I recently finished my PhD, entitled: "Responses of zooplankton community structure and ecosystem function to the invasion of an invertebrate predator, Bythotrephes longimanus".  My research interests broadly involve how patterns of biodiversity are structured by local and regional processes, such as dispersal, invasive species, and other anthropogenic stressors.  Ultimately, this work leads to the question of how ecosystem function may be affected by these processes, which have been substantially altered by human activity in the past century.

In general, I use the combined approach of field surveys, small-scale experiments (ie. 20L) and large-scale experiments (ie. 7000L), and statistical modelling to test my hypotheses.  I am often asked why I study zooplankton, and the answer is that I find them fascinating...they have a diversity of reproductive strategies, are adaptable to many extreme conditions (ie. dessication, cold, etc.), can rapidly evolve defenses against predation, toxicity, etc., are ubitquitous in aquatic habitats in vast numbers, and can be easily experimentally manipulated.  In short, they're an ideal study organism.  To the left is Eubosmina tubicen, a common zooplankter.

My first research experience was in 2000, when I had the good fortune of working with a new professor in biology at the University of Regina.  I was able to do a very interesting project studying how climate change may alter phytoplankton community composition in alpine ponds.  My first foray into research was incredibly challenging, as we hiked ~20km daily to reach our field site, and in order to set up experimental ponds, we had to drag all of the equipment overland (ie. straight up and over ridges, which was only fun when it snowed).  We were met with crazy weather, grizzly bears, and cougars, but it was a great summer and I was hooked.

I began a Masters at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario in January 2002 with Shelley Arnott.  I was able to work with some great people at the Co-op Freshwater Ecology Unit and do my field research in Killarney Park, one of the nicest places I've been in Ontario.  Even though few people believe me, I loved living in Sudbury and I met some great people there. 

I transferred to Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario later that year with my supervisor and decided to attempt another field season, this time abandoning the mesocosms in favour of surveying lakes in the Muskokas.  This was a great collaboration with people from all over Ontario, and after realizing the potential of this project, I decided to transfer into a PhD program.  The year after the survey, I realized that I missed the danger and excitement of working with enclosures...they're hard to beat in terms of crazy types of equipment necessary ("what're you girls doing with all those carbuoys? bricks? cinderblocks? etc.") AND an amazing workout (me: "how high is this waterfall we have to portage?", Alison: "it's no Niagara Falls").  But, in all seriousness, I love doing field work, there's nothing better than spending your summer in a canoe and I've gotten to see some pretty amazing places as a result.