Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Research
The MacBean Lab: Carbon Cycle, Climate, and Ecosystems Research
Dr Natasha MacBean’s C3E Lab at Western focuses on understanding the complex interactions between terrestrial vegetation, carbon, and water cycles in response to global climate change and human activities. The lab utilizes process-based land surface models and spatiotemporal data analysis to study how rising CO2 levels, land use changes, and environmental factors impact ecosystems worldwide, from boreal forests to semi-arid grasslands. By advancing our understanding of these interactions, the lab aims to contribute to strategies for mitigating the harmful effects of climate change and promoting ecosystem resilience.
Making Windows Bird-Friendly
Brendon Samuels, a biology PhD candidate whose research at the Advanced Facility for Avian Research focuses on preventing bird collisions with glass buildings, studies how birds perceive windows. After observing frequent fatal crashes at Western University’s International and Graduate Affairs Building, Samuels discovered that traditional bird-shaped stickers are ineffective. Instead, patterns with gaps no larger than five centimeters are much more effective. Collaborating with Western, Samuels has helped retrofit buildings with bird-safe coatings, significantly reducing collisions. He also advocates for city bylaws and supports Bill 145, Bird-Safe Windows Act, to incorporate bird-safe designs into the Ontario Building Code, stressing the importance of enacting effective conservation measures.
Ecology of Fear
The biological research lab of Dr Liana Zanette and Dr Michael Clinchy at Western focuses on experimentally testing the impacts of predator-induced fear on population, community, and ecosystem dynamics, known as the ecology of fear. Their research also examines the effects of fear on health, development, gene expression, and neural architecture in the brain. Collaborating with leading researchers worldwide, the lab conducts field experiments on diverse wild birds and mammals, exploring fear’s ecological impacts across species. Their approach starts by establishing the ecological validity of these phenomena in natural environments, followed by investigating the underlying mechanisms in semi-natural conditions and laboratory settings.
Teaching
Animal Ethics
Western upholds the highest ethical standards in animal research, requiring all vertebrate animal use in research and teaching to be reviewed and approved by the Animal Care Committee (ACC). This process ensures compliance with federal, provincial, and regulatory guidelines, including the Canadian Council on Animal Care, Ontario’s Animals in Research Act, and CALAM standards. The ACC oversees Animal Use Protocol reviews, Post-Approval Monitoring, Animal Ethics Education, and adherence to policies, safeguarding the ethical use of animals in scientific study.
Field Courses
Western is part of the Ontario Universities Program in Field Biology, which offers immersive, two-week field courses for academic credit. Students can choose from a variety of courses, including those led by Western faculty or by faculty from other universities. For example, one course explores the diverse environments of Adirondack State Park, covering boreal, northern hardwood, upland, lowland, and aquatic communities, while focusing on field techniques, independent research, and the park's ecological history.
Biodiversity Inventory
The Western Biodiversity Inventory is a collaborative initiative led by students, staff, and faculty from Western’s Department of Biology and its affiliates. The campus community is invited to document local biodiversity using the iNaturalist app, contributing to a vital database that will inform future conservation efforts and environmental research. This project serves as a Living Lab for experiential learning, coordinated by a volunteer committee from the Faculty of Science and supported by Western Sustainability and Facilities Management.
Outreach
Digitizing Western’s Zoological Collections for Global Biodiversity Research
Nina Zitani, curator of Western’s Zoological Collections, oversees a vast archive of tens of thousands of insect specimens, including rare and exotic species collected over more than a century. These meticulously preserved specimens reflect the biodiversity of Ontario and beyond. Thanks to $30,000 from the Western Sustainable Impact Fund, Zitani and her colleagues will make the collections accessible for global research. The project is part of Western’s broader sustainability effort, supported by the $406,000 awarded to 30 initiatives through the fund.
Community Engagement and Knowledge Sharing
The Department of Biology is committed to community engagement, actively sharing its extensive knowledge with the public. Faculty members regularly deliver lectures on topics such as Conservation Biology, Climate Change, Human Genetics, and Ecosystem Health. These educational initiatives include public talks, weekly public seminars, high school visits, and hosting groups from across Southwestern Ontario, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of biological processes and their impact on both nature and society.
Western Wildlife Conservation Society
The Western Wildlife Conservation Society (WWCS) is a student-led organization committed to educating and engaging students in wildlife conservation efforts. WWCS focuses on raising awareness about reducing ecological footprints and promoting a healthy, sustainable planet. The society collaborates with local organizations like the London Environmental Network and Salthaven Wildlife and Education Centre to protect our environment and the wildlife that inhabits it.
Experts’ Input
Western climate change, ecological, and health experts provide insights and advice on wildfire impacts in Canada. They address critical areas such as the health consequences of wildfire smoke, with expertise in respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD, the influence of climate change on wildfire frequency and severity, and the ecological destruction wildfires cause to forests and ecosystems. Additionally, their expertise extends to disaster preparedness and response strategies, including resilient construction and risk mitigation, ensuring communities are better equipped to handle wildfire crises.
Operations
Bee Campus
Western proudly became the first university in Canada to be designated as a Bee Campus, recognizing its commitment to supporting pollinators and their habitats. As part of this ongoing effort, the campus community is encouraged to participate in Pollinator Week. This week provides an opportunity to learn about the vital role pollinators play in our ecosystems and agriculture. Western’s initiatives include planting native species, hosting native plant giveaways, and organizing educational events to raise awareness about the importance of pollinators. Additionally, the university has reduced grass cutting in certain areas to allow wildflowers and grasses to flourish, and it maintains pollinator-friendly trees and naturalized spaces around campus, further enhancing the environment for these essential species.
Green Space & Gardens
Spanning over 450 hectares within the biodiverse Carolinian Life Zone, Western University is dedicated to sustainable management and ecological stewardship of its green spaces. The campus features preserved natural and wetland areas, supports pollinator-friendly plants like milkweed, and promotes biodiversity through initiatives such as the Sherwood Fox Arboretum and the Bee Campus designation. One highlight is the Pollinator Garden, established by the Friends of the Garden volunteer group. This garden features native species cultivated in Western’s greenhouses and sourced from local nurseries. The gardens are open to the public, inviting the community to enjoy and engage with these green spaces.
Invasive Species Management
Western is actively managing invasive species across campus, with targeted efforts focused on buckthorn, non-native honeysuckle, and an invasive Arailia species identified by the Department of Biology. Invasive species are not planted on campus, and those already present are managed until their natural end of life, followed by replacement with native species. Environmental Sciences classes and graduate students from the Master of Environment and Sustainability program have also contributed to these efforts through hands-on removal and data collection activities.
