by Jake Vander Zanden On Mothers Day evening I began receiving a barrage of texts along the lines of ‘What is up with these bugs outside?’ Anyone anywhere near Lake Monona would have undoubtedly noticed these impresive swarms of buzzing insects. These swarming insects are midges – also known as lakeflies or chironomids. Despite the …
A study spanning more than ten years across three lakes has found that heatwaves have a dramatic impact on algae blooms. Algal growth in one lake increased, on average, by 57 percent in the days following a heatwave – and that was the least impacted lake in the study. A second lake saw that number …
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 …
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, …
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 …
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 …
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 …
by Madelyn Anderson – For the last three months, my days have ebbed and flowed with the water. I would wake up, strap on my sandals, and walk to our lab on the lake, where some adventure was always waiting. While my experiences were diverse, they always centered two things: science and stories. This is …
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 …
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 …