By Huw James
I’m a PhD student based at Newcastle University and the British Antarctic Survey, where I study Southern Ocean ecology and the environmental drivers that shape species distributions. Supported by the Iapetus2 Doctoral Training Partnership, I’m completing a three‑month placement with the Water & Fish Program. My goal is to apply the modelling and analytical skills I’ve developed during my PhD to help address research questions around the drivers of freshwater fish distributions in Alberta.
During my first few weeks with the WFP, I’ve enjoyed expanding my skillset and gaining hands‑on experience with different freshwater data-collection methods, including angling and electrofishing surveys. I’ve also assisted with the bull trout tagging program, which will help improve knowledge on how these fish use the waterways for breeding and will feed into several MSc projects. It’s been a great introduction to the programme, and I’m looking forward to contributing more as the placement continues.
My PhD focuses on icefish (Channichthyidae), an abundant and ecologically important fish family found throughout the Southern Ocean. Although icefish are impacted by commercial fishing activity and have been identified as vulnerable to climate change, surprisingly little is known about their ecology. My PhD aims to fill some of these gaps by investigating their life‑history strategies, and how closely-related species partition key resources such as space and prey.