Tyler Bryan

MSc Candidate, Department of Biology

Birth Place: St. Paul, Minnesota, USA

Project Title: INFLUENCE OF WETLAND PESTICIDE POLLUTION ON WATERFOWL DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE IN THE PRAIRIE POTHOLE REGION

Project Description: Direct impacts to waterfowl from agro-practices such as tillage of nesting cover or drainage is well studied. However, indirect effects caused by pesticide pollution affecting invertebrate prey abundance and composition are just beginning to be explored for migratory avian species. Indirect effects may be overlooked in waterfowl population surveys, where researchers may conclude fluctuating population abundances are due to limiting resources like food or nesting habitat or from predation. Here, I will investigate how pesticide pollution may be related to waterfowl distribution and abundance across the prairies and if concentrations of specific compounds may have a stronger influence on certain species and age classes.