Northern climates and the ecological interactions of interacting species

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My research group uses a combination of laboratory, field, and modeling approaches to identify the ecological and evolutionary consequences of animal energetics (the process by which animals acquire and assimilate energy from the environment, and allocate assimilated energy between maintenance, growth, and reproduction). Here I propose to us recent advances in biologging (the use of miniaturized animal-attached tags for logging and/or relaying of data about an animal's movements, behaviour, physiology and/or environment) to document the year-round energetic and activity states of free-ranging wildlife in northern Canada. I will deploy these biologgers on four prominent wildlife assemblages across the Canadian North to better understand how climate affects the energetic status. This proposed research will contribute to new bioenergetic data and models that will help us document and predict how northern environmental change will alter wildlife abundance, distribution and coexistence. In this proposal, I request funding to offset the high logistical and community outreach costs associated with research in the North. In particular, I request funds for travel, hiring local community coordinators, and consulting with elders and hunters, to secure the community support, knowledge, and research licensing required for successful deployment of biologgers, as well as communicating the results back to the community.