A5087385903- Avian ecology and behavior
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Marine animal studies overview
- Isotope Analysis in Ecology
- Mercury impact and mitigation studies
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Marine and fisheries research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Animal Disease Management and Epidemiology
- Influenza Virus Research Studies
- Fish Ecology and Management Studies
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Bat Biology and Ecology Studies
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Aquatic life and conservation
- Indigenous Health, Education, and Rights
- Muscle activation and electromyography studies
- Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
- Fuel Cells and Related Materials
- Brake Systems and Friction Analysis
- Indigenous Studies and Ecology
- Air Quality and Health Impacts
Environment and Climate Change Canada
2020-2025
University of Windsor
2009-2022
Carleton University
2021-2022
Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research
2018
Ecological “big data” Human activities are rapidly altering the natural world. Nowhere is this more evident, perhaps, than in Arctic, yet region remains one of most remote and difficult to study. Researchers have increasingly relied on animal tracking data these regions understand individual species' responses, but if we want larger-scale change, need integrate our understanding across species. Davidson et al. introduce an open-source archive that currently hosts 15 million location points...
The influence of variation in individual state on key reproductive decisions impacting fitness is well appreciated evolutionary ecology. Rowe et al. (1994) developed a condition-dependent optimization model predicting that three factors impact the ability migratory female birds to individually optimize breeding phenology maximize seasonal environments: arrival condition, date, and gain condition grounds. While empirical studies have confirmed greater body mass earlier dates result laying, no...
Life-history trade-offs are influenced by variation in individual state, with individuals better condition often completing life-history stages greater success. Although resource accrual significantly impacts key decisions such as the timing of reproduction, little is known about underlying mechanisms driving accumulation. Baseline corticosterone (CORT, primary avian glucocorticoid) mediates daily and seasonal energetics, responds to changes food availability, has been linked foraging...
Abstract Seabirds are frequently infected by avian influenza virus (AIV), which prior to 2021 primarily consisted of low-pathogenic AIV with limited reports disease during infection. However, since highly pathogenic (HPAIV) H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b was introduced North America in late 2021, HPAIV outbreaks seabirds have occurred multiple regions, high levels morbidity and mortality many species. While monitoring active viral infections is critical for tracking burden, exposure via antibody...
Abstract Although assessments of winter carryover effects on fitness‐related breeding parameters are vital for determining the links between environmental variation and fitness, direct methods overwintering distributions (e.g., electronic tracking) can be expensive, limiting number individuals studied. Alternatively, stable isotope analysis in specific tissues used as an indirect means individual areas residency. increasingly to infer terrestrial birds, isotopes have been less often marine...
Theoretically, individuals of migratory species should optimize reproductive investment based on a combination timing and body condition at arrival the breeding grounds. A minimum threshold mass is required to initiate reproduction, reaching this critical because trade‐off between delaying gain in against declining value offspring with later timing. Long‐lived have flexibility within their life history skip reproduction given year if they are unable achieve theoretical threshold. Although...
The availability and investment of energy among successive life-history stages is a key feature carryover effects. In migratory organisms, examining how both winter spring experiences to affect breeding activity difficult due the challenges in tracking individuals through these periods without impacting their behavior, thereby biasing results.Using common eiders Somateria mollissima, we examined whether conditions at an Arctic colony (East Bay Island, Nunavut, Canada) can buffer impacts...
Abstract There is a growing appreciation for the value of collaborative research projects involving local Indigenous and visiting non‐Indigenous researchers. Examples such partnerships are now numerous diverse, best practices respectful approaches have been well presented, including five priorities National Inuit Strategy on Research (NISR) defined by Tapiriit Kanatami in Canada. However, application remains challenging, examples ‘on‐the‐ground’ implementation remain scarce literature. We...
In natural populations, epidemics provide opportunities to look for intense selection on genes coding life history and immune or other physiological traits. If the populations being considered are of management conservation concern, then identifying traits under (or 'markers') might insights into possible intervention strategies during epidemics. We assessed potential multiple Arctic breeding common eiders (Somateria mollissima) annual avian cholera outbreaks (summers 2006, 2007 & 2008)....
Abstract A combination of timing and body condition (i.e., mass) at arrival on the breeding grounds interact to influence optimal reproduction clutch size in migratory species. This relationship has been formalized by Rowe et al. a condition‐dependent individual optimization model ( American Naturalist , 1994, 143, 689‐722), which empirically tested validated avian species with capital‐based strategy. makes key, but currently untested prediction; that variation rate gain will shift laying...
Abstract To invest in energetically demanding life history stages, individuals require a substantial amount of resources. Physiological traits, particularly those related to energetics, can be useful for examining variation decisions and trade‐offs because they result from individual responses environmental variation. Leptin is protein hormone found mammals that proportional the endogenous fat stores within an individual. Recently, researchers have confirmed mammalian leptin analogue (MLA),...
Abstract Avian cholera, caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida , is a common and important infectious disease of wild birds in North America. Between 2005 2012, avian cholera annual mortality widely varying magnitudes Northern eiders ( Somateria mollissima borealis ) breeding at largest colony Canadian Arctic, Mitivik Island, Nunavut. Although herd immunity, which large proportion population acquires immunity to disease, has been suggested play role epidemic fadeout, immunological...
Abstract Organisms must overcome environmental limitations to optimize their investment in life history stages maximize fitness. Human-induced climate change is generating increasingly variable conditions, impacting the demography of prey items and therefore ability consumers successfully access resources fuel reproduction. While effects are especially pronounced Arctic, it unknown whether organisms can adjust foraging decisions match such changes. We used a 9-year blood plasma δ 13 C 15 N...