Jake’s research examines behavioural ecology, energy dynamics, and the effects of fisheries interactions on bonefish in The Bahamas and Puerto Rico. Bonefish are prevalent throughout the tropics and sub-tropics worldwide, and are a highly popular sport fish that generates significant revenue for many local economies. Jake’s primary goal is to determine bonefish behaviours (i.e. resting, swimming, feeding) and energy usage in multiple environments to assess how bonefish utilize different habitats. He is also examining fine scale habitat use of bonefish in Puerto Rico to assess daily and seasonal patterns of movement and important habitat characteristics for bonefish. Additionally, he is quantifying the effects of a common stressor, catch-and-release angling, on bonefish behaviour and survival, as well as testing methods for facilitating recovery after angling to improve post-release survival from predation. Overall, Jake’s research aims to inform basic biology including foraging, movement, and life history theories, as well as applied conservation of bonefish populations and marine ecosystems.
Background
Ph.D., Biology, Carleton University (2016)
Thesis title: Behavioural and physiological ecology of coastal marine fish: basic and applied perspectives Supervisors: Dr Steven J. Cooke & Dr Andy Danylchuck.
Research Biologist, Trent University (2011)
M.Sc., Environmental and Life Sciences Program, Trent University (2009-2011)
Thesis title: Invasion dynamics of the round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in the Trent-Severn Waterway. Supervisor: Dr. Michael Fox
B.Sc., Biology, Trent University (2005-2009)
Thesis title: The effects of agricultural land use on the bioavailability of dissolved organic carbon in stream ecosystems. Supervisor: Dr. Marguerite Xenopoulos
Lab Publications (132)
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Robichaud, J.A., L.P. Griffin, G.A. Casselberry, D. Morley, L. LaRochelle, A.J. Adams, A.J. Danylchuk, S.J. Cooke, and J.W. Brownscombe. In Press. Functional connectivity of habitat networks for Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) in the Florida Keys. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 00:000–000.
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Holder, P.E., L. LaRochelle, J.W. Brownscombe, L.B. Nowell, A.J. Danylchuk and S.J. Cooke. In Press. Using short-term post-release behaviour to assess novel methods of facilitated recovery for angled Smallmouth Bass. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 00:000-000.
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Robichaud, J.A., L.P. Griffin, G.M. Clementi, B.M. Binder, K.R. Gastrich, G.A. Casselberry, L. LaRochelle, D. Morley, J.A. Keller, J. Secord, N. Reiser, M.R. Heithaus, K.M. Boswell, A.J. Danylchuk, A.J. Adams, S.J. Cooke, and J.W. Brownscombe. In Press. Using acoustic telemetry to assess spatiotemporal boundaries of a seasonal fishing closure for a marine gamefish. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 00:000–000.
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Hodgson, R.Y., L. LaRochelle, B.E. Howell, M. Thapar, P. Holder, L. Nowell, J.W. Brownscombe and S.J. Cooke. In Press. Behavioural thermoregulation and survival of released Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) following assisted recovery after angling. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 00:000-000.
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Griffin, L.P., O.N. Shipley, A.J. Adams, J.W. Brownscombe, S.A. Ceriani, S.J. Cooke, J.J. Dello Russo, S.D. Newsome, M. Power, J. Wilson and A.J. Danylchuk. 2026. Discrete foraging landscapes support large scale migrations of a marine fish. Movement Ecology. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-026-00677-3.
Other Publications
Brownscombe, J.W., M.G. Fox. 2013. Living at the edge of the front; reduced predation risk to invasive round goby in a Great Lakes tributary. Hydrobiologia. 707: 199-208.
Houston, B.E., A.C. Rooke, J.W. Brownscombe, M.G. Fox. 2013. Overwinter survival, energy storage and reproductive allocation in the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) from a river system. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. DOI: 10.1111/eff.12071.
Brownscombe, J.W., L. Masson, D.V. Beresford, M.G. Fox.2012. Modeling round goby Neogobius melanostomus range expansion in a Canadian river system. Aquatic Invasions 7:537–545.
Groen, M., N.M. Sopinka, J.R. Marentette, A.R. Reddon, J.W. Brownscombe, M.G. Fox, S.E. Marsh-Rollo, S. Balshine. 2012. Is there a role for aggression in round goby invasion fronts? Behaviour 0: 1–19.
Brownscombe, J.W., M.G. Fox. 2012. Range expansion dynamics of the invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) in a river system. Aquatic Ecology 46:175–189.
Gutowsky, L.F., J.W. Brownscombe, M.F. Fox. 2011. Angling to estimate the density of large round goby (Neogobius melanostomus). Journal of Fisheries Research 108: 228–231.
