Our Team

Our team of researchers is constantly changing, as students graduate and leave while other students begin their graduate studies.

Mike Stokesbury, PH.D.
Dr. Michael Stokesbury is a Canada Research Chair in the Ecology of Coastal Environments. He has published research studies on several diadromous and marine species including migrational and behavioural research on Atlantic salmon, and Greenland sharks, and a co-authored paper in Nature on Atlantic bluefin tuna population structure. His research focuses on the study of movement and behaviour of large marine predators through the use of satellite, archival, and acoustic tagging equipment.

Mike Dadswell, PH.D.
coming soon!

Current Students

Aaron Spares, PH.D. Candidate (Dalhousie)
coming soon!

Marylise Lefevre
coming soon!

Sierra Wehrell
Sierra Wehrell grew up near the shores of the Bay of Fundy and completed her BSc (Hons.) at Acadia University. Her honours thesis was a survey of the groundfish caught by summer trawl fishery in Minas Basin and Scots Bay. This began her interest in sustainable, small community fisheries and the challenges involved in the recovery of overexploited fish stocks. After 2 years of adventures in Alaska and working for the Canadian government, Sierra returned to Acadia to start a Master’s thesis. Her work involves describing the aggregation of Atlantic sturgeon that utilizes the Minas Basin during the summer months. Atlantic sturgeon have been intensely studied since the 1970s but the details of their marine migration in Canadian waters remain unknown. Sierra hopes to shed some light on this aspect in this small part of the vast ocean.
Favourite quote:
"The sea is as near as we come to another world."
~ Anne Stevenson

Montana McLean
Montana earned her BSc (Hons.) at the University of Guelph, Ontario. She quickly came to the realization that a move to the coast was in order if she wanted to continue her studies in marine biology. Her research at Acadia involves the use of passive acoustic receiving technology paired with coded transmitters to investigate the movement of Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus) in the Minas Basin, Bay of Fundy. Her project also involves the investigation of fine-scale movement patterns in order to examine spatial distribution using VR2W Positioning System technology. Along with gut analysis via gastric lavage and taxonomic identification of prey, she hopes to identify areas of critical feeding habitat as well as principle components of the Atlantic sturgeon diet.
One of her favourites:
"The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever."
~Jacques-Yves Cousteau

Jeffrey Beardsall
Jeff received his BSc (Hons.) from Acadia University in Psychology and Biology. He is interested in studying how physiological stress responses influence behavior and their adaptive function for survival.  Jeff’s work in the Stokesbury lab includes collection of blood samples from Atlantic sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus). The blood samples will be used to measure stress associated with two capture methods (fish weir and trawling techniques). Various physiological indicators of stress and physical activity (i.e. plasma cortisol, glucose, lactate, ions, and pH) will be used to identify the capture method that minimizes physiological disturbance and the likelihood of subsequent impairments.

Research Assistants

Colin Buhariwalla
coming soon!

William Roberts
After his 3rd year of his Biology undergraduate studies, William joined the lab to help with the on-going Atlantic Salmon and Atlantic Sturgeon research projects.

Previous Students

Jeff Reader
coming soon!

Jump to

• Mike Stokesbury
• Mike Dadswell
• Aaron Spares
• Marylise Lefevre
• Sierra Wehrell
• Montana McLean
• Jeffrey Beardsall
• William Roberts

Previous Students

• Jeffrey Reader