Notre Dame researchers unveil innovative system for studying the impact of climate change on streams
Earth owes its nickname “The Blue Planet” to the seas and oceans that cover over 70% of its surface. And yet, for most people, it is Earth's smaller freshwater sources that serve their daily needs. Over half of the world’s population lives within two miles of a river or stream. These replenish aquifers and deliver water for drinking, washing, irrigation, and other purposes.
Scientists know that climate change poses a significant threat to the world's freshwater, including rivers and streams. A few degrees of warming can upset their balance and can lead to blooms of toxic algae, contamination from disease-carrying pathogens, a rise in invasive species, and other serious problems.
However, predicting and controlling changes in freshwater ecosystems can prove challenging. Jennifer Tank, the Galla Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, explains, "The impact of temperature changes on streams and rivers is not well understood. Researchers need an experimental setting that closely resembles natural conditions but also includes a way to manipulate water temperatures."
To fill the gap in scientific understanding, Tank and her colleagues at Notre Dame's Environmental Change Initiative (ND-ECI) have added a crucial new capability to the Notre Dame Linked Experimental Ecosystem Facility (ND-LEEF) called the Linked Experimental Temperature System (ND-LEEF-LETS).
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