Invasive species: One of the greatest threats to biodiversity is the establishment of non-native species in new habitats. Concern over Asian carp species entering the Great Lakes has prompted a series of studies to develop methods for reducing the risk of establishment for these species. This research tests the effectiveness of barrier methods to prevent the spread of invasive carp and attempts to identify the effects of barriers on the physiology, behaviour, and ecology of non-target species.
Fisheries effects: Fisheries capture may result in direct mortality due to harvest, but fish are often released alive either voluntarily or due to mandate. The objective of this research is to understand how fisheries related capture and handling influence the physiological stress response and recovery, behaviour, and long-term survival of fish using tools ranging from biotelemetry to molecular genetics.
Climate change effects: Climate change poses a series of risks for organisms, including rapid changes in temperature regimes and extreme weather events. This research attempts to characterize the thermal ecology of migratory Pacific salmon and use a series of tools including telemetry, loggers, and physiological assessments of stress to identify the risks associated with climate change.
Habitat development and behaviour: With urban sprawl and continued habitat development across a global scale, there is a need to understand the consequences of habitat development and human activity on animals. This research aims to understand the effects of habitat development on animal behaviour, distribution, and abundance, by studying the consequences of anthropogenic stressors on wild animals across a gradient of habitat quality.
Michael Donaldson 