Youngsters alongside scientists analysing Lake Burtnieks’ food-chain

On the 5th of October youngsters from Burtnieki Auseklis Secondary School and Rencēni Elementary School participated the Burtnieki Lake research. Alongside highly qualified scientists from the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES) and Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology (LIAE) youngsters analysed lake’s food-chain and learned how climate change can bring negative effects on the lake’s ecosystem.

Usually, about climate change and its effects students learn from books. We believe that it is very important to let them understand how it appears in the surrounding environment. To understand how climate change effects impact the health of Lake Burtnieks, youngsters and scientists analysed the structure of the lake’s food-chain. The bravest youngsters participated fish sampling, sorting, weighing, measuring and analysing of fish stomach content. The scientists also demonstrated shellfish and mussels that live in the lake. And through the microscope youngsters observed how Lake Burtnieks’ zooplankton and phytoplankton such as toxic blue-green algae look like.

In 2013 scientists together with Burtnieki Municipality started detailed survey of Lake Burtnieks, aiming to develop a wise lake’s management strategy. This year scientists began to investigate climate change effects on Lake Burtnieks ecosystem, by analysing its food-chain. For educational purposes the scientists wanted to give an opportunity for local youngsters to be a part of the research process.

As a part of the Project CyCLE, scientists will carry out research in Lake Burtnieks and the Alūksne Lake until May, 2016. Research results will be publicly available on the Project website and in municipalities’ offices. The Project is supported by European Economic Area (EEA) financial mechanism and co-financed by the Institute for Environmental Solutions and Latvian Institute of Aquatic Ecology.

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