Mentorship with the Davoren Lab

Two Winnipeg high school students mentees, after numerous covid setbacks, were able to present their research project poster and report this spring. Their mentors in the Davoren Lab, Ph.D. students Laura Bliss and Ashley Tripp are extremely excited to announce that these hardworking students were awarded a silver medal in their age group as well as the Assiniboine Park Zoo Conservation Award.

Their research project centred on investigating the abundance of various species of jellyfish at capelin spawning sites along the northeastern coast of Newfoundland to determine if there is variation in the predation pressure of jellyfish on capelin larvae between beach and deep-water spawning sites and across years.

Capelin are a vital forage fish species in Newfoundland. They migrate inshore to spawn annually and are a critical prey item during the summer months for whales, seabirds, and fish like Atlantic Cod.