MICHAEL SIMPSON - PhD Candidate, University of Alberta

 

Contact:

Department of Biological Sciences

University of Alberta

Edmonton, AB                                                                                                               

Canada

T6G 2E9

Phone: (780) 492-1577
Fax: (780) 492-9234

mjs14@ualberta.caEmail:

 

Academic Degrees

BSc Honours Ecology – University of Lancaster, England, 1998

MA Society, Science and Nature – University of Lancaster, England, 1999

PhD – Secondary Succession in Boreal Bryophytes Communities – 2000 – 2006 (to be submitted August 2006)

 

Current Research

Ecological successional in plant communities. In my doctoral research I am studying succession in boreal bryophyte communities after forest fire in north-central Alberta, Canada.

 

 

 

A stand burned in the Chisholm fire in north-central Alberta in the summer of 2001. Note the carpet of moss (mostly (Funaria hygrometrica) in the picture on the left, taken in the spring of 2002. The picture on the right shows the same site one year later. The pink flowers are Epilobium angustifolium.

 

Skills

I have practical experience in field surveying, experimental design, data analysis (including ordination), GIS, computer programming, undergraduate teaching, public speaking, report writing and writing on ecological and environmental topics.

 

Other Interests

Teaching and outreach

Conservation and environmental issues

Current events

Writing (website)

Photography

·         Vascular plants

·         Bryophytes

Hiking and camping

 

Refereed Publications

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. (in preparation). Establishment potential and short-term growth of boreal feather moss fragments during post-fire succession in north-central Alberta, Canada.

 

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. (in preparation). Empirical evidence for a loss of viability in boreal feather moss fragments.

 

Non-Refereed Publications

Simpson, M. 2002. Why Moss Matters, Too. Environmental News, Vol. 2, Issue 1, University of Alberta Environmental Research and Study Centre (PDF)

Simpson, M. 2002. Fire in the Boreal Forest. Wildflower magazine, Summer issue (PDF)

Simpson, M. 2002. Is Coffee Costing the Earth? Environmental News, Vol. 2, Issue 2, University of Alberta Environmental Research and Study Centre (PDF)

Simpson, M. 2003. Field Trip – Mosses. Seasons magazine, Autumn issue (PDF)

Simpson, M. 2003. Are We Giving Songbirds Their Last Supper? Environmental News, Vol. 3, Issue 3, University of Alberta Environmental Research and Study Centre (PDF)

Simpson, M. 2003. Make Friends with Moss. Gardener for the Prairies magazine, Winter issue

Simpson, M. 2004. Ethics and an Ecological View of Health. In Touch March/April issue, Provincial Health Ethics Network, Alberta, Canada (PDF) (weblink)

Simpson, M. 2004. Is it Better to be Natural? Environmental News, Vol. 4, Issue 2, University of Alberta Environmental Research and Study Centre (PDF)

Simpson, M. 2004. Bioethics and Machine Minds. ExpressNews. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada (weblink)

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. 2004. Dead Mosses Don’t Lie Down. Boreal Moss Community Succession Quicknote 4. Foothills Model Forest, Alberta, Canada (PDF)

 

Awards

2001 - University of Alberta Department of Biological Sciences Letter of Commendation for teaching for Biology 108 (Introduction to Biological Diversity)

2003 - University of Alberta Graduate Student Teaching Award for Botany 332 (Plant Ecology)

2003 - University of Alberta University Teaching Services Teaching Award for Botany 332

2004 - University of Alberta Department of Biological Sciences Letter of Commendation for teaching for Botany 332

2005 - University of Alberta Department of Biological Sciences Teaching Excellence Award for teaching for Botany 332

 

Conference Presentations

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. 2002. Interactions between mosses and vascular plants that affect post-fire succession in Canadian white spruce forests. Presented at the American Bryological and Lichenological Annual Conference, Storrs, Connecticut. (poster) (ABSTRACT)

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. 2004. Does substrate affect the potential for establishment of boreal feather mosses after forest fire? Presented at the Prairie Universities Biological Symposium, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (received Best Poster award in the Ecology and Environmental Biology category) (poster) (ABSTRACT)

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. 2004. Differential seedling survival on the remains of boreal feather mosses burned in a forest fire. Presented at the Botanical Society of America Annual Conference, Snowbird, Utah. (poster) (ABSTRACT)

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. 2004. Does substrate affect the potential for establishment of boreal feather mosses after forest fire? Presented at the Botanical Society of America Annual Conference, Snowbird, Utah. (paper) (ABSTRACT)

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. 2005. Factors affecting the establishment and growth of boreal feather mosses during post-fire succession. Presented at Graduate Student Research Days, University of Alberta. (paper) (ABSTRACT)

Simpson, M. and M.R.T. Dale. 2005. Boreal moss communities: succession and implications for regeneration after forest fire. Presented at the Foothills Model Forest Chisholm, Dogrib and Lost Creek Fire Workshop, Edmonton, Alberta. (paper)

 

Sample teaching evaluation (PDF)