Abstract
Eight years ago, staff from the Great Lakes Program, the Great Lakes Research Consortium, and New York Sea Grant realized an information gap existed between peer reviewed journal articles and newsletter type information related to Great Lakes research. The Great Lakes Research Review was created to fill that gap by providing a substantive overview of research being conducted throughout the basin. It is designed to inform researchers, policymakers, educators, managers and stakeholders about Great Lakes research efforts, particularly but not exclusively being conducted by scientists affiliated with the Consortium and its member institutions. Each issue has a special theme. Past issues have focused on the fate and transport of toxic substances, the effects of toxics, fisheries issues, and exotic species. The most recent volumes have focused on the Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River and Lake Erie Ecosystems. The present issue is the first of two describing projects funded through the New York State Great Lakes Protection Fund. We gratefully acknowledge all of the contributing authors who willingly share their efforts for this publication.