GLNPO has been monitoring the health of the lower food web in the Great Lakes since 1983. This program assesses the status and trends of the ecological health of the open waters of the Great Lakes based on phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos, Mysis, and chlorophyll-a. This information helps fishery and water quality managers determine how changes in lower food web communities may impact the fisheries and water quality in the Great Lakes. The program also searches for new aquatic invasive species within the zooplankton and/or benthic community.

Great Lakes Lower Food Web

Simplified Great Lakes Lower Food Web (Images from NOAA GLERL)

The 5 sampling sub-components for the Great Lakes Biology Monitoring Program are:

1. Phytoplankton - tiny plants that live in water
2. Zooplankton - tiny animals that live in water
3. Benthos - animals that live in the bottom mud
4. Chlorophyll-a - a measure of photosynthesis in the water column
5. Mysis - planktonic Great Lakes crustacean