My main research interest is in understanding the link between individuals, populations and communities in coastal marine systems. I focus on marine benthic invertebrates. My research methods typically involve (i) intensive sampling to observe and quantify patterns, (ii) detailed and rigorous experiments in the laboratory or field to test hypothesized processes underlying observed patterns, and (iii) development of mathematical models to integrate the knowledge that we have accumulated and assess the relative importance of processes on population or community dynamics. I welcome the involvement of students with a keen interest in learning experimental and/or mathematical ecology. Current and past projects in my lab include: Community dynamics of the expansive mudflats in the upper Bay of Fundy. Community dynamics of salt marshes in the Maritimes. Predator-prey interactions between sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus) and their predators (sea stars and crabs) on the sea bed. Population dynamics of the green sea urchin Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis off the coast of Nova Scotia (in collaboration with Robert Scheibling, Dalhousie University). Population dynamics of the periwinkle Littorina sitkana in the northeastern Pacific. Effect of green macroalgal mats on population dynamics of soft-shell clams (Mya arenaria) in Passamaquoddy Bay (in collaboration with Shawn Robinson, DFO). Impact of sea ducks on mussel aquaculture operations around Prince Edward Island (in collaboration with Diana Hamilton).

Drolet, D, K Kennedy & MA Barbeau (in press) Winter population dynamics and survival strategies of the intertidal mudflat amphipod Corophium volutator (Pallas). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology Macfarlane, CB, D Drolet, MA Barbeau, DJ Hamilton & J Ollerhead (in press) Dispersal of marine benthic invertebrates through ice rafting. Ecology Coffin, MRS, MA Barbeau, DH Hamilton & D Drolet (2012) Effect of the mud snail Ilyanassa obsoleta on vital rates of the intertidal amphipod Corophium volutator. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 418-419:12-23 Drolet, D & MA Barbeau (2012) Population structure of resident, immigrant and swimming Corophium volutator (Amphipoda) on an intertidal mudflat in the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Journal of Sea Research 70:1-13 Drolet, D, TT Bringloe, MRS Coffin, MA Barbeau & DJ Hamilton (2012) Potential for between-mudflat movement and metapopulation dynamics in an intertidal burrowing amphipod. Marine Ecology Progress Series 449:197-209 Sacobie, CFD, BG Glebe, MA Barbeau, SP Lall, TJ Benfey (2012) Effect of strain and ploidy on growth performance of Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar, following seawater transfer. Aquaculture 334–337:58–64 Wong, MC, J d’Entremont & MA Barbeau (2012) An approach for quantifying effects of multiple predators that forage on different time scales. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 420-421:100-109 Drolet, D & MA Barbeau (2011) Movement patterns drive within-mudflat distribution of an intertidal amphipod. Marine Ecology Progress Series 431:255-265 Barbeau, MA, LA Grecian, EE Arnold, DC Sheahan & DJ Hamilton (2009) Spatial and temporal variation in the population dynamics of the intertidal amphipod Corophium volutator in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada. Journal of Crustacean Biology 29:491-506 Drolet, D & MA Barbeau (2009) Differential emigration causes aggregation of the amphipod Corophium volutator (Pallas) in tide pools on mudflats of the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada. Journal of Experimental Biology and Ecology 370:41–47 Drolet, D & MA Barbeau (2009) Diurnal and semi-lunar cycles in the swimming activity of the intertidal, benthic amphipod Corophium volutator in the upper Bay of Fundy, Canada. Journal of Crustacean Biology 29:51–56 Drolet, D, MA Barbeau, MRS Coffin & DJ Hamilton (2009) Effect of the snail Ilyanassa obsoleta (Say) on dynamics of the amphipod Corophium volutator (Pallas) on an intertidal mudflat. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 368:189–195 Lauzon-Guay, J-S, RE Scheibling, MA Barbeau (2009) Modelling alternations between community states in a rocky subtidal community. Marine Ecology Progress Series 375:25–39 Nadeau, M, MA Barbeau & JC Brêthes (2009) Behavioural mechanisms of sea stars (Asterias vulgaris Verrill and Leptasterias polaris Müller) and crabs (Cancer irroratus Say and Hyas araneus Linnaeus) preying on juvenile sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus (Gmelin)), and procedural effects of scallop tethering. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 374:134–143 Coffin, MRS, D Drolet, DJ Hamilton & MA Barbeau (2008) Effect of immersion at low tide on distribution and movement of the mudsnail, Ilyanassa obsoleta (Say), in the upper Bay of Fundy, eastern Canada. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 364:110–115 Lauzon-Guay, JS, RE Scheibling & MA Barbeau (2008) Formation and propagation of feeding fronts in benthic marine invertebrates: a modeling approach. Ecology 89:3150–3162 (Note: Won Best Student Paper for MITACS Related Research for 2008) Dionne, M, J-S Lauzon-Guay, DJ Hamilton & MA Barbeau (2006) Protective socking material for cultivated mussels: a potential non-disruptive deterrent to reduce losses to diving ducks. Aquaculture International 14:595-613 Drolet, D & MA Barbeau (2006) Immersion in neutral red solution as a mass-marking technique to study the movement of the amphipod Corophium volutator. Journal of Crustacean Biology 26:540-542 Lauzon-Guay, J-S, MA Barbeau, J Watmough & DJ Hamilton (2006) A model for growth and survival of mussels, Mytilus edulis, reared in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Marine Ecology Progress Series 323:171-183 Wong, MC & MA Barbeau (2006) Rock crab predation of juvenile sea scallops: the functional response and its implications for bottom culture. Aquaculture International 14:355-376 Wong, MC, MA Barbeau, M Dowd & KR Richard (2006). Behavioural mechanisms underlying the functional response of sea stars Asterias vulgaris preying on juvenile sea scallops Placopecten magellanicus. Marine Ecology Progress Series 317:75-86 Wong, MC, Wright, LD & MA Barbeau (2006) Substrate selection of juvenile sea scallops (Placopecten magellanicus), sea stars (Asterias vulgaris), and rock crabs (Cancer irroratus). Journal of Shellfish Research 25:813-821 Lauzon-Guay, J-S, RE Scheibling & MA Barbeau (2006) Movement patterns in the green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis). Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the UK 86:167-174 Lauzon-Guay, J-S, M Dionne, MA Barbeau & DJ Hamilton (2005) Effects of seed size and density on growth, tissue-to-shell ratio and survival of cultivated mussels (Mytilus edulis) in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Aquaculture 250:652-665 Lauzon-Guay, J-S, DJ Hamilton & MA Barbeau (2005) Effect of mussel density and size on the morphology of blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) grown in suspended culture in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Aquaculture 249:265-274