Theme Sessions

 
Physiological ecology

Understanding the factors that influence the condition, growth and survival of larval fish has been a key focus of research for decades. From the laboratory to the field, this session will include all aspects of physiological ecology. The focus will be on studies that deal with the factors that influence larval fish bioenergetics, biochemical measures of condition and adaptation, foraging behaviour, feeding ecology, and predation.

Connectivity and dispersal

Fish populations that were once thought to consist of a single component are now thought to represent multiple sub-populations linked through dispersal and migratory pathways. The concept that stocks are comprised of interconnected units, the loss of any of which can lead to long-term changes in overall productivity, has important implications for management. This session will focus on aspects of larval fish ecology that influence the dispersal and connectivity of populations. Contributions can include laboratory studies of behaviour and swimming ability, field studies of distribution and their relation to physical and biological features, and modeling of drift, dispersal, and retention.

Parental effects

How much of your parent do you carry with you? Aquaculturists know that the characteristics of their brood stock have important consequences for the offspring beyond simply the transfer of genetic material. How this knowledge transfers to the wild, however, is only beginning to be understood. Are non-genetic parental effects adaptive or are they merely physiological side effects? How parental effects relate to genetics, epigenetics, adaptation, growth and survival potential, and how they are influenced by environmental interactions, are some of the elements that will contribute to this session.

Academia to application with topic areas

Moving from research to practical applications is a step that for many scientists is both daunting and exhilarating. This session is intended to provide scientists with an opportunity to present experiences of moving from research to application and to provide a venue for presentations that introduce conceptual ideas for novel research areas and topics, and how they can serve advisory agencies, industry, and the public. Topics for discussion include aquaculture, fisheries, and resource management strategies.

Contributed paper session

In addition to the theme sessions described above, participants may wish to submit their abstract to a contributed paper session in which topics not directly addressed by one of the themes will be accommodated.