Matthew Yates

Profile:

Matthew Yates recently joined CIGLR as a post-doctoral fellow working under Dr. Daniel Heath at the Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research (GLIER) and collaborating with Dr. Subba Rao Chaganti (CIGLR, University of Michigan) and Dr. Ed Rutherford (NOAA GLERL). Their research will use eDNA and stomach content DNA to examine trophic relationships among predatory fish and potential prey species. Dr. Yates and Dr. Heath will also be investigating the potential utility of eRNA to monitor the physiological status of progenitor organisms. Both projects will build on GENFISH, a Genome Canada-funded research network dedicated to the development of eDNA and RNA assays to detect and monitor the health of over 200 North American freshwater fish species. Prior to working with CIGLR, Dr. Yates’ research focused on the application of eDNA to infer organism abundance and monitor invasive species eradication efforts. Dr. Yates also used Brook Trout translocations to investigate the relationship between genetic diversity and fitness responses to novel environmental change. 

Education:

• PhD in Biology (Conservation Biology), Concordia University (2018)
• BSc in Biology, Dalhousie University (2011)

Research Interest/Area of Expertise:

• Environmental DNA
• Environmental RNA
• Molecular Ecology
• Adaptive responses to novel stressors

Recent Publications: 

Yates, M.C., M.E. Cristescu, and A.M. Derry. 2021. Integrating physiology and environmental dynamics to operationalize environmental DNA (eDNA) as a means to monitor freshwater macro-organism abundance. Molecular Ecology. (DOI:10.1111/mec.16202). [Altmetric Score]

Yates, M.C., A.M. Derry, and M.E. Cristescu. 2021. Environmental RNA: A revolution in Ecological Resolution? Trends in Ecology and Evolution. 36: 601-609. (DOI:10.1016/j.tree.2021.03.001). [Altmetric Score]

Yates, M.C., and D.J. Fraser. 2021. Evaluating the correlation between genome-wide diversity and the release of plastic phenotypic variation in experimental translocations to novel natural environments. Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 34: 439-450. (DOI:10.1111/jeb.13747). [Altmetric Score]

All Publications

Recent Presentations:

.AFS Annual Meeting, Nov. 6-10th, Baltimore, MD, United States
Integrating physiology and environmental dynamics to operationalize environmental DNA (eDNA) as a means to monitor freshwater macro-organism abundance. 2021

ASLO Virtual Annual Meeting, June 22-27, Online
Allometric Scaling Strengthens the Relationship Between eDNA Particle Concentration and Organism Abundance in Nature. 2021

Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research, February 16-18, Online.
Allometric Scaling Strengthens the Relationship Between eDNA Particle Concentration and Organism Abundance in Nature. 2021

All Presentations