Current lab members
Postdoctoral Fellows
Emily Studd
Resulting from a rural upbringing and long stints of field work in remote locations, my favourite pastime is sitting and passively watching wildlife go about their daily lives. From this has grown a fascination in how individuals respond behaviourally to environmental change and how these behavioral responses shape species interactions, and population dynamics. I want to understand what drives the decision to be active, how that changes in different situations and what the implications are of that decision for a population or food web. My research sits at the interface of behavioural, metabolic, population, and community ecology, and combines observation- and biologging-based field studies with theoretical modelling. I am funded by an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship.
Resulting from a rural upbringing and long stints of field work in remote locations, my favourite pastime is sitting and passively watching wildlife go about their daily lives. From this has grown a fascination in how individuals respond behaviourally to environmental change and how these behavioral responses shape species interactions, and population dynamics. I want to understand what drives the decision to be active, how that changes in different situations and what the implications are of that decision for a population or food web. My research sits at the interface of behavioural, metabolic, population, and community ecology, and combines observation- and biologging-based field studies with theoretical modelling. I am funded by an NSERC postdoctoral fellowship.
Matthew Guzzo
I grew up in Northern Ontario and have been an avid fisherman for as long as I can remember. My research generally focuses on the movement, physiology, growth, and feeding of freshwater fish and how these characteristics may be altered by climate change, fishing, and other human-induced stressors. I am especially interested in studying northern fish populations because lakes and rivers in this area are changing at greater magnitudes and rates than most other regions of the world. I am currently funded by a Weston Family Award in Northern Research.
I grew up in Northern Ontario and have been an avid fisherman for as long as I can remember. My research generally focuses on the movement, physiology, growth, and feeding of freshwater fish and how these characteristics may be altered by climate change, fishing, and other human-induced stressors. I am especially interested in studying northern fish populations because lakes and rivers in this area are changing at greater magnitudes and rates than most other regions of the world. I am currently funded by a Weston Family Award in Northern Research.
PhD Students
Lauren Jarvis
I am fascinated by ecological systems and the roles that climate and other stressors play in shaping food web structure and function. My current research explores how empirical data and ecological theory can aid our understanding of the mechanisms that govern aquatic food web dynamics and predict future change. I am currently studying how fisheries' health is affected by climate change and human development across Ontario, particularly focusing on key predatory fish species with different temperature preferences (e.g. lake trout, walleye and smallmouth bass). It excites me to work on the cusp of environmental research and policy; bridging gaps between science and public knowledge in order to drive more successful conservation initiatives.
I am fascinated by ecological systems and the roles that climate and other stressors play in shaping food web structure and function. My current research explores how empirical data and ecological theory can aid our understanding of the mechanisms that govern aquatic food web dynamics and predict future change. I am currently studying how fisheries' health is affected by climate change and human development across Ontario, particularly focusing on key predatory fish species with different temperature preferences (e.g. lake trout, walleye and smallmouth bass). It excites me to work on the cusp of environmental research and policy; bridging gaps between science and public knowledge in order to drive more successful conservation initiatives.
Timothy Fernandes
My doctoral work focuses on bridging the gaps between fish ecology and physiology across biological and temporal scales. My project aims to identify and compare seasonal patterns in physiology and ecology across cold- and warm-water fish species, while also disentangling how changes to these patterns (as expected under a changing climate) may translate to divergent life history and productivity outcomes. Outside of research, I enjoy casting a line, swimming in cold lakes, and sleeping in small tents.
Twitter: @a_fishy_fern, Website: https://timothyfernandes.wordpress.com/
My doctoral work focuses on bridging the gaps between fish ecology and physiology across biological and temporal scales. My project aims to identify and compare seasonal patterns in physiology and ecology across cold- and warm-water fish species, while also disentangling how changes to these patterns (as expected under a changing climate) may translate to divergent life history and productivity outcomes. Outside of research, I enjoy casting a line, swimming in cold lakes, and sleeping in small tents.
Twitter: @a_fishy_fern, Website: https://timothyfernandes.wordpress.com/
MSc students
Sofia Pereira
My interests in ecology stemmed from a fascination with reading animal books and watching Steven Irwin’s TV shows as a child. Currently, my research aims to explore seasonal variation of mercury burdens of freshwater fishes, and how tracing patterns of contaminant concentrations can inform us about fish behaviour and ecology. More broadly, I am also passionate about understanding the responses of species and ecosystems to climate change, in the interest of developing conservation strategies that could cushion the impact of global change. In my free time, I love to knit, read fantasy books outdoors and go on walks with my dog, Zuko.
My interests in ecology stemmed from a fascination with reading animal books and watching Steven Irwin’s TV shows as a child. Currently, my research aims to explore seasonal variation of mercury burdens of freshwater fishes, and how tracing patterns of contaminant concentrations can inform us about fish behaviour and ecology. More broadly, I am also passionate about understanding the responses of species and ecosystems to climate change, in the interest of developing conservation strategies that could cushion the impact of global change. In my free time, I love to knit, read fantasy books outdoors and go on walks with my dog, Zuko.
Amy Dao
I started my M.Sc. in the McMeans lab in September 2019. I’m interested in how seasonal changes (like temperature and light) influence the gut size of freshwater fish. In addition, I will also look at how these seasonal changes affect lipid and protein cycling in fish muscle and liver tissues. My work looks at two fish species (Lake Trout and Small Mouth Bass) in two different Lakes (Lake Of Two Rivers and Lake Opeongo).
I started my M.Sc. in the McMeans lab in September 2019. I’m interested in how seasonal changes (like temperature and light) influence the gut size of freshwater fish. In addition, I will also look at how these seasonal changes affect lipid and protein cycling in fish muscle and liver tissues. My work looks at two fish species (Lake Trout and Small Mouth Bass) in two different Lakes (Lake Of Two Rivers and Lake Opeongo).
Emma Bloomfield
I am currently investigating the effects of seasonality on ecological interactions between lake trout and smallmouth bass. The main tools I use to uncover seasonal interactions are stable isotopes as biological tracers. Understanding current seasonal interactions will aid in predicting the impacts of shorter winters due to climate change. This research is in collaboration with Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research in Algonquin Park, where I worked as a Student Aquatic Biologist for two summers. Broadly, I am interested in mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on aquatic ecosystems.
I am currently investigating the effects of seasonality on ecological interactions between lake trout and smallmouth bass. The main tools I use to uncover seasonal interactions are stable isotopes as biological tracers. Understanding current seasonal interactions will aid in predicting the impacts of shorter winters due to climate change. This research is in collaboration with Harkness Laboratory of Fisheries Research in Algonquin Park, where I worked as a Student Aquatic Biologist for two summers. Broadly, I am interested in mitigating the impacts of anthropogenic stressors on aquatic ecosystems.
Past lab members
Evan Versteeg
Evan completed his MSc in 2020. His thesis focused on seasonal variation in the brain size and movement behavior of lake trout. Evan is currently employed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Evan completed his MSc in 2020. His thesis focused on seasonal variation in the brain size and movement behavior of lake trout. Evan is currently employed by Fisheries and Oceans Canada.
Sydney Wilkinson
Sydney completed her MSc in 2020. Her project focused on using lipid biomarkers (i.e. highly branched isoprenoids and fatty acids) to detect changes in carbon flow through seasons in freshwater systems. Sydney is now a PhD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks under the supervision of Dr. Katrin Iken.
Sydney completed her MSc in 2020. Her project focused on using lipid biomarkers (i.e. highly branched isoprenoids and fatty acids) to detect changes in carbon flow through seasons in freshwater systems. Sydney is now a PhD student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks under the supervision of Dr. Katrin Iken.