Field Vehicle for Ecology and Evolution of Fishes Research

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A reliable vehicle is necessary to access wilderness field sites in support of the field programs of John R. Post and Sean Rogers of the University of Calgary which focus on the ecology, evolution and conservation of freshwater fishes. Their research programs depend on access to undisturbed natural and experimental populations of fishes throughout Alberta and British Columbia. Our programs strive to understand the mechanistic basis for behavioral, physiological, population and evolutionary traits of freshwater fishes. We use a combination of field sampling and whole lake field experiments to characterize and test hypotheses about ecological and evolutionary processes in nature. The remote nature of our research sites and the field equipment used necessitate use of an extended cab, 4WD, 3/4 ton vehicle with canopy and boat rack. Our combined use of the vehicle involves 10 months of continuous use and rental of an equivalent truck is prohibitively expensive. This proposed vehicle purchase will replace one that is no longer repairable after 20 years and 300,000 km of use in field research. These research programs depend on a safe, reliable and cost-effective research vehicle for the researchers and trainees to continue their productive and important research. Purchasing the vehicle is by far the most economical strategy to meet our combined needs and maximize the efficient use of NSERC research funds.