Research Focuses on Lake Erie Dead Zones

Research Focuses on Lake Erie Dead Zones 

In this week’s video, get the inside scoop from graduate students Tracey Meilander and Curtis Clevinger and Dr. Robert Heath, professor of biological sciences, about their experience aboard a research vessel on Lake Erie. Their research will help determine why “dead zones” continue to flourish in Lake Erie’s central basin and what can be done about it.

The goal of their five weeklong expeditions aboard the RV Lake Guardian was to collect data from water samples to help them examine (1) the causes and consequences of dead zones, (2) the factors that lead to harmful algal blooms and (3) how lake physics and food webs affect fish production.

Watch the video in Windows Media Player or watch the video in QuickTime.

For more information about this research, read “Clear Water Revival” in the spring 2006 Kent State Magazine. Also, take a minute to peruse photos in the corresponding “Clear Water Revival” photo essay.

(You'll need Windows Media Player 9.0 or QuickTime 7 to view these clips. Upgrade or download Windows Media Player. The media player is also available for Macintosh users. Upgrade or download QuickTime.)