Freshwater Ecology Laboratory

Laura Birsa

Overview

The Freshwater Ecology Lab at PEREC focuses on plankton, submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), and water quality in the tidal Potomac River. We are heavily focused on field work and lead the Long Term Studies of Gunston Cove and Hunting Creek. Other interests are the ecology of lakes and small ponds and harmful algal blooms.

PI of the Lab

Dr. R. Christian Jones. Tenured Full Professor. Environmental Science and Policy. Director, Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center. George Mason University. B.A. Rice University (Biology), M.A. Vanderbilt University (General Biology), Ph.D. University of Wisconsin-Madison (Botany with minor in Limnology and Oceanography)

Dr. Chris Jones

Research Topics

  • Water quality of the Tidal Potomac River with emphasis on long term trends
  • Ecology of lakes and ponds in Northern Virginia
  • Protists (algae and protozoa)
  • Zooplankton (rotifers, cladocerans, copepods)
  • Harmful algal blooms
  • Invasive aquatic plants

Facilities

  • AQ2- automated nutrient analyzer
  • ExoSondes – In situ water quality monitors
  • Trilogy Fluorometer
  • LI-Cor underwater and surface light meters
  • Inverted Microscope for phytoplankton counting
  • Ability to conduct C-14 photosynthesis measurements

Publications

   DeMutsert, K., A. Sills, C.J.C. Schlick, and R.C. Jones. 2017. Successes of restoration and its effects on the fish community in a freshwater tidal embayment of the Potomac River, USA. Water 9(6): 421. doi: 10.3390/w9060421.

   Graziano, A.P. and R.C. Jones. 2017. Diel and seasonal patterns in continuously monitored water quality at fixed sites in two adjacent embayments of the tidal freshwater Potomac River. Water 9 (8): 624. Open access. https://doi.org/10.3390/w9080624. Published on line: August 21, 2017.

   Jones, R.C. 2020. “Recovery of a Tidal Freshwater Embayment from Eutrophication: a Multidecadal Study”. Estuaries and Coasts 43: 1318-1334.

   Hall, N.C., M. Sikaroodi, D. Hogan, R.C. Jones, and P.M. Gillevet. 2022. The presence of denitrifiers in bacterial communities of urban stormwater best management practices (BMP’s). Environmental Management 69: 89-110.

   An Ecological Study of Hunting Creek – 2021. Final Report. February 2022. 188 pp. Co-authored with T.R. Nelson, A. Fowler, and B. Van Aken.

   An Ecological Study of Gunston Cove: 2021. Final Report. April 2022. Co-authored with T.R. Nelson, and A. Fowler. 179 pp.

Conference Presentations

Moskey, K. and R.C. Jones. 2014. “Mixing Regimes and Nutrient Profiles in Two Suburban Lakes”. Atlantic Estuarine Research Society. Spring 2014. Ocean City, MD.


Jones, R.C. and A. Fowler. 2018. “Benthic Macroinvertebrate Communities in the Tidal Freshwater Potomac River: Synthesis of Data and Index of Biotic Integrity Initiative”.Atlantic Estuarine Research Society, Spring 2018 Meeting. Poster presentation. R.C. Jones and A. Fowler. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. April 6-7, 2018.


Mohney, S., S. Glaberman, and R.C. Jones. 2022. “Toxic Benthic Cyanobacteria as an Emerging Ecological and Public Health Threat in Virginia”. Society for Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Fall 2022 Meeting Poster Presentation.


Jones, R.C., A. Fowler, T.R. Nelson, B. Van Aken, S. Lavey, and A. Tekle. 2023. Ecosystem Change Following Disappearance of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation from a Shallow Embayment of the Tidal Potomac River. Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Ecological Society of America. Spring 2023 Meeting. Platform Presentation.

Lab Employee

Laura Birsa. Research Faculty and Jones Lab Manager. M.S. in Marine Sciences, Savannah State University. Field Crew Leader, Zooplankton Analyst, AQ2 and Trilogy Technician.

Graduate Students

Recent M.S. Graduates
Jackie Davis. 2021. Water Quality in a Suburban Stormwater Pond: A Continuous Monitoring Study. Thesis


Courtney Bridges. 2021. Project Student. Analyzing the Efficacy of an Alternative [Macroinvertebrate] Sampling Method for High Gradient Streams in the Northern Virgina Region Following Rain Events. Project.


Samantha Mohney. 2022. Benthic cyanobacteria production and abundance in the tidal Occoquan River. Thesis. Also awarded Becker Fellowship.

Recent Ph.D. Graduates
Natalie Hall, Spring 2020. The presence of denitrifiers in bacterial communities of urban stormwater best management practices (BMPs). Dissertation.


Suzee Poudel. Summer 2021. Phenology and water quality impacts of an invasive water chestnum (Trapa bispinosa Roxb. Var Iinumai Nakano) in Northern Virginia, USA and evaluation of early detection/rapid response (EDRR) practices in its control. Dissertation.


Kristyn DeMarco. Fall 2021. Quantifying mixing at various temporal scales and its effect on phytoplankton development in a small suburban reservoir. Dissertation.

History of the Lab

Dr. R. Chris Jones earned the Ph.D. from University of Wisconsin-Madison in Botany (Limnology and Oceanography minor). He was the founding Chair of the Department of Environmental Science and Policy and the Founder and current Director of the Potomac Environmental Research and Education Center (PEREC). He is a freshwater ecologist whose research foci include tidal freshwater ecosystems (emphasizing plankton, periphyton, and macrophytes), stream ecology (emphasizing benthic macroinvertebrates), and watershed management. Jones has published in Ecology, Estuaries, Aquatic Botany, Hydrobiologia, and Journal of Phycology among others. At Mason since 1980, Dr. Jones teaches courses in waterscape ecology, freshwater ecology, and multivariate analysis. His current research projects include:

  • Ecological Study of Gunston Cove (continuous since 1984)
  • Ecological Study of Hunting Creek (continuous since 2013)
  • Fairfax City Nonpoint Source Water Quality Monitoring (continuous since 2009)
  • Benthic Algae and Harmful Algal Blooms in the Shenandoah River (starting Summer 2023)