Experimental Lakes Area

49.783333333333 - 93.815833333333Koordinaten: 49 ° 47 '0 "N, 93 ° 48' 57 " W

The Experimental Lakes Area (abbreviated ELA) is a research institute of the DFO ( Department of Fisheries and Oceans ) in the Kenora District of Canada. This includes 58 lakes with their associated catchments and some additional smaller sections of the river. In this area Ganzsee experiments were carried out to obtain a better understanding of aquatic ecosystems. Over the decades, attempts have been carried out in an impressive magnitude, such as the construction of a dam, the establishment of fish farms or the addition of pollutants in all the lakes. Many results of the experiments have been included in the environmental policy and affected areas of limnology, hydrology and climatology prevail.

History

Since the 60s, it was in the Great Lakes to increased algal blooms as a result of the growing development of the population and industry in the catchment. This has quickly become a serious problem for the commercial fishery. In 1966, the Freshwater Institute ( FWI ) was founded in Winnipeg with the task of investigating the eutrophication of lakes. The then Director W. E. Johnson was able to convince the governments of Canada and Ontario by the project, using to find Ganzsee of experiments an explanation. After two years of searching, they agreed on the area in the Kenora District.

The first experiment began in June 1968 with the eutrophication of Lake 227 The findings meant that Canada was the first country banned phosphate detergents.

The station quickly developed further from a makeshift Kamp to a fixed base with 30 buildings and 50 employees mid 70s.

In 1979, the Freshwater Institute ( FWI ) was transferred to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans ( DFO). This decision had far-reaching consequences for the ELA because the DFO is mainly dealt with problems in the marine environment. This led to increasing problems in financing the research.

In 1996, the ELA was the first time in the course of saving before the off, but could be preserved.

The manipulation of ecosystems

The importance of this form of ecological experiment is that certain physical processes and organisms can not be seen in reduced scale.

On the other hand, one can no longer ensure the repeatability of the experiment and the control of its conditions.

When the area of today's ELA was chosen, they tried to include these factors. The lakes and the adjacent pine forests are all on granite stone, which minimizes the inflow of groundwater. In addition, a barely conscious populated area has been selected with little development trends. This should keep the human impact minimal, except those of scientific use.

Endocrine disruptors experiments with

It was investigated what effect the addition of ethinyl estradiol. This synthetic contraceptives in 2001 was added to Lake 223 and corresponded to the dose (5-6 ng ) of the frequently measured concentration in wastewater. The fish population of the American fathead minnow ( Pimephales promelas ) was considered. After a few weeks you could find a feminization of the males in the form of an over-production of female hormones ( vitellogenin ) and an altered gonadal development. There was no more reproduction and the number of minnows decreased drastically. After 3 years, the experiment was terminated in order to prevent disappearance of the population.

View

Due to budget cuts the Canadian government ELA should be closed on 31 March 2013. An initiative of Canadian scientists and concerned citizens tried by protests and petitions, the government of Stephen Harper to move to back down. In addition, an attempt was made to obtain a fund-raising funding the PA as an independent institution. In April 2013 it was announced that you can continue working in the ELA for the time being. A month later, the DFO signed a letter of intent, on the basis of the PA is to be transferred to the International Institute for Sustainable Development ( IISD ). The Canadian non-governmental institution that has been working since its inception without profit, primary research interests are in the field of sustainable development. The cooperation between DFO and IISD to ensure the operation beyond the year 2013. [ Deprecated]

Swell

• Stokstad, Erik. In 2008. " Canada's Experimental Lakes ". Science, 28 November 2008: Vol 322 no 5906, pp. From 1316 to 1319.
• Schindler, David William. 2009th "A personal history of the Experimental Lakes Project" Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 66
• Experimental Lakes Area Official Website. The Official Website of the ELA.