Speaker: Student Invited Speaker- Kyle Elliot, Associate Professor, Canada Research Chair in Arctic Ecology, McGill University

Topic: Seabirds as indicators of environmental change

Seabirds, as top predators in marine ecosystems, integrate signals across space and time, bringing these signals to a central location—the colony—where they can be studied by scientists. Seabird behaviour and health (physiology) thus reflects shifts in oceanographic conditions, food availability, and climate dynamics. Small, lightweight tracking devices that collect data on seabird movements, foraging behavior, and environmental conditions has greatly enhanced our ability to use seabirds as effective indicators, pinpointing the moment where predator meets prey. Focusing on long-term studies at Coats Island (Nunavut) and Middleton Island (Alaska), the presentation explores how monitoring seabird behaviour and health reveals trends in ocean temperatures, prey distributions and pollution. In particular, energetics plays a key role integrating behaviour and physiology and acts as an early warning system for ecological collapse across both systems. Understanding the relationship between seabirds and environmental change is vital for conservation efforts, marine ecosystem management, and mitigating climate change impacts.