Jill L. Brooks M.Sc., PhD. Candidate

Jill has 19 years of experience in aquatic ecology spanning freshwater and marine ecosystems. She is currently completing her PhD with Carleton University in Ottawa and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. During this (and her MSc), Jill planned, implemented, and reported on two large-scale multi-jurisdictional studies assessing restoration efforts of the Great Lakes Area of Concern Beneficial Use Impairments regarding fish populations and fish habitat. She used acoustic telemetry and spawning surveys to assess the success of an apex predator reintroduction program, habitat use of invasive species, and spawning habitat availability for a species of interest as per the Remedial Action Plan. From this she also gained experience conducting statistical analysis and habitat modelling using water quality data. Jill has quantified the chemical (temperature and DO) habitat available to multiple fish species spanning the hypoxia-tolerance and thermal spectrum and determined how these abiotic factors influence fine and broad-scale movements. She planned and implemented all fieldwork activities, which required coordination with Fisheries and Oceans field technicians, ECCC Technical Operations, and Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. 

In addition to her graduate research, Jill has managed a remote field research station, led multinational tagging programs, co-led a human dimensions study of recreational fisheries in the US, contributed to large-scale coastal netting, longlining, and e-fishing surveys, coordinated offshore research cruises, and deployed and maintained limnological and oceanographic equipment used to quantify water quality of fish habitat. While at Lotic, she has contributed to Fisheries Act Authorization applications, Offsetting Plans, Environmental Monitoring Plans, and has managed a fish population monitoring project. She is proficient in R and ArcGIS, and has authored numerous technical reports, manuscripts, and presentations tailored for a variety of audiences including natural resource managers, government researchers, stakeholders, and academics.

Areas of Expertise 

• Experimental design and implementation of field sampling programs. 
• Extensive fish sampling experience including electrofishing, seining, gillnetting, angling, and longlining.
• Ability to carry out both quantitative and qualitative fisheries assessments such as population estimates using mark-recapture, fish stress physiology, and fish habitat assessments.
• Complex data analyses, interpretation, and preparation of comprehensive technical reports and manuscripts. 
• Science communication and outreach.
• Mapping, spatial, and temporal analyses. 

Education 

• Ph.D., Candidate, Fish Ecology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, (2017-present).
• M.Sc., Fish Ecology, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON (2017).
• B.Sc., Marine Biology and Zoology, University of Wales, Bangor, UK (2006). 

Professional Experience 

• 2021 – present. Lotic Environmental. Senior Fish Biologist. 
• 2017 – present. Aquatrax Learning, Educational Program Manager and Co-Founder.
• 2015 – present. Carleton University, Research and Teaching Assistant. 
• 2014 – present. American Shark Conservancy, Research Scientist and Board Member. 
• 2012-2014. Bimini Biological Field Station, Bahamas. Station Manager and Co-Principal Investigator.
• 2009-2011. Bimini Biological Field Station, Bahamas. Station Assistant Manager and Project Coordinator. 

Professional Memberships and Training 

• Marine Emergency Duties for Small Non-pleasure Vessels (MED A3), 2015
• Small Vessel Operator Proficiency (SVOP), 2015
• TCPS 2: CORE (Research Ethics)
• Statistical Rethinking: A Bayesian Analysis Study Group, (Dr. Joe Thorley, Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology). Spatial and Temporal Ecological Data Analysis for R-INLA course (Highland Statistics); R Essentials for Natural Resource Professionals course (Quantitative Fisheries Center, Michigan State University).
• Electro-fishing class 1, Crew Supervisor. 
• American Fisheries Society, American Elasmobranch Society, Canadian Society of Zoologists, International Association for Great Lakes Research, Fisheries Society of the British Isles, American Fisheries Society Walleye Technical Committee Member, InFish.org
• Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Alexander G. Bell CGS Scholarship, 2018-2021 
• Norman S. Baldwin Fishery Science Scholarship, IAGLR.
• American Elasmobranch Society’s Eugenie Clark Award, Research and Outreach. 

Relevant Publications and Technical Reports 

Brooks, J.L., et al. (2022) Internal seiches as drivers of fish behaviour in lakes. Limnology and Oceanography.

Guay, J.D., J.L. Brooks, et al (2022).  Survey-derived angler characteristics and perspectives in the shore-based shark fishery in Florida. Marine and Coastal Fisheries.

Guay, J.D., J.L. Brooks, et al (2022). Exploring the hidden connections between information channel use and pro-environmental behaviour among recreational anglers of the shore-based shark fishery in Florida, U.S. Frontiers in Communication.

Marcaccio, J., J. G. Costa, J. L. Brooks, C. M. Boston, S. J. Cooke, and J. D. Midwood. (2021). Linking medium-resolution, automated ice mapping with acoustic telemetry to explore winter fish ecology in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing.

Brooks, J. L., J. D. Midwood, L.F.G. Gutowsky, C.M. Boston, S.E. Doka, J.A. Hoyle, and S.J. Cooke. (2019). Spatial ecology of reintroduced walleye (Sander vitreus) in Hamilton Harbour of Lake Ontario. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 45(1): 167-175.

Brooks, J.L., et al. (2018).  Biotelemetry informing management: case studies exploring successful integration of biotelemetry data into fisheries and habitat management.  Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 76(7): 1238-1252.  doi.org/10.1139/cjfas-2017-0530

Brooks, J.L., et al. (2017). Use of fish telemetry in rehabilitation planning, management, and monitoring in Areas of Concern in the Laurentian Great Lakes.  Environmental Management, 60(6): 1138-1154.

Ledee, E.J.I, Brooks, J. L., Boston, C.M., Cooke, S. J., Doka, S.E., and J.D. Midwood. Hamilton Harbour Fish Telemetry Update. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Great Lakes Sustainability Fund Report. (2018). 

Hoyle, J. A., Brooks, J.L., & D. Reddick. 8.7. Hamilton Harbour Walleye Reintroduction. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. (2017). Lake Ontario Fish Communities and Fisheries: 2016 Annual Report of the Lake Ontario Management Unit. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Picton, Ontario, Canada.