Rachael Derbyshire

I am examining how changes in primary prey density influence the foraging and movement behaviour of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) in the Kluane region of the Yukon. This study is part of a multi-year collaborative project which aims to understand how prey, conspecifics, and habitat heterogeneity influence population dynamics in a northern predator. A mechanistic understanding of what factors influence lynx movement and foraging behaviour will help inform the drivers of current patterns of population dynamics, and allow for accurate predictions of population stability in the face of current and future environmental change.

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Education

• 2018-present, Ph.D. Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program, Trent University, Peterborough, ON. Supervisor: Dr. Dennis Murray. Thesis: Spatio-temporal determinants of population dynamics in a northern predator
• 2017: Post-Graduate Diploma in Endangered Species Recovery. Durrell Conservation Training Ltd., validated by University of Kent (UK). Tutors: Dr. David Derand and Dr. Martin Fisher. Independent research project: Habitat selection of a Critically Endangered reptile Gongylomorphis bojerii in Mauritius
• 2014: M.Sc. (Ecology), Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, ON. Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Norris. Thesis: Examining the hoard-rot hypothesis in a boreal songbird: an experimental test of the food limitation assumption
• 2012: B.Sc., Wildlife Biology (Honours). Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, ON. Supervisor: Dr. Ryan Norris. Thesis: Experimental evidence that Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexxipus) are not true navigators
  

Peer-reviewed Articles in Scholarly Journals

1. Derbyshire, R., Norris, D. R., Hobson, K. A., & Strickland, D. (2018). Isotopic spiking and food dye experiments provide evidence that nestling Canada Jays (Perisoreus canadensis) receive cached food from their parents. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 97(4), 368-375.

2. Knight, S. M., Norris, D. R., Derbyshire, R., & Flockhart, D. T. (2019). Strategic mowing of roadside milkweeds increases monarch butterfly oviposition. Global Ecology and Conservation, 19, e00678.

3. Flockhart, D. T. T., B. Fitz-gerald, L. P. Brower, R. Derbyshire, S. Altizer, K. A. Hobson, L. I. Wassenaar, and D. R. Norris. 2017. Migration distance as a selective episode for wing morphology in a migratory insect. Movement Ecology 5:7

4. Derbyshire, R., D. Strickland, and D.R. Norris. 2015. Experimental evidence and 43 years of monitoring data show that food limits reproduction in a food-caching passerine. Ecology 96: 3005-3015

5. Telfer A., M. Young, J. Quinn, K. Perez, C. Sobel, J. Sones, V. Levesque-Beaudin, R. Derbyshire, J. Fernandez-Triana, et al. 2015. Biodiversity inventories in high gear: DNA barcoding facilitates a rapid biotic survey of a temperate nature reserve. Biodiversity Data Journal 3: e6313

6. Mouristen, H., R. Derbyshire, J. Stalleicken, O. Mouitsen, B. J. Frost, and D. R. Norris.  2013.  An experimental displacement and over 50 years of tag-recoveries show that Monarch butterflies are not true navigators.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110: 7348-7353 (senior honours undergraduate thesis research)

7. Mouritsen, H., R. Derbyshire, J. Stalleicken, O. Mouritsen, B. J. Frost, and D. R. Norris. 2013. Reply to Oberhauser et al.: The experimental evidence is clear. Monarch butterflies are most certainly not true navigators. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110: e3681

Contact:
email: rachaelderbyshire[AT]trentu[DOT]ca
Twitter: @RDerbyshire7