As an Early Career Ocean Professional, I chose to pivot my research topic from marine biogeography to echinoderm biology and fisheries when I joined a new lab at Memorial University in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. This transition entailed a steep learning curve and a required some familiarisation with a new community of researchers and stakeholders. Within the first year of being in this position as a Postdoctoral Fellow, I started scientific collaborations with out-of-province (British Columbian) and international (Belgian and Chinese) echinoderm researchers, participated as a peer reviewer for the assessment of the Canadian commercial stocks of sea cucumbers, and engaged with two-way knowledge transfers with Indigenous users of echinoderm resources in the Canadian Arctic.
Earlier in the year, my colleagues and I have taken earlier opportunities to present our latest research on echinoderm biology at the 57th Congress of the Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society (held locally in St. John’s) and on outreach activities with Indigenous communities the 56th European Marine Biology Symposium (delivered by a co-author). Next, I wanted to showcase this research directly to and network with echinoderm researchers from around the world. The ECOP Conference Stipend provided a timely opportunity for me to present in-person at the 11th European Conference on Echinoderms. Exciting findings on echinoderm biology (a poster presentation) and fisheries (an oral presentation) were shared with leading scientists in the field, which was well-received and was an ideal way for me to be introduced to the community of echinoderm researchers. Also, I networked with established researchers, their students, and other young early-career professionals hailing from different corners of the world: Africa, Asia, Australia, and, of course, Europe. At this conference, I benefited tremendously from the wealth of knowledge on echinoderm biology and fisheries through stimulating discussions with colleagues. Although I am a newcomer in the field, it was rewarding and overwhelming to receive the support and enthusiasm others have for the research that I shared at the conference. After the conference, I continue to remember the common global challenge of working towards a more sustainable fisheries for sea cucumbers. As the fishery for sea cucumbers in eastern Canada develops and as a one is being considered in the Canadian Arctic, I hope that my scientific efforts can be transformed into meaningful outcomes for Canada’s oceans and strengthen relationships among academia, government, industry, and Indigenous People. — Kevin C. K. Ma, Postdoctoral Fellow, Memorial University
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Last updated in July 2023
As the handling editor: Schüler L, Leitinger J, Schanz A. 2020. First record of the Japanese cumacean Nippoleucon hinumensis (Gamô, 1967) (Crustacea: Cumacea: Leuconidae) from Europe. BioInvasions Records 9 (2): 249–258. https://doi.org/10.3391/bir.2020.9.2.10 In the acknowledgement section: Cozzolino L, Nicastro KR, Lefebvre S, Corona L, Froneman PW, McQuaid C, Zardi GI. 2023. The effect of interspecific and intraspecific diversity on microplastic ingestion in two co-occurring mussel species in South Africa. Marine Pollution Bulletin 196: 115649. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115649 Dievart AM, McQuaid CD, Zardi GI, Nicastro KR, Froneman PW. 2022. Photoautotrophic euendolith and their complex ecological effects in marine bioengineered ecosystems. Diversity 14: 737. https://doi.org/10.3390/d14090737 MacGregor KA. 2020. Individual - and population - level responses to the environment : Environmental modification of movement behaviour in the green sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. PhD Thesis, Université Laval, xvii + 126 p. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/66851 Pourchez A. 2018. Impact de la diapause sur la dynamique de communautés planctoniques dans un écosystème Arctique numérique. MSc Thesis, Université Laval, xi + 58 p. http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11794/29871 Lowen JB, DiBacco C. 2017. Distributional changes in a guid of non-indigenous tunicates in the NW Atlantic under high-resolution climate projections. Marine Ecology Progress Series 570: 173–186. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps12077 Lowen JB, McKindsey CW, Therriault TW, DiBacco C. 2016. Effects of spatial resolution on predicting the distribution of aquatic invasive species in nearshore marine environments. Marine Ecology Progress Series 556: 17–30. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11765 McKenzie CH, Matheson K, Caines S, Wells T. 2016. Surveys for non-indigenous tunicate species in Newfoundland, Canada (2006 – 2014): a first step towards understanding impact and control. Management of Biological Invasions 7 (1): 21–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.3391/mbi.2016.7.1.04 Ouellette-Plante J. 2013. Spatial and temporal variation in the internal morpholgy of dreissenid mussel in relation to turbidity. MSc Thesis, McGill University, xiii + 84 p. https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/9g54xm894 Edwards PK. 2013. Optimizing monitoring and eradication of invasive species: New frameworks and applications. A. PhD Thesis, McGill University, xiii + 256 p. https://escholarship.mcgill.ca/concern/theses/z890rx943 Hu JG. 2011. Impact of dormancy genotypes on differential protein expression profiles and redox-sensitive proteome in seeds of hybrid spring wheat lines. MSc Thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland, xvi + 162 p. http://research.library.mun.ca/id/eprint/10697 Last updated in February 2020
29 January 2020 — Submitted "le dépôt final de la thèse de M. Kevin C. K. Ma" entitled "Rare species detection and benthic recruitment across multiple scales of space and time with implications for early detection of marine invasive species" to the Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales (FESP), Université Laval. 23 July 2019 — Passed the doctoral thesis defence, i.e., "la soutenance de la thèse de M. Kevin C. K. Ma". The exit seminar presentation was entitled "La détection d’espèces rares et le recrutement benthique à plusieurs échelles spatiales et temporelles, ainsi que les implications pour la détection précoce des espèces marines envahissantes". 8 May 2019 — Submitted "le dépôt initial de la thèse de M. Kevin C. K. Ma" entitled "Rare species detection and benthic recruitment across multiple scales of space and time with implications for early detection of marine invasive species" to the Faculté des études supérieures et postdoctorales (FESP), Université Laval. 9 April 2018 — Presented a seminar of the final research results, i.e. "le séminaire de doctorat II de M. Kevin C. K. Ma" entitled "Stratégies d'échantillonnage optimales pour la détection précoce des espèces marines envahissantes par l'évaluation de différentes échelles spatiales et temporelles" to the Département de biologie, Université Laval. Course number OCE-8003. 22 May 2015 — Organized "la réunion annuelle du comité d’encadrement de M. Kevin C. K. Ma". 25 April 2014 — Organized "la réunion annuelle du comité d’encadrement de M. Kevin C. K. Ma". 25 April 2014 — Presented a seminar of the research project proposal, i.e. "le séminaire de doctorat I de M. Kevin C. K. Ma" entitled "La détection précoce des espèces aquatiques envahissantes: réconcilier les observations de terrain à fine échelle avec les prédictions de modèle à large échelle" to the Département de biologie, Université Laval. Course number OCE-8002. 18 December 2013 — Passed the doctoral entrance examination, i.e. "l'examen doctoral". Course number OCE-8001. 11 January 2013 — Admitted to the "Doctorat interuniversitaire en océanographie" program at Université Laval. Originally published in Québec-Océan's blog on 30 January 2019
Scientific meetings are special occasions where researchers gather to exchange ideas, network, and socialize. For the organizers, it is an opportunity to showcase local culture, such as traditional entertainment and food. At the 12th International Temperate Reefs Symposium (ITRS) held for six days in January this year, delegates were welcomed to Hong Kong by a lion dance, a form of traditional dancing in Chinese culture. This ceremony was followed each day by an abundance of Chinese and Indian foods for lunch, a cultural dinner experience at your choice of international cuisine on the second evening, organized field trips to cultural sites and the seashore, and culminated with a Cantonese-style banquet on the final night. As a Canadian with Hong Kong Chinese ancestry, I was moved by the ample display of pan-Asian culture. It was vibrant and memorable. I never expected that my heritage would be so visible in a professional setting—especially in science. This experience has led me to believe that international scientific meetings serve an important function for scientists, especially early career scientists, promoting a deeper understanding of other cultures. These meetings add value by expanding our worldview and helping us to be more culturally literate. I have no doubt that cultural exposure will make researchers better scientists and better collaborators in the long run. Although cultural exposure is essential for our personal and professional development, building a more inclusive scientific community is, perhaps, more important. During the closing remarks, Professor David Schiel of the University of Canterbury encouraged women to take on more leadership roles in running future editions of the symposium. Associate Professor Peter Todd of the National University of Singapore brought up another topic of discussion about how our culture of drinking alcohol might exclude people during networking sessions and social activities. These expressions of inclusion are few and far between and are urgently needed to ensure that researchers from different backgrounds flourish and feel welcomed at scientific meetings. I hope that future scientific meetings will make everyone feel as welcomed as I felt at ITRS. Kevin Ma is a PhD Candidate at Université Laval and a member of Québec-Océan. His participation at the 12th International Temperate Reefs Symposium in Hong Kong was financially supported by Québec-Océan. Originally published in Québec-Océan's blog on 14 September 2017
Taxonomy is more important than ever. Untrained and poorly trained taxonomists can be a real and serious threat that undermines our ability to identify new species, protect rare and endangered species, and correctly identify introduced alien species. Earlier this summer, I joined students from several countries on a trip to Panama to be trained by Rosana Rocha and Gretchen Lambert in the taxonomic identification of sessile tunicates (ascidians). Ascidians are marine animals belonging to the phylum Chordata, subphylum Tunicata. They are plankton feeders characterised by a sac-like body inside a type of cellulose coat called a tunic. In a mission to train future generations of taxonomists, the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute has been offering a series of courses at their Bocas del Toro Research Station in Panama. The high local marine (and terrestrial) biodiversity makes Panama an ideal place to collect specimens for taxonomic studies and training. Though it was tempting to simply swim in the warm Caribbean waters all day long, the course offered a unique opportunity to observe and collect tunicates in nature among the corals and mangrove roots. All the specimens that we collected from the field were later preserved and used for dissections. The training was very involved. For instance, high levels of concentration and fine muscle coordination were needed to position delicate internal structures under the stereomicroscope using curved forceps with fine tips. A single specimen typically might take one to two hours of examination and consultation with taxonomic keys and original descriptions before a species name could be assigned. Taxonomy is hard to do. Misidentifications were far more common than desired. Even with much guidance during the dissections, Rosana and Gretchen would often ask us to try again after reviewing our work. Sometimes, you would find a determined student doing dissections late at night. However, there was always the possibility that we were examining a yet un‑described species new to science, or a newly introduced species from a different region of the world (and hence not included in regional taxonomic keys for the Caribbean or even for the Atlantic Ocean). At the end of the two-week course, we all became much more proficient tunicate taxonomists. Without trained taxonomists, newly introduced alien species could be mistaken as a new species to science (only to be synonymised after extensive taxonomic reviews). Even worse, they could be misidentified as native species. In fact, this was the case for a tunicate specimen collected from Îles-de-la-Madeleine (Québec), which was initially misidentified as a native species. Later, this Canadian specimen was re-examined by Gretchen, only to be eastern Canada’s first record of the non-native species, Diplosoma listerianum (Ma et al. 2016). Had a taxonomist not revisited the specimen, it would have remained misidentified and the significance of its presence would not have been recognized. Kevin Ma is a PhD Candidate at Université Laval and a member of Québec-Océan. His participation in the tunicate taxonomy course in Panama was financially supported by Québec-Océan and the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. |