Presentation by David Manning, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Nebraska-Omaha

Freshwater ecosystems, including streams and rivers, are among the most imperiled across the globe. Understanding their responses to threats such as climate change, nutrient pollution, and others, is critical for mitigating harm and conserving ecological functions. Freshwater scientists are at the forefront of harnessing unprecedented volumes and varieties of data (‘big data’) to detect and predict how streams and rivers respond to a changing world. I will present three stories about how I have used big data in Nebraska and beyond to uncover novel insights about how streams and rivers work, and to illustrate remaining challenges and opportunities for freshwater ecosystem science and conservation.