Dr. Rana El-Sabaawi, Associate professor
rana at uvic dot ca
I study the links between nutrition on ecosystem processes. I am particularly interested in how nutrition changes in the course of evolution. Applying biological stoichiometry to well-studied evolutionary models such as guppies and sticklebacks allows me to characterize nutritional constraints that might arise during evolutionary processes, and also how changes in phenotype distributions affect ecosystems. I am also interested in how nutrition mediates the response of organisms to large-scale changes like urbanization, predator loss, or species invasion. When I am not in the lab or field I can be found running, hiking, knitting or weaving.
rana at uvic dot ca
I study the links between nutrition on ecosystem processes. I am particularly interested in how nutrition changes in the course of evolution. Applying biological stoichiometry to well-studied evolutionary models such as guppies and sticklebacks allows me to characterize nutritional constraints that might arise during evolutionary processes, and also how changes in phenotype distributions affect ecosystems. I am also interested in how nutrition mediates the response of organisms to large-scale changes like urbanization, predator loss, or species invasion. When I am not in the lab or field I can be found running, hiking, knitting or weaving.
Current Members
Kyla Schenk (Lab Manager)
I joined the lab in the summer of 2021 as an honours student with a project focused on bone density variation in marine stickleback populations. I’m excited to be back and working in the field this summer! Outside of the lab you can usually find me in or around the water canoeing, snorkelling, or surfing, or hanging out with my dog Hopper.
I joined the lab in the summer of 2021 as an honours student with a project focused on bone density variation in marine stickleback populations. I’m excited to be back and working in the field this summer! Outside of the lab you can usually find me in or around the water canoeing, snorkelling, or surfing, or hanging out with my dog Hopper.
Hazel de Haas (undergraduate student)
I am new to the lab and am assisting with fieldwork and research this summer through an NSERC USRA. My major is biology with a concentration in marine biology. I’ve just finished up my fourth year and am gearing up for an Honours in my fifth year. I love marine ecology, fishes, and molluscs. In my spare time I like to snorkel, make art, hike, cook, and upload all my blurry underwater pictures to iNaturalist.
I am new to the lab and am assisting with fieldwork and research this summer through an NSERC USRA. My major is biology with a concentration in marine biology. I’ve just finished up my fourth year and am gearing up for an Honours in my fifth year. I love marine ecology, fishes, and molluscs. In my spare time I like to snorkel, make art, hike, cook, and upload all my blurry underwater pictures to iNaturalist.
Sarah Ellis (MSc student)
My interests include marine ecology and nutrient recycling. For my Master’s degree I am researching variation in bone mineral density of marine stickleback, and the effect of preservation methods on phosphorous analyses. I am also an avid bassoonist and enjoy caring for a plethora of houseplants.
My interests include marine ecology and nutrient recycling. For my Master’s degree I am researching variation in bone mineral density of marine stickleback, and the effect of preservation methods on phosphorous analyses. I am also an avid bassoonist and enjoy caring for a plethora of houseplants.
Ashley Mickens (MSc student)
My interests include urbanization, nutrient cycling and aquatic ecology. While my undergrad focused primarily on nitrogen and carbon cycling in agricultural settings, I am excited to explore how urban centers influence water quality and nutrient recycling throughout the aquatic environment. In my free time, I enjoy scuba diving, traveling, photography and baking. Check out my website to learn about my other pursuits: bit.ly/ashleymickens."
My interests include urbanization, nutrient cycling and aquatic ecology. While my undergrad focused primarily on nitrogen and carbon cycling in agricultural settings, I am excited to explore how urban centers influence water quality and nutrient recycling throughout the aquatic environment. In my free time, I enjoy scuba diving, traveling, photography and baking. Check out my website to learn about my other pursuits: bit.ly/ashleymickens."
Eva MacLennan (Research associate, MSc student starting in Sept 2022)
I’ve always been passionate about ecology. As a traveler, seeing countries in various stages of development deal with the expansion of their cities in different ways has instilled in me a particular curiosity about urban ecology and accessible tools for sustainable growth. When I’m not getting nerdy about fish, I love to climb, hike, cycle, embroider, and sip good coffee in the sun.
I’ve always been passionate about ecology. As a traveler, seeing countries in various stages of development deal with the expansion of their cities in different ways has instilled in me a particular curiosity about urban ecology and accessible tools for sustainable growth. When I’m not getting nerdy about fish, I love to climb, hike, cycle, embroider, and sip good coffee in the sun.
Camille Febvre (PhD student, co-supervised by Dr.Colin Goldblatt)
I'm a PhD student trying to understand how Earth's organisms both respond to, and simultaneously cultivate, geochemical changes in the environment. I am currently modelling ecosystem response to climate change, and my next step is to add biogenic processes into a global carbon model. I hope this feedback model can eventually be used to detect and probe global patterns in ecology and evolution at many scales.
I'm a PhD student trying to understand how Earth's organisms both respond to, and simultaneously cultivate, geochemical changes in the environment. I am currently modelling ecosystem response to climate change, and my next step is to add biogenic processes into a global carbon model. I hope this feedback model can eventually be used to detect and probe global patterns in ecology and evolution at many scales.
Emily May (PhD student)
I'm interested in how the evolution of bone impacts how vertebrates store and recycle nutrients. I am particularly interested in how bone content alters how vertebrates recycle nitrogen and phosphorus from their diets and in how this fluctuates throughout ontogeny. I am currently raising laboratory crosses of stickleback with different bone contents, and I will use these fish to determine how the interaction between development and bony phenotype affect waste production! I am a huge fan of frogs and turtles, kayaking, mythology/classics, and epic fantasy.
Emily moderates Pattern and Process, the official lab blog!
I'm interested in how the evolution of bone impacts how vertebrates store and recycle nutrients. I am particularly interested in how bone content alters how vertebrates recycle nitrogen and phosphorus from their diets and in how this fluctuates throughout ontogeny. I am currently raising laboratory crosses of stickleback with different bone contents, and I will use these fish to determine how the interaction between development and bony phenotype affect waste production! I am a huge fan of frogs and turtles, kayaking, mythology/classics, and epic fantasy.
Emily moderates Pattern and Process, the official lab blog!
Lab Alumni
Graduate students
Ainsley Fraser (MSc, 2018-2021)
Piata Marques (PhD, 2019)
Therese Frauendorf (PhD, 2019)
Laura Kennedy (MSc, 2016) co-advised with Dr. Francis Juanes
Dan Durston (MSc, 2016)
Kim Kennedy (MSc, 2016)
Honours students
Amanda Dundas (2021)
Natalie Kennedy (2020)
Maddy Appleby (2015)
Katie Harms (2015)
Novan Hanson (2015)
Graduate students
Ainsley Fraser (MSc, 2018-2021)
Piata Marques (PhD, 2019)
Therese Frauendorf (PhD, 2019)
Laura Kennedy (MSc, 2016) co-advised with Dr. Francis Juanes
Dan Durston (MSc, 2016)
Kim Kennedy (MSc, 2016)
Honours students
Amanda Dundas (2021)
Natalie Kennedy (2020)
Maddy Appleby (2015)
Katie Harms (2015)
Novan Hanson (2015)