Research summary
Lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, springs, bogs and wetlands are all examples of freshwater ecosystems. These areas offer a number of services that people often take for granted. For example, they can control flooding, purify water, stabilize shorelines and sequester carbon dioxide.
As Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Ecosystem Science and Sustainability, Dr. Roxane Maranger aims to protect freshwaters and their ecosystem services by identifying how connections between watersheds and variations in size and shape can cause lakes to be less or more vulnerable to the pressures of development and climate change. She and her research team are developing new approaches to assess lakes at large spatial scales. They want to determine the watershed development thresholds that can lead to abrupt changes in lakes’ abilities to process the carbon and nutrients that influence ecosystem services. Ultimately, they hope to uncover better ways to protect freshwater ecosystems from environmental stressors and develop guidance to support the sustainability of freshwater resources.