�㽶��Ƶ News - Dept. of Natural Resource Sciences

The impact of global warming on fall colors—interview with Prof. Benoît Côté

webfull — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 17:52:59 +0000

While climate change may not dictate the arrival of Fall colors, it does affect this phenomenon... and its eventual disappearance.

Published: 23 October 2024

More and bigger spiders noticeable in Montreal this fall, says Prof. Chris Buddle

webfull — Tue, 15 Oct 2024 18:16:40 +0000

As spooky decorations go up around Montreal this October, real spiders are also becoming more prevalent.

Entomologist Chris Buddle, �㽶��Ƶ's Associate Provost (Teaching and Academic Programs) and Professor in the Department of Natural Resource Sciences, told CTV News that spiders become bigger than normal and are seen more often as winter approaches.

Published: 15 October 2024

Migrating seabirds are bringing forever chemicals into the Arctic

webfull — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 17:18:45 +0000

New research from McGill graduate shows how toxic chemicals hitch a ride with seabirds flying from southern latitudes to the Arctic

Between March and May each year, 15 million black-legged kittiwakes gather from across the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans to nest and breed on rocky Arctic cliffs—some making the journey from as far as Florida or North Africa.

Published: 9 October 2024

The little-known—and threatened—orcas of the North Atlantic

webfull — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 19:01:15 +0000

Anaïs Remili, PhD(AgEnvSc)'23, an ecotoxicologist and postdoctoral researcher, tracks contaminants that threaten the health of North Atlantic orcas. While Pacific orca populations are well studied, little is known about those that swim off the Canadian and European east coasts, and they are less protected.

Published: 10 September 2024

Penthouse home awaits rare peregrine falcons in Victoria—comments from David Bird

webfull — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 22:32:11 +0000

The Times Colonist reports that a nesting pair of peregrine falcons, along with a juvenile born this year, have been landing on the upper decks and rooftop of the Promontory residential tower in Victoria, BC, where penthouse owner Fred Welter has set up a nesting box complete with cameras poised to stream any action.

Published: 26 August 2024

Montreal wants more businesses to plant trees

webfull — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 22:10:42 +0000

In April, the City of Montreal announced it wanted to accelerate tree planting by incentivizing business owners to plant trees on their property, offering to foot 50 per cent of the bill, CTV News reports, in an effort to reduce heat islands, improve air quality and help drain rainwater.

Published: 6 August 2024

NSERC awards Discovery Grants funding to eight McGill Agricultural and Environmental Sciences projects

webfull — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 19:10:20 +0000

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) has awarded 101 McGill research projects funding from its Discovery Grants competition for a total investment of $23.5 million, including $639,500 for eight projects submitted by researchers in the Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

The Discovery Grants support ongoing programs with long-term goals, recognizing the creativity and innovation that are at the heart of all research advances.

Published: 30 July 2024

To remove CO2 from the atmosphere, this former McGill postdoc's startup looks to biomass

webfull — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 19:32:51 +0000

In 2019, while doing post-doctoral research in McGill's Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Qinhong Cai (better known as Tammy) travelled to Nunavut to join the Oceans Protection Plan, a federal initiative designed to improve marine safety and increase the protection and restoration of coastal and seaway ecosystems. Cai, an environmental engineer, was sent to monitor hydrocarbon contaminants and microbial genomics along the Kivalliq transportation corridor.

Published: 22 July 2024

On NYC beaches, angry birds fight drones patrolling for sharks and struggling swimmers

webfull — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 00:28:43 +0000

Patrol drones deployed in May to New York City beaches to look for sharks and struggling swimmers are ruffling feathers. Seabirds have been attacking the drones as if they are predators, flying and swooping at the machines while vocalizing.

Published: 15 July 2024

McGill student investigating why Quebec's red cardinal population has exploded

webfull — Tue, 02 Jul 2024 17:31:38 +0000

The population of red cardinals has exploded in Quebec over the past 25 years. After eight months of tracking 41 cardinals as they flew from tree to tree in different environments, a �㽶��Ƶ biologist spoke to the Journal de Montreal about why cardinals may be thriving here.

Published: 2 July 2024