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I’m nearing the end of my PhD in the Jackson lab. Over the past number of years I’ve been looking at water quality in shallow prairie lakes. I was attracted to the lab because I wanted to study alternate clear and turbid (or murky) regimes in shallow lakes. I’ve since focussed my research on how salts in shallow lakes impact phytoplankton communities (and hence turbidity). I am especially interested in the impacts of salts on nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria and nitrogen limitation in these lakes.
I’ve used paleolimnological* techniques to look at regime changes in 8 lakes over time. I have also used water column sampling to look at present-day relationships between salinity and water quality in 20 shallow lakes near Strathmore, AB.
My research builds upon a varied background. I graduated with a BSc from Mount Allison University and then studied to fisheries management while I completed a master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Studies at Dalhousie. I worked in policy consulting for a number of years following my master’s degree before returning to school at the University of Calgary.
When I’m not doing school work, I love to play in the Rockies with my family and friends. I also enjoy running, playing team sports and reading thought-provoking novels and non-fiction. My primary passion these days is spending time with my family and marvelling at how quickly my 2-yr old son changes!
Thanks for reading,
Heather (Boyd) Maheux
*(paleo = dealing with fossils; limnological = study of lakes and rivers)
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