Wilkie Lab

The Aquatic Invasive Species Environmental Physiology Lab at Wilfrid Laurier University conducts research on how fish species adapt to unpredictable and extreme environmental conditions, including factors like oxygen deprivation, salinity changes, and toxicants. Utilizing a range of techniques encompassing biochemical, morphological, electrophysiological, and molecular approaches, the lab studies various fish species from ancient lineages such as sea lampreys and lungfish to modern teleosts like goldfish and trout.

Current research goals focus on understanding the effects of ammonia and oxygen deprivation on brain function and metabolism in fish, assessing the toxicity of specific pesticides used in lamprey population control, and exploring the role of fish gills in managing internal ion balance and excreting toxic metabolic wastes. The lab's comparative approach emphasizes the physiological and toxicological studies of both jawless and jawed fish species, providing valuable insights into their survival strategies in challenging environments.

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