Avian Thermal Ecology Lab

Research focuses on resource competition (thermal, food) in avian systems. Prof. Barb Glassey uses a behavioural and physiological approach in pursuing the objectives of this research, using blackbirds as model systems for passerine birds. The specific short-term goals of this research are threefold: i) to study nest architecture as an adaptation to moderating the thermal environment; ii) to evaluate the adaptive behavioural response of nestlings to the nest microclimate; and iii) to measure the energetic costs of nestling activity, including begging and behavioural thermoregulation.

To date, the research has focused on the response of nestling birds at the spatial scale of the nest. Research has been diversified in recent years by ‘scaling up’ from the nest to the exploration of visual rends in broad-scale patterns of local species abundance and diversity; applying my research to a collaborative initiative to inform and educate about the importance of wetlands and emerging issues unique to Cape Breton Island/Unama’ki; and using Prof. Glassey's experience as a scientific researcher with active interests in the visual arts to advance STEAM and an ArtSci collaboration.