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Michael P. Gillingham |
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Research Interests
I have broad interests in population and wildlife ecology and behavioural ecology. Much of my work focuses on the application of quantitative analyses and modeling to aspects of behavioural ecology, and wildlife ecology and management.
Recent Research Projects
Determing Factors that Affect Survival of Moose in Central British Columbia
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Over the last decade, some moose populations in interior BC have declined by 50 to 70% while others are stable or increasing. Declines coincided with mountain pine beetle outbreaks and related salvage harvesting, and road building. In 2013, FLNRORD initiated a 5-year cow moose survival study. As of July 31, 2018, 230 collars remained active, 105 were no longer transmitting, and 121 collared moose were confirmed dead. Leading causes of death included wolf predation (n = 51), apparent starvation (n = 17), and human harvest (n = 16). Yearly survival for cow moose was 86.80% across six study areas.
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Moose were: 1) more likely to be killed by wolves if they were in areas with lower road densities over the previous 180 days; and 2) more likely to be harvested by human hunters if they were in areas with higher road densities on a given day and higher proportions of new cutblocks (1 to 8 years) over the previous week. Moose that used areas in winter with high proportions of new cutblocks, new burns, and pine were more likely to die from apparent starvation.
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The lower range of survival for some study areas was less than would be anticipated for a healthy moose population, but cow moose survival alone does not explain the declines observed for moose abundance in interior BC. Although lowering the proportion of new cutblocks would likely decrease apparent starvation and human harvest, the analyses suggest that under current conditions calf recruitment might be more limiting than cow survival.
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Link to Final Technical Report: Mumma, M.A., and M.P. Gillingham. 2019. Determining Factors that Affect Survival of Moose in Central British Columbia - Technical Report to the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation for Grant Agreement CAT19-0-522. University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC.
Assessing Caribou Survival in Relation To Moose and Wolf Distribution and Abundance
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Many factors affect the outcomes of predator-prey interactions, particularly when those interactions involve multiple prey species, general predators, and a complex landscape. Factors most likely to affect survival of boreal caribou include the complexities of moose-wolf-caribou interactions such as apparent competition, and changes in selection resulting from changes to habitats on the landscape. Working with Dr. Matt Mumma, our research addressed whether:
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moose distribution and abundance was related to human-caused habitat change inside and outside of core caribou habitats?;
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wolf use of caribou habitat was related to moose distribution and abundance?;
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predator and prey abundance and behaviour interact to put caribou at risk?; and
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biotic, landscape, and anthropogenic attributes affect the survival of boreal caribou (with particular reference to those attributes that can be managed)?
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Link to Final Technical Report: Mumma, M., and M. Gillingham. 2017. Assessing caribou survival in relation to the distribution and abundance of moose and wolves. Final technical report to the BC Oil and Gas Research and Innovation Society. University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC.
Select Graduate Student Theses
Matt Scheideman (MSc; 2018). Use and Selection at Two Spatial Scales by Female Moose (Alces alces) Across Central British Columbia Following a Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreak.
Becky Cadsand (MSc; 2012). Responses of Mountain Goats to Heliskiing Activity: Movements and Resource Selection.
Robin Steenweg (MSc; 2011). Promotion of Mountain Caribou Recovery Through Alternate Species Management.
Elena Jones (MSc; 2007). Ecological relationships between threatened caribou herds and their habitat in the Central Rocky Mountains Ecoregion.
Jennifer Psyllakis (PhD; 2006). A Multi-scale Analysis of Forest Structure and Vertebrate Species Diversity.