University of Lethbridge Aquatic Biogeochemistry

Matthew Bogard

Principal Investigator - Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Environments

The main objective of my research is to link human alteration of biogeochemical cycles to water quality and habitat health outcomes. Our group works to answer questions about: how greenhouse gas emissions from inland waters shape global atmospheric budgets; what factors control food web productivity; how impactful is  human-caused nutrient pollution, salinization, and other stressors on aquatic ecosystem functioning; and issues around water health and security for the future of Canada.

Science is a powerful tool that can help inform and shape our policies and best practices in society. I am committed to working with students and diverse stakeholders (industry, government, non-profit organizations, and the public) to generate knowledge that both advances the field of environmental science while also guiding resource management and protection. When I am not working on campus you might find me in the coulees collecting rocks, bugs, or berries with my two young junior scientists.  

Dr. Paola Ayala Borda

I am a limnologist and microbiologist by training and my postdoctoral research focuses on two branches of biogeochemistry, one on a larger scale and one on a micro scale. On a large scale I am interested in describing how lake biogeochemical processes shift along the elevation gradient from the Rocky Mountains, through Foothills landscapes, and onto the Prairies. I observe how landscape and catchment variability shape lake water chemistry and physical conditions, and how these gradients in turn shape the biological processes and metabolic rates occurring within lakes. On a micro scale focused on prairie wetlands, I am interested in understanding whether microbial processing of wastewater effluent follows predictable longitudinal patterns based on redox gradients in sequential basins of the restored Frank Lake wetland. As microorganisms are the major metabolizers of nutrients and pollutants, describing the community structure and functionality of the Frank Lake microbiome will provide important insights into the capacity for wetlands to remediate wastewater. These projects fit into my overarching research goal to identify the processes happening within freshwater ecosystems and how they contribute to carbon cycling and ecosystem services at a local or even global scales.

Dr. Chenxi Mi

As a Postdoctoral Fellow at U of L, my research focuses on understanding the long term phosphorus retention capacity of effluent receiving wetlands. Specifically, I am mapping sediment phosphorus retention patterns and associated driving factors throughout the Frank Lake wetland complex in southern Alberta. I am also working on establishing a nutrient budget for the Twin Valley Reservoir (TVR) downstream of Frank Lake, which will identify the multi-decade trajectories of nutrient loading in this system, and how regional climate drivers have interacted with other human impacts in the progressive eutrophication of this important reservoir. Conclusions from my research will help stakeholders optimize their management strategies to protect aquatic ecosystems under a changing environment. I also have a strong interest in developing process-driven models to analyze thermal and oxygen structure in deep-lentic waters. More details about my research and publication list can be found on my personal ResearchGate page (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Chenxi-Mi-2). During my free time, I enjoy listening to classic music and reading Japanese detective novels.

Chun Ngai (Eric) Chan

Ph.D. Student

I have a strong interest in conducting research related to greenhouse gas emissions from a variety of aquatic habitats, including lakes, wetlands, ponds, and reservoirs. The goal of my Ph.D. research is to investigate the greenhouse gas dynamics of different ecosystems and their controls at scales ranging from local to global. When I have free time, some of my favorite things to do are shopping, hiking, jogging, and most importantly, having a feast!

Navya Sehgal

M.Sc. Student

I am an MSc student exploring the effects of invasive fish on aquatic food webs in southern Alberta. My research will focus on comparing the feeding behaviors and metal accumulation in invasive Prussian carp and native fathead minnows by analyzing various ecosystem components through stable isotope and fatty acid analysis. My goal is to understand how carp interact with lower trophic levels of the food web, while also understanding their relationship with native minnows. I will compare these findings with a reference lake to assess the broader ecological impact of the carp. The aim of my study is to provide insights on invasive species and understand their role in the environment.

Ilyanna Janvier

M.Sc. Student

I am interested in river ecosystem processes such as river metabolism and organic carbon processing. The goal of my MSc. work is to define the river metabolism and carbon cycling through a spatial gradient within the Little Bow river in southern Alberta. I am also using sensors to record high frequency patterns of dissolved oxygen and carbon dioxide. In my free time I enjoy hiking, backpacking, and crocheting.

Jess Lerminiaux

M.Sc. Student (co-supervised with Dr. Kerri Finlay, U of Regina)

My research focuses on the fate of algal toxins in wetlands within the northern Great Plains. I will be looking into natural degradation pathways for microcystin, a carcinogenic hepatotoxin commonly found in eutrophic freshwater ecosystems, within a restored wetland that receives treated wastewater. The goal of this study is to identify new sustainable management solutions for harmful algal blooms to reduce the frequency of toxicity cases found in humans and other organisms.

Molly Tilley

Lab Manager

I have experience in freshwater and behavioural ecology and parasitology. I did my M.Sc. degree at the University of Lethbridge under the supervision of Dr. Cameron Goater, and my project encompassed the formal description of a new species of parasite in fathead minnows. My work explored the pathological and behavioural consequences of this parasite to host performance and impacts on population dynamics of fathead minnows in southern Alberta. Currently, as the manager of the Aquatic Biogeochemistry Lab at the University of Lethbridge, my role is to coordinate field and lab activities, primarily focused on the sampling of wetlands, rivers, lakes and reservoirs across southern Alberta. I am also leading a study that explores the impact of invasive carp on parasitism in the Frank Lake wetland complex. I love the outdoors and exploring our natural landscapes through hiking and fishing.

I have a background in Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, and always had an interest in the study of nutrient cycling and transformations in the soil and water. My MSc project in the Bogard lab explored how sulfur cycles in a restored wetland receiving multiple forms of effluent, particularly in the context of wastewater remediation. Now I am contributing to routine field and lab activities. Apart from academics, I have a great passion of music, movies and Malayalam literature.