UNews - Department of Biological Sciences

Biology instructor, Jennifer Burke, named 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award winner

trevor.kenney — Wed, 08 Oct 2025 15:48:58 +0000

Relationship building plays a key role in creating a student learning environment of mutual respect, engagement and collaboration for Jennifer Burke (BSc/BEd ’97, MSc ’06), who has been named the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s 2025 Excellence in Teaching Award winner.

With a passion for teaching biology and an ability to connect with students evident from the first moment she steps into a classroom, Burke actively creates bonds with her students, encourages them to bond with each other, engages students by using innovative teaching methods and takes their learning outdoors into the natural environment. She will be presented with the Excellence in Teaching Award at Fall 2025 Convocation, Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 10 a.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Centre for Sport and Wellness gymnasium.

Jennifer Burke is lauded for her ability to connect with her students.

Jennifer Burke

Not only is Jennifer Burke a teacher of biology, she is also a teacher of core values, such as integrity, respect, mutual understanding and trust, which she demonstrates in everything she does. Students and their learning are her top priorities. She has taught for more than 20 years at every level from elementary to post-secondary. Her philosophy hinges on four pillars — active engagement with students, positive relationships between teachers and students, extending the classroom to the outdoors and continuous refinement of this foundational philosophy.

Burke ensures her students are active learners by designing courses that involve exploration, collaboration and critical thinking. Through group discussions, problem-solving exercises, teamwork and interactive assessments, Burke encourages her students to collaborate, question assumptions and apply concepts in novel ways.

Building strong relationships in a class of 200 is no easy feat, but that doesn’t deter Burke. She believes students are more likely to be eager learners when they feel seen, heard and valued. Burke makes a point of getting to know her students by walking around the room, mingling with them, finding out their interests and how they like to learn. She also includes group activities and exercises, so students get to know each other, including a BioBuddy system that pairs students. Knowing how her students learn allows Burke to tailor her teaching methods to include making notes on the board, displaying specimens, having discussion groups, and showing videos or slide shows. She delivers animated lectures, illustrating biology content with real-world examples and stories, which serve as a touchstone to help students remember content. As a result, students experience a classroom where they are respected and encouraged, and their learning thrives.

Since the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ is situated on Blackfoot territory, Burke incorporates outdoor learning in an attempt to address recommendations from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. This approach creates opportunities for students to learn about the land, its history and its stories. She hopes this will build connections and ultimately foster understanding and stewardship.

Burke is also a lifelong learner. She regularly updates her knowledge as an educator through the Teaching Centre’s Scholarship of Teaching and Learning and brings innovations in course delivery, always intending to create the best possible student experience. Her enthusiasm for biology is evident, and students respond in kind to become eager and disciplined learners. She continually checks with students to determine if her strategies are working and refines her approach accordingly. As a result, her students adore and respect her for her imaginative teaching methods and rigorous assessments.

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student creates first bumble bee reference book for Lethbridge

trevor.kenney — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:41:40 +0000

Lethbridge bee enthusiasts are buzzing about a new resource that ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge student Jessenia Buzunis-Delagneau just released. The free, downloadable book — Bumble Bees of Lethbridge, Alberta — details the bumble bee population in the city, including pictures of each species, the behaviours they exhibit and even the flowers they like to frequent.

Jessenia Buzunis-Delagneau is sharing her love of bumble bees through her new Lethbridge bumble bee guide.

“There’s never been a bumble bee guide for Lethbridge, and as part of my thesis project, we were looking at floral interactions of honeybees and bumble bees. I was out searching for all these bumble bees, taking pictures and identifying them and thought it would be kind of cool to bring that all together and have one place where you could look at all the bumble bees that live in our city,” says Buzunis-Delagneau.

She’s identified and detailed 12 of the likely 14 species of bumble bees that occur in Lethbridge. Her observations were compiled from the summer of 2024 and included 364 observed bumble bee floral interactions.

The most prevalent bumble bee in Lethbridge is the Hunt’s Bumble Bee (Bombus huntii), which can be found visiting plants such as yellow sweet clover, the common sunflower, Russian sage and squash flowers. It is identifiable by two orange stripes on its back and other characteristics detailed in the guide.

A male Nevada Bumble Bee

But why is this guide important? Buzunis-Delagneau and her supervisor Dr. Shelley Hoover (Department of Biological Sciences) explain that conservation of a species begins with understanding.

“One of the things I discovered while I was out identifying bees is that people were interested in what I was doing and would ask a lot of questions,” says Buzunis-Delagneau. “I also kept hearing from people that they’d seen fewer bumble bees in Lethbridge in recent years and studies back that up, showing that bumble bee numbers have been declining in recent years.”

Hoover says that if you want people to take notice, they need to understand the species and its role in the ecosystem.

“I think an important step in conservation science is getting people to care about the animals,” she says. “You can do all the science you want, but it's not going to be acted upon if nobody cares.”

Citizen science has seen an explosion of interest in recent years with the emergence of platforms such as iNaturalist (inaturalist.org). These sites can aid scientists by adding to or filling in data gaps. Bees, especially large-bodied bees like bumble bees, are more frequently observed by civilian scientists, aiding conservation efforts. For Canadian and U.S. bumble bees, the Bumble Bee Watch (bumblebeewatch.org) site was created for civilian scientists to add their photos and observations.

The Western Bumble Bee

Buzunis-Delagneau sees her book as another tool for people interested in bumble bees to learn a little more about the species.

“I think my hope is basically to just spread the love,” she laughs. “I hope people will download it, have a look at it and learn a little bit about bumble bees, what they’re looking at in their gardens and what they are seeing. Then take some pictures and post them on iNaturalist.”

Those posting to iNaturalist will be identified by the app and by consensus.

The book can be downloaded for free at https://opus.uleth.ca/items/0a82a98e-3b29-4e36-9cdd-caa6f1f57c45.

Migratory songbirds found to have greater genetic diversity

trevor.kenney — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 17:12:12 +0000

Songbirds who make the arduous flight from their nesting sites in northern boreal forests to warm, southern climates in the winter may be rewarded for their journey with greater genetic diversity, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution. The study was co-authored by researchers from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, among others, and led by the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Michigan (UM).

A Mountain Chickadee

Researchers found that songbird species that migrate from the boreal forests of the northern United States and Canada to the tropics to overwinter have more genetic diversity than species who stick closer to their northern breeding locations, either not migrating or migrating only short distances, for example, to the southern United States.

“We spent years collecting samples from different species across Canada that were included in the study. Our lab has primarily been focusing on resident birds who do not migrate and found lower levels of movement or gene flow compared to migratory species,” says Dr. Theresa Burg, a professor in ULethbridge’s Department of Biological Sciences. “Two of the most remarkable findings are that some of the long-distance migrants show reduced gene flow and that levels of genetic diversity correspond to migration distance.”

Having high genetic diversity means that a population has a large breadth of gene variants both within individuals and within a species’ population. Genetic diversity can tell a story of a species’ evolutionary history: It shows how much genetic variation within the species has been maintained vs. lost because of greater population size fluctuation throughout history.

“Long distance migration has evolved to be a very successful strategy for birds because even though it’s difficult and requires extraordinary physiology, it allows them to spend the northern winter in a place where they enjoy a higher survival rate,” says lead author Benjamin Winger, associate professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and curator of birds at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Michigan’s Museum of Zoology.

"What our genetic diversity results likely mean is that these really long-distance migrants have had more stable populations over evolutionary history, which is amazing because they’re undergoing these phenomenal, risky migrations."

Migration, genetic diversity and gene flow

Scientists have been mulling migration’s impact on bird population genetics for a long time.

Winger and colleagues began sampling bird populations across the boreal forest for genetic research more than 15 years ago in hopes of eventually completing the study, and also used genetic samples from several museum collections, including the UM Museum of Zoology.

Many of the birds are closely related but have different migration strategies, Winger says. For example, hermit thrushes and Swainson’s thrushes are closely related species that breed in the same boreal region. But the hermit thrush spends the winter farther north, in the southern United States, and the Swainson’s thrush spends the winter in South America.

The researchers first examined the birds’ genomes to look at the impact of long-distance migration on gene flow. This was a challenge, says first author Teresa Pegan, who completed the work as a UM doctoral student, because across the boreal forest, the populations within each bird species were so closely related. They all lived in regions within the boreal forest, the mostly coniferous forest that encircles the globe in the northern hemisphere.

A Canada Jay

“The boreal forest covers about 60 per cent of Canada and comprises 75 per cent of Canada’s forests. Boreal birds mainly breed in Canada and parts of the northern United States and overwinter in South and Central America. Twice a year they migrate long distances between their breeding and wintering grounds. Using DNA data, we can get a better understanding of how much mixing occurs among breeding populations over long periods of time,” says Burg.

Any patterns the researchers expected to find were going to be subtle. To tease out these subtle differences, Pegan sequenced 1,700 genomes from the 35 species of birds. She then designed a computational analysis that allowed the researchers to search for genetic patterns within each species. These genetic patterns would help the researchers determine the birds’ gene flow, or movement of genetic variants across populations in the boreal forest.

“Are birds breeding in Alberta and Ontario part of the same population or are they different,” asks Burg. “This helps us better understand how populations are connected across their range, how changes in one geographic area can impact birds in another area and informs conservation strategies.”

Human impact and climate change

The researchers say their findings can help provide background information for conservation efforts to help these birds survive the pressures of climate change and human impact on their habitat. For example, their results show that some bird groups return to the same small part of forest each year to breed.

“The boreal forest throughout Canada and the United States experiences substantial pressure, not just from climate change, but from resource extraction,” says Winger. “Deforestation of boreal forest throughout the US and Canada is more severe than many people realize.

“We’re showing that some species probably have a lot of gene flow, so they probably have a lot of movement throughout the breeding range. But others really come back to the same patch of forest every year, and those might be more susceptible to deforestation. They may be less able to fly 15 kilometres away if they come back and their nesting site has been clear cut.”

The large collaboration included research co-authors from Environment and Climate Change Canada, Royal Alberta Museum, Cleveland Museum of Natural History, Spring Island Trust, New York State Museum and Colorado State ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ.

Canada’s plant conservation efforts fall short

caroline.zentner — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 16:51:26 +0000

Plants comprise the largest percentage of species at risk in Canada, yet conservation biologists and researchers involved in plant-related work say the country needs to do much more to protect these plants.

Dr. Jenny McCune, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge biology professor with expertise in plant conservation, and a team of researchers from universities across Canada surveyed 243 people who work in plant conservation or do research in plant ecology and evolution to assess the state of plant conservation in Canada. The results have been published in the interdisciplinary journal FACETS.

Dr. Jenny McCune is growing wood poppies, one of Canada's endangered plants, in the greenhouse at Science Commons.

“Most respondents agreed that Canada is underperforming or merely average when it comes to conserving plants,” says McCune. “If we saved all the plants currently on the list of species at risk, we could reduce that list by nearly one-third! By not doing enough to help endangered plants, we’re missing a huge opportunity to conserve biodiversity.”

Few of the plants listed in Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA) have improved their status over time. Plant diversity is concentrated in the warmer southern regions, where most people live and most of the land is privately owned. However, most landowners are unaware of plant species at risk growing on their property. SARA doesn’t automatically protect these plants, and while provinces may have species-at-risk laws, they may not be enforced on private lands.

“Canada lacks a national strategy for plant conservation even though it is a party to the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation,” says McCune. “Such a strategy could bring experts together to share knowledge and unify isolated local and provincial plant conservation efforts.”

Responses to the survey resulted in recommendations that include advocating for laws that protect habitat and their enforcement, connecting researchers with knowledge gaps and existing funding opportunities, and providing support for graduate student research in applied plant conservation.

Further, increasing public awareness of rare plants could help conservation efforts, as research has shown that most landowners are willing to help rare species but need guidance in doing so. Alberta’s MULTISAR (Multiple Species at Risk) is an example of a successful program that partners with landowners to protect species at risk, including plants. Also, consulting Indigenous knowledge holders and communities as part of recovery strategies could help improve the success of this work. Connecting researchers with local conservation groups and land stewards could improve the monitoring of rare plant populations and management strategies to recover plant species at risk.

“While Canada has a long way to go to conserve plant diversity effectively, conservation biologists and researchers are eager to contribute,” says McCune. “If Canada is to improve its progress towards the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the federal government must commit to improving the conservation of plants.”

Canada is one of 150 countries to sign on to the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is dedicated to promoting sustainable development.

Agricultural research at the heart of new collaboration between ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and county partners

caroline.zentner — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 17:17:51 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has partnered with Lethbridge County, the St. Mary River Irrigation District (SMRID) and the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District (LNID) to conduct research into local agricultural priorities.

The funding, $50,000 per year, will support five ULethbridge researchers over four years.

“This research partnership, thanks in large part to the efforts of Professor Emeritus Dr. Jim Byrne, will provide information and results that are extremely relevant to our area,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, vice-president of research. “By helping to identify opportunities to improve efficiency in agricultural operations, evaluating and advising on the viability of new crops and improving soil health, these projects will contribute to a more robust and sustainable agriculture sector.”

Lethbridge County contains more than 297,000 irrigated acres, allowing local farmers to produce a multitude of crops. The County is also home to rich pasture and grazing lands which serve livestock industries such as feedlots, dairies, and meatpacking and poultry processing facilities.

“As the most productive ag community in Alberta, we recognize that collaboration and sustainability are critical to success,” says Cole Beck, Lethbridge County CAO. “We’re proud to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, LNID and SMRID to support research projects that will move the ag industry forward by seeking innovative solutions to challenges. We also appreciate the willingness of local producers to participate in research that will impact the future of agriculture in southern Alberta.”

“The St. Mary River Irrigation District is happy to collaborate with the Lethbridge Northern Irrigation District and Lethbridge County to support innovative research from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge that will benefit farmers and livestock producers in southern Alberta,” says David Westwood, SMRID general manager.

“LNID shares an interest in supporting local researchers who can answer local questions applicable to stewardship of water within irrigated southern Alberta,” says Chris Gallagher, LNID general manager. “LNID recognized the value of partnering with Lethbridge County and SMRID to support ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge research projects that target our mutual interests and that of our constituents/irrigators. Having input into the selection of project areas of study, and some of the research questions to be answered, gives us a vested interest in the outcomes. The LNID Board is pleased to demonstrate a financial commitment to finding solutions to our mutual challenges as we continue to strive toward sustainable growth of irrigated agriculture in Lethbridge County.”

Dr. Neha Vaid, an assistant professor in the biology department, will study the potential for millets as a sustainable crop for marginal lands and as an aid in carbon sequestration and prevention of soil erosion in southern Alberta. She will test 11 millet varieties to analyze their potential as livestock feed, their impact on soil health, and seed and biomass yield.

Dr. Michele Konschuh, an associate professor in biology, will evaluate soil health in newly irrigated land parcels and compare it to land irrigated for longer periods. By comparing newly irrigated land, previously irrigated land and never irrigated land, Konschuh hopes to learn about the changes that occur when irrigation is introduced and what parameters need to be maintained to preserve soil health.

Dr. Dan Johnson, a professor in the geography and environment department, hopes to improve the forecasting of drought-related insect pests like grasshoppers. Johnson will conduct a spring survey of the grasshopper population to update the breeding survey usually conducted in late July and early August of the previous year. Johnson aims to develop better methods of forecasting grasshopper population growth, especially during droughts.

Dr. Hardeep Ryait, a professor at the Canadian Centre for Behavioural Neuroscience, will work on a project to improve sustainability and reduce the environmental impacts of livestock operations. Ryait wants to create a proof-of-concept livestock feedlot operation that incorporates solar panels for animal welfare, both for shade and electrical production. Cattle health would be monitored through an AI-powered video imaging system and radio-frequency identification (RFID) would be used to monitor feeding and watering behaviour to improve growth.

Dr. Paul Hazendonk, a professor in the chemistry & biochemistry department, will explore the production of biofuels from algae using hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL).

Drs. Tiffany Hind Bull-Prete and Matthew Bogard earn Canada Research Chair support

trevor.kenney — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:05:41 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge has a new Canada Research Chair (CRC) and a second researcher has had his program renewed thanks to $311 million in funding announced today in support of the Government of Canada’s CRC program.

Apooyak’ii Dr. Tiffany Hind Bull-Prete, an assistant professor in the Department of Sociology and member of the Kainai (Blood Tribe) of the Siksikaitsitapi (Blackfoot Confederacy), has been named a Tier II Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Resiliency. Dr. Matthew

Dr. Tiffany Hind Bull-Prete is the Tier II Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Resiliency. PHOTO courtesy of MoonSong Photography

Bogard, an assistant professor in the Department of Biology, has had his Tier II CRC in Aquatic Environments renewed for a second term.

Hind Bull-Prete’s CRC appointment is focused on advancing research inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action 21 and 22.

“My work seeks to restore balance and resilience within Indigenous communities, with a particular focus on the Siksikaitsitapi,” she says. “Grounded in Blackfoot principles and conducting community driven research, my work will delve into the intergenerational trauma that has stemmed from colonial policies that severed familial and cultural ties, leaving a legacy of profound trauma.”

The initiative is dedicated to fostering meaningful relationships within the community, strengthening bonds and mutual support. Ultimately, Hind Bull-Prete’s research aspires to document and co-develop models of resilience in collaboration with community members, Elders, and leaders, illuminating how traditional teachings and innovative practices continue to empower the Blackfoot People to restore balance and cultivate a thriving community in the present day.

Dr. Matthew Bogard is the Tier II Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Environments.

Hind Bull-Prete earned her Bachelor of Elementary Education, specializing in math and science, her Master of Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Education all at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Alberta. She has held a Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Postdoctoral Fellowship, and was an inaugural recipient of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Calgary's Provost's Postdoctoral Award for Indigenous and Black Scholars. She has been at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge since 2022.

As Canada Research Chair in Aquatic Environments, Bogard is exploring how aquatic ecosystems in the Canadian prairies — such as lakes, streams and reservoirs — are affected by these human activities.

By integrating biogeochemical and ecological approaches across scales — from tiny microbial habitats to the entire prairie region — he and his research team are identifying how various stressors are reshaping the cycling of nutrients, organic matter and potent greenhouse gases. Ultimately, their work will help address critical issues, such as the overabundance of nutrients in watersheds (eutrophication) and water quality loss. It will also support the move toward sustainable agriculture and nature-based climate solutions.

Dr. Shelley Hoover explores the wonders of the honey bee at the next PUBlic Professor Series event

trevor.kenney — Thu, 10 Oct 2024 20:23:25 +0000

The honey bee is one of the most intriguing species on the planet — and one of the most important. From increasing the amount and nutritive value of our food crops to literally producing light, they are enthralling creatures that have been studied throughout history.

Dr. Shelley Hoover is one of Canada’s foremost bee researchers.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge’s Dr. Shelley Hoover, one of Canada’s foremost bee researchers, will unlock some of the mysteries surrounding the incomparable honey bee at the next PUBlic Professor Series lecture, Fiat Lux (or, why honey bees are practically magic) on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, 7 to 9 p.m. at the Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre. Note this is a new venue and new night for a PUBlic Professor Series event.

“Everybody has a story about bees, whether they’re a gardener and they like bees to pollinate their garden, or maybe they have a beekeeper in their family or they love to eat honey, or they’ve been stung by a bee — bees have been captivating people for thousands of years,” says Hoover, an associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences. “In my talk, I’ll discuss what it is about bees that captivates us, how we use bees in our daily lives, and how research solutions in my lab are helping bees in Canada become healthier.”

Hoover studies bees, their interactions with one another, with other organisms, and with their environment. Her lab has ongoing research in diverse areas related to this theme, including how parasites alter bee behaviour, the honey bee microbiome, the breeding and management of honey bees, the role of pheromones in social structure, pollination and how environmental change affects the interactions between plants and pollinators.

Honey bees can live nearly anywhere on Earth, they are integral to food crops, and they make hive products that are eaten, used in medicine, cosmetics, dentistry, waterproofing, lubricants, polishes, ornamentation and art, cooking, sewing, metal casting, sealing documents, and yes, literally to produce light. With their complex social structure, behaviours and communication, it is no wonder they have fascinated people for centuries.

The annual PUBlic Professor Series lectures spark thought-provoking discussions on the most relevant topics of the day, bringing together a diverse group of experts and researchers from across campus and into the community. Every talk is free of charge.

2024-25 PUBlic Professor Series

Fiat Lux (Or, why honey bees are practically magic) — Dr. Shelley Hoover, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 — Agri-Food Hub & Trade Centre

Will Generative AI Change the World? — Dr. Sidney Shapiro, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024 — Slice Bar and Grill

Political and Policy Innovation in Alberta: The More Things Change . . . ? — Dr. Lars Hallstrom, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lodge

Sentimental Songs for Sentimental People — Dr. Emily Gale, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025 — The Owl

Does Reading Even Matter Anymore? — Dr. Robin Bright (BA ’79, BEd ’82, MEd ’88), Thursday, Mar. 27, 2025 — Sandman Signature Lodge

Developing sufficient Canadian honey bee stocks

caroline.zentner — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 20:11:21 +0000

It’s hard being a honey bee these days. They face attack by mites and parasites, pesticides and extreme weather events associated with climate change, such as floods, droughts and fires, all of which make it increasingly difficult for honey bees to thrive.

Honey bees are vital for pollination of many crops, including high-value crops like blueberries, canola hybrid seed production and canola as a commodity. The result of high mortality rates among honey bees is crops that are under-pollinated and produce lower yields.

Although importing honey bees from other countries has helped mitigate the losses, beekeepers largely prefer to use Canadian honey bees because they are better adapted to the climate, environment and pathogens.

“Given the pollination needs in Canada, becoming self-sufficient in honey bee production is essential,” says Dr. Shelley Hoover, a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge professor and bee expert. “Producing more Canadian queen bees would certainly help alleviate the shortage of local honey bees.”

To work towards that goal, Dr. Leonard Foster from the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of British Columbia and a group of collaborators including Hoover, have been awarded a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council Sustainable Agriculture grant worth nearly $4.5 million over four years, of which close to $760,000 is coming to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.

The researchers want to develop methods for over-wintering queen bees as a step towards creating a more sustainable and resilient agriculture sector.

Canada’s climate makes it difficult for beekeepers to raise new queens early enough in the spring to produce large colonies in time for pollination. One solution could be to produce those queens in the preceding season and overwinter them for sale in the spring. Beekeepers do overwinter bees, but typically it’s a whole colony with a single queen. To become self-sufficient, many more queens are needed. The researchers propose to overwinter queens in small nucleus colonies. They’ll be collaborating with beekeepers involved in commercial queen production, as well as technology transfer programs to ensure the development of usable methods and procedures for beekeepers.

“We want to help ensure resiliency and self-sufficiency in the Canadian bee supply that will lead to more income for beekeepers and farmers and more calories produced with a net-negative impact on greenhouse gas emissions,” says Hoover.

Hoover will be the featured speaker at the next PUBlic Professor Series talk on Wednesday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at the Agri-food Hub & Trade Centre. Her talk is titled Fiat Lux (or, why honey bees are practically magic).

Newfound aquatic parasite named after longtime ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge professor

caroline.zentner — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 19:49:21 +0000

A significant find by a ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge graduate student has led to a key paper in the International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife, as well as a touching tribute to one of the most respected aquatic biologists in North America.

Graduate student Molly Tilley and her supervisor, Dr. Cam Goater, have characterized the life cycle of M. rasmusseni.

As an undergraduate student, Molly Tilley found large, white, disfiguring lesions surrounding the eyes of fathead minnows in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Pond. Her observation kicked off a long process of discovery that uncovered what she and supervisor Dr. Cam Goater refer to as an “emerging parasite” that has the ability to disrupt the aquatic food chain. Given its prominence as a new species and being identified in southern Alberta waters, the duo felt it was fitting for the parasite to be named after retired ULethbridge professor Dr. Joe Rasmussen — Myxobolus rasmusseni.

“Joe and I had been close friends and colleagues for many years,” says Goater. “His stature within Canadian science circles is legendary — I can’t think of an award in his field that he hasn’t won. Naming this parasite after him was another way to honour his range of contributions. To me, he is the top aquatic biologist in the country, maybe North America, and nobody is more deserving of a recognition of this type.”

Dr. Andrew Hurly, a ULethbridge biology professor, snapped this photo of an infected fathead minnow.

The new parasite is known as a myxozoan. One member of this group of parasites has become infamous in recent years, especially in Alberta, for causing ‘whirling disease’ in trout. This disease is spreading rapidly in western North America, posing a major challenge for fisheries management and conservation. Myxobolus rasmusseni represents a novel form of this condition. The new parasite infects fathead minnows, a species that plays a significant role in the food webs of prairie ponds and lakes.

“The problem is that fatheads tend to occur in the middle of our aquatic food chains,” says Goater. “Pike eat them, trout eat them and all sorts of fish-eating birds like herons and pelicans eat them. Our worry is that infection rates are often so high in juvenile minnows that they are unlikely to survive through the winter to reproduce the following spring. You’re really upsetting the ecosystem by losing a key part of the food chain.”

Dr. Joe Rasmussen is an award-winning aquatics researcher.

Rasmussen, who spent 16 highly productive years at ULethbridge, says one of the most significant honours a biologist can experience is to have a new species named after them.

“The naming of species is an integral component of the communication of information about nature, and the stability of our system for describing and naming new organisms is a cherished aspect of our science,” he says. “To have your name attached to a new species is, therefore, one of the finest forms of immortality that can be conferred, and to be recognized in such a distinguished manner by my colleague Dr. Goater and his student, Molly Tilley, is gratifying beyond words.

“Indeed, my involvement with Dr. Goater as a friend and colleague has been a major highlight in my career at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge.”

Tilley recently completed her master’s thesis on the discovery of M. rasmusseni. She says that she is now authoring another paper on its effect on individual minnow behaviour and survival.

“The results suggest that not only does infection with M. rasmusseni ultimately cause the death of the host, we found that infection reduces the physiological performance of individual fish which in turn impacts their functional role in the ecosystem,” she says. “This work will provide a solid foundation for future research which could ultimately inform management strategies.”

Rasmussen is impressed with the work of Tilley and Goater on the parasite that bears his name, and keen to follow its progression.

“Since Dr. Goater’s lab has characterized the complete life cycle of this new parasite, as well as its genetic profile, M. rasmusseni can be cultivated in the laboratory, and will likely contribute significantly to our understanding of these interesting organisms and the pathology and immunological challenge they represent,” says Rasmussen.

Broad areas of research awarded federal funding

caroline.zentner — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:03:34 +0000

A spectrum of research projects at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge have been awarded nearly $2.6 million in federal funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)

The funding is part of $693.8 million for several NSERC research competitions recently announced on behalf of the Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

“This investment in ULethbridge research activities speaks to the excellence and nationally competitive research we do — everything from mapping fuels for wildland fires to bee behaviour and the dynamics of black holes,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, vice-president research. “Our researchers investigate topics that impact the ways we understand the world around us and the complex influences and interconnectedness of the natural environment, agriculture and food security, and deep space phenomena.”

In addition, Dr. Monique Giroux had her Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Métis Music renewed for $500,000 through the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.

In all, 14 ULethbridge projects are receiving funding support from NSERC through the Discovery Grant and Discovery Development Grant programs. Among them are the following projects:

Dr. Laura Chasmer, a professor in the Department of Geography & Environment, will use novel Earth observation and geospatial data to examine how variations in vegetation ecosystems, both in space and in time, may enhance and reduce wildfires in Western Canada. The research program, which will include Indigenous land managers and knowledge keepers, will develop new ways of understanding fire hazards and recommendations for ecosystem management to lessen the impact of fire and improve the resilience of ecosystems and communities.
Dr. Sergio Pellis, Department of Neuroscience, will investigate the role of rough-and-tumble play or play-fighting in the development of cognitive and social skills in non-human mammals. Based on preliminary findings, Pellis hypothesizes that species with more complex social systems that require them to negotiate more varied relationships will have patterns of play that train youngsters for the social skills they’ll need as adults.

Discovery Grants

The funding listed for the following projects is over five years:

Dr. Theresa Burg, Biological Sciences — Evolution of High Latitude Birds ($200,000)
Dr. Shelley Hoover, Biological Sciences — Interactions between social bee behaviour and health ($190,000)
Dr. Steve Wiseman, Biological Sciences — Toxicant Induced Dysregulation of Oocyte Maturation ($235,000)
Dr. Nehal Thakor, Chemistry & Biochemistry — Regulation of mRNA Translation During Cellular Stress and Apoptosis ($200,000)
Dr. Laura Chasmer, Geography & Environment — Spatio-temporal variations in wildland fire fuel connectivity and behaviour using multi-data analytics ($275,000)
Dr. Joy Morris, Mathematics & Computer Science — Unexpected Symmetries of Graphs ($135,000)
Dr. David Euston, Neuroscience — Risk, Reinforcement Schedules, and Dopamine ($165,000)
Dr. Sergio Pellis, Neuroscience — Social play, the prefrontal cortex and the development of socio-cognitive skills ($275,000)
Dr. Alexandra Tetarenko, Physics & Astronomy — Unravelling how black holes power explosive outflows ($145,000)
Dr. Stephanus Henzi, Psychology — Contingency and Specificity in the Structure and Dynamics of Social Behaviour in Baboons and Vervet Monkeys ($235,000)
Dr. Jean-Baptiste Leca, Psychology — Mechanisms and evolution of material culture in primates: Does object play facilitate tool use? ($268,690)
Dr. Jamal Mansour, Psychology — Measuring cognitive processes that predict eyewitness identification performance ($165,000)

Discovery Development Grants

The funding listed for the following projects is over two years:

Dr. Philip Bonaventure, Geography & Environment — Climatic, geomorphic and ecosystem-driven multi-scale permafrost modelling and testing ($40,0000)
Dr. David Morris, Mathematics & Computer Science — Arithmetic groups, orderability, bounded generation and automorphisms ($40,000)

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 - Department of Biological Sciences

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