Scientists probe Lake Erie's dead zones

Low oxygen levels could threaten the health of the ecosystem in Lake Erie, say scientists who have launched a two-year study.

The study, which begins this month, is one of the largest field research projects of the lake, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Researchers from 15 universities in Canada and the U.S. will use 10 ships to examine the declining health of the Great Lake.

They aim to predict both the location and impact of oxygen-starved areas on food web interactions and fish in Lake Erie.

Low water levels, fertilizer runoffs and invasive zebra mussels are all thought to be contributing to the oxygen problem.

The "dead zones" of low oxygen appear in the lake's central basin during the late summer and early fall, the administration said in a release.

Scientists plan to apply what they learn about Lake Erie to solve problems in the other four Great Lakes.