiel, G. L., L. Sicko-Goad, D. Scavia, and E.F. Stoermer. 1986. Importance of picoplankton in Lake Superior. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43: 235-240.
Scavia, D., G.L. Fahnenstiel, M.S. Evans, J.T. Jude and J.T. Lehman. 1986. Influence of salmonid predation and weather on long-term Water Quality trends in Lake Michigan. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 43: 435-443.
Laird, G.A., D. Scavia, and G.L. Fahnenstiel. 1986. Algal organic carbon excretion in Lake Michigan. J. Great Lakes Res. 12: 136-141.
Scavia, D., G. A. Laird, G.L. Fahnenstiel. 1986. Production of planktonic bacteria in Lake Michigan. Limnol. Oceanogr. 31:612-626.
Gardner, W.S., J.F. Chandler, G.A. Laird, and D. Scavia. 1986. Microbial response to amino acid additions in Lake Michigan: Grazer control and substrate limitation of bacterial populations. J. Great Lakes Res. 12: 161-174.
Fahnenstiel, G. L. D. Scavia, and C.L. Schelske. 1984. Nutrient-light interactions in the Lake Michigan subsurface chlorophyll layer. Verh. Internat. Verein. Limnol. 22:440-444.
Lehman, J. T. and D. Scavia. l984. Measuring the ecological significance of microscale nutrient patches. Limnol. Oceanogr. 29:214-2l6.
Scavia, D., G.L. Fahnenstiel, J.A. Davis, and R.G. Kreis, Jr. 1984. Small-scale nutrient patchiness. Some consequences and a new encounter mechanism. Limnol. Oceanogr. 29:785-793.
Vanderploeg, H.A., D. Scavia, and J.R. Liebig. 1984. Feeding rate of Diaptomus sicilis and its relation to selectivity and effective food concentration in algal mixtures and in Lake Michigan. J. Plankton Research 6:919-941.
Vanderploeg, H.A. and D. Scavia. 1983. Misconceptions about Estimating Prey Preference. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 40:148-150.
Landrum, P.F. and D. Scavia. 1983. Influence of Sediment on Uptake, Depuration, and Biotransformation by the Amphipod Hyalella azteca. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 40: 298-305.
Lehman, J. T. and D. Scavia. 1982. Microscale Patchiness of Nutrients in Plankton Communities. Science 216:729-730.
Scavia, D. and M.J. McFarland. 1982. Phosphorus Release Patterns and the Effects of Reproductive Stage and Ecdysis in Daphnia magna. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 39:1310-1314.
Lehman, J. T. and D. Scavia. 1982. Microscale Nutrient Patches Produced by Zooplankton. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 79:5001-5005.
Scavia, D. and W.S. Gardner. 1982. Kinetics of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Release By Daphnia magna. Hydrobiologia 96:105-111.
Gardner, W.S. and D. Scavia. 1981. Kinetic Approach to Examine Nitrogen Release by Individual Zooplankters. Limnol. Oceanogr.26:801-810.
Scavia, D. and A. Robertson. (Eds.) 1979. Perspectives on Lake Ecosystem Modeling. Ann Arbor Science Publ., Ann Arbor, 330p.
Vanderploeg, H.A. and D. Scavia. 1979. Calculation and Use of Selective Feeding Coefficients: Zooplankton Grazing. Ecological Modelling 7:135-150.
Vanderploeg, H.A. and D. Scavia. 1979. Two Electivity Indecies for Feeding With Special Reference To Zooplankton Grazing. J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 36:362-365.