Effects of migration on parasite levels of the Ya Ha Tinda elk herd
My research focuses on endoparasites of the Ya Ha Tinda (YHT) elk herd and the effects that different migratory strategies may have on parasite species composition and abundance. The YHT is located approximately 10km east of Banff National Park (BNP). The elk herd is composed of three segments that migrate west into high elevation areas of BNP, east into low elevation industrial timber lands, and residents that summer at the YHT. I hypothesize reduced parasite load in elk that are absent from the YHT during peak infectious periods and that move away from areas contaminated with intermediate hosts. I am collecting fecal samples from each migrant segment during spring and summer to determine fecal parasite diversity and abundance. The next component of this study will focus on giant liver fluke, known to cause mortality in BNP elk, by collecting fecal pellets from known, radiocollared individuals to relate infection intensity to hypothesized factors thought to influence liver fluke infection.
Publications:
Normandeau J, MacAulay K, Berg J, and Merrill E. 2018. Identifying Guard Hairs of Rocky Mountain Carnivores. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 2018. doi:10.1002/wsb.913
Popular Articles:
MacAulay, K, Normandeau, J and Boyce, M.S. 2017. The Hairy Truth: Investigating predator-prey interactions. Alberta Outdoorsman. January: 16-18.
Presentations:
Normandeau J, Merrill E, Kutz S, and M Hebblewhite. Are there costs of shifting elk migration linked to parasitism? Poster Presentation. 2018 International Deer Biology Congress. Estes Park, Colorado, USA.
Normandeau J, Merrill E, and M Hebblewhite. Ya Ha Tinda Longterm Elk Project. Oral Presentation. 2018 Sundre Forestry Products Public Input Round Table, Caroline, AB.
Normandeau J, Merrill E, Kutz S, and M Hebblewhite. Are there costs of shifting migration linked to parasitism? Poster Presentation. 2018 Alberta Chapter of the Wildlife Society Conference. Lethbridge, AB. Awarded Best Student Poster.
Normandeau J, Merrill E, Kutz S, and M Hebblewhite. Are there costs of shifting migration linked to parasitism? Poster Presentation. 2018 RE Peter Conference, University of Alberta. Edmonton, AB. Awarded Best MSc Poster.
Normandeau, J and SM Ramsay. Spatial autocorrelation of song variation in White-Throated Sparrows. Oral Presentation. 2017 Ontario Biology Days Conference, Laurentian University. Sudbury, ON.
Awards:
Canada Graduate Scholarship Master’s Program – NSERC (2017)
Thesis-based Master’s Scholarship – University of Alberta (2017)
Walter H. Johns Graduate Fellowship – University of Alberta (2017)
Dean’s Excellence Recruitment Scholarship Award – University of Alberta (2017)
Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship – University of Alberta (2018)
Funding Agencies:
NSERC
Safari Club International Northern Alberta Chapter
