IMPACTS OF DRAWDOWN ON RESERVOIRS ECOLOGY
Multi-trophic field survey comparing lakes and reservoirs with different
winter drawdown
winter drawdown
As a multidisciplinary team, we are conducting a multi-trophic levels field survey (i.e. primary production, macroinvertebrates and fish) in parallel with a paleo-limnological study to compare the abundance, diversity, and bioenergetics of organisms between natural lakes and reservoirs experiencing different winter water drawdown.
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Yellow perch show differences in diet and morphology across reservoirs
that vary in winter drawdown extent
that vary in winter drawdown extent
Changes in the littoral zone resources due to drawdown may cause some fish to forage more heavily in the pelagic zone of the reservoir, alter their feeding behaviours, and shift habitat coupling dynamics. We investigated the effects of winter drawdown on yellow perch (Perca flavescens) trophic responses across the littoral-pelagic axis by using carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes and morphometric data (Gros 2021).
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Michelle Gros. MSc project
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*NEW OFFER* | DRAWDOWN AND IMPACTS ON ECOSYSTEMS SUBSIDIES FOOD WEB AND ECOSYSTEM FUNCTIONS
Ecosystems and habitats within ecosystems are linked by the flow of energy, nutrients, and biomass. Seasonal water level regulations (i.e., drawdown) in reservoirs exposes the highly productive littoral zone of reservoirs to desiccation and freezing and can impact substrate composition, macrophytes and macroinvertebrates abundance. These changes can affect littoral processes. It remains unclear whether the exposure of the littoral zone by drawdown lead to a decoupling between the littoral and pelagic habitats and between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (cross-ecosystems exchanges). I've got funding to examine if winter drawdown in reservoirs affect ecosystems subsidies, foodweb and ecosystem functions.
See offer for a fully funded PhD! This could be your project! Cool field work in perspective. |