Research summary
Increased urbanization has forced wildlife and humans to live in close proximity. This has created the potential for conflict, with negative effects for both humans and wildlife. The ability of different species to adapt—and their potential to come into conflict with humans—may result from individual behaviours or personalities. As Canada Research Chair in Urban Ecology, Dr. Darcy Visscher aims to better understand what allows certain species to adapt as humans increasingly encroach on their environments.
He and his research team are studying the ability of wildlife to maintain connectivity within a fragmented city landscape and how proximity to humans affects this connectivity. They are also exploring how zoonotic parasite infections may affect wildlife behaviour—and the consequences for humans. Their work will shed light on both the behavioural processes that allow wildlife to live alongside humans and those that may make conflict inevitable.