Master’s Student
Current Research
My master’s research aims to predict how kelp beds in the Eastern Shore Islands
will change with projected global changes. Kelp beds elsewhere in the province of Nova
Scotia have experienced a catastrophic collapse due to factors such as temperature
increases and the prevalence of invasive species. As the Eastern Shore Islands kelp beds seem to be more persistence amidst these changes and are still pristine, my project focuses on quantifying their trajectory with expected changes. I am using a modeling-based approach using extensive empirical data of kelp population dynamics. My aim is to answer questions such as: 1) what environmental factors could promote a collapse of the kelp beds, 2) how specific population dynamics will change with
expected environmental changes, and 3) how such changes can affect the contribution
of kelp in the blue carbon cycle of the Northwest Atlantic.
Education
B.Sc. Honours in Marine Biology & Co-op, Minors Ocean Science
Advisor: Dr. Anna Metaxas
2018-2023
Publications
Savard-Drouin A, Ulrick A, Metaxas A. 2024. Wave exposure enhances kelp resilience
by increasing mechanical strength and inducing morphological adaptations.
Under revision: Mar Ecol Prog Ser.
Bouchard Marmen, M., Odenthal, B., Murillo, F. J., Tompkins, G., Baker, E., Savard-Drouin, A., Walkusz, W., Siferd, T. and Kenchington, E. 2021. Sponges from the 2010-2014 Paamiut Multispecies Trawl Surveys, Eastern Arctic and Subarctic: Class Demospongiae, Subclass Heteroscleromorpha, Order Poecilosclerida, Families Mycalidae and Isodictyidae. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3452: 60.
Bouchard Marmen, M., Tompkins, G., Harrington, N., Savard-Drouin, A., Wells, M., Baker, E., Odenthal, B., Walkusz, W., Siferd, T. and Kenchington, E. 2019. Sponges from the 2010-2014 Paamiut Multispecies Trawl Surveys, Eastern Arctic and Subarctic: Class Demospongiae, Subclass Heteroscleromorpha, Order Poecilosclerida, Families Microcionidae, Acarnidae and Esperiopsidae. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3349:76.
Cruises
Kailua-Kona 2023, investigating deep sea food webs.
Scholarships and awards
2023 CGS Masters scholarship
2023 Nova Scotia HM scholarship Nova Scotia HM scholarship
2023 Dalhousie Marine Biology Seaside bursary
2022 Rob Stewart Award in Marine Conservation, NSERC
2022 Top Science Coop Student award
2021 Undergraduate Summer Research Award, NSERC
2021 Dalhousie In-course Scholarship
2018-2023 Dalhousie Dean’s list
2018-2022 University of Toronto Scholarship of Dependent
2020 Dalhousie In-course Scholarship
2020 CABIOS Scholarship
2018 Dalhousie Entrance Scholarship
Professional Experience
2023 Research Assistant, Biological Oceanography
Oceanography Dept., Dalhousie
Advisor: Dr. Anna Metaxas
2022 Research Assistant, Biological Oceanography & Biomechanics
Oceanography Dept., Dalhousie
Advisor: Dr. Anna Metaxas
2021 Research Assistant, Biological Oceanography & Benthic Ecology
Oceanography Dept., Dalhousie
Advisor: Dr. Anna Metaxas
2020 Research Intern, Coral Physiology
Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences
Advisor: Dr. Yvonne Sawall
2020 Aquaculture Operative Assistant
Agricultural Dept., Dalhousie
Supervisor: Paul MacIsaac
2018-2020 Research Assistant, Arctic Sponge Taxonomy
Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada
Supervisor: Mariève Bouchard Marmen
Teaching Experience
2024 Honours thesis Co-supervisor
Oceanography department, Dalhousie
2022 Teaching Assistant, Invertebrate Biology
Biology Dept, Dalhousie
2019-2020 Teaching Assistant, Introductory Chemistry 1 & 2
Chemistry Dept, Dalhousie
2021-2022 Fourth Year Student Representative, Marine biology Society
Biology Dept, Dalhousie
2019-2020 Second Year Student Representative, Marine biology Society
Biology Dept, Dalhousie
2019-2021 Peer Mentor, Marine Biology Society
Biology Dept, Dalhousie
Contact
Email: asavard-drouin@dal.ca
Marine Benthic Ecology and conservation 