Main (Archived) Collection Cataloging Project

This project entails cataloging, labelling, and storing samples from the Quaternary Environments Main Collection at the Royal Alberta Museum. The samples are comprised of small glass vials that are fragile and require careful handling and care. During cataloguing, each specimen will require database fields filled, which are obtained through provided data, online sources, and from the original specimen label. Experience working in a lab setting, high proficiency using spreadsheets, good organization and communication skills, and working with natural history specimens are an asset. The use of a laptop, Excel, and label maker and associated software, will be the primary tools used to complete this project. This project entails repetitive tasks that requires meticulous and accurate data entry.

Beaver Hills Biosphere Brochure and Plant Checklist

 Develop a brochure and plant checklist for the Beaver Hills Biosphere, as a resource for the 2025 Botany Alberta hosted by the Alberta Native Plant Council (and Royal Alberta Museum). This will involve using a variety of resources and research using primary and secondary literature to complete a species checklist.

Native Plants of Alberta Plant Fact Sheet and Storymap

Develop 1-2 page Plant Fact Sheet and a Storymap for selected native plant(s) of Alberta in collaboration with the Alberta Native Plant Council (and Royal Alberta Museum). This will involve selecting plant species, researching information about the species and developing the fact sheet and storymap to correspond with it.

Voucher (Pressed) Plants Mounting & Cataloging

This project entails mounting and cataloging pressed plant specimens from the Quaternary Environments Vegetation Vouchers Reference Collection at the Royal Alberta Museum. The samples are comprised of pressed plant specimens that are vouchers for the Pollen and Seed Reference Collections in the program. The specimens are brittle and fragile and require careful handling and care. The first step will require pressed plant specimens to be mounted on acid-free herbarium grade paper along with newly made labels. The next step will require specimens to be catalogued, along with completion of relevant field data, which is obtained through provided data, online sources, and from the original specimen label. Experience working in a lab / herbarium setting, high proficiency using spreadsheets, good organization and communication skills, and working with natural history specimens are an asset. The use of a laptop, Excel, label maker and associated software, and mounting material (paper, linen strips, archival grade glue) will be the primary tools used to complete this project.

Pollen Reference Collection Cataloguing and Imaging

This project entails cataloging, labelling, storing, and imaging pollen slides into the Pollen Reference Collection at the Royal Alberta Museum. These slides are very fragile and require careful handling and care. During cataloguing, each specimen will require numerous database fields filled, which are obtained through online research (e.g., online herbaria, primary literature) and from the original specimen label and data. Experience working in a laboratory/museum setting, working with natural history specimens, and a compound microscope are preferred.

Level Up: Museum Database(s) Management, Updates, and Review

Student will spend 80 hours reviewing and completing database fields (using Excel Spreadsheets), mainly pertaining to entity descriptions (morphology, measurements, etc), storage update, site and sample details, plant species distributions and other plant/specimen related data. The student will identify any missing field cells, errors and/or duplications. The student will check between multiple spreadsheets, to fill missing field information, as well as to confirm correct data is in the appropriate fields. Outcome will include updated spreadsheets including flagged fields (for future updates), and a summary report of all work completed on the database(s). This project will provide the student experience working with museum databases and data related to collections. They will obtain skills navigating various types of literature to obtain data, and understand how to write succinct descriptions. Meticulous, redundant work is required for completion of this project. Student should be very comfortable using Excel and extremely diligent with data manipulation and entry. Access to a computer, web browser (Google Chrome, Firefox, etc.), and Excel software are required. All work will be completed remotely, with Supervisor-Student meetings via online conferencing (e.g., Zoom). Deliverables will include updated spreadsheets and a short summary report of completed tasks, notes and/or other elements related to updating the data. Deliverables will be used to update current databases, associated with accessioned specimens and unprocessed sediment samples, at the Royal Alberta Museum.

Level Up: Summary, Description & Interpretation of Recovered Plant Macrofossils

Position Available: 2 (Individual) Students Student will spend 80 hours summarizing, describing, and interpreting data obtained from ice patch macrofossils (leaves, seeds, fruit). Student will complete summary spreadsheets enumerating obtained or provided macrofossil data, and provide descriptions (e.g., morphology) and associated plant ecology (e.g., habitat, distribution) associated with macrofossils. This will include desktop research of primary and secondary literature and other resources (e.g, online floras) of plant species identified from macrofossils, to summarize plant species ranges, vegetation communities, environmental indicators, etc.. Student will provide a final summary report outlining all results, a general interpretation of the data, and a summary of completed work. This project will provide the student with experience working with, summarizing and interpreting real data obtain from field-collected samples. It will provide the student with an understanding of literature research, review, and writing succinct summaries. As well as familiarizing the student with plant species of Alberta occurring in mountainous areas. Deliverables will include data spreadsheets and a summary report, which will be used by the Royal Alberta Museum towards completion of an ice patch project. Student will be acknowledged for any work they complete if used in publication or other works (e.g., presentation).

Radiocarbon Analysis Of Alberta Paleoecological Material

The RAM has radiocarbon dated hundreds of specimens from paleoecological studies. In this project you will analyze analytical, temporal and spatial aspects of this dataset. First you will rank the ages based on their reliability – not all sample types yield reliable ages and it is important for researchers to have an idea of what samples to be wary of in a dataset. Secondly, you will calibrate all of the reliable ages and examine temporal and spatial trends in the data using OxCal and a mapping application of your choice (e.g., Google Earth, ArcGIS). In order to complete this analysis you will need to develop a working knowledge of radiocarbon dating methods, taphonomy and sample selection.

Treeline Fluctuation in Banff National Park

Main Questions: How has alpine treeline fluctuated in Banff National Park? What do these fluctuations indicate about paleoclimates and paleoenvironments? Description: Changes in alpine treeline can be used as a proxy for broader climatic conditions. In a very general sense treeline migrates higher when it is warm and vice versa when it is cold. In this project you will use surface samples and lake core samples to examine how alpine treeline fluctuations can be reconstructed from pollen records. You will each count 2-5 surface sample slides and then use the software Tilia to analyze the relationship between pollen assemblages and elevation. The results of this analysis will be used to reconstruct Holocene treeline dynamics and paleoenvironments from a pollen record from Eiffel Lake in Banff National Park.