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    • List of metrics trends by ecosystem. Values represent the trend as ↑ increasing, ↓ decreasing, ↔ no trend. Values designated as "n" do not apply to the ecosystem and "?" represent unknown trends. 

    Excerpt from: Dobiesz N.E., Hecky R.E., Johnson T.B., Sarvala J., Dettmers J.M., Lehtiniemi M., Rudstam L., Madenjian C.P., Witte F.  2010.  Metrics of Ecosystem Status for Large Aquatic Systems - A Global Comparison. Journal of Great Lakes Research 36:1.  [PDF]

    Category Baltic Baltic Victoria Victoria
    North Proper Baikal Erie Huron Michigan Ontario Superior 0-6m 6-20m Tanganyika Malawi
    Trophic Structure
    Food chain length ↔ ↓ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔
    Loss of functional groups ↔ ↓ ↔ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↓ ↔ ↔
    Within functional group diversity ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↑ ↔ ↓ ↓ ↔ ↔
    Non-indigenous species Invasion ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔
    Exploited Species
    Fisheries Intrinsic stability ↓ ↓ ↔ ↔ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ? ↔ ↓ ↓
    Size range ↔ ↔ ↔ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↔ ↓
    Mean age at harvest ↓ ↔ ↓ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ? ↓ ↓ ↓
    Age at maturity ↔ ↔ ↓ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ? ↓ ↓ ↔
    Trophic structure of catch ↓ ↓ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↑ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↓ ↓ ↑
    Stocking ↔ ↔ n ↔ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ n n n n
    Habitat Alterations
    Nutrient trends-phosphorus ↔ ↔ ↔ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑
    Nutrient trends-nitrogen ↑ ↓ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑
    Nutrient trends-dissolved silica ↓ ↔ ↔ ↑ ↔ ↑ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↓ ↑ ↔
    Chlorophyll range ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑ ↔ ↓ ↓ ↔ ↔ ↑ ↔ ↑
    Chlorophyll mean ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↔ ↔ ↓ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↔
    Cyanobacteria blooms ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑
    Harmful algal species ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↑
    Transparency ↓ ↓ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↓ ↓ ↔ ↑
    Oxygen demand ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
    Contaminants ↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↔
    Fish diseases ↓ ↓ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔ ↔
    Habitat Loss ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑
    Catchment Changes
    Population pressure ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑
    Urbanization ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↔ ↑
    Economic activity ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↑ ↑