Jean-Francois Robitaille

Jean-Francois Robitaille serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Biology at Laurentian University's School of Natural Sciences, with his office located in S-611 of the Science Building. He can be contacted via email at jfrobitaille@laurentian.ca or by phone at 705.675.1151 ext. 2294.

Education:

• B.Sc. in Zoology-Botany, University of Sherbrooke, 1981
• Ph.D. in Ethology, University of Montreal, 1989
• Postdoctoral Fellowship, UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal), 1989-1990

Research Interests:

Dr. Robitaille specializes in zoology and ecology with concentrated expertise in forest ecosystems and mammalogy. His primary focus involves mesocarnivore ecology (medium-sized carnivorous mammals), examining population dynamics, dietary adaptations, and physiological responses within natural habitats. His fieldwork integrates genetic analysis, dietary validation techniques, and body condition metrics to address wildlife conservation challenges in harvested populations.

Publication Trends:

His 2007-2012 publications reveal consistent investigation into carnivore ecology through three methodological lenses: population genetics (fisher recolonization), non-invasive dietary assessment (fecal validation for sympatric carnivores), and physiological energetics (wolverine body condition indices). These studies demonstrate applied approaches to wildlife management in Canadian forest ecosystems, emphasizing genetic diversity preservation and habitat conservation for medium-sized predators.

Advising and Grants:

While specific graduate student supervision or grant details aren't documented in available materials, his research methodology suggests active fieldwork requiring student collaboration in specimen collection and laboratory analysis. His publications indicate potential funding from Canadian wildlife conservation agencies given the focus on nationally significant species like fishers and wolverines.