What I do
I study aquatic invasive species with a focus on the role community engagement and social factors play in the invasion’s success. I have an interdisciplinary approach to research and collaboration, where I engage with the public, government, and industry to work towards more sustainable communities.
How I got here
While completing a degree in marine biology with a minor in psychology at Dalhousie University, I gained valuable research experience in literature analysis, biological and ecological sampling, and animal husbandry. During and after my bachelor's degree, I worked in various positions focused on scientific outreach and education for the youth and public. After working as an at-sea fisheries observer in Nova Scotia's groundfish fihsery, I yearned to explore the nexus between my main three interests: aquatic ecology, the efficacy of scientific outreach, and the under-researched perpectives and roles of resource users on natural resources. I now continue my journey at the University of Alberta's Green lab, under Dr Stephanie Green.
The role of Albertan anglers in tracking and controlling the invasive Prussian carp
Prussian carp are Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) invading Southern Alberta’s waterways, but their hardiness and rate of spread are posing a challenge to Alberta’s conservation organizations. Traditional biological sampling methods and fish removal, typically carried out by professionals and biologists, is expensive and time consuming, yet there are >270,000 anglers in Alberta who may have the knowledge and distribution to help with these efforts. However, managers have a poor understanding of the social, psychological, and economic factors that affect an angler’s willingness to participate in conservation activities, making the creation of efficient outreach efforts difficult. My research aims to 1) determine whether Prussian carp distributions can be determined by anglers’ reports, 2) identify the factors that affect an angler’s willingness to report and remove AIS, and 3) find out how and if outreach tools about AIS can affect anglers’ reporting.
By exploring alternatives to traditional biological sampling methods, and informing the creation of AIS outreach materials, conservation organizations will be able to more effectively use their limited resources.