Chad Riopel

BSc, University of Guelph; PhD candidate in Biology, University of Guelph

My research interests lie broadly in the realm of the evolution of communities and their ecological dynamics. I am intrigued by marine ecosystems and the community dynamics therein. The Echinodermata, specifically the Holothuroidea, have captivated my interest with respect to their highly successful avoidance of predation in coral reef environments and in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Dr. Alex Kerr is an associate advisor on my current thesis project, which is under the primary supervision at the University of Guelph, Ontario Canada. My thesis focuses on the predator defense mechanisms employed successfully by sea cucumbers in such high predation environments, such as coral reefs. Across species, I am investigating the means by which they avoid coming in contact with predators, how they attempt to escape after being attacked, and the tradeoffs between the two.