Three students from Lethbridge College will present their second year projects. This is the first of two evenings devoted to student presentations, the second evening will be April 6, 2022.
Jessie Bainsbridge:
Where Might They Bee? Landscape features influence bumble bee (Hymenoptera: Apidae) nest site selection.
Allyson Carroll:
Grazing Management Impacts on Grassland Songbird Habitat and Diversity.
Increased degradation to native grasslands in Canada is of great concern to avian biodiversity conservationists, as many grassland bird species are specialized in native prairie ecosystems, and therefore are not well equipped to deal with functional changes to the ecological integrity of their habitats. Grassland birds have suffered significant population declines over the past 50 years due to habitat loss, thus conservation efforts are being focussed on grassland protection and maintaining the stability of key environmental factors that bird populations rely on. Livestock grazing is a common management practice promoted by conservationists, as it helps emulate natural disturbance that occurred prior to human influence over the land. However, intense grazing can degrade available habitat for grassland songbirds. This study provides a comparison between vegetation characteristics and grassland songbird populations in two pastures that received different grazing intensities in the mixed grasslands of southwestern Saskatchewan, and will act as a guide for land managers in similar ecosystems when making informed land management decisions.
Brieann Eden:
Great Horned Owl Prey Diversity in Relation to Differing Habitats via Owl Pellets.
My study was to determine if habitat has an influence on prey selection diversity through owl pellet analysis. Three different habitat locations, each with a two km radius, were chosen. The three habitat types chosen included low, medium, and high diversity in landscape variety. The conclusions of this study could decrease the knowledge gap surrounding Great Horned Owl site and prey selectivity.
Please join us via the Zoom link provided:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87933134903?pwd=UFRMOU5Sc3hidURmQ2t5UGdTazRpZz09