Understanding
Macroalgal
Blooms
in
Freshwater
Ecosystems
Presented
by Dr.
Andrea
Kirkwood
The incidence of freshwater algal blooms has been increasing across North America, including regions with no historical record of bloom occurrence. Eutrophication and climate change have been implicated as major drivers of microalgal (i.e., phytoplankton) blooms. In contrast, macroalgal (i.e., visible mat-forming algae) blooms are not consistently explained by nutrients, nor is much known about the role of climate change. Morphologically diverse species of macroalgae bloom across a range of habitats and nutrient conditions, even in systems where nutrients are low. This presentation will explore how morphological traits and habitat features may support the emergence of macroalgal blooms, with a particular focus on three species: Cladophora glomerata, Didymosphenia geminata and Nitellopsis obtusa.
Speaker Bio:
Dr.
Andrea
Kirkwood
Andrea
Kirkwood
completed
a
joint-honours
degree
in
Environment
and
Resource
Studies
&
Biology
(Co-op)
at
the University
of
Waterloo,
a
Master's
degree
in
Aquatic
Ecology
at McMaster
University, and
a
doctoral
degree
in
Environmental
Microbiology
at
the University
of
Toronto.
Andrea
conducted
postdoctoral
studies
at Oklahoma
State
University and
the University
of
Calgary prior
to
joining
the Faculty
of
Science at Ontario
Tech
University.
Andrea
is
currently
an
Associate
Professor
with
a
research
and
teaching
focus
in
environmental
biology.
In
addition
to
research
and
teaching,
Andrea
is
actively
involved
in
community-based
environmental
stewardship
initiatives.
When: October 25 - 2:30pm
Where: STC 0040
Hosted bythe Department of Biology
More information: https://kirkwoodlab.weebly.com/