Research associate Steve Kaufman of the Biocomplexity Monitoring Lab is monitoring abiotic
variables at a research site weather station. (photo: B. Tucker)
Systematics, evolution, and biogeography of water beetles - Y. Alarie
My research emphasizes the study of larval morphology of water beetles. In regard to systematic studies, data about immature stages are likely to improve adult classifications, since larvae may be considered as a different expression of the same genotype. My research originated in devising a system of nomenclature of larval chaetotaxy and porotaxy which led to a reconsideration of the phylogenetic relationships within some members of the family Dytiscidae. I intend to extend this system to the study of other water beetle families.
Stress ecology and physiology of non-vascular plants; geobotanical studies - P.J. Beckett
Effects of human impact on Northern Ontario mosses and lichens in both terrestrial and wetland (peatland) habitats; response and floristic changes in mosses and lichens in industrially-stressed ecosystems including rehabilitated landscapes; ecology of selected peatland plants including Sphagnum in metal-contaminated and deforested systems; applications of remote-sensing and geographic information systems to stress responses by plants are under investigation (in conjunction with the Geography Department).
Aquatic chemistry - N. Belzile
Geochemical behaviour of toxic trace elements in natural systems; the development of analytical techniques for the analysis and speciation of environmental samples; cycling of trace elements and bioavailability; the reactivity of mine tailings
Behaviour of radionuclides - F. Caron
Nuclear waste management and migration of radiocontaminants; behaviour of Carbon-14, from reactors to waste management areas, and to contaminated air and groundwater; radionuclide speciation in degrading wastes
Water quality and GIS - A. Gallie
Use of visible and thermal hyperspectral reflectance spectra to monitor water colour and quality of lakes; use of GIS to study watersheds around lakes
Fisheries ecology and management - J.M. Gunn
Effects of aquatic pollutants on the distribution and abundance of fish and benthic invertebrates in northeastern Ontario lakes; rehabilitation techniques, including: hatchery stocking (different species, strains, life stages, etc.), watershed and lake liming; manipulations of reproductive habitat; recovery processes of damaged systems; reproductive behaviour of salmonids.
Microbiology of iron-oxidizing bacteria - L.G. Leduc
The use of molecular techniques in determining the relative importance of Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and associated bacteria in the development of acid mine drainage; the role of plasmid DNA in Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
Evolutionary ecology, population genetics, conservation biology, and herpetology - D. Lesbarrères
In the broadest sense, I am interested in theoretical and applied questions about the evolution and ecology of amphibian populations and communities. For the past 6 years my research program centered on population genetics in human dominated landscapes, focusing on gene flow interruption and its consequences for amphibian populations. Part of this research also investigated the fitness consequences of phenotypic and genetic variation. My work integrates intense field work coupled with molecular approaches (microsatellite DNA markers) for the analysis of parentage and population genetics, and laboratory experiment to estimate measures of fitness. Future work will investigate factors - such as habitat fragmentation by roads - that influence genetic variability by exploring the relationships between road density, population size fluctuations, gene flow reduction and population isolation. In particular, my ongoing research will address broad issues such as adaptation to changing environmental conditions in order to improve our understanding of the global amphibian population decline.
Evolutionary ecology, life history theory, physiological ecology, and herpetology - J.D. Litzgus
My research program uses primarily field-based approaches to address questions in the areas of evolutionary ecology and conservation biology of reptiles, including examination of the adaptive significance of life history variation at geographic extremes (e.g., at northern range limit) and the application of these data to the design of conservation plans. My current research examines geographic variation in the life history, ecology, demographics, and behaviour of the federally Endangered spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata). Future work will examine questions about the physiological basis, and the adaptive bioenergetic and fitness consequences of certain behaviours, particularly summer and winter dormancy, in reptiles and amphibians.
The ecology of terrestrial and marine mammals in boreal and arctic ecosystems - F.F. Mallory
Behaviour and predator/prey relationships of mammals in boreal and arctic terrestrial ecosystems; study animals include wolves, arctic fox, lynx, marten, caribou, white-tailed deer, and lemmings; marine mammals studied are beluga whales, seals, and elk; the program emphasizes evolutionary field research and the development of wildlife management strategies.
Animal physiology in changing environments - M.L. Martínez-Garcia
My research interests focus fundamentally on animal physiology, and specifically on individual variation of physiological traits and adaptive mechanisms by which animals survive in changing environments. I prefer to combine physiological, biochemical, behavioural and ecological data in order to examine how energetic metabolism in animals is affected when abiotic or biotic factors in their environments change. I work mostly with fish, but I am equally interested in vertebrates in general. My recent interests include the physiology of locomotion in fish and their response to food availability and hypoxia at different stages of development.
Human and plant genetics - K. Nkongolo
1. Human Genetics
- Characterization of human short tandem repeat (STR) loci in Caucasians and Aboriginal populations for forensic purpose
- Characterization of human populations using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs)
2. Plant Genetics
- Population genetic studies using molecular markers (RFLP, RAPD, ISSR, SSR, a^?|)
- Genome organization and physical mapping in conifers
- Molecular cytogenetics studies in plants
- Development and characterization of species- specific molecular markers
- Characterization of host plant resistance
3. Genetic Engineering and crop improvement
- Introgression of alien genes in plant species for disease and insect resistance
- Germplasm enhancement
4. International Agriculture
- Participatory Plant Breeding
- In situ and ex situ conservation of Genetic resources
- Capacity building for food security
Wildlife parasitology; biomonitoring and toxicological effects of industrial metals - G.H. Parker
Studies on the prevalence, intensity and physiology effects of parasitic infections in various wildlife species, noteably fur bearers (mink, marten, fisher, raccoon, weasel, otter, muskrat) and grouse (ruffed, spruce, ptarmigan); assessment of patterns of environmental contamination arising from the dispersion and fallout of industrial pollutants; use of animal and plant species or their respective by-products (eg. feathers, pelage, scales, feces, fruit, sap, etc.) in biomonitoring atmospheric pollution; the transfer of heavy metals through various food chains and host-parasite systems.
Lake food webs - C.W. Ramcharan
The role of top-down predation in structuring lake food webs
Behavioural ecology of Mustelids - J.-F. Robitaille
Effects of intrinsic factors such as body size and metabolism, and environmental factors such as pollution levels, prey and mate availability, interspecific relationships, biotic and abiotic characteristics of habitat, and human exploitation, on population densities, space use and time-energy budgeting during various life cycle stages of Mustelids (Mammalia, Carnivora), including weasels, Mustela spp., and American marten, Martes americana.
Plant performance in different environments - P. Ryser
Plant functional traits which determine the performance of plants in different environments, and the consequences of these traits at population, at community and at ecosystem levels. The focus of my studies lies in turnover characteristics, i.e. on the one hand growth rate and resource acquisition, and on the other hand organ life-span and resource conservation.
Pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis - M. Saleh
My main research interest is protein secretion in prokaryotes. These systems, primarily the general or Sec-dependent system, are crucial for the survival of all prokaryotes. They function at the interface between the cell and the environment. They are required to assemble and maintain extracytoplasmic structures and allow the cell to acquire nutrients. In pathogens, whose environments are their hosts, secretion systems contribute to the survival of the pahtogen in the host and cause a variety of toxic and immunological reactions by secreting virulence factors.
Components of the general secretory complex are used to study phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships amongst the prokaryotes. The nature of secreted factors could also allude to the environmental adaptations of these organisms.
Evolutionary and behavioural ecology, and fitness in vertebrates - A. Schulte-Hostedde
Evolutionary and behavioural ecology; fitness consequences of phenotypic and genetic variation in vertebrates; population and conservation genetics as it relates to gene flow, inbreeding and population structure
Ecology of insect-plant relationships - J.D. Shorthouse
Role of herbivorous insects, particularly those which feed internally, in the ecosystems of northeastern Ontario; interrelationships of community members within insect galls, gall anatomy and physiology; structural damage by gall insects used in the biological control of noxious Canadian weeds.
Soil and water chemistry - G. Spiers
Remote environmental monitoring technology development; environmental chemistry; stressed ecosystem rehabilitation and aquatic system quality control