Matt Dyson, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Evaluating the behavioural and demographic responses of waterfowl to landscape change to improve conservation delivery.

Matt joined IWWR in 2021. Matt studies the behavioural and demographic responses of waterfowl to landscape change. Matt’s PhD research investigated the nesting ecology of ducks in the boreal forest and his Masters work was on the nesting and brood ecology of wood ducks in southern Ontario.

Matt’s current research continues to advance our understanding of ducks through the evaluation and testing of management assumptions for important breeding areas, including the prairies and boreal. Matt’s work is also focussed on identifying research needs and designing studies to fill key knowledge gaps in our understanding of waterfowl ecology.

Matt was a recipient of the MBNA Graduate Fellowship during his PhD research, the Echo Travel Award, and received an IWWR publication award for his PhD research.

Education

Ph.D., Ecological and Social Sustainability, University of Waterloo
M.Sc., Biology, Western University
B.Sc.. Natural Resources Management – Wildlife and Fisheries, University of Northern British Columbia

Matt’s Publications (organized by year)

Dyson, M.E., S.M. Slattery, and B.C. Fedy. 2024. Effects of oil and gas development on duck nest survival in the Western Boreal Forest. Avian Conservation and Ecology 19:12.

Johnstone, R.P.H., M.E. Dyson, S.M. Slattery, and B.C. Fedy. 2023. Multi-level habitat selection of boreal breeding mallards, Journal of Wildlife Management 87:e22403.

Dyson, M.E., S.M. Slattery, and B.C. Fedy. 2022. Multiscale nest-site selection of ducks in the Western Boreal Forest of Alberta. Ecology and Evolution 12:e9139.

Dyson, M. E., S. M. Slattery, and B. C. Fedy. 2021. There and back again: Female mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) breeding season movement across the Boreal Forest and Prairie Potholes. The Wilson Journal of Ornithology 132:441-447.

Maddelena, M.P., J. R. Row, M. E. Dyson, G. Blouin-Demers, and B. C. Fedy. 2020. Movement and habitat selection of eastern milksnakes (Lampropeltis triangulum) at intact and fragmented sites. Copeia 108:847-854.

Dyson, M. E., S. M. Slattery, and B. C. Fedy. 2020. Nest predators of ducks in the Boreal Forest. Wildlife Society Bulletin 44:631-639.

Dyson, M. E., S. M. Slattery, and B. C. Fedy. 2019. Microhabitat nest-site selection by ducks in the boreal forest. Journal of Field Ornithology 90: 348-360.

Dyson, M. E., M. L. Schummer, B. C. Fedy, T. S. Barney, H. A. L. Henry, and S. A. Petrie. 2018. Survival and habitat selection of wood duck ducklings. Journal of Wildlife Management 82: 1725-1735.