THE BIWEEKLY

JUNE 15, 2026

Published by the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists

ECHOES OF EONS

These frozen peaks capture the timeless dialogue between earth, ice, and life. The glacier-covered mountains embody the slow but constant forces that have

continued to shape our planet - as well as the evolution of every living system - studied throughout the past 50 years at the ASPB!

Photo and text from Orsi Hamari, P. Biol.

Apparently it’s Phishing Season:

Beware of Email Scams!

ASPB Members are likely aware of a recent – and increased – recurrence of phishing emails, arriving as business emails which often target our members by offering to sell membership lists, etc. The ASPB Staff want to advise our members to remain vigilant about all unrequested emails by carefully verifying them. We want to remind our readers that we exist in a rapidly changing communications climate, where email scams are often paired with other cyber security risks; we cannot emphasize enough the importance of verifying all sources before clicking any links!

BE A CONFERENCE SPONSOR!

Our valuable sponsors provide the power

to drive the standard of excellence

for which our conferences are known.
SPONSORSHIPS ARE STILL AVAILABLE

FOR THE ASPB 2026 CONFERENCE!

For full information, please go to 2026 Sponsorship Packages

At the ASPB, we gather snippets of relevant biology information from sources like Nature (UK) and Scholar Alerts (Google), which we select and share in the BIWEEKLY. Here is the latest batch (the links are HOT):

WETLANDS, WATERSHEDS & FISHERIES

Inter-assessor reliability of aquatic invasive species risk assessments: a case study, analytical framework, and recommendations

Complex distribution of ancient carbon between tributaries of the Upper Lena seen in radiocarbon dates of modern fish

Cattle-induced homogenization of microbial communities weakens the influence of geochemical gradients in small water bodies

Ecotoxicological pathways overlooked: a critical evaluation of the baseline ecological risk assessment and potential natural resource injury from Libby Amphibole …

Gene Transcription Variation in Response to Environmental Stress Gradients Among Wild Canadian Freshwater Fishes

Global Strategies for Wetlands Conservation: Special Emphasis on India

INDIGENOUS KNOWLEDGE

Language loss is an environmental issue

WILDLIFE

Evaluating Potential Deployment Strategies for Oral Delivery of Vaccines for Cervids

Recovery initiatives under Canada's Species at Risk Act contribute to a better understanding of geographic distribution and diversity within the Endangered Nooksack …

Assessing capture-related injuries in grey wolves: a comparative study of trapping methods

Andrena hippotes Robertson, 1895

Society's struggle with unwanted species: what centuries of history reveal about species bounty programs

Full Life-Cycle Effects of Anthropogenic Change on Sagebrush Songbirds

Nest Site Characteristics of the Endangered Northern Flying Squirrel (Glaucomys sabrinus coloratus)

Wildlife responses to nonmotorized recreation in the Southern Canadian Rockies: a multiscale analysis near Fernie, BC

Models for Guiding Management of Prairie Bird Habitat

Cattle habitat selection in response to weather extremes within a native Aspen Parkland rangeland

Bees can problem-solve on the fly

“Being conservationists, biologists, ecologists, we can’t just sit and look and wait. We are trying to do at least something.”

Asymmetric niche partitioning in large omnivores in response to anthropogenic disturbances within subarctic ecosystems

Seasonal resource partitioning between neighboring cougars in a multi-prey system

Columbian ground squirrels cope with high thermal variability of montane habitats through behavioral thermoregulation

Incorporating burn probability into spatial prioritization of woodland caribou habitat restoration

Ancient squirrels feasted like ‘zombies’

Political identity predicts hunting occurrence on private land

Species Distribution Models and Abundance Estimates Enhance Breeding Bird Atlas Data

PROTECTED AREAS and MANAGEMENT

Potential for conflict between urban coyotes and people experiencing unsheltered homelessness

Canada-Endangered-Species-Watchdog-Strapped-Cash

Managing forage and ecosystems in the West beyond the West: recounting a century of reference areas and rangeland ecology in British Columbia, Canada

An action-oriented research agenda for equitable and meaningful nature-based solutions in urban areas

Modeling Land Cover Dynamics Across Wildlife Management Areas and Surrounding Landscapes to Inform Conservation Planning

FORESTRY

Aspen (Populus tremuloides) germination is dependent on seed ripeness at collection and not seed age: A 12-y study of aspen seeds in long-term storage

Human Perception and Intervention Reshape Stability Landscapes in Mixedwood Forests

The Characterization of a Riparian Forest on the Missouri River Floodplain

Can Herbivore Feeding Preferences Reinforce the Female‐Biased Sex Ratio in an Alpine Willow?

BOTANY

European Hawkweed

The fungal lives of ruins: paths forward for a mushroom archaeology

The effect of timing of gibberellic acid application and concentrations on seed germination characteristics in red osier dogwood, Canadian buffaloberry, and green …

Bryo-Activities: A Review on How Bryophytes Are Contributing to the Arsenal of Natural Bioactive Compounds against Fungi

Trace elements in Sphagnum moss waters as indicators of the chemical reactivity of contemporary atmospheric dusts: comparison with peat bog porewaters

Sharing Seeds by Api'soomaahka & Christina Battle w. Lillian

ENGINEERING & DESIGN

How habitat specialization and environmental factors affect mammal habitat use around wildlife overpasses?

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Trust-in-ai-australia-university-professor-opinion-piece-technology

Europe is ditching US tech — what does this mean for researchers?

Using information theory to select spatial scales for species–habitat responses with camera traps

MICROBIOLOGY / BIOTECHNOLOGY

Human embryos altered using base editing

Century-old vaccine helps control diabetes

SEMINARS, WEBINARS & COURSES

JUNE

Four Seasons of Indigenous Learning

This Indigenous-led course is open to everyone. It starts in the autumn, goes until the spring, and includes: 

• 5 hours of self-paced online learning (interactive, with videos)
• 7 x 1 hour virtual presentations by an incredible group of Indigenous presenters
• Recordings of the presentations, if you can’t join live
• Upon completion, we provide a Certificate of Completion (12 learning hours) and $25 to access excellent Indigenous resources.

Early bird registration closes June 30. Learn more & sign-up.

Amphibian Identification and Survey Techniques

Two field session options: June 15 (Squamish), and June 18 (Revelstoke).

Amphibian Identification and Survey Techniques

SEMINARS, WEBINARS & COURSES

JULY

Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation Events

The Whitebark Pine Ecosystem Foundation of Canada has upcoming events that are relevant to Alberta Society of Professional Biologists. Please get in touch if you require more details.

• 2-day field competency - Survey Methods and Health Training July 8-9, 2026, at Golden, BC. https://whitebarkpine.ca/our-work/training/
• Science and management conference - Collaboration for Recovery: Active Management in a Changing Climate October 14-15, 2026, Radium, BC. https://whitebarkpine.ca/conferences/

SEMINARS, WEBINARS & COURSES

SEPTEMBER

Track & Sign Certification  (FIERA)

September 12 & 13, 2026, at Hinton, Alberta

This 2-day field-based workshop is open to all skill levels and offers the opportunity for participants to earn certifications in Track & Sign from Levels 1 to Professional (Level 4). 

Learn more here 

TRAINING PROVIDERS

for professional biologists

BSc & MSc degrees in Ecological Restoration

at

THE BC INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

If you’re passionate about helping ecosystems recover and thrive, the BSc & MSc Programs in Ecological Restoration at BCIT are worth exploring. The programs blend scientific knowledge with practical, field-based experience and offer both part-time and full-time options. Learn more about how the programs can support your career goals: 

https://www.bcit.ca/programs/ecological-restoration/ 

NATURAL RESOURCES

TRAINING GROUP

Construction Monitoring — Principles of Erosion and Sediment Control on Construction Sites - Online - June 16th, 2026

Electrofishing Certification - Online (self-paced) & West Vancouver - June 19th, 2026

Bat Habitat Assessment – Online – June 23rd – 24th, 2026

Electrofishing Certification - Online (self-paced) & Cochrane - June 23rd, 2026

Amphibian Survey and Collection Methods - Online - June 23rd, 2026

Introduction to Environmental Work on Construction Sites - Online - June 29th, 2026

For the full calendar of upcoming courses, and course details, follow this link:

https://nrtraininggroup.com/schedule/

COLUMBIA MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE

Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology

Revelstoke BC

Introduction to Describing Wetlands in the Field. In-person course June 15-17.

QGIS Mapping. Online, flexible dates.

Plant Families from an Alpine Wildflower Perspective. Intro-level plant family ID, but in the Alpine! July 27-28, Revelstoke BC

Willow Identification, an Introduction. Willows can be tricky, this course will certainly help! July 29-30, Revelstoke BC

ESTI

The Environmental Sciences Training Institute

Please contact efishing@esticanada.com with any questions or to book a custom delivery. Learn about our Efishing program here. 

View our in-person course calendar at

https://esticanada.com/shop/

Nest Sweep Protocol: Online – Self-Paced

Online Courses

SALMTEC

 COURSES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS

******

SALMTEC offers several self-paced online courses:

Imagery Interpretation and Analysis Course (W26)

ABWRET-A Blended Course (W26)

Wetland Policy Basics

Understanding ACIMS Tools Alberta Soil Information Viewer Land Use Assessment Landscape Analysis

SALMTEC offers OnDemand seminars:

Catchment Delineation

Technical Report Review 

Hydrology & Wetland Design 

Wetland Delineation  

VISIT THE SALMTEC CONNECTOR 

THE SALMTEC CONNECTOR is a compilation of applied science and land management event listings, across a variety of sectors and disciplines, published monthly.

You can find the SALMTEC CONNECTOR HERE.

RECENT

EMPLOYMENT POSTINGS

• Intermediate Aquatic Biologist
• Qualified Aquatic Environment Specialist (QAES)
• Junior Biologist
• Fisheries Biologist
• Intermediate Biologist
• Senior Vegetation and Wetland Ecologist
• Senior Wildlife Biologist
• Senior Wildlife Technical Lead
• Registered Authenticating Wetlands Professional

   TO FIND INFORMATION

ON THESE AND OTHER POSITIONS, GO TO THE

JOB BOARD

This week’s banner photo:

ECHOES of EONS
Photo by Orsi Hamari, P. Biol.

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.

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2026