John Pedlar

Forest Landscape Biologist

Current research and/or projects

Biography:

I developed a keen interest in nature while growing up in rural southern Ontario. This early interest led me to study wildlife biology at the University of Guelph and then complete an MSc in Landscape Ecology at Carleton University. Early contracts in biology included water sampling, helicopter surveys for waterfowl, and songbird surveys. These experiences introduced me to the rugged beauty of the boreal forest and further reinforced my interest in biology-related work. I have worked as a forest biologist at the Great Lakes Forestry Centre (GLFC) since 1999, where I have been involved with a variety of projects related to the influence of climate and forest management on plant and animal distribution and abundance. Ongoing work projects include: projecting climate change impacts on tree distributions, examining the potential of assisted migration as a climate change adaptation approach, and analysing future timber supply under projected climate change. I consider myself very fortunate to work in an area that aligns closely with one of my great interests in life.

Research and/or project statements

Current Research Projects:

Professional activities / interests

Review of scientific texts: Canadian Journal of Forest Research, Conservation Biology, Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology, Forest Ecology and Management.

Education and awards

Degrees:

B.Sc. (Hons.) Wildlife Biology, University of Guelph, 1992.

M.Sc., Ottawa-Carleton Institute of Biology, Ottawa, 1994.

Awards:

NSERC Postgraduate Scholarship, 1994.

College of Biological Sciences Roll of Distinction, 1992.

Key publications

Aubin, I.; Munson, A. D.; Cardou, F.; Burton, P. J.; Isabel, N.; Pedlar, J. H.; Paquette, A.; Taylor, A. R.; Delagrange, S.; Kebli, H.; Messier, C.; Shipley, B.; Valladares, F.; Kattge, J.; Boisvert-Marsh, L.; McKenney, D. W. 2016. Traits to stay, traits to move: a review of functional traits to assess sensitivity and adaptive capacity of temperate and boreal trees to climate change. Environmental Reviews 24: 1-23. DOI: 10.1139/er-2015-0072
McKenney, D. W.; Pedlar. J. H.; Lawrence, K. M.; Papadopol, P.; Campbell, K. L. 2015. Hardiness zones and bioclimatic modelling of plant species distributions in North America. Acta Horticulturae.
McKenney, D. W.; Pedlar. J. H.; Yang, J.; Weersink, A. J.; Lawrence, G. 2015. An economic analysis of seed source options under a changing climate for black spruce and white pine in Ontario, Canada. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 45(10): 1248-1257. DOI: 10.1139/cjfr-2015-0051
Pedlar, J. H.; McKenney, D. W.; Allen, D.; Lawrence, K.; Lawrence, G.; Campbell, K. 2013. A street tree survey for Canadian communities: Protocol and early results. The Forestry Chronicle 89: 753-758.
Price, D. T.; Alfaro, R. I.; Brown, K. J.; Flannigan, M. D.; Fleming, R. A.; Hogg, E. H.; Girardin, M.P.; Lakusta, T.; Johnston, M.; McKenney, D.W.; Pedlar, J.H.; Stratton, T.; Sturrock, R.N.; Thompson, I.D.; Trofymow, J.A.; Venier, L. A. 2013. Anticipating the consequences of climate change for Canada’s boreal forest ecosystems. Environmental Reviews 21(4): 322-365.

For more publications by this author, consult the CFS publications database.