Seeking citizen scientists to take part in BioBlitz 2017

trevor.kenney — Wed, 28 Jun 2017 21:38:04 +0000

What does Alberta’s biodiversity look like in the southern Castle area of the province?

That is a question scientists and researchers from across the province are hoping to answer with BioBlitz 2017. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and the Entomological Society of Alberta are collaborating to host an interactive weekend for the whole family at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Westcastle Field Station July 15-16, 2017.

The community is invited to take part in a weekend of biological surveying at the picturesque Westcastle Field Station.

Citizen Science is fun

“A BioBlitz is part fun and part science,” says John Swann, manager of the invertebrate collection at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary and co-organizer of this year’s event. “It is a weekend of biological surveying in an attempt to record the living species within a designated area. They are important because they provide us with an idea of how an area is doing.”

Swann says the goal of the event is to identify as many species as possible in the area over the course of the weekend survey. This will help researchers add to the database and inventory of local species. Visitors can watch and even assist scientists as they examine and catalogue their findings.

During BioBlitz 2015 in the Kananaskis region, UCalgary Faculty of Science researchers discovered several species of insects entirely new to science.

“The specimens gathered from that survey two years ago are still yielding new discoveries,” says Swann. “Scientists from other institutions across the country and the world are interested in what we’ve uncovered as they further their studies in conservation and ecology.”

Learn from experts

The two-day program includes walks and talks to identify insects native to the Canadian Rockies.

“If you love insects, birds, flora, fauna and the outdoors, this is a great opportunity to learn from experts passionate about their given subjects, and play a role in much-needed data collection as well,” he says.

“Our ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge colleagues will have a lab set up at their Westcastle Field Station to get a closer look at what we are collecting and studying. Guests can come with us to collect new discoveries and hike with us to see the incredible natural diversity in the Castle,” adds Swann.

In addition to the scientific mission, citizen science programs – like this Bioblitz – offer the public a chance to get outdoors and gain a deeper appreciation for the environment.

“I think that the more we can bring people out to learn and care about the environment, the more we’re going to have some power to make sure that it’s protected,” adds Swann.

Organizers remind all participants to make sure they dress for the weather. Bring along sunscreen, insect repellent, a water bottle, proper hiking footwear, and a lunch, as there are no food vendors on-site.

When: Saturday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests are invited to drop in throughout the two days.

Where: ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Westcastle Field Station in Castle Provincial Park – please go to: http://www.ucalgary.ca/science/bioblitz_2015 for a detailed map of the location

Westcastle Field Station supports research in diverse areas

caroline.zentner — Thu, 15 Dec 2016 21:00:20 +0000

The ability to conduct field work is essential to ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge students who study topics like mountain snowpacks, changing tree lines and the cognition, behaviour and ecology of wild hummingbirds.

Christine (Michell) Mishra (BSc/BEd’10) called the U of L’s Westcastle Field Station home for two summers while she participated in three different research projects by Dr. Andy Hurly. The research examined hummingbird foraging behaviour to better understand the factors the birds used when they decided which flowers to feed from in an artificial flower patch.

“My experiences at the Westcastle Field Station, as well as other field work I did with other biology faculty, have really benefited me in my career as a high school science teacher,” says Mishra. “I often share stories from these experiences with my students, either to illustrate a point about a biological process, or just to let them know that science is not just something you do in the lab—it can take you to beautiful places and let you experience great things.”

The field station was renovated in 2016, with a second building added to provide dormitory facilities for 23 beds, an expanded kitchen, more lab space, exterior storage, water storage, a fire alarm system and better road access. The field station can now host numerous students and researchers and community outreach programs. The U of L supports the station by directing a portion of its Research Support Fund toward its operations.

Thomas Fox (BSc ’11), who also studied under Hurly, conducted research on wild hummingbirds and their ability to find the same flower time after time. They learned that hummingbirds primarily rely on landmarks close to the flower, although other factors can also play a role. Using the Westcastle Field Station as home base, the study was conducted over two consecutive summers.

“Having the field station as a resource was really great—it was like summer camp for scientists. Being out there gave me hands-on experience engaging with the scientific method in a beautiful setting,” says Fox. “Perhaps the most beneficial aspect for me was having the opportunity to live out there with graduate students and professors from all over the world. I really learned a lot getting to know all those brilliant people!”

David McCaffrey, who’s completing a Master of Science degree under the supervision of Dr. Chris Hopkinson, studies changes in the tree line in the Castle Wilderness Area southwest of Pincher Creek. While he sometimes camps when conducting his research, the U of L’s Westcastle Field Station serves as a launching point.

“As a base of operations and logistics hub, it makes a world of difference,” he says. “It provides us with a kitchen, lodging and a more research-focused atmosphere. I’m thankful to have the station there. I’ve been at a number of field stations around the world and the Westcastle Field Station is on par with any of them. It’s a really great facility.”

McCaffrey uses repeat photographs to study changes in the tree line. Some of the earliest photos come from surveys done more than 100 years ago. His research has revealed that whether a tree line goes up or down depends on topographic features like slope and aspect, which can affect the way the Castle area stores water. His work helps build understanding of long-term water resources in the Oldman River basin.

McCaffrey, and other geography students studying under Hopkinson, have also used the Westcastle Field Station as a base for LiDAR (light detection and ranging) surveys. LiDAR provides a high-resolution data set that allows researchers like McCaffrey to calculate the mass of the trees and, when compared with earlier images, the amount of carbon stored or lost.

Kelsey Cartwright, a Master of Science student under Hopkinson, conducts snow surveys in the mountains of the Oldman River watershed. Having an accurate measurement of the snow pack allows for better predictions of runoff and the potential for floods or droughts. Knowing more about the snowpack, locally and provincially, could help mitigate natural disasters and the costs that go with them. The Westcastle Field Station has provided a convenient mustering point for the work Cartwright has been involved in.

“We had a ton of equipment and tools to keep track of, which was easier to do at the field station than from tents and vehicles, as we did before the field station opened,” says Cartwright.

The Research Support Fund supports a portion of the costs associated with managing the research funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council and Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, such as salaries for staff who provide administration support, training costs for workplace health and safety, maintenance of libraries and laboratories, and administrative costs associated with obtaining patents for inventions.

UNews - Westcastle Field Station

Seeking citizen scientists to take part in BioBlitz 2017

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