Dr J Scott MacIvor
Associate Professor Department of Biological Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto St. George Phone: 416-208-8191 Office: SY364 UTSC email: scott(dot)macivor(at)utoronto.ca macivorlab.ca @jscottmacivor |
Dr. Thomas Onuferko, PhD
My research focuses broadly on the systematics, evolution, and ecology of aculeate Hymenoptera, especially bees. I joined the BUGS lab in October 2022 as a CERA Postdoctoral Research Fellow to document the diversity of bees and related wasps in the Rouge National Urban Park and Greater Toronto Area in the context of changing environmental conditions. I am also helping to curate the BUGS lab insect collection and develop a synoptic collection of bees from southern Ontario. GoogleScholar |
Nicholas Sookhan, PhD student
Urbanization is often linked to the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF). But urban areas are spatially heterogeneous and therefore may support BEF. My thesis explores how the amount and configuration of semi-natural habitat relates to pollinator diversity and service in urban areas. I’m also interested in the application of LiDAR data and UAV imagery to quantifying pollinator habitat quality in urban and peri-urban areas. Google scholar |
Garland Xie, PhD student
Cities are hotspots for biological invasions, where non-native species degrade native biodiversity and ecosystem services. Urban green spaces in cities benefit people, but also act as a source (or sink) for invasive species. My thesis explores how invasive plants can establish and spread within and across a mosaic of different urban green spaces. I also get to try out new quantitative tools since I'm a big fan of data analysis :). Twitter Linkedin Github Google scholar |
Adriano Roberto, PhD student
co-supervised by Dr. Marney Isaac Fertile crop land is being lost by growing urban spaces, and with the implementation of green infrastructure becoming central to urban policy, green roofs are a great way to recover that lost land. My thesis explores the effects of environmental stressors on plant diversity, resource facilitation and productivity of food crops on extensive green roofs. Outside of academia I enjoy gardening, hiking and rock climbing. Google scholar |
John English, PhD candidate
Urbanization can drastically influence biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF). Abiotic stresses such as urban heat islands may be altering how organisms interact with one another, increasing the importance of facilitation. My thesis focuses on plant microclimate amelioration and how these interactions may buffer against some of the more negative effects of increased temperature and improve community performance overall. Google scholar |
Janean Sharkey, PhD candidate
co-supervised by Dr. Marc Cadotte Plant pollinator interactions are important to the maintenance and functioning of a healthy ecosystem. My thesis will focus on how land management practices and pressures from urbanization affect the bee and plant communities in rare alvar habitat on Pelee Island. When she's not looking at bees, Janean is spending time in nature with her dog Sammie. Google Scholar |
Shereen Xavier, PhD candidate
Serendipity is how I came across entomology and in a simple statement, I love insects and am curious about their under explored potential in our ever-urbanizing world. My research focuses on quantifying the effects of habitat management practices like floral provisioning on beneficial insect communities specifically pollinators and natural enemies across urban agricultural landscapes. What else do you need to know about me: I enjoy spending time outdoors with my dog and my husband (in that order 😉), crocheting, getting lost in the faraway lands of science fiction, and just living out the busy-ness of life. |
Sisley Irwin, PhD candidate
Due to the urban heat Island effect, we see much hotter temperatures in cities as opposed to surrounding natural landscapes. However, urban areas are highly heterogenous, and temperature will scale with land use change. My thesis will focus on the role of temperature variation in altering phenology and life cycle events of plant and pollinator communities in the city, and how the cooling effects of green infrastructure can alter these processes. In my free time, you can find me training for my next marathon! |
Thomas Hall, MSc student
Hi! I’m Thomas. My background is in entomology and I have a keen interest on the role insects play in multitrophic interactions. My current work focuses on bridging theoretical work on niche partitioning and disturbance ecology with applied conservation practices in the Meadoway. My current favourite beetle is the Diabolical ironclad beetle (Nosoderma diabolicum) but this will probably change as I struggle to pick favourites among my children. |
Pascale Bider, MSc student
Invasive plant removal is a fundamental component of most ecosystem restoration projects. In naturalized environments, this practice has been shown to increase pollinator abundance and diversity, but in urban environments where floral resources are scarce, the impacts of this practice are not yet entirely understood. My research focuses on understanding how the removal of a non-native thistle, Cirsium arvense, affects plant and pollinator dynamics in an urban restoration project. When I’m not in the field, I love to sew while listening to sci-fi audiobooks! |
Celine Chao
While diurnal pollinators are well-studied, their nocturnal counterparts are not. This is often due to logistical challenges in traditional sampling methods. My project focuses on using novel technology to observe the contribution of diurnal and nocturnal pollinating insects to the reproductive success of native plants. My research takes place at Koffler Scientific Reserve (KSR). My interests outside of ecology include makeup and fashion, spending time with my dogs, and listening to/making music! |
Ray Liman
Pollinator diversity and abundance are declining, yet their population trends are still uncertain due to their difficulty of being studied in nature. My thesis takes a different approach by using machine learning algorithms to help understand their foraging behaviour and how night time pollinators behave too, which are relatively unknown." |
Research technicians
Jingwei Dai Saraf Nawar Sidra Fallaha |
Work study
Christina Cao Bella Liao Sara Thomas Vanessa Opuku |
Defended!!
Dr. Charlotte de Keyzer (Now: Canada's Clean Growth Hub) PhD (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) 2017-2021 'Phenological responses of plants and pollinators to human-altered climates' Charlotte Craig (Now: Rural Ontario Institute) MSc (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) 2021-2023 'Experimental warming of flower temperatures and influence on pollinator visitation' Sisley Irwin (Now: Joint PhD program at University of Toronto and University of Melbourne) MSc (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) 2020-2022 'Effect of ecological restoration on plant-pollinator networks in urban meadows' Andrew Nichols (Now: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) MSc (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) 2019-2022 'Soil nitrogen mineralization and nitrous oxide dynamics in an extensive agro-green roof system' Madison Marshall (Now: TransCoastal Adaptations) MSc (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) 2019-2021 'Cavity-nesting bee and wasp diversity and foraging trip duration in urban residential gardens' Julie Wang (Now: PhD, University of Georgia Athens) MSc (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology) 2018-2020 'To Sedum or Not to Sedum: Improving Extensive Green Roof Functioning Using Invasion Theory as a Management Tool' |
Postdoc completed
Dr. Alessandro Filazzola (Now: ApexRMS) 2019, 2022-2023 Masters of Applied Environmental Science 2022 Cole Blair (Now: Wildlife Preservation Canada) 2022 Chelsea Aristone (Now: Birds Canada) 2021 Patricia Prelich (Now: Toronto Wildlife Centre) 2020 Carolyn Thickett (Now: Nature Conservancy of Canada) 2019 Miranda Klymiuk 2018 Galila Wondwessen 2017 Vickie Do Undergraduate honours thesis (BSc) 2022-2023 Madeline Teo Christina Cao *UTSC top undergraduate award 2021-2022 Khawlah Usmani Devlin Grewal 2020-2021 Krishan Sivanathan 2019-2020 Shannon Underwood 2018-2019 Waqqas Khalid Zhuo Wei Stephen Grabinsky Praveen Jayarajan 2017-2018 Bruce Malloch Antonio Lorenzo Chet Greene Inkar Artygalina *UTSC top undergraduate award Kabir Plahay Mandy Yuen 2016-2017 Menilek Beyene Vicky Nguyen Caroline Mitchell 2015-2016 Anushree Bhatt Shameek Das |