Amazing to see over 100 participants registering in the first 12 hours. I recognized many names of faithful, long-time supporters. It's also exciting to see many new names! Thank you for your lovely notes and useful suggestions. In the spirit of sharing, the following comments seem to reflect the sentiments we all feel:
"Looking forward to it, even though by zoom. And I hope that the next year we can be there in person. Best wishes from here in New Hampshire" Helen Whyte
"Thanks for making this virtual so out-of-towners can attend." Sara Seager, Concord, US
"With great anticipation dowsed in wonderful memories we look forward to escaping all and immersing into the symposium. As Van Gogh said’ if you truly love nature, you will see beauty everywhere." John and Pamela Newton, Port Carling, ON
REGISTRATION
Please take note - NO registration is required on WCS website. No payments required, only voluntary donations.
The first and ONLY step is to grab a great seat in the virtual Zoomitorium. Please click on the link below to register for the event. Registration is mandatory.
Wilderness as a living laboratory: Over 75-years of wildlife science at the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station
In the heart of Ontario's and Canada's iconic Algonquin Provincial Park is the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station (AWRS). Established in 1944, the AWRS is a place of discovery, experiential learning, and rich history. From flies to flying squirrels, mice to meningeal worms, shrews to salamanders and songbirds, turtles to trees, and woodpeckers to wolves, generations of biologists and biologists-to-be have been untangling the complexities of the natural world. This is no place for white lab coats lest they be covered in soil, blood stains, and smears of black flies and mosquitoes. For over 75 years, some of the most comprehensive studies of wildlife biology and conservation in Canada and the world have taken place in the little known Wildlife Research Area, a wilderness zone of Algonquin Provincial Park.
Behind the trail guides, popular books, dioramas, educational programs, and policies of Algonquin Provincial Park is science. Behind much of that science is the Algonquin Wildlife Research Station.
“The Park” is a lot of things to a lot of people, but to me it is a grand outdoor laboratory. While you might only rarely see the science in action, it is a crucial part of understanding and protecting the natural places that you and I love. In this presentation, I will share a selection of discoveries and ongoing research about the natural world that might change the way you look at Algonquin Provincial Park and its inhabitants during your next backcountry trip. Join me for the secrets that turtles hide in their half-shells, a David and Goliath story of host and parasite, what makes a wolf, the uncharted territory of a moose antler, and a dive into the guts of carnivorous plants—oh my! Don your boots, watch your step, and enjoy the squish of the bog underfoot. Tilley hat and sunscreen recommended. Pack your curiosity and get comfortable in your canoe!
Patrick Moldowan is a Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Toronto studying the population ecology and sensitivity to environmental change of salamanders, one of the many ‘little things that run the world’. He has been fortunate to turn his passion for wildlife (amphibians and reptiles, in particular) into ecological research and conservation efforts than span continents. Patrick is a recipient of the prestigious Canada's New Noah Scholarship from Wildlife Preservation Canada, an award recognizing young leaders in conservation. When not doting over salamanders, you can find Patrick dining on fine curries, guiding natural history tours, pondering the quirky sex lives of turtles, and planning his next field research project (… inevitably involving amphibians and reptiles).
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Send your '22 WCS Speaker recommendations to wcsymposium@gmail.com
