Mr Steven Melvin Centre for Environmental Management / Institute for Resource Industries & Sustainability / Research Office

Lanctôt C., Robertson C., Edge C., Navarro-Martín L., Melvin S.D., Houlahan J., and V.L. Trudeau. 2013. Effects of the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup WeatherMax® on metamorphosis of wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) in natural wetlands. In Press – Aquatic Toxicology (19/03/13 Ms. No. AQTOX-D-13-00147)

Ph.D. Biology - University of New Brunswick (2012)

Thesis: Using laboratory populations to predict responses in nature: A case study using anuran larvae with recommendations for improving estimates of effect sizes.

Supervisor: Dr. Jeff Houlahan

MSc. Biology - University of New Brunswick (2009)

Thesis: A comparison of mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) reproductive tests for waterborne contaminants.
Supervisors: Drs. Deborah MacLatchy and Kelly Munkittrick

Current Students

Ms. Chantal Lanctot - Ph.D. Candidate

Co-supervisors: Dr. Scott Wilson, Dr. Larelle Fabbro, and Dr. Steven Melvin

Chantal is studying the toxicological effects of coal mining wastewater on aquatic organisms endemic to Queensland, Australia. Her project involves assessment of behavioural, developmental, and reproductive endpoints to develop an understanding of the ways mine water discharge influence organismal health and fitness. 

Refereed Journal Publications

Melvin S.D., Lanctôt C.M., Craig P.M., Moon T.W., Peru K.M., Headley J.V., and V.L. Trudeau. 2013. Effects of naphthenic acid exposure on development and liver metabolic processes in anuran tadpoles. Environmental Pollution. 177:22-27. 

Melvin S.D., and V.L. Trudeau. 2012. Growth, development and incidence of deformities in amphibian larvae exposed as embryos to naphthenic acid concentrations detected in the Canadian oil sands region. Environmental Pollution. 167:178-183.

Melvin S.D., and V.L. Trudeau. 2012. Toxicity of naphthenic acids to wood frog tadpoles (Lithobates sylvaticus). Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A. 75:1-4.

Melvin S.D., and J.E. Houlahan. 2012. Tadpole mortality varies across experimental venues: Do laboratory populations predict responses in nature? Oecologia. 169:861-868.

Van den Heuvel M.R., Martel P.H., Kovacs T.G., MacLatchy D.L., Van Der Kraak G.J., Parrott J.L., McMaster M.E., O’Connor B.I., Melvin S.D., and L.M. Hewitt. 2010. Evaluation of short-term fish reproductive bioassays for predicting effects of a Canadian bleached kraft mill effluent. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada. 45(2): 175-186.

Melvin S.D., K.R. Munkittrick., T. Bosker., and D.L. MacLatchy. 2009. Detectable effect size and bioassay power of mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) and fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) adult reproductive tests. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. 28(11): 2416-2425.

Bosker T., Hewitt L.M., Munkittrick K.R., Melvin S.D., and D.L. MacLatchy. 2009. The effects of final treated effluent and in-mill waste streams from a Canadian thermomechanical pulp and paper mill on mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) reproduction. Water Quality Research Journal of Canada. 44(4): 333-344.

Melvin S.D., Lanctôt C., Craig P., Moon T., Peru K., Headley J., and V. Trudeau. Naphthenic acid concentrations found in groundwater in the Canadian oil sands region affect anuran larval development and metabolic processes. 17th Annual Laurentian SETAC General Meeting & Conference, Peterborough, ON. June 2012.

Wilson S.P., Melvin S.D., and F. Leusch. 2012. Effects of a mixture of agricultural pesticides and estrogenic compounds on developing tadpoles. 6th SETAC World Congress. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 22nd Annual Meeting, Berlin, Europe. May 2012.

Melvin S.D., Bosker T., Munkittrick K.R., and D.L. MacLatchy. 2010. Optimizing adult fish reproductive bioassays for investigating effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals: A Canadian case-study. 3rd Australian Symposium on Ecological Risk Assessment and Management of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs), Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products (PPCPs) in the Australasian Environment. Canberra, NSW, Australia. November 2010.

Melvin S.D., K.R. Munkittrick., and D.L. MacLatchy. 2008. Do reproductive bioassays work? SETAC North America – Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 29th annual meeting, Tampa, FL. November 2008.