Glyphosate Research on forest Organisms and Wildlife health
Student Projects
Update: July 2026
Our teams are back in the field collecting data! Stay tuned for new photos and details. In the meantime, check out our pictures from 2025, below, and some new publications that we worked on over the winter.
Update: January 2026
Our students have been hard at work, and are making good progress with their projects.
-
During the summer and fall of 2025, three research crews spent many hours in the field, collecting samples and data for the research on plants, soil, birds, arthropods (insects and spiders), and rodents (mainly voles).
-
Samples were first collected in July, before any treatments took place. The same sample types were collected again in the same forest cutblocks in August and/or September, after treatment with either brushing or glyphosate-based herbicide took place. Sample collection will be repeated in the summer of 2026.
-
Samples for the research on mustelids (weasels and martens) and ungulates (primarily moose) were collected by our partner organisations in the fall and winter.
-
The students are currently sorting through all of these samples and getting them organized and ready for chemical analyses.
-
Researchers in the analytical labs are working on perfecting the methods that will be used to test samples for glyphosate content and microbiomes.
Click the images below for more photos and videos from our first field season,
and to learn more about each of our students' projects!
In 2025, our botany team conducted plant community surveys and collected samples of soil and plant tissue (roots, shoots, flowers, & fruits of 2 species).
Our small mammals research team used marked catch and release methods to trap red-backed voles. Health data and faeces were collected.
Our arthropod researchers set up approximately 1500 traps to collect pollinators (primarily bumble bees) and ground-dwelling arthropods (primarily spiders).
Samples received from our partner organisations were sorted and are currently being stored until analyses can begin. More samples will be collected in the fall and winter.
Our bird researcher deployed acoustic monitors programmed to record birdsong during early morning hours. She is now working on identifying and analyzing the recordings.
Researchers in the analytical labs are working on perfecting the methods that will be used to test samples for glyphosate content and microbiomes.