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THE BIWEEKLY
JUNE 15, 2025
Published by the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists
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Potential Canada Post Service Disruption
An important notice for ASPB Applicants:
There is an ongoing possibility that Canadian mail delivery may be disrupted. For ASPB applicants, options are available and can be found on the ASPB website.
Note that we will arrange alternative shipping methods to ensure
the timely delivery of stamps and certificates.
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Conference 2025:
The Evolution of Biological Practice;
Celebrating 50 Years with the ASPB
Don't miss your chance to support
this year’s conference:
Click here for
Sponsorship Packages
AND
Don't forget this year's
ASPB Photo Contest
The ASPB is hosting its annual photo contest again in 2025, with winners to be announced at the annual conference (November 26–28). Submissions are welcome from smartphones as well as traditional cameras.
CONTEST RULES
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Join the ASPB
Student Ambassador
Program
The ASPB Student Ambassador Program seeks to identify students who can help foster student engagement in biology-related activities, promote ASPB events and initiatives, and provide career development opportunities for students in biology programs. Read More Here
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NEW ON THE
JOB
BOARD
Junior & Intermediate Environmental Specialists
First Nation Field Assistant for Fish Habitat Assessments
Environmental Regulatory & Permitting Specialist
Intermediate Fisheries Biologist
Senior Aquatic Project Manager
Junior Forest Hydrologist
Junior/Intermediate Biologist
Assessment & Permitting Team Lead
Student Field Biologist
Water Resources Scientist
Intermediate Field Biologist/
Environmental Technician
Vegetation Ecologist
FIND INFORMATION
ON THESE AND
MANY OTHER POSITIONS
ON THE JOB BOARD
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The ASPB Regional Celebrations
are getting underway!
The date for the first of the ASPB Regional Celebrations has been confirmed! It will be held on the evening of June 19, 2025 at the Hash Breakfast Eatery & Forno Italian on 66 Street in Red Deer! Be sure to sign up by June 16th!
Each regional celebration will be hosted and facilitated by ASPB staff and board members. We will have complementary snacks and drinks available for you. This event is for ASPB members only.
Thanks to everyone who filled out the survey regarding your interest in the ASPB regional celebrations to acknowledge our 50th year. If you haven’t already RSVP’d please do so on by following the link on our website, www.aspb.ab.ca/events
The remaining locations; Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat and Lethbridge are also available through the link above; check it out for more information. More info will be sent via email after we have received your RSVP. Please contact the ASPB if you have any questions.
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Red Deer Polytechnic is setting up
An Industry Program Advisory Committee
for Biological Sciences Degree review
A program review for the Red Deer Polytechnic (RDP) Biological Sciences Degree is required by the Ministry of Advanced Education one year after the first graduating class and needs to include feedback from an Industry Program Advisory Committee (IPAC).
Although the RDP is seeking an IPAC for the program review, it is in fact a standing committee that will be ongoing as an important process to ensure the quality and agility of the degree program. They are currently reaching out in search of people interested in being part of the IPAC. They can include anyone who is working in a related field and is external to RDP.)
Below is a brief description of the structure and role of the IPAC:
The IPAC is comprised of approximately two current students, seven external stakeholders from government, industry, etc. and four institutional staff (college dean and/or associate dean, the program chair, plus two individuals for oversight of program review process specifically)
The primary goals of the IPAC are:
- To act as a bridge between RDP and community to ensure graduates meet current and future demand
- To explore opportunities for new program development
- To consider changes to program structure (i.e. adding a co-op)
- To adapt learning outcomes as needed, often by defining the ideal graduate profile rather than diving into specific course learning outcomes
- To build connections for work integrated learning opportunities
- To strengthen relationships and build networks with external stakeholders
The IPAC is not a decision-making body; it is an advisory body. There is a governance structure for program changes, so even the RDP staff on the IPAC are not decision makers; they are only proposal makers and/or advocates for change
The RDP is hoping for a two-year commitment from IPAC members to establish continuity. Each meeting typically lasts 1.5 hrs and there will be between two and four meetings each year. There may be some pre-reading for meetings, and/or short surveys. The first meeting is expected to be held in mid-to-late June, 2025.
Interested members of the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists should contact the RDP through Sam Krutzfeldt, BSc., ASPB Regulatory Coordinator, at coordinator@aspb.ab.ca
| | SEMINARS, WEBINARS & WORKSHOPS | |
Learn About Changes to Alberta's Water Act
Join the Environmental Law Centre's Jason Unger for an engaging webinar about the upcoming changes to the Water Act and what they could mean for water management in our province.
These changes will highlight key areas for water users, the health of our aquatic ecosystems, and how we can manage and care for this essential public resource in the future.
Date: Wednesday, June 19, 2025
Time: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM (MDT)
Where: Online via Zoom
Speaker: Jason Unger, Executive Director & General Counsel, ELC
He will cover:
- How water is currently allocated and managed in Alberta
- What the proposed changes to the Water Act mean
- Why water availability and aquatic ecosystem health must be priorities
- Legal and policy pathways toward sustainable water governance
Click here to register now
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AAFMP Professional Development Series:
Beyond the Hype with Dan Juhlin:
Scaling Drone Operations in Forestry
Free webinar on June 19, 2025
As drone technology becomes more capable and accessible, forestry professionals are increasingly faced with decisions about how—and when—to integrate drones into their operations. This session provides a high-level framework for evaluating the business case for drone use.
It will also explore practical considerations for scaling up drone use, including regulatory and safety requirements, resource capacity, and technical complexity. This session will help you make informed, strategic decisions when considering the next stage of adoption.
Dan is a leader in the Canadian RPAS (Remotely Piloted Aircraft System) landscape, with over a decade of experience spanning operations, analysis, policy development, training, and government relations. He has been instrumental in developing solutions and technologies that have advanced the Canadian RPAS ecosystem. His expertise includes RPAS, GIS, spatial modeling, and remote sensing.
REGISTER HERE
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Webinar (APEGA):
How Mass Timber is Transforming Canada
This presentation, at noon on June 26, 2025, explores how mass timber accelerates construction timelines, redefines how we value forest resources, and supports Indigenous and rural economic development. This event is brought to you by the Edmonton Branch of APEGA; everyone is welcome to attend. Register Now
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Whitebark and Limber Pine Survey Methods,
Health and Restoration
This two-day course is in Manning Park, BC, July 10th & 11th (please register by July 1st).
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Day 1: Comprehensive field introduction to whitebark and limber pine ecosystems, threats, species identification, disease and pest assessment
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Day 2: Plus-tree selection, field data collection, recovery strategies, regulations, best practices and restoration approaches.
For more details please go HERE.
Registration for professionals is $620 + GST ($550 + GST for Members).
Register Now
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Wetlands in Alberta’s Peace Region:
On July 15 & 16, in Grimshaw, AB, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Mighty Peace Watershed Alliance (MPWA) are teaming up to host this Wetlands in the Boreal Workshop Series, an exciting two-day workshop all about wetlands in the Peace Region! Registration for this free workshop can be found HERE.
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Wetlands in the Boreal Transition Zone
On August 12 and 13, in Lac La Biche, AB, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Lakeland Industry and Community Association (LICA) are teaming up to host
Wetlands in the Boreal Transition Zone, an exciting two-day workshop all about wetlands in the Beaver River Watershed! Registration for this free workshop can be found HERE.
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NATURAL RESOURCES
TRAINING GROUP
Land Guardian Program – May 26th – June 27th, 2025 – Online
Land Guardian Program – May 26th – June 27th, 2025 – Online Natural Resources Training Group
Fish Habitat Assessment – Theory (Online) June 13th & Nova Scotia (Central) – June 23rd & 24th, 2025
Fish Habitat Assessment – Theory (Online) June 13th & Nova Scotia (Central) – June 23rd & 24th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Whitehorse, June 16th, 2025
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Whitehorse, June 16th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Whitehorse, June 17th, 2025
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Whitehorse, June 17th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Species at Risk – Online, June 17th – 18th, 2025
Species at Risk – Online, June 17th – 18th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Kelowna, June 18th, 2025
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Kelowna, June 18th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Communicating Environmental Science – Online – June 18th, 2025
Communicating Environmental Science – Online – June 18th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Fish Habitat Assessment – Theory (Online) June 13th & Fort St. John – June 19th – June 20th, 2025
Fish Habitat Assessment – Theory (Online) June 13th & Fort St. John – June 19th – June 20th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Cochrane, June 20th, 2025
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & Cochrane, June 20th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & West Vancouver, June 20th, 2025
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & West Vancouver, June 20th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Construction Monitoring — Wildlife Mitigation – Online – June 24th, 2025
Construction Monitoring — Wildlife Mitigation – Online – June 24th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Fish Habitat Assessment – Theory (Online) June 13th & Kamloops – June 26th – June 27th, 2025
Fish Habitat Assessment – Theory (Online) June 13th & Kamloops – June 26th – June 27th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
For the full calendar of upcoming courses, and course details, follow this link:
https://nrtraininggroup.com/schedule/
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KEEPING TRACK
with
FIERA BIOLOGICAL CONSULTING
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Track & Sign OnLine – Study Session, Aug. 26, 2025.
6pm MDT | 2-hours | Online via Zoom
The study session will focus on impactful tracking tips aimed at improving performance at a future Track & Sign Certification, or give you a jump start at one of our other in-person tracking workshops.
Open to anyone interested — you do not have to be signed up for a Certification or in-person workshop to participate.
Learn more and register here
Track & Sign Certification – Sep. 9 & 10, 2025, Hinton, Alberta
Hinton Area | September 9 & 10, 2025 | Ages 18+ | Register before September 1 | Limited Space
This 2-day field-based workshop in Alberta’s wildlife rich foothills offers the opportunity for participants to earn certifications in Track & Sign from Levels 1 to Professional (Level 4). This is an extremely challenging and engaging workshop designed to find the edges of your abilities and propel you past them. Participants must obtain at least 70% during the evaluation —
All abilities welcome.
Learn more and register here
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PRAIRIE CONSERVATION ACTION PLAN
June Native Prairie Speaker Series and Native Prairie Appreciation Week Celebration
"Wildlife, Landscapes, and Geology: Exploring Prairie Connections"
Speaker: Dr. Dale Leckie, Award-winning Author
Tuesday June 17th, 2025 at 12:00pm
Register Free: https://shorturl.at/tJJuBor or the full link here (for government computers)
The folks at PCAP try to record these webinars, which should be available on the PCAP YouTube Channel shortly after the live broadcast, so you can watch at your convenience!
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Do we stay or do we go?
Making decisions in the field
An article by NRTG’s Sean Mitchell
We have all been there. Working in the field completing our activities in which we are well trained and practiced, everything is going well… until it isn’t. Equipment may break down, bad weather unexpectedly rolls in, the work takes longer than we planned, a crew member is slightly injured but maintains that they can push through and complete the day’s work. How do you make the right decision of how to proceed? Do you keep working? Return to office? Something else?
To paraphrase a commonly seen quote, "good decision making comes from experience which often comes from poor decisions". So, yes, our ability to make choices that work out well comes largely from practice. But, even with little of that real world practice, there are a few things that can help you make a good field decision and, importantly, justify it. For the sake of this blog, in the descriptions below, assume you are at a remote site having no communication back to the office: you, the crew lead, must make the decision. Below are a small handful of consideration for making, and justifying, those difficult field decisions: Continue Reading
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At the ASPB, we regularly receive notifications from Google Scholar and other sources which we select and share below in the BIWEEKLY. Here is the latest batch (the links are HOT):
A Damming History: An Analysis on the Legacy Effects of Beaver Dams on the Composition and Structure of a Montane Riparian Ecosystem
Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) demographics and metal (loid) concentrations in egg contents from the Kootenai River basin, Montana nest box colonies
Otolith and muscle stable isotope analyses to assess food-web interactions between threatened bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) and invasive common carp …
Canadian research reels from Trump cuts
“My treasured memories, I’ve learned, are all subsidized by a massive Fish Industrial Complex — one that has taken a toll on all sorts of insects, invertebrates, frogs, and salamanders.”
Species on the Move: Migration, Range Shifts, and Dispersal of Species
North American river otter (lontra canadensis) prey selection of wintering waterbirds in a wetland complex
Comparative identification of common Aspen Parkland plant species using three molecular barcodes
Greater sage-grouse habitat restoration with range management, revegetation, and herbicide
Bruce spanworm complex
Multi-model assessments to characterize occurrences of emerald ash borer (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)
Out of sight and out of mind? The conservation status of subterranean biodiversity in the United States and Canada
How small-scale fisheries feed the world
What’s up with the Northwest Passage
Plains Sucker (Saskatchewan-Nelson population): Consultations on listing under the Species at Risk Act – Public consultation search – Species at risk registry
Peering Into the Past Century of Mountain Diversity Change by Uniting Two Modes of Remote Sensing
Broad and Fine Scale Range Shifts of a Species at Risk Across North America
Morphological diversity of two phylogeographic lineages of Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Alberta
Review of Remembering Our Relations: Denesuline Oral Histories of Wood Buffalo National Park by Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation with S. Trimble and P. Fortna
Eco-Evolutionary Drivers of Symbiotic Network Assembly: A Case Study With Cyanolichens
Dispersal dynamics of white-tailed deer in human-altered landscapes and implications for disease risk
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This week’s banner photo:
Feeding the Chicks
One of my tasks as an avian biologist was to find and buffer migratory bird nests during the breeding season to protect them from construction. Photo by Angela Nerbas, taken with a DSLR
PROFESSIONAL BIOLOGISTS PROTECT THE PUBLIC INTEREST
In Alberta, Professional Biologists are registrants of the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists (ASPB), and are subject to a code of ethics, continuing competency requirements, and a disciplinary process. The ASPB is a self-regulated organization under legislation in the Province of Alberta, meaning its purpose is to protect the public of Alberta by ensuring biologists are qualified to practice biology in accordance with that legislation. The society is governed by a Board of Directors elected by its registrants.
You are probably receiving this newsletter because you are an ASPB Registrant. This newsletter provides relevant information and professional development opportunities for our members, as well as essential member-related society business; if you are registered with the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists, please DO NOT unsubscribe.
For more information about the Society or to contact the administration, please visit the website: https://www.aspb.ab.ca
Opinions and general news published in this e-newsletter
do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of the Society or its Board of Directors.
2025
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