Research summary
Headwater ecosystems are made up of small streams, wetlands, drains and the interfaces between surface and ground water. These areas connect land, water and people, but are often overlooked in freshwater management strategies. As Canada Research Chair in Freshwater Restoration Ecology, Dr. Catherine Febria is focussing on these critical environments and the roles they play in ecosystem health and services.
She and her research team are taking a molecules-to-ecosystems field and lab approach to investigating headwater ecosystems. They are synthesizing existing knowledge of these ecosystems and testing the restoration theory, where science, policy and practice meet. Ultimately, their research will inform a long-term vision for real-world experimentation that underpins whole-ecosystem recovery within a socio-ecological framework.