Larson, J. H., Richardson, W. B., Evans, M. A., Schaeffer, J., Wynne, T., Bartsch, M. 2016. Measuring Spatial Variation in Secondary Production and Food Quality Using a Common Consumer Approach in Lake Erie. Ecological Applications. Ecological Society of America. 26, 3. 873-885

Algae, Analysis, Bacteria, Eutrophication, Fresh water, Habitat, Human health, Lakes, Nutrients, Water quality, Field assessment, Wildlife, Biology, Algal blooms, Cyanobacteria, Food security

This study evaluated the impacts of cyanobacteria population abundance and the secondary production (and resultant food quality for humans) in Lake Erie (U.S.). A common consumer approach was used to develop an index of spatial variation; freshwater mussels were placed at over 30 locations with various habitat types along a gradient of cyanobacterial abundance, and their growth and fatty acid content were measured.