Curriculum Vitae

Charlene M. Wood [downloadable pdf]

M.Sc.

EDUCATION:

Sept. 2007 – 2012: Master of Science (Conservation Biology), University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB

Sept. 2000 – 2006: Bachelor of Science (Ecology and Evolutionary Biology), Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC

WORK & RESEARCH EXPERIENCE:

September 2013 – present: Wildlife Biologist, LGL Limited environmental research associates

  • Long-term wildlife, reclamation, and revegetation effectiveness monitoring projects

  • Various wildlife surveys (e.g., small mammal mark-and-release, amphibian and reptile surveys, and arthropod pitfall-trapping)

  • Radio-telemetry of Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta belli), Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), and Western Toad (Anaxyrus boreas)

  • Preparation of technical reports, including data analysis and report writing

  • Providing taxonomic expertise (sorting and classification of arthropod taxa; species-level identification of epigaeic beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae and Staphylinidae)

November 2012 - present: EcoDiverse Ecological Services - Owner, Biologist - Ecology, Entomology & Conservation

    • Self-employed contractor

    • Beetle sorting and identification

    • Beetle conservation status ranking

Sept. 2007 – 2012: University of Alberta/Canadian Forest Service – Graduate Research Scientist - Entomology & Conservation

    • Studied beetle-deadwood habitat associations in aspen stands of NW Alberta in collaboration with the Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance (EMEND) project

    • Prepared and successfully defended a 234-page research-based thesis in Sept. 2012 [download pdf]

    • Aided in the development of management protocols for conserving critical deadwood habitats

    • Identified 298 beetle species, including 47 new provincial records and 8 new species to science

    • Communicated research in 7 oral presentations and 6 poster presentations, including presentations at the 2010 International Congress for Conservation Biology and 2011 International Symposium on Dynamics and Ecological Services of Deadwood in Forest Ecosystems

    • Published one peer-reviewed publication [pdf] and three additional manuscripts in prep. (to be submitted)

    • Collaborations with industry (Daishowa Marubeni International and Canfor integrated forest products companies), government (the Canadian Forest Service), and the University of Alberta

    • Field work for 10 months: understory plant surveys, forest stand measurement, trap development and installation on deadwood, beetle collections, supervision of 3 undergraduate field assistants

    • Managed large spreadsheets, data entry and error checking, and performed analyses in R, PC-ORD, and EstimateS software

    • Supervised by Dr. John Spence (University of Alberta) and Dr. David Langor (Canadian Forest Service)

Jan. – April. 2010: University of Alberta – Wildlife Biodiversity and Ecology Teaching Assistant

    • Instructed the laboratory for Environmental Conservation Sciences 201 “Wildlife Biodiversity and Ecology” course

    • Taught students an introduction to the diversity of animal life in Canada and the USA, in the context of conservation

    • Instructed students on the classification and identification of animal groups (Birds, Mammals, Reptiles, Amphibians, Fish, and Insects) using specimens and photos

    • Lead students on a field trip to Whitemud Park (Edmonton, AB) for an instructional nature walk and lead a field trip to the Royal Alberta Museum

    • Created, administered, and graded exams and assignments

Sept. – Dec. 2009: University of Alberta – Forest Ecosystems Laboratory Instructor

    • Developed and instructed the laboratory curriculum for Forestry 322 “Forest Ecosystems” course

    • Charlene Wood charlene.m.wood@gmail.com

    • Taught students current techniques for research on forest biodiversity, community ecology, and forest ecosystems

    • Instructed and lead students in vegetation surveys, forest structure measurement, soil classification, and ecosite classification during field trips

    • Taught students how to enter and manipulate data in Excel, perform basic biodiversity calculations, and present their data in appropriate graphs

    • Guided student projects, including advice on research topics and scientific writing

    • Created, administered, and graded exams and assignments

May 2006 – Apr. 2007: Simon Fraser University – Communication Ecology Research Scientist

Feb. – May 2006: G3 Consulting Ltd – Junior Environmental Scientist and Project Lead

  • Aquatic and Environmental Science research consultancy

    • Developed and implemented a field protocol to monitor riparian vegetation on private land

    • Processed and identified aquatic invertebrates from benthic samples near pulp mills

    • Analysed data and drafted compliance reports for government (DFO and BC MWLAP)

May – Aug. 2005: University of British Columbia – Avian Conservation Ecology Field Research Assistant

    • Conducted a biodiversity survey of cavity nesters and songbirds in the Cariboo-Chilcotin region of British Columbia

    • Performed owl and songbird surveys (point counts) by call and sight identification (where possible)

    • Monitored habitat use, nesting behaviour, and breeding success of cavity nesting birds and mammals

    • Supervised by Dr. Kathy Martin (University of British Columbia / Environment Canada)

May – Oct. 2004: Simon Fraser University – Communication Ecology Research Scientist

    • Performed laboratory experiments to study the ecology of codling moth (Cydia pomonella) larvae and the native elm bark beetle (Hylurgopinus rufipes)

    • Developed and field-tested the efficacy of a prototype larvae trap for integrated pest management of apple orchards

    • Assisted in field collection of Peach Tree Borer (Synanthedon exitiosa) moth larvae in peach orchards

    • Co-authored one peer-reviewed publication [pdf]

    • Supervised by Dr. Gerhard Gries (Simon Fraser University)

VOLUNTEER & COURSE-BASED EXPERIENCE:

Sept. 2011: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources – Duck Banding Project Volunteer

    • Conducted duck surveys from dusk till dawn in Kapuskasing, ON

    • Collected ducks and assisted in sexing, species identification, banding, and recording field notes

Nov. 2009 & 2010: University of Alberta – Invited Guest Lecturer

    • Invited to give two lectures in the Environmental Conservation Sciences “Forest Ecosystems” course

    • Created and presented a full hour-long lecture entitled “The Role of Animals in Forest Ecosystems”

    • Taught students about the main ecosystem services provided by animals, species interactions, ecosystem engineers, and conservation issues, using relevant examples from current literature

    • Received an honorarium of $150 for each lecture

May – Sept. 2009: Women in Scholarship, Engineering, Science & Technology – Supervisor

    • Mentored two young women in conservation biology for one summer with the WISEST program

    • Designed and supervised short research projects on insect ecology and conservation

    • Provided guidance during field work, data entry, literature review, and presentations

May 2008 & 2009: Environmental Conservation Science Field School – Insect Biodiversity Teaching Assistant

    • Instructed students on current techniques for monitoring and assessing forest insect biodiversity

    • Helped design the teaching curriculum, including field and laboratory exercises

    • Developed an identification guide to common forest-dwelling beetle species for student use

    • Aided students in collecting insects in different forest types and sample processing

    • Presented student-collected data and gave an informal lecture about the importance of insect biodiversity conservation

Jan. – April 2006: Simon Fraser University – Population Genetics Independent Research Project

    • Conducted laboratory experiments to study the population genetics of threatened Asterinid sea stars (Asterina gibbosa) as an independent research course (Biological Sciences 498)

    • Found the first positive amplifications of multiple microsatellite markers in Asterina gibbosa, which can be used to study the conservation of isolated populations in the UK

    • Wrote a project report and extensive review paper

    • Co-authored a peer-reviewed publication [pdf]

Sept. 2004 – 2006: Simon Fraser University – Volunteer Field Trip Coordinator

    • Assisted in annual insect biology (BSIC 317) student field trips

    • Aided third-year biology students in insect identification and collection techniques

August 2006: Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre – Coastal Temperate Rainforest Ecology Student

    • Attended a 6-week field research course at Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre (BMSC) in Bamfield, BC

    • Studied the ecology of coastal temperate rainforest ecosystems and associated organisms

      • forest structure measurement, ecosystem classification, disturbance history, and successional processes

      • identification of forest-dwelling organisms: plants, lichens, fungi, soil arthropods, stream invertebrates, amphibians, birds, and mammals

    • Designed and conducted a field study of soil and plant community succession along abandoned logging roads

    • Identified understory plant species, performed community ecology analyses, presented research orally at a meeting with community invite, and published a final report (institutional journal)

    • Course instructors: Andy MacKinnon (B.C. Ministry of Forests), Barb Beasley, and Karin Price with various guest lecturers

RELEVANT SKILLS, ABILITIES, & TRAINING:

    • Good knowledge of Canadian flora and fauna, especially the mammals, birds, insects, and plants of BC and AB

    • Good knowledge of terrestrial ecosystem classification systems in BC and AB

    • Knowledge of the species and ecosystems at risk in BC

    • Some experience identifying western species of lichens, bryophytes, and macro-fungi

    • Excellent written and verbal communication skills

    • Good interpersonal skills and experience participating in working groups

    • Introductory experience with ArcGIS: participated in a short course on GIS analysis “GIS in Ecology” in November 2009

    • Introductory experience with Microsoft Access: participated in a short training session for building and querying Access databases in June 2009

    • Excellent proficiency with MS Excel, MS Word, MS Powerpoint

    • Fluent with statistical software, such as R, SAS, SPSS, PC-ORD, EstimateS, and JMP

    • Excellent project management experience

    • Excellent experience assessing species status and ecological associations for conservation and natural resource management

    • Knowledge of habitat and ecosystem management for biodiversity conservation

    • Knowledge of current natural resource and land use issues

    • Passionate about wildlife, natural heritage, and biodiversity conservation

    • Excellent experience conducting research in various forest ecosystems (Temperate and Boreal)

    • Organized, motivated, self-directed, and dependable

    • Fluent in writing manuscripts, grant applications, research proposals, and technical reports

    • Training in: WHMIS, Standard First-Aid, Wilderness First-Aid, Chainsaw operation, and ATV riding

    • Possess a valid (Class 5) BC driver's licence

    • Possess a valid Pleasure Craft Operator Card

SCHOLARSHIPS, RESEARCH GRANTS, AND AWARDS:

    • NSERC Scholarship – PGS M (2007-2009), value $ 34,600.00

    • Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship – Master’s level (2009-2010), value $10,800.00

    • Alberta Award for Outstanding Academic Excellence (2010), value $3000

    • Alberta Conservation Association Grants in Biodiversity (2008), value $19,300.00

    • Walter H Johns Graduate Fellowship (2007-2009), value $ 10,000.00

    • Western Canadian Universities Marine Sciences Society Scholarship (2006), value $ 700.00

PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS:

Bourassa, S., and Wood, C. 2011. First Record of Diacheila arctica amoena (Faldermann) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) in Alberta, Canada. The Coleopterists Bulletin 65(2):144-145. [pdf]

Jumean, Z., Wood, C., Gries, G. 2009. Frequency Distribution of Larval Codling Moth, Cydia pomonella L., Aggregations on Trees in Unmanaged Apple Orchards of the Pacific Northwest. Environmental Entomology 38(5):1395-1399. [pdf]

Jumean, Z., Fazel, L., Wood, C., Cowan, T., Evenden, M.L., Gries, G. 2009. Cocoon-spinning larvae of Oriental fruit moth and Indianmeal moth do not produce aggregation pheromone. Agricultural and Forest Entomology 11(2): 205-212. [pdf]

Jumean, Z., Wood, C., Gries, G. 2008. Does larval aggregation pheromone of codling moth, Cydia pomonella, induce attraction or arrestment of receivers? Bulletin of Entomological Research 98: 425-429. [pdf]

Keever, C.C., Sunday, J., Wood, C., Byrne, M., and Hart, M.W. 2008. Discovery and Cross-Amplification of Microsatellite Polymorphisms in Asterinid Sea Stars. Biological Bulletin 215: 164-172. [pdf]

Jumean, Z., Lafontaine, J.-P., Wood, C., Judd, G.J.R., and Gries, G. 2006. Pheromone-based trapping of larval codling moth, Cydia pomonella, in apple orchards. Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata 122(1): 87-91. [pdf]

NON-REFEREED PUBLICATIONS:

Wood, Charlene M. 2012. Saproxylic Beetles (Coleoptera) Associated With Aspen Deadwood in Broad-Leaved Boreal Mixedwood Stands. M.Sc Thesis. University of Alberta: Canada. [pdf]

Wood, Charlene M. 2011. Beetles Dependent on Trembling Aspen Deadwood and Their Habitats. Alberta Conservation Association Grants in Biodiversity Biennial Report 2010/2011 – Year 2 Final Report.

Wood, Charlene M. 2011. Beetles Dependent on Trembling Aspen Deadwood and Their Habitats. Alberta Conservation Association Grants in Biodiversity Biennial Report 2008/2009 – Year 1 Progress Report.

Wood, C., and Fairhust, E. 2006. The end of the road: logging road soil and plant community succession. BMSC Student Reports: Temperate Rainforest Ecology (Accepted September 1, 2006, Institutional journal, 20 pages, BSc work).

Wood, C. 2006. “Eurasian Visitors Here!” The Burke Mountain Naturalists Newsletter, Federation of British Columbia Naturalists, Coquitlam, BC (Short column printed in the group newsletter about the Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope).

ORAL & POSTER PRESENTATIONS:

Wood, CM, Spence, JR, Langor, DW. 2011. Saproxylic Beetle Communities of Trembling Aspen Deadwood. International Symposium On Dynamics and Ecological Services of Deadwood in Forest Ecosystems. May 15-19, 2011. Rouyn-Noranda, Québec, Canada.

Wood, C.M., Hammond, H.E.J., Langor, D.W., and Spence, J.R. 2010. Contributions to the knowledge of the Latridiidae (Coleoptera) of Alberta, Canada. 58th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Alberta, October 14-16, 2010. Lethbridge, Alberta.

Wood, Charlene M, Spence, John R, Langor, David W. 2010. Coarse Woody Material Has Value as Habitat for Saproxylic Beetles. IEA Bioenergy Task 43 & Long-Term Soil Productivity International Workshop, May 31- June 1, 2010. Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, British Columbia.

Wood, Charlene, John R. Spence, David W. Langor. 2010. All logs are not created equal: downed wood beetle habitats. EMEND Annual Workshop, April 15-16, 2010. Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Wood, CM, Langor, DW, Spence, JR. 2010. The Saproxylic Community Requires a Deadwood Buffet. Society for Conservation Biology, 24th International Congress for Conservation Biology: Conservation for a changing planet, July 3-7, 2010. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Wood, CM, Spence, JR, Langor, DW. 2010. Saproxylic Beetle Microhabitats Within Logs. Society for Conservation Biology, 24th International Congress for Conservation Biology: Conservation for a changing planet, July 3-7, 2010. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Wood, Charlene M., David W. Langor and John R. Spence. 2009. Deadwood-dependent beetles and forest management. EMEND Annual Workshop. April 16-17, 2009. Edmonton, Alberta.

Wood, Charlene M., John R. Spence and David W. Langor. 2009. Deadwood habitats important for maintaining saproxylic beetle biodiversity. Envisioning Tomorrow's Forests: Knowledge Networking for Sustainability. SFM Network Conference. April 21-23, 2009. Gatineau, Quebec.

Wood, Charlene M, Spence, John R, and Langor, David W. 2009. Beetle species of fallen aspen deadwood. 57th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of Alberta, November 5‐7, 2009. Vermilion, Alberta.

Wood, Charlene M., John R. Spence and David W. Langor. 2009. Deadwood management and saproxylic beetle biodiversity. EMEND Annual Workshop. April 16-17, 2009. Edmonton, Alberta.

Wood, CM, Langor, DW and Spence, JR. 2008. Saproxylic beetle assemblages from trembling aspen deadwood. Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Societies of Ontario and Canada. October 19-22, 2009. Ottawa, Ontario.

Wood, Charlene M., Spence, John R. and Langor, David W. 2009. The value of aspen deadwood for saproxylic beetle biodiversity. EMEND Peace Region Workshop: EMEND Decade 1, November 13, 2009. Belle Petroleum Centre, Peace River, Alberta.

Spence, John, Dave Langor, Jan Volney, M Koivula, T Work, S Abele, C Bergeron, S Bourassa, J Dunlop, J Edwards, C Hahn, J Hammond, D Hartley, J Jacobs, E Kamunya, S Lee, L Morneau, J Pinzon, M Pyper, D Shorthouse, D Williams, C Wood. 2009. Bugs, biodiversity, and EMEND. EMEND Peace Region Workshop: EMEND Decade 1, November 13, 2009. Belle Petroleum Centre, Peace River, Alberta.

Wood, CM, Spence, JR and Langor, DW. 2008. Habitat associations of saproxylic beetles in Populus dominated stands of northern Alberta. EMEND Annual Workshop, 17-18 April 2008. Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB.

Wood, C.M., Spence, J.R., and Langor, D.W. Deadwood management and saproxylic beetle diversity. EMEND Annual Workshop, April 17-18, 2008. Northern Forestry Centre, Edmonton, AB.

Wood, CM, Langor, DW and Spence, JR. 2007. Saproxylic beetle - deadwood habitat associations. Sustainable Forest Management Network Annual General Meeting. November 14, 2007. Montreal, Quebec.

Jumean, Z., Lafontaine, J.-P., Wood, C., Rowland, E., Judd, G.J.R., and Gries, G. Synthetic larval aggregation pheromone – a new tactic for integrated management of codling moth. Genome BC and Student Biotechnology Network Research Exchange, April 1, 2005. Vancouver, British Columbia.

Jumean, Z., Lafontaine, J.-P., Wood, C., Rowland, E., Judd, G.J.R., and Gries, G. Synthetic larval aggregation pheromone – a new tactic for integrated management of codling moth. 11th Annual BioNorth Conference, November 29 – December 1, 2004. Ottawa, Ontario.

REFERENCES:

    • Excellent references available upon request

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