Pitcher Research Lab @UWindsor
Our lab (housed at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research, University of Windsor) investigates scientific questions related to evolutionary biology, reproductive ecology, and conservation biology using fishes (both economically important species and species at risk) from the Great Lakes Basin and the west/east coast of Canada. Our primary species of study include (among others) Chinook Salmon, Redside Dace, Lake Sturgeon, Atlantic Salmon, and Lake Trout.
We conduct field research across the Great Lakes basin (and on each coast of Canada) and we employ molecular ecology approaches including (among others) population genetics, environmental DNA (eDNA), proteomics, and transcriptomics. In addition to our foundational research program focused on genetic quality in wild populations we also apply this knowledge to; (1) improve captive breeding for endangered and threatened species of fishes, (2) increase the fitness of fishes released from fish hatcheries and (3) inform and improve the sustainability of salmon aquaculture. Our lab also focuses on questions related to reintroduction biology in species as varied as fishes, frogs and snakes.
In order to offer students unique experiential learning opportunities and to educate the public about science we founded the Freshwater Restoration Ecology Centre (FREC, see video below and link in banner for more details) in partnership between the Town of LaSalle and the University of Windsor. This facility houses unique infrastructure, species at risk experimental populations, and access to the Lake Huron-Erie Corridor via the Detroit River.
Short video regarding the Freshwater Restoration Ecology Centre (FREC) outlining both the research, education and outreach in the community.
Latest news
recent publications
Turko AJ, Nolan CB, Balshine S, Scott GR, Pitcher TE (2020). Thermal tolerance depends on season, age and body condition in imperilled redside dace, Clinostomus elongatus. Conservation Physiology 8 [pdf]
Lehnert SJ, Christensen K, Vandersteen WE, Sakhrani D, Pitcher TE, Heath JW, Koop BF, Heath DD, Devlin RH (2019) Carotenoid pigmentation in salmon: Variation in expresssion at BCO2-I locus controls a key fitness trait affecting red colouration. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B. DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1588 [pdf]
Lamothe et al. (2019) Reintroduction of fishes in Canada: a review of research progress for SARA-listed species. Environmental Reviews. 27: 575-599. [pdf]
Lajoie CME, Love OP, Heath DD, Heath JW, Pitcher TE (2019) Inter-population differences in farmed Chinook salmon product quantity and quality. Aquaculture. 506: 23-29 [pdf]
Lehnert SJ, Helou L, Pitcher TE, Heath JW, Heath DD (2017) Sperm competition, but not major histocompatibility drives differential fertilization success between alternative reproductive tactics in Chinook salmon. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 31: 88-97.[pdf]
Gombar R, Pitcher TE, Lewis JA, Auld J, Vacratsis PO. (2017). Proteomic characterization of seminal plasma from alternative reproductive tactics of Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Journal of Proteomics 157: 1-9. [pdf]
Lehnert SJ, Butts IAE, Flannery E, Peters K, Heath DD, Pitcher TE. (2017). Effects of ovarian fluid on sperm performance and fertilization success of alternative reproductive tactics in Chinook salmon. Journal of Evolutionary Biology 30: 1236-1245. [pdf]
Lewis JA, Pitcher TE. (2017). Tactic-specific genetic benefits of polyandry in Chinook salmon. Journal of Fish Biology 90: 1244-1256. [pdf]