How humans and climate change are influencing alpine lakes and ecology. An interview with Caitlin Charlton. 

In this episode of Environmentality. I connect with Caitlin Charlton to discuss all things alpine lakes and ecology. In particular, we discuss the impacts of human activity and climate change on these alpine regions, and what solutions, both big and small, that can be taken to mitigate their impacts.

Caitlin is a graduate student in the Ecology program at Colorado State University. In this episode, she discusses in great detail some of the experiments that she and her research lab group are conducting in the Rocky Mountain National Park and beyond. She discusses the impacts of nutrient deposition on alpine lakes and how that can lead to toxicity and eutrophication. She also shares about the impacts of human waste and hikers not following "leave no trace" principles while hiking in the Rockies.

Caitlin and I also chat about lake submarines, Clif bar wrappers, caffeine in human waste and regulations being implemented to reduce nitrogen and phosphorous deposition in alpine lakes.

To learn more about Caitlin and her field work check out her Instagram here: @caitlincharl10
Additional information about her research can be found here.