Research
General Research Interests
I am interested in research in the fields of Landscape Ecology
and Conservation Biology. Currently, my main areas of research
interest are in applications within two areas; Parks and Protected
Areas, and Wildlife Conservation and Management. If you are
interested in doing graduate work in one of these areas, please
contact me.
Click here to download a short powerpoint file describing some of the current research activities in the LESA Lab.
Click here to download a short powerpoint file describing some of the current research activities in the LESA Lab.
Parks and Protected Areas Research
I
have been conducting research on how spatial patterns of diversity
and scale affect minimum requirements for the design of
representative protected areas networks. This has been done using
digital range maps for disturbance-sensitive mammals, and through
modelling hypothetical protected areas networks in using Geographic
Information Systems (GIS). I am interested in expanding this
research to incorporate data on other species, as well as in
conducting more fine-scale research in specific parts of Canada. I
am also interested in exploring how protected areas networks might
be designed in areas of the country that are still relatively
unaltered (e.g., parts of the Canadian north) in such a way so as
to allow for resource development while still ensuring that
ecological integrity is maintained.Another broad area of research interest within the Parks and
Protected Areas branch of my research program are the issues of
ecological integrity and ecological monitoring in parks. I am
involved in a project headed up by Parks Canada, where we are
developing indices to quanitify the effects of roads and culverts
on fish passability, and ultimately, on overall stream network
connectivity. This work is being carried out collaboratively with
Terra
Nova National Park, Fundy National
Park, Prince Edward
Island National Park, Kejimkujik National Park, the Atlantic
Regional Service Centre, and Dr. Steve Peake at the
University of New Brunswick.
I am also leading a Canada-wide investigation of the role of protected areas in sustainable forest management. This project is being funded by the Sustainable Forest Management Network, and involves researchers at the University of Alberta, Dalhousie, and Simon Fraser Universities, together with a host of partners from industry, government, non-government agencies, and First Nations. We will be conducting an extensive literature summary as well as a series of workshops. Click on the link in the menu above to visit the SFMN project website.
Wildlife Conservation and Management
I am involved with a caribou research project that is being
conducted by the Newfoundland and Labrador Division of Wildlife.
This two-y
ear
project is investigating the current status (population size, home
ranges, recruitment) of woodland caribou on the south shore of the
island of Newfoundland. Hunters and outfitters have noticed a
population decline, and this study will identify how much the
population has declined, project future population sizes, and try
to determine what may have contributed to the observed decline.
Current hypotheses include habitat change, increased calf predation
by coyotes, and nutritional stress. I hope to involve graduate
students with this project to test some of these hypotheses.
ear
project is investigating the current status (population size, home
ranges, recruitment) of woodland caribou on the south shore of the
island of Newfoundland. Hunters and outfitters have noticed a
population decline, and this study will identify how much the
population has declined, project future population sizes, and try
to determine what may have contributed to the observed decline.
Current hypotheses include habitat change, increased calf predation
by coyotes, and nutritional stress. I hope to involve graduate
students with this project to test some of these hypotheses.