The Mystery of the Lake Erie DEAD ZONE
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- There's a Dead Zone that appears in Lake Erie every summer, much to the detriment of Lake Erie fish and fisher-people! What causes this Dead Zone? The video takes a Sherlock Holmesian approach to the likely suspects - invasive species such as zebra mussels and round gobies, chemicals such as phosphates and mercury, over-fishing, excess sewage, botulism, and more possibilities. By the time a conclusion has been reached, the audience will have had a fun time learning enough about environmental science and lake biology to solve the mystery!
INTERESTED IN SIMILAR CONTENT?
1) DrDave-EcoLogic will be posting more CZcams videos soon!
2) There's a fun Udemy course called "Everyone's World - What YOU need to know about YOUR Environment" ... at the following link:
www.udemy.com/course/everyone... .
FURTHER RESOURCES
acrobat.adobe.com/link/track?...
Here I have posted some information about the Dead Zone in Chesapeake Bay, USA, for comparison. 1drv.ms/w/s!Asy5IiZfUrZQgbAqS...
PHOTO CREDITS
Lake view - Michael A. Orlando; Lake Erie View; web.archive.org/web/201611031... found at Wikimedia Commons
Fish kill pollution - United States Fish and Wildlife Service., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Dead bird - Caleb Putnam, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Mercury diagram - Cengage Learning Inc. Reproduced by permission. www.cengage.com/permissions
Guy and gill net - Pedro Ramirez Jr./U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sea Lamprey - NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Asian Carp - Tony Webster from Portland, Oregon, United States, CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Zebra Mussels on rock - User Lamiot on fr.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 1.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Zebra Mussels on pipe - Dan Minchin, CC BY 2.5 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Round Goby - Peter van der Sluijs, CC BY-SA 3.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Green beach - NOAA Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Sea wall, phosphates and algae - Cengage Learning Inc. Reproduced by permission. www.cengage.com/permissions
Sewage plant - Thame sewage works by David Hawgood, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Corn field - Torridge : Crop Field by Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/..., via Wikimedia Commons
Lake diagram - Cengage Learning Inc. Reproduced by permission. www.cengage.com/permissions
Great Lakes drainage basin - Cengage Learning Inc. Reproduced by permission. www.cengage.com/permissions
EXTRA RESOURCES
Avian Botulism Outbreak Along the Lower Great Lakes. 2000. Geoff Carpentier. sora.unm.edu/sites/default/fi...
Canada-Ontario Lake Erie Action Plan. 2018. Government of Canada. na01.safelinks.protection.out...
Commercial Fishing. 2019. Norfolk County Economic Development. na01.safelinks.protection.out...
International Joint Commission. 2014. A Balanced Diet for Lake Erie: Reducing Phosphorus Loadings and Harmful Algal Blooms. Report of the Lake Erie Ecosystem Priority. legacyfiles.ijc.org/publicati...
Lake Erie’s Dead Zone. 2015. Ohio Department of Natural Resources. ohiodnr.gov/static/documents/...
Mercury in Lake Erie Fish. 2017. Government of Canada. Mercury in Lake Erie fish - Canada.ca
What Are Asian Carp? USGS. What are Asian Carp? | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov)
Very informative, thank you. However, it burns my behind that we local fisher people get assessed by having to buy a special permit to fish Erie. Started many years ago when they first started a temporary permitting situation that they told us was only going to last for a few years. The reasoning then was commercial over-fishing of salmon. Eventually the fish commission stopped stocking them in the lake and ultimately created a huge loss to sports fishermen. Back in the 70's, salmon fishing was a huge draw to the lake during spawning season. Fast forward to now and we are still assessed a fee to fish Erie. Now it's all sorts of reasons, such as the many things you mention in your talk. And there's no salmon to catch. Still don't understand why we fishermen are stuck with the bills for lake improvement when it's all the commercial industries causing the issues.
Hi, @deepskyal - I hear you. Two thoughts spring to mind: 1) How many times have we seen measures that were introduced as "temporary" (such as income tax!) later become permanent? They are only fair if people are getting the advantages/services they paid for. Since you HAVE PAID, I think you have a right to demand the outcome you paid for ... and I encourage you to be a squeaky hinge to keep the outcome you want high on the priority list for Lake Erie. 2) I did a study of fish populations on Lake Erie that also involved interviewing sports fishermen and observing the activities of commercial fishermen. Without disclosing details, let me just say that my team and I found sports fisherman to be law-abiding, cooperative and conservation minded. However, we found that some commercial fishermen were pushing BEYOND their limits (which we reported to appropriate authorities). Since commercial fishermen have the biggest impact on the fishery, they need to held most accountable. It is in their own best interest to maintain healthy fish populations in the lake through whatever means are called for.
@@robertforsythe3280 Hi, Robert - You are right that the dead zones you mentioned are expanding rapidly ... and there are other dead zones along the east coast of North America and around Japan that are problematic as well. As far as acidification goes, it is certainly a problem, but it tends to be most pronounced where the water is not buffered by nutrients and other chemicals. For instance, if you add a few drops of acid to a jar of distilled water, or to water from a pristine lake, the acidity will change significantly. However, if you do the same thing to a jar of water from a more polluted lake, the acidity will likely not change at all because the other chemicals in the water "buffer" (subdue) the effect. Waters that support dead zones tend to be full of "nutrients" from agricultural fertilizers & sewage ... so they are unlikely to be affected much by acidity.
@robertforsythe3280 Hi, Robert - The main problem of dead zone water is that it is short of oxygen which makes life hard on organisms that need to extract oxygen from water. The water itself won’t be much affected by acidity … which means that organisms living in that water likely wouldn’t have any issues re getting calcium for their shells, etc., if only they could get enough oxygen. A really clear example of “buffering acidity” can be found where I live. On one side of town is “the drinking water lake” that stands on rock and contains very pristine water; it is affected by acidity falling from rain. On the other side of town is a lake that stands on sand and mud, is slightly polluted from surrounding sources, and receives treated sewage outflows from the town; it is barely affected by acidity even though it receives exactly the same rainfall as the pristine lake. The “buffering effect” in the lake with more nutrients & other chemicals is what makes the difference.
We are living in unprecedented times, Robert! There are so many aspects of our environment that are being changed and strained. I am hoping that the attention being focused on these issues (acidity, dead zones, climate change, rampant wildfires, biodiversity loss, etc.) by good folks like you will start to turn the tide! That is the motivation behind my CZcams channel too. I am hoping to inform and activate the public while there is time to steer things towards better outcomes. But no, I haven’t done any specific research on pH and enzymes. Luckily, there are scientists who study that.
If the government says a tax is going to be temporary that means we're just saying that to make it easier to cram down you throat for ever
Dave, although I never made a career of my Environmental Geography degree, I never forget a great teacher. I can't tell you how many times I've used your descriptor 'LBJ' for little brown jobbers. Keith Parker - Class of '91.
Keith Parker!!! I remember you EXACTLY from my early days as a Prof! I am so glad to hear from you and chuffed that you have found my newly opened CZcams channel. I will have to make a video about "LBJs" soon. Thank you for a blast-from-the-past memory ... and all the best! (Hello to the Borg, Locutus!)
I do a lot of the environmental testing for Ontario, and Canada, and it is alarming the amount of phosphorus, nitrogen, ammonia, and just oxygen consuming bacteria being pumped into our water systems.
So true, Biotechbabe! (Great handle!) Plus these days there are relatively new things to be concerned about such as PFAS chemicals. I will soon post a video about ways to safeguard our drinking water because that topic is very much on my mind these days.
@@DrDave-Ecologic i see you DrDave, you miss every shot you dont take!
@@CourtesyoftheD Hi, Courtesy - I am not quite following the context of that but I agree it is excellent advice for life and especially for hockey!
Three days ago in the central basin of Lake Erie I found a school of walleyes that was 1/2 mile wide and 1-1/2 miles long. The school was located 11 miles out from shore in 72 feet of water suspended in the bottom 16 feet of water.
Wow - now that’s Lake Erie showing it’s ability to be a super-productive lake! Thanks for sharing that information.
And that represented the very last time you will go out this year. Don’t you love going from 80 and sunny to 50, rain and heavy wind in a matter of 36 hours. I swear Buffalo is on another planet compared to everywhere else lol.
@@axe2grind244 Plus Buffalo gets the wind coming at it across the lake!
It is why Lake Erie is the Walleye capitol of the world. More fish are produced in Lake Erie than all the other great lakes combined.
@@BBBYpsi Yes, it is such a productive lake and Walleye is a prized fish.
Love his delivery.
Thanks, Victoria! I appreciate the kind words.
This was clear and intelligent, I really appreciate your work
Hey, Zane - thank you so much! I really appreciate your feedback and I’ll keep trying to make the best CZcams videos I can muster.
Love the props dude! Really good video.
Thanks, lebowskiduderino! The props make it extra fun for me and I’m glad if people like them. I’m trying to keep things as lively as possible!
This video has so much helpful information that I'll have to watch it again.
Excellent, Janet! I tried to pack that video full of info without letting it grow too long. I'm very glad that you found it helpful. Thanks for your feedback!
Very scientific, sir. Thank you. It is nice to see science being used scientifically.
Hi,@csh7119 - Thank you for noticing. I am hoping to bring some science ideas into the discussion without being boring or annoying!
Thank you so much for this informative video. You made me laugh quite a few times, I appreciate your ability to make learning fun and silly, yet serious and right to the point.
Hi, @maryellenqueens 1476 - You’ve just made my day! I’m trying to find that balance between conveying important information and yet still being watchable. If I made you laugh and enjoy the video, then I am DELIGHTED!!!
Great video. We need more people raising awareness of the threats to our precious natural resources and ecosystems, it's desperately needed in a world where destruction and exploitation rules.
Hey, Comrade - I totally agree about the importance of raising awareness and protecting our precious natural resources and ecosystems! I hope that more people will get involved and that through our combined actions, we can make a difference. Thanks for saying that!
Really loved the video, thanks for the hard work :)
You are so welcome, @Ccberry98!
Live off the lake. I have never seen the water blue in my life. Maybe the Canadian side is, that I don’t know never been to that side sober.
Ha, ha! Both sides are full of nutrients.
Environmental Mr Rodgers ..❤
Hi, Marvin - That’s a perfect comment! I’m trying to do something like that for Environmental Science. And I think back very fondly on Mr Rodgers … and also Bill Nye The Science Guy.
Really enjoyed the video, I bet you were a great teacher at university, thanks!
Hey, Luke - Thanks for the feedback! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and let me know. I LOVED being a university Professor and it was my day-to-day passion. Being retired is not a bad gig either! I get to do my spiels online now and wear silly hats, etc., if I think it will amplify the message. It's all good fun and I'm glad to know that people like it.
That was addictive. I kept thinking, “I don’t really care about any of this get to the answer”, but I never hit the skip button. Between finding what you said somewhat interesting, and waiting to see what you’d wear next I kept watching.
I think you got a pretty good concept here, but I think you’re missing your demographic. You should think about doing this type of presentation for kids. You have a very likeable face, soothing voice, and claim demeanour. You do a video about excavators, loaders, and dump trucks, a little more up beat, and you got a hit kids CZcams channel.
Hey, Joe - Thanks for the tips. Having been an Environmental Science Prof to university students for 35 years, I was looking to reach out to “the public” about environmental topics while trying to be more interesting than a talking head. I guess I’m still trying to “save the world”! But kids are “the public” too and they are the future. Maybe I’ll design a second channel for kids and aim at kid-level topics for them. I still want to talk with grown ups about adult topics too. I am only a few videos into this so I am still feeling my way. Your feedback is much appreciated.
Hi, Joe - Earlier today I was downsizing a house when I saw two comments from you on my smartwatch. I tried to answer the first one - about where I teach, about doing a kid's show, and about Handyman Hal - but I couldn't get the message to launch. I am at a computer now so I will do a short version of what I tried to send earlier. In a nutshell, I am very inspired by your suggestions about trying my hand at a CZcams for kids. I will give that a try on another channel in the future and thanks for that suggestion. I will check out Handyman Hal as a model! I have taught at various universities but most recently at Nipissing University, a small outdoorsy university in Northern Ontario.
Hey, that launched right away. Let me add a bit more in reference to your first comment of today. Kudos to you for continuing to pursue knowledge under your own steam. The BEST kind of learner is one who who is truly seeking knowledge and not just learning it because it will be on an upcoming test. Sitting is a classroom is not for everyone and modern technology has given us the power to learn and share knowledge from almost anywhere.
Hey, Joe - If you enjoy taking online courses, try “Everyone’s World: What YOU Need to Know about YOUR Environment” which I flashed at the end of the CZcams show. It is an introduction to Environmental Science that I plan to follow with further courses.
Very good video, its criminal you dont have more subs. ❤
Tell all your friends! I am just getting started and having more views and subscribers will help the algorithm to find me!
Great video, thanks :)
Hey, Crispy! You are very welcome. I’m glad you liked it.
Wow! I grew up in Chicago and Milwaukee on lower Lake Michigan in the 60’s and 70’s. And because I paid attention in science class, I knew the answer to your questions about Lake Erie before you finally revealed it. Pollution.
We learned in school that of all 5 Great Lakes, Lake Erie was so polluted that it was the only lake in the world that could catch on fire due to the pollution. Maybe that was an exaggeration but I knew I’d never fish in Lake Erie, regardless.
I moved to Hawaii after highschool and later became a marine biologist and fisherman. Science was always my passion and I can’t stand what humans have done to this natural world based on greed and ignorance. Even pristine Hawaii is suffering from bleaching of the coral reefs and sea-level rise, even though this isn’t caused here. It’s a global problem and humans are to blame. It’s depressing.
I heard through the years since leaving the Great Lakes, that Lake Erie has cleaned up a lot since I was a boy. Great news, but I find it hard to believe a lake that could “catch fire” just a few decades ago, is now back to normal. It’s not, it never will be. (At least not in my lifetime), and so many waterways and aquifers are headed the same direction as Lake Erie did before the rest.
Excellent video and keep up the truth about the environmental science that inevitably points to our human problem.
Thank you so much sir. Hopefully we do better.
Aloha.🤙🏼
Hi, Sean - Good for you for having a lifelong interest in aquatic ecology and for becoming a marine biologist and fisherman. Those things go together in exciting ways! As for Lake Erie, it has seen some extremes. From being “the world’s greatest inland fishery” to being “a dead lake” with pool-table-green water and the fishery closed due to mercury, it has bounced back to a better place (though not perfect)! To my knowledge, the lake itself didn’t catch on fire but there was a fire on the Rouge River in Detroit in 1969 and the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland has caught on fire 13 times or so; both are nearly in Lake Erie. Keep on looking out for aquatic & marine ecosystems and good luck to you!
Lake Erie is way, way better than it was in the early 70’s. Back then it was a post-apocalyptic scene and the stench was overwhelming. We could pay ourselves on the back, but I’m afraid we just pushed the pollution burden on to China and their government doesn’t care.
@gregbarnes1580 Hi, Greg - You are right that Lake Erie is much improved … coming out of the “dead lake” days of the 60s and 70s. The improvements were considered to be a great environmental victory. The lake still has some issues and phosphates are on the upswing again. The challenge is to address the new problems and not let the lake backslide into drastic pollution trouble again.
What a good video. Thank you
I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for telling me.
Lived in northern Illinois when I was a kid . 1968 or 1969 they closed all the beaches because it was so polluted . Our parents wouldn't take us fishing or swimming anymore . Lake Erie was the worst of the lakes if I remember .
You are right, Glen. Lake Erie was pool-table green with all the algae in those days and people were calling it a dead lake. It was such a waste of the lake’s potential and an insult to its former standing as the world’s greatest inland fishery. Fortunately, it was cleaned up in the decades after that and it is much improved now. Of course, it could always be better and people need to keep an eye peeled so that progress continues to be made without backsliding.
Awesome
Hi, Michael - Thanks! I will be putting out some new videos soon.
Love the outfit changes! Fun video
Thanks, @renegadewolfhound - It was fun to do! More coming soon.
I like local news but this is better and in in-depth 😊
Hey, Timothy - Thanks! Your comment is very motivating to me.
I can't stand the local news- they should air this instead ;)
I'm from the coastal plains of Virginia so I be interested in learning about the Dead Zone in the Chesapeake Bay.
Hi, Steven - I’m not sure if I put any references to Chesapeake Bay into the “More” area below the video but I will try to remember to put something there tomorrow so you can follow up on your interest,
Just came across your channel and this video is so cool! I love all the different costumes you wear!
Thanks, @FmJ_TimberWolf! I am having fun with these videos and I will release some new content soon!
This was very interesting. I live in Ohio and I noticed a sign on Rt. 71 while driving to Cleveland around mile marker 215. It said, "Now Entering Lake Erie Watershed". The opposite way another sign says the same of the Ohio River watershed. I thought that was pretty interesting.
Yes! When you start thinking about entire watersheds, and not just the size of a given lake, it gives you a whole new perspective on geography, ecology, pollution, and other topics.
@@DrDave-Ecologic that's right! It makes me think of spraying fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides on all of the farmland and people's yards. If not careful, it makes its way into the creeks and streams, then into the lakes and rivers.
@@chipwright6193 So true! When you think about it, everything soluble that hits the ground within a watershed (dog poo and all!) moves towards the lake when it rains. No wonder we are often told not to swim in many lakes within 48 hours of a rainfall. There are bound to be lots of bacteria in the water because of all those “nutrients”.
Thanks
Ah, a hybrid! You are very welcome.
The Death And Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan is an excellent book that examines the history of the lakes and how various projects and subsequent invasive species altered the ecosystems. I have an ebook but I may also have a paper book. I can loan it to you if you’re interested (and if I do have a hard copy). I think you’d enjoy it. Lots of good lessons in the book.
Hi, Chris - That book sounds great! Since there is an e-version of it, can you give me the details of where/how you made that purchase? It sounds like something I would really like and it would be an easy way for me to get my hands on the book. Thanks for sharing that info!
I picked the book up at the bookstore on Isle Royale a few years ago and was shocked by the number of threats the Grate Lakes face. I live in Ontonagon Michigan. From my front door I can see where the Ontonagon River flows into Lake Superior. I take any threat to the Great lakes sort of personally.
We are so lucky to have the Great Lakes! So many sea-like advantages of size, beauty, and natural resources … without sharks and other dangerous creatures to worry about. Let’s treasure and protect the Great Lakes!
@@DrDave-Ecologic yep, I'll email you about it
Excellent book @chrisconnors7418
I appreciate your costume changes. have a sub
Hi, @junes2k - I appreciate the feedback on that. I suppose that anything that jazzes up a CZcams might be a good thing but I hoped that people wouldn’t find it too silly! I’m glad you like it because it’s fun to do!
Thank you for these videos. I want to add that phosphorus is the limiting reagent for algae growth. Combing through EPA data and research shows that orthophosphate is what affects the rate of algae growth the most for a given year. However, particulate phosphate contributes to severity in the long term as it is broken down.
If we are to understand the science behind algae blooms, then a better understand of the correlation between the different types of phosphorus is required and more data needs to be collected in waterways surrounding Lake Erie. How does the amount of Total Phosphorus and Orthophosphate affect algae growth? This is a question that I’ve struggled to find answers for and my focus as a younger citizen scientist. Learning the mechanics of algae growth could help us better regulate waste disposal in waterways. Combining water quality data with data collected from biologists is a great way to understand the impacts of nutrient pollution in Lake Erie.
Hi, @Plarux - You have made some excellent and informed comments here! I want to react by giving a shout out for “citizen science”. Citizens (people) are spread out throughout the environment and who knows their own backyard better than they do? If you have informed citizens keeping an eye on various aspects of the environment, then you have eyes everywhere and the environment is well monitored. Some very successful programs have helped to establish how birds are doing, where rare amphibians live, how to help loon populations, and other biological questions. Why not have more “pollution watch” programs involving local citizens who care about those places? Thanks for those ideas, @Plarux!
I dream Lake Erie is as clean as Lake George one day. It’ll never happen but it would be nice. I live right on the water in Hamburg, NY 10 min south of Buffalo and just from being near it all the time I can tell it’s much cleaner than it used to be.
For sure, @axe2grind244! It is way better now compared to many of the past decades, I think people know more about about what the problems are, and I think people care about it more. If society made a concerted effort, I’m sure the lake could be much improved. We need to step up our efforts to help Lake Erie recover its potential.
When you think about it, the water in Lake Erie is completely changed every 2.7 years. That is way faster than any of the other Great Lakes. In other words, any decrease in sediments/pollutants/nutrients from the surrounding area would quickly result in higher water quality. Sure the sediments would take much longer, but better water quality would be key to recovery. Will society (industry, agriculture, people in general) make the effort? It probably depends somewhat on making everyone aware.
Plant Water Hyacinth in the wetlands around the lakes. They're incredible natural filters!
Hi, S - You are right that water hyacinth are incredible natural filters but it is best to keep them confined to your aquarium or land-locked backyard fish pond. They are an invasive species, originally from South America, and if they get loose in wetlands and waterways, they can choke out natural vegetation, downgrade fish habitat and even interfere with water quality. Our best course of action is to value our natural wetlands and preserve them … restoring damaged wetlands and adding new ones where possible. Natural wetlands support native fish and wildlife, add flood control, remove pollutants, increase water quality, and many other beneficial services.
In the 50s Lake Erie was an open sewer, but it got better. Bad again?
Hi, Ernie -
I didn’t see it in the 50s but I know it had real problems with phosphates in the 60s and mercury in the 70s. I spent some time boating around in Lake Erie studying fish. It is an amazing lake. There will always be new problems but there will be solutions too. It is well worth striving to keep Lake Erie healthy!
Restoring the wetlands would be a great way to get rid of excess nutrients and bring back/increase numbers of native wildlife. That would get my vote.
You are absolutely right, ToledoPitbull! That idea would be a “win win”in so many ways. As you say, it would be good for nutrient control and native wildlife, but also flood control, tourism, potential products such as wild rice and cranberries, etc. Wetlands have many values.
I appreciate the use of logic, as well as the costume changes. Logic sure beats anecdote, opinions…
Thanks, Tim! I appreciate the feedback. It helps to shape how I will do things in the future when I know what people like.
Could the dead zone have something to do with the salt mine under Lake Erie? I wonder if the dead zone matches the mine map under the lake.
Hi, Kriss - The maps of salt mines that I have seen place the mines near the edges of Lake Erie but that is likely for practical purposes. The main arguments against the salt mines affecting the dead zone are: 1) they are VERY deep in the rock beneath the lake, and 2) we already have a good understanding about the causes of dead zones. The factors we know about are sufficient to account for dead zones; we’ll need to reduce those factors to deal with dead zones.
@@DrDave-Ecologic there's also natural gas pockets under the lake with gas leaking into the mines and lake. The 1916 Lake Erie explosion was devastating when they hit a gas pocket. natural gas can also create fish dead zones.
@k9thundra Interesting! I’ll have to look into this 1916 Lake Erie explosion. I hadn’t run across that info before. Thank you.
When i was a kid it was safe to eat upto two fish per year out of lake erie. How is there comercail fishing in the lake?.
Hi, Marty - There was a period of time when mercury was too high in Lake Erie fish and the fishery was closed. Now the mercury situation is improved and the fishery is active again. We need to keep an eye on this fishery and all fisheries. For example, even fish from the great wild oceans of the world can be carrying burdens of mercury or other chemicals. We have come to a point when you don’t want to have large quantities of fish in your diet and you want to eat lower on the food chain. See the food chain diagram in the video.
Feel pretty accomplished for predicting the cause immediately lol
Good for you, Anna - You deserve a Sherlock Holmes hat! I hope you had fun learning about Lake Erie while briefly considering some of the possible answers.
Just a note: you are using deductive reasoning and associating it with Sherlock Holmes but although Conan-Doyle did say Holmes used deductive reasoning his style was more adductive in practice.
Great video though.
Thanks, Brian! That’s a great comment. Much appreciated.
The World isn't warming other than summer being warmer than winter. Millions of people living near Lake Erie DO make a difference. Taking that into account will help us make decisions that will preserve and improve Lake Erie for both people AND fish.
Hi, Scott - There are different opinions about whether or not summers, and global temperatures in general, are getting warmer on average. Some are based on science and some are based more on politics. I’m guessing that we aren’t going to agree on this so there is no point debating it in a fish video. We BOTH agree that millions of people living near Lake Erie CAN make a difference so let’s unite our efforts to help make that happen! I have 2 videos so far that are focused on raising awareness about Lake Erie - this one and one about “The Case of the Missing Blue Fish”. Are there other Lake Erie topics that should be prioritized?
The toxic blooms happen every year now in Lake Erie in the Western Basin because of fertilizer from farmlands in Ohio & all the way to Fort Wayne Indiana. It is really nasty.
Hi, @BBBYpsi - This is very concerning … and it is a step backward. It is time to shine a light on this and get toxic blooms under control before they do further damage to people, the lake ecosystem and the economy. I might make that one of my next topics. I appreciate your motivating description of the situation.
Sounds like it needs silver and bighead carp filter feeders. They have turned jade green regions of the Mississippi from algae blooms back into normal river water and have reduced the dead zone in the Gulf. Now if we can only convince people to eat them. Excellent taste but boney.
Hi, Kendall - Agreed that Silver and Bighead Carp reduce algae by being filter feeders; this was the original purpose for importing them to fish farms. And they can be eaten. However, they tend to cause problems for native fish and commercial fisheries that pursue native fish. In the case of Lake Erie, most people would rather eat walleye, perch, various trout, various bass and other native species than carp. In terms of sports fishing, Silver and Bighead Carp are filter feeders and don’t offer the same opportunities for anglers. So although those species are valuable for fish farms, most fishery agencies and most citizens are trying to prevent these species from becoming established in the Great Lakes.
It is very simple. It comes almost entirely from chicken and cattle feed lots that drain into Lake Saint Mary. It is not farming in general, it's that specific source.
Hi, Harry - That’s a very major source but there are many ongoing sources within the Lake Erie drainage basin, plus there have been some occasional but spectacularly large sewage spills with large impact. I’m not inclined to single out any one particular source to blame. I think that all such sources should do what they can to decrease their impact as much as possible. Various Lake Erie initiatives are aimed at making that happen.
@@DrDave-Ecologic That is fine but it makes sense to focus on the top 5 point sources first vs the more dispersed sources. Ignoring the most obvious, massive source is like wondering if some scratches on your arm are a problem when there is a large bleeding gash on your leg.
Lake Erie was also unusually high the last few years. Perhaps the flow to the ocean needs to increase through Niagara
@harryniedecken5321 Hi, Harry - I agree that it makes sense to focus on the top point sources (not just a few but all the significant contributors). A fact that surprises most people is that the “non-point sources” throughout the drainage basin of a lake usually far outweigh the impact of the very visible point sources. Some public education might go far in decreasing the impact of the 11 million people living in the Lake Erie Basin.
@@DrDave-Ecologic Are you referring to septic systems or something else? Farmers in ohio already use satellite images to micro dose fertilizer application for cost reasons, so going after them is kind of pointless. When I grew up Lake St Mary was very usable. Now it's a flow path for raw sewage similar in scale of a city.
Same for the other Lakes there with chicken feed lot and no sewage treatment.
If you are talking about people dumping their grass cuttings into the creeks and rivers, that is not an education problem, it's simply the lack of a garbage service that picks up green waste.
"PARASITIZE" Thank you, you have shown me a new word.
I live between Erie and Huron on the St Clair river so if you catch a gobi either stomp it with your foot or keep it and fertilize your garden..
"Parasitize" is an excellent word and I hope you have fun finding ways to apply it now. If your little brother is "sponging" money from you, is he actually "parasitizing" you? A new perspective! But parasites of all types have their place in nature too. Regarding Round Gobies, I am no fan of them ... but Professors have strict ethical rules they must observe when working with animals. So I won't be stomping any gobies and you heard me say it here!
Very nice.@@DrDave-Ecologic
years ago, I remember a news story that the Ohio dnr oks release of radioactive water into lake Erie
Hi, Bob - I haven't taken a close look at this but there are several nuclear power plants on the shores of Lake Erie and I know that one of them had a significant spill of untreated radioactive water into Lake Erie in 1993. Then, they did a planned release the following year to get rid of the remaining radioactive water on site. Radioactive releases concern me, especially where drinking water and food (fish) are involved but information coming out of the recent "treated" radioactive water releases in Japan is that they can be done with safety. For example, those sources claim that the radioactive decay will take only tens of years, not thousands of years, and that dilution in the ocean will result in the levels being safe. Not everybody believes them and there is concern that radioactive elements will be concentrated in food chains leading to people.
Phosphates and nitrates from farming creates Blue-Green algae and dead zones
Very true!
The goggles hahahahahahahahahahah❤❤❤
Hi, Barbie - I was seriously steaming up!!!
There are huge deadzones in the ocean. Areas where fish simply dont live due to any number of naturally occuring variables.
Hi, @adventureswithfrodo2721 - Agreed about huge "dead zones" in the ocean. Note that the term "dead zone" is usually reserved for low-oxygen situations ... even though there are a variety of other naturally occurring factors that can cause fish to be absent from an area. It just helps to avoid confusion. Google "Huge Ocean Dead Zones Have Quadrupled in Size Since the 1950s" for more insights.
DrDave, we’re you ever close friends with a Rex Payne in your youth?
Hi, Ben - I love that "bentertainment" ... that is clever! It has been a long life but I'm sure I would have remembered a "Rex", so I don't think I ever knew Rex Payne. People often live up to their names somewhat so I'll bet he is an interesting fellow.
@@DrDave-Ecologic thank you for your response. Rex was my dad and we live in the Lake Erie region until the 80s. One of his close friends from then I only knew as dr Dave. When I saw your moniker, I had to check.
@bentertainment6932 Thanks for checking, Ben. It’s a small world and people DO move around these days. I’m also pleased to think that there’s another Dr. Dave hopefully doing good things in the world. All the best!
Never identified WHERE in Lake Eerie is the dead zone
Hi, Bill - It's in the bottom of the central basin of lake Erie. I would have liked to include a map but I didn't have copyright to do so. If you use a search engine asking for a map of the Lake Erie dead zone, you should be able to find one.
@@DrDave-Ecologic Thank You Dr Dave
You are very welcome! I appreciate your interest.
I would have assumed that the lake erie dead zone applmore to on shore locations.
Hi, Michael - Do you mean shallow water near shore? There is more proximity to the atmosphere in shallow water, plus there is greater mixing of water due to wave action. That results in the upper layer of water having more oxygen than the lower layer. The lower layer becomes “stratified” in summer and is isolated from the surface layer. More details are described in the video!
@@DrDave-Ecologic oh, I was just kidding around. I've been to Erie/Presque Isle many times for a mini vacation type thing...I was referring to the limited night life and other things to do in town. I enjoyed touring the ship and museum 😃
Hi, Michael - Doh - I missed that curve ball! I am too old to know much about the Night Life, or lack of it, down that way. To me, "night life" is likely to mean going owling or some other nocturnal activity involving nature. @@michaelparks6120
@@DrDave-Ecologic gotcha...I was a bit younger then. These days my thrills include a great parking space and a two-for-one coupon to a nice restaurant. 😃
Ha, ha! Understood.
use caution ⚠ ⚠
Hi, Alan - Can you elaborate on what you mean?
Lake Erie refills every 100 days. Dead zones fall off Niagara falls, never herd of a dead zone in West lake Erie ever?
Hi, Craig - Lake Erie is the fastest of the Great Lakes to recharge its water (because it is the shallowest Great Lake) but the EPA and other authorities say that the refill or recharge time is 2.6 to 2.7 years. The “dead zone” is an area at the bottom of the lake that has low oxygen; it changes in size and shape; the water leaves that zone and subsequently goes over the falls but I wouldn’t say that the “dead zone” goes over the falls. The “dead zone” is at the bottom of the central basin and not the western basin.
Western lake Erie is very large and shallow. Most of it as I remember growing up there as a teen is that it's only 30 to 40 feet in most parts. Every 7 years, ducks would start to become paralyzed and their heads would droop down and they drown. Lake erie is like a giant puddle baking in the sun every summer. It fluctuates like that. It's nothing but a geographical occurence that's been going on for thousands of years.
Hi, James - You are right that Lake Erie is mostly a warm and shallow lake (with a few deeper and cooler basins). Because of this, it has special properties. It has been the most productive Great Lake in terms of fish, as well as the most polluted and most recovered Great Lake. It can quickly whip up into towering waves, and it has “seiches” that cause water levels to suddenly rise like a tide … sometimes leaving boats stranded ashore! Plus it has various invasive species and other issues that we need to keep an eye on to protect Lake Erie from its vulnerabilities.
carp have only been in the USA since the 1970's????
ummm ... hate to tell you this ... I was catching Grasscarp and black carp in the Mississippi River in and near Sabula, Iowa starting roughly 1959 when my pops took me fishing the first time at age 4, to 1988, when I left Iowa "forever" thanks to my job.
Carp were NOT unknown in the Mississippi River south of Minnesota/Wisconsin in the 1940.s .The family used to have photos of my patermal grandfather's (1911-1963) catches from the 1940's to 1963. 5 to 20 pound Carp are seen on his stringer. I remember when he went fishing with us in Sabula, he caught carp, like the rest of us. He targeted them somewhat, making his own stink bait for them and catfish/bullhead.
Deadzoe caused by sewage and fertilizers? So the entire lake is a deadzone?
The sweageand fertilizer would be relatively constant/consistant everywhere in the lake due to currents and wind/waves. I can see MAYBE thesetwo causing deadzones close to shore, since the sewage treatment plantts and farm runoff are concintrated along the shore.
After they are duluted and make it to deep water, where you say the deadzones are - NOT along the shore or in shallow water, blaiming the deadzones on those sources seems suspicious, at best.
Hi, Steve - In saying "1970s" for "Asian Carp" (ie Bighead, Black, Grass & Silver Carp) I am quoting the U.S. National Parks Service, the U.S. Geographical Survey, and the Fisheries & Oceans Department of the Government of Canada. The earliest I have seen WRITTEN as a date is "late 1960s / 1970s" but I kept the description brief for the video. Having said that about the dates, I always have a healthy respect for the experiences of local people in their own backyards ... so you are are saying "1959" for Grass Carp and Black Carp (2 of the "Asian Carp"). THEN in your second paragraph about your Grandpa and the Mississippi River, you are just talking about "carp" ... and fair enough. The Common Carp was introduced in the U.S. in 1830 and it has been working its way across the continent since then. It was established MUCH SOONER than the 4 more recent species that are lumped together under the name "Asian Carp". Regarding the Dead Zone - take another look at the video. I'm not saying that the whole lake is a Dead Zone. A set of conditions occurs in summer that affects the bottom of the lake especially in the central basin. Do some computer searches about "dead zones" and you will see that I am not making this up!
No mystery - industrialists poisoned the lake
Hi, @frankfacts - I don’t think it’s quite that simple. Yes, industry has had a big impact, especially with the chemicals that aren’t even mentioned in my current 2 Lake Erie videos. As for the nitrogen and phosphates that super-enrich the lake, leading to excess algae growth and the dead zone, most of that is coming from a whole variety of sources including various types of agriculture, sewage plants, and multiple contributors (yes, including industry) throughout the lake’s basin. I hope to make a future video that will zoom in on the specific impacts of industry and how those impacts can be reduced.
🤢 I’m gonna throw up, I swam in that lake 🤦♀️🤢
Hi, Michelle - If you swam in Lake Erie lately, it’s not SO bad, depending on timing and where you were. In general, the lake is much improved over the 60s and 70s when photos were taken that showed an algae green lake that looked a bit like the top of a green pool table. Having said that, excess phosphates are on the rise again especially at the west end of the lake. There can be blue-green algae blooms and you definitely want to stay away from that. Pay close attention to public bulletins … and your eyes and nose!
Having actually dove the lake I can tell you the only fish your going to see is the one swimming up your rear. Only clear water are around the islands witch can be crystal clear. As for the "dead zone", it's all true but it's not all bad. During Walleye Season the in-laws pelt me with reguests for fresh fish. 2 problems with that, 1, I'm not the sharing type and 2, I'd have to actually like them to give up my fish........ And I don't. The dead zones let me send them fish without giving up mine. "0_o"
I guess that’s “the silver lining to a dark cloud”!
Sounded good until "the earth is warming".
Hey, JL - People are going to disagree on that point until the future reveals itself and we find out for sure what happens. In the meanwhile, people should focus on the things we DO agree on. One reason that issues like pollution are still in limbo is because people aren’t presenting a united enough front to get a positive response from politicians and industry leaders. We need to all row together to make the progress required to save the places we care about.
Here in Ohio, our leaders will not even admit to the earth warming, let alone human interference with the lake.
Good grief! I understand the frustration. One can hope for political candidates at various levels who might have knowledge and a care for the environment … because then we’d vote for them and maybe see some action. Yet all too often, the people who run for office have priorities other than clean lakes, balanced ecosystems, and happy, healthy people.
Being someone who lives 300ft from Lake Erie, ive never once heard ANYONE deny human interference with the lake. For one the Cuyahoga river caught fire in Cleveland, a few times. Now being from Ohio, you should know where Cleveland is and where the Cuyahoga River ends/begins.
Hammermill?
Hi, Kristie - ??? I don’t know what you mean by “Hammermill”.
Sewage? OVER Fertilization of farmlands in recent years causing TOXIC algae in Lake Erie. We always had sewage nothing new here.
Hi, Jimmy - I greatly appreciate your interest in the topic. Fertilizer runoff from cropland is the major source of phosphorus and nitrogen entering Lake Erie and leading to blooms of toxic algae. Yet we shouldn't overlook the contributions made by runoff from cities (think of all those people and their lawns and pets) or from farms that raise livestock or from sewage treatment plants. There are 11 million people in the Lake Erie basin; they produce a lot of sewage and that population is growing. Besides the normal outflow from sewage plants, there are spectacular "spills" when rainstorms overflow "combined sewage systems" and huge quantities of raw sewage flow straight into the lake rather than being processed through sewage treatment plants. Warming summers and disappearing wetlands also have an influence ... so all those factors are mentioned in the video rather than focusing on just the fertilizer coming from farmlands.
@@DrDave-Ecologic It was the over fertilization knowing that the storms would wash away most if it is an insane way to farm IMO. Worrying about my pets poo blows my mind also when you look at the way the cormorants poo is so acidic and they destroy vegetation etc... and we do nothing about their poo or the Canada geese poo all over boat docks and ramps not to mention the seagulls poo along with all the other wildlife poo. Our pets are just a tiny blip on a huge radar screen. I enjoyed your video a lot.
Thanks, Jimmy! It was fun making that video. There’s a lot going on in Lake Erie!
@@DrDave-Ecologic Yes, I have watched her got to a Polluted mess to a miracle waterway. I am 59 years old and have been fishing her my whole life.
Over fertilization. Why would a farmer buy more expensive fertilizer than the crops need? Do you want to eat?
children level video. should be labelled more clearly.
Hey, Rick - Anyone, including children, is welcome to view the video but it is not a children-level topic and it is not particularly aimed at children. The format is intended to be more entertaining than a “talking head” describing the problems of a lake for 15 or so minutes. It is a very successful video so far and I am getting lots of views and some really good discussions - all from adults.
Yes the dead zone. Sorry but I fish the banks of lake Erie almost daily and constantly do charters on lake Erie. Never came across dead zones. But have come across no fish near bank when it's hot. Cause they aren't there, they went to the deep cooler water. They didn't sit there and just kill themselves. This video is definitely BS.
Hi, @NedRigNerd - Take a few moments and look into the topic of “dead zones”. You will find that they are real and increasing in numbers throughout the world. The Lake Erie dead zone is getting better, and it is not the sort of thing that you would experience from your boat, but “low oxygen” is real to the fish and when and where those conditions occur, it affects how they live their lives.
Interesting topic, but presentation is SO lousy and simplistic.
I’m sorry you found it that way, Joy. I’m a university Professor who typically teaches at a high academic level but this CZcams video is for people of all levels and assumes no background in Chemistry, Biology, etc. I think everybody should know about what is happening in Lake Erie … kids, lay people, everyone … so that everyone can react and help to make a difference.
Don't listen to Joy Dr Dave, you can't please 'em all. @@DrDave-Ecologic
@@jondice5916 Thanks, Jon! I appreciate the encouragement.
@wackocheese Thanks, Wackocheese! I LOVE your handle. That is one of the best I’ve ever seen or imagined!
Excellent! That what I’m striving for. I really appreciate the feedback. I have another one coming soon that I hope will be both entertaining and educational. All the best!