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Determining the energetic, fitness, and potential evolutionary consequences of a variety of natural (e.g., winter, reproduction) and anthropogenic (e.g., angling, environmental pollution) stressors.
Understanding the diversity of energetic, physiological, and behavioural responses of fish to stress at the individual, population, and species level.
We then apply the fundamental knowledge derived from these basic research activities to aid in the conservation and management of aquatic resources. Of late, we have been involved with defining the new discipline of “conservation physiology” – a field dedicated to understanding the mechanisms underlying conservation problems. Because our work is heavily based in the field, we rely on technologies including underwater videography and telemetry to monitor free-swimming fish in the wild.
Professor Cooke
1 Lab Manager/Biologist
7 Post Doctoral Researchers
19 Graduate Students
And 9 Undergraduate Research Students
Cooke Lab members reconnect at the CCFFR/SCL/SCAS meeting in Vancouver
March 8
Lab members (past and present) connected in Vancouver at the CCFFR/SCL/SCAS meeting after a two year pause due to COVID... Read more →
Hakai Magazine covers salmon research by Cooke Lab.
December 2
Dr. Cooke discusses how pacific salmon populations are in decline, to the point where low numbers prevent researchers from conducting... Read more →
Dr. Cooke named Highly Cited Researcher for 2021 (Nov 2021).
November 18
For two consecutive years now, Dr. Cooke has been recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics – a distinction... Read more →
Semeniuk, C.A.D., K.M. Jeffries, T. Li, C.M. Bettles, S.J. Cooke, B.A. Dufour, E.A. Halfyard, J.W. Heath, K. Keeshig, N.E. Mandrak, A.J. Muir, L. Postma & D.D. Heath. In Press. Innovating transcriptomics for practitioners in freshwater fish management and conservation: best practices across diverse resource-sector users. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries. 00:000-000.
Chhor, A. D., Glassman, D. M., Brownscombe, J. W., Trahan, A. T., Danylchuk, A. J., & Cooke, S. J. 2022. Short-term behavioural impacts of air-exposure in three species of recreationally angled freshwater fish. Fisheries Research. 253: 106342.
Piczak, M.L., J.L. Brooks, B. Bard, C. Bihun, A. Howarth, A.L. Jeanson, L. LaRochelle, J.R. Bennett, N.W.R. Lapointe, N.E. Mandrak and S.J. Cooke. In Press. Revisiting the challenge: Perspectives on Canada’s freshwater fisheries policies three decades after the Pearse Report. FACETS Journal. 00:000-000.