eDNA Barcoding & Wetland Effectiveness Monitoring - Wetlands Institute Speaker Series 2021

Join the Wetlands Education Program and Wetlands Workforce for the 2021 Wetlands Institute Speaker Series! This event is a series of free ($100+ value) workshops aimed to give participants important knowledge and skills about wetland stewardship, restoration and construction.
Join Michael Wright (Laboratory Manager - Hajibabaei Lab · University of Guelph), Darcie Quamme (M.Sc., R.P.Bio., Integrated Ecological Research) & Steven Blair (M.Sc. candidate at SFU and BCIT’s joint Ecological Restoration Program) for the virtual event “eDNA Metabarcoding & Wetland Effectiveness Monitoring”.
eDNA is a rising topic but what is it and how is eDNA Metabarcoding applied in wetland conservation? Find out at this workshop with front line researchers and Wetlands Workforce collaborators. Disclaimer: Interesting bug (macroinvertebrates) facts may be included.
Speaker Information:
Michael Wright , Laboratory Manager - Hajibabaei Lab · University of Guelph
Mike is Lab Manager for the research laboratory of Dr. Mehrdad Hajibabaei at the University of Guelph. Mike obtained his Master of Science degree in 2016 working under Dr. Hajibabaei, during which he investigated patterns in benthic invertebrate communities identified through DNA metabarcoding which were collected as part of the Biomonitoring 2.0 project. He is working in collaboration the STREAM team to receive and process all the samples collected for DNA metabarcoding - from DNA extraction to sequencing.
Adam Martens, Environment and Climate Change Canada
With 15 years of invertebrate taxonomy experience, Adam has been involved with the Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN) since his studies at the University of New Brunswick. CABIN fieldwork has brought him to all corners of the country and with the recent launch of the Wetlands protocol he has completed multiple seasons collecting samples in the Peace-Athabasca Delta in northern Alberta. Adam and the rest of the CABIN wetlands group are actively working towards an efficient and standardized sampling method for biomonitoring of Canada’s wetlands.
Darcie Quamme, M.Sc., R.P.Bio ., Integrated Ecological Research
Darcie has a strong background in entomology, aquatic biology, environmental impact assessment, fish and aquatic habitat assessment, and environmental monitoring. She has spent 25 years working in the field of environmental consulting. Darcie is a Registered Professional Biologist and a member in good standing with the College of Applied Biology. Darcie has also carried out aquatic invertebrates and water quality assessments for forestry, mining, government and community groups on numerous streams and wetlands in the Kootenay area.
Steven Blair, M.Sc. candidate at SFU and BCIT’s joint Ecological Restoration Program
Steve obtained a B.Sc. in Geology in 2017 at the University of Calgary and worked as a field geologist. He has now returned to academics to pursue his passion for wildlife and environment . Steve joined the Wetlands Workforce Effectiveness Monitoring team at BCWF in May conducting a research study at restored wetlands to determine which sites support the greatest species richness of macroinvertebrates and thus, have a higher rate of recovery. Prior to moving to B.C. this fall, Steve worked at the Boreal Wetland Reclamation Assessment Lab and identified benthic invertebrates from a natural saline fen around Fort McMurray, AB.