Many of the Ocean Sciences Centre's research programs take advantage of Newfoundland's unique position for the study of oceanographic, biotic and geological sciences. Its features include the Labrador Current, icebergs and sea ice, which collectively have global impact on climate and weather, and strategically important hydrocarbon reserves. The region contains areas of active mixing of cold and warm waters, many rivers with low nutrient and sediment loads, and very deep waters close to land. The fauna includes important fish, shellfish and marine mammals, organisms with special adaptations to cold conditions, and some of the largest seabird colonies remaining in the world.
The main laboratories, 44,000 square feet in all, are located at Logy Bay, about six miles from the main campus, with smaller laboratories at other locations. The excellent, unpolluted sea water supply is the lifeline of the centre, where there are 35 laboratories (of which 22 are provided with flowing sea water) and extensive resources for field studies. There are facilities for microscopy, histochemistry, analytical chemistry, radioisotope counting, physiological work and standard analyses for oceanography. Extensive holding areas permit scientists to maintain a variety of marine organisms for long periods at ambient and controlled temperatures. Microcomputers are linked to the mainframe cluster on campus, with high resolution printing and graphics and an image analysis system.
BROWN, Joseph A. Professor (research)
Keywords
• Fish behavioural ecology; finfish aquaculture
Current research
• Behavioural strategies of marine larval fish
• Kin discrimination in salmonid fish
• Nearshore ecology of young cod
• Aquaculture of Atlantic halibut and Atlantic cod
• MHC and kin discrimination in salmonids
• Metamorphosis in flounders
Past research
• Aquaculture of wolffish
• Foraging and predator avoidance of cod larvae
• Aquaculture of lumpfish
• Foraging of redfish larvae
Potential research
• Effects of prey quality on prey selection by larval fish
• Feasibility of witch flounder for aquaculture
• Cannibalism in cod larvae
• Development of foraging and digestive enzymes in cod and
halibut larvae
DABINETT, Patrick (see Biology)
DIEBEL, Don Professor, President's Award for Outstanding
Research (1990)
Keywords
• Oceanography; plankton; ecology
Current research
• Physiological ecology of gelatinous zooplankton
• Synthesis and fate of phytoplankton biomass
• Heterotrophic processes at sub-zero temperatures
Potential research
• Seasonal lipid storage by epibenthic zooplankton
DRIEDZIC, William R. Professor and Director
Keywords
• Comparative physiology; biochemistry of marine animals;
mitochondria; hypoxia
Current research
• Protein synthesis by the mitochondrial genome
• Cardiac performance under oxygen limiting conditions
• Freeze resistance in marine fish
Past research
• Lipid metabolism at low temperature
• Calcium cycling in heart cells
• Myoglobin function
Potential research
• Hypoxia induction factors in heart cells
• Single channel recording in heart cells
HELLEUR, Robert A. (see Chemistry)
INNES, David (see Biology)
KHAN, Rasul A. (see Biology)
MILLER, Ted (see Biology)
MONTEVECCHI, William A. (see Psychology)
PARRISH, Chris Associate professor
Keywords
• Marine lipids; biomarkers; aquaculture; fish oils; sterols
Current research
• Food Webs: production, transport, fats, and effects of
lipids
• Biomarkers, signatures of bacteria, plants and pollution
• Aquaculture, essential fatty acids and environmental impacts
Past research
• Health effects of fish oils
• Shorebirds pollutants and diet
• Analytical chemistry, chromatography and colorimetry
Potential research
• Inorganic nutrients in seawater
• Sterols in marine ecosystems, analysis, and applications
• CIAS chromatography and mass spectrometry of lipids
Special equipment or facilities
• Chromarod-Iatroscan TLC-FID systme (IATRON)
• Automated gas chromatography, FID systems (Varran &
Hewlett Packard)
• Enviroflow 3500 nutrient analyser (PERSTORP)
SCHNEIDER, David Professor
Keywords
• Spatial scaling theory; oceanography; distribution and
dynamics of marine fish and invertebrates
Current research
• Role of spatial scale in the population dynamics of marine
organisms
• Population size and ecology of juvenile cod
Past research
• Movements and distribution of marine birds
• Benthic ecology: distribution, mortality and recruitment
• Sustainability of Icelandic scallop populations
Potential research
• Sustainable harvesting in fisheries: role of spatial scale
Other research and consulting
• Peer-reviewed monitoring and research on environmental
impacts: food chain enhancement of methyl mercury in reservoirs,
point-source released at oil production sites, rate of recovery
of marine bird populations downstream from the Exxon Valdez oil
spill, organic enrichment and toxic releases in estuaries, low-level
flying in boreal river systems
SHAHIDI, Feridoon (see Biochemistry)
SNELGROVE, Paul (See Fisheries and Marine Institute)
THOMPSON, Raymond J. Professor
Keywords
• Physiology; ecology; oceans; marine invertebrates; bivalves;
growth; reproduction
Current research
• Physiological ecology of benthic marine invertebrates
• Role of benthic macrofauna in carbon sequestration and
flux
• Basic research in support of bibalve aquaculture
Past research
• Reproductive energetics of mussels, scallops, and sea urchins
• Scallop responses of scallops to hypoxia
• Fate of the spring bloom in a cold ocean
WROBLEWSKI, Joe Professor
Keywords
• Cod farming; phytoplankton; zooplankton; fisheries oceanography;
marine ecosystem modeling
Current research
• Modeling cod population structure and metapopulation dynamics
• Cod farming and stock enhancement
• Cod migration behaviour
Past research
• Modeling phytoplankton and zooplankton dynamics
• Modeling optical properties of the water column
• Modeling larval fish distributions and survival
Potential research
• Marine fish stock enhancement
• Modeling the behaviour of marine vertebrates
• Marine fisheries management
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