Careers in Fresh-Water Ecology
Fresh-water ecology seeks to understand the relationship between organisms and their environment, and how changes in one part of the system will affect other parts of the system. Many kinds of scientific and communication skills are necessary to understand successfully the ecology of freshwater ecosystems ; therefore, career opportunities are numerous.
Broad Scientific Disciplines
Traditionally, many fields of biological expertise, such as fisheries biologists, entomologists , and botanists, are required to examine aquatic and terrestrial communities of living organisms associated with lakes, streams, and wetlands . Physical scientists, such as hydrologists, meteorologists, chemists,
Links to Decision-Making
All the professions mentioned above may be pursued in government agencies, with private consultants, or with research institutions such as universities. Many aquatic scientists are researchers and also educators, managers, or consultants to decisionmakers.
Experts trained in both science and relevant policies are important for conserving and restoring fresh-water systems. These might be people with backgrounds in economics, law, geography, or sociology. They help scientists convey information to the public and to lawmakers. As communities become more involved in activities such as restoring populations of threatened species, maintaining vital natural resources, and conducting comprehensive land-use planning, there will be a steady need for fresh-water scientists with good communication and negotiation skills.
SEE ALSO E COLOGY , F RESH -W ATER ; F ISHERIES , F RESH -W ATER ; F OREST H YDROLOGY ; G EOSPATIAL T ECHNOLOGIES ; L AKE H EALTH , A SSESSING ; L AKES : B IOLOGICAL P ROCESSES ; S TREAM H EALTH , A SSESSING ; W ETLANDS .
Jeffries, Michael, and Derek Henry Mills. Freshwater Ecology: Principles and Applications. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1995.