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Long-Term Trends In Benthic Macroinvertebrate Populations In Lake Huron Over The Past Four Decades, Thomas F. Nalepa, David L. Fanslow, Steven A. Pothoven, Andrew J. Foley Iii, Gregory A. Lang

United States Department of Commerce: Staff Publications

Surveys of the benthic macroinvertebrate community were conducted in the main basin of Lake Huron in 2000 and 2003, and in Georgian Bay and North Channel in 2002. Results were compared to surveys conducted in the 1960s and early 1970s. Although data of earlier surveys were inconsistent, our best estimates suggest that total density of the four major benthic taxa (Diporeia spp., Oligochaeta, Sphaeriidae, and Chironomidae) in the main basin declined dramatically between the early 1970s and 2000. Populations of all major taxa continued to decline between 2000 and 2003, particularly Diporeia and Sphaeriidae. Diporeia was rare or absent …