Molecular Science

Aquatic Systems

Our faculty and students study a variety of different types of aquatic ecosystems, from lakes and rivers, to municipal and industrial waste streams. These systems are studied across several integrated levels of organization, from the molecular to the whole ecosystem. Research within our program includes use of molecular and imagining techniques to better understand microbial physiology and community structure in wastewater, biofilms, aggregates, and sediments. Directions in research include architecture and organization of biofilms with an aim to control biofilm formation, and detection of pathogens in water and complex environmental samples. Research in our program also includes ecotoxicology. Many contaminants can cause sub-lethal impacts, which alter the physiology, reproductive fitness, and behavior of aquatic organisms. Investigators are using a holistic, multi-organism-based approach to determine impacts of contaminants on aquatic systems. A goal of this research is to develop a biologically-based detection system for contaminants in water with application to monitoring safety of drinking water or effluent. A further area of research is ecosystem function, and understanding the physical, chemical, and biological drivers of biogeochemical processes in ecosystems. Investigators are interested in how chemical stressors such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products impact carbon and nitrogen cycling processes. Investigators are also interested in what properties of ecosystems affect how they process and sequester phosphorus and nitrogen.

Courtesy of Dr. A. Laursen

Courtesy of Dr. A. Laursen

Courtesy of Dr. M. Hausner

Courtesy of Dr. M Hausner

Faculty

Name	Topics
Vadim Bostan vbostan@ryerson.ca My Website	Environmental biology, aquatic ecotoxicology and geochemistry
Kim Gilbride gilbride@ryerson.ca My Website	Microbial ecology, pathogen
Martina Hausner martina.hausner@ryerson.ca My Website	Biofilm formation, composition and function
Andrew Laursen alaursen@ryerson.ca My Website	Ecosystem ecology, biogeochemisty, limnology
Julia Lu julialu@ryerson.ca My Website	Environmental studies, chemical pollutants, metal speciation in environmental samples, and pollutants in the Arctic
Lynda McCarthy l3mccart@ryerson.ca My Website	Environmental biology and environmental biotechnology, aquatic ecotoxicology, assessment of pollution and remediation
Gideon Wolfaardt gwolfaar@ryerson.ca My Website	Biofilm ecology, remediation