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Sable Island Update
Third Annual Public Meeting
Illustrated talks about research and operations Followed by a Question & Answer Session, and Reception
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007 - 7:00-9:30 pm Scotiabank Conference Theatre, Room 201 Sobey Building, Saint Mary's University Campus
Illustrated talks will be presented by:
The meeting has been organized by the Sable Island Green Horse Society and the Ecology Action Centre, and is co-hosted by Saint Mary's University, the World Wildlife Fund, and the Nova Scotian Institute of Science.
There is no charge for this event.
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Program details - four illustrated talks, 15 minutes each: Sable Island Harbour Seals on the Edge W. Don Bowen Research scientist in the Population Ecology Division, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Dartmouth, and Adjunct Professor of Biology at Dalhousie University, Halifax. Don Bowen’s research areas include the population dynamics, ecology, and energetics of North Atlantic phocid seals, with the objectives of understanding the diversity of seals’ life histories and the nature of competitive interactions between seals and commercial fisheries. For the past 15 years Don has conducted research on reproduction and foraging ecology of grey and harbour seals at Sable Island using a variety of data loggers and satellite telemetry. Talk subject: Two seal species – grey and harbour – breed on Sable Island. Although the island’s grey seals now account for the world's largest breeding colony for that species, the harbour seal population has been in decline. Harbour seal pup production peaked in the late 1980s with >600 births, but by 2002 fewer than 10 pups were born. Continuous study of the Sable harbour seals began in the late 1960s, and the long-term records for both the population and a number of marked individuals, have provided some insights regarding the decreasing reproductive rate. Don will review the history of Sable’s harbour seal population, and will outline factors likely responsible for the population’s decline, including competition with grey seals and shark predation.
The Ipswich Sparrow, Sable's Island's Endemic Songbird Andrew G. Horn Research scientist, Biology Department, Dalhousie University. Andy Horn’s research interests include bird song, parent-offspring interactions in birds, and the evolution of communication. He has been involved with varied conservation and research programs on the terns and sparrows of Sable Island for the past ten years. Talk subject: The Ipswich sparrow is one of Sable Island's best known residents, breeding almost exclusively on the island, but wintering all along the Atlantic seaboard, where it is a highlight of the winter birding experience. Modern studies of the sparrow began in 1967 when Ian McLaren and colleagues conducted a census on the island. Since then the Ipswich Sparrow has become one of the best-studied North American passerines. Andy will review the ups and downs of the little gray bird's systematic status and survival, from its peculiar discovery to its uncertain future.
Environmental Monitoring of the Atmosphere from Sable Island Craig McMullen Meteorological Service of Canada. Craig McMullen graduated in Science from Dalhousie University in 1975, and has worked with the Meteorological Service of Canada for 30 years. He is presently Manager of Environmental Monitoring in Atlantic Canada, responsible for a variety of programs, including moored ocean buoys, radar, aerology, air quality, aviation, lightning, and stratospheric ozone programs. Talk subject: The Monitoring Division of the Meteorological Service of Canada maintains national networks to measure a variety of atmospheric parameters. Some Canadian stations including Sable Island have been collecting data for over 100 years. These data are used by aviation and marine interests, for weather forecasting, and for studies in climatology, pollution monitoring and other research. Craig will review the programs conducted on Sable Island and will explain how Sable data are used together with other data collected from national and international networks.
Sable Island – Year in Review 2006 Zoe Lucas Sable Island Zoe Lucas first visited Sable Island in 1971, and during the last three decades has been involved in numerous research and environmental monitoring programs, including long-term study of the Sable horses and beach bird surveys. Results of programs have been published in various scientific journals. Since 2002 Zoe has managed and prepared text and images for the Sable Island website www.GreenHorseSociety.com, and in 2004 became a Research Associate with the Nova Scotia Museum. Talk subject: Zoe will provide a review of Sable Island highlights for year 2006, including new foals, sea beans, the tropospheric ozone study, visitors, interesting birds, and the results of marine litter surveys. !<>!<>!<>! !<>!<>!<>! !<>!<>!<>! !<>!<>!<>! !<>!<>!<>! !<>!<>!<>! !<>!<>!<>! |