Browsing by Author "Summers, Mindi"
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Item Open Access Bumble Bees of Calgary: A key and illustrated guide for identification of the bumble bee species found in Calgary, Alberta(2023-02-08) Neame, Tobyn; Ritchie, Sarah; Summers, MindiA guide to the natural history, diversity, and identification of Calgary bumble bees.Item Open Access Calgary - A Bee City(2021-12-22) Summers, Mindi; Best, Lincoln; Robinson, Samuel; Seal, Michaela; Purvis, Emily; Vermaak, Sarah; Clarke, Arminty; Gavin, Michael; Miksha, Ron; Eggermont, MarjanVisual summary of Calgary's native bee biodiversity and the 15 native plants found to support the greatest diversity of wild bees.Item Open Access Calgary Insect Pollinator Diversity and Native Plant Associations(2021-10-15) Vermaak, Sarah; Seal, Michaela; Ford-Sahibzada, Taylor; Summers, MindiInsects pollinate roughly 75% of Earth’s flowering plants, and while Calgary hosts a large number of diverse insect pollinators, its insect diversity and plant associations had not yet been cataloged. This study sought to document the diversity of Calgary’s insect pollinators and determine which native plants support them. We observed and combined observations of plant-pollinator relationships collected through iNaturalist (3168 observations) from 2008-2021, physical collections and observations from specific plants in 2020 (1840 observations), and observations of insects visiting flowers during transect (294 observations) and quadrat (225 observations) surveys in 2021. We compared the number and association type for 59 native plants, and nine major insect groups (flies, beetles, true bugs, wasps, solitary bees, butterflies, ants, bumble bees, and honey bees). We identified 63 families, 148 genera, and 194 species of insects. We found the greatest number of species and plant-pollinator associations for flies and solitary bees, followed by bumble bees and butterflies. We also identified ten native plants that were associated with the greatest number of major insect groups. The results of this project will aid conservation and restoration efforts by providing guidance to city planners, landscape designers, and gardeners on which plants best support our city’s pollinators.Item Open Access Coleoptera of Alberta: Visual Guide to Common Terrestrial Families (Adults)(University of Calgary, 2022-12-18) Carson, Arminty; Gee, Gabriella; Summers, MindiA visual guide to common Coleoptera families found in Alberta created for undergraduate students and those new to insect identification. Visual images and descriptions are provided for key features and terminology needed to identify common beetles to family. We welcome recommendations for additions and updates from the entomological community.Item Open Access A collaboration in creating digital natural history collections: A case study of Alberta native bees(2021-10-16) Alexander, Rob; Ruddock, Kathryn; Summers, MindiAt the University of Calgary, a collaboration among staff and students in the Department of Biological Sciences, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Libraries and Cultural Resources, sought to explore how we could make our Biological Sciences natural history collections (invertebrate, vertebrate, and herbarium) accessible to a range of diverse stakeholders interested in biodiversity conservation. Using native bees as a case study, we digitized over 230 species of bee, producing 368 public records that includes three photographs of each bee specimen: lateral, anterior, and dorsal, along with associated metadata. This work involved the launch of a biodiversity website and digital collections where these photographs and student-created natural history illustrations are now available as open educational resources. Our digitization work is continuing for bees as well as other insect groups, and we are currently expanding our digitization capabilities to create 3D models. These 3D models will be annotated for students in biology and engineering courses, and used to train both students and citizen scientists in insect identification. Our collaboration has generated campus-wide interest in bees, with recent collaborations with the Office of Sustainability leading to the University of Calgary becoming a BeeUniversity and the start of the Calgary pollinator Count citizen-science initiative.Item Open Access Creating digital collections of biological specimens: Lessons for teaching and learning(2021-08-11) Ruddock, Kathryn; Summers, Mindi; Vamosi, JanaUniversity of Calgary Libraries has partnered with faculty in Biological Sciences since 2016 to digitize, describe and share herbarium and invertebrate specimens through digital collections as a resource for students. These collections are used by students and are created in partnership with students as part of course assignments. COVID-19 and online instruction made the collection and training resources even more valuable to our learners than we originally envisioned. Join us to learn how we created these collections, uses for the digital objects in teaching and learning, and limitations of the digital collection when the physical specimen is not accessible.Item Open Access Developing long-read Oxford Nanopore nemabiome metabarcoding for ovine gastrointestinal nematode community analysis and diagnostics(2024-02-02) Charrier, Eleonore; Gilleard, John; Wasmuth, James; Poissant, Jocelyn; Levy, Michel; McVeigh, Paul; Summers, MindiParasitic gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are major causes of disease in animals and humans and the routine use of anthelmintic drugs in their management is increasingly ineffective due to widespread anthelmintic drug resistance. Consequently, there is a growing need for improved diagnostic tools to enable more evidence-based approaches to control including more targeted and sustainable drug use. ITS-2 nemabiome metabarcoding is a powerful method to determine the relative abundance of GIN species isolated from fecal samples from a number of animal species. This thesis presents research aiming to improve this method to increase its flexibility, widen its applicability and make it more suitable for more routine diagnostics and surveillance. Sheep are an excellent system to develop GIN molecular diagnostic methods; GIN are arguably better studied in sheep than in any other host due to their major impact on sheep production. The research in this thesis has three main aims: (i) To transition nemabiome metabarcoding away from the short-read Illumina platform to the long-read Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) platform. (ii) To apply nemabiome metabarcoding directly to DNA from fecal material rather than harvested parasite populations. (iii) To develop nemabiome metabarcoding to determine the absolute abundance of GIN in fecal samples rather than just their relative abundance. Chapter 2 presents a set of four new non-redundant nematode rRNA databases and a WebApp, ‘PrimerTC’, to assess the taxonomic conservation of primers targeting different regions of the rRNA cistron across the nematode phylum. These new resources should enable more targeted and more comprehensive metabarcoding for both parasitic and free-living nematodes. Chapter 3 introduces ITS-1/5.8S/ITS-2 rRNA long-read ONT metabarcoding for GIN species relative quantitation. This chapter also pioneers the application of ITS-2 and ITS-1/5.8S/ITS-2 metabarcoding directly to DNA extracted from ovine fecal samples. Chapter 4 explores a synthetic DNA spike-in approach for absolute quantitation of GIN species in ovine fecal samples using both ITS-2 rDNA Illumina short-read and ITS-1/5.8S/ITS-2 long-read nemabiome metabarcoding. The new tools and methodologies presented in this thesis should pave the way for more widescale adoption of nemabiome metabarcoding as a tool in research, surveillance, and routine diagnostics.Item Open Access Distribution and habitat characteristics of Tubifex tubifex, intermediate host of whirling disease, in Banff National Park(2020-09-22) Whelan, Colby; Jackson, Leland J.; Summers, Mindi; Taylor, Mark; Bender, Darren J.Whirling Disease was discovered in Canada for the first time in 2016, at Johnson Lake, Banff National Park. The disease is caused by the parasite Myxobolus cerebralis and has caused major declines in trout populations in the United States. The presence of whirling disease in Banff National Park could be detrimental to the recovery of the two native trout species, which are both listed as threatened. The parasite affects salmonid fish, but also requires a second obligate host, the oligochaete, Tubifex tubifex. The presence and distribution of T. tubifex in a waterbody are important factors to predict where M. cerebralis may spread. Occupancy modelling was tested as a method for surveying the distribution of T. tubifex at the site of first detection, Johnson Lake. T. tubifex were present, though had a patchy distribution with low detection probability. High inorganic carbon concentration in the lake sediment was negatively associated with T. tubifex presence. Two watersheds within Banff National Park were also surveyed, zero T. tubifex were found within the Cascade watershed, while T. tubifex had a patchy distribution within the Spray watershed. Habitat covariates were tested using General Linear Models, and T. tubifex were found to be significantly associated with low landscape level slope, and a small contributing area. These results suggest that the presence of T. tubifex is not ubiquitous in waterbodies in the region and understanding habitat could help discover areas with T. tubifex presence.Item Open Access The Effects of the Kenow Wildfire on the Bat Community in Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta(2022-01-27) Low, Erin Blair; Barclay, Robert; Reid, Mary; Summers, Mindi; Bender, DarrenFire is one of the most important natural disturbances shaping forest communities. Fire impacts bat communities by changing forest structure, foraging opportunities, and roost availability. I examined the effects of the Kenow wildfire on the bat community in Waterton Lakes National Park (WLNP), Alberta. The Kenow wildfire was a severe fire that burned 38% of the park in September 2017. I radio-tracked female and male Myotis lucifugus to examine roosting behaviour and roost-tree availability two- and three-years post-fire. Reproductive female maternity colonies were found exclusively in buildings in the Waterton townsite. Males and non-reproductive females were tracked to tree and rock roosts in both burned and unburned areas. Roost-tree availability does not appear to have changed immediately after the wildfire. WLNP bat activity was examined using acoustic detectors to record bat echolocation calls at thirteen sites for three years before and three years after the wildfire. I analyzed echolocation recordings to examine bat activity changes pre- and post-fire as well as between burned and unburned areas. The Kenow wildfire negatively affected Eptesicus fuscus/Lasionycteris noctivagans, Lasiurus cinereus, and Myotis evotis. 40 kHz Myotis activity, likely predominately M. lucifugus, did not change pre- to post-fire. However, activity increased in burned areas and decreased in unburned areas. Myotis lucifugus are opportunistic and were likely able to adapt quickly to the changes in foraging habitat, insect communities, and roosting opportunities after the wildfire. Eptesicus fuscus/L. noctivagans, L. cinereus, and M. evotis were likely less adaptable to the significant ecological changes caused by the wildfire. However, the results are for the first three years post-fire and it may take time for the positive effects of the Kenow wildfire to be observed.Item Open Access Fostering Student Success in Online Courses(Taylor Institute for Teaching and Learning, 2023) Aparicio-Ting, Fabiola; Arcellana-Panlilio, Mayi; Bensler, Heather; Brown, Barbara; Clancy, Tracey; Dyjur, Patti; Radford, Scott; Redwood, Chene; Roberts, Verena; Sabbaghan, Soroush; Schroeder, Meadow; Summers, Mindi; Tézli, Annette; Wilks, Leighton; Wright, AlysiaThe pandemic had a disruptive impact on teaching and learning in higher education. For many, the transition to online learning presented enormous challenges, individually and collectively. Many of us sought immediate strategies to support student learning and success in an online context. We experienced many successes and failures along the way. This Guide provides an inspiring collection of scholarly reflections and approaches to supporting meaningful course learning opportunities for students and postsecondary educators, in online environments. The guide contains nine chapters contributed by members of the Teaching Academy from across disciplines involved in undergraduate and/or graduate instruction, writing solo or with collaborators, to highlight an aspect of their teaching that leverages the online environment to enhance student learning. Each of these chapters offers sage, pragmatic descriptions of course contexts, design considerations, and implementation, for online assessments (Chapter 1, 4), for innovative learning activities (Chapter 2, 6), for flexible course design (Chapter 5, 7), for engaging large classes (Chapter 8), for facilitating group work (Chapter 9), and for intentionally addressing the need for students to flourish (Chapter 3). Importantly, for the reader, each chapter shares the wisdom of practice of the author/s, discussing implications of use and giving concrete recommendations for those who are thinking of applying similar strategies.Item Open Access Game-based learning in science: The use of an educational game in parasitology(2021) Nykyforuk, Christina; Summers, Mindi; Finney, ConstanceParasitology is an important subject matter that is highly complex. This complexity creates challenges with student comprehension and engagement. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of an educational game called Parasite Patrol in two upper-level zoology courses: An Introduction to Invertebrate Zoology (ZOOL 401) and Principles in Parasitism (ZOOL 581). The game was strategically designed using the essential elements outlined by Malone (1980) to create an effective and engaging learning tool. Through the utilization of a pre and post-game survey design, we assessed the impact of playing Parasite Patrol on undergraduate students' knowledge of parasitology, attitudes towards parasites, and attitudes towards educational games. We identified that students in both courses had an improved performance on parasite knowledge questions after playing the game, more positive attitudes towards parasites, and enjoyed using the game as a learning tool.Item Open Access Green Solvent Processable, Solvent Resistant, Printed Organic Semiconducting Films(2022-02) Harding, Cayley Rebecca Anne; Welch, Gregory; Kusalik, Peter; Anikovskiy, Max; Summers, MindiThis thesis explores green processable organic molecules towards semiconducting films in printed organic electronic devices. Herein, I present a study on the green processability and printability of an N-annulated PDI chromophore. Chapter one introduces key concepts in printed electronics and methods towards greener solubility of organic molecules. Chapter two introduces the N-annulated PDI chromophore and details the methods taken to solubilize PDI into green solvents and slot-die coat into films. Chapter three delves into applications of the N-annulated PDI films towards amine gas sensors. This thesis strives to highlight the innovation of printing PDI with scalable techniques and introduce further applications of these films.Item Open Access Ground beetle conservation biocontrol: Potential for pest control ecosystem services using predation activity and trait-based analysis(2023-12-08) Neame, Tobyn J.; Galpern, Paul; Summers, Mindi; Ciborowski, JanRemoval of non-crop vegetation (e.g., forest and grassland patches) to expand crop fields threatens the natural enemies of crop pests, like the ground beetle family (Coleoptera: Carabidae), that may use these areas for overwintering. An argument for maintaining non-crop vegetation is its potential to support the supply of ecosystem services, such as pest control, to the surrounding crop. A common proxy for this service is the activity-density of natural enemy species. Evidence that predators like ground beetles are attacking pests in crops has been less frequently studied as have the mechanisms for why non-crop vegetation may influence pest predation within the crop. Studying the traits of natural enemies that are both impacted by the environment and affect their predation activity, may provide a mechanism for how non-crop vegetation influences pest control. Traits, like the size of carabids, may influence both their dispersal from non-crop vegetation and their predatory activity. I sampled a gradient of distances from non-crop vegetation in 20 field sites. I estimated the potential for pest attacks by carabids through bite marks on sentinel prey (plasticine ‘caterpillars’ made to look like potential prey items) and measured the body size of 20,407 carabids. I also conducted prey choice experiments with the carabid Pterostichus melanarius. Generalized additive models show that the frequency of bite marks increased to 50 m into the crop before declining at 100 m, but carabids in pitfall traps increased linearly as distance from non-crop vegetation increased. Results also showed the smallest six quantiles of carabids increased in size with distance from non-crop vegetation areas and larger P. melanarius showed a trend towards preying upon larger prey than smaller prey, though we could not reject a null hypothesis of no effect (alpha=0.05; P=0.08). These findings show predation activity may be associated with non-crop vegetation and the carabid community size distribution, rather than being predicted by activity-density. These findings support conservation of non-crop vegetation to support the predation of a diverse array of pests.Item Open Access A Guide for Undergraduate Research at UCalgary(University of Calgary, 2022-01) Flanagan, Kyla; Braun, Rachel; Cantin, Ariane; Loy, Kara; Summers, MindiUndergraduate research activities are meaningful Experiential Learning (EL) opportunities where students “learn by doing” and develop research and transferable skills. High-quality research experiences intentionally evoke students’ curiosity, engage students in the discovery process, ensure opportunities to disseminate findings, and extend learning through critical reflection. With thoughtful design and mentorship, undergraduate research immerses students deeply in a topic while encouraging students to take risks, develop as people and professionals, and build resiliency by overcoming inevitable challenges that arise in research. Research is a meaningful way to engage students as partners in inquiry, inviting them to become creators and contributors of discovery and knowledge. Our intended audience for this guide is instructors designing curricular undergraduate research experiences or research mentors supporting undergraduate research experiences in an apprenticeship model during curricular or non-curricular undergraduate research experiences. We have written this guide with an awareness of the disciplinary differences in research and student diversity while still providing meaningful guidance and direction for the research process. We hope you will use this guide to design research-based courses or develop support for one-on-one mentorship of research experiences. We may use the terms “instructors” and “research mentors” interchangeably throughout or use one title or the other to signal curricular or non-curricular research experiences. Graduate Teaching Assistants supporting undergraduates conducting research will also find value in this guide. Finally, undergraduate students undertaking a research project may also find this guide beneficial in understanding the research process and designing their investigation.Item Open Access Hemiptera of Alberta: Visual Guide to Common Terrestrial Families (Adults)(2022-12-18) Carson, Arminty; Summers, MindiA visual guide to common Hemiptera families found in Alberta created for undergraduate students and those new to insect identification. Visual images and descriptions are provided for key features and terminology needed to identify common true bugs to family. We welcome recommendations for additions and updates from the entomological community.Item Open Access The history and future of the rare, endemic plant species, Draba yukonensis (Yukon Draba)(2021-02-11) Jasper, Caroline; Vamosi, Jana C.; Musiani, Marco; Summers, MindiMany species in Canada remain poorly characterized regarding the projected impact of climate change. Here, I report my results from species distribution modeling for the rare, Yukon endemic plant, Draba yukonensis. Predicted change in range size in 2070 is an increase of 171375.1-184318.0 km2, which is surprising considering its limited known range. Overlap of predicted future and current ranges is 96.9-97.4%. Occurrence of protected areas in the predicted future range is 9.7-10.5%. It is possible that D. yukonensis represents a recently originated variety of a more common species that recently experienced polyploidization. I therefore performed phylogenetic analyses to elucidate relationships of D. yukonensis with other Draba species in the Yukon. I found that D. yukonensis is appropriately delineated as a Canadian endemic species and may be an allopolyploid of D. fladnizensis and D. lactea, or, likelier, is closely related to D. lactea. Overall, this work provides important predictions regarding where D. yukonensis could require interventions to aid its conservation.Item Open Access Insects of Alberta - Interactive Identification Guide To Common Orders(2023-05-02) Seal, Michaela; Duclos, Kevin; Summers, Mindi; Carson, ArmintyAn interactive guide to insect orders found in Alberta based on and modified from the Entomological Society of Alberta’s “The Insect Collector’s Guide.” This guide was created for undergraduate students and those new to insect identification. Visual images, 3D models, and annotated descriptions are provided for key features and terminology needed to identify insects to order. We welcome recommendations for additions and updates from the entomological community.Item Open Access Insects of Alberta - Visual Guide to Terrestrial Orders Adults(2022-12-18) Gee, Gabriella; Summers, MindiA visual guide to insect orders found in Alberta created for undergraduate students and those new to insect identification. Visual images and descriptions are provided for key features and terminology needed to identify insects to order. We welcome recommendations for additions and updates from the entomological community.Item Open Access Institutional collaborations to support undergraduate research as experiential learning(2023-11-10) Flanagan, Kyla; Stowe, Lisa; Summers, Mindi; Murphy, James E.Changing a campus culture to have experiential learning become essential to the student experience requires extensive buy-in and support from the campus community (Stowe & O'Connell, 2022). The Office of Experiential Learning at the University of Calgary supports experiential learning institutionally, with a bold target of all students having at least two high-quality experiential learning opportunities during their academic studies (Kaipainen et al., 2020). At UCalgary, a large, research-intensive institution, undergraduate research is a signature form of experiential learning where students engage in hands-on research in collaboration with researchers. There are numerous benefits to students participating in research (for example, see Lopatto et al., 2020); however, a lack of incentives and training can limit faculty members' willingness to engage in pedagogical change (Brownell and Tanner 2017). In this panel discussion, we will describe the landscape and context of undergraduate research at UCalgary, programming that has supported more than 3500 students engaging in research initiatives over the last three years, and institutional-level collaborations that have facilitated a culture shift, increasing undergraduate research in curricular and co-curricular experiences. As a vital part of our work, we will describe extensive research to understand barriers to accessing experiential learning opportunities for deserving equity groups and ameliorative actions we have taken as a campus to increase accessibility (Stowe et al., 2022). Finally, we will discuss the challenges and successes faced in expanding undergraduate research and experiential learning opportunities in our context institutionally and explore with participants how our experiences may translate to other institutional contexts.Item Open Access Investigating the role of the Shox2 gene desert in mouse limb and brain development(2024-02-14) Festa-Daroux, Tabitha Anne; Cobb, John Andrew; Summers, Mindi; Chua, Gordon; Dyck, Richard HenryA major challenge in biology is determining what governs the precise spatiotemporal gene expression required to pattern the vertebrate embryo. As vertebrate genomes continue to be sequenced, the presence of large, noncoding regions of DNA termed gene deserts are found with prominence. Complete with the information that they are often highly conserved and located near important developmental genes (such as the short stature homeobox 2 gene; Shox2), gene deserts have become a focus for their potential in cis-regulatory governance. The work in this thesis partially uncovers the regulatory mechanism of Shox2; a gene with pleiotropic developmental functions in mice located upstream of a 675 kb gene desert (S2GD) with cis-regulatory sequences that have activity in the limb and brain of transgenic mice. Our findings show that Shox2 expression in the mouse limb and brain partially requires the presence of the S2GD. More specifically, following a removal of the majority of the S2GD (582 kb) and a sensitized genetic background for Shox2 in the limb (whereby all Shox2 expression in the limb comes from the allele lacking the majority of the S2GD), mice display abnormal proximal limb formation that proceeds into adulthood. Second, when mice are bred on a sensitized genetic background for Shox2 in the central nervous system (CNS) (this time with all Shox2 expression in the CNS coming from the allele lacking the majority of the S2GD), mice not only display aberrant exploratory behaviour and motor coordination in both sexes, but reduced Shox2 expression in E12.5 hindbrain nuclei (n=3) and an overexpression of Shox2 in P1 pontine nuclei (n=2). Ultimately, the work in this thesis provides a paradigm for the regulation of an important developmental gene in mice, brought forth in part by the downstream gene desert.