A5026616604- Turtle Biology and Conservation
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Wildlife-Road Interactions and Conservation
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Rabies epidemiology and control
- Yersinia bacterium, plague, ectoparasites research
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Marine animal studies overview
- Genetic diversity and population structure
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Pesticide and Herbicide Environmental Studies
- Viral gastroenteritis research and epidemiology
- Weed Control and Herbicide Applications
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Vocal Communication and Behavior
- Animal Virus Infections Studies
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
Carleton University
2021-2025
Trent University
2015-2024
Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry
2017-2024
University of Manitoba
2022-2024
Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines
2021-2022
University of Georgia
2020
Hudson Institute
2019
John Wiley & Sons (United States)
2019
University of Winnipeg
2015-2017
University of Toronto
2007-2015
Environmental DNA (eDNA) is a potentially powerful tool for detection and monitoring of rare species, including threatened native species recently arrived invasive species. Here, we develop primers suite nine sympatric freshwater turtles, use it to test whether turtle eDNA can be successfully detected in samples from aquaria an outdoor pond. We also conduct cost comparison between through traditional survey methods, using data field surveys at two sites our target area. find that turtles...
From butterflies to elephants, the rapidly developing science of movement ecology is providing increasingly detailed spatio-temporal data on a wide array mobile animals. Thus, this discipline also holds great promise for improving conservation wildlife. To measure progress towards promise, we investigated degree which research connected goals as well proportion studies that were incorporated into federal and international status assessments species at risk. We examined 13,349 "movement...
Abstract White‐nose syndrome ( WNS ) has devastated populations of hibernating bats in eastern North America, leading to emergency conservation listings for several species including the previously ubiquitous little brown myotis Myotis lucifugus ). However, some bat near epicenter panzootic appear be stabilizing after initial precipitous declines, which could reflect a selective immunogenetic sweep. To investigate hypothesis that exerts significant selection on immunome affected populations,...
Abstract We recorded bat activity on Zakynthos island (Greece) to test the hypotheses that (1) olive ( Olea europea ) groves and native woodlands provide comparable foraging habitat for insectivorous bats, (2) lower occurs in treated with insecticide chemicals. acoustically sampled (passes per minute) four wooded habitats (organic non‐organic groves, oak woodland Quercus ilex coccifera pine Pinus halepensis from June August 2005. Habitat type did not affect overall activity. A single...
Abstract From birds to bacteria, airborne organisms face substantial anthropogenic impacts. The airspace provides essential habitat for thousands of species, some which spend most their lives airborne. Despite recent calls protect the airspace, it continues be treated as secondary terrestrial and aquatic habitats in policy research. Aeroconservation integrates advances aeroecology connectivity, recognizes aerial threats analogous counterparts. Aerial are poorly represented ecological...
Spillover of viruses from bats to other animals may be associated with increased contact between them, as well shedding by bats. Here, we tested the prediction that little brown (Myotis lucifugus) co-infected M. lucifugus coronavirus (Myl-CoV) and Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), fungus causes bat white-nose syndrome (WNS), exhibit different disease severity, viral molecular responses than infected only Myl-CoV or P. destructans. We took advantage natural persistence in were experimentally...
Bats are important reservoir hosts for emerging viruses, including coronaviruses that cause diseases in people. Although there have been several studies on the pathogenesis of humans and surrogate animals, is little information interactions these viruses with their natural bat hosts. We detected a coronavirus intestines 53/174 hibernating brown bats (Myotis lucifugus), as well lungs some individuals. Interestingly, presence virus was not accompanied by overt inflammation. Viral RNA amplified...
<title>Abstract</title> Bats are reservoir hosts for a number of coronaviruses, some which may pose spillover risks humans and other animals. Surveillance bat coronaviruses in temperate regions remains limited represents an important blind spot emerging pathogen preparedness conservation. We detected two alphacoronaviruses big brown bats (<italic>Eptesicus fuscus</italic>) little myotis (<italic>Myotis lucifugus</italic>) the province Ontario, Canada. These viruses closely related to...
Habitat loss and alteration from urbanization are key threats to biodiversity. Thus, municipal decisions around imperiled species have the potential affect urban conservation. Using Canada as a case study, we analyzed distribution of mapped critical habitats range extents in large cities metropolitan areas. Our analysis revealed that ~28% at risk extinction Canada, spanning nine taxonomic groups, had more than 75% their habitat Canadian areas 14% were urban-restricted. To explore engagement...
Emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) are typically characterized by novelty (recent detection) and increasing incidence, distribution, and/or pathogenicity. Ophidiomycosis, also called snake fungal disease, is caused the fungus Ophidiomyces ophidiicola (formerly “ ophiodiicola” ). Ophidiomycosis has been as an EID a potential threat to populations of Nearctic snakes, sparking over decade targeted research. However, severity this unclear. We reviewed available literature quantify incidence...
Flying animals use aerial habitats to forage, communicate and travel. However, human activities that fragment habitat with built structures, noise, chemical or light pollution, may limit the ability of wildlife airspace efficiently. Applying landscape connectivity theory could reveal how long‐distance migrants respond sources fragmentation along their migratory routes. Artificial at night is a major component urbanization fragments dark skies across North America. Attraction nocturnal urban...
Abstract Wildlife diversity and abundance are declining globally population reinforcement with captive‐reared animals is a common intervention used to prevent extinctions. Released individuals may undergo an acclimation period before their behavior success comparable wild‐reared because they lack experience predators, complex habitats variable environmental conditions. Quantifying post‐release effects on fitness important for maximizing the of reintroduction programs predicting number...
Understanding how context (e.g., host species, environmental conditions) drives disease susceptibility is an essential goal of ecology. We hypothesized that in bat white-nose syndrome (WNS), species-specific host–pathogen interactions may partly explain varying outcomes among species. characterized and pathogen transcriptomes paired samples lesion-positive lesion-negative wing tissue from bats infected with Pseudogymnoascus destructans three parallel experiments. The first two experiments...
Abstract Reduced food availability is implicated in declines avian aerial insectivores, but the effect of nutritional stress on mammalian insectivores unclear. Unlike birds, insectivorous bats provision their young through lactation, which might protect nursing juveniles when prey low could increase energetic burden lactating females. We analyzed a 15‐year capture–mark–recapture data set from 5312 individual little brown myotis ( Myotis lucifugus ) captured at 11 maternity colonies...
Abstract Mitigation of emerging infectious diseases that threaten global biodiversity requires an understanding critical host and pathogen responses to infection. For multihost pathogens where virulence or susceptibility is variable, host–pathogen interactions in tolerant species may identify potential avenues for adaptive evolution recently exposed, susceptible hosts. example, the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans causes white‐nose syndrome ( WNS ) hibernating bats responsible...
Roads are one of the most widespread human-caused habitat modifications that can increase wildlife mortality rates and alter behavior. act as barriers with variable permeability to movement distances travel access habitats. Movement is energetically costly, avoidance roads could therefore impact an animal's energy budget. We tested whether reptiles avoid or road crossings explored energetic consequences decreased individual fitness. Using telemetry data from Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea...
Ophidiomycosis (snake fungal disease) is caused by the fungus Ophidiomyces ophiodiicola. As ophidiomycosis difficult to study in free-ranging snakes, a reliable experimental model needed investigate transmission, pathogenesis, morbidity, and mortality, effects of brumation temperature on disease development. Our objective was develop such via subcutaneous injection O. ophiodiicola conidia red cornsnakes ( Pantherophis guttatus). The used evaluate transmission co-housed inoculated...
Renewable energy sources, such as wind energy, are essential tools for reducing the causes of climate change, but turbines can pose a collision risk bats. To date, population-level effects wind-related mortality have been estimated only 1 bat species. estimate temporal trends in abundance, we considered opportunistic sampling flying bats (analogous to fishing nets), where catch per unit effort (carcass abundance monitored turbine) is proxy aerial bats, after accounting seasonal variation...
A major goal of invasive plant management is the restoration native biodiversity, but effective methods for control can be harmful to plants. Informed application required reach goals. The herbicide glyphosate, commonly applied in management, toxic macrophytes. Our study assessed response 2 macrophytes that are endangered our area (Ammannia robusta and Sida hermaphrodita) glyphosate concentrations mimic incidental exposure from nearby control: spray drift 4 × 10-7 % 5% glyphosate; pulse...
Wildlife rehabilitation is the treatment and subsequent release of injured wildlife. benefits individual animals receiving care, but also supports Conservation Medicine approaches by providing opportunities to monitor wildlife health, contaminant loads, disease prevalence. However, it typically considered have negligible effects on population growth, has not traditionally been acknowledged as an effective tool for conservation. To explore whether could directly support recovery in some cases...
Relatively little is known about spatial patterns of cryptic diversity in tropical species and the processes that generate them. Few studies examine geographic distribution genetic lineages Southeast Asia, an area hypothesized to harbor substantial diversity. We investigated evolutionary history Asian tree frogs Polypedates leucomystax complex (n = 172) based on 1800 bp mtDNA genes ND1 cytochrome b tested hypotheses pertaining climate, geology, dispersal patterns. Analyses revealed lineage...
Conservation interventions can keep critically endangered species from going extinct and stabilize threatened populations. The species-specific, case-by-case approaches small sample sizes inherent to applied conservation measures are not well suited scientific evaluations of outcomes. Debates about whether a method “works” become entrenched in vote-counting framework. Furthermore, population-level replication is rare but necessary for disentangling the effects an intervention other drivers...