~ People in the Lab ~

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Glenn Crossin, Ph.D.
​Associate Professor

I study the physiological mechanisms that underlie variation in life-history traits, mostly (but not exclusively!) in birds and fish. I received my BSc from the University of New Hampshire, my MSc and PhD from the University of British Columbia, and pursued postdoctoral studies at Simon Fraser University, the British Antarctic Survey, and Fisheries & Oceans Canada.

Editorial board member, Biology Letters
Associate Editor, Marine Ornithology
Google Scholar profile
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Rolanda Steenweg, Ph.D. Candidate

Rolanda is studying the over-wintering activity and migratory carryover effects in Northern Common Eiders breeding in the Canadian Arctic. Using stable isotope and physiological techniques, she will address the following questions: (1) Where do Northern Common Eiders nesting in East Bay, Nunavut overwinter? (2) What endogenous and exogenous factors influence the timing and pattern of winter migrations and spring staging? (3) How does overwintering migration and foraging behaviour impact pre-breeding condition, breeding decisions, and reproductive success?

Rolanda is co-supervised by Dr. Oliver Love at
the University of Windsor.
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Daniela Notte, MSc. candidate

Daniela is studying predation on Atlantic salmon smolts migrating out of the Stewiacke River, Nova Scotia. Using a combination of acoustic telemetry and genetic work, she is investigating if the physiological condition of a smolt can predict whether or not it will survive its migration to the sea. This research will help guide future river restoration and Atlantic salmon management programs.
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Claire Rycroft, MSc. candidate

Claire is working closely with DFO researchers to determine the interactions between migrating salmon smolts and aquaculture infrastructure in Passamaquoddy Bay, a region of eastern Canada with an abundance of salmon farms. Using acoustic telemetry, fundamental aspects of migrating smolt residency times around farms will be quantified, and patterns will be viewed relative to differential gene expression patterns among individuals. 
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Hunter Stevens, MSc. candidate

Hunter's research focuses on the movements of juvenile Atlantic salmon as they leave their home rivers and enter the ocean. Currently, he is researching the rates of survival of juvenile Atlantic salmon from several populations throughout eastern Canada as they migrate to their feeding grounds in the Atlantic Ocean. A combination of acoustic telemetry and genomic sampling will allow him to determine the environmental and physiological factors responsible for variation in migration behaviour between and wining populations. 
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Heidi Tate, Honours student

Heidi is studying the physiological response of the Cassin's aukets and rhinoceros auklets to changing climate in the northeast Pacific Ocean, using data from 2010 to 2017. This research will give a good indication of how seabirds may respond to climate change in the future. She is working closely with Dr. Mark Hipfner at Environment and Climate Change Canada.
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Ted Lownie, Honours student

Ted is evaluating the seasonal progression of red blood cell dynamics in Northern and Southern Giant Petrels from blood samples taken on Bird Island, South Georgia. This work will help in identifying several of the physiological mechanisms associated with each species' migration patterns and considerable breeding-moult overlaps.
Lab Alumni
Dr. Jake Brownscombe, Banting Postdoctoral Fellow, 2020
Avery Dextrase, BSc Hons, 2020
Julia Fast, BSc Hons, 2020
Dr. Montana McLean, PhD, 2019
Dr. Xavier Bordeleau, PhD, 2019
​Katharine Studholme, MSc, 2018
Isabelle Jubinville, BSc Hons, 2017
Madison Philipp, BSc Hons, 2017
Leah Strople, BSc Hons, 2017
Dr. Marie Auger-Methe - NSERC Postdoctoral fellow, 2017
Tanya Prystay - BSc Hons, 2016
Emily Butler - BSc Hons, 2016
Dallas Lafont - BSc Hons, 2015
Kaitlyn Dionne - BSc Hons, 2014
Wes Kerr - BSc Hons, 2014
Robert Lennox - BSc Hons, 2013