Past Events
Click here for information about our past conferences, courses, and meetings. Download free conference summaries, view lists of our event partners, and more.
Upcoming Events
Our GPS course scheduled for May 16 was cancelled due to low registrations.
Capture-recapture for Spatial Data course
May 29-31, 2012 in Nelson BC
The course is full but we'd like some names for a wait list.
Soils Refresher Course
May 31 - June 1, 2011 in Castlegar BC
Course full.
This course is co-hosted with Selkirk College.
Introduction to R Software
June 5 - 6, 2012 in Nelson BC.
Register now.
Resource Roads in British Columbia: Environmental challenges at the site level
November 7-8 in Cranbrook BC.
Call for papers open until May 31.
Click here to receive our event announcements.
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You may wish to review our Registration and Cancellation Policy
before you register for any of our events.
Capture–recapture for Spatial Data course
May 29-31, 2012, 9:00 a.m. start (Pacific Time)
Prestige Lakeside Resort, Nelson BC
One spot left as of May 11.
Instructor: Dr. Murray Efford, Otago University, New Zealand
Class size: Class size is limited to 16 people.
Cost: $675.00 plus HST to be paid at the time of registration. Software for the course is free from the internet.
Course fee includes: Instruction and coffee breaks. Participants are responsible for their own meals and hotel arrangements. Participants are to bring a laptop computer pre-loaded with software (see below).
Registration information is here.
Course description
Animal populations are often studied by trapping individuals, marked or otherwise distinguishable, at discrete points in space or by searching an area for sign. The statistical analysis of such data to estimate population density or size is more robust and effective if it accounts for the spatial distribution of sampling. There has been rapid growth of relevant methods and software in the last few years, but these have yet to appear in standard texts. Spatially explicit capture–recapture (SECR) analyses are used widely for bear populations sampled with hair snags and for large cats caught on automatic cameras. The methods extend to grid trapping of small mammals, mist-netting of birds, DNA from feces, and sounds recorded on microphone arrays.
Content
This 3-day short course introduces the core concepts of SECR, the free Windows software ‘Density’ and the R package ‘secr’. There will be some time set aside to discuss participants’ data. Specific topics to be covered include:
- spatial data types
- detection functions
- the use of habitat masks
- modelling of trap response and spatial, temporal or individual covariates
- interpreting output and troubleshooting
- study design
- density surfaces
- open-population analysis.
Our instructor
Dr. Murray Efford is a population ecologist with long experience in live-trapping studies. He has recently focused on developing spatially explicit capture–recapture methods, and acoustic methods for assessing bird populations. He is the author of the Windows software ‘Density’ and the R package ‘secr’, and has presented SECR workshops in New Zealand, Malaysia, UK, and Canada.
Pre-knowledge
Participants should have some knowledge of conventional capture–recapture methods and model selection using AIC. Familiarity with R is recommended.
Course preparation
- Participants should bring their own laptop (Mac or Windows) preloaded with the software described below.
- You may wish to bring an external monitor if your laptop has a small screen.
- Participants are encouraged to bring their own formatted datasets (see ‘Input data’ in the Density help file, or secr-datainput.pdf).
- You will be provided with files for course exercises at the course.
Software to install before the course:
The Windows program Density will be discussed and used for demonstrations, but it is not essential. Download it from www.otago.ac.nz/density and use a program such as WinZip to unzip the single zip file in a folder of your choice.
If you do not already have R installed (the newest version is 2.15, although versions 2.12 or newer will be fine for the course) then install it from, e.g., http://cran.stat.sfu.ca/ . Click on Windows (or MacOS X) in the Download and Install R section. If installing for Windows select ‘base’ in the R for Windows Section. Now download R-2.14 for Windows. Save the executable file (about 46Mb) to your hard drive. Next double-click the executable file to install R on your machine. Choose the default settings. R should now be installed on your machine.
To install the R package ‘secr’ in Windows, open R while you are connected to the internet and select Packages | Install package(s) from the menu. Select a suitable mirror site (e.g. Canada (BC)) and then find ‘secr’ in the alphabetical package list. Selecting ‘secr’ installs the package itself and any required packages. The process differs only slightly on Mac and other systems.
Some optional features of ‘secr’ use “suggested” packages that you may also wish to install: ‘sp’ and ‘maptools’ for reading shapefiles; ‘spsurvey’ for representative spatial sampling with GRTS; ‘gpclib’, ‘rgdal’ and ‘rgeos’ for other GIS-related functions.
You will need a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader.
Cost and registration
Cost is $675.00 + HST
When the course fills, we will begin a wait list.
- You will need to pay before your registration is secured. You can use our on-line payment system with PayPal (you don’t need a PayPal account to use your credit card) or we can send you an invoice as a PDF and you can mail a cheque ASAP.
- Be sure you’ve read the cancellation policy on the registration form. You may wish to view our Policy on Registration and Cancellation.
- Your registration and payment will be confirmed by email. If you don't hear back in a day or so, please call to confirm that your registration was received.
Where is the course?
The course will be held at the Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson. http://www.prestigeinn.com/nelson-lakeside-prestige-hotel.php
Where should I stay?
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Prestige Lakeside Resort at the rate of $89.00 plus taxes. You are responsible for making the actual booking for your room and for the cost of your room. Be sure to mention that you are part of this Columbia Mountains Institute course to get the special rate. Book early to get a room, because the rooms we have reserved will be “released” two weeks before the course. (There are two Prestige Hotels in Nelson, be sure you are in the right one)
Prestige Lakeside Resort
701 Lakeside Drive, Nelson, BC V1L 6G3
Nelson@PrestigeHotels.ca
Phone 250-352-7222 or toll free 1-87-PRESTIGE
Information about other accommodations can be found at the website of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce.
Questions?For questions about course content or downloading software, For questions about your registration, contact office@cmiae.org or |
Soils Refresher Course
May 31 & June 1, 2012
Selkirk College, Castlegar BC
This course is co-hosted by
Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology
and Selkirk College.
Cost: $280.00 + HST
Instructor: Derek Marcoux
Class size: Maximum 20 participants
Location: Castlegar campus of Selkirk College. Use the main entrance to the college and follow the signs to the classroom.
Times: 9:00 a.m. to about 4:00 p.m. both days.
Course fee includes: Course handbook, coffee breaks, and lunch on first day. No food or drinks provided for field day.
Bring: Note-taking materials, outdoor clothing, good boots, and rain gear. You need to bring your own food and drinks for the field day.
Course description
The Soils Refresher course is intended for biologists, foresters and other resource professionals interested in reviewing basic concepts of soils and soil management.
Topics to be covered include:
- Review of basic mineral and rock characteristics that contribute to soil forming processes and classification of soils in Canada.
- Review of field estimation of soil textures, and classification of forest, grassland, and wetland soils.
Participants will spend the first day mostly in the classroom and lab reviewing basic soils concepts and practicing field texturing. A short field trip may be held on the first day to review some concepts. On the second day, participants will go on an all-day field trip from Castlegar to Grand Forks to review the soil properties in forest, riparian, wetland, and grassland environments. Car-pooling will be needed.
Registration
Cost is $280.00 plus HST. Registration form is here. Your registration is not secured until CMI receives payment.
How to pay: When you submit the registration form you can ask for a PDF invoice or pay with a credit card using our PayPal service (you don't need a PayPal account).
Be sure you've read the Cancellation Policy on the registration form. There are no refunds after May 15, and there is a $50 retainer on any cancellations before then. If the course is cancelled the Columbia Mountains Institute is not responsible for any costs other than a full refund of the registration fee.
Our instructor
Derek Marcoux is a Professional Biologist with 20 years experience in ecosystem classification, botany, and soil classification. He has worked on numerous field projects for ecosystem classification and ecosystem mapping across the province. He has been teaching applied ecosystem and soils classification skills in the environmental programs at Selkirk College for the past 14 years.
Course outline
Day 1 - Classroom day at Selkirk College campus in Castlegar
- Review of basic geology and soil forming processes
- Field estimation of soil texturing and classification of soils
- Basic rock and mineral identification needed for soil forming processes and classification
Day 2 - Field trip from Castlegar to Grand Forks.
- Participants will review key concepts of Brunisol, Podzol, Gleysol, Organic, and Chernozemic soil orders.
- Participants will practice coding for field notes.
- Car-pooling will be needed.
Excellent pre-reading and a resource for your future! Valentine, K.W.G., Sprout, P.N., Baker, T.E., Lawkulich, L.M. (Eds.), 1978, The Soil Landscapes of British Columbia. BC Ministry of Environment, Resource Analysis Branch. 197p. |
What is included and what should you bring?
- A course handout will be provided to participants upon arrival.
- Bring note-taking materials.
- Soils field gear will be provided (i.e. sieves, texturing kits, pH kits).
- Participants should come prepared with good field boots and raingear. We will go out in the field in any condition.
- On the first day (classroom) we provide coffee breaks and lunch. On the second day (field day) you need to BRING YOUR OWN FOOD AND DRINKS.
- We will be car-pooling for the field trip day.
Where to stay
- Kekuli House on campus: We have asked for 10 rooms to be available at Kekuli House, the student residence at Selkirk College's Castlegar campus. Rates are as low as $30 per night if you bring your own bedding. Click here for information about Kekuli House and how to book a room. You need to arrange your own meals (except for lunch on the first day) because the campus cafeteria is closed.
- The Super 8 Motel in Castlegar an alternate suggestion. Advance bookings are considerably cheaper but note the details about no refunds.
- More information about accommodations, including campgrounds, can be found at the Castlegar Chamber of Commerce website.
Questions?About course content: Derek Marcoux dmarcoux@selkirk.ca About registration and payment: CMI office office@cmiae.org or call |
Introduction to R software
June 5-6, 2012
Prestige Lakeside Resort, Nelson BC
Instructor: Dr. Joseph Thorley, Poisson Consulting, Nelson http://www.poissonconsulting.ca/
Class size: Class size is limited to 14 people (with two instructors)
Cost: $475.00 + $57.00 HST = $532.00 to be paid at the time of registration. Software for the course is free from the internet.
Course fee includes: Instruction, course manual, and coffee breaks. Participants are responsible for their own meals and hotel arrangements. Participants are to bring a laptop computer pre-loaded with software (see below).
Course description
This two-day course will introduce users to R software, so that they are able to begin manipulating data, performing statistical analyses, and plotting graphs on their own. The course is suitable for individuals who have never used R before as well as R-users looking to consolidate their understanding of the basics.
R is a free programming environment for data manipulation, statistical analyses, and graphics that is becoming increasingly popular among biologists. R is extremely powerful, can be readily extended to non-standard methods through the downloading of packages, and runs on a wide variety of operating systems (http://www.r-project.org/). Participants are expected to have a working knowledge of linear regression and ANOVA.
Please note: This is a course on how to use R software, not a course on statistical methods.
Our instructor
This course will be taught by Dr. Joseph Thorley, R.P.Bio. (Poisson Consulting Ltd.). Joe is a Nelson-based fisheries biologist and analyst with over twelve years of programming experience.
The course will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day with an hour break for lunch. Coffee breaks are included but participants are responsible for their own accommodation and meals.
Course Content
Day 1
R Basics
Vectors
Data frames
Importing data
Day 2
R Programming
Graphics
Linear models in R
Requirements
Participants are to bring a Windows (or MacOS X) laptop with the latest version of R installed (see below). Consider bringing an external monitor if your laptop has a small screen.
Installing R
For questions about installing R, contact Joe Thorley at joe@poissonconsulting.ca .
In order to install the R software please go to http://cran.stat.sfu.ca/ . Then click on Windows (or MacOS X) in the Download and Install R Section. If installing for Windows select base in the R for Windows Section. Now download R-2.13 for Windows (or the most recent version if R 2.13 has been superseded). Save the executable file to your hard drive. Next double-click the executable file to install R on your machine. Choose the default settings. R should now be installed on your machine. If you have questions about installing R, contact Joe Thorley at joe@poissonconsulting.ca .
Registration
You will need to pay before your registration is secured. You can use our on-line payment system with PayPal (you don’t need a PayPal account to use your credit card) or we can send you an invoice as a PDF and you can mail a cheque ASAP.
Be sure you’ve read the cancellation policy on the registration form. You may wish to view our Policy on Registration and Cancellation.
Your registration and payment will be confirmed by email. If you don't hear back in a day or so, please call to confirm that your registration was received.
When the course fills, we will begin a wait list. There is a possibility of expanding the number of people we can accommodate, to a maximum of 12 people.
Where is the course?
The course will be held at the Prestige Lakeside Resort in Nelson. http://www.prestigeinn.com/nelson-lakeside-prestige-hotel.php
Where should I stay?
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Prestige Lakeside Resort at the rate of $95.00 plus taxes. You are responsible for making the actual booking for your room and for the cost of your room. Be sure to mention that you are part of this Columbia Mountains Institute course to get the special rate. Book early to get a room, because the rooms we have reserved will be “released” two weeks before the course.
Prestige Lakeside Resort
701 Lakeside Drive,
Nelson, BC V1L 6G3
Nelson@PrestigeHotels.ca
Phone 250-352-7222 or toll free
1-87-PRESTIGE
Information about other accommodations can be found at the website of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce.
Questions?For questions about course content or downloading R software, For questions about your registration or general information about the |
Resource Roads in British Columbia:
Environmental challenges at the site level
November 7-8, 2012
Cranbrook BC
Call for presentations closes May 31, 2012
Conference description
Within British Columbia, paved and unpaved road length increased by 82% between 1988 and 2005. In 2000, there were over 420 thousand road-stream crossings in BC; over the subsequent five years, road-stream crossings increased by about 13 thousand per year (BC Ministry of Environment 2007). Estimates of unpaved roads vary from 400,000 to 550,000 km across the province (BC Forest Practices Board 2005). Many more roads have been built since.
Restored fish passage
Photo by Richard Thompson
The environmental effects of roads are diverse, and include impacts on aquatic and terrestrial wildlife and habitat, soils, and water. At this conference we will address both road impacts and management responses.
We anticipate there will be a couple of talks that synthesize the environmental effects of roads on terrestrial ecosystems/species, aquatic ecosystems/species, invasive plants, and physical characteristics (e.g., soils, water). We’ll likely follow this with case studies that get more specific. Then we expect to move towards solutions with consideration of landscape and site scales (e.g., assessments, planning and thinking steps, a range of on-the-ground management options for mitigating impacts, and monitoring to find out what works).
Who is this conference for?
We anticipate a multidisciplinary group of people: planners, biologists, foresters, ecologists, and hydrologists. The event will be useful for people involved with road planning, layout, design, constrruction, maintenance, monitoring, and supervision.
We request presentations and posters on the following themes:
- What are the environmental effects of roads? How can the broad array of impacts be described in summary?
- How can the environmental impacts of roads be avoided, minimized, or repaired?
- How do environmental considerations play into planning, designing, constructing, and maintaining proposed roads? Can these considerations be summarized in a conceptual way?
- What are some examples of approaches used to mitigate road impacts?
- What is the status of road inventories, data, and maps in BC? What information gaps exist? What information is needed to better support road planning and practices?
- What are existing road-related BC laws, regulations, policies, and best practices? What changes would support better environmental management?
- What planning and practices can be used for repairing or decommissioning resource roads?
- Who pays for planning, designing, building, and maintaining new roads? Who pays for closing roads? How can funding be used strategically?
We welcome your suggestions for presentations on related topics not listed here.
Submit your abstract before May 31, 2012Submission guidelines for presentations are available here. |
About your presentation
If you would like to offer a 15 minute MS PowerPoint presentation, please send a title, an abstract, and your full contact information to the Columbia Mountains Institute BEFORE MAY 31. Longer presentations may be accommodated with advanced planning. There will be time for a few questions after your presentation.
If you are selected to be a presenter, you will need to provide a text summary of your presentation (not PowerPoint slides) for the conference proceedings, before the conference. A description of what is required is here.
You are welcome to “back up” your presentation with a poster, i.e. if you have data or other details that people will want to examine closely.
Assessing restored fish passage, Taylor River, Vancouver Island.
Photo by Richard Thompson
Posters
Posters and displays about your road-related projects are welcome. Offers of posters will be accepted until October 19. You are required to send a title, and an abstract or description of your initiative; guidelines are here. Your abstract will be included in the conference proceedings.
Field trips
November is a difficult time for field trips but if you'd like to lead a trip to a low-elevation site, please tell us what you'd like to do.
Our conference supporters
Columbia Basin Trust Environmental Initiatives Program is a supporter of this event.
If your organization would like to become a conference supporter, please contact our office.
Questions?Please contact: Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology Phone: 250-837-9311 or office@cmiae.org |
Links for Presenters and Sponsors
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Our Purpose
The purpose of the Columbia Mountains Institute of Applied Ecology is to improve ecological management by increasing and sharing knowledge about the ecology of the Columbia Mountains and regional ecosystems.