On the potential effects of climate change 

Murres have a poor ability to dissipate heat. For that reason, they could be an early warning for other Arctic birds that increases in air temperature could lead to reproductive failures or population declines. Because of the sea ice decline, shipping is projected to increase, which might also harm murres. One of the things my lab is doing is looking to see where the birds use their habitat to see if they’re overlapping with shipping routes. That info will be used for conservation purposes like marine protected areas.

On climate change and food supply

Because of the warming of Hudson Bay over the past 30 years — particularly, the warm waters coming from the Atlantic — my study group has found that murres have switched their diet from about 50 per cent Arctic cod to about 50 per cent capelin. And there have been a few studies by murre expert Tony Gaston that have shown that because capelin are much smaller than cod there has been a decline in the growth rate of chicks of murres.

The murres can only carry about one at a time in their beaks. And because they have all of these energetic costs — particularly due to flight — one of my interests is what impact does this change of prey have on the energy demands on murres and their behaviour.

Canadian populations are stable but the murre populations in Iceland and Greenland have seen massive declines that are believed to be due to environmental change.

On connecting with the next generation

I strongly believe that the best way to combat climate change and help the planet is to get children interested in nature. I’ve wanted to be a zoologist since I was a little kid. My grandparents had a cottage in the Kawarthas and every summer, I would go for hikes and catch frogs and snakes. That’s how I found my path — through being involved in nature and having my interests developed as a kid.

On what’s next in her research

In 2019, our field season was cancelled due to COVID-19. It was obviously a huge concern going up North and being in contact with northern communities. But the plan is to go up next year if conditions improve. So I’m hoping to be at Coats Island in the Summer of 2021, as well as Middleton Island in Alaska — I also study black-legged kittiwakes. I plan to be spending my next two summers in the Arctic.