Sydney Huculak

MSc student
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta

BSc Concordia University of Edmonton

Email: srhucula@ualberta.ca

Throughout my BSc, I gained valuable experience in many different aspects of aquatic ecology. My interest in this field of research was sparked by attending a field school in my undergraduate degree where I spent time in five different ecoregions in Alberta studying the relationship between nutrients and benthic macroinvertebrate richness in lakes and wetlands. I then went on to pursue my undergraduate thesis where I used mesocosms to explore the impact of an extreme climate change scenario on macrophyte biomass. I am now studying nutrient limitation in 30 agricultural streams in the Grassland, Parkland, and Boreal ecoregions of Alberta using in-situ nutrient diffusing substrate experiments. Determining the drivers of eutrophication of these streams is vital in preserving the health of Alberta’s aquatic ecosystems. Outside of science, I like to spend my time camping, exploring British Columbia, canoeing, traveling to see live music, and drinking coffee.