Primary production processes in the Laurentian great lakes

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Smith 17686Summary for public releasePhytoplankton are microscopic algae that produce much of the world's oxygen and absorb a large fraction of the carbon dioxide taken out of the atmosphere each year by plants. They form the base of the food web in open waters. In lakes, they can also harm water quality if they become very prolific or if harmful and/or toxic species proliferate. Because of this it is important to have the best possible understanding of the environmental factors that control the amounts and types of phytoplankton that grow in lakes. For large lakes this is a particular challenge because traditional methods are too labour intensive to allow good coverage. The work proposed here focuses on new techniques that give us important answers about how light, nutrients, and terrestrial runoff influence phytoplankton in the Great Lakes. It will make use of recent investments in new types of equipment for measuring photosynthetic properties of populations, size and health of individual cells and organisms, and origins of organic material and energy in aquatic communities. It will train students in advanced techniques that are needed to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of science-based environmental regulation and management. The research answers will help us better plan for and understand the implications of climate fluctuations, stratospheric ozone depletion, nutrient pollution and human alteration of drainage basins.