University of Wisconsin–Madison

Category: Uncategorized

Earth Day at 55: The Fact of the Matter is That Facts Still Matter

On this day, 55 years ago, nearly 10% of Americans participated in one of the country’s most time-honored traditions – they took to the streets (or, in some cases, the rivers) in peaceful protest. All told, it is estimated that nearly 20 million people gathered across the country to raise awareness about threats to the …

Support Our Students during “Day of the Badger” 2025!

Dear Alumni, Colleagues, Neighbors and Friends, Like so many research centers around the country, we find ourselves in uncharted waters. Federal funding that we rely upon to fulfill our mission is suddenly an uncertain proposition. These funds support important research on our precious freshwater resources but, more importantly, they support people. In these challenging times, …

Learn Your Lakes! Introducing a Mobile Scavenger Hunt for Our LTER Study Sites

We get it – ice fishing (or even ice boating) isn’t for everyone. If this current polar vortex has you staying warm indoors, have we got a cool new thing for you! Now you can visit (and learn about) our lakes year-round from the comfort of your own smartphone screen. (And, once spring arrives, you …

Lake Loop: Bacteria in Lake Mendota Repeat A Cycle of Evolution Year After Year

Like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day, bacteria species in a Wisconsin lake are in a kind of endless loop that they can’t seem to shake. Except in this case, it’s more like Groundhog Year. According to a new study in Nature Microbiology, researchers found that through the course of a year, most individual …

As Lakes Warm, Small Gains in Freshwater Fisheries are Offset by Bigger Losses 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Madison, Wis.  When it comes to water temperatures, fish can be a lot like Goldilocks. Some water bodies are too warm, others too cold, and a handful are “just right” – providing the perfect thermal habitat for a species to flourish.   As lakes across the Midwestern United States continue to warm …

Study Offers Key Takeaways from Long-Term Research on Aquatic Invasive Species

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE [MADISON, WI] By Adam Hinterthuer and Madelyn Anderson – A report on more than forty years of research on Wisconsin lakes is highlighting some of the lessons scientists have learned about aquatic invasive species.  For example, far more ecosystems are playing host to non-native species than were previously thought. However, the authors …

From the Lake to the Sea: A Week Exploring Saltwater Systems with Sea Grant

by Madelyn Anderson – “Don’t fall out of love with freshwater.” That’s what my colleagues told me as I announced I’d be spending a week in North Carolina, catching waves and getting to know  coastal communities.  While my summer has been spent diving deeper into Wisconsin’s waters, during the school year I work for Wisconsin …

Life On the Edge (and Under the Surface) In Lodi, Wisconsin

by Madelyn Anderson –Have you ever wondered what happens to a lake when the water rises? Aquatic plants, lake sediment, fish communities and more can be affected and, here at Hasler Lab, we’re uncovering how.  Last summer we introduced you to Cassie Ceballos, a PhD candidate investigating the ecological impacts of rising water levels at …

Unthreading the Mussel Mystery: Part 3

We’re back with CFL postdoc Tyler Butts and his team as they explore how invasive species interact with eutrophic lakes. As you may have noticed, they are a dedicated crew! by Madelyn Anderson – When I first met undergraduate invasive species technician Joey Munoz, he had a pile of live zebra mussels in front of him …