Profiles

Invasive Phragmites australis is a threat to wetland biodiversity and integrity across North America.

My project is the first in North America to evaluate the success of the insect-based Phragmites biological control program. My research fits into the broader Phragmites biocontrol pilot program. Biocontrol, as a practice, is a safe and effective method for controlling invasive species using the invasives natural enemies. I am interested in how and why Phragmites biocontrol can lead to native plants returning to Phragmites-invaded wetlands. My work will help inform the future wetland restoration efforts by advancing our understanding of this emerging technique for Phragmites control.

Aside from my research, I enjoy sharing my botany pictures through my botany Instagram (@poormansbotany), posting my biodiversity observations on iNaturalist (>2700 observations and counting!), serving on the Board of Directors for the Canadian Botanical Association, and running the Waterloo ecology network. Outside of all that, you can find me backcountry canoe camping, practicing my salsa dancing, and embroidering.

Microplastics are one the most abundant forms of aquatic pollution in the world today, with studies indicating that every level of the food web interacts with this manmade contaminant. My research focuses on how freshwater invertebrates are affected by microplastics and how they, in turn, may affect microplastics in the environment.

I'm grateful to be part of the interdisciplinary research team on the RISE (Residential development Impact Scorecard for the Environment) project. My contribution to RISE focuses on using biological community data, from invertebrate and eDNA sampling, to inform how residential neighbourhood design affects biodiversity in urban ponds. I am also working with other members of the RISE team to synthesize findings across the different research areas to explore how pond design, neighbourhood design, and pond management relate to the ecosystem services provided by the ponds. I have a background in ecotoxicology and biomonitoring of urban systems, with a focus on stormwater management ponds.

My project involves using trait-based ecology to promote the active restoration of Long Point wetlands after the removal of invasive Phragmites australis. I’m hoping to help the native seed bank by creating and adding seeding prescriptions onto them to bolster their natural biotic resistance against P. australis.

Josh Pickering is a community ecologist interested in spatio-temporal trends and trophic interactions influencing bird communities. His current research focuses on evaluating long-term trends and response of breeding birds to adaptive white-tailed deer management at Long Point, Norfolk County, Ontario, Canada, following a prolonged period of deer overabundance.

It is well-known that overabundant white-tailed deer populations in North America have significant and often detrimental effects on ecosystems, yet few studies have examined the recovery of ecological communities - especially a breeding bird community - after a period of deer overabundance. It is the goal of this research to; assess trends in breeding bird species over time, evaluate community responses to changes in vegetation, local climate, and regional bird populations, and analyze regional differences to inform bird conservation efforts in Ontario.

This research at the University of Waterloo is supported by Birds Canada, Mitacs, an Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS), and a President's Graduate Scholarship.

My project focuses on using eDNA metabardocing to better understand biodiversity in urban ecosystems. I focus on stormwater ponds and working with the Residential development Impact Scorecard for the Environment (RISE) to induce ecological best practices in urban developments.

I am investigating the fate and effects of microplastics on freshwater algae. My research involves intensive field work during the spring and summer months at the Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA), as part of a multi-disciplinary collaborative project known as PELAstics. Freshwater lakes are our greatest resources, yet they are currently inundated with plastic and microplastic pollution.

My postdoctoral work involves developing a DPSIR (Drivers, Pressures, State, Impact, Response) framework to identify threats and stressors to wetlands across Alberta. This work will support the creation of indicators for a province-wide wetland monitoring program. I am also interested in and have previous experience with ethnobotany, climate change ecology, invasive plant species, and science education.

I am studying butterflies in The Meadoway, a 16 km long hydro corridor in Scarborough, Ontario, which is in the process of being restored to meadow habitat. Specifically, I am considering how the butterfly community changes after restoration from turf to meadow habitat, and how this is influenced by changes in host plant abundance and diversity. I am also surveying milkweed host plants for monarch caterpillars to consider if this endangered species is using The Meadoway for its entire life cycle rather than only for adult nectar foraging.

My role as Lead Field Technician is primarily to help support the numerous on-going projects across the Waterloo Wetland Lab. I have a range of experience in fieldwork environments and have participated in numerous research projects during my time in academia, with topics ranging from; invasive vegetation, soil, social sciences, water quality, benthic macroinvertebrates, fish, and freshwater mussels. I’ve worked in some beautiful environments across southern Ontario and can’t wait to explore more as a part of this team.

Kayla Martin is in her first year of a biology master’s program at the University of Waterloo with a focus on aquatic invasive species. After graduating from Wilfrid Laurier University’s Water Science and Environmental Health (BSc) program in 2022, she has worked for the University of Waterloo, where she is currently a member of the Ecohydrology Research Group. Her latest project was with the United States Environmental Protection Agency. The international team of scientists conducted a weeklong expedition onboard the R/V LAKE GUARDIAN where she collected sediment core samples from the bottom of Lake Erie.

Kayla is active in Great Lakes conservation and education efforts. Her interests lie in examining our interactions with water, the environmental impacts and ways to achieve sustainability for future generations. Recently she was featured in the documentary All Too Clear which will premiere as a three-part series on TVO in October 2024.

The Meadoway project is converting a Toronto hydro corridor from turfgrass to meadow to promote urban green spaces, increase biodiversity, and mitigate the effects of climate change. I am synthesizing the data collected from this project to develop a multi-criteria tool to identify other potential urban areas that can undergo a turfgrass-to-meadow conversion to support biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation on a national scale.

My project is looking at restoration after invasive Phragmites australis treatment. There are two parts. The first looks at the seed bank in wetlands that have been treated for P. australis, to determine which areas will need more active restoration. The second part of my project looks at how much carbon dioxide and methane P. australis emit. I'm looking to see if, after treatment, there is any difference in emissions, this can inform us if treating P. australis is an effective nature-based solution to climate change.

My research mainly focuses on remote sensing analysis and map production, primarily centered around wetlands in Ontario, Canada. This work helps analyze the spatiotemporal changes in vegetation and water bodies in the study area, contributing to the protection of the ecological environment. I am very interested in remote sensing informatics, wetland ecology, and grassland restoration.