Aaron is a researcher and naturalist whose broad interests include ecology, entomology, and conservation. He grew up in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and spent most of his summers exploring the islands of Lac la Ronge and staying at the family cabin. Naturally, this led to an interest in biogeography and island ecology. Aaron graduated from the University of Saskatchewan in 2012 with an honours degree in biology. His undergraduate thesis focused on the effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on the premigratory behaviour of red-winged black birds. Although initially interested in birds and fish, Aaron made the leap to studying insects when he began working for Troutreach in 2012. Discovery of numerous provincial insect records by Troutreach helped foster an appreciation for their diversity –something he only thought was possible in the tropics. That summer, Aaron learned how to identify ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and led a project investigating how features of pitfall trap design can bias catches of these beetles in ecological studies. His longstanding interest in islands and newfound appreciation for beetles led him to pursue a master’s degree at the University of Alberta focusing on ground beetles and the island biogeography of Lac la Ronge. Under the supervision of Dr. John Spence and Dr. Scott Nielsen, Aaron studied how the spatial components of islands (size and isolation) influence the distribution and diversity of beetles and how islands vary from the mainland. He also studied how wildfire intervals vary with island size and how this impacts the forest and beetles living on the islands. Aaron hopes that through education and awareness, he can help foster a greater appreciation for insects and all they have to offer. When not staring at beetles through a microscope, he spends his time playing music, sports, and enjoying the great outdoors.

To see a list of Aaron's publications, click this link here or visit his ResearchGate profile here.