New potentially toxic algae turns up on Great Lakes beach

An algae that is potentially toxic has shown up on a
Michigan beach at Lake St. Clair. Image: Vijay Kannappan

A new species is apparently making its way onto Great Lakes beaches, and it is potentially toxic.

Native to the southeastern United States, it is a blue-green algae, or cyanobacteria, called Lyngbya wollei. It was first found in the Great Lakes region in the St. Lawrence Seaway in 2005. Then it was spotted in Lake Erie in 2006.

Now it has been identified at Lake St. Clair Metropark north of Detroit, according to Wayne State University ecologist Donna Kashian.

Great Lakes Echo - greatlakesecho.org

20 Dec 2012

L Mertz

Location: Lake St. Clair Metropark, Michigan, USA

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