Jordan is researching how the coastal development of rocky structures (ie. breakwaters & coastal armouring) in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence influence changes in productive capacity of the disturbed area. This fall, Jordan sampled and tested methodologies at breakwaters in New Brunswick, along the Bay Chaleur, the Northumberland Strait, and in Miramichi Bay. Jordan is currently working in the lab identifying algal and invertebrate species collected, and calculating biomass estimates. He is also preparing for the next more intensive field season, which includes learning to SCUBA dive to allow him to sample the base of the rocky structures. Next season will include sampling sites that encompass the shores of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and New Brunswick, along the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence.
Allan Debertin
Allan has completed stomach sample analysis on pelagic fishes (smelt, mackerel, sandlance, herring, and alewife) caught during the July-August 2009 DFO survey of the Northumberland Strait. This analysis is part of his master’s project on the predator-prey interactions of zooplankton and their predators, pelagic fishes, within the Northumberland Strait. Allan is currently writing a paper which will describe the physical characteristics and zooplankton biomass of the Northumberland Strait through mapping and spatial analysis.
Allison Schein
Allison has graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Master’s degree in Science. Allison completed a thesis on entitled: “The estuarine fish community and food web structure in areas of sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) and eelgrass (Zoatera marina) within the Stanley river estuary, Prince Edward Island”. Allison has moved back to her home in Vancouver, BC from Fredericton, NB conveniently in time for the 2010 Olympic Games. The Courtenay lab wishes her the best of luck in her future endeavors.
Jared Tomie
Jared has been continuing his work on burrowing behaviour and substrate selection of the American eel at the Mactaquac Biodiversity Facility. He has set up experiments that simulate overwintering habitat and allow eels to select from a rocky or muddy bottom. These experiments will continue until early spring when natural water temperatures begin to rise. Jared has also performed experiments to map the three dimensional structure of eel burrows. These experiments rely on carefully excavating eels that are burrowed in the mud. This winter, Jared will also be traveling around the Maritimes to interview fisheries officers about eel habitat based on summer and winter fishing sites.
