written by Lyubov Burlakova
Our student Lara Hargrave graduated this May from Great Lakes Environmental Science M.A. Program. Lara began as a student in the summer of 2020. For her thesis project, Lara was studying the influence of invasive Dreissena mussels on water quality parameters and deep chlorophyll maxima using data previously collected on US EPA water quality surveys throughout the Great Lakes. Lara’s research has shown that several physiochemical parameters, such as water transparency and turbidity, are different between sites with and without Dreissena, and documented changes over time in the deep chlorophyll layers in several
of the Great Lakes, potentially linked to Dreissena. Lara’s research will improve our understanding of how Dreissena shape water chemistry and primary production. With Lara’s background in chemistry from University at Buffalo, it was a steep learning curve to work, to study, and simultaneously to do research in a completely new field of ecology and limnology. She had to master working in R, read a lot of literature, learn scientific writing and language of another field on the way, but she did it with lots of patience and learned quickly. Lara presented her thesis research at multiple Buffalo State student conferences and at the International Association of Great Lakes Research Conference. In spring 2023, she made an excellent and passionate presentation about her educator job in WNY parks at our graduate seminar. Lara will soon start a new job as an environmental educator in Hamlin Beach and Lakeside State Parks. Great job and congratulations, Lara!
