McGowan group

The McGowan group investigates aquatic ecology using a range of approaches and across different timescales. Experiments, limnological surveys, long-term monitoring and sediment core analyses are combined for deeper understanding of lake systems and aquatic environments.  We commonly use spatio-temporal comparisons of ecosystems across lake districts (e.g. the English Lake District, the Kangerlussuaq region of West Greenland, floodplain basins of the mid-Yangtze and crater lakes in the Philippines) to elucidate the causes and consequences of changes in lake ecology. We are interested in how the pressures on water bodies exerted by humans and climatic pressures interact and change aquatic ecosystem structure and function to inform understanding and anticipate future conditions in surface waters in a changing world. Through work with stakeholder groups we strive to find solutions that can lead to ecologically sustainable aquatic ecosystems.