Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Toxic contaminants and Great Lakes ecosystem health: current understandings and strategies for improved assessments

  • Published:
Journal of Aquatic Ecosystem Health

Abstract

Although extensive research, surveillance, and monitoring studies have been conducted on the Great Lakes ecosystem for more than two decades, the presence of toxic substances in the Great Lakes ecosystem continues to be a major issue of environmental concern. This issue was addressed during a symposium and workshop sponsored by the International Joint Commission during which more than 30 experts on Great Lakes biota discussed various aspects of toxic substances and Great Lakes ecosystem health. This manuscript is based on these deliberations. It discusses the reasons for the limited understanding of the effects of toxic substances on Great Lakes biota despite years of surveillance and monitoring. It also identifies those studies which have provided direct evidence of the effects of toxic substances on the well-being of the organism. Finally, it recommends improved approaches to research and monitoring investigations of the effects of toxic substances on the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Baumann P. C., W. D. Smith & M. Ribick, 1982. Hepatic tumor rates and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon levels in two populations of brown bullheads (Ictalurus nebulosis). In: M. Cooke & A. J. Dennis (eds), Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Physical and Biological Chemistry. pp. 93–102. Batelle, Columbus, Ohio. 947 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beeton, A. M., 1969. Changes in the environment and biota of the Great Lakes. In: Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences, Correctives. Nat. Acad. Sci. Publ. 1700: 150–187.

  • Black J. J., 1983. Field and laboratory studies of environmental carcinogenesis in Niagara River fish. J. Great Lakes Res. 9: 326–334.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks J. L. & S. I. Dodson, 1965. Predation, body size, and composition of plankton, Science 250: 28–35.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carpenter S. R. & J. F. Kitchell, 1984. Plankton community structure and limnetic primary production. Amer. Nat. 124: 159–172.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie W. J., 1974. Changes in the fish species composition of the Great Lakes. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 31: 827–854.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans M. S. (ed.), 1988. Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans M. S. & D. C. McNaught, 1988. The effects of toxic substances on zooplankton populations: a Great Lakes perspective. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 53–76. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitchko J., 1986. Literature Review of the Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances on Great Lakes Biota. Rep. to the Health of Aquatic Communities Task Force, Sci. Advis. Board, Internat. Joint Comm., Windsor, Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • FontaineIII T. D., 1988. Modeling and statistical approaches for determining the fate and effects of toxicants in natural waters. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 571–583. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gannon J. E., 1988. Persistent toxic substances and zooplankton in the Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 527–536. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giesy J. P., J. Newstead & D. L. Garling, 1986. Relationships between chlorinated hydrocarbon concentrations and rearing mortality of chinook salmon (Oncorhyncus tschawytscha) from Lake Michigan. J. Great Lakes Res. 12: 82–98.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gilbertson M., 1988. Epidemics in birds and mammals caused by chemicals in the Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 133–152. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Great Lakes Water Quality Board, 1982. 1982 Report of the Great Lakes Water Quality Board. Rep. to the Internat. Joint Comm., Windsor, Ontario.

  • Great Lakes Water Quality Board, 1989. 1989 Report of the Great Lakes Water Quality Board. Rep. to the Internat. Joint Comm., Windsor, Ontario.

  • Hamilton A. L. & O. A. Saether, 1971. The occurrence of characteristic deformities in the chironomid larvae of several Canadian lakes. Can. Entomol. 103: 363–368.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harris H. J., 1988. Persistent toxic substances and birds and mammals in the Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 557–570. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartman W. L., 1988. Historical changes in the major fish resources of the Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 103–132. Wiley InterScience. New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Humphrey H. E. B., 1988. Chemical contaminants in the Great Lakes: the human health aspects. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 153–168. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson G. E., 1967. A Treatise on Limnology. II. Introduction to Lake Biology and the Limnoplankton. John Wiley and Sons, New York. 1,115 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Joint Commission, 1982. First Biennal Report under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement of 1978. Great Lakes Regional Office, Windsor, Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson J. L. & S. W. Jacobson, 1988. New methodologies for assessing the effects of prenatal toxic exposure on cognitive functioning in humans. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 373–388. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mac M. J., 1988. Toxic substances and survival of Lake Michigan salmonids: field and laboratory approaches. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 389–402. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mac M. J., C. C. Edsall & J. G. Seelye, 1985. Survival of lake trout eggs and fry reared in waters from the upper Great Lakes. J. Great Lakes Res. 11: 520–529.

    Google Scholar 

  • McQueen D. J. & J. R. Post, 1988. Cascading trophic interactions: uncoupling at the zooplankton-phytoplankton link. Hydrobiol. 159: 277–296.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nalepa T. F. & P. F. Landrum, 1988. Benthic invertebrates and contaminant levels in the Great Lakes: effect, fates, and role in cycling. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), 1988. Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 77–102. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhee G-Y., 1988. Persistent toxic substances and phytoplantkton in the Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 513–526. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robertson A., 1988. Development of ecosystem objectives for the Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 477–490. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryder R. A. & C. J. Edwards (eds), 1985. A Conceptual Approach for the Application of Biological Indicators of Ecosystem Quality in the Great Lakes Basin. Rep. to the Sci. Advis. Board, Internat. Joint Comm., Windsor, Ontario.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sicko-Goad L. & E. F. Stoermer, 1988. Effects of toxicants on phytoplankton with special reference to the Laurentian Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 19–52. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smol J. P. & S. S. Dixit, 1990. Patterns of pH change inferred from chrysophyte microfossils in Adirondack and northern New England lakes. J. Paleolimnol. 3: 31–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sonstegard R. A. & J. F. Leatherland, 1984. Comparative epidemiology: the use of fishes in assessing carcinogenic contaminants. In: V. W. Cairns, P. V. Hodson & J. O. Nriagu (eds), Contaminant Effects on Fisheries. pp. 223–231. John Wiley, New York. 333 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vollenweider R. A., M. Munawar & P. Stadelmann, 1974. A comparative review of phytoplankton and primary production in the Laurentian Great Lakes. J. Fish. Res. Board Can. 31: 739–762.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warwick W. F., 1980. Paleolimnology of the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario: 2800 years of cultural influence. Can. Bull. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 206: 1–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warwick W. F., 1988. Morphological deformities in Chironomidae (Diptera) larvae as biological indicators of toxic stress. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 281–320. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warwick W. F., I. Fitchko, P. M. McKee, D. R. Hart & A. J. Burt, 1987. The incidence of deformities in Chironomus spp. from Port Hope Harbor, Lake Ontario. J. Great Lakes Res. 13: 88–92.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wells L. & L. McLain, 1973. Lake Michigan: Man's Effects on Native Stocks and Other Biota. Great Lakes Fish. Comm. Tech. Rep. 20: 1–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • White D. S., 1988. Persistent toxic substances and zoobenthos in the Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 537–548. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willford W. A., 1988. Persistent toxic substances and the health of fish communities in the Great Lakes. In: M. S. Evans (ed.), Toxic Contaminants and Ecosystem Health: A Great Lakes Focus. pp. 549–556. Wiley InterScience, New York. 602 pp.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Hydrology Research Institute, 11 Innovation Boulevard, S7N 3H5, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

    Marlene S. Evans

Authors
  1. Marlene S. Evans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Evans, M.S. Toxic contaminants and Great Lakes ecosystem health: current understandings and strategies for improved assessments. J Aquat Ecosyst Stress Recov 2, 87–93 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044721

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00044721

Keywords

Search

Navigation