ASPB CONVENTION: CALL FOR ABSTRACTS NOW OPEN

THE BIWEEKLY

MARCH 15, 2026

Published by the Alberta Society of Professional Biologists

PROUD (AND FIERCE!)

Geremie Mallette, P. Biol., submitted this stunning photo

to the 2025 ASPB photo contest

CONFERENCE 2026

CALL FOR ABSTRACTS:

The theme of the ASPB 2026 Conference (November 4-6, 2026) is Supporting Biologists: in the Field and Beyond

and the call for abstracts is now open and will close on June 1, 2026.

For details please go to 2026 Conference Abstract Info

AND...

SPONSORSHIPS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!

As always. it is our valuable sponsors who provide the power to drive the standard of excellence

for which our conferences are known.

For full information, please go to 2026 Sponsorship Packages

University of Calgary to host eighth annual

Together | Ensemble Conference

on May 19 and 20, 2026

Together | Ensemble is Canada’s leading national conference for collaborating and accelerating progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It brings together inter-generational Indigenous Peoples, youth, academia, government, business, and community leaders to turn global goals into local action and address Canada’s toughest sustainability challenges.

For more information and registration, please HERE.

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):

Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) Population Structure Across Alberta's Eastern Slopes

Ecotoxicity Evaluation of Bromacil and Tebuthiuron on Native Vegetation Species in Alberta , Canada

A Niche in the Machine: The Promise of AI Foundation Models for Species Distribution Modeling

At Risk or in Jeopardy? Canadian Common Law Species at Risk Jurisprudence

Let’s Talk Impact Assessment (Government of Canada)

The mountain pine beetle in a marginal boreal landscape: Cross-scale collapse triggered by population removal

Nature Awards: AI for discovery

Effects of Tailings Treatment and Hydrocarbons on Sulfur Biogeochemistry and Consolidation of Oil Sands Tailings in Pit Lake Scenarios

Data from: Caloric restriction-mediated reproductive lifespan extension across multiple strains of the clonal aquatic plant Lemna turionifera

Born to die: pack and population level estimates of wolf pup survival and recruitment in the Greater Voyageurs Ecosystem

How to keep the water flowing

Flexible plastics: Recycling's hardest problem finally has some answers

Inbreeding and demographic history of caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in western Canada inferred from genome-wide SNP data

Compact polarimetric response of native grassland and seeded forage across a gradient of Southern Alberta Prairie ecoregions

Linear anthropogenic disturbances increase butterfly abundance, species richness, and cross-corridor movements

Characterizing Seedling Change Along Seismic Lines in the Boreal Forest of Alberta with Airborne Laser Scanning

Bat ecology and conservation in the Great Plains: a systematic review of research in the past 30 years and future directions

Screening-level ecological risk assessment of stormwater quality in Banff National Park, Alberta , Canada

The combination of aminopyralid and metsulfuron is an effective post-seeding strategy to restore native grassland in Canadian Aspen Parkland

The Beaver & the Bald Eagle: Reflections Across the World's Longest Undefended Border

Twenty years of ungulate disease surveillance by the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative (2003–2022)

Water level manipulations in human-made impoundments drive species -and guild-specific responses in wetland bird communities

Modeling intra-observer variation in species detections reveals diverse patterns of change over time in participatory scientists

Molecular epidemiology of tick Rhabdoviruses and molecular identification of tick species in Canada

Measures for improving water quality to bend the curve of global freshwater biodiversity loss

Contrasting spatial and temporal activity patterns of little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) at maternity roosts and swarming sites

Vaccine-carrying mosquitoes inoculate bats

Annual survival in a dynamic species : pronghorn survival patterns across their northern range

Increased methane emissions from boreal peatlands following linear disturbances

Kakwa and Babette lakes Report 2025

Non-destructive environmental DNA extracted from owl pellet contents: A valuable tool for monitoring mammalian species richness

Teaching Identities, Cultures, and Regions in Canada: An Introduction

Bird and Bat Management Plan science for wind energy developments

Updates:

DFO Projects Near Water website

DFO is pleased to announce that three new interim standards have been developed to guide project proponents in the design and implementation of mitigation measures considered critical to the protection of fish and fish habitat. The following are now published on Fisheries and Oceans Canada’s Projects Near Water website and they can be accessed here.

Call for Judges!
Calgary Youth Science Fair 2026

Friday April 10, 0700 to noon,

at the University of Calgary Olympic Oval

Support Calgary’s youth and be inspired by our young scientists! Join a dynamic community of volunteer judges for this fun and rewarding opportunity. Parking and breakfast provided. You will be provided webinar training and plenty of support on Fair Day.

SANSC: The Southern Alberta
Native Seed Collaborative

SANSC started as an informal group of local organizations to share seed and seed collection resources in the southwest corner of the province, and has expanded to become a larger group including government and non-government organizations, environmental consultants, indigenous land managers, seed growers, wild seed harvesters, and industry representatives all with the common goal of increasing the availability of local native seed for the native grassland areas of the province. More information can be found here:

SEMINARS, WEBINARS & COURSES

MARCH

In celebration of the annual
Prairie's Got the Goods Week!

Topics include cows and biodiversity, prairie pothole wetlands and agricultural conservation, shelterbelts and more... All webinars will happen at 12:00pm, Saskatchewan and Alberta time.

Landscapes of Understanding | the Grasslands Learning and Knowledge Hub

Monday March 16^th, 2026 at 12:00pm

Speakers: Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association

Characterizing the Impacts of the Saskatchewan Beef Industry on Biodiversity

Tuesday March 17^th, 2026 at 12:00pm

Dr. Emily Holden, Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute

Not All Wetlands are Created Equal: Climate and Landscape Controls over Nutrient Reduction Potential of Wetlands in North Central US Croplands

Wednesday March 18^th, 2026 at 12:00pm

Owen McKenna, US Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

OSOF's Community Land Regeneration and Shelterbelt Programs

Thursday March 19^th at 12:00pm

Elizabeth Bekolay, One School One Farm Shelterbelt Project

The importance of Native Prairie from an Indigenous Perspective

Friday March 20^th at 12:00pm

Alvin First Rider, Blood Tribe Land Management

Join us for a "Coffee Table Conversation" with lifelong producers, Gerald and Patti Anhorn from Windy Ridge Ranching Co. Ltd. near Elrose, SK. They were honoured as winners of the provincial TESA award in 2022.

Wednesday March 18th at 3:00pm

Wetland Knowledge Exchange

Monthly Webinar Series

On March 17th, The Watershed Planning and Advisory Councils (WPACs) of Lesser Slave, Athabasca, and Mighty Peace will present examples of collaborative, on‑the‑ground projects and restoration initiatives that strengthen wetlands and watershed health.

https://www.cclmportal.ca/portal/wetland-knowledge/events/watersheds-without-walls-building-flood-and-drought-resilience

Rangeland Sustainability Program

This one day, classroom-based course from the Grassland Restoration Forum presents the theory behind Alberta’s prairie and foothills Range Plant Community Guides and guided practice using them.

It will take place on Thursday March 26th, 2026, 10:00 – 16:30, at the Glenbow Ranch Schoolhouse at Cochrane, Alberta. Registration is $250 per person. Maximum 30 registrants. Limited student registration at $100 per person. Register on-line at www.grasslandrestorationforum.ca

SEMINARS, WEBINARS & COURSES

APRIL

Fishes of Alberta

Field Identification Workshops
April 18, 2026 (Edmonton)
May 2, 2026 (Calgary)

This popular workshop is delivered by Shona Derlukewich (“School of Fish”) and guides participants through the fundamental morphological traits, geographic distribution, and habitat preferences of fish found in Alberta.

The course is designed to benefit anyone interested in fisheries, at all experience levels, from those just getting started to seasoned experts. The Alberta Field Guide is included in the workshop.

This course will be held at MacEwan University on Saturday afternoon, April 18, 2026., and also at Mount Royal University on Saturday afternoon May 2, 2026. Specific details will be provided for paid participants; the cost is $175 per student, and payment is due BEFORE the workshop. Credit cards are subject to a 3.5% service charge; you can also E-transfer to derlukew@ualberta.ca. Cell phone: 780-722-9884. Email: derlukew@ualberta.ca

SEMINARS, WEBINARS & COURSES

MAY

2026 Alberta Soils Tour:

Exploring Palliser's Triangle

The Alberta Soils Tour, presented on May 27 through May 29, 2026 by the Alberta Soil Science Workshop Organizing Committee, is an excellent training opportunity for those working with soils, whether the focus is soil conservation, land reclamation, or agronomy. Experts will provide background on soil formation and the various soil profiles for each of the landscapes encountered during the tour. The tour provides hands-on field opportunities for professional development, learning, and collaboration.

The 2026 Alberta Soils Tour would require two or three overnight stays in Medicine Hat, AB. To book your accommodation, or to see the tour poster, please visit http://www.soilsworkshop.ab.ca/tour.html

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 01, 2026

ANPC Annual Workshop

The Alberta Native Plant Council is pleased to announce that registration for the 38th Annual Workshop is now open. This year, the workshop will be held in Calgary, Alberta on May 2, 2026, at the Wild Rose Brewery. The theme this year is Grassroots Grow Deep: Local Action, Global Impact. This theme was chosen to highlight impactful works of people and organizations working at a local level all over Alberta to support native plants in the province. See details on the ANPC website.

Don't Forget!!
The 2026 Prairie Conservation and Endangered Species Conference

takes place May 5 - 7, 2026 in Saskatoon, SK.

Make sure to check out the tours and workshops that are also available.

www.prairiecesc.ca/

Track & Sign Specialist Certification
May 23 & 24, 2026, Lardeau Valley, British Columbia

This 2-day field-based workshop offers participants the opportunity to earn a Track & Sign Specialist Certification, the highest level of Track & Sign certification available within the CyberTracker system.

Sage Raymond and David Moskowitz will lead the workshop.

(This workshop is meant for expert trackers)

Learn more here

TRAINING PROVIDERS

for professional biologists

BSc & MSc degrees in

Ecological Restoration

at the

BC Institute of Technology

Looking to advance your career in ecosystem restoration? The BSc & MSc Programs in Ecological Restoration at BCIT offer hands‑on fieldwork, applied research, and an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to prepare you for real ecological challenges. Learn more about how the program can support your career goals: https://www.bcit.ca/programs/ecological-restoration/

NATURAL RESOURCES

TRAINING GROUP

Marine Mammal Observation - Online - March 9th & March 16th, 2026

Fish Habitat Restoration — Identification of Factors Limiting Fish Productivity - Online - March 13th, 2026

Avian Nest Sweeps and Monitoring Methods - Online - March 18th - 19th, 2026

Fish Habitat Restoration — Groyne Design and Function in Rivers - Online - March 20th, 2026

Sampling Fuel Spills in Water - Online - March 24th, 2026

Construction Monitoring — Water Quality and Assessment - Online - March 27th, 2026

Electrofishing Certification - Online (self-paced) & West Vancouver, March 27th, 2026

Construction Monitoring — Principles of Erosion and Sediment Control on Construction Sites - Online - March 31st, 2026

Construction Monitoring — Principles of Erosion and Sediment Control on Construction Sites – Online - March 31st, 2026

Amphibian Survey and Collection Methods - Online - March 31st, 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

Time Series Trend Analysis and Quantitative Environmental Impact Assessments. Online course delivered over 5 Tuesday mornings. March 3-31. (just 2 spots remaining)

Amphibian Identification and Survey Techniques. Online lecture April 15 - 15, with in-person field session options June 15 (Squamish) and June 18 (Revelstoke)

Introduction to `R` Software. Online course April 28 - May 1.

Intro to Coding in Bayesian Models. Online course, Wed mornings, May 6 - June 10

Field Ornithology: Improving Bird ID and Survey Skills through Sound. In-person course, Revelstoke BC. May 25-28.

Field Soil Description & Classification Course. In-person course, Revelstoke BC. May 25-28.

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

QGIS Mapping. Online, flexible dates.

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

******

NEW! SALMTEC's Imagery Interpretation and Analysis Course (W26)

Online

SALMTEC's Grassland Vegetation Inventory (GVI) Blended Course (W26)

Online

SALMTEC's ABWRET-A Blended Course (W26)

Online

SALMTEC offers several self-paced online courses:

Wetland Policy Basics

Understanding ACIMS Tools

Alberta Soil Information Viewer

SALMTEC offers OnDemand seminars:

Catchment Delineation

Land Use Assessment

Technical Report Review

Landscape Analysis

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

Field Biologist (Contract) .

Natural Areas Field Technician -

Fieldwork/Research Assistant -

Junior Aquatic Biologist -

Environment Field Advisor

Junior Environmental Specialists

Intermediate Wildlife Biologist

Junior Environmental Scientist (Contract)

Environmental Monitor

Environmental Coordinator, Aquatics

Senior Aquatic Biologist

FIND INFORMATION ON

THESE AND OTHER POSITIONS, GO TO THE

JOB BOARD

This week’s banner photo:

PROUD (AND FIERCE)

Photo by biologist Geremie Mallette

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.

2026

Alberta Society of Professional Biologists1450, 707 7 Ave SW Calgary, AB T2P 3H6 403.264.2504403-264-1273 Calgary, AB T2P 3H6 CA