Ricciardi Lab
Research on Aquatic Invasions

Redpath Museum & McGill School of Environment
McGill University

 
People in the Lab

Lisa A. Jones (PhD candidate, NSERC scholar, Vineberg Fellow)
Thesis title: Predicting aquatic invasion success and impact from species traits.

Katie Pagnucco (PhD candidate, Canada Graduate Scholar)
Thesis title: Predicting the impacts of nonindigenous freshwater fishes.

Josie Iacarella (PhD candidate, Tomlinson Doctoral Fellow, CAISN researcher)
Thesis title: Predicting the impacts of aquatic invasive species from their organismal traits and functional responses.

Suncica Avlijas (MSc. candidate)
Thesis title: Factors affecting the distribution and impact of the invasive freshwater mysid Hemimysis anomala.

Rowshyra Castaneda (MSc candidate)
Thesis title: Factors affecting the distribution, abundance and condition of an invasive freshwater bivalve in a thermal plume.

Andrea Reid (MSc candidate, NSERC scholar)
Thesis title: Optimal refugia for native fish species from the introduced Nile perch (Lates niloticus) in the Lake Victoria basin. [Co-supervised with Dr. Lauren Chapman]

Kayla Hamelin (MSc candidate, Julie Payette NSERC scholar)
Thesis title: Effects of thermal effluent on the diversity and distribution of benthic invertebrates in the St. Lawrence River.

Jordan Ouellette-Plante (MSc candidate, CAISN researcher)
Thesis title: Growth and filtration activity of invasive mussels.  [Co-supervised with Dr. Ladd Johnson, Univ. Laval]

Ahdia Hassan (MSc candidate, CAISN researcher)
Thesis title: Correlates of ecological and economic impact for translocated nonindigenous species.

Emilija Cvetanovska (MSc candidate, CAISN researcher)
Thesis title: Changes to an invasive bivalve population following the removal of an artificial thermal plume in the St. Lawrence River.

Andrea Morden (BSc Honours, Environment)
Project title: Biomass of benthic macroinvertebrates across a thermal plume.

Yasmina Remmel (BSc Independent Study, Biology)
Project title: Impacts of the round goby on benthic and planktonic microcrustaceans.

Yinci Yan (McGill Work Study Research Assistant)

 
Former students and research assistants

Cécile Tang (BSc, Independent Study, Biology, 2012)
Project title: Impact of invasive species on ecosystem services. [Co-supervised with Dr. Elena Bennett]

Marie-Claire Chiasson (McGill Work Study Research Assistant, 2012)

Charlotte Lapeyre (BSc, Independent Study, 2011-12)
Project title: Diversity of benthic macroinvertebrate communities within a thermal plume.

Marion Carrier (BSc, Independent Study, 2011-12)
Project title: Characterizing populations of Hemimysis anomala at two St. Lawrence River ports. [Subsequent position: Research Assistant, Faxafloi Cetacean Research, Iceland]

Laura McDonnell (Research Assistant, 2012)

Katherine Shaw (McGill Work Study & QCBS Research Assistant, 2012)

Isabel Tom (NSERC Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2011)

Max Farrell (BSc Honours, Biology, 2010-11)
Project title: Role of anthropogenic disturbance in the relative dominance of exotic benthic invertebrates in the St. Lawrence River. [Current position: NSERC CGSM MSc student, McGill]

Justin Trumpickas (MSc, Biology, 2010)
Thesis title: Impacts of introduced piscivores on lake fish assemblages.
[Current position: Regional Aquatic Science Analyst, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources]

Rebekah Kipp (MSc, Biology, 2010)
Thesis title: Impacts of an invasive benthic predator on macroinvertebrate communities in the St. Lawrence River.
[Current position: Project Manager (Stream Biomonitoring), Gault Nature Reserve]

Emma Weisbord (BSc Honours, Environment, 2010; co-supervised with Dr. Andy Gonzalez)
Project title: Relationship between economic inequality and biological invasions among countries.

Ekaterina Yakushina (BSc Independent Study, Biology, 2010)
Project title: Characteristics of Hemimysis anomala populations in the St. Lawrence River.
[Current position: MSc student, Bioresource Engineering, McGill]

Jessica M. Ward (PhD, Biology, 2010)
Thesis title: Community-level effects of non-indigenous aquatic ecosystem engineers.
[Current position: Aquatic Ecologist, AECOM]

Åsa Kestrup (PhD, Biology, 2010)
Thesis title: The effects of interspecific interactions and environmental heterogeneity on the dominance of an invasive freshwater crustacean.
[Current position: Science Advisor, Canadian Wildlife Federation]

Kathleen Church (MSc, Biology, 2010)
Thesis title: Agonistic interactions between invasive aquatic species.
[Subsequent position: Internship with Community Centred Conservation (UK)]

Stefanie Kulhanek (MSc, Biology, 2010; co-supervised with Dr. Brian Leung)
Thesis title: Investigating the use of invasion history, meta-analysis and niche-based models as tools for predicting the ecological impacts of introduced aquatic species.
[Current position: Science Educator, City of Montreal]

Issac Hebert (BSc, Independent Study & NSERC Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2009-10)
Project title: Diet of the round goby in the St. Lawrence River.
[Current position: MSc student, Concordia University]

Robby Marrotte (McGill Work Study Research Assistant, 2008-10)
[Current position: MSc student, Biology, McGill]

Karen Cholmondeley (McGill Work Study Research Assistant, 2009-10)

Sabriya Syed (McGill Work Study Research Assistant, 2008-09)
[Current position: PhD student, Mayo Graduate School]

Katie O'Sullivan (McGill Work Study Research Assistant, 2008-09)

Myriam Lacharité (BSc, Independent Study & NSERC Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2009)
Project title: Impacts of the round goby on molluscs in the St. Lawrence River.
[Current position: NSERC MSc student, Dalhousie University]

Natalie Summers (Independent Study, 2009)
Project title: Mechanisms of exotic species replacement.
[Current position: MSc student, James Cook University]

Niloufar Bayani (NSERC Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2009).

Jessica Murray (BSc, Independent Study, 2009)
Project title: Ecological impacts of the Emerald Ash Borer beetle in Ontario.

Geneviève D'Avignon (NSERC Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2008)
[Current position: MSc student, Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research, Memorial University]

Kanako Hasegawa (BSc, Env., Honours, 2008, co-supervised with Dr. Brian Leung)
Project title: Is invasion history useful in predicting the impacts of introduced species?

Deborah Lightman (BSc, Independent Study, 2008)
Project title: Conspecific attraction in the settlement of invasive mussel larvae.
[Current position: MSc student at McGill University]

Anneli Jokela (MSc, Biology, 2007)
Thesis title: Factors affecting the impact of invasive mussels on native freshwater mussels.
[Current position: NSERC PhD student at Queen's University]

Kathryn Harper (MSc, Biology, 2007)
Thesis title: Yellow perch consumption of invasive mussels in the St. Lawrence River.
[Current position: Sustainability Manager, Sears Canada]

Sarah J. Wilson (MSc, Biology, 2007)
Thesis title: Aquatic invertebrate communities on native and exotic plants.
[Current position: NSERC PhD student, Geography, McGill]

Suzanne Ellwood (BSc, Env., Independent Study, 2007)
Project title: Introduced aquatic ecosystem engineers.
[Current position: Policy Analyst, Canadian Forest Service; Master's degree, Queen's University, 2010]

Sandra Warren (NSERC Undergraduate Research Assistant, 2007).
[Current position: MSc student, Simon Fraser University]

Hanie Seo (Research Assistant, McGill Work Study Program, 2007-08).

Arthis Sowmithran (Research Assistant, McGill Work Study Program, 2007).

Robin Tiller (Research Assistant, McGill Work Study Program, 2006-07)
Project: Invertebrate identification in fish diets and benthic samples.

Christopher Elvidge (BSc, Env., Independent Study, 2007)
Project title: Shifts in species traits among North American freshwater fish assemblages: Ecological homogenization?
[Current position: PhD student at Concordia University]

Frederik Pegna (Research Assistant, McGill Work Study Program, 2006). [Current position: U.S. Coast Guard Sea Partners National Program Manager]

Jill Cohen (BSc, Env., Honours, 2006)
Project title: Is there a correlation between impact and invasiveness in exotic species?
[Current position: PhD student at Cornell University]

Sylvie Trottier (BSc, Independent Study, 2005)
Project title: Diversity of snail communities associated with native and invasive aquatic plants.
[Current position: Scientific Coordinator, David Suzuki Foundation]

Michelle E. Palmer (MSc, Biology, 2004)
Thesis title: Environmental factors affecting the relative abundance of native and invasive freshwater amphipods in the St. Lawrence River.
[Current position: Lake Simcoe Scientist, Ontario Ministry of Environment; obtained PhD from York University]

Colette Ward (BSc Honours, 2004)
Project title: Diet shifts in yellow perch (Perca flavescens) following multiple invasions to the zoobenthos of the St. Lawrence River.
[Current position: PhD student at University of Guelph]

Miriam Mottiar (BSc Honours, 2004)
Project title: Occurrence and abundance of exotic snails in the St. Lawrence River.
[Current position: Medical student at Queen's University]

Susanna K. Atkinson (BSc Honours, 2003)
Project title: Patterns of establishment and impact among introduced aquatic animals.
[Subsequent position: MSc student at University of Ottawa]

Jennifer Kövecses (Research Technician, 2002-03).
[Current position: Staff Scientist, San Francisco Baykeeper]