Hall Lab home

Research in the Hall Lab, also known as the WATER Lab (University of WATerloo Environmental change Research Lab), centers around analysis of long-term environmental records to address ecological issues. Our research works at the interface of fields of aquatic ecology, hydrology and paleolimnology to assess effects of multiple stressors (river regulation, contaminants from mining, climate change) on lakes, wetlands and reservoirs. A goal is to improve methods to quantify and predict ecosystem responses during degradation and recovery phases due to human disturbances and natural phenomena. Current areas of active research include the Peace-Athabasca Delta (northern Alberta, including Wood Buffalo National Park), Wapusk National Park and the Hudson Bay Lowlands (northern Manitoba), Vuntut National Park and the Old Crow Flats (Yukon), the Marian River Watershed (Northwest Territories), and the South Nahanni River Watershed (Northwest Territories; including the Náátsá’ihch’oh and Nahanni National Park Reserves). We collaborate with many stakeholders, including industry, government, and aboriginal and First Nations communities, and with other academic researchers.

We have a gamma spectrometry facility for dating sediment cores during the past ~150 years by 210Pb and 137Cs methods. We also have a HPLC (High Pressure Liquid Chromatography) system for analysis of photosynthetic pigments in samples of water, periphyton and sediment.  We provide analyses from these facilities on a contract basis. If interested, direct your enquiries to professor Roland Hall.

News

The Peace-Athabasca Delta sampling team has return from an ambitious and successful first sampling trip of the 2016 season. There were late nights and lots of coffee, but also lots of fun. There will be great projects based on samples collected across the delta.