Freshwater Habitat Assessment Training
In partnership with the Maritime College of Forest Technology
Date: September 24-28, 2012
Location: Fredericton, NB
Instructors: Dr. Allen Curry, Dr. Michelle Gray and Mark Gautreau
Fees: Professionals and Students: $875*
*includes bag lunches, transportation to field sites, and coffee breaks
Course Description
Description
This 5-day field course has been developed to provide basic and practical understanding of the ecology of natural river systems – focusing on the assessment of habitats and biota to determine the current condition of a stream. Topics to be covered will include steam ecology; fish and invertebrate ecology and identification; biomonitoring; habitat requirements and ecology; habitat survey assessment techniques and approaches; sediment erosion, control, and requirements; and environmental perturbations. Emphasis will be on the understanding and conservation of river environments as unique and complex ecosystems and provide
participants with methods and techniques to assess and identify habitat and biological status.
The field course will be generally structured with classroom lectures in the morning and hands-on field training in data collection each afternoon. Participants will be split into groups and be responsible for the collection and summary of biological and habitat assessment data at their respective sites. At the end of each day's data collection, groups will be expected to work together to summarize their data (e.g. 1-2h each evening). By the end of the week, groups will present their overall site assessment to the rest of the class with an on-site presentation as well as with a project summary poster in the classroom. Participants will be evaluated based on an adequate level of participation and contribution to their respective group project and will receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course if they have met these requirements.
Course Outline (Tentative)
Day 1
- Fish biology - an overview of fish biology with reference to how environmental perturbations may affect fish health and condition
- Fish biomonitoring - fish collection and monitoring studies to monitor the health of streams in order to determine health and sustainability
- Fish identification - practical experience identifying fish species - emphasis on NB fishes
- Electrofishing demonstration and collection at each group site - demonstration of backpack electrofishing, fish community survey at each group's sites
Day 2
- Steam Ecology - an overview of the structure and functioning of running waters
- Macroinvertebrate Biology and Biomonitoring - overview of benthic macroinvertebrate biology and how they are used to indicate the relative health of streams and rivers
- Benthic collection demos and collection by each group - practical experience collecting and identifying invertebrates at each group's sites
Day 3
- Hydrology and habitat assessment - overview of guidelines, methods, and approaches
- Data Collection - each group will begin measurements and assessment of their respective site using standardized stream assessment forms
Day 4
- The afternoon will involve a tour of all sites with each group presenting an on-site presentation of their overall assessment (biological, hydrological, and habitat assessment)
- The group data will be completed and summarized on a poster in the classroom as well
Day 5
- Sediment erosion and control - overview of the issue, controls, and examples
- Provincial and federal legislation - overview of relevant legislation and guidelines related to erosion prevention, control, and assessment
- Field trip to look at local examples of good construction and erosion control structures
- Course wrap-up and summary discussion - final summary and questions will be covered and certificates of completion will be issued
Course Instructors
Dr. Allen Curry has a PhD in Zoology from the University of Guelph, an MSc in Watershed Ecosystems from Trent University, and a Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies (Geography and Biology) from the University of Waterloo. He is currently a professor of biology, forestry, and environmental management at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton NB, and holds the Cloverleaf Professorship in Recreational Fisheries. For the last eight years, he has been the Director of the Canadian Rivers Institute. His research interests and publications span a diversity of issues in freshwater sciences with an underlying philosophy that understanding physical and biological processes is critical but societal issues are immediate.
Dr. Michelle Gray has a PhD in Biology from the University of New Brunswick, an MSc in Watershed Ecosystems from Trent University, and an Honours BSc (Biology and Environmental Science) also from Trent University. She is currently the Director of Training and Professional Development for the Canadian Rivers Institute, located at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton NB. She is also the Program Coordinator for the new Watershed and Aquatics Training in Environmental Research (WATER) program being initiated at UNB. Her research background has focused on environmental toxicology and monitoring the health of aquatic systems using fish as indicator species.
Mark Gautreau has a BSc in Biology from the University of New Brunswick, an Environmental Technology Diploma from NBCC Miramichi, and is currently working part-time towards an MSc (Biology-UNB) on fish passage and swimming performance through culverts around NB. He has been a technician/biologist with the Canadian Rivers Institute since its inception, and has more than 12 years fisheries related experience. He has been involved in a broad range of projects addressing freshwater issues, including; fish telemetry, environmental effects monitoring, population estimation, and fish habitat preference.
For more information, general enquiries, or to register
Email Loretta Phillips at the Maritime College of Forest Technology.
