Parks Canada

Elk Island National Park conducts an ungulate aerial surveys of the entire park, to census the elk and moose populations. The surveys are carried out in the late fall or winter annually. Park staff also conducts opportunistic counts of elk and moose over the summer and obtain demographic...

Elk Island National Park annually conducts an aerial census of bison populations of the entire park, as well as opportunistically surveying herd composition. Bison population data is in the same database as elk and moose populations.

The Elk Island National Park annually monitors the change in amphibian occupancy by using call counts, including data collected by citizen scientists.

Forest birds in Elk Island National Park are surveyed annually along 24 established routes, with 4 stations along each route. The stations are spaced 400-600 meters apart. Sampling occurs between late May and early July. Forest bird surveys have occurred in the Park since 1985, but current...

Elk Island National Park measures beaver abundance and distribution every three years in the fall using aerial surveys to count beaver food caches.

Elk Island National Park monitors primary productivity to determine the health of forest vegetation throughout the park. This measure relies on remotely-sensed multispectral satellite imagery, specifically, the Landsat Shortwave Infrared (SWIR2) and Near Infrared (NIR) bands. Analysis is...

Elk Island National Park monitors primary productivity to determine the health of grassland vegetation throughout the park. This measure relies on remotely-sensed multispectral satellite imagery, specifically, the Landsat Shortwave Infrared (SWIR2) and Near Infrared (NIR) bands. Analysis is...

The Elk Island National Park monitors the lake water quality annually in two lakes by measuring parameters such as: nutrients, heavy metals, major ions, physical characteristics, and pollutants/contaminants.

The Elk Island National Park monitors the functions and health of grassland and forest ecosystems that are influenced by herbivory. This includes monitoring vegetation structure, intensity of browsing, primary productivity, soil/site stability, capture and beneficial release of water, functional...

Elk Island National Park monitors spatial changes to open water features throughout the park. This measure relies on an unsupervised classification of remotely-sensed multispectral satellite imagery (Landsat). Analysis is performed roughly every five years, using images from mid-July.

Elk Island National Park uses land cover classification to determine spatial changes of grassland vegetation throughout the park. This measure relies on a supervised classification of remotely-sensed multispectral satellite imagery (Landsat). Analysis is performed roughly every five years, using...

Elk Island National Park uses land cover classification to determine spatial changes of forest vegetation throughout the park. This measure relies on a supervised classification of remotely-sensed multispectral satellite imagery (Landsat). Analysis is performed roughly every five years, using...

Elk are by far the dominant ungulate in Waterton Lakes Naitonal Park, with a population large enough to influence park ecosystems, particularly in the montane and aspen parkland ecoregions. As important grazers, they help to maintain grassland health by preventing woody plant encroachment, but...