Researcher Profile

Murray H. Colbo

Job Title: Professor, Department of Biology
Employer: Memorial University
Place of Birth: Bracken, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Public School attended: Hainstock, near Olds Alberta
High School attended: Olds High School, Olds, Alberta
Further Education: University of Alberta (B.Sc., M.Sc.), University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (Ph.D.).
Geographic focus of research: Newfoundland and Labrador

Brief synopsis of current research:
The ecology of aquatic insects, particularly Simuliidae and Chironomidae as well as the use of aquatic insects as monitors of water quality. I have and am also interested in the fungal and nematode parasites of the aquatic insects.

Mailing address:
Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, NF, Canada, A1B 3X9
E-mail:
mcolbo@morgan.ucs.mun.ca

Recent Publications:

Gibson, R. J., Colbo, M. H. (In press) The effects of eutrophication on aquatic invertebrates and in increasing salmonids in the city rivers of St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. Verein. Limnol. 27:

Colbo, M.. H., Lommond, T. M., Perez, J. M., Cutler, G. C. 1999. Can impoverished aquatic insect communities be used for water quality monitoring. Proc. 37th Ann. Mtg. Can Soc Environ. Biol. Edmonton, Alberta. 115-123.

Sheath, R. G., Mller, K. M., Colbo, M. H., Cole 1996. Incorporation of freshwater Rhodophyta into cases of chironomid larvae (Chironomidae, Diptera) from North America. Phycol. 32:949-952.

Colbo, M. H. 1996. Chironomidae from marine coastal habitats near St. John's Newfoundland, Canada. Hydrobiologia 318: 117-112.

McCreadie, J. W., Adler, P.H, M. H. Colbo. 1995. Community structure of larval black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 88: 51-57.

Comments:
I became interested in aquatic science through a fascination with larval black fly (Simuliidae) ecology during my Ph D studies which were initially in parasitology. Over the years the interest has grown as I try to understand the complex insect communities of streams and small ponds and their relation to environmental conditions. On more practical terms one of the greatest challenges for the longterm health and economic viability of Canadians and the world will be insuring high quality water supplies. This will require a very though understanding of the entire watershed ecosystem including the freshwater organisms. Given that a large number of aquatic taxa have never even been described yet, let alone understood, we have a challenge that can keep all who want fascinated and busy for centuries researching all aspects of biology.