Stephen Hecnar

Stephen Hecnar is a Professor of Biology and Water Resource Science at Lakehead University. He holds academic qualifications including an HBSc from Lakehead University and MSc/PhD from the University of Windsor. His research focuses on population and landscape ecology, conservation biology, biogeography, and herpetology, with an emphasis on vertebrate biodiversity and spatial dynamics. He has extensively studied amphibians and reptiles, particularly in northern ecosystems and Great Lakes regions.

His work addresses ecological processes like metapopulation dynamics, ecotoxicology, and human impacts such as habitat fragmentation and road effects. He teaches courses including Introductory Ecology, Biogeography, and Contemporary Ecology. His lab (CB3021) supports field and theoretical research.

Key articles (2012–2023) explore species-specific ecology (e.g., turtles, frogs, skinks), conservation challenges, and ecological effects of pollution and land use. Notable studies include Lampricide impacts on lake sturgeon and habitat loss mitigation strategies. His research integrates field observations with spatial analysis to inform biodiversity conservation policies.