Focus on Fellows: Cale Gushulak

You mentioned that these areas have minimal human impacts. What are your reflections on how a warming climate might affect both people and wildlife in this region?

CG: So, it’s really interesting in this particular part of Ontario.Northeastern Ontario is largely boreal forest, but you also have wide clay banks that have been cleared and spread for agriculture. There’s agriculture creeping into these areas, and in a warming climate, this is likely to intensify. Crops that thrive in warmer climates, like corn, could move further north as temperatures shift. I’ve even seen recent talks highlighting how provinces like Manitoba, traditionally too cold for large-scale corn production, may soon become major producers.

With this shift, lakes near agricultural zones are likely to face impacts like runoff from fertilizers, wetland drainage, and damming. Even more remote lakes, which might not be directly affected by agriculture, could still experience significant ecological changes. For example, algaes which thrive in cooler, well-mixed waters, may decline, while toxic blue-green algae may become more common in nutrient-poor systems. There’s already evidence that some boreal lakes are showing these changes. It’s a clear indication of how climate change, even without direct human activity, can drive large-scale ecosystem transformations.

Climate change is pervasive, meaning that remote ecosystems are affected, even if there are limited or no other human influences. Effectively, this means that there are no protected environments, globally, and that every ecosystem is undergoing poorly understood changes which will impact wildlife and the ecosystem services that humans need to survive.

What have you been up to since completing this research?

CG: I’ve been doing a lot of work on how lakes have changed, mostly out west in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, in response to landscape-scale agriculture and climate change. More specifically, I’ve been looking at big temperature increases in the past 150 years and how they’ve impacted precipitation patterns, nutrient cycles, and algal blooms.

One project I worked on was a study of nutrient enrichment in the southern basin of Lake Manitoba, which is the third-largest lake in the province. We compared it to Lake Winnipeg, looking at similarities and differences in how their ecosystems respond to environmental pressures. It’s been fascinating work, especially as we’ve tied these changes to land use history and human impacts like farming, damming, and urbanization.

Now, as a professor at the University of Manitoba, I’m in the early stages of building research projects. My focus is on studying large lakes across the province to explore their histories, track changes over time, and better understand how they’ve been impacted by both natural and human-driven changes.

With progress toward climate targets being what they are, what gives you hope for the future?

CG: The pace of warming today is unprecedented compared to historical records. However, I don’t think we’re in a completely doomed situation where everything will collapse - at least not everywhere. What’s become clear is that direct human impacts, like nutrient pollution, often have more immediate and severe effects on local ecosystems than broader climatic changes. Tackling these localized issues can yield meaningful improvements.

Upgrades to wastewater treatment plants, public engagement in conservation, and strategies to reduce nutrient pollution have shown real success in some areas. In Manitoba, there’s significant public involvement in combating invasive species like zebra mussels, demonstrating how communities can rally to protect aquatic ecosystems.

While global climate change is daunting, these local mitigation efforts - like reducing nutrient pollution or managing invasive species - are both achievable and impactful. These successes show that smaller-scale actions can lead to significant positive changes, which gives me hope that we can still make a difference, even in the face of such a massive challenge.

Looking to the future, what’s your ultimate career goal?

CG: At the end of my career, I would love to have created a robust, mechanism-driven model that explains how interacting stressors - land use, nutrients, climate, water flow - affect aquatic ecosystems and leave traces in the fossil record. Essentially, it would be amazing to say, “Here’s the entire natural history of water in Manitoba post-glaciation.” That would be a big goal, but it’d be really cool to achieve.

Lastly, what advice would you give to early-career researchers?

CG: Impostor syndrome is something a lot of people deal with - it’s really common, and it affects almost everyone. There’s a great anecdote about Neil Armstrong feeling impostor syndrome compared to the engineers who built the ship that got him to the moon, which shows just how universal it is.

Particularly in academia, it can feel overwhelming when you’re a master’s student or an undergrad surrounded by PhDs, postdocs, and professors with so much experience. It’s important to recognize that these people were once in your position too. They’ve been able to succeed, and if they’re putting their trust in you to do research or join their program, that means they see your capability - and you should trust in yourself as well.

Peer-to-peer support is crucial. I was lucky to have a large, collaborative PhD lab where we supported each other, but not everyone has that. If you’re in a smaller lab or institution, I’d recommend joining professional societies. Student memberships are usually affordable, and these organizations often provide resources like workshops on grant writing, collaboration, and professional development.

There are also plenty of opportunities now for early-career researchers to find professional development tools outside their immediate university - through societies, mailing lists, and other networks. These can help you learn how to write grants, create collaborative networks, or address any professional challenges you might face. The key is to be confident in yourself and not be afraid to look around and put yourself out there to build these connections and support systems.