Congratulations!
Hearty congratulations to Mr. S.D. Madison who successfully defended his M.Sc. thesis Nerve activity - dependent regulation of succinate and a-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase levels within rat fast and slow skeletal muscles. Co-supervisors: Dr. R. Michel and Dr. G.H. Parker; committee members: Dr. E. Gauthier, Chemistry and Biochemistry and Dr. S. Fairgrieve; external examiner: Dr. Michael J. Plyley, School of Physical and Health Education, University of Toronto
Sincere congratulations to Dr. Kabwe Nkongolo on his recent promotion to the rank of Full Professor.
Well done! Mr. R. Routledge (graduate student) has had several letters published recently in the Globe and Mail on topics of biological interest.
Congratulations to the group of Biology students who organized and ran the successful Lands for Life Symposium on November 17, 1998, on campus. The effort was spearheaded by undergraduates Ms. Debbie Jenkins and Ms. Jennifer Salmi; they were aided in various ways by Ms. Jennifer Noel, Ms. Carol Coffey, Ms. Melissa Julian, Mr. Trevor Jones, Ms. Jennifer Brown, and Mr. David Wiwchar. The symposium informed the 150-strong audience (including students from North Bay, Cambrian College, College Notre Dame, students and faculty from Laurentian University, and interested members of the public) of the value of protected areas and the recommendations of the Lands for Life Round Table (that fall far short of the minimum decreed internationally for the preservation of genetic, faunal and floral biodiversity). The student initiative was inspired by a weekend Plant Ecology field trip to the Red Pine old growth forest at Wolf Lake, northeast of Wanapitei Lake. The organizers attracted speakers who made balanced, well-thought-out, and well-documented presentations: Dr. David Pearson (Earth Sciences, Laurentian University); Mr. Ron Reid (coordinator for the Partnership for Public Lands); Mr. Franco Mariotti (Alumnus, now senior wildlife biologist, Science North); Mr. Ed Snucins (aquatic biologist, Cooperative Fisheries Unit, Laurentian University, in charge of the Killarney Restoration Project); and the keynote speaker, Ms. Elizabeth May (Executive Director, Sierra Club of Canada).
The impetus for the symposium was concern for the enormous importance of natural habitat to the people of Ontario and the very short time span allotted for the public consultation process and reaction to the Lands for Life process recommendations. After presentations and a question period, many members of the audience wrote and immediately mailed letters outlining their concerns to Premier Mike Harris and the Hon. John Snobelen.
Presentations
Dr. J. Gunn and M.Sc. graduate student Mr. Matt Clark attended the joint meetings of the Society of Canadian Limnologists and the Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research in Edmonton, January 8-10. The following papers were presented: Clark, M. and J. Gunn The role of sulphate reduction in lake sediments in the recovery of lakes from acidification; Gunn, J. Thermal tolerance of lake trout in situ.
On November 13, 1998, Dr. Lyle A. Renecker (alumnus), Palace Hillside Elk Farm, Renecker & Associates Inc. of Stratford, Ontario, presented a seminar to the Department - Ungulate Production Systems: Extensive to Intensive Management.
Grants and Awards
Prof. Keith Winterhalder has been awarded a travel grant of $2,789.94 by the Association of Colleges and Universities of Canada for travel to the Komi Republic, Russian Federation. The award is sponsored by CIDA through its International Partnership program.
Publications
Alarie, Y., H. Joly, and D. Dennie. 1998. Cuticular hydrocarbon analysis of the aquatic beetle Agabus anthracinus Mannerheim (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae). The Canadian Entomologist 130: 615-629.
Alarie, Y. and D.J. Larson, 1998. Larvae of Agabinus Crotch: generic characteristics, description of A. glabrellus (Motschulsky), and comparison with other genera of the subfamily Colymbetinae (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Dytiscidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 52: 339-350.
Alarie, Y., P.J. Spangler, and P.D. Perkins. 1998. Study of the larvae of Hydrotrupes palpalis Sharp (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Dytiscidae) with implications for the phylogeny of the Colymbetinae. The Coleopterists Bulletin 52: 313-332.
Polziehn, R.O., J. Hamr, F.F. Mallory, and C. Strobeck. 1998. Phylogenetic status of North American wapiti (Cervus elaphus) subspecies. Can. J. Zool. 76: 998-1010.
Couture P., J.-D. Dutil, and H. Guderley. 1998. Biochemical correlates of growth and condition in juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) from Newfoundland. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 55: 1591-1598.
Alumni News
Dr. Barbara Booth (M.Sc. 1991) recently successfully defended her Ph.D. thesis at the University of Guelph (Department of Botany). Her supervisor was Dr. Doug Larson, and her research topic concerned plant colonization on the face of the Niagara Escarpment, with special reference to seed rain and seed banks.
Mr. Charles Contant (M.Sc. 1997) has been appointed to the position of Staff Scientist in charge of Community Projects at Science North.
Ms. Kari Olivier (alumnus) has successfully completed her Medical Degree at the University of Ottawa and has set up her practice on Lasalle Avenue in Sudbury. Kari is the daughter of Bucky Olivier, who retired from the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Thanks
From the Graduate Students of the Department:
On November 19, 1998, the Faculty held a get-together in the Arboretum to acknowledge their appreciation for the graduate students. The graduate students would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge their supervisors, Diane, and the technicians. We realize that your decisions regarding prospective students are difficult - we would first like to thank you for choosing us to work in your lab. Although we are only here for a brief two years (well most of us anyway . . .) we carry your ideals, work ethics, and passion for research for the rest of our careers; these are the foundations of our goals and life dreams. So, thank you for your encouragement, support faith, and freedom to stretch our wings and realize our potential.
Thanks also for the 'Cold liquids and Hot Solids' and all of the hard work that went into the party!