Research Projects

  • Yahatinda

    Long-term Population Dynamics of the Partially Migratory Ya Ha Tinda Elk Herd

    Since 2001, Evelyn Merrill (University of Alberta) and Mark Hebblewhite have collaborated on a long-term project on the population dynamics of the Ya Ha Tinda elk herd in Banff National Park. This research was awarded an NSF LTREB grant from the Division of Environmental Biology in 2015, and will continue for 5-10 more years. Graduate students have included Scott Eggeman (UM), Holger Bohm (UofA), Eric Spilker (UofA), Lindsey Glines (UofA), Leslie McInenely (UofA), Barry Robinson (UofA) and the current graduate students are Jodi Berg (PhD, UofA) and Hans Martin (PhD, UM). Find out more on the YHT web site.

  • fate of the caribou

    Fate of the Caribou: from local knowledge to range-wide dynamics in the changing Arctic

    The most abundant large animal in the Arctic is caribou (Rangifer tarandus). Caribou have significant influences on social and natural systems and perform the longest terrestrial migrations on Earth in herds of up to half a million individuals. Caribou are also central to the spiritual and material culture of Indigenous peoples across the North. Caribou are also an important part of Arctic ecosystems through their impact on forest and tundra. It is therefore extremely concerning that global caribou numbers have declined over recent decades, with some herds collapsing by over 95% since 1990. This National Science Foundation (NSF) - Navigating the New Arctic (NNA) research follows the leadership of Indigenous communities and other stakeholders to directly address the future of caribou across northern Alaska and Canada.

  • caribou

    Fortymile Caribou Herd Habitat and Population Dynamics

    The Fortymile caribou (Rangifer tarandus) herd in Alaska and the Yukon Territory is one of North America’s most important migratory caribou herds, straddling the border of the US and Canada. It has been the focus of study for the past 60+ years in Canada and Alaska. In this NASA ABoVE affiliated project, our lab will be collaborating with BLM, Alaska Department of Game and Fish, Yukon Fish and Wildlife and the National Park Service to understand habitat and population dynamics for this important caribou herd. Check out our NASA ABoVE web site.

  • wolf

    Yellowstone Wolf-Prey Ecology

    Since 2010, Hebblewhite has collaborated with the Yellowstone Wolf Project in Yellowstone National Park. He and his students are conducting research on wolf-prey dynamics, spatial ecology of predation, and survival and reproduction of wolves using long-term data collected by the National Park Service.