As clear as mud

On 12^th June, Professor Helen Bennion presented an inaugural lecture reviewing progress in the study of freshwater lake paleoecology since she first graduated from UCL Geography in the 1980s.

Lake paleoecology studies the interactions between lake organisms and their environments over time. Helen’s research has focused on lake sediment records as a means of understanding lake responses to such human-induced pressures as nutrient enrichment and climate change.

Through her work, she has also been dedicated to relating scientific findings to the practical conservation and management of aquatic systems, including the possible restoration of polluted lakes.

The lecture tracked developments in palaeoecology in the last 25 years, drawing on a range of examples from her work in the UCL Geography Environmental Change Research Centre, and showcasing the value of sediment records in informing lake management.

She also emphasized the need for a long-term perspective on ecosystem change, with a closer integration of ecology in palaeoecology, to improve understanding of ecological processes and mechanisms and strengthen the role played by palaeoecology in freshwater conservation.