River with rapids

Environmental Geochemistry at the University of Waterloo

Our research interest lies in the field of watershed biogeochemistry. Current projects focus on environmental problems including the impact of nutrients and climate change on aquatic ecosystems. These projects most often require a multi-disciplinary approach which brings to our team specialists in geochemistry, hydrology, stratigraphy, and ecology. Personal special interests include the development and use of isotopic tools (stable and radioactive) and other tracers to supplement the more traditional geochemical techniques utilized in watershed studies.

Recent publications

  • Salk KR, Venkiteswaran JJ, Couture R-M, Higgins SN, Paterson, MJ and Schiff SL. (2021). Warming combined with experimental eutrophication intensifies lake phytoplankton blooms. Limnology & Oceanography. 67, 2022, 147-158.

  • Aukes PJK and Schiff SL. Composition Wheels: Visualizing dissolved organic matter using common composition metrics across a variety of Canadian Ecozones. (2021). PloS one 16 (7).

  • Spoelstra J, *Leal K, *Senger N, Schiff S, and R Post. Isotopic characterization of sulfate in a shallow aquifer impacted by agricultural fertilizer", Groundwater 59 (5), 658-670.

  • Molot LA, Higgins SN, Schiff SL, Venkiteswaran JJ, Paterson MJ and Baulch HM. (2021). Phosphorus-only fertilization rapidly initiates large nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria blooms in two oligotrophic lakes. Environmental Research Letters. 2021, 16 064078.

  • Molot L, Schiff SL, Venkiteswaran JJ, Baulch HM, Higgins SN, Zastepa A, Verschoor MJ, and Walters D. (2021). Low sediment redox promotes cyanobacteria blooms across a trophic range: implications for management. Lake and Reservoir Management. Published online 14 January 2021.

  • Aukes PJK, Schiff SL, Venkiteswaran JJ, Elgood RJ, and Spoelstra J. (2021). Size-based characterization of freshwater dissolved organic matter finds similarities within a waterbody type across different Canadian ecozones. Limnology and Oceanography Letters 6 (2), 85-95.