FAQs

We operate a world-class environmental monitoring program that involves measuring and reporting on eight groups of species (mites, lichens, mosses, mammals, birds, vascular plants, aquatic insects, and amphibians) and their habitats. We also monitor the extent of human activities on the landscape, and the corresponding impact to biodiversity and their habitats. We’re just one of many organizations in the province that focus on biodiversity. Our program focuses on broad, landscape-scale monitoring and changes. Many other organizations also conduct environmental monitoring, including the federal and provincial governments, industry groups, environmental non-profits, and consultants. Many of these monitoring programs are finer-scale, local monitoring programs for finding answers to specific questions.

Yes! All of our data is free to use and easy to access and download in our Open Data Portal. You can explore many datasets before use on our Mapping Portal or on WildTrax's Data Discover platform. 

We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality of site locations if the landholder has not explicitly granted us permission to do otherwise. Some site locations are public and some are restricted in all or only certain circumstances. See our Site Confidentiality page for information on gaining access to exact site coordinates in select circumstances such as non-invasive research. 

Here are some common troubleshooting steps that may help resolve your issues:

• The browser may be blocking a zip file download. Please try right clicking the download link, and then click "save link as".

If you are still having issues, please record any error messages you receive and email us at abmiit@ualberta.ca. 

The ABMI defines biological diversity (or biodiversity) as, quite simply, the variety of life on Earth. But don’t let this simple definition fool you. This term describes multiple levels of complexity that make up our natural world: all animals, plants, fungi, insects, and micro-organisms (species diversity), not just the ones we see or even know about; where species live and interact (ecosystem diversity); and the very genetic make-up of each living being (genetic diversity).

We monitor human footprint, which is defined as the visible alteration or conversion of native ecosystems for temporary or permanent human land-use. We report on six categories of human footprint: agriculture, forestry, energy industry, human-created water bodies, and urban/rural areas. According to the Status of Human Footprint in Alberta report (last updated to reflect 2021 conditions), human footprint covered 31% of the province. Put another way, 69% of the habitat in the province has not been converted into human footprint.
 

That doesn’t mean that the majority of the province is completely undisturbed, however, as there are many factors that impact the quality of habitat for different species. There are non-visible alterations, such as noise and light pollution. Furthermore, each species responds individually to the presence of human footprint. Caribou, for example, require extensive tracts of habitat that are at least 500 m away from human footprint.

Alberta’s climate is changing, and Alberta’s biodiversity is changing right along with it. By the end of this century, the average temperature of our province will likely increase by at least 2°C. People living in Edmonton will experience temperatures that are currently experienced by Calgarians 300 km to the south. Along with this warming, the timing and amount of rain and snow will change, and extreme weather events, like heavy rain and wind, are likely to become more frequent. These changes mean the biodiversity we currently associate with particular parts of the province may become unfamiliar in the future.

Many species, including both native and non-native ones, may respond to a warming climate by expanding their ranges. Species that are less mobile (for example, some flowering plants like the Purple Pitcher Plant), however, will need to adapt to conditions where they are or face extirpation or even extinction. One of the largest changes we may see is a reduction in the area of the boreal forest in the north as it is increasingly affected by disturbances such as fire and is replaced by species more commonly found in parkland ecosystems further south. For example, white spruce stands will likely transition to trembling aspen as climate warms.

A recent IPBES report cites climate change as a key contributing factor to biodiversity loss worldwide, a statement that rings true for Alberta as well. Click here to learn more about the ABMI's previous research on the impacts of climate change on biodiversity. 

Please contact abmicoms@ualberta.ca with the details of your event and we'll get back to you! Note that we don't have a targeted outreach program for school-age children, however, individual staff may be interested in presenting on their area of research. Our taxonomists often help with Nature Alberta's Family Nature Nights, for instance.
 

We regularly attend and present at conferences, seminars, and workshops. Please get in touch well in advance of your event to see if it's a good fit! 

Check our Opportunities page for any current postings for interns or volunteers. We occasionally hire students through programs such as WISEST during the summer months. If you are coordinating an internship program and think we would be a good fit, please contact abmiinfo@ualberta.ca. 

Every year, we hire technicians in January and February for that year's summer field season. Learn all about applying to and what to expect from our summer field technician positions here.