Environmental Science Seminar Series

A Game of Drones: Advancing discovery and innovation in marine ecology

Abstract: Coastal habitats, such as kelp forests and the rocky intertidal, are some of the most heavily studied ecosystems in the world owing to their economic and ecological value. Traditional data gathering methods, such as SCUBA and quadrats, have provided valuable data on the processes that structure coastal ecosystems. However, these approaches come with limitations centered on the spatial and temporal scales across which they can be used. With ongoing climatic shifts, new approaches are needed to improve our understanding of how a changing climate is affecting coastal habitats across temporal and spatial scales that may be missed by traditional data gathering approaches. Aerial drones have seen increased use in coastal studies due to their ability to rapidly capture multi-scale data on the distribution and abundance of coastal resources at a relatively low cost. Aerial drones, outfitted with high-resolution digital cameras, provide a method for capturing multi-scale data on coastal habitat distribution and community composition at scales of a few centimeters up to hundreds of meters. In this talk, I will describe two studies that demonstrate how drones can support data collection that bridge the gap between macro and microscale data collection approaches to further our understanding of the ecological processes structuring coastal ecosystems.

Title: TBA

Reading week

Title: TBA

MSc showcase

The microbiome's One Health connection: linking pets, people, and the environment

Abstract: Did you know your pet’s microbiome holds secrets to a healthier world? This talk will uncover the surprising ways pets, people, and the environment are connected through tiny microbes. From supporting well-being to balancing ecosystems, we’ll explore how these unseen allies shape our lives. Discover the amazing role your furry friends play in keeping everyone—humans and animals alike—healthier and happier. Join us for a fascinating journey into the invisible world of microbes and their power to bring us closer together.

Volcanoes and climate change in TRU’s backyard

Abstract: The Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) (~ 56 million years ago (Ma)) and Early Eocene Climatic Optimum (EEOC) (54 – 48 Ma) were the warmest times of the Cenozoic Era (last 66 Ma), with mean surface temperatures estimated to be about 10-16 °C above pre-industrial levels. Geoscientists look to these past events as a way of understanding current climate change and forecasting potential consequences. To that end, understanding emissions of gases and particles released during major volcanic events (Large Igneous Provinces or LIPs) is important because of their potential to both drive and resolve climatic perturbations, in addition to being related to periods of mass extinction.

Tackling large complex environmental issues. Can we provide new insight into factors impacting the bee decline?

Abstract: Developing improved management practices for crop and honey producers for protection of honeybees is complex and critical to the protection of the environment and pollinator species along with growth of Canada’s economy. Our work focuses on (1) new methods for extending detection of a range of contaminants including pesticides and those associated with forest fires, and (2) extending field sampling approaches from conventional pollen and beebread sampling to a beekeeper friendly passive in-hive sampling. Pollen collection is a snapshot approach to sampling such that we are using our experience in atmospheric sampling studies to improve the feasibility of seasonal in-hive sampling.