Great Lakes estuaries

The Great Lakes nearshore is a legacy of human modification but also a source of hope, where restoration efforts and community engagement are revitalizing vital habitats.

Simon Freeman, an undergraduate at Lake Superior State University, conducts research on larval lake whitefish, cisco, and zooplankton in the Great Lakes as part of his senior thesis.

An ecohydrological study in a Lake Michigan interdunal wetland reveals how rising lake levels and muskrat foraging interact to shape vegetation dynamics and wetland structure.

Raising concerns about climate impacts on Great Lakes shores can inadvertently justify destructive armoring; the best ecological response is often to let nature respond naturally.

Charity Nonkes bridges Indigenous Knowledge and Western science in sea lamprey management, collaborating with the Saugeen Ojibway Nation to rehabilitate Denny's Dam.

Rebecca Nixon, an environmental social scientist, studies the social dimensions of climate change and coastal community resilience, focusing on revitalization in Great Lakes Areas of Concern.

Richard Micka serves as chair of the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, fostering community engagement and outdoor experiences at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

A new experimental biophysical nowcast-forecast system helps researchers locate transient productivity hot spots in the dynamic nearshore zones of Lakes Michigan and Huron.

Sovannara Uk studies phosphorus dynamics and primary production in Tonle Sap Lake, Cambodia, highlighting the need for transdisciplinary collaboration in data-deficient tropical ecosystems.

A photographic journey through Great Lakes coastal wetlands showcases their dynamic landscapes, diverse vegetation zones, and vital role as spawning habitat for nearly three-quarters of Great Lakes fish.

Larval cisco grow faster than larval lake whitefish in low-prey nearshore waters of Lake Michigan-Huron, potentially explaining their recent resurgence while whitefish decline.

The Saugeen Ojibway Nation's Coastal Waters Monitoring Program collects the largest multi-year dataset on nearshore fish and habitat in their territory, blending science with sacred stewardship.

The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts report details how warming temperatures and extreme precipitation are altering Great Lakes coastal ecology and threatening communities.

Unexpected filamentous algal blooms are emerging in clear lakes worldwide, driven by invasive mussels, nutrient pollution, and climate change, posing a new threat to littoral habitats.