ALBERTA BIOLOGISTS' BIWEEKLY
FEBRUARY 15, 2023
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Difficult times:
Many of our professional colleagues have friends and families who are feeling the impacts and sorrows of the earthquakes in Turkey and Syria and the war in Ukraine. Let us hold each other together in our hearts during these difficult times.
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NAWMP Science Fund
Call for Applications
The Alberta North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP) Partnership is now accepting applications for its Science Fund for 2023-2024. Through the Fund, the Partnership continues to support like-minded researchers and projects that focus on advancing our knowledge and understanding of ecosystem services, conservation planning and human dimensions. Applications must be received by March 1, 2023. For full information please go HERE.
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THE ASPB COMES TO RED DEER IN NOVEMBER |
The ASPB 2023 Annual Conference will be on November 22, 23, and 24 at the Red Deer Resort and Casino in Red Deer, Alberta!
This year’s theme is straightforward: Transition!
The call for abstracts will be issued in March and will include a generous selection of topic areas: Wildlife, Wetlands, RemRec, Regulatory updates, Professional conduct, and an industry outlook that will examine the biology of renewable energy (and the biology within sustainability!)
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Need a student?
Mount Royal University wants to help:
Mount Royal U. is providing opportunities to increase professional connections between employers and MRU students. “Mount Royal students are enthusiastic, talented and available. They are your future colleagues and leaders with ambition and a desire to succeed,” says Engagement Coordinator Lucas Maliniak.
Students are available from May to August 2023 (and in some cases beyond) in various professional areas, with student opportunities online, in person or both. You can find more information HERE.
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Environmental DNA Survey
This is a reminder about a research study on the availability, barriers, and usage of environmental DNA tools for aquatic biomonitoring, which can be used in place of more time, cost, and resource-intensive options. While a variety of environmental DNA tools have been tested, these are not always used outside of research. Readers are welcome to complete this short survey to help assess environmental DNA techniques for aquatic biomonitoring. (The survey will be available until March 17, 2023, HERE.)
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ASPB Renewals!
Renewal fees are payable through the member portal on the ASPB website.
Remember that late fees now apply, and registrants who have not renewed by March 31
will be suspended.
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BUILDING YOUR
CAREER?
See what's new on the
BIOLOGISTS'
JOB BOARD
Environmental Technologist
NRTG Operations Manager
Senior Environmental Professional, Planning
Seasonal Botany Field Assistant
Intermediate Wetland and Vegetation Biologist
Intermediate Aquatic Biologist
Intermediate Environmental Specialist
Fisheries Biologist
Wildlife Field Biologist
Wildlife Field Technician
Environmental Impact Assessment Manager
Fish Habitat Restoration/Offsetting Specialist
Conservation Coordinator (Seasonal)
Environmental Monitor
Vegetation Specialist
Wetland Ecologist/Botanist
Senior Wildlife Biologist
Terrestrial Biologist
Fish Biologist
FIND INFORMATION ABOUT THESE POSITIONS
AND OVER 35 MORE
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
FEBRUARY
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Drone Conference:
Alberta’s Economy Taking Flight
A one-day event on February 16, 2023 will bring together municipalities, policymakers, post-secondary institutions, regional innovation networks and drone-industry experts across Alberta. Tickets are free but to attend you will need to register here: Get Your Ticket
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Field Law Part 2, Year in Review (webinar)
Privacy, Human Rights, Employment
Field Law annually presents its Year in Review, a complimentary series of virtual and in-person events which focus on legal updates for management and employee groups.
Thursday, February 16
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Cost: Complimentary
If you are unable to attend at the scheduled time please register and a link to the recording will be sent to you.
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GRF WEBINAR
Comparison of Seeding Methods
to Restore Native Grassland Vegetation
A comparison of four seeding methods to restore native grassland vegetation in SE Alberta, presented by Kathryn Edwards (Sr. Project Mgr, Summit) on February 16th, 2023, 12:00 – 13:00. Registration will be active mid-January through the Grassland Restoration Forum website HERE.
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APNC:
Back to Botany Basics
Join the Alberta Native Plant Council for the second webinar in the Back to Botany Basics series on February 21, 2023 at 12 PM MST with Brittney Miller to learn the basics of the beautiful and miniature world of bryophytes. We'll discover what they are, why they are important to Alberta and how they are collected and processed for research. You can register HERE.
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PCES Conference is in Calgary
The 2023 Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference will be held in Calgary, February 21-23, 2023. You can register HERE
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CLRA Conference in Edmonton
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
MARCH
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Wild Bird Webinar:
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza
Jolene Giacinti, BHSc, DVM, PhD, Wildlife Health Specialist at ECCC will deliver a webinar on avian influenza in wild birds on March 2, 2023 between 11:00h and noon, MST. Register here!
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Introduction to Soil Science (SOIL220 Wi23)
March 4 to 19, 2023 (Saturdays and Sundays online with one-day in-person practicum) This 39-hour introductory soil science course led by Dr. Konstantin Dlusskiy includes an overview of soil formation and soil classification with emphasis given to soils of Western Canada:
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GRF WEBINAR
Restoration of Annual-Brome
Invaded Mixedgrass Prairie
Anabel Dombro (University of Alberta) will discuss the containment and restoration of Annual-Brome Invaded Mixedgrass Prairie Using the Herbicide Indaziflam, on March 14, 2023, 12:00 - 13:00. Registration will be active mid-January through the Grassland Restoration Forum website HERE.
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Workshop:
Cool-season invasive grasses
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GRF WORKSHOP
How to Use Range Plant Community Guides
This one-day, classroom-based course in Cochrane, AB on March 23, 2023, 10:00-16:00 will teach participants how to use the Range Plant Community Guides and introduce the Recovery Strategies for Development in Native Grassland Manuals planning process. These tools will provide valuable context to interpret results of data collected for AEP Conservation Assessments – Strategic Siting and Pre-disturbance Site Assessments for Industrial Activities on Native Grassland. Registration will be active mid-January through the Grassland Restoration Forum website HERE.
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Soil Classification (SOIL410 Wi23)
March 29 and 30, 2023 (online) This one-day advanced soil science course led by Dr. Konstantin Dlusskiy focuses on: Common landforms and parent materials associated with soils on the Prairies.
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
APRIL
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Soil Mapping (SOIL420 Wi23)
April 5 and 6, 2023 (online) Two-day course on soil mapping and survey procedures provided online:
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SEMINARS, WEBINARS & CONFERENCES
MAY
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School of Fish Workshop:
Fishes of Alberta - Field Identification
This fish ID course will be instructed by Shona Derlukewich, B.Sc., P. Biol., at Mount Royal University in Calgary on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 1300h to 1630h. The cost per student is $100; pre-payment by etransfer to hold seat, non refundable after April 22, 2023. Field guides are included in the workshop cost and will be provided to participants upon arrival. Additional details (map for parking and room number) will be supplied to registered participants. To register, email Shona Derlukewich and for more fishy details check out the WEBSITE.
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Responsible Recreation:
Pathways, Practices and Possibilities
Recreation and adventure tourism opportunities and activities are expanding globally. However, empirical measures of impacts are often difficult to obtain. This two-day conference hosted by the Columbia Mountains Institute will be an excellent opportunity to network and learn about current thinking on increasing outdoor recreation activities and the effect on wildlife and ecosystems. This event on May 9 and 10, 2023 will be a hybrid event, with both in-person and online participation. The call for proposals is open until February 3, 2023; go HERE for more information.
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Pedology Field School (SOIL230 Sp23)
May 29 to 31, 2023 (in-person in the Edmonton area) This 24-h introductory soil science course is fully field-based. The 3-day field school led by Dr. Konstantin Dlusskiy focuses on hands-on experience with application to industry standards.
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UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY
CONTINUING EDUCATION
BMC252 - Environmental Issues in Indigenous Communities
Start Date: April 18, 2023
BMC265 - Environmental Impact Assessments
Start Date: June 30 2023
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COLUMBIA MOUNTAINS INSTITUTE
2023 CREDtalks
Foundations of Resilience.
Live webinars in February
Re-introducing fire as a process: Restoring disrupted fire regimes across landscapes
Feb 16, 2023. 1200h PST
Presenter: Jen Baron, University of British Columbia, Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences (PhD Candidate)
Prescribed fire and adapting for resilient futures
Feb 23, 2023. 1200h PST
Presenters: Robert W. Gray, Wildland Fire Ecologist; Colleen Ross, Wildland Fire Ecologist; Kiah Allen, Unit crew leader with BC Wildfire Service; and Dr. Carley Phillips, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions at the University of Victoria
Live webinars in March
Salish Fire Keepers
March 2, 2023. 1200h PST
Presenter: Joe Gilchrist, Fire Keeper, Turtle Island Consulting (TIC), Salish Fire Keepers
Climate adaptation in action in the Harrop-Procter Community Forest
March 9, 2023. 1200h PST
Presenter: Erik Leslie, RPF, Forest Manager, Harrop-Procter Community Co-operative
Tales of taking evidence through to conservation action for two iconic mountain dwellers: caribou and grizzly bear
March 16, 2023. 1200h PST
Presenter: Clayton Lamb, Wildlife Scientist, Biodiversity Pathways, Universities of British Columbia & Montana
Thanks to the generous support of the Columbia Basin Trust and KCP, we are able to offer this series free of charge. For full details and registration please go
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NATURAL RESOURCES
TRAINING GROUP
Environmental Field Skills Program (EFS) – Self Paced – February 13 – June 12, 2023
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & North Vancouver, 16th February 2023
Snorkel Survey Techniques – February 16th (Online) & March 7th (Courtenay)
Fisheries Field Skills: Courtenay, February 21-24 and February 27-March 3, 2023
Species at Risk – Online, February 21-22, 2023
Wildlife Survey Field Methods: Carnivores – Online, February 22-24, 2023
Technical Writing for Professionals: Proposals – Online, March 2, 2023
Technical Writing for Professionals: Report Writing – Online, March 3, 2023
Fish Habitat Assessment Level One – March 8th (Online), 9th, 10th (Courtenay)
Wildlife Survey Field Methods: Ungulates – Online, March 8-10, 2023
Electrofishing Certification – Online (self-paced) & North Vancouver, March 9, 2023
Fish Habitat Restoration – Prescription Development – Online, March 14, 2023
Fish Habitat Restoration – Instream Techniques – Online, March 15-16, 2023
Avian Nest Sweeps and Monitoring Methods – Online – March 16-17, 2023
Wetland Assessment – Online, March 28-29, 2023
For the full calendar of upcoming courses the link is here:
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SALMTEC
COURSES AND TRAINING PROGRAMS
Understanding ACIMS Tools Online Course
Alberta Soil Information Viewer Online Course
Alberta Wetland Policy Basics Online Course
Navigating the Alberta Soil Information Viewer Video Short (free)
Wetland Water Cycle Video Short (free)
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 website HERE.
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ANNUAL
ASPB CONFERENCE SPONSORS
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New caribou research:
A tool to prioritize and predict
progress toward restoration goals
This report is drawn from Issue 39 of the ABMI’s It’s Our Nature to Know, February 22, 2023:
Habitat loss threatens many species, and there's a widespread need for habitat restoration. In boreal Western Canada, habitat restoration has been identified as a key to achieving self-sustaining populations of the threatened woodland caribou. The region has hundreds of thousands of kilometers of linear features (seismic lines, access roads, etc), many of which are no longer used. Given that only a fraction of these are restored each year, prioritization is necessary to make the most efficient use of resources.
Melanie Dickie is a Project Coordinator and Research Associate with the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute. In collaboration with an interdisciplinary team, she has developed a tool to help managers and practitioners identify and prioritize areas for habitat restoration. The tool is based on the idea of maximizing the gain in unaltered caribou habitat per unit cost, and incorporates multiple operational and ecological weighting criteria in a flexible format. The team concludes that prioritizing restoration is an important starting point, and that ongoing collaboration and careful land-use planning will be keys to long-term caribou habitat recovery.
The report above was drawn from Issue 39 of the ABMI’s It’s Our Nature to Know, February 22, 2023. An abstract and the full paper are available HERE.
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We regularly receive notifications from Google Scholar Alerts and other sources which we share below in the BIWEEKLY. Here is the latest batch (the links are HOT):
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Banner Image:
Lake Pulse Field Lab
Photo by PGK, 2018
The ASPB regulates the professional practice of biology in the disciplines of Botany, Zoology, Environmental Biology and Microbiology, and all sub-disciplines below them. The ASPB is the only organization for biologists in Alberta that is registered under Provincial Legislation with a mandate to protect the interests of the public of Alberta. 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 about professional development opportunities for our members and essential member-related society business; if you are a registered member of 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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