Nicola Koper, University of Manitoba

Research

Agroecosystems Avian conservation Habitat composition and configuration Indigenous land management Migratory birds Small-scale agriculture

Latest papers

Traffic Reduction during COVID-19 Lockdowns Benefited Species Already Tolerant of Noise Pollution: An Acoustic Analysis.
The American naturalist · 2026
Ecological Drivers of Molt-Breeding Overlap, an Unusual Life-History Strategy of Small-Island Birds?
Ecology and evolution · 2025 · senior author
Overcoming confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research.
Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society · 2024

All 16 publications

Latest funding

Ecology and conservation of migratory birds in human-altered landscapes
NSERC · 2023 · Principal investigator
$102,000
Recovery of two endangered prairie butterfly species in Canada
NSERC · 2022 · Co-investigator
$68,667
Effects of COVID-19-related travel restrictions on migratory birds, including species at risk, in Canada_x000d_ _x000d_ _x000d_ _x000d_
NSERC · 2020 · Principal investigator
$50,000

All 7 grants and awards

16 publications.

01

Traffic Reduction during COVID-19 Lockdowns Benefited Species Already Tolerant of Noise Pollution: An Acoustic Analysis.

Santos PM, Mennill DJ, Koper N, Cardoso GC

The American naturalist2026

DOI: 10.1086/740812 PMID: 42313794

02

Ecological Drivers of Molt-Breeding Overlap, an Unusual Life-History Strategy of Small-Island Birds?

De Ruyck CC, Koper N

Ecology and evolution2025Senior author

DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70607 PMID: 39830705

03

Overcoming confusion and stigma in habitat fragmentation research.

Riva F, Koper N, Fahrig L

Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society2024

DOI: 10.1111/brv.13073 PMID: 38477434

04

Oil Infrastructure has Greater Impact than Noise on Stress and Habitat Selection in Three Grassland Songbirds.

Des Brisay PG, Burns LD, Ellison K, Anderson WG, Leonard M, Koper N

Environmental management2023Senior author

DOI: 10.1007/s00267-022-01752-2 PMID: 36459195

05

Avian behaviour changes in response to human activity during the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom.

Warrington MH, Schrimpf MB, Des Brisay P, Taylor ME, Koper N

Proceedings. Biological sciences2022Senior author

DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.2740 PMID: 36126685

06

Global COVID-19 lockdown highlights humans as both threats and custodians of the environment

Bates AE, Primack RB, Biggar BS, Bird TJ, Clinton ME, Command RJ, Richards C, Shellard M, Geraldi NR, Vergara V

Biological Conservation2021164 citations

DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109175

07

Diel patterns of predation and fledging at nests of four species of grassland songbirds.

Ribic CA, Rugg DJ, Ellison K, Koper N, Pietz PJ

Ecology and evolution2021

DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7541 PMID: 34141265

08

Effects of Natural Habitat Loss and Edge Effects on Wild Bees and Pollination Services in Remnant Prairies.

Olynyk M, Westwood AR, Koper N

Environmental entomology2021Senior author

DOI: 10.1093/ee/nvaa186 PMID: 33492391

09

Reduced human activity during COVID-19 alters avian land use across North America.

Schrimpf MB, Des Brisay PG, Johnston A, Smith AC, Sánchez-Jasso J, Robinson BG, Warrington MH, Mahony NA, Horn AG, Strimas-Mackey M, Fahrig L, Koper N

Science advances2021Senior author

DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf5073 PMID: 34550735

10

Host dispersal and landscape conversion are associated with the composition of haemosporidian parasites of the golden-winged warbler.

Enslow C, Vallender R, Rondel E, Koper N

Parasitology2020Senior author

DOI: 10.1017/s0031182019001240 PMID: 31452483

Ecology and conservation of migratory birds in human-altered landscapes

Principal investigatorNSERC2023Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Koper, Nicola

Keywords: agroecosystems; avian conservation; migratory birds; habitat composition and configuration; indigenous land management; small-scale agriculture

$102,000

Recovery of two endangered prairie butterfly species in Canada

Co-investigatorNSERC2022Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Westwood, Richard RA

Keywords: captive breeding; climate change; disturbance ecology; habitat conservation; habitat management; habitat restoration; landscape ecology; population ecology; species at risk; species reintroduction

$68,667

Effects of COVID-19-related travel restrictions on migratory birds, including species at risk, in Canada_x000d_ _x000d_ _x000d_ _x000d_

Principal investigatorNSERC2020Alliance Grants

Principal investigators: Koper, Nicola

$50,000

Effects of industrial activity and anthropogenic noise on grassland birds

Principal investigatorNSERC2017Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Koper, Nicola

$198,000

""Effects of disturbance, habitat loss and fragmentation on prairie birds and their ecosystems""

Principal investigatorNSERC2012Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Koper, Nicola

$130,000

Effects of oil wells and associated infrastructure on grassland songbirds, including species at risk

Principal investigatorNSERC2012Collaborative Research and Development Grants

Principal investigators: Koper, Nicola

$680,179

Effects of disturbance on prairie birds

Principal investigatorNSERC2007Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Principal investigators: Koper, Nicola

$72,200

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Biology
Biologie
Ecosystem Science and Management Program
Earth, Environment & Society
Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour

Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their NSERC grant from 2023

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Agroecosystems Dear Professor Koper, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "Traffic Reduction during COVID-19 Lockdowns Benefited Species Already Tolerant of Noise Pollution: An Acoustic Analysis." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your NSERC-funded project "Ecology and conservation of migratory birds in human-altered landscapes" (2023), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]