Aquatic
Ecosystems
Through observing the dynamic relationship between stream, nutrients, and pesticides the Ecosystem Services team can better understand how coastal ecosystems are impacted by these variables. In addition to the associated impact on the aquatic organisms and the intricate food webs these ecosystems contain.
Goal
To develop an understanding of how both terrestrial and aquatic farming can impact the resilience and functioning of adjacent aquatic ecosystems.
Using the support of local crop and fish farmers, the aquatic team is looking at how farming intensity, farming techniques (e.g., ALUS; alternate land use services) and harvesting alter the abiotic conditions, the structure, and function of individuals to whole ecosystems.
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Projects
Land Modification and Nutrient Loading
Measuring the abiotic and biotic structure (biostructure and biodiversity) from genes to whole ecosystems in streams, rivers and lake ecosystems along a gradient in farming intensity (land modification).
Current research is looking at:
Local streams
Regional: Stream to Coastal Ecosystems
Biotracer Development and Bioinformatics
Developing biotracer techniques for monitoring the health, diversity and structure of aquatic ecosystems.
Current research is looking at:
Testing the efficacy of eDNA barcoding in characterizing the biodiversity in benthic streams.
Using cortisol content of fish scales as a bio-indicator of environmental stress.
Quantifying global seafood using multi-tracer quantitative techniques (AI).
Sustainable Fisheries
Developing techniques to monitor and manage fisheries sustainably both locally and globally.
Current research is looking at:
