Sarah Yoshida Email & Phone Number

Ontario, Canada

In her role as an ecologist at Burnside, Sarah is responsible for delivering natural heritage studies, assessing, and analyzing development impacts on environmental and natural heritage features, preparing developing mitigation plans, and species at risk permitting. Sarah has worked on a variety of projects including capital works projects, Municipal Class EAs, resource extraction (gravel, sand), private development, drainage works, and first nations infrastructure projects throughout southern and northern Ontario.Sarah’s role at Burnside includes coordinating and conducting terrestrial and aquatic field surveys including the following: environmental land classification (ELC); botanical inventories; wetland delineation; herpetofauna surveys; aquatic habitat assessments; headwater drainage feature assessments; fish and fish habitat surveys; bat habitat assessment and acoustic surveys; targeted significant wildlife habitat surveys; and, SAR identification and inventories.Sarah is also involved in conducting peer reviews on behalf of several upper-tier and lower-tier municipalities as well as First Nations communities for land development, energy, and infrastructure projects.

Ontario, Canada

As a Junior Ecologist at EcoTec, I have worked on numerous projects for the public and private sectors including transportation infrastructure projects for the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), municipal construction projects, and private property development. These have included fisheries surveys, environmental monitoring and compliance, wildlife surveys, natural heritage inventories, and environmental impact studies. Specifically, I have worked on the following:- Project management and procurement of work, including the development of project proposals and grant applications;- Conducting fieldwork and carrying out standard field methods including but not limited to the following: Ecological Land Classification surveys, botanical inventories, wildlife surveys (birds, reptiles, bats), fish and fish habitat studies, water quality sampling (chemical & physical), targeted species at risk surveys (herpetofauna, bats, fish), wildlife relocations (turtles/turtle eggs, birds/nests) sediment sampling, fish capture & relocations, and erosion & sediment control inspections;- Responsible for preparing technical memorandums, environmental impact studies, annual reports, technical memos, and daily reports summarizing field activities;- Assisting with data analysis and interpretation; and,- Responsible for the acquisition of permits (Species At Risk Act Permits, Fisheries Authorization Permits, Wildlife Collectors Permits, Migratory Bird Act) and any necessary reporting.

As an aquatic resources technologist at the Hamilton Conservation Authority, I was responsible for leading an aquatic field sampling crew to conduct routine monitoring throughout the watershed. My responsibilities included the following:- Completed pre-field planning for daily field activities (i.e., safety planning, mapping preparation, equipment calibration);- Lead benthic invertebrate and habitat surveys in the headwaters of the Hamilton Watershed;- Identification of collected benthos to family level;- Preparation of wildlife collection and species at risk permits; and- Assisted the terrestrial ecology group with various field activities including chimney swift surveys, frog call surveys, invasive species removals, and road mortality surveys,

Vineland

In this position, I supported on-going integrated pest management (IPM) research projects for improving the management of pests in fruit crops. My duties included the following:- Insect rearing, sample preparation, insect sorting, counting - Aided with research trials for the control of European chaffer beetle (Amphimallon majale) using commercially available and novel nematode species- Assisted with on-going research efforts regarding the control of leafcurling midge (Dasineura mali) and various aphid species - Collected field samples to assist with ongoing research on parasitoid wasp species (Anagarus spp.) as IPM strategy for the control of leafhoppers

As an aquatic resources technician at the Hamilton Conservation Authority, I conducted routine aquatic biomonitoring throughout the watershed. My responsibilities included the following:- Conducting fisheries surveys in the eastern end of the Hamilton watershed, demonstrating knowledge of fish ecology, morphology, and identification as well as river morphology;- Exhibiting effective communication skills and leadership abilities by leading backpack electrofishing crews;- Completing benthic invertebrate surveys in accordance with OBBN/OSAP protocols, exhibiting knowledge of insect morphology through their subsequent identification;- Demonstrating effective written communication skills and analytical abilities through the completion of a watershed water quality report by interpreting fisheries data and various benthic macroinvertebrate metrics

Dorset, Ontario

In this position, I primarily assisted with water quality monitoring of 20 intensively studied lakes in the Muskoka-Haliburton region. I also assisted the hydrology group with sampling tributaries throughout the area. My responsibilities were as follows:- Water sampling (discrete and composite samples of lake profiles);- Zooplankton and phytoplankton sampling;- Generating light profiles using a LiCor Light Meter;- Dissolved oxygen and temperature sampling using the YSI meters;- Collection of other physical water quality data (i.e. Secchi depth); - Flow monitoring;- Collection of physical, and chemical water quality data of streams (conductivity, turbidity, pH);- Equipment/instrument preparation and maintenance; and- Sample submission and data retrieval.In addition to I also supported the biology group at DESC, I assisted the benthic monitoring group with summer crayfish surveys and benthic invertebrate identification.I also worked on water quality analysis as a part of my co-op research project. The purpose of this project was to determine if recent environmental perturbations resulted in significant changes to water quality in the northwest basin of Lake of the Woods. Physical and chemical water quality parameters assessed using a combination of trend analyses, and regression analyses.

Ontario, Canada

- Created a database with all the aquatic species at risk in Canada- Assisted with a joint research project between the Biodiversity Institute and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency regarding seafood adulteration by assisting with literature searches, data collection and data management- Supported ongoing research projects regarding environmental DNA (eDNA) by completing literature searches, assisting with sample collection, and lab work- Assisted with lab work including DNA extraction, gel electrophoresis, and PCR amplification

Guelph, On

- Assisted with data collection, data analysis, data QA/QC, and writing technical report writing for projects supporting policy development regarding nutrient management around Lake Erie- Assisted with ongoing projects with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada to support the development of a tablet application

Toronto, Canada Area

- Responsible for sample reception of phytoplankton samples submitted for analysis, sample preparation, submission, shipment, and storage- Lab responsibilities included reagent preparation, sample preparation, maintenance of the lab space and equipment- Assisted with QA/QC analyses and data entry

Vancouver, Canada Area

- Demonstrated good customer service even when faced with communication and language barriers when engaging with travelers - Worked in fast-paced environment, performing tasks such as scanning and inputting data into computer systems quickly and efficiently - Exhibited good problem-solving skills when faced with unique situations regarding immigration and customs concerns during primary examinations- Showed good attention to detail by listening attentively to travellers answers and asking further questions based upon the previous answers as well as details found within the travelling documents - Completed extensive training regarding immigration, customs, criminal code and other legislative bodies while retaining it and applying it to everyday work operations

Ecosystem Restoration Graduate Certificate, Ecology, 85% +

Activities and Societies: Society for Ecosystem Restoration (Niagara College Chapter)

B.Sc (Environmental Sciences), Ecology (Co-Op), 80% +

Activities and Societies: Board Member of the College of Biological Sciences Student Student Council and the Environmental Sciences.