Andy leads the Comparative Conservation Physiology Lab at the University of Guelph. He is broadly interested in understanding how physiology and behaviour interact to determine how animals cope with environmental change. He approaches this from both fundamental and applied perspectives - e.g. How have amphibious fishes have evolved to survive in terrestrial environments? How will endangered fishes fare in a changing world?

Liz is broadly interested in understanding the causes and consequences of interspecific varation in the ability of fishes to remodel their cardiorespiratory system in response to environmental change. She began her PhD in the Turko lab in Jan 2025.

Ben started his MSc in the lab in September 2024 after completing a BSc at McMaster University where he did an honours thesis with Dr. Karen Kidd. His project is examining the adaptations of fish gills to naturally occurring suspended sediment.

My MSc research primarily focuses on studying the interspecific variation in thermal habitat choice for many species of local Ontario stream fish. My main objective will be to determine why some fish species can tolerate large fluctuations in temperature and other species cannot, which could be important knowledge for conservation practitioners to understand due to the increasing threat of climate change.

Ava is currently in her fourth year at the University of Guelph, pursuing a bachelor’s degree in marine and Freshwater Biology. Her thesis project examines the effects of energy reserves on gill remodelling in Yellow Perch when they are exposed to hypoxia.

Anya is in her 3rd year in the Marine and Freshwater Biology Program at the University of Guelph. She joined the lab as a volunteer in her 2nd year and is examining the gill morphology and histology in Brazilian killifish (in collaboration with Waldir Miron).

Olivia is in her third year of undergraduate studies in Honours Marine and Freshwater Biology and is working as a volunteer in the Turko Lab. She will be investigating seasonal changes in structural morphology of different fish species. Some of her responsibilities include preparing gill samples for histology and conducting microscopic imaging of gill filaments for measurement. 

I am currently in my undergraduate studies in Marine and Freshwater Biology at the University of Guelph. I am the co-president of the Marine and Freshwater biology club, and actively pursuing a career in research marine biology. I am studying the gill morphology of amphibious killifishes.

I'm Heleny, an undergraduate student in Zoology. My role in the lab involves processing gills obtained from field work through the preparation of slides and microscopy.