Evelyn MacRobert, MSc Candidate
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Department of Biology
Having always enjoyed being around water, my gravitation to marine ecology is no surprise. I received my Bachelors of Science from the University of Guelph, majoring in Marine and Freshwater Biology. My interests include predator-prey interactions and habitat quality.
Supervisors: Dr. Robert Gregory and Dr. Paul Snelgrove
Start to Finish: 09/2015 to 08/2017
CHONe Project: 1.2.1: The contribution of nearshore coastal zone nurseries to offshore capture fisheries
Project Title: Mortality Rates and Predation Risk in Age-0 Juvenile Atlantic Cod (Gadus morhua) in Newman Sound, Newfoundland
Project Description:
Juvenile fish experience a high rate of mortality and most of this mortality is due to predation. In Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), juveniles settle in to eelgrass beds which serve as nursery habitat, providing food and shelter from predation. I am interested in understanding the important of eelgrass nursery habitats to the survival of juvenile cod. Specifically, I aim to
- Determine the mortality rate of age-0 juveniles,
- Determine the distribution of age-0 juveniles within eelgrass patches, and
- Determine the habitat areas that hold the highest predation risk, based on where predators occur.
With this project, I hope to provide insight into how important eelgrass beds are to the growth and recovery of the cod populations.