News

Waterloo Wetland Lab PhD Candidate Gab Izma, alum Danny McIsaac, Dr. Rebecca Rooney, and colleagues have co-authored a newly-published article on the effects of contaminated biofilms on freshwater invertebrates. The article, titled "Dietary exposure of stormwater contaminants in biofilm to two freshwater macroinvertebrates" is published in Science of the Total Environment, and is available online via open access.

Invasive Hydrilla has been detected for the first time in Hillman Marsh, in Southern Ontario, by Waterloo Wetland Lab researchers.

Hydrilla, an aquatic plant species, poses a significant risk to wetlands by out-competing native plant species and clogging waterways. To help prevent its spread, we urge everyone to clean, drain and dry equipment after use.

Learn more about Hydrilla from the Essex Region Conservation Authority, and listen to Dr. Rebecca Rooney's interview on CBC Radio for more information.

Research completed by the Waterloo Wetland Lab was recently featured on CBC's Quirks and Quarks podcast. The episode, titled "Managing Canada’s Worst Invasive Plant with Moths," aired on September 14 and explores an innovative approach to controlling the spread of invasive Phragmites australis via biocontrol.

The podcast, which features an interview with Dr. Rooney, as well as graduate student, Claire Schon, and field technician, Ryan Graham, is available online via CBC Radio.

We are excited to announce that Catriona Leven successfully defended her MSc thesis, titled "Wetland hydrology and the impacts of beaver dams in the Upper Columbia River floodplain wetlands" this afternoon! Her hard work offers valuable insights into the role of beaver activity in shaping wetland ecosystems.

Please join us in congratulating Catriona on this incredible achievement!

We are thrilled to announce that Grace Lew-Kowal successfully defended her MSc thesis, titled "Enhanced Precision of Aerial Herbicide Application for Invasive Species Management" this morning! Her hard work marks a significant contribution to the field of invasive Phragmites australis control.

Please join us in congratulating Grace on this incredible achievement!

The Water Institute has published a new article on Dr. Rooney's contributions to microplastic research, highlighting the risks that microplastics pose to the Laurentian Great Lakes.

While evidence of concern is quickly mounting, there is still a lot of uncertainty. We cannot yet say how much pollution is too much, or what monitoring thresholds and alerts should be. We also have not collectively agreed on the best monitoring approach, explained Rooney, “but the efforts of the Microplastics Work Group took us a big step closer to this for the Great Lakes.”

Congratulations to PhD Candidate, Claire Schon, for successfully completing her comprehensive exam this afternoon!

That's a total of four successful comprehensive exams by Waterloo Wetland Lab members in the past two and a half months. We are so proud!

Congratulations to PhD Candidate, Émilie Montreuil Strub, for successfully completing her comprehensive exam this afternoon!

Congratulations to PhD Candidate, Gab Izma, for successfully completing their comprehensive exam this morning!

Congratulations to PhD Candidate, Jersey Fontz, for successfully completing her comprehensive exam this morning!