Aquatic biologists study freshwater life in both the laboratory and the field. They may focus on resource management or pure research, and work in government, nonprofit, private, or educational sectors. They take samples, use scientific equipment, and perform laboratory work to monitor and explore ecosystems.
An aquatic biologist studies freshwater life in rivers, lakes, swamps, and similar bodies of inland water. This work in the environmental sciences can take place either in the laboratory or in the field, depending on the employer and the nature of the projects a biologist works on. A college degree is required, and many facilities prefer candidates with a graduate degree in aquatic biology. Careers in this field are open in government, not-for-profit, private, and educational sectors.
One aspect of an aquatic biologist’s job may involve resource management. Some scientists focus on maintaining waterways for sports, transportation, and environmental health. They regularly inspect the sites they oversee, take water samples for sampling, and assess conditions to determine if any changes need to be made. Your responsibilities can range from environmental cleanup to removing pollutants and planting to restoring native species in wetlands.
Other aquatic biologist careers involve pure research. They can study plant and animal life in a variety of environments to learn more about interconnected ecosystems. Some may study the impacts of human activity on aquatic environments. Others may work on topics such as habitat rehabilitation and restoration, protecting endangered species and identifying different types of ecosystems.
In the field, aquatic biologists can take samples of water, plants and animals. Many take pictures, and some use scientific equipment to take measurements and record data about the environments they study. Some may have permanent installations of equipment to monitor the passage of wildlife, continuously sample rainfall, air pressure and other characteristics. This helps track the progress of experiments and observations. Laboratory work can be wet and dirty, as biologists often must perform their duties despite adverse weather conditions.
Laboratory environments allow an aquatic biologist to work with microscopes, gas chromatographs and other equipment to take measurements and explore samples. This requires an understanding of the systems and protocols used in a laboratory. They can use the information they collect to track populations, monitor changes in the ecosystem, and establish baseline measurements. These measurements can be useful for activities such as monitoring the impact of a habitat restoration program.
Government representatives can work on topics such as conservation, balancing competing needs for natural resources, and protecting the national heritage. Nonprofit agency employees tend to work for environmental groups interested in freshwater habitats. In private companies, an aquatic biologist can work on topics ranging from algae control in golf course ponds to more effective control of freshwater pollution.
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