aquatic biota:A major focus of our research is the role that biota could play in enhancing water quality both directly, through nutrient uptake and indirectly, by enhancing mixing due to their physical structure.
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Examples of our research that investigate the role of aquatic biota include rigid emergent vegetation canopies and freshwater mussels beds. Using controlled flume experiments and field observations, we are quantifying spatial gradients in nutrients, organic carbon, turbulence and associated microbial process rates at a vegetated canopy boundary. The findings from this research will answer key questions regarding the role of aquatic vegetation in streams, lakes wetlands and rivers for regulating contaminant removal and could lead to new paradigms in management.