A5087993814- Avian ecology and behavior
- Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Marine animal studies overview
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Marine and fisheries research
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Pacific and Southeast Asian Studies
- Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
- Heavy Metal Exposure and Toxicity
- Climate variability and models
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Marine Biology and Environmental Chemistry
- Marine and coastal plant biology
- Wildlife Conservation and Criminology Analyses
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
Natural History Museum
2018-2025
University of Maryland, College Park
2024
University of Tasmania
2018-2024
Environment and Climate Change Canada
2012-2023
Environmental Research Institute
2019-2023
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
2014-2022
University of the Highlands and Islands
2019-2022
University of Saskatchewan
2012-2021
Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies
2019-2021
Australian Antarctic Division
2021
Significance The isolation of remote islands has, until recently, afforded protection from most human activities. However, society’s increasing desire for plastic products has resulted in becoming ubiquitous the marine environment, where it persists decades. We provide a comprehensive analysis quantity and source beach-washed debris on one world’s remotest islands. density was highest recorded anywhere world, suggesting that close to oceanic accumulation zones act as important sinks some...
Stable isotopes are now used widely in ecological studies, including diet reconstruction, where quantitative inferences about composition derived from the use of mixing models. Recent Bayesian models (MixSIR, SIAR) allow users to incorporate variability discrimination factors (Δ13C or Δ15N), amount change either δ13C δ15N between prey and consumer, but date there has been no systematic assessment effect variation Δ13C Δ15N on model outputs. We whole blood Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) muscle...
As biota are increasingly exposed to plastic pollution, there is a need closely examine the sub-lethal 'hidden' impacts of ingestion. This emerging field study has been limited model species in controlled laboratory settings, with little data available for wild, free-living organisms. Highly impacted by ingestion, Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Ardenna carneipes) thus an apt these environmentally relevant manner. A Masson's Trichrome stain was used document any evidence plastic-induced fibrosis,...
Plastic pollution in the world's oceans is ubiquitous and increasing. The environment inundated with microplastics (< 1 mm), health effects of these less conspicuous pollutants poorly known. In addition, there now evidence that macroplastics can release form shedding or digestive fragmentation, meaning potential for macroplastic exposure to induce direct indirect pathology through microplastics. Therefore, an urgent need data from wild populations on relationship between macro- microplastic...
Marine plastic ingestion by seabirds was first documented in the 1960s, but over 50 years later our understanding about prevalence, intensity, and subsequent effect of pollution oceans is still developing. In Canada, systematic assessments using recognized standard protocols began only mid-2000s. With marine identified United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) as one most critical challenges for environment, a greater how plastics affect birds along with national strategy, timely...
The application of stable-isotope analysis (SIA) in ecology has increased exponentially the last 20 years. As with any novel field inquiry, there been inconsistent (and sometimes confusing) use terminology and great variation how results SIA are presented scientific literature. Recently, guidelines recommendations for consistent terminology, expression results, presentation symbols were prepared published at request Commission on Isotopic Abundances Atomic Weights (CIAAW) International Union...
Invasive alien species are a major threat to native insular species. Eradicating invasive mammals from islands is feasible and proven approach prevent biodiversity loss. We developed conceptual framework identify globally important for mammal eradications imminent extinctions of highly threatened using biogeographic technical factors, plus novel consider socio-political feasibility. applied this comprehensive dataset describing the distribution 1,184 vertebrate (i.e. those listed as...
Marine plastic pollution is an environmental contaminant of significant concern. There a lack consistency in sample collection and processing that continues to impede meta-analyses large-scale comparisons across time space. This true for most taxa, including seabirds, which are the studied megafauna group with regards ingestion research. Consequently, it difficult evaluate impacts extent contamination seabirds fully accurately, make inferences about species we have little or no data. We...
Pollution of the environment with plastic debris is a significant and rapidly expanding threat to biodiversity due its abundance, durability, persistence. Current knowledge negative effects on wildlife largely based consequences that are readily observed, such as entanglement or starvation. Many interactions debris, however, result in less visible poorly documented sublethal effects, consequence, true impact underestimated. We investigated ingested Flesh-footed Shearwaters (Ardenna...
Mercury (Hg) is increasing in marine food webs, especially at high latitudes. The bioaccumulation and biomagnification of methyl mercury (MeHg) has serious effects on wildlife, most evident apex predators. MeHg body burden birds the balance ingestion excretion, feathers an effective indicator overall burden. Ivory gulls (Pagophila eburnea), which consume ice-associated prey scavenge mammal carcasses, have highest egg Hg concentrations any Arctic bird, species declined by more than 80% since...
Pollution of the environment with plastics has garnered significant public attention, but topic also been focus controversy, including assertions that resources are better spent on other topics, such as global warming. Here, we argue plastic pollution and climate change fundamentally linked, from extraction fossil fuels to production plastics, eventual disposal. We demonstrate how research funding currently lag significantly behind conclude by advocating for a more integrated approach...