Education:

M.Sc Candidate, Biological Oceanography (2005-present)
University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
Supervisor: Dr. Claudio DiBacco

B.Sc. Marine Biology Co-op (2000-2005)
Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
Honours thesis supervisor: Dr. Anna Metaxas

Work Experience:

Research Assistant: Green urchin ecology review update (May 2005 – June 2005)
Biology Department, Dalhousie University
Supervisor: Dr. Bob Scheibling

Research Assistant: Green crab juv. ecology in the Bras d’Or Lakes (June 2004 – Aug 2005)
Oceanography Department, Dalhousie University
Supervisor: Dr. Anna, Metaxas

Aquaculture Research Technician & weekend feeder: Coral Reef Nova Scotia (Sept - Dec 2003 & Jan-June 2004)
Biology Department, Dalhousie University
Supervisor: Dr. Alan Pinder

Environmental Assessment Report Intern (Jan –Apr 2003)
Environmental Services, Public Works of Canada, NS

Research Technician: Gadolife, Cod studies (May-Aug 2002)
Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Gulf Fisheries Center, NB

Publications:

Bravo, M.A., B. Cameron and A. Metaxas, 2007. Salinity tolerance in the early larvae of Carcinus maenas (Decapoda, Brachyura), a recent invader of the Bras d’Or Lakes, Nova Scotia, Canada. Crustaceana 80:475-490.

Conference presentations:

Bravo, M.A., T.W. Therriault & C. DiBacco. Relating abiotic and biotic factors to the distribution and abundance of intertidal non-native species in the Strait of Georgia, Canada. 2008 ASLO Summer Meeting St. John's, Newfoundland, June 2008. [Oral Presentation]

Lum T., M.A. Bravo, C. DiBacco, T.W. Therriault & G. Jamieson: Distribution and abundance of non-native clams in the Strait of Georgia. Georgia Basin Puget Sound Research Conference, March 2007. [Poster Presentation]

Jamieson G.S., T.W. Therriault , M.A. Bravo, C.L. Clarke, C. DiBacco: Intertidal Invasive species in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia. ASLO 2006 Summer Meeting Victoria, BC, June 2006. [Presentation]

Bravo, M.A., B.Cameron, and A. Metaxas: Salinity tolerance in the early larvae of Carcinus maenas, a recent invader of the Bras d’Or Lakes Canada. ASLO 2006 Summer Meeting Victoria, BC, June 2006. [Oral Presentation]

Research Interests:

1) Aquatic introduced species have become a topic of interest because they can affect the environment and economy of native ecosystems. The Straight of Georgia (SoG) is a rich, productive and economically important ecosystem that is currently inhabited by numerous introduced species. Very few synoptic and systematic ecological surveys have been conducted in the area, resulting in a lack of baseline data needed for assessing current & future risks, and changes to the SoG ecosystem. My research objectives are to contribute baseline data, to ultimately use in the creation of monitoring and management programs, by identifying the compliment of native and introduced intertidal species of the SoG and determining factors possibly affecting their establishment.

2) One of the most successful marine invasive species, the green crab (Canrcinus maenas), was recently discovered on the Canadian West coast. Its presence is of great concern to native fisheries and ecosystems, unfortunately not much is known about green crab populations on this coast. By collaborating with DFO our lab's research objective is to provide basic information about the ecology of these recently established green crabs.