|
Amanda is a M.Sc. student under the supervision of Steven Cooke at Carleton University. She has worked with Dr. Cooke for the past 4 years as an undergraduate honours student and Co-op student.
Past Education:
B.Sc. Honours – Institute of Environmental Science, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON
Thesis Title: The effect of shoreline recreational angling activities on aquatic and riparian habitat within an urban environment: implications for conservation and management
M.Sc. Research
Thesis Title: The physiological ecology and behaviour of an apex marine predatory fish, the great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda)
The great barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda) is an abundant predator inhabiting tropical and subtropical nearshore environments worldwide. So it is surprising that, although a common reef species, there is very little known about the basic biology and natural history of barracuda. Through my Master’s research, I hope to obtain a better understanding of the behavioural biology of great barracuda through the use of acoustic telemetry techniques. Currently, 48 barracuda have been implanted with transmitters and released near Cape Eleuthera, The Bahamas. These transmitters will provide important information about how barracuda behave in the wild and will answer some key questions about habitat utilization, behavioural activity, and depth utilization. In addition, tissue samples taken from each fish will be analysed for the presence of ciguatoxin (a biotoxin common to low-latitude marine environments), which causes ciguatera fish poisoning when contaminated fish are consumed by humans. Since ciguatera is often associated with large, predatory reef fish such as great barracuda, I am attempting to link barracuda spatial ecology to the occurrence and severity of ciguatera fish poisoning. In addition to being harvested for food, great barracuda are a popular sportfish, and are targeted by anglers throughout the Caribbean and western Atlantic. Barracuda are also frequently encountered as bycatch while anglers are in pursuit of other large gamefish and are released post-capture. Thus, I am also interested in investigating the potential consequences of physiological disturbance, hooking injury, and initial mortality associated with catch-and-release of barracuda to better inform managers and anglers. My work will contribute to a heightened understanding of great barracuda biology and conservation of this potentially important apex predator.
Refereed Publications
O’Toole, A.C., K.C. Hanson, S.J. Cooke (2009). The effect of shoreline recreational angling activities on aquatic and riparian habitat within an urban environment: implications for conservation and management. Environmental Management. 44:324-334
Cooke, S.J., C.D. Suski, S.E. Danylchuk, A.J. Danylchuk, M.R. Donaldson, C. Pullen, G. Bulté, A. O’Toole, K.J. Murchie, J.B. Koppelman, A.D. Shultz, E. Brooks, T.L. Goldberg (2008). Effects of different capture techniques on the physiological condition of bonefish Albula vulpes evaluated using field diagnostic tools. Journal of Fish Biology. 73:1351-1375
Non-refereed Publications
O’Toole, A., R. Walker, Z. Whynot, A. Gingerich, K. Hanson, and S.J. Cooke (2006). Fisheries and Fish Habitat Assessment for the Rideau Canal, Dow’s Lake Location of Work with respect to the Open Cut Tunnel for the North-South Light Rail Project Interim Report: Objectives, Methods, Progress, and Future Directions. Fish Ecology and Conservation Physiology Laboratory Research Report Series 06-02.
|
