Nasiha Jahirhussain

Nasiha Jahirhussain

Post Doctoral Researcher

Nasiha is an optical oceanographer, carrying out research in satellite remote sensing analysis of coastal, estuarine and open ocean waters. Earlier research modules during her Ph.D. work were involved in biogeochemical characteristics of oceanic waters by the use of remotely sensed satellite imagery. Nasiha had developed several in situ observation-based ocean optical models and their proof-of-concept algorithms for remote sensing implications, to better understand the oceanographic particle system spanning from sediment settling velocity to particulate load composition. Nasiha engaged in a number of ocean research cruises for the field measurement of optical-oceanographic parameters such as radiometric quantities, coefficients of absorption, attenuation, scattering and fluorescence, turbidity together with aerosol optical thickness of the atmospheric column.

Presently, Nasiha is working in the FOCOS (Ferry Ocean Colour Observation Systems) research project that acquires and utilizes autonomous above-water radiometric measurements, primarily for the satellite remote sensing applications of marginal seas and dynamic coastal waters. Her recent study depicted the spatial variability of in situ remote sensing reflectance to derive uncertainties associated with transitional water boundaries and optically complex coastal waters. The research work showed that the high spatial variability in remote sensing reflectance was predominantly associated with the spatial dynamics of the optical water constituents, thus limiting the use of these datasets as Fiducial Reference Measurements for the satellite validation process. Nasiha is currently working with a large hyperspectral FOCOS dataset for the robust evaluation of satellite retrieved and atmospherically corrected reflectance.

Nasiha is an independent researcher, yet a collaborative teammate. To further say about Nasiha, she believes in the collective knowledge acquired by humanity to date, and her favorite quote is by Isaac Newton, “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants”.

Nicola Houtman

Nicola Houtman

Contact: nicolahoutman@gmail.com

MSc Geography, University of Victoria

BSc Geography, University of Victoria

Nicola Houtman is a Master’s candidate interested in mapping important forage fish species in the Strait of Georgia in order to learn about important areas for conservation for their endangered predators (Chinook and marbled murrelets). The ecology and distribution of many of British Columbia’s forage fish are undocumented due to limited fisheries targeting forage fish, the focus on species or stock specific management rather than ecosystem-based management, and the highly mobile or migratory life history of forage fish species. In particular, the distribution of pelagic (i.e. water column) foraging habitats of forage fish is virtually undocumented for Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus), Northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax), and surf smelt (Hypomensus pretiosus).

The main research goal of this project is to map forage fish distributions in pelagic habitats in the Strait of Georgia. The project will be accomplished by:

1) Creating species distribution models that can predict the locations of Pacific sand lance, surf smelt, and Northern anchovy (three key forage species with little distribution data).

2) Developing a methodology for using remotely piloted aircrafts (RPAs, i.e. unmanned aerial vehicles or drones) to map schools of forage fish in the field, and identify species and school metrics (e.g., average fish size, school size). 

3) Visiting the areas predicted as high and low probability of fish presence by the models and using the RPA methodology I develop to ground-truth the models (i.e. try to find fish). 

This project is in collaboration with Project Watershed, Parks Canada, and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. 

Sejal Pramlall

Sejal Pramlall

MSc Geography

Contact: sejalpramlall@uvic.ca

Linked In

BSc Honours in Ocean & Atmosphere Science (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

BSc in Ocean & Atmosphere Science, Marine Biology and Environmental & Geographical Science (University of Cape Town, South Africa)

Sejal Pramlall is a Master’s candidate with an interest in using satellite remote sensing tools to quantitatively analyze bio-physical oceanographic processes.

The main objectives of her MSc research is to

i) determine the long term spatio-temporal dynamics of phytoplankton phenology along the British Columbia and South East Alaskan coastal waters, with a particular focus on the Queen Charlotte Sound region,

ii) to determine the environmental drivers most strongly influencing phytoplankton dynamics, and lastly

iii) to quantitatively delineate regions with similar phenological indices into distinct ‘phenoregions’ along the migration route of juvenile salmon.

The outcome of this research can redefine some of what we know about seasonal cycles of phytoplankton over the past two decades, which could in turn provide valuable insight into trophic linkages between phytoplankton and juvenile salmon populations in this region. This study is a collaborative effort between the Spectral Remote Sensing Laboratory and the Hakai Institute, and contributes to the overarching MEOPAR and Canadian Space agency project: ‘Spatiotemporal dynamics of the coastal ocean biogeochemical domains of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska - following the migration route of juvenile salmon.’

Sejal has a background in physical oceanography, meteorology and marine ecology. She graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BSc Honours degree in Ocean & Atmosphere Science, for which she has attained the class medal for being the top achiever in her academic year. Her previous research involved applying algorithms to detect the presence of cyclones, analysis of storm tracks in the Southern Ocean and their relationship with Antarctic sea ice distribution. During this time, she contributed to the 2019 SCALE (Southern Ocean Seasonal Experiment) research expedition to the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone. Throughout her academic career Sejal has accumulated numerous accolades, including the ZSSA (Zoological Society of South Africa) student award, various class medals, the Deans merit list and is a member of the Golden Key society.

Gita Narayan

Postdoctoral Researcher

Ph.D., 2011. University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

M.Sc, .2003, University of Victoria, Victoria B.C.

B.Sc., 1998 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

Link to Thesis

Gita is working collaboratively with members of the SPECTRAL Lab, on a project focused on quantifying kelp spatio-temporal resilience to changing environmental and climatic conditions across coastal British Columbia (BC). This project will involve cooperation with different coastal communities and institutions across BC and it will be based on the assessment of large spatial and temporal datasets of kelp distribution, both historically and more recently. The project will initially focus on coastal areas of the Salish Sea and expand to include the broader coastal areas along BC's coast. The project aims to: (i) collaboratively develop spatiotemporal map of kelp extent; and (ii) define environmental and biological drivers of kelp change. The findings of this project will help support and improve kelp forest conservation and management strategies.

Gita has a background in marine micropalaeontology and ecology. She received her PhD from the University of Queensland, Australia, her MSc from the University of Victoria, BC and her BSc (Zoology) from the University of Alberta. She has worked as a marine (geo-) ecologist in the temperate, coastal ecosystems of British Columbia and in the tropical coral reef ecosystems and associated habitats in Eastern Australia (PhD) and in Zanzibar, East Africa (Postdoctoral research at the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research, Bremen, Germany). Her expertise and previous experience has been built upon research on benthic foraminiferal taxonomy and ecology. Her broader interests include marine benthic community ecological health assessments and the response of key marine bio-indicators and ecosystem engineers to long-term ecological changes in coastal marine environments. In her spare time, Gita studies herbal medicine (part-time) and is interested in local botany (including marine plants), gardening and spending time in or by the ocean.

Links to Publications

Christian Marchese

Christian Marchese

Postdoctoral Fellow

PhD. University of Quebec

I am a biological oceanographer and I obtained my PhD in Environmental Sciences at the University of Quebec in Rimouski (UQAR). I am interested in understanding phytoplankton dynamics and productivity in the coastal and open ocean. My research explores the importance of physical-biological interactions in the pelagic realm and how simultaneous changes in several environmental drivers are affecting marine ecosystems. Most of my work is involved in generating long-term time-series by combining satellite information, field measurements, and model-derived data.

My postdoctoral research with the Hakai Coastal Initiative aims at identifying, by using very high-resolution satellite data, coastal marine biogeochemical provinces of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska and their spatial-temporal dynamic. Defining a coastal marine bioregionalization at regional scales will enhance understanding of how organisms and food webs may respond to different biophysical conditions.

Lianna Gendall

Lianna Gendall

MSc Geography, University of Victoria
BSc Biology, University of Alberta      
Contact

Lianna Gendall is a Master’s candidate with interests in kelp forest ecology, ecosystem-based management and the use of remote sensing to answer important ecological questions. Kelp forests are some of the most diverse and productive habitats on earth and provide many important ecosystem services to humans. Lianna’s research is focused on creating a baseline map of kelp forest distributions along the coast of Haida Gwaii and exploring environmental drivers of change in these ecosystems. This project is a collaborative effort between the SPECTRAL remote sensing laboratory, the Hakai Institute and the Marine Plan Partnership for the North Pacific Coast (MaPP) and will help to improve management strategies for kelp forest ecosystems in the future.

Lianna has a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Biology from the University of Alberta. Throughout her degree, Lianna’s curiosity and love for the ocean grew while working as a research assistant and Dive Master on several international marine research bases.  She spent the last semester of her BSc. at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, where she fell in love with the complex and beautiful temperate ecosystems of the west coast of Canada.  Since graduating, she has worked as a coral reef ecology instructor in Mexico and with the Salmon Coded Wire Tag Laboratory of J.O. Thomas & Associated Ltd. All of these experiences have solidified her desire to identify and monitor long-term change in coastal marine ecosystems and she is excited for the new experiences and challenges that lie ahead. 

Click HERE to learn more about Lianna’s Project

Brian Timmer

MSc Geography    
BSc Biology       
Contact: briantimmer@uvic.ca | twitter: @Scuba_Timmer |   

Brian’s MSc was focused on quantifying uncertainties of kelp bed metrics associated with changes in tidal height and current, as detected by remote sensing. Brian used data from in situ hyperspectral radiometers, multispectral UAV, high-resolution WorldView imagery, and supplementary data acquired from established Hakai kelp monitoring sites near Calvert Island to complete his thesis.

Click Here to learn more about Brian’s project.

Fernanda Giannini

Post Doc Researcher  
University of Victoria (UVic)/University of British Columbia (UBC)/Hakai Institute

PhD. University of São Paulo

MSc. Federal University of Rio Grande

Contact  |  Thesis    

I completed a PhD on Biological Oceanography, with main research interest on phytoplankton ecology and photo-physiology, primary production, ocean color and remote sensing of the ocean, coastal water bio-optics and riverine-coastal oceanography. The main focus of the current project is to combine high resolution satellite remote sensing with in situ oceanographic sampling to examine the spatial and temporal variability of the physical, chemical and biological properties of the coastal oceans from British Columbia to Southeast Alaska. The project aims to address what are the spatial and temporal dynamics of the biogeochemical properties of the coastal oceans of British Columbia and Southeast Alaska; what are the dominant bottom-up control processes driving the dynamics of these regions; and what are the implications of bottom-up processes for regional primary productivity, and the foraging habitat available to migrating juvenile salmon. 

Publications:

1.    Ciotti, Á.M., Ferreira, A. and Giannini, M.F. 2018. Seasonal and event-driven changes in the phytoplankton communities in the Araçá Bay and adjacent waters. Ocean & Coastal Management.

2.    Giannini, M.F.C., Harari, J., Ciotti, A.M. 2017. The use of CBERS (China-Brazil Earth Resources Satellite) to trace the dynamics of total suspended matter at an urbanized coastal area. Brazilian Journal of Oceanography. v. 65(2), p. 309-323, doi: 10.1590/S1679-87592017135006502

3.    Giannini, M.F.C. and Ciotti, A.M. 2016. Parameterization of natural phytoplankton photo-physiology: Effects of cell size and nutrient concentration. Limnology and Oceanography. v. 61, p. 1495 - 1512. doi: 10.1002/lno.10317

4.    Ferreira, A., Ciotti, A.M., Giannini, M.F.C. 2014. Variability in the light absorption coefficients of phytoplankton, non-algal particles, and colored dissolved organic matter in a subtropical bay (Brazil). Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. v. 139, p. 127 – 136

5.    Giannini, M.F.C., Garcia, C.A.E., Tavano, V.M. Ciotti, A.M. 2013. Effects of low-salinity and high-turbidity waters on empirical ocean colour algorithms: An example for Southwestern Atlantic waters. Continental Shelf Research. v. 59, p. 84 - 96

6.    Moser, G.A.O., Ciotti, A.M., Giannini, M.F.C., Tonini, R.T., Harari, J. 2012. Changes in phytoplankton composition in response to tides, wind-induced mixing conditions, and freshwater outflows in an urbanised estuarine complex. Brazilian Journal of Biology. v. 72(1), p. 97 - 11

Karyn Suchy

Post Doctoral Researcher
PhD Biology (University of Victoria)  
BSc, MSc Zoology (University of Manitoba)

Contact | Thesis

Research Areas:
My broad interests are in zooplankton ecology and biological oceanography. For my PhD research, I determined how short-term variations in food quantity, food quality, and primary productivity influence zooplankton communities in coastal marine ecosystems on the west coast of Canada and in the tropical waters of Guanabara Bay, Brazil. The main goal of my postdoctoral work is to investigate the level of synchrony between phytoplankton and zooplankton phenology in the Salish Sea. Time-series data for phytoplankton will be derived from various sources (satellite imagery, buoy data, ferry data, citizen science data, and research cruise data) and then coupled with historical and present zooplankton data. By looking at long-term spatial data of phytoplankton and zooplankton, we can identify their response to different climate drivers (e.g. SST, wind) and global climatic indices. Ultimately, changes in the seasonal patterns of these lower trophic levels will provide insight into their influence on the growth, survival, and overall return strength of salmon populations in the region.

Nicole Le Baron

Research Assistant  
BSc. Geography, concentration in Geomatics (University of Victoria)   
Contact | LinkedIn

Vishnu P S

PhD in Geography, University of Victoria
MSc Environmental Science and Disaster Management, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, Kerala, India
BSc Physics, Kuriakose Elias College, Mannanam, Kerala, India

For my PhD, I worked with Sentinel-3 imagery to develop regional remote sensing algorithms to define phytoplankton phenology and groups, especially harmful algae along the Strait of Georgia and southeast Alaska.  

Research Interests:

• Bio-optical studies of coastal waters

• Remote sensing of phytoplankton functional types

• Optical properties of Algal blooms

• Developing remote sensing algorithm for coastal waters

Research Experience:

• Junior Research Fellow in ISRO-SAC funded project entitled “Modeling bio-geochemical cycles in coastal oceans” in the Dept of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Science, CUSAT from 12-2-2014 to 12-02-2016.

• Senior Research Fellow in ISRO-SAC funded project entitled “Modeling bio-geochemical cycles in coastal oceans “in the Dept of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Science, CUSAT from 13-2-2016 to 31-03-2018.

Conference/Poster Presentations:

• P.S. Vishnu, S.P. Tiwari, S.S. Shaju, Mohamed Hatha, Nandini Menon, A. Mohandas. “Evaluation of Empirical and Semi Analytical Downwelling Diffuse Attenuation Coefficient Models along the Coastal Waters off Cochin”. Presented a poster at the second International Symposium ‘SAFARI 2’ on Remote Sensing for Ecosystems Analysis and Fisheries held between January 15-17 2018 at Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI), Kerala, India.

• Vishnu P S., Shaju S S., Nashad M., Ajith Joseph C., Mini Raman., Nandini Menon., Mohamed Hatha., Mohandas A. Seasonal variability in Bio-optical properties along the Coastal Waters off Cochin. Presented a poster at the “International Ocean Color Science (IOCS) 2017, Meeting”, in Lisbon, Portugal, from 15-18th May 2017.

• Vishnu P S., Shaju S S., Nashad M., Nandini Menon., Mohamed Hatha., Ajith Joseph c., Mini Raman. Study of light absorption coefficient of phytoplankton and other optically active components in the coastal waters off Cochin. Presented a poster at the International conference “Towards a sustainable Blue Economy” in Kochi from 4-6 February 2016.

• Chithra Chandran., Nashad M., Vishnu P S., Nandini Menon. Bloom of Fragilariopsis sp. in the coastal waters off Cochin, Kerala, South west coast of India – Presented a poster at the World Ocean Science Congress, Kochi from 5-8th February 2015.

Publications:

• P.S. Vishnu, S.S. Shaju, S.P. Tiwari, Nandini Menon, M. Nashad, C. Ajith Joseph, Mini Raman, Mohamed Hatha, M.P. Prabhakaran, A. Mohandas. 2017. Seasonal Variability in Bio-optical Properties along the Coastal Waters off Cochin. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation 66. 184-195 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2017.12.002.

• Shaju S.S, Sreekutty C. Prasad, Vishnu P.S., Amir Kumar Samal, Nandini Menon, Nashad M, K.A Mathew, A.K Abdul Nazar and Grinson George (2017). “Variability in phytoplankton specific absorption coefficients and remote sensing reflectance at a cage mariculture site during bloom’’ is under revision in the journal of ‘’Regional Studies in Marine Sciences’.

• Soumya Krishnankutty, Ajith Joseph, C., Vincent, P.D., Jabir, T., Vishnu, P.S., Saramma, A.V. and A.A. Mohamed Hatha (2017). ‘’Hydrography, Seasonal Diversity, Distribution and Abundance of Phytoplankton in Coastal Waters off Cochin - Southeastern Arabian Sea’’ is accepted in ‘’Indian Journal of Geo-Marine Science’’.

Andrea Hilborn

MSc in Geography
BSc Major in Geography, Minor in Mathematics (University of Victoria)
Contact

Research Areas:
ocean colour remote sensing, atmospheric corrections, multi-satellite time series, geospatial analysis

Thesis Project:
My master's project extends the local atmospheric correction from MODIS Aqua to the Suomi-NPP VIIRS sensor in order to identify phytoplankton bloom phenology throughout the Salish Sea. 

We are excited to have partnerships with the Pacific Salmon Foundation, MITACS and MEOPAR to help make this possible!

Publications and Presentations:

Contributor: Geomorphic and geologic controls of geohazards induced by Nepal’s 2015 Gorkha earthquake, Science 2015.

Affiliations:

Mitacs
MEOPAR
Pacific Salmon Foundation
Salish Sea Marine Survival Project
Ocean Networks Canada
Science Venture, University of Victoria
University of Victoria Campus Community Garden

Hana Travers-Smith

Lab Assistant / Honors Student
Undergrad, BSc Major in Geography & Minor in Statistics, University of Victoria   

I am helping with field work on the BC ferries this summer and starting an honours project in the fall. My project will be examining different methods to correct non-photochemical  quenching of chlorophyll measurements captured by an instrumented BC ferry.

Alex Skarzenski

Lab Volunteer
Undergrad, BSc Geography, University of Victoria     

I am volunteering at the lab doing exploratory optical research on herring spawns in the Salish Sea.

Natasha Nahirnick

MSc Student in Geography
BSc in Geography (Honours), concentration in Geomatics (University of Victoria)
Contact | Flickr

Research Areas:
Remote sensing, aerial photography, UAVs, Geographic Information Systems, nearshore and intertidal habitats, seagrass mapping, land/sea interactions, land use change, eutrophication and nutrient loading, fisheries, freshwater salmon habitats, environmental restoration.
  
Thesis Project:
Long-term aerial photographic mapping of eelgrass (Zostera marina) in the Salish Sea (1932-2016)
Using archived historic aerial photography and imagery captured by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), I am working to assess seagrass distributions change in the Salish Sea, British Columbia from 1932-2016.
Click here for more information

Publications:

• Contributor: Geomorphic and geologic controls of geohazards induced by Nepal’s 2015 Gorkha earthquake, Science 2015.
• Report: Oil Spill Detection with Radarsat-2 on BC Coast. Submitted April 2015 to Ocean Networks Canada. 
• Dissertation: Evaluating MODIS-Aqua for the detection of Heterosigma akashiwo. (2014). University of Victoria. Bachelor's Honours. Supervisor: Dr. Maycira Costa

Awards:

• NSERC Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s (2015)
• UVic President’s Research Scholarship (2015)
• Canadian Hydrographic Association Award (2013)

Reading List:

• Following the Last Wild Wolves (McAllister, 2011)
• Salmon: A Scientific Memoir (Isabella, 2014)
• The Sea Around Us (Carson, 1951)

Stephen Phillips

Project Coordinator
MSc. Geography
BSc. Geography
BSc. Physics

Contact | MSc. Thesis | LinkedIn

Research Areas: remote sensing, ocean colour, algorithm development, optical equipment, spatial analysis, ocean dynamics.

Research Projects:

Salish Sea:  My graduate research project looked at the spatio-temporal optical and biogeochemical dynamics of the Salish Sea on the west coast of Canada.  Using an optical classification method I sub-regionalized the optical properties of this coastal region and used this information to parameterize satellite chlorophyll-a models with improved accuracy.  My project focused on the MODIS-Aqua and Sentinel-3 ocean colour sensors.  This outcomes of my research were to provide more accurate remotely sensed Chlorophyll-a data for an ecosystem based approach to effectively monitor the health of the Salish Sea.   

Amazon:  In the fall of 2014 I had the opportunity to be a project coordinator and researcher on the Cruizeiro do Sul, Research Cruise in Belém, Brazil.  This project focused on understanding the optical dynamics of the Amazon River Plume as it migrates out into the tropical Atlantic.  Using similar optical instrumentation and methods developed in the Salish Sea this was a great opportunity to apply and test my research in a new oceanic environment.  

FOCOS:  Ferry Ocean Colour Observation Systems (Current Project).  I'm currently involved with a new project that builds on my research with two permanent ocean colour monitoring stations installed on two ships of opportunity.  Through various partnerships this project will see two fully automated radiometric ocean colour instruments installed on two BC Ferries, one of which is now in operation.  In conjunction with Ocean Networks Canada this project presents a unique opportunity to combine resources and provide valuable and accurate ocean colour data that will be used to better understand the health of our coastal ecosystem.  As lead project coordinator I'm responsible for the successful deployment of these new systems, which are the first of their kind to go into full time operation in Canada.  

Valerie Leithoff

Lab Technician

Profile coming soon...

Yuyan Yang

MSc Student in statistics  

Research:

Yuyan's project focused on acquiring data from the BC ferries using citizens for science as part of the FOCOS project.  She used this information to statistically compare and test the data for accuracy.

Nathan Vandenberg

MSc in Computer Science

Research:

Nathan has a background in databases, data mining, and machine learning.  For his thesis, Nathan worked on a program that processes data from optical instruments and tablets installed on the BC ferries as part of the FOCOS program.  His integral role in this program ensured that data was cleaned for quality control and output into a format that was useful for further analysis. 

Rick May

Lab Assistant

Profile coming soon