Our Centre collaborates with a diversity of organizations from around the world on topics related to conservation and environmental management. See below to learn more about each of our projects.
Projects

The effectiveness of non-native fish eradication techniques in freshwater ecosystems
The objective of the systematic review was to evaluate the existing literature base to assess the effectiveness of different non-native fish removal methods, and to identify the factors that influence the overall success rate of each type of method, in order to better inform management agencies who routinely have to decide when, where and how non-native…
Read more The effectiveness of non-native fish eradication techniques in freshwater ecosystems

The effectiveness of spawning habitat creation or enhancement for substrate spawning temperate fish
The aim of this systematic review was to assess the effectiveness of techniques currently used to create or enhance spawning habitat for substrate-spawning (including vegetation-spawning) fish in temperate regions, and to investigate the factors that influence the effectiveness of habitat creation or enhancement. Project Collaborators Trina Rytwinski – Carleton University, Canada Jessica J. Taylor –…

What are the relative risks of mortality and injury for fish during downstream passage at hydroelectric dams in temperate regions?
The objective of the systematic review was to evaluate the existing literature base to assess the consequences of fish entrainment and impingement associated with hydro- electric dams in freshwater temperate environments. Project Collaborators Trina Rytwinski – Carleton University, Canada Dirk A. Algera – Carleton University, Canada Jessica J. Taylor – Carleton University, Canada Karen E.…

What are the effects of flow-regime changes on fish productivity in temperate regions?
The systematic map was intended to provide an overview of the existing body of literature addressing the effects of flow alteration on fish productivity in freshwater and estuarine fluvial environments. Our primary research question was: what are the effects of flow-regime changes on fish productivity in temperate regions? Through this systematic mapping exercise, we describe…
Read more What are the effects of flow-regime changes on fish productivity in temperate regions?

Do fish passage facilities and culverts promote fish movement at barriers?
The objective of this systematic review is to assess the extent to which fish passage facilities and culverts allow upstream and downstream passage of fish at barriers. Project Collaborators Trina Rytwinski – Carleton University, Canada Jessica J. Taylor – Carleton University, Canada Lisa A. Donaldson – Carleton University, Canada Scott G. Hinch – University of…
Read more Do fish passage facilities and culverts promote fish movement at barriers?

Can conservation targets for imperilled freshwater fishes and mussels be achieved by captive breeding and release programs?
This systematic map aims to identify, collate and describe the evidence that exists on the effectiveness of captive breeding programs, for the purpose of achieving conservation targets for imperilled freshwater fishes and mussels in the wild. The outputs of this systematic map will help to inform conservation managers and policy makers who are responsible for…

What is the effect of prescribed burning in temperate and boreal forest on biodiversity, beyond pyrophilous and saproxylic species?
The primary aim of this systematic review was to clarify if, and how, the diversity and richness of non-pyrophilous and non-saproxylic species in boreal and temperate forests is affected by prescribed burning. We searched not only for studies of interventions in actual forest reserves and other kinds of set-asides, but also for appropriate evidence from…

Bridging Indigenous and science-based knowledge in coastal-marine research, monitoring, and management in Canada
This systematic map sought to examine the extent, range, and nature of published case studies (i.e., commercially published and grey) that seek to respectively bridge Indigenous and science-based knowledge in ecological research, monitoring, or natural resource management across Canada with a focus on coastal marine ecosystems. Specifically, it asked: What methods, models, and approaches have…

Evidence of the impacts of metal mining and the effectiveness of mining mitigation measures on social–ecological systems in Arctic and boreal regions
The broader 3MK project aims to develop a multiple evidence base methodology combining systematic review approaches with documentation of Indigenous and local knowledge and to apply this approach in a study of the impacts of metal mining and impacts of mitigation measures. This systematic map aims to answer the question: What research evidence exists on…

What is the evidence that counter-wildlife crime interventions are effective for conserving African, Asian and Latin American wildlife directly threatened by exploitation?
The objective of this systematic map is to provide a collated summary of the existing body of literature addressing the effectiveness of interventions implemented to directly protect wildlife from illegal harming whether by harvest as a resource or control/persecution reasons, detect and sanction rule-breakers, and interdict and control illegal wildlife commodities (i.e., counter-wildlife crime interventions).…

Priority questions to guide future fundamental and applied research on tipping points and cumulative effects in marine, terrestrial and freshwater realms
The objective of this project and call for questions is to develop a research agenda on ecological tipping points and cumulative effects in marine, terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and the socio-economic systems they interact with. Using a collaborative approach, the research agenda will be developed from questions submitted by the research and management community and…

Antibiotic resistance genes in the aquaculture sector: global reports and research gaps
The objective of this synthesis was to identify, collate, and describe the peer-reviewed literature that has reported antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs)in bacteria sampled from aquaculture food productions systems. The goal was to provide preliminary insights into the distribution and nature of AMR in aquaculture in the absence of an integrated global AMR surveillance system in these…
Read more Antibiotic resistance genes in the aquaculture sector: global reports and research gaps

What are the impacts of within-field farmland management practices on the flux of greenhouse gases from arable cropland in temperate regions?
The effects of agricultural management on greenhouse gases have previously been reviewed, but as yet there is no consensus as to how context (i.e. climate, fertiliser type and quantity, soil drainage, soil texture, and organic matter content) affects greenhouse gas fluxes. There is therefore a need for a systematic review and meta-analysis of the impact…

How do changes in flow magnitude due to hydropower operations affect fish abundance and biomass in temperate regions?
The objective of this systematic review was to clarify, from existing literature, how fish abundance and biomass are impacted by alterations or changes of flow magnitude due to hydroelectric power production (or related operations) to better inform decisions in water resource and fisheries management downstream of these facilities. Project Collaborators Meagan Harper – Carleton University, Canada…

Amplifying the Impact of Environmental Research in Canada
Annually, major research investments focused on understanding and solving environmental problems occur. Yet, the extent to which that research actually informs environmental policy and practice is unclear as a result of the “knowledge-action gap”. In 2019, our team received funding from NSERC, Carleton University, and Environment and Climate Change Canada to understand the factors that…
Read more Amplifying the Impact of Environmental Research in Canada

Weaving Indigenous knowledge systems and Western sciences in terrestrial research, monitoring and management in Canada
This systematic map will examine the extent, range and nature of the published literature that weaves IKS and Western sciences in terrestrial ecosystems research, monitoring and management in Canada. Specifically, this systematic map seeks to address the question, ‘What methods, models and approaches have been used in studies that seek to weave IKS and Western…

Bridging Indigenous and Western sciences in freshwater research, monitoring, and management in Canada
This systematic map examines the extent, range, and nature of published case studies (i.e., peer-reviewed academic literature, grey literature, and thesis/dissertationscommercially published and grey) that seek to bridge Indigenous science and Western science in ecological research, monitoring, or natural resource management across Canada’s freshwater aquatic ecosystems. Specifically, it asked: What methods, models, and approaches have…

How do natural changes in flow magnitude affect fish abundance and diversity in temperate regions?
The objective of this systematic review is to clarify, from existing literature, how fish abundance and diversity are impacted by alterations in flow magnitude due to natural causes, such as extreme hydrological events, climate variability and climate-induced changes. This systematic review will provide insight into the current state of knowledge, identify knowledge gaps and future…