Welcome to the Tank lab at the University of Alberta. Our research is broadly focused on understanding the current and future functioning of aquatic ecosystems. Our work has a particular focus on connections between ecology, biogeochemistry, and processes occurring across the land-freshwater-ocean continuum. We think about climate change, permafrost, carbon cycling, and nutrient dynamics, and how these processes act and interact in freshwater systems from the Canadian Arctic to the Pacific Coast.
Although our research is field focused, much of what we do also has a strong analytical component. Students in the lab master a variety of skills, including an array of laboratory, statistical, and experimental techniques. Our work is inherently multi-disciplinary, and we collaborate with other scientists from across Canada and internationally. Please click on the link to the right to enter our lab website.
An introduction to biogeochemical cycles in the environment. Discusses processes and reactions governing cycles in the atmosphere, lithosphere, terrestrial ecosystems, freshwater wetlands and lakes, river estuaries, and the oceans. Outlines the global cycles of water, carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. Group discussions will incorporate current topics in anthropogenic alterations of natural cycles that lead to ecosystem degradation. Prerequisites: CHEM 101 or SCI 100 and BIOL 208; MICRB 265 strongly recommended.
An introduction to the ecology of freshwater ecosystems. Lectures will examine the roles of biota in ecological patterns and processes in lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams, emphasizing north-temperate and boreal regions. Seminars will focus on recent papers from the primary literature. Designed to stand-alone or to provide a biological complement to BIOL 464. Prerequisite: BIOL 208.
Covers specialized topics of current interest to graduate students in Biological Sciences. Consult the Department for details about current offerings. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. Credit for this course may be obtained more than once.