ALBERTA BIOLOGISTS' BIWEEKLY
JANUARY 15, 2025
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ASPB MEMBERSHIP FEES
are now due.
Late fees will apply
beginning February One.
Login to your Dashboard to pay your fees and renew your membership!
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Helping to Support Those Who
Help Enliven Our Conferences
Beginning with the ASPB 2022 conference, the ASPB has made the decision to replace speaker and presenter thank-you gifts with meaningful donations to companies that share our values and passions. Our conference committees, with the ASPB Board's support, have felt that such financial contributions would likely be better utilized than some piece of miscellaneous hardware that may well hit the trash can or at best, sit on the back of a member's shelf.
In 2022 and 2023, recipients of this new initiative included IndigeSTEAM, Scientists in School, the Alberta Women's Science Network, and Nature Alberta.
From the 2024 conference in Red Deer, donations were received by:
- the Alberta Institute for Wildlife Conservation (conference attendees voted)
- the Waskasoo Environmental Education Society (hosted the nature walk at the 2024 Conference)
- Companion Paws (which brought therapy dog Ruby and her handler, Jolyne, to the conference)
We are proud to be able to support these companies and look forward to continuing this tradition.
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NEW ON THE
JOB
BOARD
Conservation Associate
Student Wildlife Biologist
Senior Biologist
Senior Advisor, Environment
Intermediate Field Biologist
Field Supervisor Environmental Consultant
Senior Fisheries Biologist
Intermediate Biologist
Summer Field Technician
Seasonal Wildlife
Technicians/Biologists
Project Manager,
Environmental Services
Senior Wildlife Biologist
Junior Wildlife Biologist
FIND INFORMATION
ON THESE AND OTHER POSITIONS
ON THE JOB BOARD
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Professional Perspectives:
Respecting
What You Cannot See
by Lorne Fitch, P. Biol.
See BIOS BRIEF
down the page
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
JANUARY
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Aquality announces 2-day course:
Alberta Wetlands: From Classification to Policy
Course material includes wetland classification, the ecosystem roles and functions of wetlands, wetland hydrology, and an examination of characteristics of peatlands and mineral wetlands. Federal, provincial, and municipal policies, regulations, and legislations affecting wetlands in Alberta, particularly the Alberta Wetland Policy (2013), will be discussed. Wetland assessments including both desktop delineations and field assessments, ABWRET assessments, and economic valuation of wetlands will be examined. Wetland avoidance, mitigation, compensation/replacement guidelines, and WAIR/WAIF applications will also be addressed.
This 2-day course will be taking place online via Zoom on January 28-29, 2025. The course will run from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm both days. Register here: https://www.wetlandpolicy.ca/register
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Field Law Webinar
Important Regulatory Cases of 2024
Learn about the most important professional regulatory court and tribunal cases of 2024. Presented by Greg Sim. Jason Kully and James Casey of Field Law, this popular annual webinar is a comprehensive review of key cases from across Canada that address topics including Freedom of speech: the Jordan Peterson case and legislative initiatives, and Discipline for social media posts.
The webinar takes place on January 29, 2025 between noon and 1:30 MST; the cost is $100 per attendee.
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
FEBRUARY
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Native Prairie Restoration/Reclamation Workshop
The 11th Native Prairie Restoration/Reclamation Workshop and the Prairie Fire Summit 2025 will take place February 11-13, 2025 in Regina. The theme is "Collaborative Approaches to Prairie Conservation", and here is the Draft Program . Registration is now open.
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NATURAL RESOURCES
TRAINING GROUP
NRTG’s courses for January 2025:
Fish Habitat Restoration — Stream Morphology Assessment – Online – January 16th, 2025
Fish Habitat Restoration — Stream Morphology Assessment – Online – January 16th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Advanced Electrofishing – Online – January 17th, 2025
Advanced Electrofishing – Online – January 17th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Advanced Fish Sampling – Online – January 20th, 2024
Advanced Fish Sampling – Online – January 20th, 2024 Natural Resources Training Group
Wetland Assessment – Online, January 21st – 22nd, 2025
Wetland Assessment – Online, January 21st – 22nd, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Field Safety — Preparation – Online – January 22nd & 27th, 2025
Field Safety — Preparation – Online – January 22nd & 27th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Drone Applications in Environmental Surveying – Online – January 23rd, 2025
Drone Applications in Environmental Surveying – Online – January 23rd, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Winning Proposals — Writing to Secure Funding – Online – January 28th, 2025
Winning Proposals — Writing to Secure Funding – Online – January 28th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Fish Habitat Restoration — Groyne Design and Function in Rivers – Online – January 30th, 2025
Fish Habitat Restoration — Groyne Design and Function in Rivers – Online – January 30th, 2025 Natural Resources Training Group
Fish Habitat Restoration — Identification of Factors Limiting Fish Productivity – Online – January 31st, 2025
Fish Habitat Restoration — Identification of Factors Limiting Fish Productivity – Online – January 31st, 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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COLUMBIA MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE
of Applied Ecology
Revelstoke BC
QGIS Level I & II – Online
Dates scheduled according to student schedules.
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GRASSLAND RESTORATION FORUM | |
GRF Workshop:
Brush up on your grassland assessment skills before field season. The Grassland Restoration Forum are offering a one day course, "How to Use the Range Plant Community Guides and Recovery Strategies Manuals for Project and Reclamation Planning in Grasslands" - Thursday March 20th, 2025, 10:00 – 16:30 at the Glenbow Ranch Schoolhouse, Cochrane.
To learn more and register, contact:
Jane Lancaster - GRF Coordinator
janelanc@telusplanet.net
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PRAIRIE CONSERVATION
ACTION PLAN
Webinars and Conferences
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Ord's Kangaroo Rats
Speaker: Jessie Bainbridge, MSc Candidate,
University of Regina, Dept of Biology.
Thursday January 30th, 2025 at 12PM
Register Free
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Piping Plovers and the 2024 Prairie Canada Piping Plover Census Results
Thursday February 6th, 2025 at 12:00pm
Speaker: Ashley Vass, Habitat Stewardship Coordinator, Nature Saskatchewan
Register Free: https://shorturl.at/vEeb0
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The 11th Native Prairie Restoration/Reclamation Workshop
February 12-13, 2025 in Regina
Theme: "Collaborative Approaches to Prairie Conservation"
The workshop will include oral presentations, case studies, panel discussions, a trade show and a poster session.
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THE ALBERTA
NATIVE PLANT COUNCIL
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The ANPC is offering a new monthly lunchtime webinar mini-series for 2025, Elements of Permaculture. Join us for this 3-part mini-series where we’ll begin by learning the foundational elements of regenerative ecosystems and how to apply these concepts to any landscape.
The first webinar of the 3-part mini-series will be held January 21, 2025 at 12:00 PM MST. Jenn MacAusland will present on the Foundational Elements of Permaculture. You can register HERE.
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KEEPING TRACK
with
FIERA BIOLOGICAL CONSULTING
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Track & Sign OnLine – Study Session, Feb. 27, 2025.
6pm MST | 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
Snow Tracking Field Essentials – Mar. 1, 2025, Edmonton, AB
Elk Island National Park | March 1, 2025 | Must be aged 18+
Snow Tracking Field Essentials is a one-day, field-based workshop focused on identifying tracks in snow. Learn to recognize key characteristics in track patterns, and apply your knowledge of the character and physical attributes of each species as a crucial first step to identifying the track-maker. Participants will reduce their dependance on footprint features to confidently match track makers to species. Perfect for ecology students, wildlife researchers, and environmental consultants with any level of tracking knowledge or experience. Ideal training for those working towards a Track & Sign Certification.
Difficulty is Intermediate to Advanced, but all abilities are welcome.
Learn more and register here
Track & Sign Certification – March 12 & 13, 2025, Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton Area | March 12 & 13, 2025 | Ages 18+ | Register before February 26 | Limited Space
This 2-day field-based workshop offers the opportunity for participants to earn certifications in Track & Sign from Levels 1 to Professional (Level 4). Participants must obtain at least 70% during the evaluation — it won’t be easy!
All abilities welcome.
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). Participants must obtain at least 70% during the evaluation — it won’t be easy!
All abilities welcome.
Learn more and register here
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Respecting What You Cannot See
by Lorne Fitch, P. Biol.
Sometimes you have to look past your front porch to gain perspective on how others view what isn’t immediately evident. The people of Iceland provide a unique perspective on the things they cannot see, but feel obligated to protect.
In Iceland elves are treated with great respect. Special rocks and hills in which elves make their homes are diligently protected for it is believed great harm befalls those who tamper with their elusive neighbours. To this extent environmental impact assessments make some allowances for elves.
Roads skirt well known elf hills. One such road runs from Reykjavik to the suburbs of Kapavogur. Of course it is called Elf Hill Road. On the main street of Grondorfjorder a rock stands between the houses numbered 82 and 86. The elves live at 84. Presumably elves are exempt from taxes (maybe even building codes) because of their stature in the community.
It’s acknowledged that true believers in elves comprise a minority in Iceland. “Most of us,” says Dr Arni Bjornsson, “do not actively believe in these things, but on the other hand we are reluctant to deny their existence.” There is equally no proof elves don’t exist, so it pays to harbour a little doubt. In a land that is highly unpredictable—what might be meadow today and lava and ash tomorrow—Icelanders have learned not to rely exclusively on their senses for factual evidence.
Lorne Fitch is a retired fish and wildlife biologist and the author of Streams of Consequence and Travels Up the Creek: A Biologist’s Search For a Paddle.
Read More Here
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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):
The Influence of Seismic Lines on Local Hydrology and Snow Accumulation in the Boreal Region of Northern Alberta
Castilleja
Behaviour as an indicator of cyclic trends in abundance of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus)
Influence of boreal forest disturbance and conspecific attraction on the Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) habitat choices during the breeding season
Fluctuations in Bat-house Colony Size May Hamper Estimation of Population Changes
Metal uptake in wetland plants from oil sands process-affected waters: a case study
Scarification with a Low Concentration of Acid Facilitates Water Acquisition and Minimizes Cold Stratification Duration, Improving the Seed Germination of Canadian Buffaloberry …
A new lichen and lichenicolous fungus from Larix laricina in patterned fens of boreal North America
White-tailed deer limit their spatio-temporal overlap with hikers in a protected area
An Estimate of Wolverine Density for the Canadian Province of Alberta
Mitochondrial DNA Indicates that Extirpated Ovis canadensis texianus was a Member of the Desert Bighorn Sheep Complex
PFAS contamination in tap water: Target and suspect screening of zwitterionic, cationic, and anionic species across Canada and beyond
Resources Depletion
Canadian forests are more conducive to high-severity fires in recent decades
Assessing bird-window collisions and high-risk façade features at Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia
On the Use of Taxon Names in Community Ecology
Regulatory failure to monitor and manage the impacts of tailings spills, Alberta, Canada
Prairie management practices influence biodiversity, productivity and surface-atmosphere feedbacks
Knowledge mobilization, wildfire risk, and sustainable tourism in UNESCO biosphere reserves
Linking Fire, Food Webs, and Fish in Stream Ecosystems
Mountain Lion Predation on Mule and Black-tailed Deer: A Perspective on The Complex Impacts of An Iconic Predator
“People who want to study science in Canada have three options: hope for more support from their supervisor, take on big debts or emigrate.”
Assmann review: spatial ecology of rotational and continuous cover forestry in boreal landscapes
Identifying indigenous knowledge components for Whudzih (Caribou) recovery planning
Regulatory issues surrounding the management of selenium—introduction to a special series of papers
Assessing mercury exposure to water and fish of the Mackenzie watershed using a Bayesian network analysis
Attribution of the Climate and Land Use Change Impact on the Hydrological Processes of Athabasca River Basin, Canada
The gender gap among quitting biologists
The evidence is so overwhelming and the effects of manufactured chemicals are so disruptive for children, that inaction is no longer an option.
A data compilation and synthesis of the impacts of seismic surveys on surface soil properties in boreal Alberta, Canada
North American river otter habitat suitability and human–wildlife coexistence on Protection Island, British Columbia, Canada
Selection‐mediated adaptive responses of native species to an invasive grass: Shade tolerance vs. shade avoidance
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This week’s banner photo:
You may not need an electric car
BUT OF COURSE...
you need an electric hawk!
This magical electrician impressed photographer Savannah Foged, P. Biol. (She used a Nikon D5500 to capture this shot, which she submitted to the 2024 ASPB Conference photo contest. (Photo cropped.)
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.
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