TWS-MB Newsletter - Sept 2015

President’s Corner

Hello Chapter Members, 

An exci ng year stretches out ahead of us, and

includes an opportunity to welcome members

from across the globe to The Wildlife Society

2015 conference in Winnipeg this fall. As we look

to the interna onal stage, we also need to

acknowledge the work we’re doing at the chap‐

ter level. My first duty as President was to do

just that: to acknowledge the great service pro‐

vided to the Manitoba Chapter by outgoing

members of the Execu ve Team. Unfortunately,

in the excitement of the AGM, I forgot to! I want

to remedy that now.

Both of our student reps (Laura and Marika)

devoted many hours to organizing events and

keeping us on top of the social media hill (if you

haven’t ‘liked’ us on facebook or followed our

Instagram @wildlifesocietymb feed, you should).

David Rai finished serving two terms as the

northern rep, coordina ng awards and being

instrumental in ge ng students from The Pas

down to the winter getaway. Laura, Marika and

David: thank you for your commitment to the

Chapter!

Perhaps my biggest oversight at the AGM was

not to celebrate our outgoing president (past‐

president) Rob Officer. As you are aware, the

posi on of president is really a three‐year com‐

mitment (president‐elect, president, past‐

president). During his tenure, Rob invested sig‐

nificant energy in making sure that the financial

state of the Chapter was in order. At the AGM, it

was my responsibility to present a pin to Rob to

recognize this outstanding contribu on. Unfortu‐

nately, I misinterpreted the term “outgoing pres‐

ident” and gave the pin to last year’s leader.

Please join me in thanking Rob when you see

him. I look forward to presen ng him with his

pin at our next mee ng.

Over the next year, I plan to improve how

the Execu ve Team serves the member‐

ship. One of these changes will be to shi

the team’s responsibili es away from being

primarily focused on event planning.

Events are cri cal to our chapter, and they

will now be managed by a dedicated com‐

mi ee that all members are encouraged to

join. This change will enable the Execu ve

Team to focus on projects that will shape

the chapter’s overall direc on moving for‐

ward. For example, we will offer more pro‐

fessional development opportuni es to

a ract more members, in addi on to de‐

veloping a strategic plan to connect profes‐

sionals within the province and raise the

chapter’s profile in the minds of policymak‐

ers and the public.

The mandate of The Wildlife Society, at all

levels, is to provide a voice for conserva‐

on professionals on ma ers rela ng to

natural resources and wildlife. To do this,

we need to be the organiza on that gov‐

ernments look to when they need advice.

This may mean that you will receive at

least one more survey this year to help us

assess how and where we should be pro‐

ceeding to serve professionals in the prov‐

ince. We hope that the membership will

become engaged in all of these ini a ves.

Together we can build a strong Society.

‐ Stephen Petersen

OF NOTE:

INTRODUCING THE 2015/16

EXECUTIVE TEAM!

NECROPSY WORKSHOP

BIRD BANDING WORKSHOP

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Inside this issue:

September 2015 Fall 2015

FEATURE ARTICLE - LEMMINGS 2

CHAPTER NEWS 3

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 7

ANNOUNCEMENTS 9

THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY Excellence in Wildlife Stewardship Through Science and Education

The Wildlife Society Manitoba Chapter

Newsletter

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Page 2

Fall 2015

Annual varia on in

wildlife popula ons

can drama cally

impact densi es of their compe tors and preda‐

tors, as well as other prey species of those preda‐

tors. This trend is very pronounced in the Arc c

where there are rela vely few species, and many

species are interconnected. Fluctua ons in prey

species, such as collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx 

richardsonii), can strongly affect the popula on

dynamics and reproduc on of Arc c predators such

as foxes, weasels and owls. When lemming densi‐

es decline, Arc c‐nes ng birds, such as geese and

shorebirds, experience much higher rates of nest

preda on, decreasing their breeding success.

Lemmings are adapted to live beneath the snow

during the Arc c winter, using nests of grass and

moss, but much of the tundra is covered in winter

by thin, dense, hard‐packed snow that is not ideal

lemming habitat. Climate change has further de‐

graded the quality of snow used by lemmings for

insula on and shelter from harsh Arc c weather by

increasing freezing and thawing events, affec ng

the thermal proper es and overall quality of snow.

Harsh winters and poor snow condi ons can affect

lemming winter survival and reproduc on, and with

the changing climate, the amplitude of lemming

cycles has dampened throughout their range, with

broad repercussions for Arc c food web interac‐

ons.

In Churchill, Manitoba, lemming winter nests are

commonly found on arc c fox (Vulpes lagopus)

dens, sugges ng the lemmings must be a racted to

some resource that outweighs the increased preda‐

on risk expected on the home of their major pred‐

ator. Arc c foxes concentrate nutrients on their

dens through scat, urine, prey remains, and disrupt

the soil when digging burrows. These small‐scale

disturbances promote the growth of shrubs and

grasses that are not typically found on the tundra

FEATURE ARTICLE

Jacqueline Verstage,  University of Manitoba 

and are taller than more common forbs. In winter,

snow accumulates on the leeward side of vegeta‐

on and is therefore generally thicker on fox dens.

Based on lemming winter nest counts, lemmings

prefer areas of increased snow thickness because

thicker snow provides more insula on and damp‐

ens daily temperature fluctua ons. Consequently,

snow on fox dens may a ract lemmings if it pro‐

vides greater insula on and a warmer microclimate

than snow on adjacent tundra.

By measuring the thickness, density and hardness

of snow, we can characterize the suitability of win‐

ter habitat on fox dens in comparison to control

sites on the tundra and known lemming nest sites

from the previous year. We can also relate lemming

ac vity on dens, control and nest sites to differ‐

ences in snow density, thickness and hardness.

Through further research on the interac ons be‐

tween lemmings, their Arc c predators and snow

condi ons, we can achieve a greater understanding

of the implica ons of climate change on food web

interac ons in the Arc c.

Jacqueline is an M.Sc. Student, supervised by Dr. James Roth, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba . Photo Credit: Kyle Ritchie. 

RISKY BUSINESS

FOR COLLARED

LEMMINGS

Page 3

Fall 2015

CHAPTER NEWS

The Richard C. Goulden Award is offered to a graduate student whose research contributes to the overall knowledge of wildlife and/or their habitats in Manitoba. Usually the award recipient is announced at our spring AGM. However, the awards commi ee had not made a final decision in me for the AGM. Since then, the award was offered to Michelle Ewacha for her thesis tled: Stress response of boreal woodland caribou and wolves to disturbances in eastern Manitoba.

The Wildlife Society (TWS) ‐ Manitoba Chapter is in a good financial posi on. As of August 21, 2015, the chapter bank balance was $11,982.75. Our total assets include approximately $2,035.66 in a fiscal stability fund, $2,000 in a scholarship fund and $1,000 in a professional development fund.

Thank you to Joro Consultants for a dona on towards the AGM in March.

The Manitoba Chapter stood at 166 ac ve members as of July 1, 2015 which includes 47 professional and re red members, 102 students and 17 honourary members (including some that ac vely pay membership fees). There are 250 expired members. If you would like to renew or are unsure of your status, please email [email protected].

RICHARD C.

GOULDEN AWARD

PRESENTED TO

MICHELLE

EWACHA

TWS MANITOBA

CHAPTER

FINANCIAL REPORT

At the 2015 AGM, The Wildlife Society ‐ Manitoba Chapter’s Conserva onist Award was provided to long‐standing member Dr. Rick Riewe. Re red since 2014, Rick has been making significant contribu ons to conserva on for over four decades.

Rick studied at Wayne State University and the University of Manitoba. A er comple ng his PhD in 1971, he returned to the University of Manitoba as a professor of Zoology in 1973. Over the next 41 years, Rick taught Wildlife Management, Ecology, Resource Management, Boreal Ecology and Biology, in addi on to advising numerous graduate students.

Rick has taught over 100 field courses throughout Canada, the U.S. and Europe, dealing with circumpolar peoples’ cultures and anthropology, boreal ecology and Arc c survival. In addi on, his research in North‐ern Canada has focussed on wildlife, Inuit hunters and the environmental impact of oil explora on, among other topics. Rick also travelled to each Canadian Inuit community in what later became the Nunavut Terri‐tory, crea ng an atlas that formed the basis of the largest Aboriginal land claim in the world.

Rick has been a research associate at the University of Alberta’s Circumpolar Ins tute and Co‐Editor for the Aboriginal Issues Press. He’s also contributed to several academic and cultural pursuits with his wife, Jill Oakes: co‐chairing Northern Studies at Trent University; cura ng the travelling exhibit, Inuit Annuraangit: Our Clothes from 1987‐1994; and co‐wri ng books such as Our Boots: An Inuit Women’s Art, which was nominated by the Smithsonian Ins tute for best museum publica on of the year in 2000.

Rick’s unique perspec ve has enriched the conserva on field greatly. His research interests involved the conserva on stakeholders — the people — as much as they involved the biology. He ensured that his stu‐dents appreciated this integra on. His philosophy has established a legacy of people who’ve gone on to make posi ve changes in the world.

MB CHAPTER 2015

CONSERVATIONIST

AWARD

PRESENTED TO

DR. RICK RIEWE

Page 4

CHAPTER NEWS (con’t)

Fall 2015

President: Dr. Stephen Petersen [email protected]

Stephen is the Head of Conserva on and Research for the Assiniboine Park Zoo, where he runs ac ve field and zoo research programs from the Interna‐

onal Polar Bear Conserva on Centre. Recent projects have focused on the ecology and gene cs of Arc c mammals (polar bears and seals) as well as engaging ci zen scien sts to process large aerial survey datasets. Stephen started his educa on at the University of Alberta, then studied the phyloge‐ne cs of southern flying squirrels at Acadia University and popula on ge‐ne cs of Arc c mammals at Trent University. Following his doctoral re‐search, Stephen moved to Winnipeg to study the gene cs of Arc c marine mammals at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. Stephen and his wife Meg have been members of the chapter since 2012.

INTRODUCING

THE 2015/16

MANITOBA

CHAPTER

EXECUTIVE

President Elect: C‐Jae Breiter [email protected]

C‐Jae is currently working as a Research Conserva on Specialist at the Assini‐boine Park Zoo. She graduated from Concordia University with an MSc, for which she spent me in Norway and Finland studying non‐invasive monitoring techniques for reindeer and caribou. Prior to joining the Zoo, she was a Wildlife Biologist at Joro Consultants in Winnipeg, working on a number of environmental impact assessments for development projects in Manitoba, with a focus on terrestrial wildlife. Her background also includes research in entomology, botany and species at risk conserva on. C‐Jae has been on the chapter execu ve since 2013.

Past President: Dennis Brannen [email protected]

Dennis is a Caribou Biologist with Manitoba Conserva on and Water Stew‐ardship. Much of his work focuses on policy, management and monitoring of caribou popula ons in eastern Manitoba. Dennis graduated from Acadia University with an MSc (Biology) degree in Wildlife Ecology in 2004. Over the past fi een years, he has worked on many different wildlife manage‐ment projects, with the last six years focused primarily on Species at Risk management.

Fall 2015

CHAPTER NEWS (con’t)

Page 5

INTRODUCING

THE 2015/16

CHAPTER

EXECUTIVE

Secretary/Treasurer: Rosemary Dohan [email protected]

Rosemary currently works for the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, focusing on Air Issues Management. She has an under‐graduate degree in Environmental Studies (Honours, Co‐op) from the University of Manitoba, and she is a Cer fied Environmental Prac oner (EP) specializing in Natural Resources Management. She’s worked with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society and the Interna onal Ins ‐tute for Sustainable Development. Recently, she began to pursue a Mas‐ters of Natural Resources Management (MNRM) at the Natural Re‐sources Ins tute (University of Manitoba) under the supervision of Dr. Nicola Koper. Her thesis focus is energy legisla on and habitat protec‐

on in Manitoba.

Member at Large: Meagan (Meg) Hainstock [email protected]

Meg Hainstock is the Na onal Conserva on Biologist for Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC). Prior to joining DUC, she was a profes‐sor in Fleming College’s Ecosystem Management program, in addi on to being Head of the Parks and Recrea on program, Researcher for the Centre for Alterna ve Wastewater Treatment, Founding Developer of the Ecological Restora on Joint Degree program, and Founding Coordi‐nator of the Frost Sustainable Campus Ini a ve and Nature Quest Camps. She’s also studied beluga with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans as well as bees and plants with Agriculture and Agri‐Food Cana‐da. Meg has an MSc in Biology (Wildlife Ecology), an Ecosystem Manage‐ment Diploma and a BFA with a minor in English. She and her husband Stephen are exhibi ng ar sts who explore wildlife themes in their print‐making studio.

Member at Large: Daniel Dupont [email protected]

Daniel is a Wildlife Biologist with Manitoba Conserva on and Water Steward‐ship. His work focuses mainly on monitoring and research projects rela ng to moose and wolves in eastern Manitoba. He started his studies at l'Université de Saint‐Boniface, earning a BSc, and completed an MEnv at University of Manitoba examining boreal woodland caribou calving habitat.

CHAPTER NEWS (con’t)

Fall 2015

INTRODUCING

THE 2015/16

MANITOBA

CHAPTER

EXECUTIVE

Northern Representa ve: Maria Arlt [email protected]

Maria Arlt is based in The Pas as the Regional Wildlife Biologist for Mani‐toba Conserva on and Water Stewardship’s Northwest Region. Maria’s responsibili es include moose and boreal caribou popula on monitoring and management, as well as industry mi ga on. Maria completed a BSc (honours) in Zoology in 2007, and an MSc in 2010, both from the Univer‐sity of Manitoba. For her MSc, she studied the rela onship between woodland caribou distribu on and landscape change in Saskatchewan.

Graduate Student Representa ve: Michelle Ewacha [email protected]

Michelle is an MSc student within the department of Biological Scienc‐es at the University of Manitoba. Her research looks at the impacts of disturbance on stress, diet and habitat use of caribou, moose and wolves in eastern Manitoba. In the past, she has conducted research in South Africa and Churchill, Manitoba. She has also worked for Envi‐ronment Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada. She enjoys camp‐ing, hiking, travelling and learning about wildlife.

Undergraduate Student Representa ve: Cassandra Claydon [email protected]

Cassandra Claydon is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Manitoba, pursuing a Bachelor of Environ‐mental Studies with a minor in Soil Sciences. Her focus has been on Wildlife and Natural Resources Management. In addi on to serving on the chapter execu ve, Cassandra is also a volunteer for the TWS 2015 Conference coming to Winnipeg. This past summer, she worked as a Biologist As‐sistant in the Wildlife Branch for Manitoba Conserva on and Water Stewardship within the Eastern Region. She en‐joys the outdoors and loves camping at Mantago Bay, Mani‐gotagan.

Fall 2015

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Page 7

We would like to thank all the a endees, as well as those who made the following ac vi es a success. We’ve received great feedback, and plan to provide more professional development opportuni es in the future. If you have any sugges ons, please contact Meg Hainstock at [email protected] or Dennis Brennan at [email protected]

Our first professional development ac vity of the year took place at the Veterinary Diagnos cs Services (VDS) laboratory, which is within the de‐partment of Manitoba Agriculture Food and Rural Development and is the sole provider of veterinary diag‐nos c tes ng in Manitoba for com‐panion animals and the agriculture‐food industry.

In a endance were 22 chapter mem‐bers and three experts: Accessioning and PM VDS Supervisor Agnieszka (Aggie) Gigiel; Assiniboine Park Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Charlene Berkvens and Assiniboine Park Zoo Animal Health Technician Brandi Nesplak.

Dr. Berkvens demonstrated a detailed necropsy on a white‐tailed deer and Canada goose, providing infor‐ma on on techniques and what to look for. A endees then divided into groups to perform necropsies on other animals, with Dr. Berkvens’ and Dr. Gigiel’s guid‐ance.

In total, there were 25 other carcasses including pi‐geons, squirrels, a great‐horned owl, moose and a wolf. Lisa Tre ak, from Prairie Wildlife Rehabilita on Centre, generously provided some of the carcasses. Richard Davis, from the Wildlife Disease Program with Manitoba Conserva on, also brought some carcasses for disease verifica on.

To learn more about the Veterinary Diagnos cs Ser‐vices (VDS) laboratory, please visit their website: h p://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/veterinary‐diagnos c‐services.html

NECROPSY

WORKSHOP -

APRIL 22, 2015

VETERINARY

DIAGNOSTICS

SERVICES LAB

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Fall 2015

Page 8

The second professional development ac vi‐ty of the year took place at the beau ful Oak Hammock Marsh (OHM) Interpre ve Centre. The workshop was led by Ducks Unlimited Canada Resident Naturalist Paula Grieef, who has over 23 years experience banding birds, including 15 years at OHM.

Grieef provided a presenta on about the history and purpose of migra on monitoring, then led the field component, which included mist ne ng and banding birds. The fi een par cipants learned several skills, including how to iden fy, band, handle, sex and age birds.

There may be an opportunity for a winter workshop with Grieef, which would look more closely at bird iden fica on and ageing by plumage. Stay tuned for more details!

If you would like to learn more at the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpre ve Centre, please visit their website: h p://www.oakhammockmarsh.ca/

BIRD BANDING

WORKSHOP - MAY

30, 2015 OAK

HAMMOCK

MARSH

Fall 2015

ANNOUNCEMENTS (con’t)

Page 9

Call for Past Newsle ersWe are in the process of trying to track down as many old newsle ers as we can. We are especially inter‐

ested in anything from the 1990’s & earlier. If anyone has any past newsle ers saved, please scan or fax

them to: Marc Schuster at [email protected] (fax:204‐983‐5248).

Help Us!

wildlife.org/manitoba

Current Execu ve 2015/16 

President: Stephen Petersen [email protected]

President Elect: C‐Jae Breiter [email protected]

Past President: Dennis Brannen [email protected]

Secretary/Treasurer: Rosemary Dohan

[email protected]

Member at Large: Meagan (Meg) Hainstock [email protected]

Member at Large: Daniel Dupont [email protected]

Northern Representa ve: Maria Arlt [email protected]

Graduate Student Representa ve: Michelle Ewacha [email protected]

Undergraduate Student Representa ve: Cassandra Claydon [email protected]

Advisor: Don Sexton [email protected]

The Manitoba Chapter of The Wildlife Society is dedicated to the conserva on and protec on of our wildlife resource base, through ini a ves in public aware‐ness, educa on and professional development, while promo ng and upholding

responsible wildlife stewardship  

WHO’S WHO ON THE EXECUTIVE 

Ques ons/Comments about the newsle er can be directed to the Website/Newsle er Editor: Marc Schuster at [email protected]