Waterfowl nest success in the Western Boreal Forest: Does industrial development alter predation rates?

Our research will investigate changes in duck populations relative to resource development in Alberta’s western boreal forest (WBF). Specifically, we will investigate changes in duck nest success and predator communities across a gradient of
resource development. Resource development is rapidly increasing in Alberta and it has been implicated in the population decline of some wildlife species, including caribou. The infrastructure required by resource development results in habitat
fragmentation that can facilitate the movement of predators on the landscape, which may increase predator population size or foraging efficiency. Therefore, we hypothesize that resource development increases the rates of duck nest depredation. We will be able to use the data collected from this research to make predictions about future duck population changes relative to landscape change. Our results will test and inform key management assumptions currently made by DUC, and benefit waterfowl management and landscape planning for ducks in Alberta.

Faculty Supervisor:

Brad Fedy

Student:

Partner:

Ducks Unlimited Canada (MB)

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Natural Resources; Sustainability & the Environment; Life Sciences (not health)

University:

University of Waterloo

Program: