Davoren Lab, University of Manitoba

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Davoren Lab, University of Manitoba

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Davoren Lab at the University of Manitoba investigates the basic ecology of key forage fish species and how this shapes the biology of top vertebrate predators in northern marine ecosystems. Forage fish (e.g., anchovy, sardine, capelin) convert energy at lower trophic levels into food for top vertebrate predators, thereby regulating energy flow through marine food webs. We have sustained a long-term interest in the ecology of capelin (Mallotus villosus) and capelin-seabird and whale interactions in coastal Newfoundland.

08/17/2026

We have been getting amazing observations of jellies from citizens around Newfoundland this summer! Here are some photos of what people have been seeing 🪼

Pic 1: Aggregation of moon jellies (Auerlia sp.) spotted in Whiteway, Trinity Bay on August 3.

Pic 2: Large lion’s mane (Cyanea sp) found in Main Brook, Hare Bay on July 27. Thank you Crazy Ray Boat Tours & Island Adventures for sending this in!

Pic 3: Northern comb jellies (Beroe cucumis) found in Eastport, Bonavista Bay on July 21.

Pic 4: Mysterious and beautiful jellyfish species spotted in Hare Bay, Bonavista Bay North on June 28 (from the photo we think this could potentially be a Hydrozoan species). Thanks to Hare Bay Adventures for submitting this!

Pic 5: A sparkling northern comb jelly (Beroe cucumis) found in Beachy Cove, Conception Bay on July 14.

Thanks everyone for the valuable observations you’ve sent to us!

We have lots more photos to share...
Keep the sightings coming! 🪼

07/09/2026

We have a project setup on iNaturalist for gathering documentations of jellyfish in Newfoundland! You can join our project to contribute and follow along with the community of nature lovers🪼🌊

I’ve included the map of the observations so far - submit jellies you see to fill in your area of Newfoundland!

07/05/2026

I had the most incredible time at the 8th jellyfish blooms symposium in Cork, Ireland this past week! It was very inspiring and encouraging to meet the global community of researchers that are passionate about studying jellyfish (people from over 25 countries were there!). Im feeling so grateful to have had the opportunity to attend the conference- I learned an absolutely incredible amount and met so many amazing people! Turns out the jelly research community is just as cool as the jellies themselves 🪼 Thanks for making me feel so welcome!
Kate

07/01/2026

Went looking for herring larvae at some citizen scientist reported herring spawning sites and found capelin at one instead. It’s a great day to be a field biologist!

06/27/2026

We’ve been getting some amazing jellyfish sightings - thank you!!

These are a few different kinds of comb jellies which were spotted in Conception Bay, Newfoundland on May 17 2026 (photo: Bottom Dwellers NL) *observation shared with permission*

There have been reports of huge abundances of comb jellies (ctenophores) in various places across the coast of Newfoundland in the past month. Please let us know if you’ve been seeing blooms of comb jellies in your area! These large abundances are critical information for understanding their potential roles and impacts in the ecosystem 🪼

Keep the jelly sightings coming!!

06/23/2026

More coastal environmental baseline successes to report! We had a great time working out of Harbour Mille and found more herring spawning in Fortune Bay. Thank you Rod for teaching us about lobsters and herring in the bay!

06/17/2026

Shawna Prince, host of the Sea of Whales: The Whale Geek Podcast, welcomed Dr. Gail Davoren onto the show to talk all about capelin. To hear their conversation, check out the podcast!

Sea of Whales Adventures offers beautiful guided whale watching tours in Trinity, Newfoundland. 🐳 They are experts on the whales in the area and are amazing collaborators gathering important scientific data!

06/14/2026

Our coastal environmental baseline work continues in Fortune Bay as we follow the herring and continue to investigate suitable habitat for them. This project allows us to work with some incredible people who are essential to our research. Thank you so much Reuben for all that you do!
*picture posted with permission*

06/13/2026

We had the pleasure of talking with Paula Gale on the CBC radio show The Broadcast. Check out the podcast to hear master’s student Kate Vonderbank and Dr. Gail Davoren’s conversation with Paula Gale and learn about our jellyfish citizen science project in Newfoundland, Canada! 🪼

06/12/2026

We had the pleasure of talking with Paula Gale on the CBC radio show The Broadcast. Check out the podcast to hear master's student Kate Vonderbank and Dr. Gail Davoren's conversation with Paula Gale and learn about our jellyfish citizen science project in Newfoundland, Canada.

Link to podcast: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-122-the-broadcast/clip/16218025-you-help-manitoba-scientists-jellyfish-waters-an

Address

Duff Roblin Building
Winnipeg, MB

Telephone

+12044747497

Website

https://davorenlab.wixsite.com/research

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