Contributer: Leo Dube
Contributer: Alberta Conservation Association
redeemable for 2 years by the buyer.
Contributer: Richard Carson
Global Tracking Systems Inc.
Contributer: Bighorn Environmental Design Ltd.
The ACTWS greatly appreciates the sponsorship of the 2000 conference by:
1830 – 2300 Welcome Evening Mixer and Registration
hosted by the LCC Student Chapter TWS
Cullen Residence Activity Centre,Lethbridge Community College
3000 College Drive South (Parking in Lot N-Free, Lot 0-pay before 9 PM)
0630-0800 Breakfast: Renew Past Memories With Friends (Included with Registration)
0630-0830 ….. Registration and Poster Setup (simultaneous with breakfast)
0830-0840 Opening address: Mike Dorrance, President, ACTWS
0840–1010 Plenary Session A: Overlapping Land Use Practises: Challenges in Wildlife Conservation. Chair: C.C. Gates
0840 M. Boyce, University of Alberta "Identifying Alberta's Wildlife Research Needs for the 21st Century."
0925 V. Adamowicz, University of Alberta "Overlapping Land Use Practices: Economic Implications and Potential Economic Policy Instruments".
1010-1030 Break - Refreshments and Posters
1030 Schieck, J. Variation in bird communities in relation to the number and size of tree patches retained in harvest blocks.
1050 Hurly, T.A., E.J. Saunders, and L.A. Fitch. Bird Communities and Cattle Grazing in Cottonwood Forests.
1110 Jones, P.F. ACA Sharptail Grouse Program – More Than Just Sharptails and Cows.
1130 Norton, M.R. THREE BLUE-LISTED WOOD WARBLERS IN ALBERTA: ARE THEY AT RISK?
1150-1300 Lunch (On Your Own)
1300 MacFarlane, A.K., T.J. Osko and S.M. Wasel. REVEGETATION OF SEISMIC LINES AND WELLSITES. STUDENT
1320 Kurulok, S.E., S.M. Wasel, E.H. Dzus and T.J. Osko. PERFORMANCE OF GPS ANIMAL COLLARS UNDER BOREAL FOREST CANOPY. STUDENT
1340 Osko, T.J., R.J. Hudson, S.A. Boutin, and S.M. Wasel. Interpretation of Variable Habitat Selection by Moose.
1400 Dyer, S.J., J.P. O’Neill, M.L. Smith, and S.M. Wasel. Investigating Effects of Industrial Development on the Movement and Distribution of Woodland Caribou Using GIS.
1420-1450 Break and Posters
1450 Smith, M.L., S.M. Wasel, S.J. Dyer, and J.P. O’Neill. Industrial Development and the Distribution of Moose and Wolves Within Northeastern Alberta.
1510 Kehoe, P. and R. Alisauskas. Declines in White-winged Scoters (Melanitta fusca).
1530 Cerney, L.D. An Investigation of Abandoned Farmsteads as Valuable Avian Habitat Within The Agricultural Landscapes of Southern Alberta.
1550 Michaud, I.M., and D.R. Prescott. The Alberta Piping Plover Predator Exclosure Project.
1610 Gibbins, H.M.T. A Proactive Alternative to Crisis-Dependent Aboriginal Resource Co-Management in Canada. STUDENT
1630 -1900 Break - Dinner on Your Own
1900-2300+ Casino, Cash Bar, Social and Auction
0830-1015 Plenary Session B. Overlapping Land Use Practises: Challenges in Wildlife Conservation. Chair: E. Merrill
0830 L. Fitch, Alberta Environment. (Cumulative Effects Challenges for the Prairie Landscapes)
0915 B. Stelfox, Forem Consulting. Current and Future Footprints of Human Landuses on Alberta's Forests: Priorities for Wildlife Ecologists and Resource Managers.
1015-1045 Break and Posters
1045 - 12:00 ACTWS Business Meeting
12:00-1345 ACTWS Luncheon and Awards Presentation
1345-1400 Stretch Break …… no refreshments (as we’ve just had lunch)
1400 Takats, D.L., S. Brechtel, and B. Treichel. Managing snake hibernacula: red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) relocation near stony Plain, Alberta.
1420 Jalkotzy, M.G., P.I. Ross and J. Wierzchowski. Cougar habitat use in southwestern Alberta.
1440 Scobie, D.L., J.R. Taggart and C. Faminow. Standardized for Developments that Affect Prairie Ecosystem Species-at-Risk.
1500 Lee, P. and Herbut, M. ALBERTA’S PROTECTED AREAS AS ECOLOGICAL BENCHMARKS AND CONTROLS FOR LANDSCAPE Development.
1520 Farr, D.R. IT'S ABOUT TIME: MONITORING FOREST BIODIVERSITY IN ALBERTA.
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| ACTWS Logo Crib Board Contributer: Leo Dube
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| Sharp-tailed Grouse Statue Contributer: Alberta Conservation Association
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| 25 % discount on up to 10 collars, redeemable for 2 years by the buyer. Contributer: Richard Carson Global Tracking Systems Inc.
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| Wildlife Conservation Policy Book Contributer: Bighorn Environmental Design Ltd. |
Anderson, R.B. and D. Kmet. INCORPORATING WOODLAND CARIBOU HABITAT INTO FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING IN NORTHWESTERN ALBERTA.
Gates, C.C., G. Wagner, K. Hull, D. Eslinger and W. Harris. Elk, Cattle and Biodiversity Management in the Cypress Hills: Integrating Social and Economic Values and Ecological Information
Hornung, J. P. and C.L. Rice. Odonates (dragonflies & damselflies) as indicators of wetland integrity in Southern Alberta: A preliminary study. STUDENT
Kendell, K. and S. Brechtel. Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) Reintroduction Program.
Leach A.L. and J. Mills. REINTRODUCING TRUMPETER SWANS AT ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK.
O’Neill, J.P., S.J. Dyer, S.M.Wasel, and P. Koning. INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT IN NORTHEASTERN ALBERTA: THE GULF CANADA RESOURCES AND ALBERTA-PACIFIC FOREST INDUSTRIES SURMONT PILOT PROJECT.
Shieck, J., S. Bradbury, S. Crites, L. Marinelli, T. Sorensen, and C. Gray. BIODIVERSITY IN HARVESTED AREAS IN RELATION TO THE DISPERSION OF STANDING LIVE TREES AND SNAGS.
Takats, D.L., and G.L. Holroyd. A standardized nocturnal owl monitoring program for North America.
Schieck, J. VARIATION IN BIRD COMMUNITIES IN RELATION TO THE Number and size OF tree patches retained IN harvest Blocks. Alberta Research Council and Alberta Environment, Bag 400, Vegreville, AB, T9C 1T4. I evaluated whether bird communities present post-harvest were affected by placement of residual trees (patch size and inter-patch distance) in cutblocks. Birds were surveyed in 24 harvest blocks, four replicates of three treatments in each of two experimentally harvested areas, in boreal forest of west-central Alberta were surveyed. Each treatment block had 3% of the merchantable trees retained, but patch sizes and inter-patch distance varied among treatments. Treatment one had 30-50 residual patches of 0.04 ha, treatment two had 8-12 residual patches of 0.15 ha, and treatment three had 2-3 residual patches of 0.5-0.7 ha. Prior to harvest, bird communities did not differ among treatments. Post-harvest bird communities were compared among treatments at two spatial scales (site-level and stand-level). At the site-level, bird communities differed among cutover sites, sites with small, medium, or large residual patches, and sites within continuous old forest. Resident birds, and birds that nest/forage in large trees, large snags, small trees, and tall shrubs had higher densities as size of residual patch increased. These bird species also had higher densities in sites near the edge of the block, and in sites where abundant non merchantable trees and shrubs had been retained. Bird communities in large residual patches, however, were not identical to those in continuous old forest. At the stand-level, bird communities did not differ among the three treatments. Bird communities in all stands were dominated by species that nest and forage on the ground, probably because 97% of the merchantable trees were harvested in all treatment types. Forest managers can incorporate forest birds in cutblocks by retaining trees, especially large residual patches of trees, in those blocks. However, with only a small percentage of trees retained most of the cutblock is treated like a cutover by birds.
*Hurly, T. A., †Saunders, E.J, and ‡L.A. Fitch. BIRD COMMUNITIES AND CATTLE GRAZING IN COTTONWOOD FORESTS. *Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4; †Sandpiper Ecological Consultants, Box 59 Monarch, AB, T0L 1M0; ‡Natural Resources Service, Alberta Environment, 2nd Floor YPM Place, 530 8th St. S., Lethbridge, AB. T1J 2J8. We investigated the influence of cattle grazing on bird communities by assessing bird populations and habitat characteristics in cottonwood forests along the Oldman River between Fort Macleod and Lethbridge, Alberta. The nine study sites were classified as having a history of no grazing, moderate grazing, or heavy grazing. Bird diversity and numbers declined progressively with increased grazing. This decline was associated with decreasing vegetation structure, particularly shrub cover and height, but also tree health. Similarly, fall use by neotropical migrants was negatively related to grazing pressure. To better manage grazing in riparian areas we need to understand which characteristics of vegetation promote healthy animal communities, and how the timing and intensity of grazing influence these particular characteristics.
Jones, P. F. ACA SHARPTAIL GROUSE PROGRAM – MORE THAN JUST SHARPTAILS AND COWS. Alberta Conservation Association, 2nd Floor YPM Place, 530 – 8th Street South, Lethbridge T1J 2J8. Populations of sharp-tailed grouse declined in Alberta by 50 to 70 percent over the last 30 years. Within the grasslands and aspen parkland, increased agricultural practices resulting in loss of habitat have contributed to these declines. As a result, a Sharp-tailed Grouse Habitat Program was initiated in 1995 under the "Buck for Wildlife" program to address the loss of habitat. The goal of the program is to work in cooperation with landowners and other conservation agencies to maintain and enhance habitat for sharp-tailed grouse and many other prairie wildlife species. The main direction of program is to develop, implement and evaluate range/wildlife management plans designed to improve residual cover (litter) and productivity in both native and tame rangelands which will enhance wildlife habitat and range condition.
Norton, M. R. THREE BLUE-LISTED WOOD WARBLERS IN ALBERTA: ARE THEY AT RISK? Alberta Conservation Association, 7th Floor, O.S. Longman Building, 6909 – 116 St., Edmonton, AB, T6H 4P2. Three species of wood warbler were placed on Alberta’s Blue List of species that may be at risk in the province. The Black-throated Green, Bay-breasted and Cape May Warblers are all neotropical migrant songbirds which breed in Alberta’s boreal forest. Their breeding habitats are under pressure from resource extraction activities, and they may already be experiencing population declines. Based on recent provincial status reports, a summary of available information on each species, and a general assessment of risk factors to each species will be presented in the context of the question "Are they at risk?".
*MacFarlane, A.K., †T.J. Osko and ‡S. Wasel. REVEGETATION OF SEISMIC LINES AND WELLSITES. 1University of Alberta, 11051-87th Ave, Edmonton, AB, T6G 0X5. †Osko NRC, 5033 – 45 B Avenue, Vegreville, AB, T9C 1L6. ‡Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Box 8000, Boyle AB, T0A 0M0. Rapid expansion of industrial development (petroleum, forestry and peat extraction) in northern Alberta has the potential to dramatically alter the composition and structure of the boreal forest. Non-forestry related developments (particularly seismic lines and wellsites) have largely been unconsidered in landscape level management, yet are ubiquitous across the boreal forest of Alberta. This study evaluates the rate of tree regeneration and on seismic lines and wellsites over three time periods. Preliminary results show evidence of significantly lower densities of regenerating trees on wellsites and seismic lines compared to natural regeneration after fire. Between age classes, densities of trees on wellsites and seismic lines remained consistent. As well, the tree diameter distribution remains similar in all age categories. This is contrary to post-fire stands in which diameter distributions increase over time. Recruitment, growth and survival of trees on seismic lines and wellsites may be reduced relative to stands of fire origin. Unnatural revegetation of these features may contribute to greater fragmentation of the boreal forest ecosystem. This has wide reaching implications for all species and for the integrity of the boreal forest as a whole.
*Kurulok, S.E., †Wasel, S., †Dzus, E. and ‡T. Osko PERFORMANCE OF GPS ANIMAL COLLARS UNDER BOREAL FOREST CANOPY. *Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1, †Alberta Pacific Forest Industries Inc., Boyle, AB TOA OMO and ‡Osko NRC, Vegreville, AB. There are a number of methods that have been used to determine movement patterns and distributions of wildlife populations relative to habitat, the most recent being through the application of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. However, the ability of the GPS receiver to establish a successful location fix is directly impacted by satellite visibility, which can be reduced by obstructions created by vegetation. Therefore, the objective of this study is to quantify the effects of boreal canopy (51-100% closure) and forest stand composition (deciduous, coniferous and mixedwood dominated) on location error, satellite observation rate and frequency of fix type by GPS animal collars. Current literature and the results of this study suggest that successful fix rate can be reduced by as much as 50% under dense, coniferous stands. This reduction in the rate of successful GPS fixes could potentially result in an underestimation of the use of dense, high canopy closure stands by collared animals. 2Dimensional, undifferentially corrected fixes were highly variable in terms of location error (<2m to 2km) and also had the highest associated location error of all fix types particularly in dense, coniferous and mixedwood sites, which has implications to the application of GPS technology to fine scale habitat analyses.
*Osko, T.J., *Hudson, R.J., †Boutin, S.A. and ‡S.M. Wasel. INTERPRETATION OF VARIABLE HABITAT SELECTION BY MOOSE. *Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H1; †Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9; ‡Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, Inc., P.O. Box 8000, Boyle, AB T0A 0M0. Ecologists are becoming increasingly aware that changing habitat availabilities can influence habitat selection, but this information has not pervaded wildlife management literature. Changes in resource preferences in response to changes in availabilities can have serious implications for utility of habitat relationship studies in management and modeling. We observed 2 sub-populations of moose that appeared to have contrasting preference indices for specific habitats based on use/availability data. We scrutinized their use of habitats over a range of availabilities to elucidate why preferences for habitats changed with varying relative abundance of the habitats available. We performed simple linear regressions of use of each habitat versus its availability, as well as use of each habitat versus availability of each of the other habitats. We also performed stepwise multiple linear regressions of use of each habitat versus availability of all habitats. Regression results appeared to support the optimization hypothesis as a potential mechanism for habitat selection, whereby a unique solution to matching resource goals occurs for each combination of resources available. Regressions run independently for each sub-population supported evidence from the preference indices that implied preferences differed between the 2 populations. However, regressions of observations from both populations combined revealed that moose in both populations responded to habitats according to the same "function", which accurately predicted the contrasting preference indices observed for the 2 populations. We hypothesize animals respond to habitat resources in a manner similar to the functional response curves ecologists use to describe the response of a consumer to food resources. Knowledge of the response curve for a specific habitat enables prediction of its use given any availability. Furthermore, we posit that a multivariate functional response surface exists for compositions of habitats, which enables prediction of use of a specific habitat given any combination of relative abundance among all habitats in the composition.
Dyer, S.J., O’Neill, J.P., Smith, M.L. and S.M. Wasel, INVESTIGATING EFFECTS OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE MOVEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF WOODLAND CARIBOU USING GIS. Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, Box 8000, Boyle, Alberta, T0A 0M0. Rapid encroachment on woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) habitat by resource extraction industries (forestry, oil, gas, and peat) is occurring throughout northern Alberta. There is concern that developments such as roads and seismic lines may act as barriers to caribou movements and that persistent disturbance could result in caribou range shifts which may result in functional habitat loss. Two novel GIS techniques were used to address these issues. We compared caribou crossing rates of roads and seismic lines to the rate at which caribou crossed random lines of a similar density. We discovered that seismic lines were not barriers to caribou movements, while roads acted as semi-permeable barriers to caribou movements throughout the study periods. We examined caribou home range movements using gravity centre analysis, a spatial concept borrowed from Newton’s famous law of gravitation. Preliminary results indicated no large-scale abandonment of habitat as a result of industrial development over a four year study period.
Smith, M.L., Wasel , S.M., Dyer, S.J., and J.P. O’Neill, INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF MOOSE AND WOLVES WITHIN NORTHEASTERN ALBERTA. Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Box 8000,Boyle, Alberta, T0A 0M0. Increasing industrial development with the Alberta-Pacific FMA by resource extraction industries (forestry, oil gas, and peat) has generated concern over the effect of industrial development on the movement and distribution of wolves (Canis lupus) and moose (Alces alces). A novel GIS technique was developed to look at caribou movement and distribution in relation to industrial landscape features. The technique was applied to two pre-existing animal telemetry location data sets, wolves (n = 720 VHF locations) and moose (n = 16721 GPS locations, n = 2418 VHF locations). A series of buffers were placed around selected industrial features on the landscape. Preliminary results indicated that wolves (VHF locations) showed significant avoidance of linear features and no significant avoidance of non-linear features. Moose (VHF or GPS locations) showed no significant avoidance to linear features or non-linear features.
*Kehoe, P. and †Alisauskas, R. DECLINES IN WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (MELLANITTA FUSCA). *Ducks Unlimited Canada, Brooks, AB. †Canadian Wildlife Service, SK. White-winged scoters (Melanitta fusca) once bred throughout the prairies and parklands of North America. However the southern extent of their former range has become retracted and populations throughout most of the present range are in decline. Reasons for the decline and range reduction are unclear. White-winged scoters are among our most poorly studied waterfowl. White-winged scoters are now extirpated from North Dakota and southern Manitoba and Alberta. Local populations in parkland Saskatchewan are presently showing patterns of decline and disappearance similar to those shown by populations in North Dakota early in this century. The available data suggests that the decline in scoter populations has been long term - in the prairies and parkland no survey strata show increasing trends. Clearly a better understanding of the factors influencing the population dynamics of this species is needed if we are to effectively conserve this sea duck.
Cerney, L.D. AN INVESTIGATION OF ABANDONED FARMSTEADS AS VALUABLE AVIAN HABITAT WITHIN THE AGRICULTURAL LANDSCAPES OF SOUTHERN ALBERTA. Alberta Conservation Association, 2nd Floor, YPM Place, 530-8th Street South. Lethbridge, AB. T1J 2J8. Wildlife surveys of abandoned farmstead shelterbelts have been documented in Manitoba and Southwestern Saskatchewan. In Alberta, studies on the importance of abandoned farmstead shelterbelts as valuable avian habitat within an ever- expanding agricultural landscape have not previously been documented. In 1999, 28 abandoned farmsteads from the Alberta Conservation Association Abandoned Farmstead Project (1997) in Southern Alberta were selected to identify the birds and other wildlife that utilize these "island" habitats. Focus was on spring and fall migrations with some inventory on breeding birds. Approximately 40% of Alberta bird species were identified within these sites. Vegetation and mammal inventories were also conducted. All abandoned farmstead sites are unique especially in species diversity and provide valuable wildlife habitat. Results of this study provide baseline data for further research on wildlife utilization, not only on abandoned farmsteads but other wildlife monitoring surveys and management strategies.
Michaud, I. M., and D. R. C. Prescott. THE ALBERTA PIPING PLOVER PREDATOR EXCLOSURE PROJECT. Alberta Conservation Association, 7th Floor, 6909-116 Street, Edmonton, AB. T6H 4P2 or P.O. Box 40027 Baker Centre Postal Outlet, Edmonton, AB. T5J 4M9. The Piping Plover is designated as 'endangered' in Canada, 'threatened' in the U.S. (COSEWIC 1999, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1998) and is considered an 'endangered animal' under the Alberta Wildlife Act. Nest depredation has been identified as a significant limiting factor to Piping Plover reproductive success in the Great Plains (Whyte 1985, Haig 1992, Heckbert 1994, Richardson 1999). Results from studies carried out in east-central Alberta from 1995 to 1997 showed that through the use of predator exclosures, Piping Plover nest depredation can be significantly reduced thus increasing productivity (Heckbert and Cantelon 1996, Richardson 1999). Consequently, a management project implementing the use of predator exclosures on a large-scale basis in Alberta was initiated in 1998 and is ongoing. The results from the 1998 and 1999 field season will be discussed in relation to future management implications for the species.
Gibbins, H. M. T. A PROACTIVE ALTERNATIVE TO CRISIS-DEPENDENT ABORIGINAL RESOURCE CO-MANAGEMENT IN CANADA. Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, 2500 University Drive N. W., Calgary, AB. T2N 1N4. The co-management of natural resources involves some degree of integration between State-level and local resource management systems. In Canada, governments have devolved elements of decision-making power relating to resources to numerous Aboriginal groups primarily in response to three different forms of crisis. These include apparent or real crises within a particular resource (frequently illustrated in the literature by the Beverly-Kaminuriak Caribou Management Board), political crises (such as that resulting in the 1993 Nunavut Final Agreement), and crises resulting from legal decisions. I suggest in this paper that a crisis-driven approach to the institution of co-management is far from ideal. Instead, I argue that a proactive approach, in which co-management institutions are negotiated in the absence of crises, would be extremely beneficial to both the resources in question and to Aboriginal-Crown relations in Canada. I suggest, in particular, that a proactive methodology based upon the justificatory tests established in the 1990 Supreme Court of Canada R. v. Sparrow decision might serve to identify those State resource management policies which are most deserving of the establishment of co-management institutions. Finally, I discuss both the benefits and potential problems associated with a proactive approach.
Takats, D.L., Brechtel, S., and B. Treichel. Managing snake hibernacula: red-sided garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) relocation near stony Plain, Alberta. Alberta Conservation Association and Alberta Environment, 7th Floor, O.S. Longman Building, 6909-116 St., Edmonton, AB T6H 4P2. A Red-sided Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) study was initiated in August 1998 to determine the effectiveness of relocating snakes from one hibernaculum (den) to another. Over 1,200 snakes have been relocated to an occupied den six miles away containing over 8,000 snakes. Snakes were fenced into the den area, in the spring and fall, at both den sites and were captured by hand or funnel traps. All relocated garter snakes were scale-clipped and adults were PIT tagged (Passive Integrated Transponder). Samples of snakes from the new den were also PIT tagged. A 30 percent return rate of relocated and resident snakes to the new den was found in the fall of 1999. Preliminary results and methodology will be presented. A new volunteer snake den monitoring program will be introduced.
*Jalkotzy, M.G., *P.I. Ross and †J. Wierzchowski. Cougar habitat use in southwestern Alberta. *Arc Wildlife Services Ltd., 2201-34 Street S.W., Calgary, AB. T3E 2W2 and †Geomar Consulting Ltd., 300 Ranch Estate Drive N.W., Calgary, AB. T3G1K9. The ecology of cougars was studied in the foothills of southwest Alberta between 1981 and 1994. Over 4,500 radio locations and 368 cougar kills were collected. We developed habitat models for winter and non-winter periods using radio telemetry data collected between 1981 and 1989. To determine whether female and male cougars use habitat differently, the radio locations of male and female cougars are analyzed separately. To build the models, we developed a radio location density map for each sex and season. Higher densities of radio locations were assumed to represent areas of higher quality cougar habitat. Radio location density classes are quantitatively defined in terms of a variety of environmental and human attributes. In summer, the 3 most significant environmental and human attributes associated with high radio location densities for females were lower elevations, greater distances from all high human use, and increased terrain ruggedness. In winter, increased terrain ruggedness, lower elevations, and heavier stalking cover were the 3 most significant variables. For males, greater distances from high human use trails, heavier stalking cover, and increased terrain ruggedness were associated with higher densities of radio locations in summer. In winter, heavier stalking cover, lower elevations, and greater distance from high use trails were the 3 most significant variables. We also conducted a series of statistical tests to determine a set of human and environmental attributes that characterize areas where successful cougar kills were located in winter. Both female and male kills were found at lower elevations, closer to good prey habitat, and in areas with greater terrain ruggedness than would be expected by chance in the study area.
*Scobie, D.L., †J. R. Taggart and ‡C. Faminow. DEVELOPMENT OF STANDARDIZED GUIDELINES FOR SETBACK DISTANCES, PROJECT TIMING AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES FOR DEVELOPMENTS THAT AFFECT PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEM SPECIES AT RISK. *Avocet Environmental Inc, Box 1644 Brooks, AB, T1R 1C5, †Alberta Natural Resources Service, 346 –3rd Street SE, Medicine Hat , AB, T1A 0G7 and ‡Ghostpine Environmental Services Ltd., 608 Willacy Drive SE, Calgary, AB, T2J 2C9. Environmental assessment guidelines exist for a variety of prairie wildlife, particularly species of concern. For each species of sensitive wildlife the guidelines identify restrictions on passive and development activities for industry and other wildlife disturbances. The restrictions typically include set back distances from nests or dens and timing of disturbances. These guidelines vary between the three prairie provinces both in the species on each list and the details of the assessments. In many cases, there are currently discrepancies between provincial jurisdictions that make it difficult to justify the guidelines to industry. This paper will outline the results of efforts to standardize the guidelines and mitigation strategies for a variety of species of concern on the Canadian prairies.
Lee, P. and Herbut, M. ALBERTA’S PROTECTED AREAS AS ECOLOGICAL BENCHMARKS AND CONTROLS FOR LANDSCAPE Development. Forest Resources Business Unit, Alberta Research Council, Postal Bag 4000, Vegreville, Alberta T9C 1E4. With increasing development of wildlands over Alberta’s landscape remaining as a central tenet of Alberta’s economy, protected areas not only provide natural representation but in many cases the last refuge from development. This increasing pressure has lead to an increasing expectation that protected areas will act as ecological benchmarks and natural controls for man-made activities. Despite this rationale, the use of protected areas as reference areas for restoration or controls in comparisons between management activities has remained relatively poor. A number of academic and logistic reasons exist cause this disparity but an overriding factor is the lack of understanding what ecological role protected areas play on the landscape. In short, what ecological services do we expect and are delivered by protected areas relative to non-protected areas. To solve this problem, we present a preliminary list of broad ecological criteria for the evaluation of the protected areas network within Alberta. We then apply these criteria to the existing network of protected areas. Our preliminary findings suggest that the network of protected areas has both severe distributional biases and constraints on the spatial scale of ecological processes.
Farr, D.R. IT'S ABOUT TIME: MONITORING FOREST BIODIVERSITY IN ALBERTA. Foothills Model Forest, Box 6330, Hinton, AB T7V 1X6. Like other Canadian provinces, Alberta relies heavily on the export of natural resources from public forest land to support the provincial economy. As elsewhere, forest monitoring systems are lacking, and neither the petroleum nor forestry industries can respond effectively to consumers and citizens regarding changes in biodiversity that might accompany their ecological footprints. In response to this need, a plot-based, multi-resolution monitoring system has been developed to detect trends in species diversity, vegetation structure, and landscape diversity in the forested natural regions of Alberta. Surrounded by dead and dying monitoring programs all over North America, we have stepped carefully from concept to design to evaluation, and are currently navigating the path to implementation. Elements of species diversity were selected for monitoring that required simple, stable field techniques and had a high probability of responding to presumed stressors. These elements include plants, arthropods, and birds. The effectiveness of alternative designs was evaluated in terms of statistical power to detect a specific trend. This evaluation relied heavily on power analyses that incorporated estimates of within-site, among-site, and temporal variability. Limited availability of variance estimates for some monitored elements provides strong motivation for re-evaluating the design after several years of operation.
*Anderson, R.B. and †D. Kmet. INCORPORATING WOODLAND CARIBOU HABITAT INTO FOREST MANAGEMENT PLANNING IN NORTHWESTERN ALBERTA. *Applied Ecosystem Management Ltd., Suite C, 11301-89th Avenue, Grande Prairie, AB, T8V 5X3 and †Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd., Postal Bag 2200, Pulp Mill Site, Peace River, AB T8S 1Y4. Alberta’s boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) are listed as a threatened species and are considered to be at risk of declining to non-viable population levels if limiting factors are not reduced. Research conducted by the Boreal Caribou Research Program indicates that caribou avoid some types of industrial activity, thereby effectively reducing the amount of available habitat. Natural resource companies may be able to reduce their impact on woodland caribou by planning activity on caribou range to coincide with areas that are naturally avoided by caribou. The purpose of this project was to develop models for predicting caribou distribution over a large land base. The ultimate objective was to use this information to aid in forest management planning for the Daishowa-Marubeni International Ltd. (DMI) Peace River Forest Management Area (FMA). Models were developed from Alberta Vegetation Inventory data and caribou radio-telemetry data using ArcView and Arc/INFO. Model predictions were verified using additional caribou location data. Maps of potential caribou distribution were then produced for the DMI Peace River FMA. These maps will aid planners in decision making for areas of potential conflict between woodland caribou and industrial activity.
*Gates, C.C, *Wagner,G. *Hull, K. †Eslinger, D. and ‡W. Harris. ELK, CATTLE AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT IN THE CYPRESS HILLS: INTEGRATING SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC VALUES AND ECOLOGICAL INFORMATION. *Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary, Professional Faculties Building, 2500 University Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4. †Natural Resources Service, Alberta Environment, 346 – 3rd Street SE, Medicine Hat, AB T1A 0G7.‡Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management, 350 Cheadle Street West, Swift Current, SK S9H 4G3. Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park (CHIP) was established in 1989 in recognition of common cultural and ecological values existing in contiguous provincial parks in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Parks in both jurisdictions have a mandate to preserve biodiversity. However, wildlife populations in the park can be affected by other land use practices both within and outside the park. Cattle grazing is an accepted and long-standing practice in CHIP. It can influence forage availability and condition which can effect herbivores such as elk. Grazing, by cattle and elk, also influences sward architecture, which is a determinant of species richness in grassland habitats. Over the last 25 years, elk management has also become an issue in the Cypress Hills. Elk populations have come into conflict with farming and ranching operations surrounding the Park through the depredation of cereal and forage crops and haystacks. Elk also compete with cattle both inside and out of the park for rangeland forage. We define an approach for modelling risks to agricultural resources from elk depredation and competition with cattle, and for assessing the effects of grazing on biodiversity using breeding grassland bird populations as a Valued Ecosystem Component. This project will also develop decision support models that will assist resource managers and stakeholder groups to develop elk and biodiversity management plans for CHIP.
Hornung, J. P. and C. L. Rice. Odonates (dragonflies & damselflies) as indicators of wetland integrity in Southern Alberta: A preliminary study. 9828 - 89th Aveneue, Edmonton, AB T6E 2S4. The capability of odonates to act as indicators of wetland integrity in southern Alberta was investigated from May until September, 1999. Sixteen study sites were each visited seven times throughout the summer to catch the flying adult dragonflies, record environmental parameters, collect water samples, sample aquatic insects, record vegetative characteristics, and assess anthropogenic/cattle influences. Twenty-five species of dragonfly were recorded in our study area, with one species being new to the province. A statistically significant gradient was established in terms of odonate species richness, cattle grazing, vegetative diversity, and water chemistry measures between the sites. Simple linear regression exhibits a negative relationship between vegetative species richness and presence of cattle at a site (p-value = 0.053; r-square = 0.242), whereas odonate species richness and vegetative species richness show a positive correlation (p-value = 0.066; r-square = 0.221). Odonate species richness and cattle presence (measured as percent stems grazed near the wetland) show a significant negative correlation (p-value = 0.022; r-square = 0.322). The presence or absence of three indicator species (Aeshna interrupta, Coenagerion angulatum, and Enallagma ebrium) signify the integrity of a wetland as measured by cattle influence or vegetative diversity. This pilot study outlines the detrimental effect cattle can have on wetland odonate species diversity, and recommends that measures are taken to set aside wetlands, maintaining their ecological integrity at a reasonable cost/benefit ratio to rangeland managers. Additional recommendations urge the need for further study, to better characterize odonate responses to decreasing wetland fitness, and to increase the knowledge of dragonflies in this relatively unstudied area.
Kendell, K. and S. Brechtel. Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) Reintroduction Program. 7th Floor, O.S. Longman Building, 6909 116 St., Edmonton, AB T6H 4P2 In the spring of 1998 a management project was proposed to repatriate the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) into currently vacant areas of its historic range. The primary objective of the project was to establish breeding populations of Northern Leopard Frogs in formally occupied habitats in the headwaters of the Upper Red Deer and North Saskatchewan River drainage basins. The reintroduction program was initiated in April 1999, at the Raven Brood Trout Station located southeast of Caroline, Alberta. The Trout Station was selected as the preferred site because the surrounding habitat offered a variety of terrestrial and aquatic environments supportive of leopard frog ecology, and overwintering and breeding natural history. In addition, it also offered artificial rearing ponds, formally used as trout raceways, providing an opportunity for a variety of controlled experiments and sites for a captive-breeding program. The first phase of the pilot program began in the spring 1999. It involved the collection and transfer of leopard frog egg masses, from a predetermined source population in southern Alberta, to be reared to metamorphs in the artificial ponds. The juvenile leopard frogs were then released in suitable breeding and overwintering habitats in the area surrounding the Trout Station. The second phase of the pilot program began in September 1999. It involved a comprehensive study investigating winter physiology and ecological requirements of the leopard frog, in the area surrounding the Raven Brood Trout Station. Sixteen translocated adult leopard frogs from southern Alberta were tracked to potential overwintering locations, using radiotelemetry.
Leach A.L. and Mills J. REINTRODUCING TRUMPETER SWANS AT ELK ISLAND NATIONAL PARK. Friends of Elk Island Society, Elk Island National Park. Elk Island National Park, RR 1, Site 4, Fort Saskatchewan AB, T8L 2N7. The Friends of Elk Island Society, Parks Canada, and the Canadian Wildlife Service have been cooperating since the late 1980's to reintroduce Trumpeter Swans to Elk Island National Park. These threatened birds were extirpated from the beaver hills region over 100 years ago due to over-hunting and loss of habitat. Reintroducing a threatened species to a national park is not an easy task- conflicting land use practices such as prescribed burning, tourist trail use, and scientific research studies make it difficult to protect the swans with minimal disturbance.Despite the obstacles, we have met with success in recent years. 1998 marked the first time in over 100 years that a pair of swans successfully hatched and migrated with four cygnets. At least one of these cygnets returned in the spring of 1999 and was seen with another cygnet we released in the park in 1998. In 1999 we had two breeding pairs that hatched a total of nine cygnets, of which six died due to eagle predation and bad weather. With two breeding pairs of swans in the park for 2000, we hope and expect more success to come.
*O’Neill, J.P., *Dyer, S.J., *Wasel, S.M. and †P. Koning. INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT IN NORTHEASTERN ALBERTA: THE GULF CANADA RESOURCES AND ALBERTA-PACIFIC FOREST INDUSTRIES SURMONT PILOT PROJECT. *Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, Box 8000, Boyle, Alberta, T0A 0M0, †Gulf Canada Resources Limited, P.O. Box 130, 401-9th Avenue S.W. Calgary, AB. T2P 2H7. Integrated Landscape Management (ILM) is an approach to integrate industrial activity between companies with overlapping resource interests. Coordination of activities may offer synergies to different industrial sectors and provide ecological benefits. Gulf Canada Resources and Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries have undertaken a pilot project to investigate the feasibility of coordinating their plans for the Surmont area. Gulf has plans for a multi-phase SAGD (Steam Assisted Gravity Drained) Bitumen Project, while Alberta-Pacific holds the timber rights for the area. GIS has been used to view the areas of overlap and to calculate the human footprint and costs associated with an integrated design. At this stage, the sharing of a road network has been used as an indicator of the potential benefits of integration. Recognition of the overlapping areas and potential benefits at the planning stages, instead of during development, has many ecological and economic advantages including a reduction in total area disturbed, reduced fragmentation and lower road construction costs.
Schieck, J., S. Bradbury, S. Crites, L. Marinelli, T. Sorensen, and C. Gray. BIODIVERSITY IN HARVESTED AREAS IN RELATION TO THE DISPERSION OF STANDING LIVE TREES AND SNAGS. Forest Resources, Alberta Research Council, Bag 4000, Vegreville, AB T9C 1C4. Historically, in Alberta’s boreal forest, wildfires have shaped the landscape. In an effort to imitate the pattern of wildfire disturbance, patches of standing trees and snags left in harvested areas may function similar to skips in wildfire areas. In this project, we are evaluating the extent to which biodiversity in harvested areas is affected by the size, number, and spacing of tree patches that are left after harvest. Twelve experimental cut-blocks were created in each of two study areas. One experimental area is in pine/spruce-dominated forests near Whitecourt, Alberta, and the other is in aspen-dominated forests near Grande Prairie, Alberta. Pre-harvest surveys of biota were conducted during the spring and summer of 1997 with post-harvest surveys in 1998,1999, and proposed intervals over the harvest rotation. During the winter 1997/98 the experimental cut-blocks were harvested leaving 3% of the merchantable trees retained in small, medium, and large patches. Based on data collected, descriptions of how the spatial pattern of standing trees and snags affects bird, bat, carabid beetle, amphibian, and vegetation communities as well as the fall-down rates for residual trees and snags are presented.
*Takats, D.L., and †G.L. Holroyd. A STANDARDIZED NOCTURNAL OWL MONITORING PROGRAM FOR NORTH AMERICA. *Beaverhill Bird Observatory, Box 1418, Edmonton, AB T5J 2N5 and †Canadian Wildlife Service, #200, 4999-98 Avenue, Edmonton, AB T6B 2X3. Call and broadcast surveys have long been known to be effective in collecting information on distribution, relative abundance, and species richness of nocturnal owls. However, procedures for long-term monitoring of owl distribution and population trends have not been established for North America. Volunteer surveys for nocturnal owls are already underway in several Canadian provinces, but there has been little effort to standardize protocols as with Breeding Bird Surveys. A national meeting was held in Winnipeg, Manitoba in September 1999 to establish a standard protocol for Canada. The objectives are to collect standard information on owl distribution, abundance, and trends across North America. The survey includes: a two-minute silent listening period at 10 equally spaced (1.6 km) stations. This protocol can be adapted to use broadcasts of various owl species. The goal of this protocol booklet is to provide guidelines on a standardized technique that can be used by biologists/consultants, and volunteers to survey for nocturnal owls. This protocol will be incorporated into the North American Raptor Monitoring Strategy (Raptor Research Foundation).
Meetings such as this always result from the combined efforts of many people. The executive of the Alberta Chapter of The Wildlife Society and conference co-ordinator, Elston Dzus, would like to acknowledge the volunteers who have dedicated many hours to making this meeting a success. Our apologies to those individuals who helped out but are missing from the following list; your help is greatly appreciated.
Foremost among this year’s volunteers are members of The Lethbridge Community College (LCC) Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society and the LCC Conservation Enforcement Association; they served a variety of key roles including registration, poster facilitation, billeting, shuttle service, running the mixer and casino, audio-visual and assisting with the auction. Terry Kowalchuck and Janice James (LCC professors) were key liaisons.
Our plenary speakers (M. Boyce, V. Adamowicz, L. Fitch, and B. Stelfox) provided stimulating presentations. Plenary chairs were C. Gates and E. Merrill.
Session Chairs were executive members from the newly formed U. of A. student chapter: B. Harrison, L. McInenly, T. Hope, and S. McKeage.
G. Hamilton was the ACTWS executive contact for the scholarship program. The Robert Goddard Memorial Scholarship review team consisted of Ian Ross, Bill Samuel and Karen Oldershaw. Ron Bjorge and two assistant reviewers screened applicants for the University student award. Ron also co-ordinated judging the student papers with the assistance of M. Jalkotzy and D. Collister.
Paul Jones coordinated the fund-raising auction with the assistance of B. Calverley, M. Pybus, J. Fitch, L. Cerney, and several LCC students. John Perlich (Perlich Brother Auctioneers) provided vocal wizardry for the live auction. We thank everyone who participated in the auction either by donating items or by spending hard-earned cash to acquire auction items.
D. Mckinnon and a host of volunteers ran the registration. Gail Matheson organized the conference evaluation. T. Sorensen promoted the conference on our website and ran the photography contest. D. Hobson served as the official conference photographer.
M. Pybus, B. Samuels, C. Gates and T. Kowalchuck organized the mentoring program. K. Smith solicited donations.
We also thank all the authors of the posters and oral presentations, and of course, you, for attending the conference and making it a success.
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