GLIN==> Winter alga may be linked to Lake Erie's Dead Zone

Winter alga may be linked to Lake Erie's Dead Zone

October 14, 2009

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

BOWLING GREEN, OH - Ohio Sea Grant researchers at Bowling Green State
University have discovered a winter-loving algae that may be contributing to
the summertime Dead Zone. Drs. Michael McKay and George Bullerjahn first
observed the algae, Aulacoseira islandica, in brownish pockets floating
under Lake Erie's ice in February 2007. The pair determined that the
plankton sometimes made up as much as 80% or 90% of the biomass in collected
samples. 

 

Their goal now is to determine whether the diatoms get eaten by zooplankton
and other organisms or simply die and sink to the bottom of Lake Erie.

 

"If it turns out that most of these diatoms end up on the lake floor, they
would provide a large source of organic carbon for bacteria to decompose,
which would consume oxygen," McKay says. "If this decomposition happens
mainly when the water warms up and stratifies-forming a warm upper layer and
a cold lower layer in the summer months-and not during the frigid winter
months, it has to be contributing to the Dead Zone."

 

The group will use Sea Grant funding to collect data for the next two
winters, including taking part in several more science cruises. In addition,
Environment Canada will use its icebreaker to deploy sediment traps that
will sit on the bottom of the lake during the coldest months of the year,
which should help determine if the diatoms are indeed sinking to the bottom
of the lake. Preliminary data should be available in summer 2010.

 

To read more about this Ohio Sea Grant-funded research, visit
http://ohioseagrant.osu.edu/_documents/twineline/v31i3.pdf

 

The Ohio State University's Ohio Sea Grant College Program is part of NOAA
Sea Grant, a network of 30 Sea Grant Programs dedicated to the protection
and sustainable use of marine and Great Lakes resources. For information on
Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Lab, visit ohioseagrant.osu.edu.

 

###

 

Contact: 

 

Dr. Michael McKay, Bowling Green State University, rmmckay at bgsu.edu,
419.372.6873

 

Dr. George Bullerjahn, Bowling Green State University, bullerj at bgsu.edu,
419.372.8527

 

 

Stacy Brannan

Associate Editor

Ohio Sea Grant and Stone Laboratory

1314 Kinnear Road

Columbus, OH 43212

614.247.7109

brannan.16 at osu.edu

 

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