Research interests

My interests lie in the application of science-based research to the management and conservation of native fishes in Canada, particularly as it relates to improving the understanding, appreciation, and preservation of wild populations and their habitats. The majority of my research to date has focused on the area of molecular ecology and conservation genetics of cold-adapted fishes (trout, salmon, and related species). These fishes represent a superb model system in which to examine the forces impacting the evolutionary and ecological trajectories of natural populations. They are also among the groups most impacted by environmental and anthropogenic change. Major themes include:

Understanding the causes and consequences of variation among populations. Population-level variation is the basis for adaptive change in the wild and is a key consideration in the definition of conservation units. Many factors, however, may act in concert to influence the nature and distribution of this adaptive potential. The integration of molecular and landscape ecology approaches allow us to partition and reconcile the historical associations and contemporary habitat parameters which may shape, to a large extent, population-level characteristics (population size, growth potential, conservation value, etc.).

The evolutionary ecology of small populations. Small populations are generally more subject to the influence of stochastic forces, accelerated losses of genetic diversity and heightened levels of inbreeding than are larger ones. These factors have been shown to reduce the viability and evolutionary potential of populations in the wild. My research in this area attempts to uncover generalities in the processes capable of minimizing the loss of genetic diversity for particular species, as well as those which tend to maximize effective population size (gene flow, even sex ratios, and equal reproductive success).

Heightened recognition and conservation of native biodiversity. As noted, my research has a strong conservation focus and one of my primary research goals is to facilitate the recognition, appreciation, and preservation of the diversity existing among wild populations and their habitats. This is particularly important in British Columbia which has a rich biogeographic history and a complex landscape. This work straddles the area between pure academic research and applied conservation biology and is used to inform decisions pertaining to the definition of appropriate management units for conservation.