Thursday, June 11, 2009

Experimental Lakes Area

I am currently at the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA), probably one of the coolest biological station I have ever been to. It's situated somewhere in Western Ontario, 45 min on a gravel road away from the highway, 90 min to the next community Kenora. It's really picturesque, typical Canadian Shield landscape with lots and lots of lakes and tress. I have seen already deer, vultures, eagles and of course a lot of fish because yesterday I went with one of the fisheries technicians fishing with trap nets and we caught a lot of suckers, some lake trout, perch, sculpin, dace, shiner, and I don't know how many different minnow species. We also saw some tadpoles and crayfish.

Today I got the chemistry, biochemistry and meteorology tour. The database ELA researchers have created over a period of more than three decades is just amazing. The major studies that were conducted here at the station analyzed the effects of euthrophication, acid rain, toxic contaminants, heavy metals, particularly mercury, flooding and aquaculture on the the entire ecosystem. Pretty neat stuff !!!
Chopping wood for the fire
View of Lake 239 from ELA live webcam

Monday, June 1, 2009

First impressions from Winnipeg

The first weekend I spent in Winnipeg was full of sunshine. Furthermore, the Doors Open event took place allowing me too visit quite a few of the historic sites in Winnipeg.
The Golden Boy
The Manitoban Legislative Building
Downtown WinnipegStrike! Winnipeg shocks the Nation
The musical was played downtown in the frame of the "Open Doors" event.
Winnipeg's cable bridge - Here called Provencher Bridge.Hockey tournament - Obviously hockey season is not over once the snow melts.Winnipeg at 16°C - People seem to used to colder temperatures.La Cathédrale de Saint-Boniface

New job at Fisheries and Oceans Canada

I recently accepted a position as research scientist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Here my new address:

Fisheries and Oceans Canada - Central & Arctic Region
Freshwater Institute - Environmental Science
501 University Cresent, Winnipeg, MB, Canada R3T 2N6
Tel.: (204) 984-4653 Fax: (204) 984-2404
Email:
Eva.Enders@dfo-mpo.gc.ca