They also impact the aquatic food web by transporting nutrients to new locations. This project will use remote sensing technology to estimate surface chlorophyll and sediment concentrations of two major episodic events in southern Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. By quantifying these characteristics, scientists hope to better understand how episodic events impact the Great Lakes aquatic food web over time. Because it can outgrow native plants and reduce habitat for wildlife, purple loosestrife is considered a serious threat to the ecological integrity of wetlands. Since 1990, scientists and volunteers have released the Galerucella beetle, the plant's natural enemy, to feed on the plants.
Evidence shows that the beetles are suppressing the growth of purple loosestrife.
Scientists now want to know what happens afterward. Project researchers will conduct experiments at specific locations around the state to answer these questions. The coastal wetlands of the Great Lakes are vital to the health of the ecosystem. They improve water quality, provide wildlife habitat as well as offer aesthetic beauty and recreational opportunities. Yet current land-use policies and practices often fail to adequately protect these sensitive areas.