UM: Kalamazoo River

In an article on the aftermath of Kalamazoo River’s recent oil spill, the Detroit News interviews Allen Burton, a UM professor of limnology, who fears the long-term effects could be significant. He explains that the contamination of lower-dwelling organisms, such as crayfish, and their environment directly impacts fish higher up the food chain. Because of oil contamination, small creatures that usually live in sediment are replaced by worms and midges. Says Burton: “Worms and midges will tend to accumulate contaminants in their tissue and then pass it on to the fish that are eating them. Most of the fish advisories we’ve had in the Great Lakes go back to toxicity in the sediments.” [Source]