Campus Community
Posted: Thursday, May 6, 2010Great Lakes Center Annual Report
By Mary A. Durlak
Alexander Karatayev, director of the Great Lakes Center, presented its most recent annual report in April. Highlights include several ongoing projects, including the nearshore and offshore Lake Erie nutrient study (NOLENS), which investigates why nutrient-abatement strategies have not resulted in the responses scientists expected. A related project assessed Lake Ontario nearshore nutrients last year. Twenty grant proposals were submitted during this fiscal year, with a total request of almost $7 million.
Christopher Pennuto, research scientist and professor of biology, discussed progress made on a new master’s program in Great Lakes ecosystems. Mark Clapsadl, Great Lakes Center field station manager, discussed renovations to the field station, funded by the Buffalo State Research Foundation. Renovations to be completed in 2010 include a wireless weather station, a microscopy lab, insulated tanks in the wet lab, and blinds for the Dick Smith Teaching Pavilion.
Scientists at the Environmental Toxicology Laboratory continued research into environmental pollutants to assess their carcinogenic properties and other ill effects on health. Several proposals have been submitted to the National Institutes for Health.
Many other projects are ongoing, including designing round goby barriers, the impact of climate change on subarctic lakes, and the study of native clams in Texas.
