Members of the Forest Wildlife Ecology and Behaviour Lab
(a.k.a. "The Nocera Lab")
Current Graduate Students and Staff
Sarah Fensore
M.Sc. Environmental Management
Sarah is studying roost ecology of two species of aerial insectivore experiencing significant population declines: Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) and Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia). She uses automated radio telemetry (MOTUS) to gather movement data to identify key roost sites for these species in the Tantramar region of New Brunswick (Canada) during their pre- and post-breeding seasons. She will analyze movement data using graph-theory based social network analysis (SNA) to determine which roost sites within the networks would have the greatest impact.
Maria MacIvor
M.Sc. Environmental Management
Maria is researching how the biological insecticide "Btk" (used to control spruce budworm) changes avian community structure. This biocide is used as part of an Early Intervention Strategy in managing NB's forests. To do this, she is creating species occupancy models based on detections from automated recording units and from manual point counts. Her work is in direct partnership and collaboration with the Healthy Forest Partnership and Natural Resources Canada.
Fawn Maika
M.Sc. Environmental Management
Fawn is researching how the biological insecticide "Btk" (used to control spruce budworm) changes avian diet. This biocide is used as part of an Early Intervention Strategy in managing NB's forests. To do this, she is capturing individuals of several focal species (budworm-linked warblers) and using isotope assays to determine diet pre- and post-spray. Her work is in direct partnership and collaboration with the Healthy Forest Partnership and Natural Resources Canada.
Douglas Munn
Ph.D. Candidate
Co-supervised with Steeve Côté at Université Laval
Doug is investigating juvenile moose (Alces alces americana) movement as it relates to climate, landcover composition, and winter tick (Dermacentor albipictus) loads. His research area is 3 sites in Quebec and 1 site in New Brunswick, which provide a latitudinal and climatic gradient, among other things. He will be conducting fractal analyses to determine how moose respond to their habitat at various spatial scales, and investigating the cost of tick parasitization in regard to gap crossing. More information about this project can be found here.
Patricia Nancekivell
M.Sc. Environmental Management
Patricia is investigating the dietary breadth of aerial insectivore guilds. Specifically, she is asking: Why do the aerial insectivore guilds experience population decline unevenly? That is, why do swallows, swifts, and nightjars decline more steeply than flycatcher species? Using metagenomics (DNA barcoding) she will be examining whether Flycatchers have a greater dietary breadth and migratory flexibility than other guilds.
Meghan Oliver
M.Sc. Environmental Management
Meghan is investigating the breeding dispersal of Bobolinks (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) after nest failure. She is testing the hypotheses that they remain at the site and try to renest, (ii) that they remain local but only as reproductive floaters, or (iii) they undertake longer distance dispersal and/or begin an early migration. She is using MOTUS radiotags to follow these movements. She is also undertaking a review of the amount of 'critical habitat' in New Brunswick.
Kiirsti Owen
Ph.D. Student
Co-supervised with Mark Mallory at Acadia University
Kiirsti is using wildlife survey data collected over 40+ years, principally from federal government monitoring, but also from diverse provincial government and non-governmental organizations, as well as directed social science research with stakeholder groups to examine changes in bird use of saltmarshes and coastal wetlands through time, changes in site (habitat) quality due to various conservation or agricultural policies, and perspectives from stakeholders on what has enhanced or detracted from the value of these habitats.
Larissa Simulik
M.Sc. Forestry
Co-supervised with Anthony Taylor at UNB
Larissa is evaluating the changes in forest cover types in New Brunswick over a 40 year period. Early results show signs of increases in forests of younger age classes and of a more boreal character. She is doing this especially to estimate the current and future amount of "young" forest that would be suitable habitat for the American Woodcock (Scolopax minor). In addition, she is estimating the availability of habitat for woodcock to carry out all the phases of their breeding cycle, not just singing grounds.
Jared Sonnleitner
M.Sc. Environmental Management
Jared is continuing a long-term study on cavity-nesting waterfowl in the lower Saint John River valley. Specifically, he is estimating vital rates of these waterfowl to refine a Population Viability Analysis for Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa). Moreover, he is using MOTUS networks and radiotags to estimate survival of juveniles during their first migration and over-wintering. This work is done in direct collaboration with Ducks Unlimited Canada.
Dani Warren
M.Sc. Forestry
Co-supervised with Chris Edge at Canadian Forest Service
Dani is refining her proposal that will ask: What are the spatiotemporal patterns of co-occurrence of woodpeckers and Eastern Gray Treefrogs (Dryophytes versicolor)? In particular, she seeks to determine the cavity characteristics that Eastern Gray Treefrogs prefer, and which woodpecker species Eastern Gray Treefrogs most associate with (at their northeastern range extent). More soon!
