By By Karen Graham Nov 20, 2014 in Environment New research into decreasing calcium levels in a number of Canadian lakes has shown that we are still experiencing the effects of industrialization, and it's not climate related. Instead, it's a new problem, and a legacy of acid rain. Holopedium gibberum. Screen grab Scientists from five Ontario universities and the Ministry of the Environment used data consisting of monthly recordings of lake water chemistry levels going back 30 years to aid them in evaluating their findings. They were able to demonstrate the cause-and-effect of the falling calcium level and the impact on the ecosystem due to Holopedium. Their research was published in Over a decade ago, scientists monitoring Canadian Shield lakes discovered a troubling phenomenon. Calcium levels in lake waters were dropping. Because all organisms need some calcium to survive, and crustaceans need even more, this presented a serious problem. Calcium-rich plankton called Daphnia, or water-fleas, were seriously impacted. With There has been an explosion of Holopedium populations across lakes in Eastern Canada. In Ontario, the problem has been magnified because of a Eurasian invasion of the Invading predatory cercopagids, spiny water fleas, that have invaded the Great Lakes in ballast water. Bythotrephes invaded Lake Michigan in 1986. Cercopagis invaded lake Ontario and Lake Michigan in 1999. Arrows point to the thoracopods (feeding appendages). NOAA "As Holopedium muscle out Daphnia, various fish species and other organisms may suffer," says Ryerson University’s Michael Arts, one of the co-authors of the report. Arts says the Holopedium bounce off a fish's mouth, and if they are consumed, are a poor dietary substitute. Dr Andrew Tanentzap, with the University of Cambridge's Department of Plant Sciences, and a co-author of the study said we need to be concerned about our "As calcium declines, the increasing concentrations of jelly in the middle of these lakes will reduce energy and nutrient transport right across the food chain, and will likely impede the withdrawal of lake water for residential, municipal and industrial uses." The researchers also examined David Schindler, an aquatic ecologist at the University of Alberta, while not involved in the study, was full of praise for the idea. “Right now we don’t know how to fix it, except to turn off emissions and wait," he said. Searching back into history, it was found that Holopedium concentrations have been building up Lakes in Muskola and Haliburton in Central Ontario are undergoing "jellification." Acid rain has created an unwanted legacy, affecting the aquatic ecosystems of many lakes with an obnoxious critter called Holopedium. It is a "tapioca-like" organism that is unaffected by changes in the water chemistry.Scientists from five Ontario universities and the Ministry of the Environment used data consisting of monthly recordings of lake water chemistry levels going back 30 years to aid them in evaluating their findings. They were able to demonstrate the cause-and-effect of the falling calcium level and the impact on the ecosystem due to Holopedium. Their research was published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B this week.Over a decade ago, scientists monitoring Canadian Shield lakes discovered a troubling phenomenon. Calcium levels in lake waters were dropping. Because all organisms need some calcium to survive, and crustaceans need even more, this presented a serious problem. Calcium-rich plankton called Daphnia, or water-fleas, were seriously impacted.With falling calcium levels, daphnia cannot get the nutrients needed to reproduce and survive. This means they are consuming less food, and leaving more algae for other creatures, like Holopedium, to eat. And Holopedium is a great plankton competitor. Using less calcium, and with a protective jelly-like coating, Holopedium are given protection from predators.There has been an explosion of Holopedium populations across lakes in Eastern Canada. In Ontario, the problem has been magnified because of a Eurasian invasion of the spiny water flea . This tiny crustacean was found in Lake Ontario in 1982, and has since spread to all the Great Lakes and into Eastern Canada. It feeds on Daphnia and other smaller crustaceans, so the problem in Ontario's lakes is twofold."As Holopedium muscle out Daphnia, various fish species and other organisms may suffer," says Ryerson University’s Michael Arts, one of the co-authors of the report. Arts says the Holopedium bounce off a fish's mouth, and if they are consumed, are a poor dietary substitute.Dr Andrew Tanentzap, with the University of Cambridge's Department of Plant Sciences, and a co-author of the study said we need to be concerned about our municipal water supplies The researchers also examined 48 Nova Scotia lakes , and found similar results, indicating the problem is widespread, from lakes in New England to Scandinavia. Interestingly, scientists in Scandinavia have tried adding lime to forest lakes to fix the chemistry, but this is exorbitantly expensive and not that successful.David Schindler, an aquatic ecologist at the University of Alberta, while not involved in the study, was full of praise for the idea. “Right now we don’t know how to fix it, except to turn off emissions and wait," he said.Searching back into history, it was found that Holopedium concentrations have been building up since the 1850s , about the start of the Industrial Revolution. While we have tackled acid rain to a great extent, we are now seeing an unwanted, and unexpected result of industrialization. The researchers say it is something that could push the lakes into an entirely new ecological state. More about jellification, holopedium, Industrialization, calcium levels dropping, Central Ontario More news from jellification holopedium Industrialization calcium levels dropp... Central Ontario