Gregory J. Robertson

Research Scientist - Marine Birds and Ecosystems
Environment and Climate Change Canada
Environment Canada Centre (Mount Pearl, NL)

Current research and/or projects

Contributing to Environment Canada’s mandate to ensure wildlife is conserved and protected

  • Understanding the impact of human activity on marine bird populations
  • Using modern and new analytical approaches to assess population viability of species at risk
  • Developing spatially-based models to better understand marine bird population dynamics across broad landscapes
  • Understanding the role of weather and climate on marine bird demographics and populations

Professional activities / interests

Current President (2014-2016), Society of Canadian Ornithologists/Société des Ornithoplogistes du Canada

Canadian representative on the Circumpolar Seabird Working Group (CBIRD), part of Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF)

Responsible for numerous Environmental Studies Research Fund projects related to marine birds

Education and awards

Elective Member: American Ornithologists' Union

Ph.D. Centre for Wildlife Ecology, Simon Fraser University, 1997

Key publications

Bond, A. L. and G. J. Robertson. 2015. Mercury concentrations in multiple tissues of Arctic Iceland Gulls (Larus glaucoides) wintering in Newfoundland. Arctic Science 1:1-8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/as-2015-0004

English, M. D., G. J. Robertson, S. Avery-Gomm, D. Pirie-Hay, S. Roul, P. C. Ryan, S. I. Wilhelm and M. L. Mallory. 2015. Plastic and metal ingestion in three species of coastal waterfowl wintering in Atlantic Canada. Marine Pollution Bulletin http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.05.063

Fife, D, T., I. L. Pollet, G. J. Robertson, M. L. Mallory and D. Shutler. 2015. Apparent survival of adult Leach's Storm-petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) breeding on Bon Portage Island, Nova Scotia. Avian Conservation and Ecology 10(2):1. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ACE-00771-100201

Huang, Y., M. Wille, J. Benkaroun, H. Munro, A. L. Bond, D. A. Fifield, G. J. Robertson, D. Ojkic, H. Whitney and A. S. Lang. 2014. Perpetuation and reassortment of gull influenza A viruses in Atlantic North America. Virology 456-457: 353-363. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2014.04.009

Regular, P. M., A. Hedd, W. A. Montevecchi, G. J. Robertson, A. E. Storey and C. J. Walsh. 2014. Why timing is everything: Energetic costs and reproductive consequences of resource mismatch for a chick-rearing seabird. Ecosphere 5(12):155. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00182.1

Ellis, J. I, S. I. Wilhelm, A. Hedd, G. S. Fraser, G. J. Robertson, J.-F. Rail, M. Fowler and K. H. Morgan. 2013. Mortality of migratory birds from marine commercial fisheries and offshore oil and gas production in Canada. Avian Conservation and Ecology - Écologie et conservation des oiseaux 8(2): 4. http://dx.doi.org/10.5751/ACE-00589-080204

Contact

Expertise

Environment›Arctic & Northern›Wildlife›Bird populations
Environment›Nature & Wildlife›Biodiversity›Human impacts
Environment›Nature & Wildlife›Ecosystems & Habitats›Marine environment
Environment›Nature & Wildlife›Wildlife Populations›Computer analysis and modelling
Environment›Nature & Wildlife›Wildlife Populations›Seabirds
Environment›Nature & Wildlife›Wildlife Populations›Species at risk
Environment›Nature & Wildlife›Wildlife Populations›Waterbirds
Environment›Nature & Wildlife›Wildlife Populations›Waterfowl

Affiliations

Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Adjunct Professor, Department of Biology, Acadia University

Honorary Research Associate, University of New Brunswick