World-class research
Acadia University’s Canada Research Chair in Coastal Wetland Ecosystems (Tier II) Dr. Mark Mallory has been reappointed for a second fiveyear term.
The announcement was made on Dec. 2 by federal minister of science Kirsty Duncan. The chair is valued at $500,000 dollars over five years.
Mallory’s research focuses on coastal habitats and Arctic marine birds, and is addressing important national and international conservation issues.
“Mark has established an international reputation in environmental science and coastal research,” said Dr. David MacKinnon, dean of Research and Graduate Studies. “That he built such a reputation at Acadia illustrates both the opportunities a small institution holds for world-class researchers, and the value of small institutions to building Canada’s research capacity.”
Mallory uses avian tracking technology, trace element and pollutant analyses, wetland sediment archives, and modern ecological approaches to determine how the health of coastal ecosystems varies naturally, and is affected by environmental changes. According to a release, his work stretches from the high Arctic to the southernmost parts of Canada, and across the North Atlantic.
“Coastlines form critical wildlife habitat, and increasingly we are recognizing the connectivity between land and sea that is mediated by wildlife moving between these habitats, notably by marine birds,” he said. “As a consequence, human- induced changes to any of these habitats have the potential to markedly alter this balance, with potentially deleterious environmental effects.”
Mallory’s research will contribute to the development of better tools to assess the health of coastal ecosystems, and identify the factors that influence their long-term sustainability.
“The information obtained by this research will ultimately be used to conserve and restore healthy, sustainable coastal regions, wildlife populations, and provide guidelines for future human activities in these habitats,” said Mallory. “It’s reward-