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Major Effects of Acid Rain Effecting the Great Lakes
The harmful effects of acid rain are becoming well known and documented in the scientific community. Acid rain, caused by both human and natural impacts, has been linked to the decreasing of PH levels in lakes causing negative effects to the local ecosystems. The increase of acidity in lake waters make it difficult for some species of fish and plants to survive and reproduce. Since the Great Lakes are the largest body of fresh water in the world, it is a high ranking concern of how acid rain will impact the large ecosystem connected to this great body of water.

What's the Risk?
In order to put into perspective the ecological risk of acidic rain in the Great Lakes one must understand how vast the ecosystem of this water basin is. The Great Lakes have a drainage basin of over 200,000 square miles. According to the EPA over 30 million people, 3,500 species of plants and animals, and over 170 species of fish are within the Great Lakes Basin.

History
In 1959 Canadian investigators "Established that fumigation by sulfur dioxide and resultant acid rain contributed to the deterioration of lake quality" Gordon and Gorham. Since then teams of scientists and ecologists have gathered data pertaining to the ecological effects of acidic rain on the great lakes. Public awareness of acid rain has grown significantly but awareness to the impacts that acidic rain can cause have not been seriously accepted by the public.

Major Harmful Effects Of Acid Rain
Current research suggests that the food web of the great lakes ecological system could be negatively effected by acid rain. Observations first recognize the effects of acid rain in the aquatic ecosystems but most noticeable is when the terrestrial ecosystems are effected. Ecosystems have delicate relationships, so when one part of an ecosystem is thrown off, such as fish populations, it effects many other parts of the system that depend on the intertwined resources. An Example of how acid rain effects the ecosystem is the relationship between the frog and mayfly. Frogs can reproduce and live in relatively acidic water levels, but the frogs major food source, the mayfly, cannot hatch out of its eggs in these abnormal water quality condition. The frog populations will be directly effected due to the reproduction levels of the mayfly. Many industries such as fishing, shipping, and tourism depend on the Great Lakes. With an increase in acidity caused by acid rain all of these industries will feel the impact of the acidic waters.