Ontario Provincial Parks Malaise Program Results!

Back in 2014 we deployed Malaise Traps in 51 Ontario Provincial Parks with the help of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) in a large experiment to assess arthropod diversity. We completed our analysis last year after sorting ~250,000 specimens and putting another ~750,000 through bulk analysis. That was a job indeed! Continue reading “Ontario Provincial Parks Malaise Program Results!”

Beginning to Barcode British Columbia

The summer of 2014 can be said to have been CBG’s busiest field season. Not only was it the final year of the Canadian National Parks (CNP) Malaise Program, but we also focused on concentrated sampling efforts in provincial parks within Ontario and British Columbia (BC). Now that the CNP Program is complete, we were finally able to process some of our BC samples. Continue reading “Beginning to Barcode British Columbia”

A Mite-y Experience

Hi Everyone,

The summer has really flown by in the blink of an eye. Luckily, I feel like I was able to accomplish a lot and learn something new each day I spent at Centre for Biodiversity Genomics. This summer I had a chance to experience both the Ontario BioBlitz in the Credit River watershed, as well as the Bioblitz hosted at the rare Charitable Research Reserve in Cambridge. Continue reading “A Mite-y Experience”

Ontario BioBlitz at Riverwood Conservancy and the Credit River Watershed

It’s that time of the year again – Ontario BioBlitz time! This year we will be surveying the Credit River Watershed. A number of BIO staff along with researchers, students and citizen scientists are volunteering their time this weekend – June 11 and 12th, 2016 – to try to find as many species as they can. The event is hosted by the Riverwood Conservancy this year, in Mississauga at Riverwood Park. Continue reading “Ontario BioBlitz at Riverwood Conservancy and the Credit River Watershed”

A Recap

This has been, by far, the most eventful summer I have had at BIO. My last summer here, in 2014, I was deployed on the BIObus for our trip out west and got so see some pretty amazing things, but this year has been far more jam-packed. I have been out in the field for a variety of reasons this summer. Continue reading “A Recap”

The Tans Will Fade, but the Barcodes Will Last Forever

Hello again everyone,

This will be my final blog of the season, as the summer wraps up and all the students head back to school. This past week was my final week working in BIO as a student, but luckily for me I get to come back as a full time employee! My summer at BIO was absolutely amazing, between learning how to work in the lab, and the multiple field work experiences I got to have. Continue reading “The Tans Will Fade, but the Barcodes Will Last Forever”

Bioblitzing for Fish on the Grand River

Approximately 24 Hours prior the start of the 6th International Barcode of Life Conference, a team of over 100 international scientists set off to survey as many species at the rare Charitable Research Reserve. Participants from 36 institutions and over 17 countries volunteered their time assist with collecting, sorting, identifying and plating. This bioblitz was unique due to the smaller scale and duration which was 12 hours instead of 24 hours, none the less, the results were impressive. Continue reading “Bioblitzing for Fish on the Grand River”

BINs and Loans

Welcome back loyal readers!

This summer has just sped by; it is already my last week as a full-time employee at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, consequently this will be my last blog. I am looking forward to returning to school in the fall to complete my Bachelor of Biological Science. I am so appreciative of everything that I was able to participate in this summer. Continue reading “BINs and Loans”

Thoughts on the 6th iBOL Conference

Hello loyal blog followers! I am happy to talk about my past week with everyone but I also have to inform you that this will be my last blog of the summer. This last blog signifies that the summer is almost over; it’s almost time to get back to school and watch the days get shorter. Many people may have heard that the University of Guelph was host to the 6th International Barcode of Life conference. Continue reading “Thoughts on the 6th iBOL Conference”

Messing Around With Monarchs

Hello my faithful readers,

I just got back from a fun filled weekend in Bruce Peninsula where we were trying to capture monarchs with the Escarpment Biosphere Conservancy. Unfortunately the Queen narrowly avoided escape but we did manage to catch about 40 monarch butterflies. Our goal was to tag their wings with a small sticker which would help researchers track the monarch migration. Continue reading “Messing Around With Monarchs”