Amphibian Inventory & Monitoring Techniques

• Start Date: April 07, 2021
• End Date: April 14, 2021
• Time: 9am-3pm Pacific Standard Time
• City: Creston BC
• Venue: Online via Zoom
• Instructor: Elke Wind
• Adapted for online delivery April 7th & 14th

Course Description

This introductory course provides students with an opportunity to improve their amphibian species identification and handling skills, learn about survey design and standard inventory and monitoring techniques, and get hands-on experience surveying for amphibians in a variety of settings. This course will include a combination of online teaching and outdoor field work with sessions on amphibian ecology, species identification, handling and disease control methods, study design, and standard sampling techniques.

This course is aimed at students, naturalists, consultants, land managers, and field technicians. It is designed to serve as the first module (i.e., foundation course) for a number of intermediate-level modules on more specific topics (e.g., salvage, habitat assessments, research techniques, etc.) that may be offered in the future based on interest and demand.

NOTE: This course will take place via Zoom. We will send you the associated links you’ll need to join the “meeting.” You do not need to purchase a Zoom account for yourself, you just need to ensure you have the application downloaded to your computer. Here are some instructions to get you set up.

Course objectives:

Students who complete the course will have:

• A basic understanding of the ecology of amphibians in BC, especially as it pertains to where species occur (range, micro and macro habitat use), activity levels (daily and annually), and vulnerabilities to stressors (changes in their environment, being handled, etc.)
• Improved species identification skills
• Awareness of safe handling and disease control practices
• Know the factors that need to be taken into account when designing an inventory or monitoring program for amphibians
• Experience with standard sampling techniques for amphibians and an awareness of some of the new (novel) techniques being used by researchers and consultants

Course Schedule: 

Wednesday April 7th & 14th, 2021: 9am – 3pm Pacific Standard time over Zoom

These sessions will include two 15min breaks, and one 60min lunch break.  A detailed course itinerary is available upon request.

 

Our instructor

Elke Wind obtained her M.Sc. in Conservation Biology from UBC in 1996 where she studied the effects of habitat fragmentation on Wood Frogs in AB. She is a Registered Professional Biologist, a self-employed contract biologist, and she has more than 20 years experience studying amphibian populations. She specializes in the habitat associations and requirements of amphibian populations in relation to timber harvesting, rural and urban development, linear infrastructure projects, and non-native species. In addition, Elke has built or restored more than 20 wetlands and written numerous amphibian related reports for government, species recovery teams, and non-profit organizations including Best Management Practices, status reports, and chapters within amphibian field guides.

 

Who should attend?

This course is aimed at students, naturalists, consultants, land managers, and field technicians.

 

Preparation and what to bring

You’ll need a stable internet connection and your own working computer equip with video camera and a speaker/mic adequate enough to clearly communicate via the Zoom video conferencing platform. More info on system requirements for Zoom can be found here.

Recommended field guide: Corkran and Thoms, 2006 or later. Amphibians of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia.

 

Registration

Course registration will include catered breaks and an option to purchase bagged lunches. We will send out the catering plan to help you with your meal planning.

CMI Member: $225*

Regular: $270

*You can purchase your 2021 membership at the same time as you register, more about CMI membership here

Registration now full.  To be placed on a waitlist for the next time we host this course, please send an email to Hailey at office@cmiae.org