Aquatic Invasive Species

水生入侵物种的入侵是一个主要的环境问题。政府的一个关键目标是发展AIS的早期检测筛查项目。我的研究致力于开发有效的分子筛选程序，以识别自然界中异常低丰度的AIS。我们将利用从港口和船舶压载水获得的样本进行下一代测序，以确定非常罕见的本地和外来物种的存在。我们还将研究港口和压载样品中物种丰富度（定殖压力）和物种丰富度（繁殖体压力）之间的关系，以确定这两个参数在促进入侵中的相对重要性。我们还将评估跨太平洋或跨大西洋航行的船只的殖民压力和传播压力是如何暂时变化的，这可能使我们能够确定这两个参数对入侵成功的相对重要性，并确定加拿大西部和东部接收港口的入侵风险。

Invasions by aquatic invasive species (AIS) are a leading environmental problem. A key objective of governments is development of early detection screening programs for AIS. My research is dedicated to development of effective molecular screening programs that can identify AIS at exceptionally low abundances in nature. We will utilize next generation sequencing on samples obtained from ports and ballast water of ships to determine presence of very rare native and alien species. We will also study relationships between species richness (colonization pressure) and species abundance (propagule pressure) in port and ballast samples to determine the relative importance of these two parameters in facilitating invasions. We also will assess how colonization pressure and propagule pressure vary temporally in vessels conducting trans-Pacific or trans-Atlantic journeys, which may allow us to determine the relative importance of these two parameters to invasion success, and establish invasion risk to recipient ports in western and eastern Canada.