Farrah chan

Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research,
University of Windsor,
Windsor, Ontario, Canada N9B 3P4
ph. (519) 253-3000 ext. 4739
Fax (519) 971-3616
email: Farrah

Supervisor(s): 
Dr. Hugh MacIsaac and Dr. Sarah Bailey

Hometown:    
Hong Kong, China

Education:

University of Waterloo, B.Sc                                                                                                        

Honours Biology, Joint Honours Environment and Resource Studies                                                                                                 

Research Title:                                                                                                             
Risk assessment of ship-mediated non-indigenous species (NIS) introductions in the Canadian Arctic

Research Summary:                                                                           
My research focuses on the risk assessment of ship-mediated NIS introductions in the Canadian Arctic. Ballast water discharge and hull fouling are well recognized as significant transport vectors of NIS globally. However, little work has been done to assess the magnitudes of these vectors in the Arctic. Using transit data between 2005-2007 from Canadian Coast Guard’s Information System on Marine Navigation (INNAV) and Transport Canada’s Canadian Ballast Water Database, I will determine the vector strength and estimate the potential propagule pressure posed by these vectors. Biological assessment will then take place at selected ports to further refine the estimated potential propagule pressure. The results of the study will inform future management actions through determination of high risk ports and compilation of a list of potential high impact NIS, thus allowing targeted preventive efforts at risky ports and on risky species. The study can also serve as baseline measure for biological invasions and shipping activities in the Canadian Arctic.

Contributions to Research                                                                                                     
Chan, F.T., and Bailey, S.A., MacIsaac, H.J., and Wiley, C.J. (2008) Analysis of recent shipping patterns in the Canadian Arctic to assess ship-mediated invasion risk. International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species 2009, April 19th-23rd 2009, Montreal, Quebec.

Chan, F.T., and Bailey, S.A., MacIsaac, H.J., and Wiley, C.J. (2008) Analysis of recent shipping patterns in the Canadian Arctic to assess ship-mediated invasion risk. Ecological and Evolutionary Implications of Climate Change Symposium, March 6th-7th 2009, Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Chan, F.T.., and Smith, R.E. (2008) Phytoplankton distribution in South Grand River as assessed by the spectroflurometric technique. (Honour’s thesis project)

Chan, F., Bedore, J., D., Leblond, S., O’Grady, A., Robinson, C., Shaw, L., Szkokan-Emilson, E., and Wesolek, B. (2007) Biological recovery of benthic invertebrates from acidification in Killarney lakes, Ontario. (Research paper for field course)