Principle Investigator
Lauren J. Chapman
Current Academic Positions: Professor, Department of Biology, McGill University (2004-present)
Honorary Lecturer, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda (1990-present)
Associate Member, McGill School for Environment (2006-present)
Associate Member, Redpath Museum, McGill University (2009-present)
Former academic positions: Assistant Professor, Department of Zoology, Univ. of Florida (1993-1998)
Associate Professor, Department of Zoology, Univ. of Florida (1998-2003)
Professor, Department of Zoology, Univ. of Florida (2003-2004)
e-mail: lauren.chapman [at] mcgill.ca
Research and Teaching Interests: Aquatic ecology and conservation, ecophysiology, evolutionary wcology, adaptive divergence, respiratory ecology, extreme environments.
In my research group, we integrate the morphology and physiology of fishes with their ecology and evolution to understand effects of environmental stressors on fishes. Current studies focus on consequences of hypoxic (low-oxygen) stress for fish performance and fitness, and interactions of hypoxia with other pervasive aquatic stressors: global warming, turbidity, invasive species, overfishing.
Please see the “research tab” on this website for additional information on our research themes.
Current Students
Heather Stewart
Ph.D. candidate, Department of Biology, McGill University
Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services and Sustainability (BESS) program
Co-supervised by Dr. Andrew Altieri (University of Florida)
Topic: The roles of stress and disturbance in the spatial variability of biodiversity: Lessons from mangroves.
Website: Heather A. Stewart, M.Sc. (wordpress.com) e-mail: heather.stewart [at] mail.mcgill.ca
David Hunt
Ph.D. candidate, Department of Biology, McGill University
Co-supervised by Dr. Andrew Hendry (Biology, Redpath Museum, McGill University)
Topic: Contemporary parallel evolution in response to hypoxia in an East African cyprinid.
e-mail: david.hunt2 [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Jessica Reemeyer
Ph.D. student, Department of Biology, McGill University
Topic: Effects of multiple stressors on the energetics of fish species at risk in Canada.
e-mail: jessica.reemeyer [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Herbert Nakiyende
Ph.D. student, Makerere University, Uganda
Fish Stock Assessment Scientist/Fish Biology & Ecology, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, Jinja, Uganda.
Topic: Exploitation of the light fisheries of Brycinus nurse and Engraulicypris bredoi in Lake Albert, Uganda: Implications for management.
e-mail: nakiyende [at] yahoo.ie
Liana Fortin-Hamel
M.Sc. student, Department of Biology, McGill University
Topic: Effects of thermal stress and turbidity on feeding and social behaviour of the threatened Pugnose Shiner (Notropis anogenus).
e-mail: liana.fortin-hamel [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Undergraduate Research Projects
Olympe Durrenberger
B.Sc. (4th year) in Biology with a Minor in Environment, McGill University.
Independent Study Topic: Long-term change in thermal regimes of a Ugandan crater lake (Lake Saka).
e-mail: olympe.durrenberger [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Anna Buchanan
B.Sc. student, McGill University
Honours Thesis Topic: Consequences of climate-driven range shifts in an East African fish community.
e-mail: anna.buchanan [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Research Assistants
Shelby Clarke
Research Assistant, Department of Biology, McGill University
Research areas: Aquatic ecology, Ecophysiology, Conservation
M.Sc. (2019), McGill University, co-supervised by Dr. Lauren Chapman and Dr. Rüdiger Krahe
Thesis: I explored the impacts of invasive species (Nile perch, Lates nilotcius) and hypoxia on the community dynamics and physiology of rare fishes in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda. A special emphasis was placed on the mormyrid weakly electric fishes.
Current Research: I currently work on two projects (1) NutriFish, which examines the micronutrient content of small fishes from the Lake Victoria Basin, Uganda, and (2) long-term monitoring of multiple Ugandan lakes. Other responsibilities include fish husbandry, organization of lab space, ordering of supplies, coordination of lab meetings, and training new students.
e-mail: shelby.clarke [at] mcgill.ca
William Nesbitt
Research Assistant, Department of Biology, McGill University
Research areas: Aqueous Geochemistry, Limnology, Oceanography
M.Sc. (2019), McGill University, Department of Earth and Planetary Science, supervised by Dr. Alfonso Mucci
Thesis: My project documented the magnitude and rates of dissolution of carbonate minerals in response to progressive acidification in the bottom waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Canada.
Current Research: I mainly working on two projects (1) Nutrifish, where I lead the analysis on the micronutrient concentrations and apply the results to food security in Uganda, and (2) the calcium concentration of Rastrineobola argentea. Other responsibilities include managing the chemical inventory and organizing lab space.
e-mail: William.nesbitt [at] mcgill.ca
Recent Lab Alumni
Lindsay Potts
M.Sc. (2019), Department of Biology, McGill University
Co-supervised by Dr. Nick Mandrak, University of Toronto Scarborough
Thesis topic: Informing a better conservation strategy: Examining the effects of multiple stressors on the threatened Pugnose Shiner.
e-mail: lindsay.potts [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Veronica Groves
Honours McGill School of Environment, McGill University
Honours Thesis Topic: Testing for changes in life history traits of a small African cyprinid, Rastrineobola argentea, in response to fishing pressure. (co-supervised by Dr. Diana Sharpe, Worcester State University).
Current Position: M.Sc. student, Concordia University
e-mail: v_groves [at] live.concordia.ca
Ronny Litvack-katzman
Science Undergraduate Research Award (SURA, 2019)
Topic: Cascading effects of reduced fishing pressure on the invasive Nile perch in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda.
e-mail: ronny.litvack.katzman [at] mail.mcgill.ca
Tazi Rodrigues
Independent study (2020)
Topic: Lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis) movement and habitat use over seasonally-changing oxythermal conditions in a small boreal lake. (co-supervised by Dr. Paul Blanchfield, DFO)
Current Position: Aquatic Science Biologist I, DFO.
e-mail: tazi.rodrigues [at] outlook.com
More Lab Alumni
Postdoctoral Fellows
Dr. Felipe Pérez Jvostov (Department of Biology, McGill University, co-supervised by Dr. A. Hendry and Dr. A. Altieri). NSERC CREATE -BESS Postdoctoral Fellow. Fall 2016 – Fall 2018. Project: Ecological and evolutionary implications of the damming of the Bayano River, Panama. Current Position – Senior Analyst for Researcher Outreach and Communication, McGill University.
Dr. Gladys Bwanika (Department of Biological Sciences, Makerere University). Funded by: SIDA Bilateral Research. Project: Modelling of exploitable fish populations: A case study of Nile Perch in Lake Nabugabo. November 2011 – present. Current Position – Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda.
Dr. Katja Rasanen (Department of Biology, McGill University, in collaboration with Dr. A. Hendry). Project: Ecological speciation: Mechanisms of reproductive isolation in fishes. July 2005 – December 2005. Current Position: Associate Professor and Group Leader, Department of Aquatic Ecology/ETH-Zürich, Institute of integrative Biology.
Dr. Inke van der Sluijs (Department of Biology, McGill University). Project: Mate selection and phenotypic plasticity in the widespread African cichlid, Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor. March 2008 – February 2010. Current Position: Technical Manager for the Round Table on Palm Oil Production in Europe.
Dr. Erin Reardon (Department of Biology, McGill University, co-supervised by Dr. R. Krahe). Project: Hypoxia and the energetics of electric fishes. Janaury 2010 – June 2010. Current Position: Associate Research Fellow, BioScience, University of Exeter, U.K.
Dr. Emilie Saulnier-Talbot (Department of Biology, McGill, co-supervised by Dr. I. Gregory-Eaves). Project: Can aquatic insect sub-fossil remains be used as a reliable proxy to infer past changes in fish populations in the crater lakes of western Uganda? May 2008 – Dec. 2010. Current Position: Assistant Professor, Département de biologie, Université Laval, Québec. Chaire de recherche sur les écosystèmes côtiers et les activités portuaires, industrielles et maritimes.
Dr. Susanne Gray – Department of Biology, McGill University (co-supervised by Dr. N. Mandrak, DFO). Project: Interaction of turbidity and hypoxia on the evolutionary ecology of an African cichlid. January 2009 – July 2013. Current Position: Associate Professor, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University.
Ph.D.
Elizabeth Nyboer - Ph.D. in Biology, Department of Biology, McGill University. Dissertation Title: Vulnerability and Adaptability of Africa’s Inland Fisheries to Climate Change: An Interdisciplinary approach to a Multi-Dimensional Conservation Challenge. (2018). Current Position: Postdoctoral fellow (FRQNT), Carlton University, Ottawa.
Kerri Ackerly - Ph.D. in Biology, Department of Biology, McGill University, co-supervised by Dr. R. Krahe. Dissertation Title: Impacts of Physiologically Challenging Environmental Conditions on Performance in Weakly Electric Elephant-nose Fishes. (2017). Current Position: Post-doctoral Fellow, University of Texas at Austin.
Vincent Fugere - Ph.D. in Biology, Department of Biology, McGill University. Dissertation Title: Impacts of Land Use on Ugandan Rainforest Streams: From Fish Physiology to Ecosystem Functioning. (2016). Current Position: Assistant Professor, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières.
Sr. Jane Yatuha - Ph.D. in Biology, Bunda College of Agriculture, University of Malawi (external supervisor). Dissertation Title: Food, Feeding Habits and Aspects of Reproductive Biology of Clarias liocephalus, a Potential Culture Species for Small Holder Fish Farms in South-western Uganda. (2015). Current Position: Lecturer, Department of Biology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
Diana Sharpe - Ph.D. in Biology, Department of Biology, McGill University. Dissertation Title: Phenotypic Response to Anthropogenic Stressors in the African Cyprinid Rastrineobola argentea. (2012). Current Position: Assistant Professor, Worcester State University, MA, U.S.A.
Nkalubo Winnie Nalukenge - Ph.D. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, Makerere University, Uganda. Dissertation Title: Life History Traits and Growth of Nile perch, Lates niloticus (L.), in Lake Victoria, Uganda: Implications for Management of the Fishery. (2012) (co-supervised by Dr. F. Muyodi). Current Position: Director, National Fisheries Resources Research Institute, Uganda.
Erika Crispo – Ph.D. in Biology, Department of Biology, McGill University. Dissertation Title: Interplay among Phenotypic Plasticity, Local Adaptation, and Gene Flow. (2010) (co-supervised by Dr. A. Hendry). Current Position: Associate Professor, Pace University, N.Y., USA.
Akisoferi Owori-Wadunde – Ph.D. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, Makerere University, Uganda. Dissertation Title: The Feeding Ecology, Ontogeny and Larval Feeding in Labeo victorianus Boulenger 1901 (Pisces: Cyprinidae). (2009) (co-supervised by Dr. F. Bugenyi). Senior Research Scientist, Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Kajjansi Uganda.
Erin Reardon – Ph.D. in Biology, Department of Biology, McGill University. Dissertation Title: Fish in Extreme Environments: Reproduction and Energetics under Hypoxia. (2009). Current Position: Associate Research Fellow, BioScience, University of Exeter.
Jackson Efitre – Ph.D. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Dissertation Title: Life History Variation in Tilapia Populations within the Crater Lakes of Western Uganda: The Role of Size-Selective Predation. (2007). Current Position: Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Aventino Kasangaki – Ph.D. in Zoology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Dissertation Title: Fish Fauna of the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park Along a Deforestation Gradient. (2007) (co-supervised by Dr. J. Balirwa). Current Position: Senior Lecturer and Head of Department, Busitem University, Bekedea, Uganda.
Gladys Namuswe Bwanika – Ph.D. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, Makerere University. Dissertation Title: Feeding Ecology and Bioenergetics of Nile Tilapia. (2005) (co-supervised by Dr. Y. Kizito). Current Position: Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Uganda.
Cindy Timmerman – Ph.D. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Dissertation Title: An Integrative Study of Response to Hypoxia in the Live-bearing Sailfin Molly, Poecilia latipinna (Atherinomorpha; Poeciliidae). (2001). Current Position: Head of Science Department at Haas Hall Academy, Prairie Grove, Arkansas.
M.S. Internships
Saravpreet Kaur (Department of Bioresource Engineering, Integrated Water Resources Management, McGill University) (2019). Internship Research Project Title: Effects of two pervasive stressors, hypoxia and elevated water temperature, on the thermal tolerance of the endangered Pugnose Shiner.
Michael Pekrul - Department of Bioresource Engineering, Integrated Water Resources Management, McGill University. Internship Research Project Title: Considering the Implications of Global Climate Change: Analysis of Aquatic Thermal and Dissolved Oxygen Trends in a Swamp-river System in Kibale National Park, Uganda. (2017). Current Position: Surface Water Quality Technologist at Government of Alberta.
M.Sc.
Shelby Clarke – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University, co-supervised by Dr. Rudiger Krahe. Thesis Title: Persistence of Rare Species in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda: A Case Study of Low-oxygen Tolerance in the Weakly Electric Fish Petrocephalus degeni. (2019). Current Position: Research Assistant, Department of Biology, McGill University.
Marisol Valverde – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University, NEO/BESS program, co-supervised by Dr. Mark Torchin (STRI). Thesis title: Potential Impacts of the Introduced Peacock Bass, Cichla monoculus, on the Diet and Trophic Ecology of a Native Predator in Lake Gatun, Panama. (2018). Current Position: Ph.D. student, Cornell University.
Tyler Moulton – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis title: Keeping a Finger on the Pulse of East African Weakly Electric Fishes: Ecology and Hypoxia Tolerance of Mormyrids in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda (2016). Current Position: Ph.D. student, Concordia University.
Emmanuelle Chretien – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis title: Habitat Selection and Body Size as Potential Drivers of Intraspecific Variation in Thermal Tolerance of Nile perch (Lates niloticus L.) (2015). Current Position: Ph.D. candidate, Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Catherine Baltazar – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis title: Fitness Consequences of Divergent Oxygen Environments in a Widespread African Cyprinid. (2015). Current Position: Chargée de projets à l'OBV des rivières Rouge, Petite nation et Saumon, Quebec, Canada.
Laura McDonnell – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis title: Effects of Elevated Temperature on Metabolic Performance and Thermal Tolerance of a Widespread African Cichlid. (2015). Current Position: Ph.D. student, University of Miami, Florida, USA.
Jackson Baguma – M.Sc. in Biology, Makerere University, Uganda, co-supervised by Dr. G. Bwanika. Thesis Title: Bioenergetics of Nile perch, Lates niloticus, in inshore habitats of Lake Nabugabo, Uganda. (2014). Current Position: Regional Fisheries Officer, Uganda.
Dalal Hanna – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis Title: Mercury in African Freshwater Fishes: A Continent-wide Review and a Case Study of Nile perch (Lates niloticus). (2014). Current Positon: Ph.D. student, Department of Natural Resource Science McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
Elizabeth Nyboer – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis Title: Movement, Home range, and ecological Divergence in the Commercially Fished Nile perch in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda. (2012). Current Position: see above under Ph.D. students.
Andrea Reid – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis Title: Predicting Peak Refugia for Mitigating Impacts of Invasive Predatory Fishes. (2012) (co-supervised by Dr. A. Ricciardi). Current Position: Ph.D. candidate, Carlton University, Ottawa, Canada.
Georgia McNeil – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. (2012). Thesis Title: Hypoxia, Carotenoids, and Colour Expression in the Widespread African Cichlid Fish Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae. (2012). Current Position: Food Program Coordinator, Ecology Action Centre, Halifax, Canada.
Caitlin Friesen – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis Title: The Effect of Hypoxia on Reproductive Processes in the African cichlid Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae. (2011) (co-supervised by Dr. Nadia Aubin-Horth). Current Position: Ph.D. candidate, University of Texas, Austin, USA.
Sandra Binning – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis Title: Specialized Morphology for a Generalist Diet: Spatial and Seasonal Surveys Reveal Liem’s Paradox in an African Cichlid Fish. (2008). Current Position: Assistant Professor. Département de sciences biologiques, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada.
Jaclyn Paterson – M.Sc. in Biology, McGill University. Thesis Title: Response of an Introduced Aquatic Predator, the Nile Perch, to Environmental Change. (2008). Current Position: Policy Analyst, Health Canada’s Climate Change and health Office, Environment and Climate Change Canada.
Ashley Seifert – M.S. in Zoology, University of Florida. Thesis Title: Respiratory Allocation and Resting Rate of Metabolism in the African Lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus. (2004). Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of Kentucky, Kentucky, USA.
Jennifer Davies – M.A. in Latin American Studies, University of Florida. Thesis Title: Population Ecology of the Vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) at the Salinas y Aguada Blanca National Reserve, Arequipa, Peru: Baseline Data for Sustainable Management. (2003) (co-supervised).
Christine K. Apodaca – M.S. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Thesis Title: Damselflies in Extreme Environments: Distribution and Ecophysiology of Proishnura subfurcatum. (2003).
Sarah Schaack – M.S. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Thesis Title: Functional Morphology and Foraging Ecology of the African Cyprinid, Barbus neumayeri: Implications for Faunal Diversification. (2002). Current Position: Associate Professor, Biology, Reed College, Portland, Oregon.
April Randle – M.S. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Thesis Title: Respiratory Ecology of the Air-breathing Anabantoid Ctenopoma muriei. (2001). Current Position: Assistant Professor, University of San Francisco, San Francisco, USA.
Efitre Jackson - M.S. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, Makerere University, Uganda. Thesis Title: Species Composition, Relative Abundance, and Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda. (1999) (co-supervised by Dr. B. Makanga). Current Position: Senior Lecturer, Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
John Olowo - M.S. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Thesis Title: The Impact of the Introduced Nile perch (Lates niloticus) on the Foraging Ecology of Non-cichlid Predators in the Lake Victoria Basin. (1998). Deceased.
Pamela Schofield - M.S. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Thesis Title: Feeding Ecology of the Introduced Nile Perch (Lates niloticus) in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda: Implications for Conservation of the Indigenous Fauna. (1997). Current Position: Research Fishery Biology, USGS, Gainseville, Florida, USA.
Amanda E. Rosenberger - M.S. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Thesis Title: Potential of Wetland Tributaries as Refugia for Endangered Fishes from Nonnative Predators: A Case Study of Lake Nabugabo, Uganda. (1997). Current Position: Assistant Unit Leader, U.S Geological Survey, Tennessee Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, Department of Biology, Tennessee Tech University, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA.
Deborah Bayster - M.S. in Zoology, Department of Zoology, University of Florida. Thesis Title: Respiratory Ecology of Fishes in a Florida Spring. (1996).
Undergraduate Honors Theses – McGill University (2004-present, UF not included here)
Veronica Groves - Testing for Changes in Life History Traits of a Small African Cyprinid, Rastrineobola argentea in response to fishing pressures. (2019).
Tristan Kosciuch - Predicting Changes in the Consumption of the Invasive Nile perch in the Face of Climate Warming: A Bioenergetics Approach (2018).
Sarah Gravel - Phenotypic Plasticity in the Heart and Brain of the African Cichlid Fish Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae in Response to Dual Stessors (2018).
Luisa Sarmiento Trujillo – Effects of Long-term Acclimation to Elevated Water Temperatures on Gill, Brain, and Heart Size in Two Commercially Important Tropical Freshwater Fishes. (2017).
Lindsay Potts - Persisting in the Face of Invasive Predators: Testing for Evidence of Predator-induced Morphological Change in a Native African Cichlid (2016).
Tian Rui Zhang - The Effect of Acute Hypoxia on Fast-Starting Swimming and EOD rate in a Weakly Electric Fish (2015) (co-supervised by Dr. R. Krahe).
Emma Luker - Distribution of Haplochromine Cichlids in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda: Rarity, Refugia, and Resurgence (2014).
Tyler Moulton - Distribution of Mormyrid Fishes in Lake Nabugabo, Uganda, 50 Years After the Introduction of the Nile Perch (2013) (co-supervised by Dr. R. Krahe).
Charde Morgan - A Fishery on the Edge: Fishing Trends and Stocks in Lake Nabugabo, East Africa. (2011, McGill School of Environment).
Amalia Aldredge – Behaviour of an African Cichlid from Divergent Oxygen Environments (2010).
Kiyoko Gotanda – The Effects of Hypoxia on the Critical Swimming Speed of an African Cichlid. (2009).
Kate Hudson – Interpopulational Variation in Critical Swimiming Speed and Morphology in Threespine Stickleback, Gasterosteus aculeatus. (2006) (co-supervised by Dr. A. Hendry).