Description
This applied two-day course provides students with key skills and knowledge required to study and sample the physical, chemical and biological properties of lakes. Lake Management Techniques includes instructor-led presentations, as well as ample ‘hands on’ student application through discussions, breakout groups and exercises. Students will be introduced to lake stratification and mixing patterns, biogeochemical cycles (nutrients, contaminants, oxygen), sediment water dynamics, causes of summer and winterkill events, lake habitats and sampling techniques for water quality, zooplankton, algae and fish.
Outcomes
Upon successful completion, participants will be able to:
- Identify and describe mixing patterns in lakes
- Describe and understand the fundamentals of biogeochemical cycles
- Identify and describe lake habitats
- Identify and describe routine sampling techniques
- Describe, compare and contrast lakes and reservoirs
- Interpret common limnological data sets (e.g., vertical profiles)
- Apply knowledge of lake properties to scientific studies, environmental monitoring programs and habitat restoration projects
Pre-requisites
There are no pre-requisites for this course, although a background in biology would be beneficial.
Who attends this course?
Course participants typically include current fisheries field technicians and biologists, other environmental professionals, resource workers, individuals new to the industry and graduates of other natural resource-related programs requiring a refresher or additional knowledge of lake ecology and biogeochemistry.
Personal Equipment Requirements
Participants are required to bring/supply their own laptop, writing pad, pen/pencils and refreshments (lunch is not provided). For further information, please contact NRTG.
Instructor Profile
Jeff Sereda, PhD.
Senior Fisheries Ecologist, Adjunct Professor University of Saskatchewan
Jeff holds a PhD. in Limnology and an Aquaculture Technician Diploma. He served as manager of a commercial salmonid hatchery for 4 years, lectured at the University of Saskatchewan on topics of fish physiology, taxonomy, ecology, conservation, and aquaculture. Currently, Jeff is a Senior Habitat and Population Ecologist with the Saskatchewan Government and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Jeff’s research has encompassed topics such as assessing the risk of lakes to anthropogenic eutrophication, macrophyte management, fish habitat restoration and the impacts of water management on species at risk (Bigmouth Buffalo, Chestnut Lamprey, Mountain Sucker, and Lake Sturgeon). Jeff’s research has been presented at over 60 national and international conferences and resulted in 15 peer reviewed publications.