Fishing activity and non-compliance in marine fishing closuresI am starting a new project evaluating fishing activity and non-compliance in Canada's marine static fishing closures (e.g. MPAs, Rockfish Conservation Areas, etc.) using a comprehensive suite of vessel tracking datasets collected by the Government of Canada. I will be determining the extent of legal and illegal fishing within and surrounding closures to help understand the ecological performance and management effectiveness of these protected areas.
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Risk of invasion from vessel connectionsAs a Research Scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, I evaluated pathways of 1700+ vessels that moved across the coast of British Columbia and surrounding waters during 2016 to determine the strength of connections (blue lines in map are vessel paths) between invaded areas (orange) and marine conservation areas (blue-green). Suitable habitat models for several marine invaders were applied to determine the cumulative risk of invasion from biofouled vessels and suitable habitat within conservation areas.
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Non-native species spread from movement of marine structuresAs a PDF with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, I assessed the movement of floating infrastructure (e.g. docks, fishing lodges) as a vector of secondary spread of biofouling marine invasive species. Floating infrastructure is heavily fouled, and when towed to new areas, may facilitate the spread of invasive species such as green crabs and tunicates.
(Photo from Cowichan Bay, BC) Seagrass fish biodiversityDuring my postdoc at UVic, I created a network of researchers from government and non-government organizations, First Nations, and universities to collectively conduct a BC coast-wide survey of fishes in eelgrass. We evaluated the taxonomic and functional diversity of fishes across environmental and human activity gradients, as well as the importance of eelgrass for maintaining juvenile salmon.
(Photo of Hakai Institute on Calvert Island, BC) |
Impacts of invasive speciesMy PhD thesis assessed variation in impacts of invasive alien species, including fishes, crustaceans, and plants. I conducted lab and field experiments, field surveys, and meta-analyses to analyze changes in predatory and competitive impacts across abiotic and biotic gradients.
Abiotic stressors of saltmarsh snailsMy Master's thesis measured behavioural and physiological responses of saltmarsh snails to temperature and humidity. I developed a heat budget model that predicted their placement in the salt marsh based on avoidance of thermal and desiccation stresses.
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