Sediment Analysis Shows How Humans Altered Lake Superior Over Time

Project Summary

Lake Superior’s contemporary physical and ecological state is the product of continuous human activity: mining, logging, commercial fishing, community development, shipping, pollutants, environmental laws/awareness, and more. Researchers will assess how Lake Superior has responded to human activities over the past 300 years by examining sediment samples retrieved from Lake Superior’s floor. They will analyze the sediment cores for relics of diatom communities, pollen indicators, chemistry, and physical composition. They expect the greatest differences to coincide with community development in the 1950s and 1960s, followed by a shift toward recovery. The research will complement previously funded Sea Grant research (Hecky, Johnson, Werne, 2009-2010) and span both local and global influences. The results will contribute to protecting Great Lakes ecosystems as well as supporting sustainable practices.