News
UOIT partners on water quality research project to determine at-risk lakes in The Land Between
November 4, 2009
Group receives $25,000 as part of
the RBC Blue Water Leadership project
The
University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT) has partnered with the
Couchiching Conservancy, Lakehead University and The Land Between on a research
project that is investigating the water quality in The Land Between, a unique 240
km ecotone stretched across south-central Ontario from Georgian Bay to
Kingston, and determining lakes that are at risk of becoming damaged. The group
was recently awarded a $25,000 grant as part of the RBC Blue Water Leadership
project.
The
project will examine factors affecting water quality by using algae as
biomarkers. Dr. Andrea Kirkwood, an assistant professor with the Faculty of
Science at UOIT who has received $10,000 of the grant, will study and monitor
selected bodies of water by taking samples from lakes with different
characteristics such as shoreline development and agricultural activities. Each
lake will be characterized based on the amount and type of algae found and
whether it is good algae that supports the food web versus algae of concern
such as toxic blue/green algae.
"I am
very pleased to be working on this project," said Dr. Kirkwood, who teaches
Biology. "The Land Between is an ideal outdoor laboratory. It offers a great
opportunity to collect many algae samples in a small geographical area, which
will give us a large data set to review and analyze. By understanding the ecosystem
function in different lake types, we will better understand the lake's health
and in turn, learn how to manage contamination and use in the future."
Part of
the funds received by Dr. Kirkwood will be used to hire a UOIT student in the Bachelor
of Science in Biology program to assist with the algae collection, study and
monitoring, which will begin in Spring 2010 and followed by a report in the
Fall 2010.
"UOIT is
committed to working with partners on innovative research projects such as this
one," said Dr. William Smith, associate provost, Research. "The nature of this
research initiative is strongly aligned with the university's strategic
research objectives, applied bioscience being one of our five focus themes, and
we are thrilled to have our undergraduate students on board to receive valuable
hands-on experience working both in the field and the lab."
This
project complements Dr. Kirkwood's current research portfolio, which aims to improve
the understanding of energy, nutrient and contaminant dynamics across
freshwater ecosystems. She was awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council Discovery Grant in May 2009, receiving $19,000 a year for the
next five years to study lake ecosystem health in The Land
Between ecotone in Southern Ontario. Using the NSERC grant, Dr. Kirkwood and the
graduate students on her team will be looking specifically at the base of the
food web in lakes within The Land Between with the aim to understand how the
changing water quality and chemistry in these lakes influence energy and
contaminant transfer to other organisms such as fish.
UOIT's
Faculty of Science is committed to excellence and innovation in
technology-enhanced and interdisciplinary teaching as well as research relevant
to the needs of society and the environment. Dedicated to creating and sharing
scientific knowledge, infusing the thrill of discovery and inspiring vision,
determination, independence, critical thinking and integrity in its students,
it prepares them for rewarding careers as the next generation of highly skilled
scientists and professionals.
