Pedro Antunes, Algoma University biology professor and Canada Research Chair, has recently had his Tier 2 Chairship renewed for five years to support his research in invasive species biology.
Tier 2 chairs are emerging researchers recognized for their potential as leaders in their fields.
Exotic invasive species pose a major environmental threat with serious ramifications to the economy and society. Of concern is their long-term consequences to soil and plant health.
Canada’s federal government, along with governments around the world, have called for more research to better understand and predict the risk and impacts of invasive species.
It was announced by Algoma University Monday that Antunes, in collaboration with Canada Research Chair Isabel Molina, received $65,000 from the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund (JELF) to continue their research.
The goal of the research performed by Antunes is to understand the damaging potential of exotic invasive species to alter soil biotic diversity.
Antunes and his team will examine how the soil which exists in the natural and assembled forest and grassland communities can modify or control exotic plant invasions. The research will also include examining how multiple climate change factors, such as temperature, precipitation and CO2 affect exotic invasive plant interactions with the soil.
The answers the Antunes team will provide are expected to improve the scientific community’s ability to predict the risks and consequences of plant invasions, leading to improved management techniques aimed at preserving Canada’s natural ecosystems.
“Algoma University is extremely proud of the cutting-edge research that Dr. Antunes and his team are conducting. Their work will provide essential insights into some of the effects of climate change, related to invasive species and soil diversity,” stated Donna Rogers, Algoma University academic and research vice-president.
“I’m extremely grateful to Algoma University for continuing to support my research program and to the Canada Research Chairs Program and the Canada Foundation for Innovation for the funding provided for the research and additional infrastructure,” Antunes stated in a release.
“This funding will ensure that we can continue to study the impacts of human-induced disturbances such as invasive species and climate change on important ecological processes, and help to train the next generation of scientists.”
Antunes will present his research to the Algoma University Board of Governors at its meeting later this month.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Canada Research Chairs Program gives up to $295 million per year to attract, support and retain some of the world’s most outstanding scholars and scientists