Ecophysiology and Conservation

The use of ecophysiological approaches in conservation can provide a mechanistic understanding of species responses to stressors, and can provide rapid feedback on the effectiveness of conservation policies and interventions. Our work as used physiological tools and behavioural observation to examine a number of applied conservation issues, including the physiological responses to catch-and-release angling, reducing the selective effects of fishing, and understanding how individual trait variation can be used to enhance conservation efforts.

Example Papers:

Falco, F, Botarri, T, Ragonese, S, Killen, SS. 2022. Towards the integration of ecophysiology with stock assessment for conservation policy and evaluating the status of the Mediterranean Sea. Conservation Physiology. 10: coac008. PDF

Papatheodoulou, M, Závorka, L, Koeck, B, Metcalfe, NB, Killen, SS. 2021. Simulated pre-spawning catch & release of wild atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) results in faster fungal spread and opposing effects on female and male proxies of fecundity. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. 79: 267-276.

Hollins, J., Thambithurai, D., Koeck, B., Crespel, A., Bailey, D.M., Cooke, S.J., Lindström, J., Parsons, K.J., Killen, S.S. 2018. A physiological perspective on fisheries-induced evolution. Evolutionary Applications. 11: 561-576 PDF

Nati, J.J.H, Lindström, J., Yeomans, W., Killen, S.S. 2018. Physiological and behavioural responses to hypoxia in an invasive freshwater fish species and a native competitor. Ecology of Freshwater Fish. 27:813-821 PDF

McKenzie, D.J., M. Axelsson, D. Chabot, G. Claireaux, S.J. Cooke, R.A. Corner, G. De Boeck, P. Domenici, P.M. Guerreiro, B. Hamer, C. Jørgensen, S.S. Killen, S. Lefevre, S. Marras, B. Michaelidis, G.E. Nilsson, M.A. Peck, A. Perez-Ruzafa, A.D. Rijnsdorp, H.A. Shiels, J.F. Steffensen, J.C. Svendsen, M.B.S. Svendsen, L.R. Teal, J. van der Meer, T. Wang, J.M. Wilson, R.W. Wilson and J.D. Metcalfe. 2016. Conservation physiology of marine fishes: State of the art and prospects for policy. Conservation Physiology. 4 (1): cow046. doi: 10.1093/conphys/cow046 PDF

Ward, T., Algera, D., Gallagher, A., Hawkins, E., Horodysky, A. Jorgensen, C., Killen, S.S., McKenzie, D.J. Metcalfe, J., Peck, M., Vu, M., Cooke, S.J. 2016. Understanding the individual to implement the ecosystem approach to fisheries management. Conservation Physiology. DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow005 PDF

Killen, S.S., Adriaenssens, B., Marras, S., Claireaux, G., Cooke, S.J. 2016. Context-dependency of trait repeatability and its relevance for management and conservation of fish populations. Conservation Physiology. 4: cow007 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cow007 PDF

Uusi-Heikkilä, S., Whiteley, A.R., Kuparinen, A., Matsumura, S., Venturelli, P.A., Wolter, C., Slate, J., Primmer, C.R., Meinelt, C., Killen, S.S., Bierbach, D., Polverino, G., Ludwig, A., Arlinghaus, R. 2015. The evolutionary legacy of size-selective harvest extends from genes to populations. Evolutionary Applications. 8:597-620. PDF

Cooke, S.C., Killen, S.S., Metcalfe, J.D., McKenzie, D.J., Mouillot, D., Jørgensen, C., Peck, M.A. 2014. Conservation physiology across scales: insights from the marine realm. Conservation Physiology. DOI: 10.1093/conphys/cou024. PDF

Killen, S.S., Suski, C.D., Cooke, S.J., Philipp, D.P., Tufts, B.L. 2006. Factors contributing to the physiological disturbance in walleyes during simulated live-release angling tournaments. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 135: 557-569. PDF

Suski, C.D., Killen, S.S., Kieffer, J.D., Tufts, B.L. 2006. The influence of environmental temperature and oxygen concentration on the recovery of largemouth bass from exercise: implications for live-release angling tournaments. Journal of Fish Biology. 68: 120-136. PDF

Suski, C.D., Cooke, S.J., Killen, S.S., Wahl, D.H., Philipp, D.P. Tufts, B.L. 2005. Behaviour of walleye, Sander vitreus, and largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, exposed to different wave intensities and boat operating conditions during livewell confinement. Fisheries Management and Ecology. 12: 19-26. PDF

Suski, C.D., Killen, S.S., Cooke, S.J., Kieffer, J.D., Philipp, D.P., Tufts, B.L. 2004. Physiological significance of the weigh-in during live-release angling tournaments for largemouth bass. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society. 133: 1291-1303. PDF

Killen, S.S., Suski, C.D., Morrissey, M.B., Dyment, P., Furimsky, M., Tufts, B.L. 2003. Physiological responses of walleyes to live-release angling tournaments. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 23:1237-1245. PDF

Suski, C.D., Killen, S.S., Morrissey, M.B., Lund, S.G., Tufts, B.L. 2003. Physiological changes in largemouth bass caused by live-release angling tournaments in southeastern Ontario. North American Journal of Fisheries Management. 23:760-769. PDF