Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Integrative Wildlife Conservation
Biology Professor
Research interests: Population dynamics and behavioural ecology, predation, parasitism and herbivory, conservation biology and wildlife management
Using a variety of techniques ranging from genetic analysis to monitoring animal movements through radio-telemetry, Professor Murray is studying the role of factors like climate change, contaminants, industrial development, and invasive pathogens and predators, on wildlife populations in Canada and abroad. His research focuses on the status of some of the world’s most imperiled or at-risk animal species, to understand their population trends and factors causing their numerical decline, and on the interaction between various stressors and the mechanisms by which they act on animals. Using mathematical models, Prof. Murray and his team aim to unravel exactly why such changes are happening and what can be done to better predict and perhaps mitigate these trends.
“At this critical juncture in human history, we are experiencing rapid and intense environmental change that will profoundly influence the natural world for generations to come. It is our responsibility to understand and properly anticipate these forthcoming changes and our research program will provide robust analysis of how and why populations are changing in numbers, distribution, and structure, what we can expect in terms of future population decline and ecosystem breakdown, and how humans may be able to adjust their behaviour and activities to help ensure long-term persistence.”
Inspiring students
Both undergraduate and graduate students work alongside Prof. Murray in the Integrative Wildlife Conservation lab at Trent University, where they use diverse of tools, approaches, and taxa to answer today's most pressing ecological and conservation problems.