As part of Carleton University’s Science Café series, Biology PhD student Jordanna Bergman will present the lecture Integrating Ecological Connectivity into Management Strategies.
When: Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Sunnyside Branch of the Ottawa Public Library, 1049 Bank Street, Ottawa
Info: This event is free and open to the public.
Media are invited to attend the event.
As global freshwater biodiversity declines at an unprecedented rate, fish are the most threatened vertebrate group on Earth after amphibians. Ensuring connectivity in aquatic systems may stem biodiversity losses by enhancing migratory fish populations, supporting genetic diversity, and providing access to ideal habitats. However, managing the connectivity of man-made barriers, such as locks or dams, to selectively allow and restrict passage of native and invasive species is a major challenge.
The Rideau Canal waterway embodies this challenge, as it forms a continuous route between Lake Ontario and the Ottawa River. When this waterway was constructed, previously disconnected aquatic habitats connected and enabled movement of both invasive and native species.
Invasive species pose one of the greatest threats to the integrity of freshwater ecosystems and their impact could have adverse socio-economic effects on human welfare. To avoid this scenario, it is vital to consider how infrastructure and operations could be refined to reduce their spread.
In this lecture, Bergman will discuss her research into assessing if, when and to what extent native and invasive fish move throughout the waterway and the potential factors driving movements – exploring whether the selective fragmentation of the Rideau Canal can optimize conservation decisions without compromising connectivity to native species.
About Science Café
The Science Café series is organized by the Faculty of Science at Carleton to discuss relevant issues facing our society and how science can help solve real-world problems. Meet some of Carleton’s award-winning faculty members and graduate students as they share their excitement about science with the community. For more information, visit: Science.carleton.ca/science-cafe.
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Wednesday, January 22, 2020 in Media Advisories
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