~ People in the Lab ~
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
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
Dr. Jake Brownscombe
Banting Postdoctoral Fellow
Jake's research focuses on behavioural and physiological ecology of fish, as well as recreational fisheries conservation. His current research program examines the spatial ecology and habitat connectivity of Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) in South Florida using a combination of acoustic telemetry, stable isotopes, and accelerometry. He is also working on developing recreational angling practices that minimize impacts on fish to improve the sustainability of valuable recreational fisheries around the world. Jake is co-supervised by Drs. Glenn Crossin and Sara Iverson.
Banting Postdoctoral Fellow
Jake's research focuses on behavioural and physiological ecology of fish, as well as recreational fisheries conservation. His current research program examines the spatial ecology and habitat connectivity of Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) in South Florida using a combination of acoustic telemetry, stable isotopes, and accelerometry. He is also working on developing recreational angling practices that minimize impacts on fish to improve the sustainability of valuable recreational fisheries around the world. Jake is co-supervised by Drs. Glenn Crossin and Sara Iverson.
Montana McLean, Ph.D. Candidate
Montana is undertaking a large-scale study of seasonal movements and reproductive patterns of white sturgeon in the Fraser River, British Columbia, and of the short- to long-term effects of angling stress. White sturgeon are listed as endangered, yet there a currently few regulations on fishing. Montana’s research will provide vital information to fisheries managers and fishers on post-angling mortality patterns, and about basic life-history strategies, which can guide management and conservation plans.
Montana is undertaking a large-scale study of seasonal movements and reproductive patterns of white sturgeon in the Fraser River, British Columbia, and of the short- to long-term effects of angling stress. White sturgeon are listed as endangered, yet there a currently few regulations on fishing. Montana’s research will provide vital information to fisheries managers and fishers on post-angling mortality patterns, and about basic life-history strategies, which can guide management and conservation plans.
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.
Xavier Bordeleau, Ph.D. candidate
Xavier is studying the diversity of migration strategies and habitat use patterns in wild salmonids in the Bras d’Or Lakes of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, and brown trout of the Tosenfjord, Norway. Using a combination of acoustic telemetry and physiological sampling techniques, he is assessing the life-history implications of post-spawning migration timing as it relates to habitat utilization and survival.
Xavier is studying the diversity of migration strategies and habitat use patterns in wild salmonids in the Bras d’Or Lakes of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, and brown trout of the Tosenfjord, Norway. Using a combination of acoustic telemetry and physiological sampling techniques, he is assessing the life-history implications of post-spawning migration timing as it relates to habitat utilization and survival.
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.
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.
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.
Julia Fast, Honours student
Julia is using environmental DNA to characterize the presence/absence and spatial dynamics of pathogens and viruses around salmon aquaculture farms in Passamaquoddy Bay. Working closely with DFO, her results will be linked to telemetry data from wild migrating smolts to determine their relative exposure risk when swimming by farms.
Avery Dextrase, Honours student
Avery will be examining differential predation/survival of Atlantic salmon smolts from tributaries within the Miramichi River, and whether differences in the relative distance from the ocean affects survival prospects.
Lab Alumni
Katharine Studholme, MSc, 2018
Isabelle Jubinville, Honours student, 2017
Madison Philipp, Honours student, 2017
Leah Strople, Honours student, 2017
Dr. Marie Auger-Methe - Postdoctoral fellow, 2017
Tanya Prystay - Honours student, 2016
Emily Butler - Honours student, 2016
Dallas Lafont - Honours student, 2015
Kaitlyn Dionne - Honours student, 2014
Wes Kerr - Honours student, 2014
Robert Lennox - Honours student, 2013
Katharine Studholme, MSc, 2018
Isabelle Jubinville, Honours student, 2017
Madison Philipp, Honours student, 2017
Leah Strople, Honours student, 2017
Dr. Marie Auger-Methe - Postdoctoral fellow, 2017
Tanya Prystay - Honours student, 2016
Emily Butler - Honours student, 2016
Dallas Lafont - Honours student, 2015
Kaitlyn Dionne - Honours student, 2014
Wes Kerr - Honours student, 2014
Robert Lennox - Honours student, 2013
