Alex Edwards
Research Mentor: Alison Bressler
Mentor Department: Graham Sustainability Institute, Other
Author(s): Alex Edwards, Alison Bressler
Session: Session 2 (10:00 AM – 10:50 AM)
Presentation Type: Poster 51
Abstract
Eutrophication of freshwater environments due to increased human caused nutrient pollution has become a major problem in the the Great Lakes and globally, leading to harmful algal blooms. Past research has mostly focused on the effects of eutrophication on larger lakes, especially the Great Lakes with a special emphasis on Lake Erie, but limited attention has been centered on inland lakes. Smaller, populated inland lakes are also susceptible to eutrophication, and can affect large populations of humans and wildlife. Little Long Lake is a 150 acre lake located between South-Central Michigan and Northeast Indiana, with a mostly populated shoreline. Volunteer scientists living on the lake collected water quality samples during the summers of 2022-2025 from 5 sites on the lake, including an outlet, two drainage inlets, and two limnetic zone sites, and monitored for algal blooms in the lake. Samples were sent to The Ohio State’s Stone Laboratory to test the samples for total phosphorus (TP). NOAA’s historical weather data was accessed to track daily rainfall over collection time periods (April-October). Analysis of TP over time revealed peaks in concentration in the spring, often followed by an early season algae bloom and a subsequent drop in TP. Comparison of total annual rainfall and TP revealed a strong positive correlation, suggesting a relationship between increased rainfall and eutrophication by phosphorus pollution. The results from this experiment will be communicated to residents of the Little Long Lake community to help them understand nutrient cycling on their lake.
