The Alberta Wildlifer
Fall 1999, Vol. 10, No. 3
Editors: Troy Sorensen and Dave Hobson
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The Alberta Wildlifer |
Fall 1999, Vol. 10, No. 3 |
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Editors: Troy Sorensen and Dave Hobson |
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Our investment strategy is to have an equal value of GICs maturing each year for the next 5 years. The return on our GICs varies between 3.75 and 6.00 percent annual interest. We will have about $7,000 in GICs at maturity each year during 2000 - 2004.
The main reason for investing is to fund our scholarships. A fund was established in 1992 and the first scholarship of $500 was awarded in 1994 to a 4th year university student in zoology, biological science or a related field. In 1996, another scholarship was added, the Bob Goddard Memorial Scholarship, for students in a wildlife technical program. We have since increased the 2 scholarships to $600 each.
Originally, we intended to increase the value of the fund to the point where the interest on the principal would cover the scholarships. Even with the modest interest rates of today, we are close to reaching that goal. Where should we go from here? Should we increase the value of the scholarships to, for example, $1,000 per year? Should we add a graduate scholarship? Should the value of the scholarships be dependent upon the amount of money raised in the previous year, within a minimum and maximum limit on the value of the scholarship?
These were some of the options discussed by the executive during our September meeting. We concluded that the scholarship strategy required input from the membership and it will be discussed during our annual meeting. What do you think? George Hamilton is the chair of the scholarship committee. Please contact George or myself by phone or email and give us your thoughts on a scholarship strategy. (George: (780) 645-6502, george.hamilton@gov.ab.ca; Mike: (780) 467-4396, mathdorr@telusplanet.net).
Thank you! A special thanks to Laurie Hunt and Daniel Farr for the great job that they have done as newsletter editors. Another thanks to Dave Hobson and Troy Sorensen for taking over as editors of the newsletter, and to Dave McKinnon for accepting the duties of secretary-treasurer. Troy Sorensen continues to develop our web site and it looks great! Good luck, Chris Shank, in your new job with IUCN in Pakistan.
Mike Dorrance
Chapter NewsHere's your chance to show off your favorite photos!
We're asking members of the ACTWS to electronically submit their favorite photos for a contest that will be judged at the next annual meeting in spring 2000. Our main intention for holding the competition is to obtain quality photos to revise the ACTWS display and to use on our new web site.
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Photos must be less than 200kb and be in *.jpg or *.gif file formats.
Photos should be no larger than 4" x 6" and no larger than 200dpi.
Email photos to Troy Sorensen with the contest category in the subject line (Troy.Sorensen@telus.net). If you can't find access to a scanner you can mail in your submissions but you will not get them back until the next annual meeting. Snail-mail to Troy Sorensen, #203, 111 - 54 St., Edson, AB, T7E 1T2.
For more information visit the ACTWS website:
www.albertadirectory.com/actws/
Just in time for the New Millennium, The Alberta Chapter has arrived on The Information Highway at
www.albertadirectory.com/actws
You can help make the official ACTWS website a valuable resource for fellow wildlifers by contributing:
To submit links or make suggestions contact Troy Sorensen at Troy.Sorensen@telus.net.
Many thanks to Global Webwalkers for donating the webspace www.albertadirectory.com/globalweb. i
Each year, ACTWS recognizes excellence in the emerging generation of wildlifers through presentation of two $600 awards. The objectives are to reward excellence and promote student awareness and participation in ACTWS.
Notifications for the first award have gone out to Alberta universities aimed at students currently in their 4th year in Environmental, Biological, Forest or Animal Sciences, Zoology or a related field. The deadline for applications is Nov. 1/99, with the award to be made in December 1999.
The Robert (Bob) K. Goddard Memorial Scholarship is the second award. Eligible candidates will be students planning to enter their final (2nd or 3rd) year in a technical program focusing on wildlife. The application deadline is Feb. 15, 2000. The successful applicant will be announced at the Annual General Meeting in March, 2000. The actual cash award will be made upon confirmation of registration into the student’s final year (typically during the summer months).
This year marks a transition in the timing of the university award. An additional university award will be opened for competition this winter to students currently in 3rd year. Similarly to the Goddard Memorial Scholarship, the winner of this $600 award will be announced at the Annual General Meeting in March, 2000, with payment of the award to be made upon confirmation of enrolment in 4th year. Timing for the university award should then remain this way in subsequent years.
In other scholarship-related business, there will be a discussion at the March annual meeting to decide whether to institute a third $600 award for graduate students. Alternatively, the amount of the two existing awards could be increased to about $1,000 each. See President’s Message for further details.
Anyone wishing to apply for these awards, or wanting further information should contact Ron Bjorge (403-340-7669) regarding university awards, Ian Ross (403-217-8246) regarding the Goddard Memorial Scholarship, or George Hamilton (780-645-6402). i
George Hamilton
The 11th annual meeting of the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society will be held on the 10th and 11th of March, 2000 in Lethbridge. Our decision to move south for our Y2K meeting is in large part to recognize and support the Student Chapter based at the Lethbridge Community College. This group of aspiring wildlife biologists have participated with great enthusiasm in recent years and we’d like to show our appreciation by co-hosting the 2000 meeting in their home town.
In response to comments generated at the 1999 meeting, we’ve decided to host a full two day conference, so come prepared to start early Friday morning with a kick-off breakfast that will transition directly into an exciting conference. Friday will be capped with an entertaining evening including a non-profit Casino and Fund-Raising Auction. In addition to outstanding presentations, Saturday will feature our annual business meeting, award luncheon and announcement of the new executive.
Plenary sessions will be highlighted each day around the theme "Overlapping Landuse Practices: Challenges in Wildlife Conservation". An exciting list of Alberta biologists is being generated to discuss the plenary theme as it relates to the grasslands, foothills and boreal regions of Alberta.
Our conferences always highlight important research and management initiatives that are being conducted by you, the membership, of the Alberta Chapter. As such, we encourage you to submit your abstract to the conference coordinator, Elston Dzus, at his new email address (dzusel@alpac.ca). Abstracts will be accepted until Friday, January 14th, 2000. Please check the Alberta Chapter Website for detailed instructions on abstract submission.
The conference will be held at the Lethbridge Lodge (1-800-661-1232); to achieve the best rates for the conference rooms we need to have a minimum of 30 rooms booked by attendees. A government rate of $72 ($82 double) is being offered and we encourage you to book early. Please mention that you’ll be attending the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society meeting to get our conference rates.
The highly successful fund-raising auction will be featured at our annual conference in conjunction with a FUN casino. Last years auction generated $1,731; lets see if we can top this figure in the Year 2000. Proceeds are used to support our student scholarship fund.
Paul Jones is our Y2K auction coordinator. Please contact Paul with commitments to provide auction items (ph. 403-382-4357 or email: paul.jones@gov.ab.ca). Small and big ticket items, custom-made, purchases, new or used items, are graciously appreciated.
Name |
Position |
Phone |
Fax |
| Mike Dorrance | President | 780-467-4396 | 780-437-0631 |
| Beth MacCallum | Past President | 780-865-3390 | 780-865-4906 |
| Elston Dzus | President-Elect | 780-453-4109 | 780-453-4185 |
| Dave McKinnon | Sec.-Treas. | 780-632-8311 | 780-362-8379 |
| Steve Brechtel | Director | 780-422-9535 | 780-422-9685 |
| Doug Collister | Director | 403-246-2697 | 403-246-2697 |
| Cormack Gates | Director | 403-220-3027 | 403-284-4399 |
| George Hamilton | Director | 780-645-6402 | 780-645-7191 |
ACTWS Committee Chairs 1999 - 2000
Name |
Chair |
Phone |
Fax |
| Mike Dorrance | Communications |
780-467-4396 |
436-9540 |
| Elston Dzus | Programs |
780-453-4109 |
453-4185 |
| Doug Collister | Conservation |
403-246-2697 |
246-2697 |
| George Hamilton | Scholarship |
780-645-6402 |
645-7191 |
Awards |
403-845-8235 |
844-4216 |
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Membership |
780-492-2842 |
492-9224 |
Hosted by
The Idaho Chapter of The Wildlife Society
March 6-10, 2000, Post Falls, Idaho
"WILDLIFE SURVIVED Y2K: WHAT NOW?"
Symposia and Workshops
At least two symposia are planned: "Shrub and Shortgrass Prairie Ecosystems", and "Old Growth Forests and Sustainable Management". Anyone interested in presenting papers in these specific topics is encouraged to contact Toni Holthuijzen, VP, Idaho Chapter, or Gary Dusek, VP, NW Section. The intent of these symposia is to provide the membership an overview of the problems facing these ecosystems and communities and provide ways to manage and improve these systems well into the future. The symposia will be held prior to the general paper session.
Besides the symposia and the general paper session, several workshops are contemplated: Amphibian and Reptile Identification (hands on experience!), Watchable Wildlife/Urban Wildlife, and Wildlife Photography. Specific Information about workshops and symposia will be made available in the fall of this year. The intent is to make the section meeting fun, informative, and cost effective. We cordially invite you to join us in Post Falls!
Transportation
Alaska Airlines will offer special airfares to conference delegates for travel into and out of Spokane, Washington. Except for their regular lowest airfare between Spokane and other selected cities such as Portland and Seattle (currently US$88), Alaska Airlines will offer a 5% discount on all of their other published round trip airfares. For members older than 62, Alaska Airlines will also offer their senior citizen discount of 10%. These discounts will apply from March 4 to 12, 2000. To receive any of these discounts, please call Global Travel at 1-800-735-6363 and mention that you are attending "The Northwest Section of The Wildlife Society" meeting.
Lodging
The 2000 meeting, symposia, and workshops will be held at the Cavanaughs-Templin's Resort in Post Falls, Idaho. The entire hotel, with 167 rooms, has been reserved at the U.S. Federal Per diem rate for the year 2000 for both single and double occupancy. Deluxe and Riverview rooms will be charged an extra US$15. These rates will be subject to 5% state sales tax and 2% room tax. To be guaranteed the special rate, make your reservations by February 6, 2000 by calling 1-800-283-6754. Other hotel rooms are available in Post Falls, and reservations can be coordinated through Cavanaughs-Templin's Resort, which will also provide shuttle service. Templin's will offer shuttle service for people staying at other hotels in Post Falls once Templin's is booked full. Cavanaughs-Templin's Resort can provide shuttle service to and from the Spokane International Airport (about 30 miles) for a nominal charge. All conference delegates will receive complimentary parking in the hotel lots. The Templin's Resort is the only Resort listed in the Idaho's Watchable Wildfire Guide for the numbers and diversity of wintering waterfowl. The Resort has over 10,000 square feet of riverview conference space, with excellent restaurant facilities and other animates.
Session Topics
Anyone interested in providing session topics is encouraged to contact Toni Holthuijzen, ph 208-388-2352, fax 208-388-6902; email tholthuijzen@idahopower.com
Registration
We request that members take advantage of the early registration discount. On-site registration will be available (without the discount) at the conference headquarters. For registration information, contact Tony Apa at 208-324-4359; FAX 208-324-1160; email tapa@idfg.state.id.us
The Wildlife Society, Northwest Section, includes members from Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, Idaho Montana, the Northwest Territories, Oregon, Washington, Yukon. i
Any of the internet links below, including links from previous newsletters, can be found on the ACTWS website at www.albertadirectory.com/actws/.
Community Ecology Software, Tausch et al. (Journal of Vegetation Science 6, 897-902; 1995) found out that some programs for Correspondence Analysis and other vegetation data analyses gave different results when the input order of species or sites changes. Peter Minchin and me found that CANOCO is subject to the same instability (Journal of Vegetation Science 8, 447-454; 1997). Here we give some information and software to analyze and cure the instability.
Ecology Software, this site continues to develop as a clearinghouse for wildlife ecology related software. The majority of this software is PC based (DOS and Microsoft Windows programs) and often requires pkunzip to extract. All software has been virus scanned. http://detritus.inhs.uiuc.edu/wes/
EMAN, the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, is comprised of approximately 100 research and monitoring sites in Canada and is organized into 14 terrestrial Ecological Science Cooperatives. EMAN is coordinated and facilitated by Environment Canada. EMAN provides: national perspective on how the health of Canadian ecosystems are being affected by environmental changes; and an early warning system that identifies new ecosystem changes as they emerge and reports on their distribution. http://www.cciw.ca/eman-temp/intro.html
Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), is a partnership of U.S. and Canadian agencies, other organizations, and taxonomic specialists cooperating on the development of an on-line, scientifically credible, list of biological names focusing on the biota of North America.
March 6 - 9, 2000, San Diego, California
The Vertebrate Pest Conference is an educational event for discussing and exchanging information on problems and solutions to wildlife damage and undesirable interactions between wildlife and people. Presentations range from practical management to more technical papers concerning research or new technology. Presentation topics include: Commensal rodent management; Field rodent and rabbit management; Bird management (urban or agricultural); Predator problems and their management; Urban wildlife (problems and solutions); Wildlife and reforestation problems; New wildlife management chemicals, materials, or techniques; Human, domestic animal, and wildlife health; Alternative management methods and materials (repellents, exclusion, etc.); Endangered species programs and vertebrate pest management; Economic, social, and political aspects of vertebrate pest problems and their management.
Contact: Dr. Desley Whisson, Program Chairperson, c/o Dept. of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, One Shields Ave., Davis, CA 95616-8751, dawhisson@ucdavis.edu, Website no longer available.
May 8 - 12, 2000, Edmonton, Alberta
An international conference focusing on the current scientific understanding of forest carbon dynamics in the circumpolar boreal region. Verbal and poster presentations are invited on the following themes: boreal forest carbon budgets, monitoring carbon fluxes and stocks, forestry practices for carbon management, social and economic issues, and implications of Kyoto. Abstracts should be submitted to the Conference Coordinator (5320 - 122 St. Edmonton, Alberta, T6H 3S5, Fax: 780 - 435 - 7356, email: carbon@nofc.forestry.ca) by November 1, 1999. For more information visit the website:
August 2000
Hosted by the Manitoba Chapter of the Wildlife Society, this 2-3 day meeting will feature several paper sessions, field trips and evening get-togethers.
Contact: Bob Emery, ph 204-467-3238, b_emery@ducks.ca
Did you always want to contribute to ACTWS activities but find your schedule keeps you too busy? Here’s your chance!
Remember a little time and effort goes a long way and each auction item contributes to our student scholarship fund and makes for a more amusing evening.
Please contact Dee Ryerson (415-1335) or Ken Crutchfield (427-7763) for ACTWS pamphlets or more information.
To prepare the scientific program, titles and abstracts of papers are now requested and should be received by the Program Coordinator before January 14, 2000. We will print a draft program complete with titles in the January newsletter so PLEASE SUBMIT ABSTRACTS ON TIME!
Submit abstract by electronic mail, or by hard copy and electronic copy. The following checklist is provided to help you prepare your submission:
1. Hard copies of abstracts must be typed single-spaced within a 10 X 16 cm space.
2. Electronic copies should be submitted on 3.5 disks in MS Word for Windows 2.0 or later, MS Word for the Macintosh 6.0, or WordPerfect 4.2 or later.
3. Include names and complete addresses for all authors on the abstract, and underline the name of the presenter.
4. Do not outline the abstract.
5. Talks will be limited to a maximum of 15 minutes, plus 5 minutes for discussion.
6. Please advise the Program Coordinator if the paper or poster is to be judged for the student presentation awards (see announcement elsewhere in this issue).
A Kodak slide projector, overhead projector, and screen will be provided. Anyone with special AV or display needs (e.g., TV, VCR, movie projector, backboard) should notify the program coordinator prior to the meeting!!
If you are a student, please indicate if you would like to be included in the student competitions for best poster and oral presentations.
Sample Abstract
Foruew, E. Z. and U. R. Krasey. A NEW WAY TO CONDUCT WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT IN THE BOREAL FORESTS OF ALBERTA. Wildlife Science Group, Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division, #625 Ivory Towers, Edmonton, AB T6J 1E9 and Department of Regional Perspectives, Athabasca University, Athabasca, AB T4T 7K3.
Begin text here. This is where you tell us what you are going to tell us........................
Send Abstracts to:
Elston Dzus
Program Coordinator
Dzusel@alpac.ca