New York Great Lakes Research Consortium

Awards Small Grants for 2002

The following two projects were selected by the GLRC to receive small grants of up to $25,000 each, from funds supplied by the New York State Legislature, in support of new research concerning the health of the Great Lakes.

Recent studies conducted along the southeast shore of Lake Ontario and on the Tug Hill Plateau suggest that contaminant levels in the air and sediment are elevated above those expected in rural and remote areas.  In particular, PCB concentrations are significantly elevated over those in other areas throughout the Great Lakes Basin. A GLRC Small Grant has been awarded to Jeff Chiarenzelli, from SUNY Potsdam, to research the assessment of lake effect precipitation in the deposition of organic contaminants.  It is proposed that the enhanced contaminant levels recorded in air and sediment downwind of Lake Ontario are related to contaminants derived from upwind urban and industrial sources by lake-effect precipitation.  Comparisons of soil samples will allow the assessment of regional differences in contaminant deposition due to geographic position with respect to potential upwind sources.  Joining Dr. Chiarenzelli in this work are scientists from SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Oswego, and Clarkson University.

For more information: Dr. Chiarenzelli - chiarenv@redcreek.net

Zebra mussels are well established in Lake Champlain and the Great Lakes ecosystem. They filter large volumes of water as part of their daily feeding cycle. Gregory Boyer, from SUNY ESF, was awarded a GLRC small grant to investigate zebra mussels as biomonitors for cyanobacteria toxins in the Great Lakes.  Zebra mussels would act as an excellent biomarker if they accumulate cyanobacteria toxins in a consistent manner.  The basic working hypothesis of this project is that the cyanobacteria toxin concentration measured in zebra mussel is proportional to the amount of toxic cyanobacteria in the water column. As such, these species can be used as surrogate collectors to monitor for cyanobacteria toxins in the plankton.  To conduct this study, researchers at SUNY ESF, SUNY Brockport, and the Lake Champlain Research Institute at SUNY Plattsburgh will conduct field and laboratory studies of Lake Champlain and Lake Ontario.

For more information: Dr. Boyer - glboyer@esf.edu