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Dr. Ransom A. Myers (RAM)


Killam Chair of Ocean Studies
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Tel: (902) 494 1755
Fax: (902) 494 3736
Email: [email protected]

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Professional Profile:

Dr. Ransom A. Myers (RAM) holds the Killam Chair of Ocean Studies at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Dr. Myers received his B.Sc. in Physics from Rice University, and his M.Sc. in Mathematics and Ph.D. in Biology from Dalhousie University. He has published over 100 refereed scientific publications in diverse fields of aquatic ecology.

Dr. Myers' current, major research is on extinction in the ocean. In recent papers published in Nature and Science, he has shown dramatic declines in the populations of large, predatory fish since the start of industrial fishing in the 1950s. Much of Dr. Myers' work involves the meta-analysis of data from many populations. By treating each population as a realization of a natural experiment, it is possible to discover patterns in nature that have not been seen before because they are lost in the noise of individual populations. This work is exciting because it is possible to arrive at solutions to both theoretical and applied problems in population biology and resource management. In order to carry out the meta-analysis, Dr. Myers has compiled much of the population dynamics data on fish in the world. This is data on over 800 time series, and provides the empirical basis for his theoretical analysis.

Dr. Myers has carried out fundamental work on the causes of the collapse of fish stocks, in particular, the cod stocks in Eastern Canada. Dr. Myers is also actively involved in developing methods for the optimal management of exploited populations. Recently, this work has turned to models of extinction, which is a growing concern in the marine environment. He is currently working on models for the extinction of salmonid species, elasmobranchs, and marine turtles.

Dr. Myers has served on the Board of Directors of The International Oceans Institute of Canada, Ocean Institute of Canada, and the Resource Modeling Association. Dr. Myers research has been supported by a wide variety of government, industry, conservation, and private foundations. These include Killam Foundation, National Science and Engineering Research Council, Canadian Foundation for Innovation, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission, Canadian Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada, Nova Scotia Power, Inc, Conservation Council of New Brunswick, World Wildlife Fund, and Canada Trust-Friends of the Environment Foundation.