“For the vast majority of Atlantic Canadians—affectionately referred to as “East Coasters” and “Maritimers”—it is no surprise that waters off the coasts of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island are home to a wide variety of shark species. Fisheries and Oceans Canada provides a list of over 20 of these species that have been identified in Atlantic Canada—ranging from the porbeagle (Lamna nasus) and basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) to the tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier), and of course, the world’s most notorious ocean predator: the great white (Carcharodon carcharias).”
Read moreUnderstanding the Public Health Concern of the Saint John River through Dr. Janice Lawrence’s Cyanobacteria Research
““There [has been] a big conversation and dialogue about the river, how important it is, and how many peoples’ lives were affected when they became afraid of something they always took for granted to be safe”, says Dr. Janice Lawrence, Professor and Associate Dean of Science at the University of New Brunswick. Janice has found herself explaining her research on toxin-producing cyanobacteria distribution to lake associations and cottage owners alike, due to the growing concern that the bodies of water near them could be potentially hazardous. However, it was not Janice’s initial plan to be studying cyanobacteria, a prominent type of photosynthetic bacteria. Janice did her PhD at Dalhousie University studying toxic phytoplankton, a type of marine algae, and became interested in why toxic blooms, or the rapid increase of toxin-producing organisms, occur in some places in the ocean but not others.”
Read moreEstimating Population Abundance of Brook Trout: The Eleventh Hour
“The annual catch of brook trout and Atlantic salmon, however, is experiencing a relatively steady decline for a multitude of reasons; over-exploitation, habitat degradation, and the introduction of invasive species such as the smallmouth bass, for example, can account for some of this deterioration. In addition, brook trout are extremely sensitive to temperature-related stress and are intolerant to water temperatures above their thermal optima, which in general, is relatively low for salmonids.”
Read moreWild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in New Brunswick: How They Got Here and What This Means for Native New Brunswick Flora and Fauna.
“Wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopava) are an increasingly regular occurrence in the province of New Brunswick over the past decade. As with any new species, these turkeys leave managers and scientists unsure of the impacts they could have on native flora and fauna species. In order to properly manage a species, biologists need to know some key ecological details about the population, such as habitat and food sources, where populations are located, and where the animals are reproducing. Dr. Graham Forbes is working closely with graduate students in order to begin this research and discussion.”
Read moreThe Career Path of Dr. Valerie Reeves
“It is commonly believed that experiences shape people's lives, which is more than true for Dr. Valerie Reeves. Coming from Salisbury, New Brunswick, Dr. Reeves chose to start her professional career here at UNB, Fredericton. Enrolled in a Bachelor of Science program, she had her sights set on pursuing a biology degree with the hopes of someday becoming a Marine Biologist. Learn more about a mixed methods approach and how that can affect findings in STEM. “
Learn more about Dr. Valerie Reeves Career Path.
Read moreWhiteFeather Hunter: An Artistic Interpretation of Biology
To the average person, science and art are two directly opposing fields. At first glance, science seems as if it is solely concerned with empirical facts and research, while art seemingly has little application outside of creative expression. However, upon taking a deeper look, it is difficult to imagine a world in which one could function without the other.
Read moreRetrotransposons: a Balancing Act at the Genome Scale
The Human Genome Project (HGP) began in 1990 and remains one of the most major international biological endeavours of our time. Over the span of 13 years, researchers from 20 different centres across 6 countries, came together and successfully mapped nearly all 3 billion base pairs of the human genome with its approximately 30 000 genes [1]. Accompanying these advancements were the development of new DNA analysis technologies that could be used on massive genome-scale projects. The HGP has since fuelled the discovery of more than 1800 disease genes, and allowed for the development of now more than 2000 tests for various genetic conditions [2].
Read moreUsing Biomarkers to Detect Vaccine Success
The exploration of Biomarkers is a novel field of research, and potentially offers many answers for health researchers. Biomarkers are biological indicators that help confirm whether or not something of interest occurs, for example, they can act as an early predictor of vaccination success, as opposed to waiting longer periods of time to evaluate whether the disease is completely eliminated. Some of the latest research looking into using biomarkers as indicators of vaccine success is done in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
Read moreCauses and Consequences of the Miramichi Salmon Decline
Since the 80s, the number of Atlantic Salmon (Salmo salar) returning to the Miramichi River have experienced a drastic decrease compared to previous years. According to Department of Fisheries and Oceans from 1992 to 2014 the Miramichi watershed has seen a 93.5% decrease in the number of returning Atlantic Salmon!
Read moreHeart Health & Research: Discovery of Electrical Conductivity Between Healthy and Damaged Heart Tissue
Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Canada, and 2.4 million Canadians were affected by it in 2012—a number which is only increasing. The well-documented risk factors that increase the likelihood of encountering such illness are a familiar topic of discussion among Canadians. In North America, we live in a fast-paced, work-focused, and often stressful environment that causes a significant amount of anxiety; many of us cope with such a stressful environment by picking up harmful habits such as smoking, altering our lifestyle to accommodate our work schedule, or opting for processed fast foods in lieu of healthier homemade options—all of which have a detrimental effect on our health.
Read moreSeek Onward: A Journey delving into Paleo-ecology
It is common to wonder, how has our environment changed and how have we changed with it? What initiated or facilitated these changes? These intertwined questions are complex and comprehensive answers demand that Paleoecologists utilize all available pieces of ancient environments; only then offering a glimpse into the past. Take a look into Dr. Les Cwynar's research of Paleoecology.
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