Dr. Cicchino Nabs NSERC Grant

We are thrilled to congratulate Dr. Amanda Cicchino, Postdoctoral Fellow here at the Centre for Ecosystem Management, on being awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) grant for her research pertaining to the impact of global warming on ectotherms, specifically freshwater fish in the Great Lakes basin. This innovative study addresses a critical gap in our understanding of how species that regulate their body temperature through environmental means can cope with rising temperatures.

Ectotherms, which include the majority of terrestrial species, are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Their survival hinges on their ability to adapt to warmer temperatures, either physiologically or through evolutionary processes. Current research often overlooks the complexities of behavioural thermoregulation and its potential impact on thermal performance and evolutionary capacity.

Dr. Cicchino aims to bridge this gap by integrating evolutionary ecology, organismal physiology, and behavioural ecology. She explains, “In my PhD work, I answered questions about the evolution of thermal tolerance in a frog species that lives in fast-flowing montane streams. The nature of the fast flow and water source meant that the tadpoles in the streams didn’t have much opportunity to behaviourally thermoregulate, which can influence how they cope with water temperatures. This NSERC fellowship allows me to expand my research expertise by incorporating animal behaviour into investigations of similar questions.” The study hypothesizes that behavioural thermoregulation may alter thermal performance curves (TPCs) and evolutionary potential, influencing species' vulnerability to climate change. By focusing on three freshwater fish species—walleye, rainbow trout, and the invasive round goby—across five lakes, the research will provide critical insights into how these species manage their thermal environments and the implications for their future survival.

Photo Credit: John Werner Photography

“I’m really looking forward to diving into this work and connecting with the many amazing folks who will be involved. I feel like this fellowship is setting me up for success to reach my overarching research and career goals, including contributing to a vibrant and collaborative CEM environment.”, Dr. Cicchino shares. “It also allows me to further develop collaborations with academic and non-academic scientists with similar goals.”

Using advanced methods like surgically implanted telemetry tags and eco-evolutionary simulations, this research will offer valuable predictions for conservation management and invasive species control. We eagerly anticipate the findings of this pioneering work and her contribution to our understanding of species adaptation in the face of global warming. Congratulations once again to Dr. Cicchino!