Heather J Alexander

Changing it up!

After an amazing few days learning a ton about #stickleback, at the #2025stickleback conference, it’s time to get out on the water and sample the big ones!

So much fun had by all!

@halexander.bsky.social 😊

An exceptionally nice location for a poster session at the stickleback 2025 conference at the Banfield Marine science Center on Vancouver Island

Poster session at #stickleback2025 conference presenting “Immune investment and infection across seasons in natural host populations”.

@danielbolnick.bsky.social

Real live Schistocephalus!

A day at Nitinat Lake!
The beautiful Coccolithophore bloom has made it to it into this predominantly marine lake.

Sarita Bay, Huu-at-aht Traditional Territory

Sarita
Huu-ay-aht First Nations traditional territory

Deeply grateful for the last two years of field experiences.
#sticklebackresearch
@danielbolnick.bsky.social lab

There's nothing quite like the call of the loon.
#sticklebackresearch
#westcoastlakes

Common loons

Common loons

Lots of Loon action on the Bamfield-area west coast lakes today!
Loons are a definitive host of Schistocephalus solidus cestode parasite.
#sticklebackresearch
#westcoastlakes
@danielbolnick.bsky.social lab

New paper published by Chloe Fouilloux showing we can detect S.solidus tapeworms in zooplankton from lakes using digital droplet PCR, a handy technique for epidemiology in aquatic systems:
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

Sampling S. solidus at windy Nimpkish Lake.
@danielbolnick.bsky.social lab

For the #Stickleback researchers out there: For the July Stickleback conference we've put together an informational directory about stickleback populations near the Bamfield Marine Sciences Center, to help promote that station as a platform for stickleback research:
drive.google.com/file/d/1TS12...

I have captured them in minnow traps at Pachena Lake.

Wrapping up a week of dissecting stickleback previously fed copepods infected with S. solidus.
We recovered small worms and observed variation among populations in fibrosis response.
@danielbolnick.bsky.social

Buenos dias!
😎🏝️🌊

Another great day in La Ventana!
😎🪁😊 🏝️🍹☀️
#kiteboarding

End of day run with Selkie at Pachena Bay.

Taking a bit of a break from the @danielbolnick.bsky.social #stickleback lab.

Rewarding to see the #stickleback fish being used for S. solidus infection experiments after rearing from embryos in the lab!
@danielbolnick.bsky.social

Winter scenes

Some beautiful #stickleback artwork gracing the halls of UVic Biology.

STICKLEBACK 2025 Artwork by Olivier Morissette

The next International Stickleback Conference will be in late July 2025 at Bamfield Marine Science Center on Vancouver Island. Conference information can be seen here: www.stickleback-2025.ca

YouTube video by Heather Alexander Selkie the faithful field assistant

There's nothing like a faithful companion while working in the field.
#Selkie
#sticklebackresearch
#westcoastlakes

youtube.com/shorts/nD8yw...

Sampling stickleback is always a treat, even in torrential downpours. Sampling stickleback on a rainy day in October, at Rosseau Lake

Check out @danielbolnick.bsky.social spectacular drone footage of sampling #stickleback from Vancouver Island lakes.

Sometimes the weather is less cooperative, but dramatic nonetheless.
youtube.com/shorts/cDFZF...

Great news for Canadian students!

Research intern sampling fish from kayak

Making within lake crosses to take to the lab

A surprise appearance of #stickleback reproductive males and females from a #westcoastlake.

Embryos will be reared in the lab before testing variation among Vancouver Island lake populations in infection prevalence and immune response to Schistocephalus solidus.
@danielbolnick.bsky.social

Glorious day at Nitinaht Lake reconnecting with the wind and sea and beautiful friendships.
#kiteboarding
#redkitediaries

Field work for real!

Thanks to the @hund.lab for accommodation in the bunkhouse as it’s a little cold and windy this evening!😊
#sticklebackresearch

@danielbolnick.bsky.social