Fri, October 8, 2021 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM See description. Speaker: Dr. Gideon Mordecai
Research Associate, IOF
A better understanding of infectious marine diseases have highlighted their ecological, economic and social impacts. These are most conspicuous in the crowded and stressful conditions of aquaculture, which increasingly dominates seafood production. However, the influence of viral pathogens on wild fisheries remains obscure. In this presentation, Dr. Mordecai will describe how molecular tools have provided new insights into viral transmission between cultured and wild salmon, and how this ultimately may impact the overall health of wild Pacific salmon populations in British Columbia.
Dr. Gideon Mordecai’s research considers the ecology of viruses, i.e. their interactions with each other, their hosts, and the environment. Despite his prior training as a marine biologist, Gideon investigated the diversity of viruses associated with population declines of honey bees and other pollinators for his PhD. Gideon moved to Canada for a post-doctoral position at the University of British Columbia in 2016, where he discovered 15 new viruses in salmon. He went on to receive a Liber Ero Fellowship, which supports emerging conservation leaders in Canada. His most recent research applies viral genome sequencing to assess the transmission risk posed to wild Pacific salmon by Atlantic salmon aquaculture in BC. He has authored 20 publications as well as served as an expert witness for two Federal Court cases in Canada.