Fraser, Gail

Professor

Undergraduate Program Director

PhD Biopsychology , Memorial University of Newfoundland
MSc Zoology , North Dakota State University
BSc Biological Sciences , University of Minnesota

Waterbird ecology; Wildlife management; Protected area management; Environmental management of offshore oil & gas.

I have two distinct areas of research that are connected through my interests in waterbirds. I undertake field-based research to explore questions about animal behaviour and wildlife management. My research on the management of offshore oil and gas is driven by a desire to improve the conservation and protection of marine habitats. I teach science-based courses where my goal is to develop interesting case studies, some of which are linked to my research, to explain concepts related to conservation and ecology.

Research

SSHRC, Insight Grant (2019). Offshore oil exploratory drilling and marine protected areas: Assessing decision-making processes and outcomes in comparative developed state cases. Principal Investigator.
SSHRC Partnership Engage Grant (2019). Rubble to Refuge: Toronto's Leslie Street Spit. Co-applicant.

Awards

Dean's Teaching Award, Faculty of Environmental Studies

Selected Publications

McDonald, K., R. Toninger, A. Chreston, I. Feldmann and G.S. Fraser. 2018. Living with double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus): A spatial approach for non-lethal management in Toronto, Canada. Waterbirds 41(2): 208-220.

Fraser, G.S. and A. Carter. 2018. Seabird attraction to artificial light in Newfoundland and Labrador’s offshore oil fields: Documenting failed regulatory governance. Ocean Yearbook 32: 267-282.

McRae, M., M. Azadbakhsh and G.S. Fraser. 2017. The advertising display of double-crested cormorants varies with microhabitat and time of the season in a tree-nesting colony. Acta Ethologica 20(3): 319-327.

Gupta, A., K. Rudmik and G.S. Fraser. 2017. Evidence for a negative effect of Double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) on invasive European fire ants (Myrmica rubra). Canadian Field Naturalist 131: 347-349.

Carter, A., G.S. Fraser and A. Zalik. 2017. Environmental Policy Convergence in Canada’s Fossil Fuel Provinces? Regulatory Streamlining, Impediments, and Drift. Canadian Public Policy 43(1): https://doi.org/10.3138/cpp.2016-041.

Fraser, G.S. and V. Racine. 2016. An evaluation of the reporting and response to small hydrocarbon spills from offshore oil production projects, Newfoundland, Canada: Implications for seabird conservation. Marine Pollution Bulletin 107: 36-45.

Fraser, G.S. and J. Russell. 2016. Following up on uncertain environmental assessment predictions: The case of offshore oil projects and seabirds off Newfoundland and Labrador. Journal of Environmental Assessment, Policy and Management 18(1): 33 pages.

Chin, A., D.C. Tozer, N.G. Walton and G.S. Fraser. 2015. Comparing bird-based disturbance gradients and indices of biotic integrity for ranking the health of great lakes coastal wetlands. Ecological Indicators 57: 475-485.

Chin, A., D.C. Tozer and G.S. Fraser. 2014. Hydrology influences generalist-specialist bird-based indices of biotic integrity in Great Lakes coastal wetlands. Journal of Great Lakes Research 40(2): 281-287.

TEACHING

ENVS 1500 Introduction to Environmental Science 2020-21.