Marguerite A. Xenopoulos

Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Global Change of Aquatic Ecosystems

• B.Sc. (Université du Québec à Montréal)
• M.Sc. (Université du Québec à Montréal)
• Ph.D. (University of Alberta)

Office: LHS D238

Lab: LHS D233,D234,D239

Phone: 705-748-1011 ext. 7699

Lab phone: ESC A146 ext.7675; ESC A143 ext. 7676

Email: mxenopoulos@trentu.ca

Research interests

• Stream and Lake Ecology
• Global change
• Biogeochemistry

My research examines how human activities (e.g., climate change, eutrophication, land use) affect ecosystem structure and function in lakes and rivers. I’m also interested in how land use affects the material (e.g., dissolved organic carbon, nutrients) exported and processed in aquatic ecosystems.

Teaching

BIOL-ERSC 2260H: Introductory Ecology
BIOL 3050H: Limnology
BIOL-ERSC 4330H: Global Change of Aquatic Ecosystems

Selected publications  

Xenopoulos, M.A., R.T. Barnes, K.S. Boodoo, D. Butman, N. Catalán, S.C. D’Amario, C. Fasching, D.N. Kothawala, O. Pisani, C.T. Solomon, R.G.M Spencer, C.J. Williams and H.F. Wilson. 2021. How humans alter dissolved organic matter composition in freshwaters: relevance for Earth’s biogeochemistry. Biogeochemistry 10.1007/s10533-021-00753-3

Fasching, C., C. Akotoye, M. Bižić-Ionescu, J. Fonvielle, D. Ionescu, S. Mathavarajah, L. Zoccarato, D.A. Walsh, H.-P. Grossart and M.A. Xenopoulos. 2020. Linking stream microbial community functional genes to dissolved organic matter and inorganic nutrients. Limnology and Oceanography 65: S71-S87.

Fasching, C., H.F. Wilson, S.C. D’Amario and M.A. Xenopoulos. 2019. Natural land cover in agricultural catchments alters flood effects on DOM composition and decreases nutrient levels in streams. Ecosystems 22: 1530-1545.

Talbot, C.J., E. Bennett, K. Cassel, D. Hanes, E.C. Minor, H. Paerl, P.A. Raymond, R. Vargas, P.G. Vidon, W. Wollheim, and M.A. Xenopoulos. 2018. The impact of flooding on aquatic ecosystem services. Biogeochemistry 141: 439-461.

Xenopoulos, M.A., J.A. Downing, M.D. Kumar, S. Menden-Deuer and M. Voss. 2017. Headwaters to oceans: ecological contrasts across the aquatic continuum. Limnology and Oceanography 62: S3-S14.

Williams, C.J., P.C. Frost, A.M. Morales-Williams, J.H. Larson, W.B. Richardson, A.S. Chiandet and M.A. Xenopoulos. 2016. Human activities cause distinct dissolved organic matter composition across freshwater ecosystems. Global Change Biology 22: 613-626.

Butman, D.E., H.F. Wilson, R.T. Barnes, M.A. Xenopoulos and P.A. Raymond. 2015. Increased mobilization of aged carbon to rivers by human disturbance. Nature Geoscience 8: 112-116.

Information for prospective students

My research is interdisciplinary and I expect students in my lab to master a range of numerical techniques and analytical chemistry skills (or be willing to learn them). Generally, students in my lab are encouraged to develop independent scientific research and be highly motivated. If you select a field of study that you are not really interested in, the temptation to drop out when things become difficult will be high. I welcome any inquiries from students with backgrounds in ecology, environmental sciences, environmental chemistry or geography.  Students are encouraged to employ field, laboratory and theoretical approaches to their work.