Paleolimnology and environmental change

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My research program helps us to understand the importance of natural factors and human activities on lakes and terrestrial ecosystems over time. This research involves using a paleolimnological approach, where past aquatic and terrestrial environments are reconstructed using physical, chemical and biological information preserved in lake sediment cores. Paleolimnological approaches can be used to study how climate has changed in the past. With unprecedented warm temperatures over the last several decades, industry and governments are struggling to understand the risks associated with this warming, and the vulnerabilities of ecosystems and natural resources, such as water and forests, upon which we depend. Computer models suggest that many regions will become warmer by 1-3°C by 2020, but we have little information on how such changes will impact lakes and forests. The proposed research will focus on the development and application of approaches to gain a better understanding of the role that climate has had on forested regions in northwestern (NW) Ontario and the Adirondack Park (NY, USA). By studying information preserved in lake sediment cores, from a network of forested sites in NW Ontario, at a time when temperatures were 1-2°C warmer in the past (the mid-Holocene warm period, 8,000 to 4,500 year ago), we will be able to assess the impact of warmer conditions on lakes, vegetation and fire. This research will help address important questions related to regional changes in: water quantity and quality; the relationship between climate and fire under warmer conditions; and the development of new approaches that will help in identifying past changes in lake levels. In the Adirondack Park, we will investigate if recent increases in temperature have caused changes in algal and invertebrate assemblages by examining changes in 'undisturbed' references lakes. This information is essential, if we are to understand the role of recent climate change on recovery of algal and invertebrate assemblages from acidified lakes. Funding in this proposal will support the training of three Ph.D. and four M.Sc. students, and a number of fourth-year honours students.