Welcome to my site! I am a fisheries scientist and programmer currently based at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research working with Drs. Aaron Fisk (University of Windsor) and Tim Johnson (OMNRF). I grew up on the south shores of Lake Superior, near Duluth/Superior, Minnesota/Wisconsin, USA, which provided a deep love and appreciation for the water and all things that live in it. My current fisheries research investigates the mechanisms that influence the spatial ecology and food web processes of near-and offshore fishes in Lake Ontario. I am interested in how changes in near-and offshore prey communities caused by changing abiotic and biotic conditions (e.g., oxy-thermal habitats, nutrient loading, lower trophic level diversity and abundance, and introduced/invasive species) affect spatial ecology and population health of desired fish species (e.g., walleye, Chinook salmon, and lake trout). I have previously worked within fish spatial ecology, aquatic trophic dynamics, bioenergetics, fish physiology, fish endocrinology, aquatic toxicology, and aquatic invasive species management. My interest in statistics and programming has led me to teach biostatistics courses, develop R packages, and contribute to several additional R package. When I am not working, I am often out in nature, paddling a canoe, cross country skiing, rock climbing, hiking, fishing, and backcountry camping. Lastly, I am dual citizen of the United States and Canada.

Interests

  • Fish Ecology
  • Aquatic Ecosystems
  • Acoustic Telemetry
  • Fisheries Management
  • Fish Physiology
  • Biological & Environmental Data Analytics

Education

Contact Info: benjamin.hlina@gmail.com