Prof. Laurence Carvalho

Keywords: freshwater ecology, lakes, eutrophication, climate change, phytoplankton, cyanobacteria, harmful algal blooms, WFD, Water Framework Directive, citizen science, natural capital, ecosystem services, connectivity

 ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9768-9902

I have worked on freshwaters from around the world for over 25 years and have published over 75 ISI papers (Scopus h-index: 32, 3984 citations) and >75 reports on a range of issues related to water quality, algal blooms and the monitoring and management of water resources. I have particular expertise in biological responses to environmental change in lakes and reservoirs, particularly phytoplankton and harmful algal blooms of cyanobacteria. I was responsible for delivering legally-adopted UK and European water quality targets and phytoplankton assessment schemes for the European Water Framework Directive. I carry out my research, often collaboratively, analysing UK, European or global-scale datasets and combine these broad-scale studies with experiments in mesocosms and detailed time-series studies from CEH’s long-term lake monitoring programmes, particularly at Loch Leven, Scotland.

I led development of the UK Lakes Portal and the Bloomin’Algae citizen science app. I serve on UK (e.g. Scottish Health Protection Network) and overseas (e.g. GEO AquaWatch) working groups on the monitoring and management of water quality and water policy development.

I am a visiting professor at the University of Stirling 

Current or recently completed projects include:

• UKRI UK Climate resilience - developing a cyanobacterial bloom monitoring and forecasting service
• NERC GloboLakes - a global analysis of harmful algal blooms
• NERC Hydroscape - assessing the importance of connectivity in freshwater ecosystems
• NERC SUNRISE - Enhancing freshwaters in India in collaboration with NIH Roorkee, IIT Roorkee and ATREE Bangalore
• Scottish Government RESAS Strategic Research Programme in collaboration with the James Hutton Instiute
• Bloomin'Algae - a Citizen Science Project and smartphone app for rapid warning and management of harmful algal blooms
• UK Lakes Portal - a gateway to information on over 40,000 lakes, reservoirs and ponds
• EU MARS - managing impacts of multiple stressors on freshwaters
• EU OpenNESS - a case-study of ecosystem services at Loch Leven