RESEARCHRESEARCH
This project will combine geographic information about sediment with
larval and adult fish survey data to better understand the potential threat
to the aquatic habitats in the Buffalo River. By improving our understanding
of the effects of contaminants on organisms that live in the sediment of
the Buffalo River, remediation and fish management decisions can be improved
there.
They will study and model two New York Finger Lakes, Skaneateles and
Owasco, to predict the pathway of the process of oligotrophication in Lake
Ontario. The results of this study will help us understand how recent improvements
in water quality may affect the Great Lakes ecosystem.
They will use data from the New York State Angler questionnaire and
the New York Sate Congenital Malformations Registry in an attempt to correlate
the birth defects with contaminated fish consumption. They hope that their
research will give a clearer picture of how every day contaminants effect
us and our children.
Their current work involves observing the behavior of newborn rats whose
mothers were fed salmon taken from Lake Ontario while carrying those offspring.
The results should define the extent and pattern of neurochemical changes
in the brains of individuals exposed to such contaminants and determine
how prenatal exposure to these chemicals effect learning and behavior later
in life
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Their study explores the formation of possibly carcinogenic mutations
in DNA caused by exposure to polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. These are
formed by the incomplete combustion of virtually all organic materials (e.g.
tobacco smoke, automobile exhausts, and incineration). When an organism
inhales these compounds (PAHs) the body attempts to break them down. What
are left are restructured forms of the chemicals which tend to bind to the
DNA of the animal. These bound chemicals prevent the DNA from replicating
correctly, which in turn may lead to cancer as the cells divide incorrectly.
They will attempt to discern the extent of the effects of air-borne
PCBs on animals. By understanding these effects, appropriate changes could
be made to the policies for dredging of contaminated sediments.
This project will begin to gather the data necessary to later develop
a mathematical model to help researchers predict how much and what type
of PCBs would probably be emitted to the air after floods and remediation
activities. This and other models will be very useful in making decisions
about how best to clean up contaminated sediments in rivers.
This study will collect air samples in New York to improve our knowledge
of how the class of compounds known as Dioxins and Furans, many of which
are toxic, become airborne and later fall out on our lakes and rivers.
These compounds are on most list of priority pollutants of concern but
very little in known about the mechanisms of their atmospheric transport.
Information collected in this study will be used as guidelines for mathematical
transport models which will serve as a basis for future research.
This project will be working with people of the Rochester area on a
project to develop the capacity to provide hands-on groundwater education
experiences to high school students in the Rochester area. Students will
be given hands-on experience of drilling, installing and sampling a well.
While on site, students will discuss groundwater movement, aquifers and
aquitards, groundwater/surface water interactions and the migration of contaminants.
This project is mainly aimed at increasing this understanding in high school
students, but can be expanded to include other interested parties.
This project is designed to heighten awareness and sensitivity among
the general public to Great Lakes water contamination issues. It involves
hands-on models and graphics that provide clear, visual examples of how
contaminants can be transported throughout the environment.
This project will work with students and faculty at that university
and staff at Williamsville South High School and Aquarium of Niagara to
develop tools to help educate non-technical audiences in the technical aspects
of environmental decision-making. The project will utilize the latest developments
in software technology to help students translate environmental concepts
into mathematical models.
Ice can affect the waters of the lakes in a variety of ways. Data collected
through remote sensing should lead to the creation of mathematical models
that should be able to predict these effects. This workshop will gather
professors and students proficient in remote sensing to discuss the potential
of using this new technology to study ice dynamics in the Great Lakes.
This project works towards increasing the awareness of scientists and
land managers to plants traditionally used by indigenous peoples. Their
project will convene two workshops to bring together scientists, Native
American leaders, and traditional practitioners. It is hoped that these
workshops will identify areas of concern for Iroquois people and successfully
inform scientists and land managers of that concern.
Management of contaminated soils in the Great Lakes region is of great
importance not only to protecting the quality of the Lakes but to human
health as well. Many chemicals remain in the soils for many years unless
they are deliberately cleaned up. When remediation is undertaken, much
of the problem is removed, but then the question becomes, how much of the
contaminants need to be removed before the area is considered to be clean?
This workshop will address this question.
The use of acoustics to sample aquatic environments is a relatively
new technique. By sending sound waves into the water in rapid, relatively
short bursts researchers have been able to effectively determine spatial
distributions, abundances and sizes of aquatic organisms. Unfortunately
the development of new technology and techniques in this field are beginning
to outstrip the knowledge of the practitioners. This workshop will bring
in international experts in the field of acoustic sampling to give plenary
lectures and a number of regional experts to lead discussion groups.
Environmental decisions are often based on complex mathematical models.
Over the past decade, rapid advances in digital graphics coupled with Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) have allowed researchers to "see" what
they are working on. Despite their promise, these visualization techniques
are not commonly used by decision makers. This project involves visiting
several Consortium member campuses in the United States and Canada to study
data visualization techniques and how they can be incorporated into environmental
decision making processes.