Lake Michigan Water Column Alteration: Lake Michigan water column alteration: Spatial and Seasonality of Dissolved Calcium Concentrations Due to Quagga Mussel Invasion
Mentor 1
Dr. Russell Cuhel
Mentor 2
Dr. Carmen Aguilar
Location
Union Wisconsin Room
Start Date
29-4-2016 1:30 PM
End Date
29-4-2016 3:30 PM
Description
In 2003, quagga mussels ((Dreissena bugensis) were discovered in Lake Michigan and have since become extremely problematic to Lake Michigan’s ecosystem and the people who rely on the lake for recreation, sport, and economic reasons. Unseen changes are also taking place – changes to Lake Michigan’s water column. Using samples collected from varying stations and depths, dissolved calcium concentrations were analyzed using methods detailed below to determine if spatial and/or season changes are occurring in Lake Michigan due to the invasion of quagga mussels. By analyzing water samples collected before quagga mussels were known to be in Lake Michigan, it was determined that the dissolved calcium concentration in Lake Michigan was approximately 800µM during summer months. Comparing that data to data collected from 2014/2015 samples, the calcium concentrations have remained relatively stable with no seasonality detected. Though this is not in line with the hypothesis at hand, it raises new questions regarding Lake Michigan’s dissolved calcium concentrations and what is absorbing the excess calcium from the water column.
Lake Michigan Water Column Alteration: Lake Michigan water column alteration: Spatial and Seasonality of Dissolved Calcium Concentrations Due to Quagga Mussel Invasion
Union Wisconsin Room
In 2003, quagga mussels ((Dreissena bugensis) were discovered in Lake Michigan and have since become extremely problematic to Lake Michigan’s ecosystem and the people who rely on the lake for recreation, sport, and economic reasons. Unseen changes are also taking place – changes to Lake Michigan’s water column. Using samples collected from varying stations and depths, dissolved calcium concentrations were analyzed using methods detailed below to determine if spatial and/or season changes are occurring in Lake Michigan due to the invasion of quagga mussels. By analyzing water samples collected before quagga mussels were known to be in Lake Michigan, it was determined that the dissolved calcium concentration in Lake Michigan was approximately 800µM during summer months. Comparing that data to data collected from 2014/2015 samples, the calcium concentrations have remained relatively stable with no seasonality detected. Though this is not in line with the hypothesis at hand, it raises new questions regarding Lake Michigan’s dissolved calcium concentrations and what is absorbing the excess calcium from the water column.
