Publications:

Fahnenstiel, G.L., D.F. Millie, J. Dyble, R.W. Litaker, P.A. Tester, M.J. McCormick, R. Rediske, and D. Klarer. Microcystin concentrations and cell quotas in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 11(2):190-195 (2008)

Millie, D.F., G.L. Fahnenstiel, J. DYBLE, R.J. Pigg, R.R. Rediske, D.M. Klarer, R.W. Litaker, and P. A. Tester. Influence of environmental conditions on late-summer cyanobacterial abundance in Saginaw Bay, Lake Huron. Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management 11(2):196-205 (2008)

Millie, D. F., Fahnenstiel, G., Dyble, J., Pigg, J., Rediske, R., Klarer, D. M., Tester, P. A. Late-summer phytoplankton in western Lake Erie (Laurentian Great Lakes): bloom distributions, toxicity, and environmental influences. Aquatic Ecology (2009)

Project Description:

AWRI was involved in a three-year study of the factors that control microcystin production by Microcystis in the Great Lakes, specifically Saginaw Bay and western Lake Erie. The work was performed at NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, and Grand Valley State University's Water Resource Institute. This was a cooperative project between these two institutions. The first two years included intensive field sampling and sample analyses, whereas the third year was devoted to data analysis and synthesis. Fieldwork consisted of frequent sampling at single master/indicator stations and a large synoptic cruise during the period of maximum bloom formation in Saginaw Bay/western Lake Erie using ships/vessels from NOAA's Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab. Master stations in Saginaw Bay and western Lake Erie were identical to those sampled in the previous studies; station #5 (from Nalepa and Fahnenstiel, 1995 and Vanderploeg et al. 2001) was designated the master station within Saginaw Bay and the station located near the Toledo Harbor Light (near the area of persistent Microcystis blooms Budd et al. 2001 and similar to the sampling station used by NOAA-GLERL and University of Toledo monitoring programs) was the master station within western Lake Erie.

Master stations in both Saginaw Bay and Lake Erie were sampled at least bi-weekly during bloom initiation, development, and senescence periods, (a period typically lasting 2 months). At these stations, field sampling was performed. Once a bloom was located, large in situ enclosures were deployed to confine the existing bloom community. The mesocosms allowed frequent sampling (daily) of a specific bloom population. Samples were analyzed for growth, division, C:N:P, Microcystin-LR Cell Quota, community composition, community growth rates, and for general limnological measurements.