Ph.D.
Associate Professor
School of Natural Resources
Research at a glance
Area(s) of Expertise
Research Summary
I am a limnologist, focusing on aquatic ecology and biogeochemistry, with expertise on nutrient and phytoplankton dynamics in water bodies. My research is focused on why lakes turn green.
Research in the North group is focused on addressing the question: What controls algal biomass of inland waters? North’s team focuses on the effects of multiple stressors on nutrient cycling, bioavailability, and primary production in Missouri water bodies with particular attention to the source and timing of nutrient loading and the response of the receiving water body. Ecosystem stressors include, but are not limited to: climate change, landscape modification (i.e., agricultural, urban, and industrial applications), eutrophication, and invasive species (i.e., zebra mussels). North’s research is conceptually driven and applies field, lab, and quantitative approaches to studying issues in watershed and lake management on a year-round basis.
Educational background
- Ph.D., University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2008
Courses taught
- Lake Ecology
- Advanced Limnology
- Water Quality and Natural Resource Management
- A Series of Unfortunate Events in Global Water Issues
- Methods in Lake Ecology