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Sharon Jeffery MSc. Student: June 2005 - present "Influences
of an eelgrass bed's site
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My research for my Masters thesis is focused on evaluating eelgrass as a habitat for juvenile rockfishes. I am particularly interested in determining what factors influence the abundance of juvenile rockfish in eelgrass beds. It has long been recognized that rockfish occur in eelgrass habitat as juveniles, but when they are using the beds and what factors are important to the juvenile fish has not yet been assessed. I hope that my research will fill in some of these blanks, and increase our understanding of the biology of these interesting fish species. We are increasingly realizing the importance of conserving habitats that meet the needs of all life stages of our target fish species. Recognizing juvenile habitats of fish species on our coast is a crucial step towards effective marine reserve design and placement. Understanding when rockfish are using eelgrass beds, and what factors influence the habitat value of the beds, will help us to effectively conserve habitat for rockfish and ultimately increase their populations. Life before grad school: I graduated from UBC with a bachelor's degree in marine biology. The highlight of my undergraduate degree was participating in the fall semester at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Center. Following graduation, I took a job at the Vancouver Aquarium as a biologist looking after local fish displays. This position took me on diving collection trips from the Queen Charlotte Islands, to Nakwakto rapids, to the northern tip of Vancouver island. During my 7+ years as a BC Waters aquarist there, I managed to escape for a couple of extended trips to travel around South America and Cambodia. During my time both in and out of school, I have enjoyed extended backpacking and camping trips to remote areas of British Columbia, summers spent playing Ultimate Frisbee, and winters spent practicing Tae Kwon Do.
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