Sustaining Biodiversity of Lake Superior’s Ecosystem

Lake Superior, the largest, deepest, and coldest of all the Great Lakes, holds more water than all of the other Great Lakes combined.

Lake Superior, the largest, deepest, and coldest of all the Great Lakes, holds more water than all of the other Great Lakes combined. Bordering Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Canadian province of Ontario, this beautiful lake supports an ecosystem embedded with amazing biodiversity. From its over eighty species of fish to the lichen, moss, and thimbleberries of its coastal forest and all of the animal life in between, this inland sea is home to an incredible array of flora and fauna. Lake Superior holds 10% of all the earth’s fresh surface water. The early indigenous people—the Anishinaabe—understood the significance of this body of water. Gichigamiing, or “great water” as people of the First Nation called it, was central to their survival. They fished the water, used birch bark to craft canoes, baskets, and homes, gathered rice from the lake, and hunted the deer and bear that roamed the coastal forests. They were stewards—and still are—of the lake’s rich and diverse ecosystem. Today, Lake Superior and its watershed are still central to its inhabitants— plants, fungi, and animals. It is used for commercial fishing, as a waterway for the shipping industry, as a medium for tourism and recreational activities, and has a direct influence on the weather. Lake effect snow warnings that regale the regions each winter are proof of the latter. This lake, which was formed some 1.1 to 1.2 billion years ago, has witnessed the turning of several centuries. It has withstood human activity for over 10,000 years. Now, however, climate change could bring a large scope of negative effects to this ancient inland sea. Warming temperatures could diminish the number of cold water fish and harmfully impact the coastal wetlands. Dissolving oxygen content in the lake could also affect the seasons, lengthening the summer months and shortening the winter months. This could then inhibit overall productivity of this Great Lake. The decrease in snow accumulation could alter predator/prey relationships, such as wolf/moose and lynx/hare. Birds, such as loons and ruffed grouse, could see a shift or complete loss of suitable habitats. Water quality is of the utmost importance since it contains so much of the earth’s fresh water. Yet warmer waters could impair that quality by increasing the extent of algal blooms. Expanding algal blooms could hinder how well fish and other lake life can find food and could even cause entire populations to migrate to other waters or die. Phytoplankton could be affected as well, which would impact how they facilitate high resource production. Other human activity could potentially impact the biodiversity of the lake’s ecosystem. Invasive species, such as the zebra mussel and the sea lamprey to name just a few, have become uninvited hitchhikers on ships that travel from other bodies of water to and through Lake Superior. Damming of water, which limits water flow on both sides of the dam, can upset the ecosystems on both sides. Just the everyday overuse of municipal water by residents in the villages, towns, and cities where it’s piped in reduces the amount of water in the lakes and streams. Then of course there’s pollution and chemical runoff by industries in the watershed. People are in a position to become stewards of the Great Lakes and its watershed once again. “When you know better, you do better,” said writer and poet, Maya Angelou. She was right. We now know that what we do directly impacts one of the most important bodies of water in the world. We also know that we can— each and every one of us — take measures to protect its health and productivity. Keep informed about climate change and how we can work together to diminish its devastating effects. Be mindful of everyday use of water. Wash bigger loads of laundry in cold water. Turn off the water when not rinsing in the shower or while brushing teeth. Use rain barrels to collect water for plants. Stay involved in local policy-making. Ensure the health of our lake by keeping local industries from dumping waste and chemicals into the lake and the ground within the watershed. Help to limit damming of bodies of water. Help prevent the spread of aquatic hitchhikers by rinsing and wiping down boats, kayaks, and other watercraft after use. Be sure to remove all visible plant and animal species, and let the watercraft dry completely before setting out in a new body of water. Don’t forget that parts of the craft not exposed to the sun or proper air circulation—such as ballast and bait tanks, live wells, and bilge areas—will take extra time to dry. FreshWaterFuture Canada Educate our children about the importance and beauty of Lake Superior and its watershed. There is a Native American proverb which states, “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.” Wise words for our generation.