Northwest Ontario Side Story: IISD Experimental Lakes Area Annual Report 2022-2023
It’s certainly no secret that IISD Experimental Lakes Area is a place where world-class and unique scientific approaches to discovering what threatens the health of our fresh water truly thrive.
What we manage to obscure a little better is that, despite all the incredible scientific discoveries that go down at the world’s freshwater laboratory, we also harbour some artistic flourishes, theatrical leanings, and even full-on musical talents.
This year's annual report is a celebration of all things creative at the world's freshwater laboratory, from the science to music, photography and theatre.
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Freshwater connectivity can transport environmental DNA through the landscape
A new study conducted at IISD-ELA found that the movement of water between freshwater bodies can transport eDNA which complicates the question of how accurately it can be used to monitor species.
Microplastics now pervasive in Great Lakes, with 90% of water samples surpassing safe levels for aquatic wildlife: new studies
Data spanning the last ten years reveal that the Great Lakes basin is widely contaminated with microplastics, with potentially dangerous consequences for the wildlife that live within.
These nearly invisible organisms help clean Lake Tahoe's water. Here's how they do it
Plankton are not just a diabolical mastermind on a Nickelodeon show about a sponge who lives under the sea. Lake Tahoe is filled with them—the good kind. Tahoe native zooplankton are making a comeback in the more than 21-mile long lake, helping it look the clearest it has in 40 years. A comeback because until now, the microorganism's population significantly decreased after it's primary predator, the Mysis shrimp, was on the rise, according to previous Sacramento Bee reporting.
ELA Investment from Ontario Government to Advance Aquaculture Research and Indigenous Communities
The Ontario government has announced a significant investment of nearly $550,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) to support a research project focused on sustainable aquaculture and local food production. The funding will be provided to IISD Experimental Lakes Area Inc. (IISD-ELA) for their innovative study on the use of fish waste as fertilizer and its impact on freshwater in cultivated wild rice paddy areas. This initiative aims to establish sustainable practices for co-cultivating fish and wild rice, with a specific focus on benefiting Indigenous communities.