M.Sc. Biology (2005), University of Ottawa, Canada (Fish Physiology and Biochemistry)

B.Sc. Biology (2001), McGill University, Canada (Microbiology and Immunology)

Awards:

Leo Margolis Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Fisheries Science, Canadian Society of Zoologists, 2005

Heather Glendinning McMurter Environmental Science Award, University of Ottawa, 2004

Society for Experimental Biology Travel Grant, Southampton, U.K., 2004

Dean of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarship, University of Ottawa, 2002

Research Interests:

I am interested in topics related to conservation biology, evolution, gene flow, mating systems and environmental adaptation of all elasmobranchs, with particular reference to the lemon shark, Negaprion brevirostris.

Current Research:

My current research project is a molecular based study looking at the breeding biology and genetic structure of lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) populations found in three discrete nursery areas: North Sound, Bimini, Bahamas; Marquesas Key’s, Florida; and Atol das Rocas, Brazil. This involves field collections of DNA tissue samples from lemon sharks each year at the three aforementioned sites, with subsequent laboratory molecular analysis of these samples. Using previously developed microsatellite primers, I hope to provide an estimate of the number of females using each nursery area every year, the effective population size at each site, as well as the average size of their litters. In addition, by analyzing the genotypes of juvenile and adult sharks within and across years at all three sites, I hope to infer the frequency of multiple paternity litters as well as whether these three sites represent distinct sub-populations or are simply part of a single inter-breeding population with high levels of gene flow.

Mitochondrial DNA nucleotide sequence analysis will also be used in this study. Based on existing information, it appears that pregnant female lemon sharks exhibit philopatry, thus returning to the same site for parturition on a two year cycle. I will compare all haplotypes across the nursery sites to determine whether they are maternally isolated from each other and if dispersal is indeed sex-biased, with males mediating gene flow behaviorally while females remain highly site attached.

The main aim of this project is to provide a better understanding of the mating system of lemon sharks as well as information regarding patterns of gene flow in marine fish species. It should also allow me to answer much broader ecological questions dealing with evolutionary theory; specifically focused on the processes of selection, adaptive divergence, the ensuing reduction in gene flow, and the interaction between these factors.

Publications (full journal papers):

DiBattista, J.D., Feldheim, K.A., Gruber, S.H. and Hendry, A.P. (submitted) Are indirect genetic benefits associated with polyandry? A test in a natural population of lemon sharks. Evolution.

DiBattista, J.D. (submitted) Patterns of genetic variation in anthropogenically impacted populations. Conservation Genetics.

DiBattista, J.D., Feldheim, K.A., Gruber, S.H. and Hendry, A.P. (in press) When bigger is not better: Selection against large size, high condition, and fast growth in juvenile lemon sharks. Journal of Evolutionary Biology.

DiBattista, J.D., Levesque, H.M., Moon, T. and Gilmour, K.M. (2006) Growth depression in socially subordinate rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss: More than a fasting effect. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 79 (4): 675-687.

DiBattista, J.D., Anisman, H., Whitehead, M. and Gilmour, K.M. (2005) The effects of cortisol on social status and brain monoaminergic activity in freshwater rainbow trout. Journal of Experimental Biology 208 (14): 2707-2718.

Gilmour, K.M., DiBattista, J.D., and Thomas, J. (2005) Physiological causes and consequences of social status in salmonid fish. Integrative and Comparative Biology 45 (2): 263-273.

Oral Presentations:

“Are indirect benefits associated with polyandry? A test in a natural population of lemon sharks”. Biology Graduate Student Symposium, Mt Ste. Hilaire Research Station, QC, December 2006.

“When bigger is not better: Selection against large size, high condition, and fast growth in juvenile lemon sharks”. American Fisheries Society Annual Meeting, Lake Placid, NY, September 2006.

“When bigger is not better: Selection against large size, high condition, and fast growth in juvenile lemon sharks”. American Elasmobranch Society Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA, July 2006.

“Characterization of the mating system and evolutionary potential of the lemon shark”. Biology Graduate Student Symposium, McGill University, QC, December 2005.

“Juvenile lemon sharks, Negaprion brevirostris, do not form kin-based associations in a tropical nursery lagoon at Bimini, Bahamas”. American Elasmobranch Society Annual Meeting, Tampa, FL, July 2005.

“An investigation of factors that contribute to the low growth rates of subordinate rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)”. Canadian Society of Zoology Annual Meeting, Kingston, ON, May 2005.

“The effects of cortisol on social status and brain monoaminergic activity in freshwater rainbow trout”. Canadian Society of Zoology Annual Meeting, Acadia, NS, May 2004.

“The effects of cortisol on social status and brain monoaminergic activity in freshwater rainbow trout”. Society for Experimental Biology Annual Meeting, Edinburgh, Scotland, April 2004.

“The effects of cortisol on social status and brain monoaminergic activity in freshwater rainbow trout”. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry Workshop, Peterborough, ON, February 2004.

“The effects of cortisol on social status in rainbow trout”. Fish Physiology and Biochemistry Workshop, Peterborough, ON, February 2003.

Poster Presentations:

Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology (OCIB) Research Day, Ottawa University, April 2004.