Constance Browne, Ph. D., Postdoctoral fellow (2010-2011 )
B.Sc. (honours) Biology, UNBSJ, 2001.
M.Sc., Biology, Lakehead University, 2003. 
Ph.D., Environmental Biology and Ecology, University of Alberta, 2010. 

Postdoctoral project: The relationship between marine invertebrate diversity/abundance and abiotic habitat features

E-mail: Connie Brown

Raouf Kilada, Ph. D., UNBSJ Research Associate
B.Sc. Major in zoology and chemistry, Ain Shams University, Egypt.
M.Sc. Aquaculture and Fisheries Management
Ph. D. Marine Science, Suez Canal University, Panama.
Postdoc, Biological Oceanography, University of Alexandria, Egypt.

Project: The age determination of Crustaceans

E-mail: Raouf Kilada

BLee Williams

Title: Research technician and technologist on the Meta-population dynamics, management areas and biological units of American lobster Homarus americanus in Atlantic Canada (NSERC Network on Capture Fisheries)

E-mail: BLee Williams

Marie-Josee Maltais, M.Sc., Laval University (1992) *
B.Sc., Laval University, Qc

Title: Biodiversity Project Coordinator and taxonomist

E-mail: Marie-Josee Maltais

Brady Quinn, MSc. candidate, UNBSJ (2011-)
B.Sc. (honours) Biology, Mount Allison University, in Sackville, NB, 2010.
Project: Modelling the potential connectivity of American lobster (Homarus americanus) populations by larval dispersal
This project is part of the NSERC Network on Capture Fisheries

My Masters project will involve using a large-scale physical model of the entire geographic range of the American lobster, including the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Scotian Shelf, and the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine. I will follow the drift and dispersal of planktonic lobster larvae due to physical forces (winds, currents, tides, etc.) until they reach competence for settlement. This will allow me to quantify the potential connectivity between different lobster populations and lobster fishing areas (LFAs) via larval dispersal, information which will be needed to better understand lobster population dynamics and manage the lobster fishery.

E-mail: Brady Quinn

Kristin Dinning, M.Sc. candidate (2011-)
B.Sc. (Hons.) Marine Biology Co-op, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS,. 2010.
Project: Settlement preferences of American lobster postlarvae with respect to substrate type and conspecific densities.
This project is part of the NSERC Network on Capture Fisheries

I am performing SCUBA-based field surveys of lobster settlers on cobbled and soft sedimentary bottoms to determine the relative contribution of each habitat to postlarval settlement at sites in the south-western Bay of Fundy (dominated by mud). In the laboratory, I am examining postlarval settler preference for different settlement substrates and assessing their ability to delay settlement over less preferred substrates while retaining settlement competency. I am also investigating whether high conspecific densities in cobbles may increase settlement onto other substrates. I will explore whether geographic variations in these larval preferences and behaviours exist.

E-mail: Kristin Dinning

Neill Davis, M.Sc. candidate (2010-)
B.Sc. (Adv. Major) Biology, Saint Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, NS, 2010.
Project: Age Determination in Crustaceans using the American Lobster (Homarus americanus)
This project is part of the NSERC Strategic on Age determination in Crustaceans.

My project will test the validity of a newly proposed method to determine age in Crustaceans, which currently does not exist.  Due to molting, the use of proven methods of age determination through permanent calcified structures (i.e.: otoliths, shells) cannot be used.  This new method will make use of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) in attempts to provide a means to determine age in all crustaceans.  The research, if proved valid, has the potential to impact the management of multi-million dollar fisheries (i.e.: American lobster, snow crab), as well as Crustacean biology as a whole.

E-mail: Neill Davis

Brent Wilson, M.Sc. Candidate (2010- )
B.Sc. (honours) Marine Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, 2010.
Project title: Variability in taxonomic and functional diversity at two spatial scales in the rocky sub-tidal zone of south-western Bay of Fundy
This project is part of the NSERC Strategic on Biodiversity.

Through use of cobble-filled larval collectors, my project will examine variability of epifauna (>1 mm) at two spatial scales (between areas [15-32 km apart] and between sites within areas [75-200 m]) based on both taxonomic and functional diversity. With several study sites proposed to be ecologically and biologically significant areas (EBSA) within the Bay of Fundy, baseline data gathered through this project will assist managing bodies (e.g., DFO) in determining EBSA status and monitoring requirements, ultimately contributing to the sustained use of our region’s marine resources.

E-mail: Brent Wilson

Lauren Ellis, M.Sc. candidate (2009-)
B.Sc. (honours) Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario. 2008.
Project: Settlement and biodiversity of marine invertebrates on shallow cobble habitats of the southwest Bay of Fundy: Test of a new monitoring tool and of the decreased-substrate settlement-intensification hypothesis
This project is part of the NSERC Strategic on Biodiversity.

My project will focus on identifying the effect of surrounding substrate on settlement and its implications on biodiversity. A new diversity monitoring tool will be used to gather data about juvenile settlement patterns. This will result in a good estimation of the local benthic fauna from shallow muddy and rocky sites in the Bay of Fundy as well as the opportunity to increase the effectiveness of the tool and ease of use. The knowledge gained from this project will facilitate future biodiversity studies using the monitoring tool and shed light on the settlement patterns of select marine invertebrates, thus improving conservation management efforts.

E-mail: Lauren Ellis

Guðjón Már Sigurðsson, Ph.D. candidate, UNBSJ (2009-)
M.Sc. Marine Biology, University of Iceland, Iceland, 2009
B.Sc.Biology at the University of Iceland in 2007
PhD Project: Lobster settlement: patterns, processes and importance to recruitment
This project is part of the NSERC Strategic on Biodiversity and the NSERC Network on Capture Fisheries

My project is on lobster settlement, using collectors to look at spatial and temporal patterns of larval settlement in the south western bay of Fundy. My work will also involve finding out if lobster settlement is strictly confined to specific sites of suitable habitat or if settlement also occurs in other areas, for example in deeper waters.

E-mail: Guðjón Már Sigurðsson

Marthe Haarr, PhD candidate.UNBSJ (2011-)
M.Sc. in Marine Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, 2010
B.Sc. in Marine Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, 2009
Project: Title to be determine later.

I will be looking into maternal effects/geographic variation in larval supply and quality of lobsters. I will be assessing the abundance and distribution of berried females throughout the Maritimes as well as some lab studies to look at aspects of larval quality, such as survival, growth, swimming and feeding abilities, and lipid content. This is part of the "lobster node" of the NSERC Canadian Capture Fisheries Research Network.

E-mail: Marthe Haarr

Mark Wilcox, MSc. Candiate, UNBSJ (2008-)
B.Sc. in Marine Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, 2008.
Project: Predatory Impact of Green Crab (Carcinus maenas) on Early Post-Settling American Lobster (Homarus americanus)

My Masters research involves assessing the predatory impact of green crab on juvenile and young of year lobster at our study site at Birch Cove within Passamaquoddy Bay. This will be accomplished using a model equation we developed that incorporates molecular techniques to identify lobster DNA from green crab gut contents and field abundance data gathered by SCUBA to give a quantitative estimate of green crab predation on lobster. This is of interest to me both for its implications to lobster ecology and in the application of the model and molecular techniques to be able to quantify impacts to prey species.

E-mail: Mark Wilcox

Bryan Morse, Ph.D. candidate, UNBSJ (2010-)
M.Sc. in Marine Biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, 2009
B.Sc. in Marine biology, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, 2007
Project:  Metapopulation Dynamics of the American Lobster Homarus americanus: Importance of Juvenile and Adult Movement to Connectivity
This project is part of the NSERC Network on Capture Fisheries

My PhD work is on American lobster (Homarus americanus) movement, and will focus on a number of areas: (1) home ranges of lobsters throughout their life, (2) the movement of lobsters between inshore and offshore fisheries and (3) the annual seasonal migrations of lobsters. When combining all this information, we will have a better idea whether juvenile and adult movement is an important process to consider when looking at the connectivity of subpopulations over the species range. This project involves field work for all stages utilizing ultrasonic telemetry and possibly satellite tracking using pop-up satellite archival tags. 

E-mail: Bryan Morse

Marthe Haarr, M.Sc., University of New Brunswick, Saint John (2011)
Thesis: Antagonistic interactions between the invasive green crab Carcinus maenas and sub-adult American lobsters Homarus americanus

Jason Thompson, M.Sc., University of New Brunswick, Saint John (2007)*
Thesis: Population-level effects of the European green crab (Carcinus maenas, L.) in an eelgrass community of the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence

Brian Lynch, M.Sc., University of New Brunswick, Saint John (2007)*
Thesis: Spatial overlap and biotic interactions between sub-adult American lobsters, Homarus americanus, and the invasive European green crab Carcinus maenas
(see also Lynch & Rochette, 2007)

Jane Brookes, M.Sc., University of New Brunswick, Saint John (2006)
Thesis: Proximate control and microstructure characteristics of predator-induced shell thickening in the intertidal gastropod Littorina obtusata
(see also Brookes & Rochette, 2007)

Lacey Samantha Haddon, UNBSJ 09/2010-04/2011
Using Polymerase Chain Reaction to Detect Sea Urchin Presence in the Stomachs of Male and Female Green Crabs after Different Digestion Times

Brent Wilson, UNBSJ 08/2009-04/2010
Predator-prey interaction between the green crab Carcinus maenas and two intertidal snails, Littorina obtusata and L. littorea: a test of the arms race hypothesis

Nils Koch, Zoological Institue of the University of Zurich, Switzerland 2001
Behavioral and ecological factors influencing the mating pattern in Littorina sitkana, an intertidal snail