ABSTRACT

The Great Lakes Basin in North America holds more than 20 percent of the world's fresh water. Threats to habitats and biodiversity have economic, political, national security, and cultural implications and ramifications that cross the US-Canadian border. This multidisciplinary book presents the latest research to demonstrate the interconnected nature of the challenges facing the Basin. 

Chapters by U.S. and Canadian scholars and practitioners represent a wide range of natural science and social science fields, including environmental sciences, geography, political science, natural resources, mass communications, environmental history and communication, public health, and economics. The book covers threats from invasive species, industrial development, climate change, agricultural and chemical runoff, species extinction, habitat restoration, environmental disease, indigenous conservation efforts, citizen engagement, environmental regulation, and pollution.Overall the book provides political, cultural, economic, scientific, and social contexts for recognizing and addressing the environmental challenges faced by the Great Lakes Basin.

chapter 1|8 pages

Introduction

Examining the terrain
ByEric Freedman, Mark Neuzil

part I|38 pages

Habitat, conservation, and restoration

chapter 2|11 pages

The dam dilemma for fisheries management in the Great Lakes

ByDaniel B. Hayes, Robert McLaughlin, Lisa Peterson, Brian Roth

chapter 3|11 pages

Irrigation in the Great Lakes Basin

Prospects and conflicts
ByB. Timothy Heinmiller

chapter 4|14 pages

Artificial reefs and reef restoration in the Laurentian Great Lakes

ByEdward F. Roseman, Matthew McLean, Jeremy J. Pritt, Jason L. Fischer, Gregory Kennedy

part II|52 pages

Extinction and survival

chapter 5|14 pages

Georgian Bay, Lake Huron

Freshwater turtles and their wetland habitat in a changing landscape
ByChantel E. Markle, Patricia Chow-Fraser

chapter 6|12 pages

Framing extinction

Societal attitudes toward the passenger pigeon in editorials and opinion pieces
ByBruno Takahashi, Ran Duan, Apoorva Joshi, Anthony Van Witsen, Eric Freedman

chapter 7|13 pages

Recovering the ecology of fear

Cascading effects of gray wolf predation and competition in a Great Lakes Basin forest
ByDavid G. Flagel

chapter 8|11 pages

Linear corridors and predator movement dynamics in the Great Lakes Basin

ByVictoria M. Donovan, Jesse N. Popp

part III|42 pages

Pollution, climate change, and invasive species

chapter 9|12 pages

Toxicants in the Great Lakes

Living with a toxic legacy while managing for chemicals of emerging concern
ByDalma Martinović-Weigelt, Jane R. Feely, Heiko L. Schoenfuss

chapter 10|14 pages

Water quality in the Great Lakes

Interactions between nutrient pollution, invasive species, and climate change
ByGaston E. Small

chapter 11|14 pages

Emerald ash borer, black ash, and Native American basketmaking

Invasive insects, forest ecosystems, and cultural practices
ByTherese M. Poland, Marla R. Emery, Tina Ciaramitaro, Ed Pigeon, Angie Pigeon

part IV|54 pages

Public policy

chapter 12|12 pages

Legislating the Great Lakes

Socially constructing water through congressional discourse
ByTheresa Castor

chapter 13|12 pages

Conservation authorities in Ontario

Key players in the governance of invasive and endangered species
ByAndrea Olive

chapter 15|13 pages

Seven Indigenous principles for successful cooperation in Great Lakes conservation initiatives

ByKyle P. Whyte, Nicholas J. Reo, Deborah McGregor, M.A. (Peggy) Smith, James F. Jenkins, Kathleen A. Rubio

part V|10 pages

Conclusions

chapter 16|8 pages

Through the crystal ball

ByMark Neuzil, Eric Freedman