Our Work

Field Projects

Field Research

We worked on a variety of field research projects directed towards developing a better understanding of the relationships between today’s climate and Alberta’s biodiversity. These projects included identifying climate-related threats to species that are already at risk because of land-use changes and examining potential conservation actions that could support these species as climate change progresses. We also initiated research on the current relationships between elevation, climate and the diversity of plant and bird communities to better understand how these species may respond to climate change.

Extreme Weather & Grassland Birds

One prediction for climate change in Alberta is an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events like extreme rainfall and wind storms. The nesting success of Burrowing Owls and Ferruginous Hawks, two threatened birds in Alberta’s Grassland region, is sensitive to these events. We used detailed weather data, including the timing and location of storm events, to learn more about the impacts of extreme weather on the nesting and foraging behaviours and nest success of Ferruginous Hawks. Our collaborative field research also tested whether targeted interventions such as supplemental feeding of Burrowing Owl chicks and installation of artificial nest platforms for Ferruginous Hawks can improve chick survival and nest success. Ultimately, these strategies could help mitigate the risks imposed by potential increases in extreme weather on these iconic Grassland birds.

This research was done in collaboration with the Raptor Ecology and Conservation team (REACt) at the University of Alberta. REACt is supported by: University of Alberta, Government of Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service/Environment Canada, Interdepartmental Recovery Fund, National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Agriculture and Agri-food Canada, Department of Defense CFB Suffield), Cenovus, NExen, Altalink, Suncor, IHS, Petroleum Technology Alliance of Canada, Alberta ESRD, Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation, Alberta Conservation Association, Saskatchewan Ministry of the Environment.

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Assisted Migration for Rare Plants

Many plants in Alberta may not be able to disperse far enough to shift their ranges in response to a rapidly changing climate. We tested the utility of translocating plants with limited ranges to areas where the climate is predicted to become more favourable in the future. These field trials not only determined the ability of plants to establish outside their current climate space provided they have sufficient dispersal ability, but also whether assisted migration could be used as a large-scale intervention for a species at risk under climate change.

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Climate Change and Montane Mammals

One way species may adapt to climate change is through phenological adjustments—changes to the timing of life events like reproduction and hibernation. For Columbian ground squirrels, which occur in the northwest Rocky Mountains, the end dates of hibernation can differ by as much as one month between high and low elevation populations.

Using translocations between high and low elevation populations, we tested the potential for this species to shift the timing of hibernation in response to climate. These translocations also helped to test ways to move mammals between populations, which could be soft-release systems that may be required if re-location is to be used as a conservation strategy.

Climate Refugia in the Hills

Our climate-based species projections have shown that Alberta’s hill systems, like the Marten Mountains and Buffalo Head Hills, may act as important remnant locations of suitable climate, called “climate refugia”, for boreal birds and plants as climate change progresses. But these rugged places are typically under-surveyed, so we know little about the patterns of biodiversity in these hilly regions.

We initiated a project to identify the species currently present in hill systems throughout the province. The data help us validate current and future model predictions of species distributions, and better understand the potential responses of boreal biodiversity to climate change.

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Additional Resources

Apparent survival of adult Burrowing Owls that breed in Canada is influenced by weather during migration and on their wintering grounds

Storms during fall migration and above-average precipitation on the wintering grounds are both associated with reduced apparent survival in some Canadian Burrowing Owl populations.

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Climate change and assisted migration of montane mammals

Summary of 2013 field research on the influences of climate on the hibernation patterns of the Columbian ground squirrel.

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Two Sides to the Story: the Impacts of Climate Change on Alberta’s Burrowing Owls; an Endangered Species

Status of Alberta’s Burrowing Owls The Burrowing Owl is facing serious threats: its range in Canada has contracted by approximately 36% in the last 30 years.

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