Paul Smith - Arctic Conservation

Our Team

Students, technicians, and collaborators are at the heart of our research program—driving innovation in the field and in the lab. Meet the people who make our work possible.

Paul Smith

Senior Research Scientist, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Adjunct Professor, Carleton University and Trent University

For over 20 years, Paul has studied the effects of environmental change on Arctic wildlife, leading long-term research on coastal ecosystems at Qaqsauqtuuq (East Bay), Southampton Island, Nunavut, and projects across the Canadian North. His work combines field ecology, conservation science, and policy innovation to predict climate impacts, assess habitat change, and minimize industrial impacts on wildlife. Paul is deeply committed to collaboration with Inuit communities, co-producing research that addresses Inuit priorities and building capacity through initiatives like the Inuit Field Training Program. Paul lives with his wife and two children in Lanark county, near Almonte.

Doug MacNearney

Wildlife Technician, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Originally from Prince Edward Island, Doug has led the technical aspects of the research program since 2018. Prior to his position with us, Doug worked as a biologist on a variety of landscape ecology research projects involving caribou, grizzly bear, eastern wolf, pine marten, and shorebirds in Newfoundland, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. Doug coordinates the logistics and planning for field work, participates in the data collection and upkeep of the field camps, and manages the data and finances of the program.

Kristen Lalla

Physical Science Officer, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Kristen first joined the team as a Wildlife Technician in 2020 and now works primarily on national-scale conservation tools including the Conservation Exchange pilot program, where she co-leads the development of a biodiversity indicator to evaluate the benefits of conservation projects. She is also participates in the planning and delivery of Arctic fieldwork. Her background is in songbird and seabird research with a focus on tracking. She is from the Eastern Townships in Quebec and volunteers her time for bird conservation and monitoring/research.

David Lesbarrères

Physical Science Specialist, Environment and Climate Change Canada

David has worked with our team since 2022, leading the development and testing of biodiversity indicators in support of conservation finance initiatives including the Conservation Exchange Pilot.  David is an applied evolutionary ecologist, with a previous career in Academia and continued involvement in Onehealth initiatives, especially for amphibians. David is based in Sudbury, Ontario.   

Key Collaborators

Dr Grant Gilchrist

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE CANADA

We collaborate extensively with Grant and his team on Arctic research projects across Nunavut.

Dr Joe Bennett

CARLETON UNIVERSITY

Joe and Paul co-supervise a number of students, and collaborate on the theme of improving the effectiveness of conservation activities in Canada.

Dr Erica Nol

TRENT UNIVERSITY

Erica's uses field-based methods to study shorebirds throughout their range. Paul and Erica co-supervise students working on Arctic shorebird research.

Dr Rachel Buxton

CARLETON UNIVERSITY

The key theme of Rachel's work is conservation solutions. Rachel and Paul co-supervise students.

Jennie Rausch

ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE CANADA

Jennie leads a large-scale survey of birds across Arctic Canada.  We collaborate with her on this and other monitoring efforts.

Josiah Nakoolak

CORAL HARBOUR, NU

Josiah has worked with us for more than 30 years, and has been instrumental in ensuring the safe operation of our camp at East Bay since its beginning. 

Dr Kyle Elliot 

MCGILL UNIVERSITY

Kyle studies the behaviour and physiology of Arctic seabirds. We collaborate with his lab on studies related to marine habitat use, and sensitivities to industrial development.       


And many more....

Students and Postdoctoral Fellows

(As an adjunct professor, most of my students are co-supervised with full faculty at Carleton or Trent)

Caitlin Lewis

MSc candidate 2024-present
Carleton University
Co-supervisor: Dr Rachel Buxton

Caitlin's thesis explores the environmental conditions and biotic interactions that impact Arctic shorebird distribution. Caitlin completed their bachelor's at Mount Holyoke College, researching the effect of anthropogenic disturbance on avian habitat use in saltmarshes. They have conducted avian point-count surveys with the Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, and, as a wildlife technician with our team, monitored Arctic breeding birds. 

Lisa Kennedy Docken

PhD candidate
Trent University
Co-supervisor: Dr Erica Nol

Lisa is a part-time student studying the effects of increasing goose populations on the nesting behavior and physiology of shorebirds breeding in the Canadian Arctic. Lisa is also a Coastal and Ocean Coordinator for the National Park Service, in Alaska. Lisa is fascinated with birds and the plight of long-distance migrants. She hopes to be a positive force to help mitigate anthropogenic-related impacts on crucial habitats in the North.
Dr Xin Wen
Postdoctoral fellow 2021-2024
Carleton University
Co-supervisor: Dr Joe Bennett

Xin's work involved systematic review and case studies to assess the potential contribution of temporary protected areas to conservation in Canada.  She has shown that temporary protection can be a cost effective measure to complement permanent protection, especially for species like migratory birds with transitory habitat needs.  

Dr Anne Ausems

Postdoctoral fellow 2021-2024
Trent University
Co-supervisor: Dr Erica Nol

Dr Ausems studies the seasonal demography of Arctic-breeding shorebirds using mark-recapture and isotopes.  Her work is demonstrating the differences in adult survival among the various populations of rufa Red Knots, in order to better define the unique conservation needs for these listed populations.  

Honour's Thesis projects

  • Adam Trefry (Carleton): Diversity and abundance of tropical felids in relation to prey diversity and habitat characteristics
  • Cate Crawford-Thompson and Ellise Morgan (Trent, with Autumn Watksinson): U-Links project to refine the design and placement of artificial nesting platforms for loons, in collaboration with Hall and Hawk Lakes P.O.A. 

Lab Alumni

Bonnie Taparti

Wildlife Technician - Inuit Field Training Program coordinator, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Bonnie is from the community of Naujaat, Nunavut, located right on the Arctic Circle. Bonnie worked with our team at ECCC in support of the Inuit Field Training Program, 2018-2022. Prior to joining ECCC, she worked in HR with Polar Knowledge Canada and as a legal assistant with the Public Prosecution Service of Canada in Iqaluit. Bonnie also has experience with marine mammal surveys with DFO. She now works with Parks Canada in Nunavut.

Cynthia Pialaq

Wildlife Technician - Inuit Field Training Program Coordinator, Environment and Climate Change Canada

Cynthia was originally from Sanirajak, NU.  She worked with us from 2022-2024, supporting the Inuit Field Training Program, both behind the scenes and as a mentor in the field. Prior to her time with us, she was a technician with Parks Canada, working in Quttinirpaaq National Park.  She had completed the Environmental Technology Program at Nunavut Arctic College, and loved spending time outdoors.  She is dearly missed.



Past graduate students and postdoctoral fellows

Dr Heather Mariash

Postdoctoral fellow 2014-2016
National Wildlife Research Centre

Heather was an NSERC Visiting fellow at the National Wildlife Research Centre, where she helped me lead an international project to study the effects of overabundant geese on freshwater ecosystems and associated wildlife in the Canadian Arctic. 

Dr Allie Anderson

PhD 2014-2020
Trent University
Co-supervisor: Dr Erica Nol

Allie completed her PhD on the stopover and migration ecology of shorebirds along remote areas of the James Bay coast through the James Bay Shorebird Project. Allie is currently working as Postdoctoral Fellow with the Smithsonian Institution, leading analysis of thousands of tracking tags for the "Shorebird Conservation Collective".  

Dr Scott Flemming

PhD 2014-2019
Trent University
Co-supervisor: Dr Erica Nol

Scott's PhD project involved determining the effects of hyperabundant geese on Arctic-nesting shorebird abundance, predator-prey dynamics, nest-site selection, and diet. Scott is now the Pacific Region Shorebird Biologist with the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Dr Sjoerd Duijns

Postdoctoral fellow 2015-2019
Carleton University

Sjoerd completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Carleton University where he used the Motus automated telemetry network to study the migratory ecology of shorebirds, focusing on the endangered rufa Red Knot. Dr. Duijns now works as a shorebird research scientist with Sovon, in the Netherlands.  

Amie MacDonald

MSc 2017-2019
Trent University
Co-supervisor: Dr Erica Nol

Amie used mark-recapture methods to estimate the passage population size and annual survival of Red Knots in James Bay to determine James Bay's importance as a staging area for Knots. She now works at Birds Canada as a coordinator and analyst for the Motus Wildlife Tracking System, and frequently collaborates with us on Demographic analyses.  

Sarah Bonnett

MSc candidate 2019-2024
Trent University
Co-supervisor: Dr Erica Nol

Sarah studying the distribution and reproductive success of birds across an elevation gradient, in an area where mining activity will induce hydrological changes.  

Gill Holmes

MSc 2018-2021
Trent University
Co-supervisor: Dr Erica Nol

Their MSc project assessed the impacts of mining-development on Arctic-nesting birds and explored deterrent use as a mitigation option for nest loss during an expansion of Agnico-Eagle's Meadowbank Mine near Baker Lake, Nunavut.  Gill now works as a wildlife technician for the Canadian Wildlife Service.

Natalie Grishaber

MSc 2018-2021
Trent University
Co-supervisor: Dr Erica Nol

Natalie studied the impacts of mining activity in the Arctic on breeding shorebird densities using the PRISM database. She now works at Environment and Climate Change Canada in Yellowknife, NWT.

Dr Rachel Buxton

Postdoctoral fellow 2019-2021
Environment and Climate Change Canada

Dr Buxton worked to determine key information needs for biodiversity conservation. She now holds a faculty position in the Department of Biology at Carleton University.

Dr Willow English

PhD 2017-2023
Carleton University
Co-supervisor: Dr Joe Bennett

Willow studied the links between migration and breeding ecology of Arctic shorebirds in order to understand the role of carry-over effects. Willow now works in the Canadian Wildlife Service as a Breeding Bird Survey Biologist.

Dr Christine Anderson

PhD 2017-2023
Carleton University
Co-supervisor: Dr Lenore Fahrig

Christine’s PhD research focused on modelling how shorebird breeding habitat may be affected by climate change. She completed her MSc at Acadia University with Dr. Mark Mallory and Dr. Grant Gilchrist on the annual movement ecology of Herring Gulls in eastern North America. Christine currently works at Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami.

Sara Bellefontaine

MSc 2021-2023
University of Windsor
Co-supervisor: Dr Oliver Love

Sara's thesis examined the physiological and behavioural responses of Arctic shorebirds to weather conditions and nest site quality using heart rate loggers to measure energetic costs during incubation. Sara has continued to work with us since graduating; she co-led the 2023 and 2024 field seasons at East Bay Mainland and has done work on our shorebird database. 

Dr Jamie McLaren

Postdoctoral fellow 2016-2019
Carleton University

James was an NSERC Visiting Fellow at the National Wildlife Research Centre whose research aimed to refine the tracking abilities of the Motus network and improve stopover duration estimates. Dr McLaren accepted a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Math Modelling at the University of Oldenburg Institute for Marine Chemistry and Biology in Germany.




Past students and staff

Megan Oliver (2021). Thesis: The influence of camouflage on the survival of Arctic shorebird nests.
William Richmond (2021). Thesis: Effects of Ruddy Turnstone body condition in a stopover site on stopover and breeding success in Arctic breeding grounds.
Rebekah Persad (2019). Thesis: Habitat selection of Ontario shorebirds.
Noah Korne (2019). Thesis: Effects of microtopography on nest site selection of concealed-nesting shorebirds.

We are also grateful for the contributions of many research associates, field staff, Inuit guides, and others who have made a contribution to our work over the years.