Three-quarter ton truck and winch for field research

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We are requesting funding for a heavy-duty, 4x4 truck with a winch for use in our biological field research. Collectively, we focus our studies primarily on aquatic ecosystems and the animals that rely on them, especially in boreal Alberta. Our study sites are located in remote areas that require extensive travel on rural gravel and dirt roads and trails. We need a reliable vehicle that will allow us to transport people, boats, and all-terrain vehicles safely over large distances on rough roads. Four-wheel drive and a winch are required for crew safety. During snowmelt and after rain, unpaved roads become thick with mud, large ruts, and potholes. In the winter, logging roads are not cleared of snow. We regularly require 4-wheel drive and sometimes need a winch to get out of a ditch, a patch of Alberta gumbo or a snow bank. Sharing a truck among 3 research groups will allow us to maximize truck use throughout the year. The truck will support research in the boreal foothills and plains of Alberta on the ecology of and interactions among fish, amphibians and invertebrates, as well as research trips to Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, Vancouver Island. The 3 of us have a history of collaboration, including co-supervision of graduate students, and the purchase of a truck will save us much research money over the long term. Our research provides jobs and specialized training for a number of undergraduate and graduate students, and contributes to the understanding and management of Canada's natural resources and environment.