With summer on the horizon, water safety folks discuss ways to stay safe while splashing.

 
Featured photo: UW Digital Collections

The Large Lakes Observatory is observing the Great Lakes to better understand threats to the world’s freshwater resources. Research teams are studying everything from climate change impacts on the lakes to nitrate build-ups.
And it’s not just the Great Lakes. With support from the National Science Foundation, the observatory’s scientists are studying the biology, chemistry, physics and geology of large lakes around the world.
The video below highlights some of their research in the Great Lakes.

 
Video courtesy of Science Nation of the National Science Foundation
Featured photo: Large Lakes Observatory, University of Minnesota-Duluth

Have you ever wondered why geese flock to a nice clean lawn? Sebastian the goose explains the attraction.

Sebastian loves short, tasty grass and feels safe when he can see predators from far away.
That’s why he loves mowed lawns and shorelines.
And this fowl admits to fouling a yard 28 times a day, generating almost 1.5 pounds of waste. If he brings some friends along he could create a huge mess.
Sebastian and Larry the All-American Bullfrog were created by Bret Shaw, Travis Balinas and Elizabeth Ryan from the Life Sciences Communication department …

When people talk about restoring the Great Lakes, they’re not looking back as far as John Janssen, professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Freshwater Scientists.
“I want to bring the coral reefs back,” Janssen said.
Ancient coral reefs are peppered throughout some of the Great Lakes where glaciers carved out tough rock formations 400 million years ago.
Remnants of reefs can be seen on the eastern side of Lake Michigan, the Bruce Peninsula of Lake Huron, the southwestern side of Lake Erie and near Niagara Falls. Lake Superior is the only …

This is the fourth video in a series of short documentaries covering invasive species in the Great Lakes, showing how invaders are changing the ecosystems in national parks and what’s being done to stop them.

This is the third video in a four part series of documentaries covering invasive species in the Great Lakes, showing how invaders are changing the ecosystems in national parks and what’s being done to stop them.

This is the second video of four short documentaries covering invasive species in the Great Lakes, showing how invaders are changing the ecosystems in national parks and what’s being done to stop them.

The is the first of of a four part series of short documentaries covering invasive species in the Great Lakes, showing how invaders are changing the ecosystems in national parks and what’s being done to stop them.

Urban farmers in Flint, Mich., have run into a problem – finding water for their crops. The challenge stems from zoning laws, unwilling neighbors and chemicals.

 
Filmed and produced by Michigan State University’s  School of Journalism and by the Department of Telecommunication, Information Studies, and Media.
Featured image: Velo Steve (Flickr)

Recent Changes in Great Lakes Fisheries

University of Wisconsin Sea Grant fisheries expert Phil Moy explains how the Great Lakes fisheries have changed in the last 25 years. With more invasive species and less phosphorus pollution, Great Lakes fish species face new challenges. With the incoming carp invasion, they’ll face even more.
(Featured image: EPA)