Melisa C. Wong,

DFO, Bedford Institute of Oceanography

Melisa C. Wong is a benthic ecologist and research scientist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada, at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography in Dartmouth, NS. Dr. Wong completed her Ph.D. in Biology at the University of New Brunswick and post-doctoral studies at the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill prior to returning to her home province of NS in 2008.  Dr. Wong’s research examines trophic interactions and ecosystem function in shallow nearshore ecosystems, with emphasis on macrobenthic invertebrate communities and structured habitats.  Past research examined predator-prey dynamics, while more recent focus has been on seagrass ecology, taxonomic and functional diversity of benthic communities, secondary production, and production potential metrics for habitat restoration.  Dr. Wong is particularly interested in elucidating relationships of environmental gradients with benthic diversity and function.  She uses a combination of field studies, laboratory experiments, and quantitative analyses to address research questions.