Great Lakes Now: The Algae Crisis Video Quiz
●​ Record 10 facts about the video. Number each fact (1-10).
●​ Record each fact as a complete sentence.
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1.​ What is the primary cause of harmful algal blooms in Lake Erie, as discussed in the
documentary?​
A) Industrial waste discharge​
B) Agricultural runoff containing phosphorus​
C) Urban sewage overflow​
D) Climate change-induced temperature rise
2.​ Which toxic blue-green algae is primarily responsible for the harmful algal blooms in Lake
Erie?​
A) Anabaena​
B) Microcystis​
C) Oscillatoria​
D) Nostoc
3.​ What significant event in 2014 highlighted the severity of the algal bloom problem in Lake
Erie?​
A) A massive fish die-off​
B) Closure of beaches due to algal toxins​
C) A toxic algal bloom left nearly half a million people in the Toledo area without safe
drinking water​
D) A lawsuit against farmers for pollution
4.​ How do invasive zebra mussels contribute to the proliferation of harmful algal blooms?​
A) By directly releasing nutrients into the water​
B) By filtering out competing algae, allowing harmful species to dominate​
C) By increasing water temperature​
D) By disturbing sediment layers
5.​ What health risks are associated with the toxins produced by harmful algal blooms?​
A) Respiratory issues​
B) Liver damage​
C) Skin irritations​
D) All of the above
6.​ Which farming practice is recommended to reduce phosphorus runoff into Lake Erie?​
A) Increased use of chemical fertilizers​
B) No-till farming​
C) Frequent irrigation​
D) Crop rotation
7.​ What role does climate change play in the frequency and intensity of harmful algal
blooms?​
A) It has no significant impact​
B) It reduces the occurrence of algal blooms​
C) It creates conditions that favor the growth of harmful algae​
D) It eliminates nutrient runoff
8.​ How does phosphorus enter Lake Erie, contributing to algal blooms?​
A) Through atmospheric deposition​
B) Via groundwater seepage​
C) Primarily through agricultural runoff​
D) From industrial air emissions
9.​ What is a "dead zone" in the context of aquatic ecosystems?​
A) An area with high algal diversity​
B) A region with oxygen levels too low to support most marine life​
C) A zone with excessive fish populations​
D) A section of water with high clarity
10.​ What collaborative approach is suggested to address the algal bloom crisis in Lake Erie?​
A) Individual state interventions​
B) Federal regulation only​
C) Binational cooperation between the U.S. and Canada​
D) Local community initiatives
11. Essay Question:
What causes harmful algal blooms in the Great Lakes? Explain how farming, invasive species, and
climate change make the problem worse. What are the effects on people and the environment?
What solutions could help reduce algal blooms? (minimum of 5 complete sentences)
Student Response: