Aquatic Biologist

• Jan 2012 - Present

As an aquatic biologist with SLR Consulting, Megan specializes in the characterization and assessment of stream, large river, lake and marine fish communities and fish habitat. With SLR, she characterizes aquatic community conditions, identifies potential impacts and ecosystem responses to proposed land use changes, and recommends mitigation and offset strategies. She works closely with agencies including Conservation Authorities, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada to procure required permits, and authorizations. Megan is experienced in the planning, coordination and implementation of aquatic biological inventories in support of various protocols and regulatory requirements. Megan has been a project manager, project coordinator, and project team member for various environmental impact assessments. Megan is experienced with the Environmental Assessment process at the municipal, provincial and federal levels.

Research Assistant

• 2010 - 2012

Megan worked to complete her Master’s of Science degree with Dr. Thomas Pratt, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Dr. Mike Fox, Trent University. Her research was a collaborative stocking effectiveness monitoring program with Fisheries and Oceans Canada and Ministry of Natural Resources. She investigated the distribution and habitat associations of stocked American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) in Lake Ontario and the Upper St. Lawrence River in relation to eel dispersion, abundance, sexual differentiation and habitat preferences. In addition, she developed and implemented a project which assessed the dispersion patterns, based on the occurrence of migratory barriers, and habitat associations of stocked eels into Lake Ontario tributaries. Megan presented her research results at a number of conferences including AFS, CCFR, and AFC-OC and to MNRF offices. Megan completed a culmination of field and laboratory work including:1) boat and backpack electrofishing, fyke netting, and,2) eel otolith, stomach, gonad, and air bladder removal and preservation. Megan applied various univariate and multivariate analysis to identify the habitat associations of stocked American eels.

Masters of Science, M.Sc.

• 2010 - 2012

Graduate Teaching Assistant

• 2010 - 2011

Megan assisted with the design and facilitation of laboratory sessions for courses including Introductory Biology and Fish Ecology. She used a number of learning resources including multi-media presentations, peer-reviewed research papers, guest lecturers, and field trips to deliver course material. Megan was responsible for updating online learning platform (e.g. “Blackboard” system) with assignment notifications, grades, and facilitating group discussions. To support student progress, she held office hours for student tutoring and academic counseling.

Assistant Biologist

• 2008 - 2010

Megan worked for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (Glenora Fisheries Station), as part of the aquatic research and development section. Megan provided support to a multi-disciplinary research team that investigated the responses of Lake Ontario ecosystems to ecological disruptions such as invasive species, habitat alteration and fish exploitation on the structure and function of aquatic food webs in Lake Ontario. In particular, the research team studied the effects of invasive species; round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) and bloody red shrimp (Hemimysis anomala) on the aquatic food web in Lake Ontario. Megan assisted MNR Research Scientists and academic and government collaborators to collect, process, and interpret data needed to quantify the effects of invasive species. With MNRF, she operated and maintained field equipment such as; benthic Ekman and Ponar grabs, D nets; vertical plankton net, seine nets, and gill, fyke, hoop and trap nets. Collected limnology data using Van Dorn bottles bailers, YSI Sondes, data loggers, and secchi disks. Megan also performed fisheries sampling techniques - fish identification; measured length and weight; determined sex, maturity, and fecundity estimates; collected aging structures, and completed stomach contents analysis.