Melanie Dubois
My research addresses the strategic objectives within the Agro-Ecosystem Resilience to enhance environmental performance and address threats to the value chain. My work is currently focused on understanding and quantifying resource requirements of pollinator (focus on native bees) pollinator contributions to agro-ecosystems, and implications of and mitigations for pollination services deficits. I also work with quantifying and understanding interactions of wildlife and natural systems with agricultural ecosystems, (wildlife damage management / mitigation and Species At Risk), reporting on ecosystems service, and assessment of risks that predispose livestock operations to predation and/or crop systems to depredation, along with the mitigations and policy/program responses.
Current research and/or projects
I focus on the interactions of wildlife (including plants, animals, insects) and natural and/or altered systems within agricultural landscapes.
Research and/or project statements
- Eastern Prairies Living Labs (co-lead): Living Lab Eastern Prairies (LLEP) will address the need for place-based solutions to ongoing regional agri-environmental issues, for increased involvement of end-users in the innovation process, and will lead to increased adoption of practices that create resilience and sustainability in the agricultural sector. The principles of co-design and partnership with end-users that characterize the Living Laboratory approach, were used in developing our proposed activities and will shape the implementation and adaptation of the research, development, and knowledge transfer.
- Pollination services Landscape deficits (lead): The intent of the project is to assess and address current and future landscape scale deficits in agro-ecosystems. Limitations on production are expected to increase with climate change and shortfalls in pollination, this project will to contribute to stabilizing the gaps between yield and yield potential by directing support for pollination services to where the deficits are identified by the model and the maps created through the ECCC pollination potential indicator.
- Developing Pollinator Support Tools (lead): This project involves the validation and refinement of a landscape scale pollinator habitat assessment methodology, developing and testing pollinator habitat establishment techniques and plant species recommendations, and conducting baseline species inventories of native bees in Manitoba.
Professional activities / interests
- Pollination: understanding and quantifying resource requirements of pollinator (focus on native bees) and pollinator contributions to agro-ecosystems, pollination services deficits
- Biodiversity: quantifying and understanding interactions of wildlife and natural systems with agricultural ecosystems, (wildlife damage management / mitigation and Species At Risk), status and trend reporting on ecosystems service, assessment of the risk that predispose a livestock operation to predation, mitigation recommendations and policy/program responses
- Riparian: the relationship to agronomic practices, livestosk production, resource development, and land use and water management decisions
Education and awards
- Certified Wildlife Biologist (CWB©): The Wildlife Society
- Master of Natural Resource Management (interdisciplinary); Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba
- Bachelor of Science Biology (4 yr. with thesis); University of Winnipeg
Key publications
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Satchithanantham, S., Wilson, H.F., Michiels, P., Dubois, M., Li, S., Koiter, A.J. (2019). Channel geomorphology differences between stream reaches with grass- or tree-dominated riparian vegetation in southern Manitoba. Facets, [online] 4(1), 336-349. http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/facets-2018-0036
2019 - View publication details
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Rawluk, A.A., Crow, G., Legesse, G., Veira, D.M., Bullock, P.R., González, L.A., Dubois, M., Ominski, K.H. (2014). Off-stream watering systems and partial barriers as a strategy to maximize cattle production and minimize time spent in the riparian area. Animals, [online] 4(4), 670-692. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani4040670
2014 - View publication details
Contact
Research facility
Expertise
Affiliations
- The Wildlife Society: Certified Wildlife Biologist (international professional designation)
- The Wildlife Society:
- Executive Member: President – Manitoba Chapter
- Conservation Affairs Committee – policy analysis
- International Member: Wildlife Damage Working Group
- Bee City Brandon: Co-founder & Program Director