Title: Ichthyology research at the Canadian Museum of Nature: from the Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic, and places in between
Dr. Katriina L. Ilves
Research Scientist & Zoology Section Head
Beaty Centre for Species Discovery, Zoology, Research & Collections
Canadian Museum of Nature
Email: kilves@nature.ca
Abstract: Natural history collections provide a verifiable record of species’ occurrences in space and time. These irreplaceable voucher specimens and their associated data are not only used as the basis to define biodiversity but are of particular importance for understanding the impacts of our rapidly changing world. In this seminar, I will detail some of my past, current, and future research on fishes, with a focus on work at the Canadian Museum of Nature (CMN). My research addresses a variety of questions in fish systematics, bio/phylo-geography, species discovery, and ecology in ecosystems ranging from the deep-sea Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic Ocean. There’s also some local work in the Ottawa River drainage focusing on the changing biota of the aquatic habitats of Gatineau Park and the relationship between the Hickorynut mussel (Obovaria olivaria) and its presumed host, the Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), and their ecological context. As this talk is part of the Adjunct Research Professor process, I will describe opportunities at the CMN for students (undergraduate and graduate) and postdocs in research, science communication, and public outreach.
Personal statement: Katriina Ilves is the Ichthyology Research Scientist and Zoology Section Head at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Her research is broad ranging across multiple fields of evolution and ecology, including species discovery, molecular systematics, phylogenomics, biogeography, historical ecology, and, most recently, fish + mussel relationships. Throughout her career she has been highly involved in training future generations of scientists and is passionate about public outreach.