Research summary
As biodiversity declines globally, understanding how species persist, interact and respond to environmental change has never been more urgent. Dr. Anna Hargreaves, Canada Research Chair in Evolutionary Ecology and Biogeography, is combining theory, data science and large-scale field experiments to understand how local ecological and evolutionary processes scale up to shape global biodiversity patterns.
She and her research team are building a process-based understanding of species distributions and interactions—insights that are essential for developing more effective, evidence-based conservation strategies. They are predicting which populations are at risk of extinction and which species are likely to thrive when reintroduced. They are also studying how endangered species survive at the outer limits of their natural ranges and examining how urbanization may be altering patterns in species interactions. By linking ecological theory with real-world data, their work will guide practical conservation efforts in a rapidly changing world.