Dynamic Environment & Ecosystem Health Research

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 The links below are organized into several categories. If you are interested in research or graduate studies with the Dynamic Environment & Ecosystem Health Research Laboratory at SMU, then check out the "Research & Opportunities" page. 

Saint Mary's University

  • Directions to SMU Campus and offices.
  • Saint Mary's University
  • Halifax Regional Municipality
  • Environmental Science
  • Faculty of Science
  • Graduate Studies & Research
  • SMU Deaf Academics & Interpreters

    • Regional datasets & map resources

    Interactive & static maps:
    Mi'kma'ki Place Name Atlas. Link.
    Interactive chain pickerel & smallmouth bass map (in development). Link.
    Atlantic Provinces Sign Language Place Name Map. Link.
    e-Tick online resources regarding ticks, tick-borne diseases & reporting ticks: Link.
    Map    NS Watersheds interactive map viewer. Link.
    NS Topgraphic Database - Water Features. Link.
    NS Groundwater interactive map viewer. Link.
    NS forest ecotypes & landscapes (wetland layer is under the "Wildlife" category). Link.    s & mapping resources:
    NS Geochemical Atlas. Link.
    NS Datalocator Indexing System (includes aerial photography, property boundaries etc). Link.
    NS LiDAR maps. Link. Info.
    NS NovaRoc     Registry of Claims (prospecting & mineral stakes). Link.
    NS lake inventory bythometry maps. Link.
    NS lake inventory interactive map viewer. Link.
    Nova Scotia Geomatics Maps Link page. Link.
    Canadian GIS and Geospatial resources - Nova Scotia. Link.
    ESRI 2020 Global Land Cover (2020 Sentinel-2 database). Link.

    GIS shapefile & layer files:
    GeoNova shapefiles: Link.
    Statistics Canada boundary files. Link.
    NS NovaScan Geosciences Portal. Link.
    NSTDB Digital Terrane Model. Link.
    NSTDB Roads, Trails & Rails. Link.
    NSTDB Water Features. Link.
    Nova Scotia Abandoned Mine Openings Database. Link.
    Nova Scotia Forest Inventory. Link.
    Nova Scotia Municipality & Village Boundaries. Link.
    Nova Scotia Gold Districts:
    - Montague.
    - Oldham.
    - Muddy Pond (Waverley).
    - Lake Catcha.
    - Goldenville.
    Downloadable Nova Scotia GIS data. Link 1. Link 2.
    - MapChart: interactive website to create colour-coded maps quickly. Link.

    Datasets:
    NS surface water quality datasets & maps. Link and Link.
    NS Freshwater fish species distribution records. Link.
    NS Fish Hatchery Stocking Records. Link.
    NS Smallmouth and Chain Pickerel Tournaments. Link.
    Patrick Donoghue's NS bug hatch chart for dry fly fishing  (insect emergence timing). Link.
    Atlantic Data Stream open access data hub. Link.
    Federal Government Open Science & Data Platform for environmental projects. Link.
    Nature Conservacy Canada Stream & River Classification. Link.
    Nature Conservacy Northeast USA Aquatic Habitats Classification. Link.
    DataONE Community Repository. Link.
    Angler's Atlas - citizen science & fish logbook. Link.

    Nova Scotia & Maritimes freshwater organizations, training & resources:

    NSLC Adopt A Stream (includes training opportunities & resources). Link.
    Nature Conservacy of Canada Stream & River Classification team & background: Link.
    Atlantic Data Stream Community. Link.
    Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network (CABIN). Link.
    Atlantic Salmon Federation. Link.
    Sackville Rivers Association (Bedford NS). Link.
    Banook Area Residents Association (Dartmouth NS). Link.
    Oathill Lake Conservation Society (Dartmouth NS). Link.
    Williams Lake Conservation Company (Halifax NS). Link.
    Eastern Charlotte Waterways (ECW), NB. Link.
    e-Tick online resources regarding ticks, tick-borne diseases & reporting ticks: Link.

    (Our research team's recommended external training & permit links):

    • WHIMS 2015 for Workers (free for NS residents). Link.
    • Atlantic Water Network Wetpro water-quality monitoring course . Link.
    • CABIN Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network Training courses. Link.
    • UPEI Experimental Fish. ACC training. Link.
    • DFO Scientific fish & aquatic invertebrate collection permit application: Link.
    • DFO Aquatic Species at Risk sampling permit application: Link.

    Mi'kmaq L'Nu, Peskotomuhkati, Wolastoqiyik & other Indigenous language & environmental research resources:

    General:
    • SMU we are in Mi'kma'ki. Link.
    • Etuaptmumk, Two-Eyed Seeing. Elder Albert Marshall. Link.
    • (CBC article about etuaptmumk practices in freshwater fisheries research. Link.)
    • Kekinamuek: Learning about the Mi'kmaq of Nova Scotia. PDF file.
    • University of Maine Canadian-American Centre Coming Home placenames map. Link.
    • Native Land interactive map (please read the disclaimer.) Link.
    • Living guide: Informing First Nations Stewardship with Applied Research. Link.
    Language & terminology resources:
    • Mi'kma'ki Place Name Atlas (Nova Scotia). Link.
    • L'Nu (Mi'gmaq, Wolastoqiyik and Peskotomuhkati) Place Name Atlas (New Brunswick). Link.
    • School of Environment Discussion and Mi’kmaw Lessons with Bernie Francis: 3 videos. Link.
    • Hebda (2019). NS Museum Curatorial Report No. 108. Freshwater Fishes of Nova Scotia with synonyms and Mi'kmaw names: PDF.
    • Hebda (2014). NS Museum Curatorial Report No. 103. The Mi'kmaw Bestiary. PDF.
    • Hebda (2014). NS Museum Curatorial Report No. 102. Mammals of Nova Scotia with Mi'kmaw names. PDF.
    • Digital Mi'kmaq Backyard Science educational book series. Link.
    • NBM Freshwater Mussels of Maritime Canada Flashcard guides (4 languages). Mi'kmaw. Wolastoqey-Peskotomuhkati, English, French.
    • Reptiles and amphibians of Nova Scotia (Mi'kmaq, Acadian, Gaelic & English names). Link.
    • The 12 Mi'kmaw moons project. Link;  Pronounciation guide. Link. Seeking the 13th moon. Dropbox link. (credit: David F. Chapman & Cathy Jean LeBlanc)
    Environmental research & consulting:
    • CBU Institute for Integrative Science & Health. Link.
    • Unama'ki Institute of Natural Resources. Link.
    • Mi'kmaw Conservation Group (The Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq). Link.
    • Maritime Aboriginal Aquatic Resources Secretariate (MARS). Link.
    • Gespe'gewaq Mi'gmaq Resource Council. Link.
    • Maliseet Nation Conservation Council. Link.
    • Qonaskamkuk - Peskotomuhkati Nation. (Passomoquoddy Recognition Group Inc.) Link.

    Online & open-access tools & resources for data, visualization & gear:

    Illustrations:
    • Inkscape vector graphics editor (free opensource): Link.
    • GiMP photo & image editor (free opensource): Link.
    • Phylopic silhouette images: Link.
    • Biorender: Link.
    • IAN Watersheds imaging tools: Link.
    • Chemix online image editor for lab diagrams . Link.
    • Visible Geology (beta). Link.
    • Google AutoDraw AI: Link.
    • The Noun Project icon resource (mix of free and paid icons): Link.
    • BioIcons icon library GitHub (free).  Link.
    • US National Institute of Health Bioart (medical & health): Link.
    GIS & Mapping
    • QGIS GIS (free open source): Link.
    • ArcGIS Online: Link.
    • Spatial statistics resource page. Link.
    • Google Earth Engine. Link.
    • Planet hyperspectral imagery for eNGO's, Link.
    Data analyses:
    • R Statistical Computing: Link.
    • R studio: Link.
    • JASP Statistics (annotatable): Link.
    • Jamovi Open Stats software: Link.
    • DotDotGoose (for counting objects): Link.
    • Datasaurus Dozen (same stats, different graphs). Link.
    • Radiocarbon dating & chronological modelling (Historic England, useful for very old / ancient samples): Link.
    Datasets, data sharing & open data:
    • Hydroshare (US hydrology datasets): Link.
    • Atlantic Datastream: Link.
    • Idaho Virtual Museum Osteology (bone) atlas with interactive 3-d scans of skulls: Link.
    • UBC 3-d interactive scans of conifer cones: Link.
    • Figshare portal: Link.
    • River Runner Global "Raindrop" watershed visualization site.  Link.

    DIY & Open Source gear:
    • Clear-bottomed durable underwater scope. (White buckets for overcast days & black buckets for bright days are typical  recommended colours.) Connecticut link. Discussion forum with useful tips.
    • BC Stream Velocity Rod plans & table. (PDF links)
    • "Baby Legs" micro plastic sample trawler. Public Labs Link. CLEAR lab link.
    • Other CLEAR Lab open-source tools and protocols. CLEAR lab link.
    • Standard freshwater secchi disk for measuring water transparency: PDF file.
    • Stream sampling nets & gear. Missouri Volunteer Monitoring program designs. PDF Link.
    • Berlese-Tullgren funnel design for collecting leaf-litter invertebrates. Link.
    • DYI Batteries for electrofishing gear.  Link.
    Teaching resources & methods:
    • Project EDDIE classroom teaching models for large environmental datasets. (Some require R studio.) Link.
    • QUBES Hub - math & biology: Link.
    • Paper Fish Skull Model lab exercise: Link.

    Mercury, metals and contaminants in the environment 

  • Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment
  • World Health Organization -- Environmental Health Criteria publications
  • Health Canada Handbook for Exposure Calculations PDF's: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.
  • Health Canada Community Handbook PDF's: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
  • The Guide to Eating Ontario Sportfish: Guide, Map, Database.
  • US EPA's "Mercury in the Environment" resource website.
  • Historical gold mines of Nova Scotia.
  • GSC Open File: Environmental geochemistry of tailings, sediments and surface waters collected from 14 historical gold mining districts in Nova Scotia. Parsons et al. 2012.
  • Nova Scotia Geochemical Atlas. Link.

    • Stable isotopes 

  • Common Mistakes in Stable Isotope Terminology & Phraseology: Link to FigShare chart.
  • How are stable isotopes used to characterize and interpret food web structures? Series of lectures by Dr. Brian Hayden. Link.
  • Principles of Stable Isotope Geochemistry (2nd ed), Zachary Sharp. Open Textbook. UNM download.
  • Good Practice Guide for Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry. 2011. PDF.
  • Reference materials for stable isotopes Link & Guide to using SI reference materials by Meirer-Augestein & Shimelmann (2018).
  • Good review of stable isotopes in aquatic systems:  PDF.
  • Book overview of forensic isotope analyses. Link.
  • IAEA Manual for Use of Stable Isotopes in Entomology (enrichment studies & natural abundances). PDF. (very useful for aquatic SIA studies)
  • IAEA Application of isotope techniques for assessing nutrient dynamics in river basins. PDF.
  • IsoEcol International Conference on Application of Isotope Techniques to Ecological Studies.

    • Fish

  • FishBase: Searchable Global Database
  • Annotated checklist of Fishes of Canada
  • Fishes of Nova Scotia (Note: old document!).
  • Freshwater Fishes of New Brunswick. Link.
  • Fishes of Toronto. Part 1. Part 2.
  • Fishes of Neuquen, Patagonia, Argentina PDF file.
  • DFO primer on identifying and protecting Ontario baitfish (good ID guide for small fish species, includes common species found across Canada): PDF file.
  • DFO Guide to Fish parasites of Canada (PDF files).
  • Part 1. Monogenea & Turbellaria.
  • Part 2. Crustacea.
  • Part 3. Acanthocephala & Cnidaria.
  • Part 4. Trematoda.
  • Osteological Atlas of the Brown Bullheads) from Nova Scotia Waters. PDF file.

    • Invertebrates

  • Aquatic Invertebrates of Eastern North America. Photographic guide (beautiful images, requires some knowledge of higher-level taxonomic characteristics). Link.
  • Nice flowchart for identifying major groups of freshwater macroinvertebrates. (SLRIES) PDF.
  • Practical Guide to Identifying Freshwater Crustacean Zooplankton. Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit (2004). PDF.
  • Illustrated Guide to Boreal Shield Invertebrate Benthos. Cooperative Freshwater Ecology Unit (2014). PDF.
  • Freshwater Mussels of Nova Scotia Museum Curatorial report. Link. PDF file. .
  • Freshwater Mussels of Maritime Canada: A Flashcard Guide. New Brunswick Museum (4 languages). Link.  Mi'kmaw. Wolastoqey-Peskotomuhkati, English, French.
  • The Freshwater Mussels of Maine. Download link. PDF (large file! 124 pages).
  • The Freshwater Mussels of Connecticut. PDF.
  • North American Freshwater Snails: Introduction, Systematics, Nomenclature, Identification, Morphology, Habitats & Distribution. JB Burch. 1989. Walkerana 2(6):1-80. Freshwater Mollusk Biology & Conservation Link. PDF download.
  • Synopsis and distribution tables of land and freshwater mollusca of Nova Scotia. DS Davis. 1985. Nova Scotia Museum Curatorial Report No. 54. 33pp.  PDF Link.
  • Key to Wisconsin Freshwater Snails. Link. (with photos). By KE Perez & G Sandland.
  • Freshwater snails (Mollusca: Gastropoda) of Maine. SM Martin. 1999. Northeastern Naturalist 6(1):39-88. PDF Link.
  • Freshwater jellyfish sightings in Canada. Link.

    • Lakes & limnology

  • Bathymetric maps of Nova Scotia lakes.
  • Nova Scotia lake chemistry & morphology reports & datasets.
  • List of online aquatic environments videos & GIFs.
  • BLUE DOT Online Water Observatory Interactive Dashboard for Lake size.

    • Invasive species

  • The World Conservation Union (IUCN) - Invasive Species Specialist Group
  • The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
  • Nova Scotia Invasive Species Identification Guide. PDF.  For more information and the French version of this guide, go to: http://merseytobeatic.ca/projects-invasive-species.php.

    • Lichens

  • IM Brodo et al. 2001. Identifying lichens of Nova Scotia. PDF Link.
  • Hinds & Hinds. 2013. Simplified field key to Maine macrolichens. PDF Link.  Link to online key.
  • Lichens NS.

    • Amphibians & reptiles

  • US Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC). Link.
  • Frogwatch - Nova Scotia. Link.
  • NS Museum Reptiles & Amphibians. Link.
  • NS Herpetofaunal Atlas - Tadpoles and larvae. Link.
  • Tadpoles of United States and Canada: A Tutorial and Key. Link.
  • Canadian Herpetological Society - list of species of Canada. Link.
  • Global Ranavirus Consortium. Link. (Resources & training).
  • Ranavirus Fact Sheet. Link.
  • Amphibian Ark - Chytrid Fungus. Link.
  • Chytridiomycosis Fact Sheet. Link.

    • Dendrochronology & tree research

  • The Ultimate Tree Ring Website
  • Phipps et al. 1985. Collecting, Preparing, Crossdating, and Measuring Tree Increment Cores. USGS Report 85-4148. PDF Link.
  • The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research (U of Arizona)
  • Primer on bristlecone dendrochronology

    • Just for fun

    • Metazooa.com daily "guess-the-taxon" game. Link.


    Categories
    - Saint Mary's University
    - Regional data & maps
    - NS & Maritimes freshwater organizations
    - Mi'kmaq & Indigenous resources
    - Online analytical & illustration tools
    - Mercury, metals & contaminants
    - Stable isotopes
    - Fish
    - Invertebrates
    - Lakes
    - Invasive species
    - Lichens
    - Amphibians and reptiles
    - Dendrochronology
    - Just for fun
    All images and content copyright (c) Linda Campbell and other members of Dynamic Environment & Ecosystem Health Research Group