Our research includes the study of shifting food webs and community composition in response to changing nutrients and climate. We are particularly interested in the current state of aquatic communities along circumpolar region. Changes in food webs and fish populations are likely to have large impacts on human populations (i.e., subsistence activities, commercial and recreational fisheries). Our group is working to develop links between environmental change, freshwater communities, and the consequences to Arctic freshwater ecosystems and the humans who depend on them.
Stream biological communities are important indicators of ecosystem impairment. We use data from our biological monitoring efforts to document patterns in species composition across the State. By cataloging community assemblages we create baseline characterization of current conditions and with future monitoring will be able to detect changes to species composition, which is especially important in data poor, hard to reach, pristine environments.
