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    Research Interests

    Plant Ecophysiology

    Mycology

    Forest Ecology

    Molecular Ecology

    Current Projects
    The role of woody tissue fungal infection on age- and damage-related changes in tree growth and canopy physiology (Masters thesis project, University of Toronto)- The proposed study will examine fungal pathogen load with respect to age and damage-related changes in tree canopy physiology in a temperate hardwood forest. It is hypothesized that sapwood of old and physically damaged trees will show increased levels of Polypore fungal infection, and high levels of infection will be associated with reduced growth and more rapid or pronounced “age-related” changes in leaf structure and chemistry. Supervisor: Dr. Sean Thomas.

    Polypore fungi in Dominica (University of Toronto) - This project will include a survey of polypore fungi and their host trees in Dominica, Lesser Antillies.

    Past Projects
    Phytoremediation (Acadia University)- Investigated physical properties of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soils as affected by plant growth. This project was part of a larger study identifying native plants for use in cleaning up gas and diesel contaminated sites. Field work in the maritime provinces and identification of native flora was also involved in this project.

    Molecular ecology and evolution of water shrews (Acadia University)- Examined Cytochrome-b variation in Sorex palustris from across North America, with the assistance of MSc student Aaron Shafer and Dr. Don Stewart. I gained experience with many molecular techniques, such as PCR amplification and isolation, gel electrophoresis, use of the ALFexpress II (a DNA sequencer/fragment analyzer) and phylogenetic analysis. This work identified a potential new species of water shrew, and will be used as part of a larger study involving a taxonomic revision of the genus Sorex.

    Genotypic variation in growth response of white spruce to elevated CO2 (Honours thesis project, Acadia University)- Examinined the genotypic variation in growth of 29 white spruce clonal lines upon response to twice-ambient carbon dioxide levels. Determined heritability of genetic characters to assess whether traits would be selected for under elevated CO2 conditions. Also used physiological characteristics (i.e. chlorophyll fluoresence, water use efficiency (using carbon isotope ratios), transpiration, and biomass allocation) to assess why some genotypes respond more positively to elevated CO2 than others. Collaborators: Dr. Ed Reekie, Junyan Zhang, and Greg Adams.
 
 
Fomes fomentarius
Fomes fomentarius growing on a tree in Blomidon Provincial Park, NS
 
Spruce clones growing in the KC Irving Environmental Science Centre, Wolfville NS
Spruce clones growing in the KC Irving Environmental Science Centre, Wolfville NS

 

 
  Last Updated January 10, 2008