Biology Graduate Students Win Top Prizes at National Conference

(November 10, 2025) - Laurentian University students made a remarkable impression at this year’s Canadian Herpetological Society (CHS) Conference at Laval University, returning home with three top awards for their outstanding research presentations on reptile ecology and conservation.

Under the supervision of Dr. Jackie Litzgus, Director, Vale Living With Lakes Centre and Full Professor in the School of Natural Sciences, the students showcased their innovative work on reptile behaviour, habitat connectivity, and conservation strategies — continuing Laurentian’s tradition of excellence in field-based environmental research.

• Sabrina Lounsbury received the award for Best 15-Minute Talk for her presentation, “An innovative at-grade barrier fence and ecopassage design maintains population connectivity and may reduce road mortality for reptiles.” In collaboration with the Georgian Bay Mnidoo Gamii Biosphere, Lounsbury’s research tested a unique mitigation design aimed at reducing the threat of roads to at-risk species such as the Eastern Foxsnake, Blanding’s turtle, and Massasauga rattlesnake. Her work offers practical, evidence-based solutions to address one of the leading causes of reptile decline in Ontario, road mortality. Reflecting on the experience, Lounsbury noted that it was “exciting to share these findings with a room full of equally passionate people and to see growing interest in practical solutions to reduce reptile road mortality.”
  
   
• Charlotte Turenne earned the Best Poster Presentation award for her project, “Nesting Neighbours: Exploring Kinship as a Driver of Nest Clustering in Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta).” Charlotte’s MSc project is co-supervised by Dr. Julia Riley at Mount Allison University, and her findings will deepen understanding of social and spatial patterns in turtle nesting behaviour. Reflecting on her experience, Charlotte shared: “The annual conference of the Canadian Herpetological Society is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the exciting research taking place across the country. I was grateful for the opportunity to present my work at such an early stage. The thoughtful questions and feedback from my peers will help guide the future directions of my project, and I look forward to hopefully sharing some results at next year’s conference!”
   

Meghan Britt won the Best 5-Minute Talk for her engaging presentation, “Rattlesnake Riddle: The Mystery of the Wasaga Massasauga.” Her PhD is co-supervised by Dr. Steve Lougheed at Queen’s University and sheds light on the conservation genomics of Ontario’s only venomous snake species, contributing valuable insights to species protection.

Dr. Litzgus praised her students’ achievements, noting, “Their research not only advances scientific understanding of reptile conservation but also demonstrates the dedication and skill of Laurentian’s next generation of scientists. They’ve demonstrated exceptional research capacity while uncovering practical recommendations for how we can support wildlife.”

This national recognition underscores Laurentian University’s strength in environmental and ecological research, and the supportive mentorship that empowers students to excel on the national stage.