Seabird Population Biologist Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific andYukon Region

Research Associate
Simon Fraser University

2000 PhD, Biopsychology
Memorial University of Newfoundland

1996 MSc, Biology
University of Ottawa

1986 BSc, Wildlife Biology
University of Guelph

Phone: (604) 940-4720

Fax: (604) 946-7022

Since 1989, I have conducted research on many aspects of seabird biology and marine ecology in Alaska, Canada's eastern Arctic, Newfoundland and Labrador, and British Columbia. Research topics that have been of particular interest include: (1) the evolutionary ecology of the Alcidae; (2) parental investment decisions, especially related to egg production and chick provisioning; (3) causes and consequences of variation in the size and composition of eggs, both within and among species; (4) factors affecting offspring growth and development, and their consequences for condition at time of nest departure and recruitment; and (5) ecological and demographic responses of seabird populations to environmental variability. The publications listed below give an idea of the range of topics addressed in my research.

Since 2001, I have directed the Centre for Wildlife Ecology's seabird research and monitoring program at Triangle Island, British Columbia. This program aims to integrate pure and applied science to provide a more comprehensive understanding of seabird biology. Ultimately, we hope to provide the information necessary to enable the Canadian Wildlife Service to enact effective conservation strategies for marine wildlife. Follow the link to learn more about Triangle Island and the CWE's seabird research program, including former and current graduate student projects.

Some recent publications

Hipfner, J.M., M.R. Charete and G.S. Blackburn. In press. Subcolony variation in breeding success in the Tufted Puffin, its association with foraging ecology and its implications. Auk 124.

Regehr, H.M., M.S. Rodway, M.J.F. Lemon and J.M. Hipfner. In press. Recovery of the Ancient Murrelet colony on Langara Island, British Columbia, following eradication of introduced rats. Marine Ornithol.

Zimmerman, K. and J.M. Hipfner. In press. Egg size, eggshell porosity and incubation period in the marine bird family Alcidae. Auk 124.

Hipfner, J.M., A.J. Gaston and B.D. Smith. 2006. Regulation of provisioning in the Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia). Can. J. Zool. 84:931-938.

Sydeman, W.J., R.W. Bradley, P. Warzybok, B.L. Abraham, J. Jahncke, K.D. Hyrenbach, V. Kousky, J.M. Hipfner and M.D. Ohman. 2006. Planktivorous auklet Ptychoramphus aleuticus responses to ocean climate, 2005: Unusual atmospheric blocking? Geophys. Res. Let. 33, L22S09, DOI:10.1029/2006GL026736.

Gaston, A.J., and J.M. Hipfner. 2006. Body mass changes in Brünnich’s Guillemots Uria lomvia with age and breeding stage. J. Avian Biol. 37:101-109.

Gaston, A.J., and J.M. Hipfner. 2006. Adult breeding Brünnich’s Guillemots balance body condition and investment in chick growth. Ibis 148:106-113.

Gaston, A.J., H.G. Gilchrist and J.M. Hipfner. 2005. Climate change, ice conditions and reproduction in an Arctic-nesting marine bird: Brünnich's Guillemot (Uria lomvia, L.). J. Animal Ecol. 74:832-841.

Hipfner, J.M. 2005. Population status of the Common Murre in British Columbia, Canada. Marine Ornithol. 33:67-69.

Hipfner, J.M., A.J. Gaston, and H.G. Gilchrist. 2005. Variation in egg size and laying date in Thick-billed Murre populations breeding in the Low and High Arctic. Condor 107:656-663.

Hipfner, J.M., K. Charleton, and W.E. Davies. 2004. Rates and consequences of relaying in Cassin’s Auklets and Rhinoceros Auklets breeding in a seasonal environment. J. Avian Biol. 35:224-236.

Gaston, A.J., K. Woo, and J.M. Hipfner. 2003. Trends in forage fish populations in northern Hudson Bay since 1981, as determined from the diet of nestling Thick-billed Murres Uria lomvia. Arctic 56: 227-233.

Hipfner, J.M., A.J. Gaston, G. Herzberg, J. Brosnan, and A.E. Storey. 2003. Egg composition in relation to female age and relaying: constraints on egg production in Thick-billed Murres. Auk 120: 645-657.

Gaston, A.J., J.M. Hipfner, and D.G. Campbell. 2002. Heat and mosquitoes cause mortality and breeding failure in an arctic-nesting seabird. Ibis 144: 185-191.

Hipfner, J.M., and A.J. Gaston. 2002. Growth of Thick-billed Murre chicks in relation to parental experience and hatching date. Auk 119: 827-832.

Hipfner, J.M. 2001. Fitness-related consequences of relaying in an arctic seabird: survival of offspring to recruitment age. Auk 118: 1076-1080.

Hipfner, J.M., A.J. Gaston, and A.E. Storey. 2001. Nest-site safety predicts the relative investment made in first and replacement eggs by two long-lived seabirds. Oecologia 129: 234-242.

Bryant, R., I.L. Jones, and J.M. Hipfner. 1999. Responses to changes in prey availability by Common Murres and Thick-billed Murres at the Gannet Islands, Labrador. Canadian Journal of Zoology 77: 1278-1287.

Hipfner, J.M., and A.J. Gaston. 1999. Timing of nest departure in the Thick-billed Murre and Razorbill: tests of Ydenberg’s model. Ecology 80: 587-596.

Hipfner, J.M., and A.J. Gaston. 1999. The relationship between egg size and post hatching development in the Thick-billed Murre. Ecology 80: 1289-1297.

Hipfner, J.M., A.J. Gaston, D.L. Martin, and I.L. Jones. 1999. Seasonal declines in replacement egg-layings in a long-lived, arctic seabird: costs of late breeding or variation in female quality? Journal of Animal Ecology 68: 988-998.

Birds of North America accounts

Hipfner, J.M. and G. Chapdelaine. 2002. Razorbill (Alca torda). In The Birds of North America, No. 635 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.

Gaston, A.J. and J.M. Hipfner. 2000. Thick-billed Murre (Uria lomvia). In The Birds of North America, No. 497 (A. Poole and F. Gill, Eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.