Cold, clear nearshore regions of Lake Superior like Thunder Bay are growing more susceptible to algal blooms. By Georgia Hill Rising temperatures and changing environmental conditions in the Great Lakes contribute to harmful algal blooms. New research suggests that the nearshore regions of Lake Superior could indicate climate change’s effects on the region’s ecosystem. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae, are a type of bacteria found in freshwater that can grow rapidly and produce toxins that cause harm to animals and humans. Cyanobacteria blooms are often associated with warm, nutrient-rich lakes. But some recently have been showing up in cold, low-nutrient lakes such as Superior, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Great Lakes Research . The study cited reports of four cyanobacteria blooms along the north shore of Lake Superior since 2019. But monitoring information about these blooms – and potentially, future blooms – is limited, according to the authors from York University and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. The researchers wanted to get a better idea of which cyanobacteria species were growing in northern nearshore areas of Lake Superior, and which environmental conditions contributed to algae growth. They collected samples from ten nearshore stations along the Canadian shoreline throughout spring, summer, and fall over the course of one year. Across all seasons and sampling locations, the researchers identified 23 cyanobacterial species. They found the most cyanobacteria growing in embayments and bays. Growth was also linked to higher nutrient levels and stormy conditions. Cyanobacteria blooms are not yet a widespread concern on Lake Superior, and these species make up a small fraction of the algae in the lake, according to the study. But excessive growth of this bacteria can lead to blooms that impede recreation and deplete the oxygen in the water, said Kirill […]