A5040217264- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Forest Management and Policy
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Land Use and Ecosystem Services
- Forest ecology and management
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Conservation, Ecology, Wildlife Education
- Plant and animal studies
- CCD and CMOS Imaging Sensors
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Environmental Conservation and Management
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications
- Turfgrass Adaptation and Management
- Advanced Semiconductor Detectors and Materials
Université du Québec à Rimouski
2016-2023
Mount Allison University
2018-2021
Parks Canada
2020
Université de Moncton
2008-2019
University of Alberta
1995-2017
Université de Montréal
2012
Université Laval
2012
Université du Québec à Montréal
2012
Environment and Climate Change Canada
2010
Carleton University
2009
Abstract: Habitat fragmentation has been shown to influence the abundance, movements, and persistence of many species. We asked following questions: (1) Do species respond mainly habitat loss or changes in configuration resulting from this loss? (2) exhibit sharp thresholds their response forest cover configuration? compared relative on 15 bird 33 landscapes (6.25 km 2 ) eastern Ontario, Canada. Forest these varied between 3.4% 66.8%. The metrics we used quantify were correlated cover, so...
Summary Research addressing the effects of habitat fragmentation on species, assemblages or ecosystems has been fraught with difficulties, from its conceptual foundation to statistical analyses and interpretation. Yet, it is critical address such challenges as are rapidly being altered across world. Many studies have concluded that loss exceed those per se , is, degree which a given amount broken apart. There also evidence different biomes taxa configuration, spatial arrangement at time, may...
An increasing proportion of ecological studies examine landscape effects on the phenomena they address. We reviewed which simultaneously considered landscape-scale and patch-scale in order to answer following question: does inclusion characteristics as explanatory variables increase our ability predict species presence abundance when local (i.e., habitat patch) conditions are known? The 61 selected cover a wide array taxa, types, variables, but many (36%) focused avian communities forests...
We conducted a 3‐year field experiment to measure the frequency of bird movements through riparian buffer strips before and after harvesting adjacent forest. Our study was in boreal mixed wood forest Alberta designed determine empirically whether songbirds use connecting reserves as corridors if they move along these more frequently than cross clearcuts. used mist nets obtain an index movement forest, we observed across clearcuts for comparison. predicted that would be greater (1)...
Increasing yield has emerged as the most prominent element in strategies to deal with growing global demand for food and fibre. It is usually acknowledged that this needs be done while minimising harm environment, but historically land-use intensification been a major driver of biodiversity loss. The risk now great singular focus on increasing yields will divert attention from linked problem decline, historical pattern continue. There are options increase reducing biodiversity, which should...
To study the hierarchy of variables involved in year—to—year dynamics distribution Neotropical migratory birds, we compared observed numbers local extinctions and recolonizations to those expected under six hypothetical mechanisms settlement by returning spring migrants. These were (1) random dispersal among forest fragments; (2) passive sampling migrants according fragment area; (3) fragments between years distance nearest occupied 1st yr; (4) resettlement vertical structure vegetation (5)...
Abstract: The notion that species might exhibit thresholds in their response to habitat alteration is appealing from a conservation perspective. Such could be used as targets for managed landscapes. In New Brunswick, Canada, forest management produces mosaics of varying stand age, composition, and structure. We sampled this gradient suitability examine the shape functions look evidence statistically significant thresholds. focused our attention on bird breeding late‐seral surveyed them at...
Federal funding for basic scientific research is the cornerstone of societal progress, economy, health and well-being. There a direct relationship between financial investment in science nation's discoveries, making it priority governments to distribute public appropriately support best science. However, grant proposal success rate level can be skewed toward certain groups applicants, such skew may driven by systemic bias arising during evaluation scoring. Policies redress this problem are...
Toms, J. D., and M.-A. Villard. 2015. Threshold detection: matching statistical methodology to ecological questions conservation planning objectives. Avian Conservation Ecology 10(1): 2.http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ACE-00715-100102
Efficient dispersal is critical to metapopulation persistence in fragmented landscapes. Yet, this phenomenon poorly understood because it difficult study. We used an indirect method, experimental translocation, investigate the permeability of three landscape types boreal mixedwood forest region Canada movements a specialist, ovenbird ( Seiurus aurocapillus ), and habitat generalist, white‐throated sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis ). captured total 148 males (84 ovenbirds; 64 sparrows), which...
Abstract Aim In managed forest landscapes, the tolerance of species to contemporary alteration cover is often assumed reflect their resilience natural disturbances. We tested this central tenet ecosystem‐based management by comparing structure bird assemblages among four regions with contrasting historical disturbance regimes. Location Canada's boreal and northern hardwood forests. Methods Using point count data from study across Canada, we first determined relative sensitivity individual...
Source–sink dynamics are commonly thought to occur among Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) and other songbird populations, allowing for the persistence of populations with negative growth rates ("sinks") through immigration from positive ("sources"). Knowledge source–sink is important management conservation because removal source habitat should result in extinction dependent sinks. However, since research has focused on identifying individual sources/sink not pairs, we cannot predict these...
Dispersal distances determine the scales over which many population processes occur. Knowledge of these may therefore be crucial in determining appropriate spatial for research and management. However, dispersal are difficult to measure, especially vagile organisms like songbirds. For species, use traditional mark–recapture radio‐telemetry methods is problematic. We used positive one‐year time‐lagged correlations abundance estimate natal distances. Using North American Breeding Bird Survey...
According to the ideal despotic distribution (IDD), dominant individuals gain a fitness advantage by acquiring territories that are of higher quality, thereby forcing other into lower quality habitat. In contrast, free (IFD) predicts local density is function habitat but achieve same in different types as result density‐dependent variation territory size. Although IFD represents an alternative, population dynamics territorial species generally expected be driven IDD. We tested predictions...
Data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) indicate significant declines in populations of several species songbirds, including Neotropical migrants. These have been attributed to habitat destruction and fragmentation on breeding grounds, strategic migratory stopover sites, wintering grounds. Using BBS data 1967—1989 period universal kriging, we produced maps abundance change for two declining wood warblers test hypothetical spatial scenarios decline over entire ranges. were...
Summary Although selection cutting is probably less harmful to forest ecosystems than clear cutting, its effects on biodiversity remain largely unexplored. We investigated the previously unstudied of abundance and fertility two dominating species epiphytic lichens, Lobaria pulmonaria quercizans , in a northern hardwood New Brunswick, Canada. Twenty‐eight stands were selected representing contrasting silvicultural treatments: fairly recent cuts (5–9 years) ‘uncut’ that had been subjected...
Ecological traps and other cases of apparently maladaptive habitat selection cast doubt on the relevance density as an indicator quality. Nevertheless, prevalence these phenomena remains poorly known, may still reflect quality in most systems. We examined relationship between two parameters open-nesting passerine species: Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla). hypothesized that average individual bird makes a good decision when selecting its breeding territory spacing reflects site productivity or...