What we do

The UW-La Crosse Freshwater Ecology Lab (aka the Vander Vorste Lab) studies relationships between freshwater organisms and their environment. We are particularly interested in understanding and quantifying the effects of disturbances (natural and human-induced) on biological communities and freshwater ecosystems. Much of our research focuses on the Upper Mississippi River. The lab also uses a laboratory mesocosm system capable of manipulating specific environmental variables for testing important ecological questions.

UWL logo