Jesse Dunford
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Biography
I am currently working on a Master’s degree at the University of Alberta. I previously completed a B.Sc. in Natural Resources Management (Wildlife Major) through the University of Northern British Columbia. I have also had the good fortune of working on research projects at the Foothills Model Forest in Hinton, Alberta, and at the Canadian Forest Service in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. These research projects have varied from studying headwater stream invertebrates, to studying natural disturbance dynamics in riparian areas, to tracking grizzly bears in Jasper National Park. I am also an executive member of The Wildlife Society – University of Alberta Chapter, and a member of the Boreal Caribou Committee – Research subcommittee.
When I manage to get away from my computer, I can usually be found outside somewhere with my dog Indigo; she’s usually chasing rabbits while I try to keep up. I also tend to dabble in lots of activities, including photography, hiking, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing.
Research
I am currently studying the responses of woodland caribou to forest fires in northern Alberta. Caribou are considered threatened in Alberta, and populations appear to be declining. Thus, there is a need to balance caribou habitat needs with the influence of disturbances. My research focuses on understanding how caribou respond to forest fires that occur on their range. Specifically, I am using Resource Selection Functions (RSFs) to assess how caribou use areas that have been recently burned, and how that pattern of selection changes over time. Field research will be used to assess that forage conditions available for caribou following fires.
The results of this research will be used in Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) to better plan how and when we use areas of caribou habitat. While CEA is often associated with human uses of the landscape, natural disturbances also have a substantial footprint, and need to be accounted for in CEA.
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Last Modified:2002-08-15 |