Northern alpine avian ecology and climate variation

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My Northern Alpine Ecology research program determines how bird populations deal with climate variability, the intensity and frequency of which is increasing with climate change. There is growing concern that components of climate change will alter animal distribution, reproduction, and ultimately wildlife persistence. Little avian ecology work has been done in mountain areas in Northern Canada where the impacts of climate warming are expected to be most severe. The Northern Alpine is an ideal habitat to initiate studies on wildlife responses to variable environments, given their strong bio-physical gradients. With my previous Northern Research Supplement, I successfully initiated new research that trained 3 PhD and 13 Undergrad HQP on the impacts of climate change on ptarmigan and songbird populations at 2 field locations. Ptarmigan are hunted for subsistence and recreation, and are also key prey species for mid-sized avian and mammalian predators in Northern food webs. My long-term objective is to better understand the key drivers influencing wildlife populations for Arctic and Alpine ecosystems, in current and future environmental conditions. We will study how two key ecological processes (landscape structure, climate variation) influence population structure and persistence for 3 ptarmigan species in the Yukon. We will use radio telemetry on juvenile grouse, the most vulnerable cohort, to determine the periods and environmental conditions of highest mortality in their first winter. We will also study alpine songbirds in two northern locations using temperature data loggers and behavioural studies on marked birds to determine how the energetic and reproductive challenges result in population change. The expected significance of my Northern Alpine Avian Research is to improve predictions for impacts of climate change on vertebrates. In 2005, we began discussions with the Kluane First Nation (Burwash Landing) to adapt our study designs to assist them and other Northerners in biodiversity planning and sustainable wildlife use in Northern Ecosystems. In my Northern field research program, I will train 11 graduate HQP (8 PhD, 2 MSc, 1 PDF) and >15 undergraduate HQP. We give priority to hiring Northerners.