Research
Human Health
Grand River plume entering Lake Michigan at Grand Haven, MI.
Outlook
- With increased warming of lake water temperatures and lower lake levels, incidence of waterborne illnesses and Harmful Algal Blooms is expected to increase.
- The accumulation of mercury and other contaminants may be accelerated by lower water levels and higher temperatures
Forecasts
- Beach Closings (Bacteria/Pathogens)
- Fish Contamination
- Harmful Algal Blooms
Projects
- The GLERL-based Center of Excellence for Great Lakes and Human Health (CEGLHH) is currently developing new forecast tools to identify threats to human health arising from climate-related alteration of water quality.
- IFYLE work on Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB’s)
GLERL in collaboration with researchers from the U.S. and Canada have initiated one of the largest, most comprehensive Lake Erie research field programs ever conducted. The project, the International Field Years on Lake Erie (IFYLE), began in May 2005, with a focus on hypoxia and harmful algal blooms. One primary IFYLE goal is to identify factors that control the timing, extent, and duration of HAB (including toxin) formation in Lake Erie, as well as enhance our ability to use remote sensing as a tool to rapidly map HAB distributions in the lake. Projects focused on HAB’s include:
- Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Cyanobacterial Toxins in Lake Erie: P.I: Greg Boyer, SUNY Syracuse
- Historical Distribution of Microcystis and its Toxins in Lake Sediments: P.I: Greg Boyer, SUNY Syracuse
- Dreissenid Mussels as Homeostatic Filter Feeders and Nutrient Excreters: Implications for Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB’s) and Nutrient Cycling Across Trophic Gradients: P.I: Hank Vanderploeg, GLERL
- Development of a MODIS Image Product for Mapping Phycocyanin Pigment in Blue-Green Algal Blooms (Toxic Algae): P.I(S): Robert Vincent, Bowling Green State University and George Leshkevich, GLERL