Adaptation to global change in Alberta’s mountain environment
Using the Columbian ground squirrel as a model animal species, we are examining organismal responses to patterns of global change. Because of demonstrated gene flow over the mountain environment, from alpine to foothill habitats in Alberta, the ground squirrels have evolved extreme phenotypic plasticity in their lifecycles. Thus, they are at the extreme favorable limit of flexibility to short-term changes in the physical environment that are occurring under climatic aspects of global change. In addition, the ground squirrels respond through their lifecycles to two critical climatic changes that are especially important in Alberta: the onset of spring and the intensity of midsummer warming and drying. These climatic elements exhibit increased fluctuations over the years, and our long-term studies permit testing of both basic and practical questions of animal reactions to climatic fluctuations.
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PI: Dr. F Stephen Dobson (Professor, Auburn University)
​Duration: 26 years ongoing (1992-present)
Collaborators: P Neuhaus (Univ Calgary), DW Coltman (U Alberta), VA Viblanc (IPHC-CNRS), JE Lane (Univ Saskatoon), etc.......
Adaptation to global change in Alberta’s mountain environment
Using the Columbian ground squirrel as a model animal species, we are examining organismal responses to patterns of global change. Because of demonstrated gene flow over the mountain environment, from alpine to foothill habitats in Alberta, the ground squirrels have evolved extreme phenotypic plasticity in their lifecycles. Thus, they are at the extreme favorable limit of flexibility to short-term changes in the physical environment that are occurring under climatic aspects of global change. In addition, the ground squirrels respond through their lifecycles to two critical climatic changes that are especially important in Alberta: the onset of spring and the intensity of midsummer warming and drying. These climatic elements exhibit increased fluctuations over the years, and our long-term studies permit testing of both basic and practical questions of animal reactions to climatic fluctuations.
​
PI: Dr. F Stephen Dobson (Professor, Auburn University)
​Duration: 26 years ongoing (1992-present)
Collaborators: P Neuhaus (Univ Calgary), DW Coltman (U Alberta), VA Viblanc (IPHC-CNRS), JE Lane (Univ Saskatoon), etc.......
Collaborators
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Joana Alves (University of Coinbra, Portugal)
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Audrey Bergouignan (IPHC, CNRS, France)
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Rudy Boonstra (University of Toronto, Canada
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Gilles Bourgeoins (Université de Lyon, France)
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Nathan Brown (Parks, Kananaskis, Canada)
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Nigel Caulkett (University of Calgary, Veterinary Medicine, Canada)
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Tim Clutton-Brock (University of Cambridge, UK)
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Dave Coltman (University of Alberta, Canada)
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Tim Coulson (University of Oxford, UK)
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François Criscuolo (IPHC, CNRS, France)
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Steve Donolon (former head of Parks Kananaskis Country, Canada)
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Åsa Fahlman (University of Calary, Canada)
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Marco Festa-Bianchet (University of Sherbrooke, Canada)
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Jean-Michel Gaillard (Université de Lyon, France)
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Caroline Habold (IPHC, CNRS, France)
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John T Hogg (Craighead Institute, Misoula, Montana, USA)
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Anne Hubbs (Fish and Wildlife, Alberta, Canada)
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Jon Jorgenson (former Fish and Wildlife, Alberta, Canada)
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Lukas Keller (University of Zurich, Switzerland)
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Hanna Kokko (University of Zurich, Switzerland)
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Lee Koren (University of Bar Ilan, Israel)
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Susan Kutz (University of Calgary, Veterinary Medicine, Canada)
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Andrea Manika (University of Cambridge, UK)
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Alessandro Massolo (Univeristy of Pisa, Italy)
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Gail Michener (University of Lethbridge, Canada, emeritus)
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Jan O Murie (University of Alberta, Canada emeritus)
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Arpat Ozgul (University of Zurich, Switzerland)
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Cristian Pasquaretta (University of Toulouse, France)
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Fanny Pelletier (University of Sherbrook, Canada)
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Melanie Percy (Parks, Kananaskis, Canada)
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Fanie Pelletier (Sherbrooke University, Canada)
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Jocelyn Poisson (University of Calgary, Canada)
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Erik Post (Memorial University, Canada)
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Shirley Raveh (University of Glasgow, Scotland)
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Charlotte Récapet (University of Pau, France)
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Marie-Pierre Ryser-Degiorgis (University of Bern, Switerland)
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Claire Saraux (MARBEC, Ifremer, France)
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Susane Schindler (University of Bristol, UK)
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Judit Smith (University of Calgary, Canada)
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Pierre Uhlrich (IPHC, CNRS, France)
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Sandrine Zahn (IPHC, CNRS, France)
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