Welcome to the Coastal and Environmental and Microbiological Processes Lab

Collecting water samples on Lake Taihu, China

 

Bloom in a beaker, Lake Taihu, China

The University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill’s Institute of Marine Sciences

 The Paerl lab, known as the Coastal Environmental and Microbiological Processes Lab, consists of graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and technicians working on a variety of research projects addressing nutrient production dynamics of aquatic microbes at the base of the estuarine and coastal food webs.

 

THE GOALS OF THE PAERL LAB ARE TO:

1. study the nutrient production dynamics of aquatic microbes at the base of the estuarine and coastal food webs

2. focus on environmental controls of algal (planktonic and benthic) production & community structure

3. assessing the causes and consequences of human-induced eutrophication of rivers, lakes, estuaries and coastal oceans

 


 

Dr. Paerl spoke with Spectrum News about how major storm events are not only becoming more frequent, but precipitation is also increasing. Lasting impacts are observed in waterways as they receive nutrients washed away from the land causing increased and fast algal growth.

 

Dr. Paerl suggests to “make sure your septic system is working really well. Not over fertilizing your lawns, especially not ahead of a major storm event” to prevent excessive nutrient run-off and algal growth in waters we drink, play in, and enjoy.