Dr. L. Gordon Goldsborough

Dr. L. Gordon Goldsborough

Associate Professor, Department of Biological Sciences
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, R3T 2N2
Office: Room 538, Machray Hall (temporary)
Lab: Room 109B, Allen Building (temporary)
E-mail: ggoldsb@cc.umanitoba.ca
Telephone: (204) 474-7469
Fax: (204) 474-7588

Open Letter to the People and Government of Manitoba:
Manitoba’s Lakes Need Our Help - Protecting Wetlands and Shorelines is Essential for Maintaining Healthy Lakes (PDF)

I am a water quality specialist concerned with the impacts of humans on lakes and wetlands.

Born and raised in Winnipeg, I wrote my doctoral dissertation on the effects of agricultural herbicides on the productivity and community structure of benthic algae in Delta Marsh. I then worked as a research scientist for the Manitoba Department of Environment (now Manitoba Water Stewardship), conducting an environmental assessment of the forestry use of herbicides on the ecology of boreal forest ponds. From 1986 to 1989, I was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Department of Botany (now Department of Biological Sciences) at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. I then accepted a faculty position in the Department of Botany (now Department of Biology) at Brandon University, where I stayed until 1996 when I was hired as the first faculty member affiliated with the Environmental Sciences Program at the University of Manitoba. I also held an appointment in the Department of Botany (now the Department of Biological Sciences), and I served as the Director of the Delta Marsh Field Station from 1996 to 2010.

I am also involved in the Manitoba heritage community, being the Webmaster, Secretary, and a Past-President of the Manitoba Historical Society and an Editor of Manitoba History journal. See information on my historical interests here.

RESEARCH INTERESTS

Ecosystem structure and function in freshwater wetlands, with emphasis on coastal marshes
Environmental history of prairie Canada
Ecology, ecophysiology and ecotoxicology of benthic algae, phytoplankton, and aquatic macrophytes
Aquatic paleoecology via stratigraphic analysis of diatom microfossils and plant pigments in sediment cores
Environmental chemistry of pesticides and plant nutrients

PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Chair, Lake Manitoba Stewardship Board
Member, Manitoba Water Council
Canadian Representative, International Red River Board (International Joint Commission)
Member, Lake Winnipeg Research Consortium

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Webmaster, International Society of Limnology
Past-President (Canadian Chapter), Society of Wetland Scientists

PUBLICATIONS

Bortoluzzi, T. L., L. G. Goldsborough and R. L. McDougal. 2011. Inorganic nitrogen limits periphyton growth in three large prairie wetlands of south-central Canada. Hydrobiologia (in prep).

Parks, C. R., D. A. Wrubleski and L. G. Goldsborough. 2011. Effects of pond connectivity on the small fish community of a large coastal wetland in south-central Manitoba. Wetlands (in prep).

Watchorn, K. E., L. G. Goldsborough, D. A. Wrubleski, and B. G. Mooney. 2011. A hydrogeomorphic inventory of coastal wetlands of the Manitoba Great Lakes: Lakes Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Winnipegosis. Journal of Great Lakes Research, in press.

Badiou, P., L. G. Goldsborough, and D. Wrubleski. 2011. Impacts of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) on freshwater ecosystems: a review. Chapter 4 in Carp: Habitat, Management and Diseases, edited by J. D. Sanders and S. B. Peterson, Nova Science Publishers, ISBN 978-1-61324-525-5.

Ackerman, J., N. Cicek, and L. G. Goldsborough. 2011. Comparing point source reduction to wetland restoration for reducing tp loading to Lake Winnipeg from the Red River Basin. Journal of Great Lakes Research, submitted.

Badiou, P. H. and L. G. Goldsborough 2010. Ecological impacts of an exotic benthivorous fish in large experimental wetlands. Wetlands 30(4):657-667.
Hille, K. A., M. A. Turner, R. R. Hesslein, D. L. Findlay, and L. G. Goldsborough. 2010. Does aquaculture impact benthic algal ecology? Exploring the potential for effects of an experimental aquaculture operation on benthic algal biofilms. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences (in prep).
Hille, K. A., B. G. Kotak, M. A. Turner, D. L. Findlay, and L. G. Goldsborough. 2010. What lies beneath? High cyanotoxin concentrations in the benthic algae of boreal oligotrophic lakes. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, submitted (September 2009).

Ross, L. C. M., D. A. Lobb, D. J. Pennock, L. G. Goldsborough and L. A. Armstrong. 2009. The vegetation of prairie wetlands in native and agricultural landscapes: implications for wetland health and restoration. Biodiversity, in press (July 2009).

Goldsborough, L. G. 2008. Manitoba's war on wildlife. Manitoba History 59:40-46.

Goldsborough, L. G. 2008. With One Voice: A History of Municipal Governance in Manitoba. Association of Manitoba Municipalities, 176 pages.

Goldsborough, L. G., R. Gourluck, R. McInnes, G. Bugailiskis, and R. Rostecki. 2007. Greetings from Winnipeg: Views of a changing city. Manitoba History 55:30-39.

Goldsborough, L. G. 2007. Victorian virtual reality. Manitoba History 54:30-38.

Badiou, P. H. J. and L. G. Goldsborough. 2006. Northern range extension and invasion by the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) of the Churchill River system in Manitoba, Canada. Canadian Field-Naturalist 120(1):83-86.

Goldsborough, L. G. 2006. Greening the treeless plain. Manitoba History 53:27-28.

Goldsborough, L. G., R. L. McDougal and A. K. North. 2005. Periphyton in freshwater lakes and wetlands, Chapter 5, pages 71 to 89 in Periphyton: Ecology, Exploitation and Management. Azim, M. E. et al. (editors), CABI Publishing, UK.

Weidman, P., M. A. Turner and L. G. Goldsborough. 2005. Limitations on the effects of ultraviolet radiation on benthic algae in a clear boreal forest lake. Journal of the North American Benthological Society 24:820-831.

Grosshans, R. E., D. A. Wrubleski and L. G. Goldsborough 2004. Changes in the Emergent Plant Community of Netley-Libau Marsh Between 1979 and 2001. Delta Marsh Field Station (University of Manitoba) Occasional Publication No. 4, Winnipeg, Canada. 52 pp.

Goldsborough, L. G. 2004. Reginald Buller: The poet-scientist of mushroom city. Manitoba History 47:17-41.

Duckworth, H. W. and L. G. Goldsborough, 2004. Sciences comes to Manitoba. Manitoba History 47:2-16.

Friesen-Pankratz, B., Doebel, C., Farenhorst, A. and L. G. Goldsborough, 2003. Interactions between algae (Selenastrum capricornutum) and pesticides: Implications for managing constructed wetlands for pesticide removal. Journal of Environmental Science and Health Part B. Pesticides, Food Contaminants, and Agricultural Wastes. B38(2):147-155.

Zrum, L., B. J. Hann and L. G. Goldsborough. 2002. Invertebrates associated with submersed macrophytes in a prairie wetland: Effects of organophosphorus insecticide and inorganic nutrients. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 154:413-445.

Mundy, C. J., Hann, B. J. and Goldsborough, L. G. 2001. Snail-periphyton interactions in a prairie lacustrine wetland. Hydrobiologia 457:167-175.

Goldsborough, L. G. 2001. Sampling algae in wetlands. pp. 263-295. R. B. Rader, D. P. Batzer, and S. Wissinger (eds.) Biomonitoring and Management of North American Freshwater Wetlands. Academic Press.

Sandilands, K. A., Hann, B. J. and Goldsborough, L. G. 2000. The impact of nutrients and submersed macrophytes on invertebrates in a prairie wetland, Delta Marsh, Manitoba. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 148:441-459.

Zrum, L., Hann, B. J., Goldsborough, L. G. and Stern, G. A. 2000. Effects of organophosphorus insecticide and inorganic nutrients on the plankonic microinvertebrates and algae in a prairie wetland. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 147: 373-399.

Robinson, G.G.C., Gurney, S.E. and Goldsborough, L.G. 2000. Algae in prairie wetlands. pp. 163-199 H. Murkin, A. van der Valk, and W.R. Clark (eds.), Prairie Wetland Ecology: The Contribution of the Marsh Ecology Research Program. Ames: Iowa State University Press.

Murkin, H.R., van der Valk, A.G., Clark, W.R., Wrubleski, D.A., and Goldsborough, L.G. 2000. Marsh Ecology Research Program: Management Implications for Prairie Wetlands. pp. 317-344. H. Murkin, A. van der Valk, and W.R. Clark (eds.) Prairie Wetland Ecology: The Contribution of the Marsh Ecology Research Program. Ames: Iowa State University Press.

Richmond, K-A. and Goldsborough, L.G. 1999. Late Holocene paleolimnology of Killarney Lake, Manitoba. In: D.S. Lemmen and R.E. Vance (eds), Holocene climate and environmental change in the Palliser Triangle: a geoscientific context for evaluating the impacts of climate change on the southern Canadian Prairies. Geological Survey of Canada Bulletin 534.

Goldsborough, L.G. and Crumpton, W.G. 1998. Distribution and environmental fate of pesticides in prairie wetlands. Great Plains Research 8:73-95.

Crumpton, W.G. and Goldsborough, L.G. 1998. Nitrogen transformation and fate in prairie wetlands. Great Plains Research 8:57-72.

Pettigrew, C.T., Hann, B.J. and Goldsborough, L.G. 1997. Waterfowl feces as a source of nutrients to a prairie wetland: responses of microinvertebrates to experimental additions. Hydrobiologia 362:55-66.

Timoney, K., Zoltai, S. and Goldsborough, L.G. 1997. Boreal diatom ponds: a rare wetland associated with nesting whooping cranes. Wetlands 17:539-551.

McDougal, R.L., Goldsborough, L.G. and Hann, B.J. 1997. Responses of a prairie wetland to press and pulse additions of nitrogen and phosphorus: production by planktonic and benthic algae. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 140:145-167.

Hann, B.J. and Goldsborough, L.G. 1997. Responses of a prairie wetland to press and pulse additions of nitrogen and phosphorus: invertebrate community structure and interactions. Archiv für Hydrobiologie 140:169-194.

Robinson, G. G. C., S. E. Gurney and L. G. Goldsborough 1997. Response of benthic and planktonic algal biomass to water level manipulation in a prairie wetland. Wetlands 17:167-181.

Robinson, G. G. C., S. E. Gurney and L. G. Goldsborough 1997. The primary productivity of benthic and planktonic algae in a prairie wetland under controlled water-level regimes. Wetlands 17:182-194.

Goldsborough, L. G. and G. G. C. Robinson 1996. Pattern in wetlands, Chapter 4. In: Algal Ecology in Freshwater Benthic Ecosystems. R.J. Stevenson, M.L. Bothwell, R.L. Lowe, eds., Academic Press, pp. 77-117.

GRADUATE STUDENTS (2011)

Tara Bortoluzzi (PhD)
Nutrient dynamics and benthic algal production in Delta Marsh

Diana Fred (MSc)
Nutrient dynamics and sediment resuspension in the south basin of Lake Manitoba

Nola Geard (MSc)
Evaluation of management techniques for an invasive plant species in prairie wetlands

Richard Grosshans (PhD)
Nutrient sequestration and energy production from cattails in Netley-Libau Marsh

Elaine Page (MSc)
An evaluation of spatial and temporal water quality in Lake Manitoba

Jennifer Wasko (MSc)
Techniques for the identification and management of hybrid cattail (Typha X glauca) at Delta Marsh

COURSES TAUGHT (2011)

Aquatic Botany (BIOL 4374)
Examines the relationships between algae, aquatic vascular plants, and fungi, and characteristics of their abiotic and biotic environment

Introductory Toxicology (BIOL 2380)
Examines general principles underlying the effects of toxic substances on biological systems

Wetland Ecology (BIOL 3372)
A two-week intensive field course on the ecology of a large, prairie marsh

WEBMASTER

International Society of Limnology
A scientific organization concerned with the study of lakes

Manitoba Historical Society
Concerned with promotion and conservation of heritage in Manitoba, the MHS is the second-oldest historical society in Canada

Page revised: 3 May 2011