FISK LAB

Harmful algal blooms (HABs), resulting from lake eutrophication - pose a significant threat to our freshwater systems. Acoustic, real-time water quality sensors may offer significant benefits to the monitoring and prediction modelling of nutrient concentrations in aquatic systems; yet established evidence for the efficacy of such sensors in freshwater environments is absent.

Working in the western basin of Lake Erie, my MSc research focuses on developing a set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the use of 'off the shelf' acoustic real-time InnovaSea sensors by 1) quantifying sensor detection range and variability; 2) establishing precision and accuracy through comparison of other in situ instruments, handheld instruments and water collections; 3) assessing the impacts of temporal drift (if any) and biofouling on sensor performance. Vertical distribution and isotopic composition of biofouling will be further assessed to investigate possible mitigation efforts and optimized use of the instruments.