Fifty years ago, the Eeyou Istchee coast (eastern James Bay) was a critical migratory stopover for Canada geese (Branta canadensis), a cultural keystone species for the Eeyou culture. However, climate-induced habitat change, the loss of eelgrass beds linked to hydroelectric development and increases in human-induced disturbance, among other factors, have reduced the attractiveness of the coast for migrating geese who are now present in much lower numbers during spring and fall. This is a great loss for the people of Eeyou Istchee as the Canada goose harvest is a cornerstone of the Eeyou culture, and an important contribution to food security in the region. To preserve the geese that are still currently migrating on the coast, and hopefully increase their numbers, we partnered with Eeyou organizations to develop a wildlife monitoring program to better understand current Canada goose migration ecology in Eeyou Istchee. Using non-invasive tools like acoustic recorders, trail cameras, drones, wildlife observations and harvest surveys, we aim to gain a better understanding of the features that are still attracting geese in the area during migration, and those that repel them (e.g., habitat selection, impact of hunting). Ultimately, we hope to collect data that can inform Eeyou decision-making on the stewardship of their land. Objective of his poster: Since we are in the early stages of the development of this program, we are presenting our current monitoring plan and hoping to brainstorm ideas with other participants on how to best invest our efforts to increase our knowledge of Canada goose migration ecology in Eeyou Istchee.

Long-term population studies have address central ecological questions about the drivers of population dynamics. However, in the context of rapid global change, the patterns and correlations established under past or current conditions may no longer hold, as populations are increasingly exposed to novel environmental states. Despite repeated calls for more mechanistic approaches in population ecology, process-based studies that reveal mechanisms regulating natural populations remains a major challenge. Our objective was to develop a bioenergetic model of Arctic foxes to (i) determine prey density thresholds that allow foxes to remain resident, and (ii) predict their breeding probability and litter size as a function of prey type and density (lemmings, bird eggs). Model predictions will be compared to long-term empirical data from ecological monitoring on Bylot Island, where fox breeding probability and litter sizes have been estimated since 2008, along with GPS tracking of individual foxes. We developed the model based on fundamental physiological principles and a multi-species functional response model. The model integrates energy acquisition (feeding), energy reserves (both exogenous and endogenous), and energy expenditure (somatic maintenance, movement, and reproduction) into a single energy budget. Preliminary results show that the model successfully captures variation in breeding probability and litter size under different prey availability scenarios. The emergence of realistic demographic parameters from the process-based bioenergetic model is a strong indicator that the most important underlying mechanisms were included.

Soft corals exhibit vibrations in response to ocean currents and sway. This fluid-structure interaction is only known from a few observations and some engineering studies done with 3D printed corals and numerical models. These models suggest that the vibrations could help soft corals to capture food particles. This study is the first to investigate the general phenomenon of vortex induced vibrations in soft corals, the first step towards understanding the biological implications of these vibrations.

Des épisodes stochastiques de prédation intensive par des individus spécialistes ont été observés chez plusieurs espèces sauvages, dont le mouflon d’Amérique (Ovis canadensis). Ces épisodes ont un impact important sur la dynamique des populations touchées. En plus d’effets directs comme une diminution de la survie, la prédation intensive par le cougar (Puma concolor) a aussi des effets indirects nuisant à la croissance de la population, notamment une suppression de la reproduction. Par ailleurs, des études ont montré que des conditions défavorables au cours du développement entraînent une augmentation du taux de sénescence chez plusieurs espèces. Mon projet vise donc à évaluer l’effet à long terme des épisodes de prédation intensive sur la dynamique de population du mouflon d’Amérique en vérifiant s’ils engendrent des effets sur la sénescence en reproduction et en survie des individus nés lors de ces épisodes. Pour ce faire, j’utiliserai les données du suivi individuel à long-terme effectué depuis 1971 à Ram Mountain, en Alberta. Cette population a subi quatre épisodes de prédation intensive pour une durée totale de neuf ans. Je pourrai donc évaluer si le taux de sénescence en reproduction et en survie est supérieur pour les cohortes nées durant ces années cougar comparativement à celles nées durant des années de faible prédation. Cette étude permettra d’évaluer si ces épisodes ont également des effets à plus long terme sur la dynamique des populations touchées. Ces épisodes ont un effet particulièrement important chez les espèces organisées en petites populations isolées comme les ongulés alpins. Ils sont susceptibles d’engendrer des déclins importants des populations touchées et d’affecter leur pérennité.

Natural and sexual selection can shape cognition and underlying brain parameters, acting differently across species, individuals, and sexes. Brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) are obligate brood parasites, where females search for host nests to lay their eggs, unaided by males. Whereas polygynous species typically show male-biased spatial abilities, female cowbirds possess enhanced spatial cognition, a domain-specific ability linked to a particular brain region, the hippocampus. In contrast, domain-general cognitive processes involve broader brain regions and are rarely examined alongside domain-specific cognition within the same individuals. Because spatial cognition differs between sexes in this species, correlations between spatial abilities and problem-solving may reveal potential coevolution, trade-offs, or other relationships between cognitive traits. To evaluate these interactions between domain-general and domain-specific abilities, wild-caught cowbirds were tested on three problem-solving tasks (lid flipping, lid piercing and string pulling) and two spatial tasks (a radial arm maze and a 5x5 cup array) with a 24-hour retention interval and food bait fixed in location. We predicted that 1) male and female brown-headed cowbirds would perform equally in problem-solving tasks, 2) that individual problem-solving and spatial memory performances would not correlate, and 3) that females would outperform males at remembering food-baited location after 24-hours. By assessing variation between individuals, this study highlights the brain’s capacity to modulate cognitive abilities under natural selection in a species with a unique reproductive strategy.

Les changements climatiques globaux affectent plusieurs écosystèmes mondiaux, mais une augmentation 2 à 4 fois plus marquée des températures en Arctique a comme impact des évènements climatiques sans précédents tels que des vagues de chaleur de plus en plus intenses et fréquentes. Comme la température influence de nombreux processus physiologiques et que les changements s’opèrent à un rythme accéléré, il demeure difficile de prédire comment les populations arctiques répondront à ces nouvelles conditions et si elles seront en mesure de le faire à temps. Le plectrophane des neiges a une capacité d'endurance au froid lui permettant d'endurer des températures allant jusqu'à -90°C, mais une très faible tolérance à la chaleur. Des travaux récents suggèrent que la radiation thermique couplée à l’effort substantiel de nourrissage des oisillons pourrait obliger ces oiseaux à réduire le taux d’approvisionnement au risque de surchauffer à des températures ambiantes aussi faibles que 12°C. C'est d'ailleurs ce qui est observé à Alert, NU, mais ces contraintes pourraient être très différentes pour les populations du Haut et du Bas Arctique. Pour l’instant, aucune étude comparative n’a été menée pour comparer l’effort d’approvisionnement entre ces deux systèmes. Mon projet vise à tester l’hypothèse selon laquelle les contraintes thermiques diffèrent aux extrêmes de l’aire de reproduction de l’espèce. Dans le nord de la distribution, il est attendu que les oiseaux soient contraints de limiter l’effort maximal lors des journées chaudes, mais puissent bénéficier de l’ennuagement. Au sud de l'aire de reproduction, il est anticipé que les oiseaux puissent tirer profit de la baisse du rayonnement solaire en début et fin des journées chaudes

The field of cognitive ecology, which bridges the gap between human-oriented psychology and ecology, has received increasing interest in recent years by asking ecologically informed cognitive questions. For those interested in asking these types of questions, from an ecology-focused background it can be difficult to conceptualize and select appropriate measures of cognition. This poster aims to inform such researchers using a case study from my Master’s thesis which more broadly investigates the relationship between free-ranging foraging movement and spatial memory in ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis). Here, I look at the relationship between 4 commonly used measures of cognition: latency to solve, errors made, path efficiency, and time spent in a zone of interest. Latency and errors are positively correlated within two tasks of spatial memory, contrary to the commonly held assumption of a speed-accuracy trade-off, while path efficiency and zone time vary between tasks. Additionally, I discuss the merits of using measures that are not contingent on individuals solving a cognitive task, to maximize sample size. This discussion serves to inform researchers both in and interested in the field on important considerations of which cognitive measures to use, and what information can be gained therefrom.

In response to spatially and temporally variable predation pressure, prey species must make behavioural trade-offs between the predator avoidance and other fitness related activities such as foraging and courtship (Lima and Dill 1990; Brown et al. 2011). Public information cues and learning strategies can help prey optimize these trade-offs (Brown and Chivers 2005). One chemical cue fish use to evaluate risk is disturbance cue, a signal released as nitrogenous waste when a fish is distressed (Brown et al. 2012). There is conflicting evidence on the role of disturbance cue in associative learning, depending on the species (Pollock et al. 2021, Rivera-Hernández et al. 2022). In this study, we observed the ability of juvenile guppies (Poecilia reticulata) and convict cichlids (Amatitlania nigrofasciata) to utilize their own and each other’s disturbance cues to learn about a novel odor. We conditioned fish to a high-risk or low-risk environment using damage-released cues or water, then exposed individuals to disturbance cue paired with a novel odor. We tested responses to the novel odor alone the next day. We found that fish exposed to high-risk environments showed significant evidence of learned predator avoidance from both conspecific and heterospecific disturbance cues.

Urban centers present many challenges for migratory birds: window collisions, predation by cats, pollution, artificial light at night, and high levels of noise. Yet, we do not know how urban areas might modify natural cues used to time migration. Since warmer temperatures are associated with earlier migration, I expect urban birds will have earlier departures from their breeding and wintering grounds than rural birds. Differences in migration timing could result in a mismatch with food resources and negatively impact the breeding success of rural birds due to competition for high-quality habitat on the breeding grounds.

This research focuses on understanding the foraging behaviour of the Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia) using GPS and accelerometer data collected from two Arctic colonies. The study aims to use movement paths to identify key foraging areas. GPS locations will be classified into different behaviour states (e.g. flying, searching, foraging) using the Hidden Markov Models to determine where and when murres concentrate their foraging activity. This work will contribute to better understand the spatial ecology of breeding Arctic seabirds.

La Grande Oie des neiges représente l’un des cas les plus notables d’espèce surabondante. En 1999 (Canada) et 2009 (USA), les gestionnaires ont mis en place des mesures spéciales de gestion, soit une saison de chasse printanière, pour réduire la population à une cible de 500 000 et 750 000 individus. À la suite de l’introduction de ces nouvelles mesures, la population s’est stabilisée et a finalement atteint la cible en 2019, bien qu’un déclin progressif ait déjà débuté vers 2012. Au printemps 2025, la population de grande oie des neiges est passée sous le seuil de la cible démographique, après avoir subi un déclin de 43% au cours des trois dernières années. L’objectif du projet est d’examiner les effets directs et indirects de la chasse sur la démographie de la grande oie des neiges au cours des 35 dernières années. Nous évaluerons i) l’impact du taux de prélèvement et ii) de la variation du dérangement lié à la chasse (nombre de jours / chasseurs) sur le du corridor migratoire. Enfin, nous analyserons iii) si les variations du succès de reproduction contribuent aussi aux tendances démographiques observées. Pour atteindre l’objectif, nous utiliserons les décomptes annuels par transects aériens, les enquêtes annuelles sur le prélèvement saisonnier, les données de retours de bagues, ainsi que les données de télémétrie provenant d’environ 200 oies suivies par colliers-émetteurs. Nous examinerons plus spécifiquement les mécanismes expliquant la diminution récente, incluant les effets directs sur la mortalité et indirects sur la reproduction. Dans le cadre de la gestion adaptative des populations, ce projet éclairera les stratégies pour réduire les pressions anthropiques et ramener la population aux niveaux cibles.

Hibernation is a key phase in the life cycle of many species. In bears, it constitutes a response to harsh winter conditions, providing protection to mothers and their young after birth, as well as to all bears that need to hibernate. Various methods have been used to identify den entry and exit dates, often based on GPS data. We propose a methodology for processing activity data using hidden Markov models to identify start and end of inactivity periods in bears. The method we propose is accurate, robust, and easily reproducible. It relies on activity data continuously collected at 5-minute intervals, whereas GPS data are generally collected at longer intervals, only provide information on movements, and are subject to detection issues. We believe that start and end dates of inactivity periods provide better approximations of denning period. This methodological approach allows for more precise identification of prolonged inactivity periods and improves the detection of behaviors such as hibernation. Thus, we will be able to observe whether the phenology of these behaviors has changed with weather conditions.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are sensitive to overexploitation due to their low reproduction rate, which depends on food availability, and their sensitivity to a change in their survival rate. In Quebec, black bear management is currently based on surveys carried out in a single region in the early 1990s. Management decisions are thus based on outdated data, increasing risk of overexploitation in this species. Using a 10-year database obtained from monitoring black bears in three bioclimatic domains in Quebec, my project aims to quantify adult survival rate and to determine which factors influence hunting risk in black bear, since hunting is the main cause of mortality in adults. Those factors include biological traits, such as sex and body condition, extrinsic factors, such as food availability and habitat composition, and behavioral traits, such as habitat use and activity pattern. Ultimately, the results of my project will allow updating models of population dynamics in black bears, and hence improving management decisions.

Dans les environnements arides, les prédateurs peuvent jouer un rôle clé dans les cycles des nutriments et d’énergie, notamment grâce à leur capacité à redistribuer ces ressources de manière non trophique. Souvent considérés comme des ingénieurs d'écosystème, les prédateurs peuvent modifier physiquement leur habitat, affectant ainsi l'abondance, la répartition et la diversité des autres espèces. Leur étude est un élément important en biologie de la conservation, compte tenu de leur influence sur les communautés écologiques et le fonctionnement des écosystèmes. Le désert polaire, avec ses cycles biologiques et chimiques ralentis, offre un cadre idéal pour étudier ces dynamiques non trophiques. Cette recherche vise à caractériser et à analyser les relations entre les facteurs biotiques et abiotiques de micro-oasis situées au nord de l'île d'Ellesmere, au Nunavut. L'hypothèse proposée est qu'une boucle de rétroaction positive, initiée par la communauté de prédateurs du désert polaire, maintient ces zones de haute diversité biologique. En étudiant comment les prédateurs contribuent à l'accumulation de nutriments dans le paysage, nous cherchons à comprendre comment leurs activités combinées influencent la structure et le fonctionnement des écosystèmes dans les environnements froids et arides. Les connaissances acquises grâce à cette recherche pourraient ainsi éclairer les stratégies de conservation et les pratiques de gestion. En outre, le concept d'ingénieur d'écosystème n'a jamais été appliqué à une communauté d'espèces. Les micro-oasis du désert polaire représentent un modèle écologique précieux pour étudier des sujets plus vastes, applicables à d’autres contextes écologiques.

Efficient predators should, theoretically, select prey and adopt foraging strategies that maximise energy intake. While numerous studies have examined foraging behaviour in seabirds, those on prey-specific foraging strategies and prey profitability are limited. Here, we investigated how northern gannets modify their foraging behaviour in accordance with the targeted prey type. To this end, we combined the use of GPS and Time-Depth Recorders, deployed at Bonaventure Island (Qc, Canada), and the analysis of regurgitations. We exclusively examined foraging trips of gannets that regurgitated a single prey species upon recapture at the colony. This study also aimed to compare the profitability of the main prey species and determine whether mackerel, a species that frequently dominates gannet diet, is the most advantageous one. To do this, we combined energy density determinations and evaluation of the time invested in the capture of each prey type. For different prey species (mackerel, sand lance, capelin, redfish and herring), gannets adjusted their movement patterns at-sea (trip duration, distance travelled, etc.), diving behaviour (depth, duration, number of dives per bout, etc.) and meal composition (number of prey items, mass, energy content). However, unlike previous studies, our findings suggested that dive profile alone did not accurately reflect the targeted prey type as most dives were V-shaped (95%). Profitability also varied across prey species, with mackerel and capelin sharing similar values, while sand lance was the least profitable prey. Together, these results provide detailed insights into the prey-specific foraging behaviour of this large avian predator, with energetic implications on prey selection.

Capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.) represent the second most common genus of primates in Wildlife Rescue Centers (CETAS) in Brazil; most of these monkeys come from animal trafficking. Capuchins are known for their complex food handling skills, tool use, and ability to manipulate difficult-to-access food items.. However, the prevalence of these behaviors decreases when the animals are not living in the wild. We assessed the influence of personality, sex, and age on the animals' performance, using and adapting a rehabilitation protocol for tool use. The study was conducted at CETAS IBAMA in Paraíba, with 23 capuchin monkeys (Sapajus spp.). We used a four-week baseline observation period, followed by a foraging manipulative rehabilitation protocol with 12 sessions over 5 weeks, divided into 3 phases. Each monkey's personality was assessed using the Hominoid Personality Questionnaire (HPQ), and behavioral data using Generalized Linear Mixed Models (GLMMs). We found three personality axes: Assertiveness, Neophilia, and Agreeableness. Assertiveness was the most consistent predictor of performance; more assertive monkeys more frequently exhibited complex tool-use behaviors (“Hit 1” and “Hit 2”) and spent more time manipulating food items and feeding (Estimate = 0.36, SE = 0.14, z = 2.47, p = 0.013). The protocol had an overall positive impact, with the frequency of “Hit 2” being 40 times higher after the start of rehabilitation (Estimate = 3.70, z = 3.21, p = 0.001), in addition to a spillover effect, with an increase in food manipulation during the afternoon (Estimate = 0.49, z = 1.92, p = 0.056), indicating learning. Our study demonstrates that assertiveness significantly influences the response to a rehabilitation protocol.

Understanding how organisms allocate their energy budget is fundamental to studying metabolic trade-offs because energy is a limited resource that must be distributed among essential physiological processes. Quantifying changes in total daily energy expenditure (DEE; the sum of resting metabolic rate (RMR) and activity energy expenditure (AEE)) provides insight into whether changes in activity levels are independent of maintenance costs or require compensation. Changes in activity affect DEE, according to three different models: (1) the additive model, where changes in activity are independent of maintenance energy and DEE and RMR follow a part-whole relationship (slope b=1); (2) the allocation model, where increased activity requires compensatory reductions in maintenance costs, due to a limit on an individual's DEE (slope b<1); and (3) the performance model, where increased activity causes an increase in maintenance costs which are reflected in the RMR (slope b>1). Energy allocation strategies remain unexplored in the naked mole rat (NMR, Heterocephalus glaber). NMRs are known for their longevity, living up to 30 years, and exhibit lower metabolic rates than other mammals of the same size which do not change as they age, enabling a high lifetime energy expenditure. Investigating this unique energy budget can provide insights into longevity and resistance to age-related decline. In order to determine how they spend their energy budgets, we took repeated metabolic and activity measurements in 32 individual NMRs using a high-definition metabolic system. Our results indicate that NMRs follow the additive model, indicating that any increase in activity directly adds to DEE without compensation or reduction in RMR.

The Arctic is experiencing the fastest rates of warming on the planet, posing a significant threat to cold-specialized species. Indeed, numerous Arctic species have evolved to withstand extreme cold conditions. However, these physiological adaptations seem to be associated with limited performance at mildly warm temperatures. Among songbirds, the snow bunting, a cold-specialist in rapid decline, could be particularly vulnerable. At air temperatures as low as 10–12 °C, highly active buntings may already face heat stress if they maintain their effort. During the breeding season, adults may be forced to reduce chick provisioning to avoid overheating, potentially compromising nestling growth and fledging success. We conducted field campaigns in the species' northernmost breeding grounds (Alert, NU, 82°N) during the summers of 2023, 2024, and 2025 with the objective of determining how rising temperatures might affect thermoregulation and reproductive performance in buntings. Radio-identification technology and microenvironmental loggers were used to record nestling provisioning effort and adult body temperature in relation to experienced temperature and reproductive performance. Our results reveal sex-specific strategies: females, maintaining higher parental effort, reached higher body temperatures. In contrast, males, contributing less to parental care, were less affected by environmental conditions. This suggests a sex-specific trade-off strategy, whereby individuals prioritize either individual maintenance or reproductive investment. Nevertheless, in both sexes, elevated temperatures were associated with reduced peak activity levels, suggesting that heat limits the reproductive performance of this cold-specialist species.

Les changements climatiques modifient les régimes saisonniers de température et de précipitations, avec des conséquences encore mal connues sur les populations animales. L’hiver constitue une saison limitante pour de nombreux mammifères tempérés, car la rareté des ressources, le stress thermique et la prédation y accroissent la mortalité. En réduisant la masse corporelle et les réserves énergétiques, les conditions hivernales influencent directement la survie et la reproduction des ongulés. Il est donc essentiel de développer des modèles reliant les conditions hivernales, la masse et les taux vitaux. À partir de 44 années de suivi (1979-2023) des mouflons d’Amérique (Ovis canadensis) de Ram Mountain (Alberta, Canada), nous avons évalué l’effet de l’épaisseur, de la densité et de la durée du couvert neigeux sur la masse et la survie. Les propriétés de la neige ont été simulées avec le modèle SNOWPACK à partir des données de la North American Regional Reanalysis, révélant une augmentation moyenne de 0,5 mm/an de l’épaisseur du couvert neigeux depuis quatre décennies. Nos analyses montrent que la survie diminue avec l’épaisseur et la densité de la neige, particulièrement chez les agneaux. La masse corporelle diminue également avec l’augmentation de l’épaisseur et de la durée du couvert neigeux, surtout chez les femelles gestantes. Ces résultats indiquent que les conditions hivernales influencent plusieurs composantes de la fitness et qu’il est nécessaire d’intégrer la masse corporelle dans les modèles de dynamique de population pour mieux comprendre la réponse des ongulés aux changements climatiques.

Changing selective forces alter behavioral features like spiders' ability to build webs. We examine how diet-driven behavioral plasticity affects adaptive potential and how biotic and abiotic factors affect the direction and strength of selection on web structure in the Western black widow (Latrodectus hesperus). We measure selection on web parameters in different environments (urban and desert) with varying resource availability, prey communities, and competition using a combination of field and lab methods. We anticipate relaxed selection favoring behavioral diversity with higher prey richness along with stronger directional selection under resource shortage. This work aims to disentangle the interplay between environmental variability, selection, and behavioral plasticity, highlighting how behavioral flexibility contributes to the maintenance of phenotypic diversity in natural populations.

Mining and motor vehicles traffic generate a large amount of trace metals in the atmosphere. These contaminants are hard to track in the trophic web, which make their effects on animal communities hard to understand. Spider webs can be good indicators of aerosol trace metals percentages, which could make spiders a potentially good bioindicator for these contaminants. Moreover, as secondary consumers in the trophic web, they would make good candidates to study the destiny of trace metals in the food chain. This study aims to evaluate the potential of Western black widows as bioindicator for aerosol trace metals by establishing a contamination gradiant between an uncontaminated area (desert) and urban area. I will compare the accumulation capacity between passive air filter and black widows' webs, then between the spiders and their webs.

Urban environments profoundly modify ecological and structural conditions, shaping the behaviour and web-building strategies of spiders. In Latrodectus hesperus, urban and desert populations often differ in web architecture and aggressiveness, yet the mechanisms behind these differences remain unclear. We examined whether these differences persist when spiders are reared under identical laboratory conditions, thereby revealing population-origin differences driven by genetic or developmental factors. We also tested whether spiders modify the host web so that it resembles the web they would have built themselves, indicating that they actively rebuild their own habitat. We expect that behavioural and web-structural differences between populations will persist under shared laboratory conditions, reflecting population-origin effects driven by genetic or developmental factors. In addition, we predict that spiders placed on a web built by spiders from the opposite habitat would modify the host web to make it resemble the one they would have built themselves, showing that they actively rebuild their own habitat. We tested our hypothesis using spiders from urban and desert populations in Arizona, USA. Spiders were either tested on a web from their own population or on a web built by spiders from the opposite habitat. These results would suggest that both population-origin differences and the ability to rebuild their habitat jointly shape how black widow spiders adjust to contrasting environments, highlighting the complementary roles of population history and environmental modification in urban adaptation.