Principal Investigator

I am interested in a wide array of topics, including maternal effects, thermal ecology, and the evolution of life histories. I work with ectothermic vertebrates, and I use non-model systems to answer fundamental and applied questions in evolutionary ecology and conservation.

Previously, I worked with Dr. Ron Brooks (MSc. U. Guelph), Dr. Jeff Hutchings (PhD. Dalhousie U.), and Dr. Locke Rowe (PDF University of Toronto). 

Most of my current research program is based out of Algonquin Park in Ontario.

PhD Students

Hollis is interested in how organisms diversify and evolve in dynamic geographic arrangements and environments. She holds a long-time enthusiasm for herpetology, as well as Chinese culture and language. An advocate for scientific outreach, cultural exchange, and international scientific collaboration, she will continue to travel to China and collaborate with researchers there.

Hana studies movement ecology of turtles and salamanders. She is interested in understanding animal movement patterns and how they change with human disturbances. During her MSc with Dr. Cassidy D’Aloia, she studied the effects of habitat quality on the abundance of a coral-dwelling fish at multiple spatial scales. In her free time, Hana enjoys hiking, diving, and traveling, but when it’s cold, she prefers cozying up inside and playing board games

Robin is studying the evolutionary ecology of temperature-dependent sex determination through a combination of experimental approaches. In his free time, Robin enjoys BBQing and riding the Leviathan at Canada’s wonderland.

Shaquille is focusing on control measures for the invasive pond sliders (Trachemys scripta) in Europe. Under the supervision of Dr. Stefano Canessa at the University of Bern, he is assessing T. scripta control methods in terms of their effectiveness, cost, and impact on animal welfare. This work comprises the bulk of his thesis. With the Rollinson group, he is developing an integrated integral projection model using data from the Rollinson group to predict population trajectories of T. scripta under various control methods. Our goal is not only to predict the most effective removal methods but also to highlight the trade-offs between these methods in a comprehensive assessment. Outside of his PhD project, he is a collaborator in the Nimba Project and he volunteers in various conservation projects. He is always eager to explore potential new collaborations and fieldwork opportunities, so please feel free to reach out.

Wan is developing a global perspective of TSD patterns. Her research looks into how sex ratios of TSD and GSD species vary across ontogeny, with the environment, and across geographic ranges. She enjoys hiking and doing handicrafts (jewelry, crochet, everything!) in her free time

MSc Students

Emma is interested in the drivers of demographic variation and trait variation in amphibians and reptiles over large geographic scales. She enjoys learning quantitative approaches, as well as field work. Her hobbies include herping, running, and knitting

Amelia is interested in investigating how climate change influences the phenological timing of nesting in different species of turtles. Her research will ultimately be used to predict how nesting phenology will change over future decades as a result of increasing temperatures from climate change. In her free time, Amelia enjoys horseback riding, live music, and snorkelling

Alumni

DYLAN KAUFMAN, MSc 2025

CELINA YANG, MSc 2024

JESSICA LEIVESLEY, PhD 2023

CLAUDIA LACROIX, MSc 2023

PATRICK MOLDOWAN, PhD 2023

MARIEL TEREBIZNIK, MSc 2022

RYAN WOLFE, MSc 2022

MEGAN GREISHAR, POSTDOC, 2019

KATIE ZIEBARTH, MSc 2020 (co-supervised by MARIE-JOSEE FORTIN)

MELANIE MASSEY, MSc 2018

Undergraduate Alumni & Research Topics

2024

Lauren Rego – EEB498 – Vocalization of snapping turtles

Emma Zongaro – EEB397 – Operational sex ratios of amphibians

Erin Huang – EEB498 – Meta-analysis of ecogeographic clines in reptiles

Nathaniel Zongaro – EEB397 – Determinants of amphibian range sizes

Rana Fineman – EEB498 – Density dependent responses in juvenile salmon

2023

Emile Watanabe – REP/EEB267 – Vocalizations of snapping turtles

Wynn Murakami-Clisham – REP – Turtle nest digging behaviour

Justice King – REP – Salamander embryo growth models

Jack Gadoury – REP – Evolution of TSD

2022

Claire Voss – REP/EEB397 – Vocalizations of painted turtles

Germain Collinge Menard – REP – Salamander sex ratios

Lilian Chan – REP/EEB498 – Climate change effects on life histories

Yara Ghabra – REP – Sperm viability in spotted salamanders

2021

Teagen Netten – EEB498 – Morph frequencies of red-back salamanders

Gloria Gao – REP – Deformities in spotted salamanders

Jacqueline McLean – REP – Sex-specific energetics of amphibians

Rachel Fallas – REP – Chelonian nest timing

2020

Nick Ypelaar – REP – Spot patterns in spotted salamanders

2019

Malcolm Fenech – Social behaviour in adult turtles
Aisha Faruqui – EEB397 – Evolution and maintenance of TSD
Claudia Lacroix – EEB397 – Social behaviour in hatchling turtles
Dante Ravenhearst – EEB498 – Ecology and evolution of turtle barbles
Jared Connoy – EEB498 – Evolution of TSD and nesting patterns
Hayley Vlcek – REP – Nest site selection in painted turtles
Gloria Gao – REP – Abnormalities of spotted salamanders in natural ecosystems
Pallavi Pal – Trinity One Internship
Lucas Warma – Trinity One Internship

2018

Daire Crawford – REP – Condition-dependent reproductive timing in toads
Mariel Terebiznik – REP – Phenotypic – environmental correlation of sex in turtles
Lauren Lawson – EEB498 – Incubation regimes in turtle conservation programs
Natalia Hrynko – EEB498 – Reproductive biomass of amphibians in Algonquin

2017

Carter Rouleau – REP – Evolution of thermal reaction norms in turtles
Deborah Hawkshaw – EEB498 – Evolution of sexual weaponry in turtles
Ann Francis – REP – Nest site selection in natural vs anthropogenic sites
Christopher Reid – CGCS scholar – Climate change & early growth of turtles
Dana Berg – CGCS scholar – Climate change and phenology of turtles
Vivian Shum – NSERC USRA – Evolution of senescence in Daphnia

2016

Jessica Santilli – EEB498 – Bergmann’s Rule in Turtles
Lucian Wang – EEB398 – Evolution of maternal effects in Daphnia