Research scientists assessfreshwater systems.
Independent scientists evaluateecological and environmental impacts.
Quantitative sampling for benthic speciesin streambed sediments.
Ecological and water quality assessmentsusing protists and invertebrates.
Ecological evaluation ofendangered habitats and species.
Ecological studies of protistsin natural systems and residual waters.
Hello and welcome to PJSchmid Scientific Consulting.
We are scientists and experts assessing environmental and ecological impacts, biodiversity, and water quality of aquatic systems. A drastic worldwide decline in freshwater habitats and biodiversity necessitates an urgent improvement of public understanding about the important function of aquatic systems and, in particular, fluvial ecosystems. Our team is strongly commited to improve this understanding, in rehabilitating and restoring affected aquatic systems and, in protecting these vulnerable ecosystems from further destruction.
Our expertise
Biodiversity analysis
Species identification of freshwater algae, protists and invertebrates, including benthic meiofauna. Biological and ecological assessment of water quality using the saprobic index based on protist species. We are experts in taxa such as ciliates, benthic rotifers and larval chironomids.
Impact assessment
Ecological and environmental impact assessment and monitoring of hydroelectric plants, pulp mills, landfills and other pollution sources impacting streams, rivers, estuaries, ponds, lakes and wetlands. Advices on how to avoid ecological damage or distinctly minimize negative effects on ecosystems.
Statistics
Advice on study design, sampling methods and statistical analyses for ecological investigations and related fields. We are experts in quantitative hyporheic and groundwater sampling techniques. Assistance in project planning to obtain data publishable in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Ecological assessments and analysis
Ecological surveys
Surveys of freshwater habitats and their protozoan and invertebrate species assemblages, including water-quality assessment using bioindicators, with application of saprobic indices based on protozoans.
Ecological impacts
Evaluation and monitoring of man-made aquatic ecosystem changes, including those caused by hydroelectric impoundments, pulp mill effluents, wastewater treatment plants, habitat alterations, and point and nonpoint source contaminations.
Mitigations
Mitigating the extent and effect of aquatic habitat changes by applying water-quality improvement programmes, habitat-rehabilitation procedures, system-restoration schemes, and supervision of ecological monitoring work.
Portfolio
Selected scientific research projects and applied ecological studies
Our Company
The aquatic consultancy team
About us
We are scientific experts working on biodiversity, community and food-web ecology, and environmental aspects of freshwater systems. We provide independent advisory services and expertise for sustainable developments and innovative, efficient solutions with leading edge standards.
We conducted environmental impact studies, ecological surveys, water quality analysis, and statistical assessments for statutory agencies, the corporate and private sector for more than 30 years. We provide expertise in the identification of aquatic protist and invertebrate species, and in biodiversity assessments. We have conducted many scientific research projects and environmental and ecological impact assessments in Europe, North and South America. We are strongly committed to the protection of the natural environment.
The key team
PJSchmid Scientific Consulting are a team of scientists and experts in environmental impact assessments, assessing biodiversity, water quality and ecological effects on aquatic ecosystems.
Dr P. E. Schmid (PhD, Doc)
Lectured on Fractal Ecology, Ecological Concepts, and Freshwater Ecology at the University of Vienna and Queen Mary, University of London, UK. Expert in the taxonomy and ecology of aquatic insects including chironomids, and testate amoebae. Publishes peer-reviewed articles on fractal and community ecology and reviews manuscripts for high-impact scientific journals. Conducts research projects, ecological surveys and ecological impact assessments.
Dr J. M. Schmid-Araya (MSc, PhD)
Research Fellow at Bournemouth University, UK. Previously, Senior University Lecturer in Freshwater Ecology, Biodiversity and Statistics at Queen Mary, University of London and UCL London, UK. Expert in the taxonomy and ecology of ciliated protozoans and meiofauna, including benthic rotifers. Publishes peer-reviewed articles on food-web and meiofaunal ecology. Reviews manuscripts for high-impact scientific journals. Conducts research projects, and biological water quality analyses.
Dr M. Jerardino E. (PhD)
Terrestrial ecologist specialized in vertebrates. Advisor on environmental impact assessments for consulting and engineering enterprises. Consultant for environmental impact assessments on environmental effects ranging from air-pollution, thermoelectric power plants, small- to large-scale solar power plants to other renewable energy techniques. Expert in the environmental laws of Chile. Clients are many private companies and governmental organizations.
M. A. Carvajal A. (MSc)
Expert in the taxonomy, ecophysiology and culture of freshwater microalgae. Species identification of all groups of freshwater algae. Grows microalgae and studied the life cycle of Dunaliella salina (Dunal) Teodoresco, specialising in the development of strains of microalgae and their conservation. Worked as consultant for algal assessments in diverse freshwater habitats for governmental organisations in Chile. Cooperated internationally as an advisor and consultant on microalgal ecology.
Why choose us?
PJSchmid Scientific Consulting's high standard is underlined by a large variety of aquatic research projects with which we have been involved and by a long list of peer-reviewed international scientific and expert publications from over thirty years of scientific research.
Some applied projects
- Biodiversity assessment of aquatic protozoans, meio- and macrobenthic invertebrate species communities,
- water quality analysis of lotic and lentic systems, as well as urban and industrial effluents,
- analysis of organic water pollution in natural ecosystems and residual waters,
- ecological impact assessment of domestic and industrial landfills on water quality and the vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems,
- evaluation of the ecological minimum residual flow at hydroelectric power plants and its effect on downstream river communities,
- assessing the maintainance of the natural discharge regime of impoundment water managements,
- evaluation of benthic community changes due to the clogging of streambed sediments downstream of river impoundments, or pulp mill effluents,
- effects of sand-flushing on benthic species communities downstream of water intake basins,
- habitat restoration and river realignment projects to increase habitat and species diversity, and
- assessment of rare or endangered aquatic species and habitats.
Some of our clients
Get in touch
Feel free to contact us if we can assist you or if you have questions about our services and products. Our office hours are from Monday through Friday between 10:00 and 16:00 (UTC-04). You can reach us either by phone or via email, using the mobile number or email link below. As aquatic scientists, we spend a good deal of time in the field, and therefore, will not always be able to reply promptly. If you call us when we are not available, please leave us a message. We monitor our voice mail and email on a regular basis and will make efforts to respond as soon as possible.
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(+56) 990 782 567; (+56) 966 463 948
PJSchmid, Ancud, POBox 274, Chiloé, Chile.