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MEET THE LAB

This image was graciously provided by K.D Sherman

The DECO Lab at Concordia University is located on the unceded and traditional lands of the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation and peoples who are recognized as the stewards of Tiohtià:ke/Montréal.

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

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Principal Investigator

Dr. Nicola S. Smith (she/her)

I specialize in marine invasions on coral reefs and am now exploring this system in the context of climate change. I also examine the effects of other human-caused and natural drivers of change like fishing, diseases and hurricanes on Caribbean coral reefs. I was born and raised in The Bahamas but work and live in Canada. My early life experiences growing up in a small island state where people's livelihoods, identity, and culture are tightly linked to the ocean inform the types of questions that I ask and the types of solutions that I propose.

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GRAD STUDENTS

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MSc Student

Iris George

I am interested in coastal marine ecosystems and changing dynamics within them due to human impacts. Currently, I am using historical, time series data paired with recent underwater visual surveys to quantify the effects of natural and anthropogenic drivers of change on Bahamian coral reefs. I am passionate about diversity in science, inclusion of local stakeholders in research, and conservation of our natural ecosystems.

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MSc Student

Katelyn (Katie) Moffat

I am interested in the conservation of marine biodiversity and am currently studying the effects of climate change on marine invasive species, two major drivers of biodiversity loss in the ocean. Specifically, I am examining the effects of ocean warming on predator-prey dynamics using invasive Indo-Pacific lionfish and native, Caribbean parrotfish, which are the dominant herbivores on Bahamian coral reefs. My study will elucidate the broader consequences of climate change and invasive species for ecosystem functioning in coral reefs of small island states.

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UNDERGRAD RESEARCH HONOUR'S PROJECTS & ASSISTANTS

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Undergrad Honour's Research Student

Aspen Aldridge

My research examines the effects of habitat size on coral reef fish species diversity within and among feeding guilds using artificial reefs in the Bahamas. My findings will inform the management of coral reef fish on artificial structures in otherwise marginal habitats.

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Undergrad Honour's Research Student

Amirreza Khp

My research focuses on defining distinct lionfish predatory behaviours and establishing a standardized framework for identifying each using AI. Specifically, I’m developing and optimizing a computer vision pose estimation model to accurately differentiate these behaviors, aiming to compare its performance against human assessment. The goal is to make the analysis process faster and more accurate, so we can better understand these fish and their actions with a reliable, objective approach.

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Research Assistant

Tafari Smith

I am assisting in research related to examining the effects of natural and anthropogenic stressors on natural coral reefs in The Bahamas over more than a decade. I am also helping in a laboratory research experiment in The Bahamas using coral reef mesocosms to explore the effects of ocean warming on the interactions between invasive predators and their native prey. This latter experiment involves quantifying fish behaviours both in person and from video footage

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