Anthony Sinclair, University of British Columbia
Professor Emeritus Zoology Vancouver, British Columbia sinclair@zoology.ubc.ca
Expert In
Bio/Research
The role of protected areas as baselines for measuring the impacts of human exploitation on ecosystems. I am conducting research in Serengeti using this approach but I would like to establish this in other areas of the world including Britain and other parts of Europe because of the extensive hum...
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Bio/Research
The role of protected areas as baselines for measuring the impacts of human exploitation on ecosystems. I am conducting research in Serengeti using this approach but I would like to establish this in other areas of the world including Britain and other parts of Europe because of the extensive human impact. In particular, I am interested in how to provide scientific advice for conservation.
Understanding the consequences of biodiversity loss on ecosystem dynamics. This can be approached by looking at whole systems and comparing with ones where major components have been lost through various human activities. Again protected areas play a role in this and biodiversity has become the major theme of my Serengeti work. I have recently been developing a research proposal in Canada to experiment with this approach. We propose to use a gradient of natural diversity from the high Arctic to the prairies. This Biodiversity Knockout Experiment (BioKO) is intended to become the research program for this Centre for the next ten years.
Reconstitution of ecosystems. Related to the above, I am interested in whether we can reconstitute ecosystems that have become degraded. Ecosystems that lose species seem to unravel once important species are lost. This predicts that reconstitution may also follow a non- linear course. If this is so then it has profound consequences for conservation.
Processes leading to extinction of small populations. I am involved with both New Zealand and Australian research groups in this aspect. Experiments in the conservation of endangered marsupial prey and their exotic predators, the red fox and feral cats, have been conducted in Australia since 1992. This is being carried out in conjunction with the CSIRO, Sustainable Ecosystems division, Commonwealth Government of Australia. Similar experiments are being conducted in New Zealand by their Crown Research Institute, Landcare Inc. I am working them on their research in the conservation of endangered bird species threatened by exotic weasels, ferrets and cats; and on ecosystem studies and biodiversity loss.
Within British Columbia we have a program on the dynamics of declining populations of endangered species, in particular the Vancouver Island Marmot.
Setting priorities for conservation sites. Other work in British Columbia include developing ways to prioritize conservation sites.
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Understanding the consequences of biodiversity loss on ecosystem dynamics. This can be approached by looking at whole systems and comparing with ones where major components have been lost through various human activities. Again protected areas play a role in this and biodiversity has become the major theme of my Serengeti work. I have recently been developing a research proposal in Canada to experiment with this approach. We propose to use a gradient of natural diversity from the high Arctic to the prairies. This Biodiversity Knockout Experiment (BioKO) is intended to become the research program for this Centre for the next ten years.
Reconstitution of ecosystems. Related to the above, I am interested in whether we can reconstitute ecosystems that have become degraded. Ecosystems that lose species seem to unravel once important species are lost. This predicts that reconstitution may also follow a non- linear course. If this is so then it has profound consequences for conservation.
Processes leading to extinction of small populations. I am involved with both New Zealand and Australian research groups in this aspect. Experiments in the conservation of endangered marsupial prey and their exotic predators, the red fox and feral cats, have been conducted in Australia since 1992. This is being carried out in conjunction with the CSIRO, Sustainable Ecosystems division, Commonwealth Government of Australia. Similar experiments are being conducted in New Zealand by their Crown Research Institute, Landcare Inc. I am working them on their research in the conservation of endangered bird species threatened by exotic weasels, ferrets and cats; and on ecosystem studies and biodiversity loss.
Within British Columbia we have a program on the dynamics of declining populations of endangered species, in particular the Vancouver Island Marmot.
Setting priorities for conservation sites. Other work in British Columbia include developing ways to prioritize conservation sites.
Click to Shrink <<