Zhiqiang (Dylan) Xia, PhD

I hold a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Science, MSc. and BSc. degrees in Microbiology and Biotechnology, respectively. I have a broad interest in how multiple factors that may influence the health of aquatic, mainly freshwater ecosystems. I am currently a postdoctoral fellow at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER), University of Windsor. My present studies focus on multiple environmental factors regulating the clearance rates of the invasive quagga mussels and their impacts on nutrient cycling in the Laurentian Great Lakes. I began my studies on aquatic ecosystems in 2012 when I investigated the relationship between phytoplankton communities and eutrophication levels in the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. As a PhD student, I studied the invasion risks of the golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) in an ambitious water diversion project, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, China where I focused on early detection of the species using eDNA-based methods. I also studied the potential ecological impacts of L. fortunei. These studies can enhance our understanding of how freshwater ecosystems respond to the changing environment and ultimately, protect aquatic ecosystem health and services and guard water supply.