Laird J. Shutt

Research Scientist - Director of Wildlife Toxicology and Disease

Current research and/or projects

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

  • Assess the effects of contaminants and other environmental stressors on the health of wildlife
  • Endocrine disruption research on wildlife from contaminated sites
  • Development of laboratory-based methods to assess health in migratory birds
  • Investigate the impacts of exposure to brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in American Kestrels
  • Use of colonial waterbirds as model species to assess the health of wildlife populations at contaminated sites on the Great Lakes
  • Assess the impact of disease on the health of migratory bird populations

Professional activities / interests

Providing leadership and direction to research scientists and technical staff in the Wildlife Toxicology and Disease Division

Providing leadership for ongoing scientific excellence at the National Wildlife Research Centre (Ottawa)

Communicating science advice and direction for decision-making within Environment Canada and among wildlife science and conservation partnerships

Supporting Environment Canada-university research partnerships

Education and awards

Ph.D. (Wildlife Biology), McGill University

B.Sc. (Wildlife Biology), McGill University

Key publications

Drouillard, K.G., K.J. Fernie, R.J. Letcher, L.J. Shutt, M. Whitehead, W. Gebink and D.M. Bird. 2007. Bioaccumulation and biotransformation of 61 polychlorinated biphenyl and four polybrominated diphenyl ether congeners in juvenile American kestrels (Falco sparverius). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 26(2): 313–324.

Fernie, K.J., L.J. Shutt, R.J. Letcher, J.I. Ritchie, K. Sullivan and D.M. Bird. 2007. Changes in reproductive courtship behaviors of adult American kestrels (Falco sparverius) exposed to environmentally relevant levels of the polybrominated diphenyl ether mixture, DE-71. Toxicol. Sci. 102: 171-178. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfm295]

Fox, G.A, P.A. White, S. Trudeau, C. Theodorakis, J.L. Shutt, S.W. Kennedy and K.J. Fernie. 2005. DNA strand length and EROD activity in relation to two screening measures of genotoxic exposure in Great Lakes herring gulls.  Ecotoxicology 14(5): 527-44.

Fernie, K.J., G. Mayne, J.L. Shutt, C. Pekarik, K.A. Grasman, R.J. Letcher, and K. Drouillard. 2005. Evidence of immunomodulation in nestling American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) exposed to environmentally relevant PBDEs. Environmental Pollution 138(3): 485-493.

Fernie, K.J., L.J. Shutt, G. Mayne, D. Hoffman, R.J. Letcher, K.G. Drouillard and I.J. Ritchie. 2005. Exposure to polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs): Changes in thyroid, vitamin A, glutathione homeostasis, and oxidative stress in American Kestrels (Falco sparverius). Toxicological Sciences 88(2): 375-383.

Love, O.P., L.J. Shutt, J.S. Silfies and D.M. Bird. 2003. Repeated restraint and sampling results in reduced corticosterone levels in developing and adult captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius). Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 76(5): 753-61.

Love, O.P., D.M. Bird and L.J. Shutt. 2003. Plasma corticosterone in American kestrel siblings: effects of age, hatching order, and hatching asynchrony. Hormones and Behavior 43(4): 480-8.

Love, O.P., L.J. Shutt, J.S. Silfies, G.R. Bortolotti, J.E.G. Smits and D.M. Bird. 2003. Effects of dietary PCB exposure on adrenocortical function in captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius). Ecotoxicology 12(1-4): 199-208.

Love, O.P., D.M. Bird and L.J. Shutt. 2003. Corticosterone levels during post-natal development in captive American kestrels (Falco sparverius). General and Comparative Endocrinology 130(2): 135-41.

Morris, R.D., D.V. Weseloh and L.J. Shutt. 2003. Distribution and abundance of nesting pairs of herring gulls (Larus argentatus) on the North American Great Lakes, 1976 to 2000. Journal of Great Lakes Research 29: 400-426.