“I am a MSc student working under the supervision of Dr. Jesse Vermaire (Carleton University) and Dr. Jennifer Provencher (Environment and Climate Change Canada). I completed my Bachelors degree in Geography at the University of the Fraser Valley.
My current research is focused on assessing the concentrations and drivers of microplastics in environmental systems. I am specifically looking at microplastics in water and sediment from the Canadian Arctic, including from Qikiqtarjuaq (Nunavut), Iqaluit (Nunavut) and Herschel Island (Yukon). I am also looking at how Arctic seabirds may be acting as vectors for transporting microplastics to terrestrial environments via their guano. I recently completed another project looking at whether seals from the eastern Canadian Arctic are retaining plastics in their stomachs”.
Madelaine’s recently published journal article can be found here:
Madelaine P. T. Bourdages., Jennifer F. Provencher., Enooyaq Sudlovenick., Steven H. Ferguson., Brent G. Young., Nicolas Pelletier., Michael J.J. Murphy., Alexa D’Addario., Jesse C. Vermaire. January 2020. No plastics detected in seal (Phocidae) stomachs harvested in the eastern Canadian Arctic. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 150: 1-5.
More information on Madelaine’s research can also be found here: Canadian Geographic – Negative tests for microplastics a positive for marine mammals in eastern Canadian Arctic