BEN MICHLIG
715.432.9440 benmichlig@gmail.com
- Biologist/Research Professional-
Employment: Industry (Xcel Energy, Cable Tech Inc.), Academia (University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, Department of Forest Resources; University of Wisconsin – Madison, Kemp Station), Government (Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources), Small Business (Aerial Arborist, LLC.; Dano’s Tree Service, LLC.; Rollie and Helen’s Musky Shop; Hideaway Hollow Outfitters, LLC.; Northwoods Way Outfitters; Vern’s Vending Service, Durango Mountain Resort)
Notable Contributed Publications
-Tang, J., Bolstad, P. V. and Martin, J. G. (2009), Soil carbon fluxes and stocks in a Great Lakes forest chronosequence. Global Change Biology, 15, pp. 145–155.
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-Martin J.G., Bolstad P.V., Ryu S.-R., Chen J. (2009), Modeling soil respiration based on carbon, nitrogen, and root mass across diverse Great Lake forests. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, 149 (10), pp. 1722-1729.
-Mackay, D. S., B. E. Ewers, M. M. Loranty, and E. L. Kruger (2010), On the representativeness of plot size and location for scaling transpiration from trees to a stand, Geophysical Resources, 115.
-Michlig, B. L. (2012, January 13). Inland trout. The Lakeland Times, p. 14.
-Michlig, B. L. (2012, January 27). Understanding big fish and the biology behind them. The Lakeland Times, p. 16.
-Michlig, B. L. (2012, March 2). Light, color, and what fish see. The Lakeland Times, p.15.
Volunteer/ Community Involvement/Personal
Certificates/Licenses – WI boaters safety, NOAA Observer, WI fish/hunting guide, driver’s license, CPR/First Aid
Testing – 1st in class NOAA observer program (2x 100% fish ID), 90% WI Advanced Fisheries Tech Exam
Educator - Port Orford Ocean Research Team, Port Orford Water Festival; educate youth with WDNR (field trips)
Volunteer - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; field sampling/electro shocking
Researcher - rockfish tagging and recovery program for graduate thesis
Volunteer - Sierra Club, provided information on current objectives to residents
Guest - The Big Wild Radio Program, America’s premier outdoor radio show
Fisherman (pro) – 1st place 2013 Invitational Championship (WMT), top-ten finisher ’10,’12,’13 tour tournaments
Writer – Lakeland Times, Appleton Post-Crescent, Fond du Lac Reporter, Green Bay Press-Gazette, Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, Marshfield News Herald, Oshkosh Northwestern, Sheboygan Press, Stevens Point Journal, Wausau Daily Herald, Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune, Door County Advocate, Wisconsin Outdoor Fun
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Education
B. Sc. 2007 University of Minnesota – Twin Cities - Fisheries Biology, entomology
Kemp Station, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Woodruff, WI. Cloquet Field Station, University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Cloquet, MN. North Pacific Groundfish Observer Program, NOAA HQ, Anchorage, Alaska.
West Coast Groundfish Observer Program, NOAA HQ, Newport, Oregon.
Work Evaluations/Praise
Ben worked with me during early to late spring field operations of 2013, spawning fish under frequently harsh and very difficult working conditions. I was always impressed by his positive “can do” attitude, desire to do the best job he could, and ability to adapt to frequent changes in work procedures as needed to prepare for or as encountered in the field. I have been a field operations crew leader since 1990 and Ben would be my number one choice of persons to work with to get the job done right. Fred Hagstrom, Spawning Coordinator, Art Oehmcke State Fish Hatchery
Ben went well above WCGOP required sample sizes. Thanks, Ben, for all the hard work during an exceptionally busy trip period. Ben’s logbook was neatly done, easy to follow, and supported his data well. He exceeded WCGOP standards. Nice work! Ben is a pleasure to work with, maintaining excellent communications with his debriefer.”- Jason Eibner, NOAA
Professional Experience
Fisheries Technician (current position)
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Woodruff, WI
As a fisheries technician at the Art Oehmke State Fish Hatchery, I am responsible for the general propagation of fishes (walleye, muskie, sucker). The Woodruff Hatchery is one of the most productive and necessary hatcheries in the state, replenishing thousands of lakes in Northern WI via stocking. Muskies are raised to about 10 inches; walleyes are raised to either 4 inches or an extended growth length of 8 inches, and then harvested. Suckers are hatched and raised to support the majority of the diet for the muskies and walleyes.
Daily Responsibilities and Gear used:
Operate and maintain a fleet of DNR boats, trailers, and motors. Operate 1 and 2 ton trucks.
Fyke nets – I strategically and meticulously set and retrieve numerous nets daily to capture spawning target species.
- Repair netting and gear regularly as needed.
Navigate numerous waterways; GPS/map savvy; utilize past data and logbooks; record daily notes and data.
Collect eggs from ripe spawning target species; appropriately fertilize eggs according to specific sex ratio/protocol.
Collect appropriate data from spawned fish - scale samples; ovarian fluid samples; PIT tag when necessary.
General maintenance of the hatchery and propagation equipment.
Harvest each pond when desirable size of fish is reached; distribute fish to waters throughout the state.
Educate and communicate with citizens, land owners, and youth about fisheries and hatchery techniques.
Work long hours outdoors in all weather; emphasis on communication and team work.
Marine Biologist, Federal Fisheries Observer
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; AK, WA, OR, CA
Observers are the only source of independent data collection for most types of at-sea information. By-catch, catch composition, and gear configuration cannot be seen otherwise. This data are used to support the National Marine Fisheries Service in their effort for conservation and management activities; including stock assessments, marine mammal interactions, food habits, fish age analyses, economic analyses, fishery management plan development, in-season fishery management, and gear research.
Data collection at sea:
Fishing effort, location, and gear type; identification, composition, size, sex, and weight for catch and by-catch;
biological samples - tissue, age structures (otiliths, scales, vertebra), stomach contents; incidental takes of crab, Pacific salmon, halibut, herring, marine mammals, and albatross; interactions with marine mammals and seabirds.
Sampling – Observed total catch estimates figured by 1 of 13 different methods (e.g., extrapolation, tally, volume of space, actual, visual spatial, etc.). All biological samples collected based on random sampling theory, (i.e., systematic random, spatial random, temporal random).
Data manipulation/ Lab:
All catch data and biological specimens were organized according to protocol. Compositions were calculated and full descriptions of methods and equations used were strictly detailed, with my logbook providing precise evidence. My reports were professional, timely, and neat. Ten basic sections outlined the reports, with most reports exceeding 50 pages. Regular debriefings eventually finalized the data within the database; 100% of my data was accepted.
Primary Gear Used: Mechanical motion-compensated platform scale, 5 and 10 kg hand scales, length frequency board, fish pick, knife/scalpel/scissors, crab caliper, forceps, otolith vials, Netbooks computer, marine mammal sample kit, immersion suit, PFD, EPIRB, PLB, WCGOP database software.
Research Technician
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, Dept. of Forest Recourses, St. Paul, MN;
University of Wisconsin – Madison; Kemp Station, Woodruff, WI
As a student researcher, I collected data to model and understand the responses of forest ecosystems to the changing climate, and the role of forest age and successional status on carbon dynamics.
Data collected and primary gear:
Leaf area index using LAI-2000.
Soil respiration using a LI6400-09 soil chamber connected to a LI-6400 portable photosynthesis system.
Soil collars for soil respiration measurement.
Soil temperature adjacent to each respiration collar with a portable temperature probe.
Soil volumetric water content using several portable time domain reflectometers, which I personally built.
Omega temperature sensors were stored to a CR10X datalogger and HOBO integrated temperature-dataloggers.
Roots were manually separated from soils, dry biomass measured.
Calculated mass-based soil carbon content, soil bulk density, and soil carbon stocks at three layers across the sites.
Soil carbon contents were measured with a PerkinElmer CHN analyzer.
Regression analyses and other statistical analyses were conducted with the statistical package STATA.
Fisheries Intern
Xcel Energy, Minneapolis, MN
While conducting the studies to provide Xcel with diligent ecological data, I was responsible for assisting fisheries biologists in their efforts to collect data aboard an electro-fishing vessel on the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix Rivers. I captured, identified and measured fishes, conducted water turbidity tests using a secchi disk, collected water content data using a standard water bottle sampler, gathered benthic soil and detritus data using an Ekman Dredge, collected invertebrates with dipnets, and identified cyprinids using a littoral seine net. I was responsible for recording, maintaining, and manipulating these data for company analysis. Most data was stored to Excel software.