Arctic, behavioural ecology, climate change, evolutionary biology, trophic interactions, migration

Doctorate :

2011: Université du Québec à Rimouski

Masters :

2005: Michigan State University

Research interests:

Ecology and evolution of migratory strategies of Arctic nesting birds; Trade-offs between direct (physiological) and indirect (trophic interactions) effects of climate change on the growth and survival of chicks of Arctic nesting birds; Effects of spatial and temporal variations of trophic constraints (predation risk, food availability on reproduction of migratory birds).

Journal Articles

Peer-reviewed articles (*supervised students)

• Corkery, C.A.*, Nol, E., and L. McKinnon.  In revisions. No Effects of Asynchrony Between Hatching and Peak Food Availability on Chick Growth in Semipalmated Plovers (Charadrius semipalmatus) near Churchill, Manitoba. Waterbirds.
• McKinnon, L., Berteaux, D., and J. Bêty.  2014. Predator-mediated interactions between lemmings and shorebirds: a test of the alternative prey hypothesis. The Auk: Ornithological Advances 131 (4):619-628.
• MacCullough, K., Nol, E., Pollock, L. and L. McKinnon. 2014. Foraging ecology of migrant shorebirds wintering in coastal Cuba. Journal of Tropical Ecology 30(4): 347-357.
• Klima, J., Ballantyne, K., Perz, J., Johnson, A.S., Jackson, J.A., Lamarre, J-F., Nol, E. and L. McKinnon.  2013. American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica  and Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus longevity records and other old shorebirds from Churchill, Manitoba, Canada.  Wader Study Group Bulletin 120(1):1-2. 
• McKinnon, L., Nol, E. and C. Juillet. 2013. Arctic-nesting birds may find physiological relief in the face of trophic constraints. Nature Scientific Reports 3(1816).
• Bolduc, E., Casajus, N., Legagneux, P., McKinnon, L., Gilchrist, G.H., Leung, M., Morrison, R.I.G., Reid, D. Smith, P.A., Buddle, C.M. and J. Bêty. 2013. Terrestrial arthropod abundance and phenology in the Canadian Arctic; modeling the variation in resources available to arctic-nesting insectivores. Canadian Entomologist 45 (SI2): 155-170.
• McKinnon, L., Berteaux, D., Gauthier, G. and J. Bêty. 2013. Predator-mediated interactions between preferred, alternative and incidental prey.  Oikos 122(7): 1042-1048. Citations: 9.
• Legagneux, P., Gauthier, G., Berteaux, D., Bêty, J., Cadieux, M-C., Bilodeau, F., Bolduc, E., McKinnon, L., Tarroux, A., Therrien, J-F., Morissette, L. and C.J. Krebs.  2012. Disentangling trophic relationships in a High Arctic tundra ecosystem through food web modeling. Ecology 93(7): 1707-1716. 
• McKinnon, L., Picotin, M.*, Bolduc, E., Juillet, C. and J. Bêty. 2012. Timing of breeding, peak food availability and effects of mismatch on chick growth in High-Arctic-nesting birds. Canadian Journal of Zoology 90:961-971. Citations: 22.
• Gauthier, G., Berteaux, D., Bety, J., Tarroux, A., Therrien, J-F., McKinnon, L., Legagneux, P., and M.C. Cadieux. 2011. The arctic tundra food web in a changing climate and the role of exchanges between ecosystems. EcoScience 18(3): 223-235. 
• McKinnon, L., Smith, P.A., Nol, E., Martin, J-L., Doyle, F., Abraham, K.F., Gilchrist, H.G., Morrison, R.I.G. and J. Bêty. 2010. Suitability of artificial nests. Science 328 (5974):46-47. 
• McKinnon, L., Smith, P.A., Nol, E., Martin, J-L., Doyle, F., Abraham, K.F., Gilchrist, H.G., Morrison, R.I.G. and J. Bêty.  Lower predation risk for migratory birds at high latitudes. Science 327: 326-327. 
• McKinnon, L., Gilchrist, H.G. and D. Fifield. 2009. A pelagic seabird survey of Arctic and sub-Arctic waters during fall. Marine Ornithology 37:77-84. 
• McKinnon, L. and J. Bêty. 2009. Effect of camera monitoring on survival rates of High-Arctic shorebird nests. Journal of Field Ornithology 80(3): 280-288. 
• McKinnon, L., Gilchrist, H.G., and K.T. Scribner. 2006. Genetic evidence for kin-based female social structure in common eiders (Somateria mollissima).  Behavioral Ecology 17: 617-621.