Research Interests

Haemobaphes diceraus from the gill region of surfperch, Cymatogaster aggregata

Ecological Parasitology:

My research focusses on the evolutionary ecology of host-parasite interactions. I am intrigued by the fascinating opportunities available to explore ecological and evolutionary concepts by integrating the study of the complex adaptations of parasites and the interactions with their hosts. I believe strongly in directly involving students in my research pursuits. My students and I are currently conducting field-based studies which examine the multitude of factors that influence arthropod and helminth parasite population dynamics and community patterns in several species of marine fishes. For example, Shelley Jepps conducted a study of the population dynamics of a bizarre parasitic copepod, Haemobaphes diceraus (see photo above) from a local population of surfperch. Greg Sandland worked on the taxonomy and population biology of a new species of dracunculid nematode of flatfish. Greg and Mandeep Dhillon have also completed a study which compares the helminth parasite communities of two species of sculpin. I am also involved in two long-term collaborative research projects. One is with a friend, Michael Steele at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania. This project is a biogeographic and community study of the parasites of shrews from the southern Appalachian mountains in North Carolina. The other project was conducted in Switzerland with my brother, Cam (now at the University of Lethbridge in Alberta) and was an experimental study designed to examine the role of host genetic and behavioural factors in determining the response of toads to a pathogenic lung nematode, Rhabdias bufonis.

I maintain an active membership in the American Society of Parasitologists.