Research
My students and I work to better understand migratory behaviours of animals and to apply this knowledge to the conservation of migratory species and the integrity of their migratory routes. Migratory animals are a priority for conservation because they are at greater risk of extinction than sedentary animals. In fact, migration itself is now considered an endangered phenomenon. Even among migrants, the risk of extinction is not equal; animals that migrate long-distances are at greater risk than those that migrate short-distances, and among long-distance migrants, aerial-foraging insectivores are at the greatest risk. Therefore, I am particularly interested in migratory bats, a group that fits all those high-risk categories.
Current Projects
Movement Patterns of Migratory Tree-roosting Bats During Autumn Migration
Migration routes of long-distance migratory tree-roosting bats (Lasiurus cinereus, L. borealis, and Lasionycteris noctivagans) in North America are poorly understood. Large numbers of bat fatalities recorded at wind energy facilities are contributing to likely population declines of these species. Most documented migratory bat fatalities at wind energy installations occur during autumn migration. There is some urgency to better understand migration patterns of these bats, because like many other jurisdictions, the Province of Saskatchewan plans to dramatically increase wind power generation capacity. We installed passive acoustic detectors in southern Saskatchewan during the migration period to measure migratory bat activity. We placed one set of detectors in a three by three grid pattern across the study area in locations with high wind energy potential and prominent landscape features. We installed a second set of detectors along 5 km transects perpendicular to four of the province’s major rivers.
Migratory movements and syndromes of North American bats
Increasing our knowledge of bat migratory behaviours and movement patterns are an important objective in current conservation research. Through our labs research, we will increase our understanding to inform on the timing of migration and the mechanisms behind migratory behaviours, such as orientation ability, helping inform management strategies for the species. Additionally, we will reevaluate whether a categorical system of classifying migration is justified. I will develop a continuous scale, representing the collective attributes that describe migratory syndromes. My findings can be applied to other migratory bat species, providing a new tool for assessing and classifying the ecology of migratory bats.