Grant: Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
Université de Sherbrooke
$97,000.00
Impacts of agricultural intensification on wild animal population interactions: from individuals to communities - Impacts de l'intensification agricole sur les populations animales
FY 2008-09
Summary
The agriculture industry of Canada is a highly dynamic global player. To stay competitive at the international level, agricultural producers have adopted farming practices that improve yields and reduce costs. As a result, there has been a strong trend towards more intensive farming in Canada over the last decades. In Quebec, the transition from traditional (more extensive) agriculture to the now common intensive farming has also been spectacular. These changes in production in the province occurred mostly on lands dedicated to dairy farming and at the expense of natural forest remnants. This has drastically changed the landscape and potentially impacted the integrity and functioning of several ecosystems, especially in the Saint-Lawrence River valley. Yet, little is known about the impacts of intensive farming practices on the neighbouring biological communities and on the effects it may have on their ecological interactions at the ecosystem level. The general
research objective of this strategic project is to quantify the effects of contrasted farming practices on wild animal populations through the study of several trophic levels involving predator-prey and host-parasite interactions. More specifically, we will build on an already well-established study system on the biology of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) within a gradient of agricultural intensification in Southern Quebec. The interest of this system lies in the fact that the biology of swallows is intricately related to that of insects, which are likely to be strongly affected by agricultural intensification because of pesticide use, among other things. This strategic project will play a key role in helping policy makers understand and predict the long-term ecological consequences of the current resource utilization through agriculture. This is of great importance given that wild animals provide ecological services that affect the production yields of several cultures through pollination and the control of pest insects.
Program
Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
356723-2007
Name nom
Garant, Dany
Department département
Biologie
Organization id
68
Institution établissement
Université de Sherbrooke
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2008
Competition year année de concours
2007
Award amount
97000
Program id
STPSC
Program nane en
Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques compétition supplémentaire
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1066
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Environment 1
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Environnement 1
Area of application code
409
Area of application group en
Environment
Area of application group fr
Environnement
Area of application en
Environmental impact of economic activities (including agriculture)
Area of application fr
Effet des activités économiques sur l'environnement (y compris agriculture)
Research subject code
4701
Research subject group en
Evolution and ecology
Research subject group fr
Évolution et écologie
Research subject en
Animal ecology
Research subject fr
Écologie animale
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Impacts of agricultural intensification on wild animal population interactions: from individuals to communities - Impacts de l'intensification agricole sur les populations animales
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The agriculture industry of Canada is a highly dynamic global player. To stay competitive at the international level, agricultural producers have adopted farming practices that improve yields and reduce costs. As a result, there has been a strong trend towards more intensive farming in Canada over the last decades. In Quebec, the transition from traditional (more extensive) agriculture to the now common intensive farming has also been spectacular. These changes in production in the province occurred mostly on lands dedicated to dairy farming and at the expense of natural forest remnants. This has drastically changed the landscape and potentially impacted the integrity and functioning of several ecosystems, especially in the Saint-Lawrence River valley. Yet, little is known about the impacts of intensive farming practices on the neighbouring biological communities and on the effects it may have on their ecological interactions at the ecosystem level. The general
research objective of this strategic project is to quantify the effects of contrasted farming practices on wild animal populations through the study of several trophic levels involving predator-prey and host-parasite interactions. More specifically, we will build on an already well-established study system on the biology of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) within a gradient of agricultural intensification in Southern Quebec. The interest of this system lies in the fact that the biology of swallows is intricately related to that of insects, which are likely to be strongly affected by agricultural intensification because of pesticide use, among other things. This strategic project will play a key role in helping policy makers understand and predict the long-term ecological consequences of the current resource utilization through agriculture. This is of great importance given that wild animals provide ecological services that affect the production yields of several cultures through pollination and the control of pest insects.
