The Knoll lab explores lake dynamics and aquatic-watershed connections. Our research uses a variety of long-term data sets, field and lab experiments, large-scale lakes studies, and automated sensors to answer questions of community and ecosystem ecology. Current research focuses on Acton Lake in southwestern Ohio, a hypereutrophic reservoir, and lower productivity lakes in the Pocono Mountains region of the northeastern United States. The research on both of these lake systems contributes to multi-decadal data sets as a part of NSF-sponsored LTREB projects.
Current research themes include:
1) variable winter and spring conditions (e.g., ice cover, rainfall) and phytoplankton community dynamics and ecosystem-level processes
2) consequences of long-term browning on lake ecosystems
3) effects of resource subsidies on freshwater ecosystems
4) combined stressors of fish oxythermal habitat
Field Sites
Acton Lake
Acton Lake research includes long term collection sites both within the lake and inflowing streams. Limnological data on Acton Lake have been collected since 1992, and continues as a part of an NSF-sponsored LTREB grant.
Ecology Research Center
Miami University’s Ecology Research Center is located a short distance from campus and offers opportunities for aquatic research using experimental ponds and mesocosms.
Pocono Lakes
As part of a collaborative NSF-sponsored LTREB project, our lab is working on a 35+ year data set on lakes in the Pocono Lakes region of northeastern Pennsylvania.