UM Bio Station Researchers Receive Fellowships to Investigate Climate Change

Two researchers from the University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station (FLBS) are the recipients of 2020-21 Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center Research Fellowships. Laurel Genzoli and Charles van Rees will each represent the University of Montana (UM) as Aquatic Resource Fellows as they conduct research that meets real-world climate adaptation needs.

Genzoli and van Rees are the second and third NW CASC Fellows selected from the Bio Station in the past two years. The first came in 2019, when FLBS postdoctoral scholar Rachel Malison was awarded a NW CASC Fellowship to examine the impact of rapid glacier and snowmelt loss on the meltwater and glacier stonefly species.

 “The fellowship allowed me to expand my research on stonefly physiology and adaptations to the alpine environment and new species,” said Malison of her experiences as a fellow. “It also provided valuable training in how to co-produce decision-relevant and actionable science and allowed me to make new connections by going to seminars and attending the NW Climate Conference.”

Currently a graduate student at UM, Genzoli will use the fellowship to explore how water stress and changing river flows associated with climate change are affecting rates of primary productivity in the Klamath River, where increased algae growth is degrading water quality.

FLBS postdoctoral research associate Charles van Rees will construct and utilize mathematical models to help predict where invasive rainbow trout, which threaten native Westlope cutthroat trout, will advance under future climate and landscape change.

The NW CASC Research Fellowship Program enables graduate students and post-doctoral candidates from a variety of scientific backgrounds the opportunity to develop decision-relevant science in collaboration with regional natural resource managers and decision-makers.

For more information about the fellowship program, visit the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center website at https://nwcasc.uw.edu