Peter Alsip
Ecological Modeling Data Analyst
UM SEAS CIGLR
4840 South State Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48108-9719
Photo Gallery
I work with scientists at CIGLR and NOAA GLERL in the development and application of spatially-explicit biophysical models of the Great Lakes. My current work focuses on applying this type of model in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie to study aspects of lower trophic level dynamics such as sediment transport, tributary nutrient loading and transport, and other factors affecting spatial patterns in primary productivity. In the past, I have worked on several CIGLR modeling initiatives including my Master’s thesis in which I used a three-dimensional biophysical model and a fish growth model to evaluate Lake Michigan’s suitability for invasive Bighead and Silver Carp under various scenarios that considered the effects of climate change, variable nutrient loading, and dreissenid mussel filtration.
Education:
- M.S. Conservation Ecology, University of Michigan School for Natural Resources and the Environment, 2018
- B.S. Biology, Wisconsin Lutheran College, 2015
Research Interest/Area of Expertise:
- Ecological Modeling
- Aquatic Invasive Species
- Predictive Modeling
- Fish Bioenergetics
Publications:
Alsip, P., Zhang, H., Rowe, M.D., Rutherford, E., Mason, D.M., Riseng, C., and Su, Z. 2020. Modeling the interactive effects of nutrient loads, meteorology, and invasive mussels on suitable habitat for Bighead and Silver Carp in Lake Michigan. Biological Invasions. (DOI:10.1007/s10530-020-02296-4). [Altmetric Score]
Robinson, K.F., P.J. Alsip, A.R. Drake et al. 2020. Reviewing uncertainty in bioenergetics and food web models to project invasion impacts: Four major Chinese carps in the Great Lakes. Journal of Great Lakes Research. (DOI:10.1016/j.jglr.2020.11.003). [Altmetric Score]
Hartig, J.H., G. Krantzberg and P. Alsip. 2020. Thirty-five years of restoring Great Lakes Areas of Concern: Gradual progress, hopeful future. Journal of Great Lakes Research. (DOI:10.1016/j.jglr.2020.04.004). [Altmetric Score]
Alsip, P., Zhang, H., Rowe, M., Rutherford, E., Mason, D., Riseng, C., and Su, Z. 2019.Lake Michigan’s Suitability for Bigheaded Carp: The Importance of Diet Flexibility and Subsurface Habitat. (DOI:10.1111/fwb.13382). [Altmetric Score]
Presentations:
Alsip, P., Rowe, M. 2020 (Oral) A Biophysical Forecast System to Support Lake Michigan Cooperative Science and Monitoring Initiative 2020. NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory’s Internal Lunch ‘n Learn Series. Ann Arbor, MI. September 2020.
Alsip, P., Zhang, H., Rowe, M., Rutherford, E., Mason, D., Riseng, C., and Su, Z., 2020 (Oral). Modeling the effects of mussels, climate, and nutrient loads on Lake Michigan’s suitability for bigheaded carps. International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) 63rd Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research. Virtual conference due to COVID-19. June 8-12.
Alsip, P., Zhang, H., Rowe, M., Rutherford, E., Mason, D., Riseng, C., and Su, Z., 2018 (Oral). Modeling Lake Michigan’s Suitability for Bigheaded Carp. Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee (ACRCC) Fall Meeting. Toledo, OH. September 11-12.
Alsip, P., Zhang, H., Rowe, M., Rutherford, E., Mason, D., Riseng, C., and Su, Z., 2018 (Oral). Habitat Suitability Assessment for Bigheaded Carp using 3D Water Quality Data from Lake Michigan. International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) 61st Annual Conference on Great Lakes Research. Toronto, ONT. June 18-22.
Alsip, P., Voglesong Zejnati, A., Knauss, C., Lisuk, J., and Seelbach, P., 2018 (Poster). Evaluating Organizational Process: A Conversation Framework for Exploring Stakeholder Advisory Group Operations. Great Lakes Areas of Concern Conference. Sheboygan, WI. May 16-17.
Alsip, P., Zhang, H., Rowe, M., Rutherford, E., Mason, D., Riseng, C., and Su, Z., 2018 (Poster). Modeling Bioenergetic Habitat Suitability of Invasive Bigheaded Carp in Lake Michigan. Ocean Sciences Meeting, Portland, OR, February 12-16.
Alsip, P., Zhang, H., Rowe, M., Rutherford, E., Mason, D., Riseng, C., and Su, Z., 2017 (Oral). Habitat Suitability Assessment for Asian Carp using 3D Water Quality Data from Lake Michigan. International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) State of Lake Michigan Conference. Green Bay, WI. November 6-9.
Alsip, P., Rice, N., Lott, S., Sturtevant, R.A., Martinez, F., and Rutherford, E., 2017 (Poster). The Great Lakes Aquatic Nonindigenous Species Information System Watchlist. International Association for Great Lakes Research (IAGLR) 60th annual conference on Great Lakes Research. Detroit, MI. May 15-19.
In the News:
- Climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, Michigan News, 7/7/2020
- Climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, News Break Eureka Alert, 7/7/2020
- Climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, EurekaAlert, 7/7/2020
- Climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ’ecological barrier’, My Science, 7/7/2020
- Global warming could help Asian carp invade Lake Michigan, earth.com News, 7/7/2020
- Bigheaded carp pose big threat, new model suggests, Capital News Service, 7/7/2020
- Warming Could Lower One Barrier to Invasive Fish Reaching Great Lakes Mussels in the lakes, themselves invasive species, may not be able to outcompete Asian carp for food, as previously thought, Scientific American, 7/8/2020
- Climate Change Would Limit Competition For Asian Carp If Introduced In Lake Michigan, Study Finds: Research Shows Invasive Mussels Won’t Hold Fish At Bay, Wisconsin Public Radio, 7/8/2020
- Climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, phys.org, 7/8/2020
- Climate change would limit competition for Asian carp if introduced in Lake Michigan, study finds, Great Lakes Commission Daily News, 7/8/2020
- Warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability, Climate 7/8/2020
- Climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, News Break Ann Arbor, 7/8/2020
- Warming Could Lower One Barrier to Invasive Fish Reaching Great Lakes, World News Monitor, 7/8/2020
- Warming Could Lower One Barrier to Invasive Fish Reaching Great Lakes, Environment RSS, 7/8/ 2020
- U of M study: Climate change may aid Asian carp invasion of Great Lakes, Michigan Radio, 7/8/2020
- Climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, Just Dial, 7/8/2020
- Climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, Earth & Climate – (e) Science News, 7/8/2020
- Climate Warming Increases Asian Carp Threat To Lake Michigan By Offsetting Quagga Mussel ‘Ecological barrier’, Scienmag, 7/8/2020
- Climate warming increases Asia carp threat to U.S. Lake Michigan, XinhuaNET, 7/9/2020
- Climate warming increases Asia carp threat to U.S. Lake Michigan, china.org.cn, 7/9/2020
- Warming Could Lower One Barrier to Invasive Fish Reaching Great Lakes, newsakmi.com, 7/9/2020
- Warming May Decrease One Barrier to Invasive Fish Reaching Nice Lakes, The Gossip Media, 7/9/2020
- New research from Michigan Sea Grant finds climate warming increases Asian carp threat to Lake Michigan by offsetting quagga mussel ‘ecological barrier’, seagrant.noaa.gov, 7/10/2020
- Great Lakes – Climate Change May Help Asian Carp Thrive in Lake Michigan, Coastal News Today, 7/11/2020
- Climate Change May Help Asian Carp Thrive in Lake Michigan, Progressive Party USA, 7/11/2020
- Climate Change May Help Asian Carp Thrive in Lake Michigan, Urban Milwaukee, 7/11/2020
- Climate Change May Help Asian Carp Thrive In Lake Michigan, Occupy Independents, 7/11/2020
- Climate Warming Increases Asian Carp Threat to Lake Michigan, Spot On Illinois, 7/13/2020
- Bigheaded carp pose big threat, new model suggests, Capital News Service Record Eagle, 7/16/2020
- Asian carp threat intensifies, Michigan Today, 7/23/2020
- NOAA researchers model risk of Asian carp invasion in Lake Huron, NOAA Research News, 4/30/2020
- Bigheaded carp pose big threat, new model suggests, Great Lakes Echo, 6/5/2020
- Big Fish Story: Asian carp are poised to enter Lake Michigan, but to what extent is a matter of debate. Rackham alumnus Peter Alsip’s research sheds light on the watery invaders’ potential whereabouts, Discover Rackham, 1/22/2020
- Asian Carp Capable of Surviving in Much Larger Areas of Lake Michigan Than Previously Thought, University of Michigan Faculty News, 11/22/2019
- Favorite food not on the menu? No problem for Asian carp – they eat almost anything, Great Lakes Echo, 8/21/2019
- Lake Michigan’s ‘Plankton Desert’ No Problem for Bighead Carp, Peninsula Pulse, 8/16/2019
- A mussel poop diet could fuel invasive carp’s spread across Lake Michigan, Science News, 8/13/2019
- New Study Finds Asian Carp Could Survive Throughout Lake Michigan, Wisconsin Public Radio, 8/12/2019
- Asian carp could be a lot worse to the Great Lakes that previously thought, UofM study shows, Fox 2 Detroit, 8/12/2019
- U-M: Asian carp would have sufficient food supply in Lake Michigan, Holland Sentinel, 8/12/2019
- Asian carp have never breached a body of freshwater the size of Lake Michigan. Here’s the bizarre way they could survive and thrive in the world’s fifth largest lake, Chicago Tribune, 8/12/2019
- U-M study: Asian carp capable of surviving in much larger areas of Lake Michigan than previously thought, Michigan News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian Carp could expand across greater area of Lake Michigan than previously thought, Michigan Radio, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could thrive in Lake Michigan, despite earlier doubts, Bridge, 8/12/2019
- Are the Great Lakes next? Video shows hundreds of Asian carp shocked in Kentucky lake, Fox 2 Detroit, 8/1/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Associated Press, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, ABC News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Binghamton Homepage, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, yahoo.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Centre Daily Times, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WTEN ABC, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, 8 News Now, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, CBS 42, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WTTW, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, mypanhandle.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, AccessWDUN, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, KTAR News 92.3 FM, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, dailyreporter.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Travel Breaking News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Wisconsin State Journal, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, 62 CBS Detroit, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, KXNet.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, LocalSYR.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, KHON 2, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, My Twin Tiers, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WWLP 22 News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, CEN LA Now, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Four States Homepage, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Your Basin, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, News 8 WTNH, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Belleville News-Democrat, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, News Channel 11 WJHL, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, CBS 13 WOWK TV, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, CIProud.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, ABC 27 News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, CBS 10 KLFY.com , 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WTRF.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WNCT 9 , 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, The World News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, FOX16.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WIPROUD.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Fox 21 News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, CBS 17, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Count On News 2, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, LMT online, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, UPMatters.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WDHN ABC DoThanFirst.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, The Ridgefield Press, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, The Darien Times, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, ICFlorida.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, The Trumbull Times, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, CBS Koin 6, Portland, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, KTVN 2 News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, The Telegraph, Alton, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, FireFighterNation.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, My Plainview, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Boston 25 News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, ABC 4 Utah, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, 21 WFMJ, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, FOX 23 News, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WRAL.com, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Chron, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, The Intelligencer, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, Huron Daily Tribune, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, KXAN, 8/12/2019
- Study: Asian carp could find plenty of food in Lake Michigan, WSB-TV 2, 8/12/2019
Video Library
Invasive species are perhaps the greatest stressor currently facing the Great Lakes aquatic ecosystem. Some of them, like the invasive carps, have been identified as potential invasive species. Invasive carp are highly abundant in the Illinois River and have been captured 47 miles away from Lake Michigan. They threaten to invade the Great Lakes and disrupt aquatic food webs and fisheries through their voracious consumption of large volumes of plankton. CIGLR has produced models for Lake Erie that show if invasive carps were to invade, they would dominate the fish community and seriously devalue the vital recreational and commercial fisheries present there. Currently, Dr. Hongyan Zhang, Peter Alsip and colleagues are working to develop similar ecosystem models to assess the invasive carp threat in the other Great Lakes and their embayments.
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Invasive carp are capable of surviving and growing in much larger portions of Lake Michigan than scientists previously believed and present a high risk of becoming established, according to a new modeling study from University of Michigan researchers and their colleagues. When diet flexibility and subsurface habitat were factored in, the amount of suitable invasive carp habitat in Lake Michigan increased dramatically, according to study lead author Peter Alsip, who conducted the research for his master’s thesis at U-M’s School for Environment and Sustainability. “Subsurface habitat and the fishes’ diet flexibility were not evaluated in previous studies, and our findings indicate that these considerations had a noticeable effect on our suitability assessment,” Alsip said. “Lake Michigan’s low supply of plankton may not be as strong a barrier as previously thought.”