The spectacular landscapes and pristine waters of the north shore of Lake Superior, which once provided inspiration for the Group of Seven, are now vulnerable to algal blooms.
Freshwater ecosystems in Canada, and around the world, are more fragile than they look and vulnerable to invasive species. Canada’s lakes and rivers require constant vigilance to protect from invasion.
Jérôme Comte, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS); Christophe Langevin, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS), and Naíla Barbosa da Costa, Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS)
New techniques monitor the health of lakes in real time by analyzing their microbiome to anticipate and respond to environmental threats such as cyanobacteria.
Zooplankton are microscopic in size, but crucial for regulating aquatic ecosystems and moving nutrients up the food chain. This is affected by human activities including pollution and climate change.
Canadians are no strangers to cold winters, when everything in nature appears to be frozen solid. However, under the ice cover of lakes, many animals remain active during the winter.
James Harris, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM) and Marie Larocque, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
In Canada, groundwater is generally abundant and lakes are ubiquitous. But the exchanges between groundwater and lakes are complex and often invisible.
The growing environmental and health risks posed by microplastics can only be addressed by reducing the amount of plastic produced and ensuring that all of it is recycled.
Some plant plankton engage in predatory behaviour and consume bacteria. This can contribute to climate change as these plankton stop photosynthesis in warmer temperatures.
The record-breaking and destructive forest fires of the summer of 2023 made headlines. But how did they affect the millions of lakes in the burned catchment areas?