McGill University
Postdoctoral fellow candidate
Supervisor: Lars Lonsmann Iversen
Irene Gregory-Eaves
Start: 2025-03-01
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Project

A Multi-Method Approach for Monitoring Aquatic Invasive Species and Identifying Conservation Priorities in Freshwater Habitats
Ecologically harmful species introduced to terrestrial, marine, and freshwater environments outside of their native ranges cause widespread and far-reaching damage to ecosystems. Aquatic invasive species in particular pose significant threats due to their ability to spread more easily while remaining undetected for long periods, allowing them to establish stable populations more frequently relative to their terrestrial counterparts. Despite decades of research, aquatic species invasions in freshwater ecosystems continue to increase in their frequency and geographical extent, including many notable invasions in Canada. In this project, I will outline how a multi-method approach of eDNA-based methods and passive acoustic monitoring can be used to detect aquatic invasive species, reveal novel insights into freshwater ecosystem function and condition, and identify areas of conservation priority to effectively manage limited conservation resources.

Keywords

Freshwater ecology, Passive acoustic monitoring, Environmental DNA