Parks Canada

Odonata monitoring is conducted in four shallow water ponds within the wetland ecosystems of PEI National Park. Park staff collect exuviae (the remains of aquatic larval stage exoskeleton) of metamorphosed larvae from the order odonata twice per year: in the early summer (June) and late summer...

This measure monitors the trophic state (primary productivity) of six selected lakes, and four selected streams, in order to collect baseline data on processes fundamental to ecological structure and to detect any changes due to ecological stressors.

The park monitors water quality on Clear Lake by sampling total phosphorus, Chlorophyll-a, oxygen consumption in the hypolimnion, and mean total phosphorus in the inflow streams. Nutrient and oxygen parameters will continue to change due to nutrient stress levels in the lake and thus, the...

The integrity of fire-dependent forest types will be maintained through prescribed burns. The park's fire management program uses remote sensing to monitor post-burn changes on the landscape annually. The Area Burned Condition Class measures will be used as per the PCA Fire Monitoring Plan.

Elk abundance and population composition are assessed annually during an aerial survey conducted between mid-January and mid-February. The elk population composition is measured annually in a classified aerial count held in late Fall.

The wolf population in Riding Mountain National Park is monitored through track counts that are conducted each winter according to methods established by Canadian Wildlife Service in the 1970’s. Wolves are the top predator in Riding Mountain National Park and monitoring their numbers assists in...

Moose in Riding Mountain National Park are affected by hunting, predator population numbers, winter severity, and disease. Riding Mountain National Park conducts annual aerial surveys to monitor the moose population to determine if the population is within the established population thresholds...

Since 2009, up to nine (9) streams (White River, Willow River, Oiseau Creek, White Gravel River, North Swallow River, Swallow River, Cascade River, Tagouche Creek and Imogene Creek) are monitored with stream temperature HOBO loggers to assess thermal suitability for Brook trout (Salvelinus...

The Water Quality Index (WQI), developed by the Canadian Council of Ministers of Environment (CCME) is used to assess the water quality of Pukaskwa’s rivers and streams. Three key stressors (acidification, eutrophication and metal loading) are assessed using nine parameters [pH, aluminum,...

Every five years, water quality is assessed in 32 inland lakes that are greater than 8 hectares in surface area. Samples are collected via helicopter and three key stressors (acidification, eutrophication and metal loading) are assessed using nine parameters [pH, aluminum, calcium, total...

Remote sensing techniques are used to monitor forest productivity in the park’s interior forest ecodistricts: Bremner Uplands, Widgeon Uplands and Pukaskwa River Plain. Forest productivity is measured using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Landsat imagery (Landsat 5, 7 and...

A peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) survey of all known territories within Pukaskwa National Park is conducted annually during the breeding season (May 15 - July 15). Surveys are completed by trained observers most often by boat. The number of active territories is monitored as well as...

To assess the current state of wildland fire as an ecological process in the interior forests (Pukaskwa Plains, Bremner Uplands and Bremner-Widgeon Uplands ecodistricts) of Pukaskwa, the Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure calculates the modern-day departure from historical wildland fire...

Park staff monitor invasive wetland plants at marsh monitoring sites in May-June each year (8 plots/year). In each wetland, pairs of 1 m x 1 m quadrats placed 2 m apart are sampled along 3 transects at 5 and 15 meters in wet meadow, emergent and submergent vegetation zones. The percent cover is...

Browse surveys occur yearly in July-August and are conducted by park staff. Each plot is composed of nine circular subplots (2-m radius) in a 3 x 3 grid, spaced at 15 m intervals. Percent cover of priority invasive species, as well as leeks, ferns, grasses and bare ground are assessed visually.

Browse surveys occur yearly in July-August and are conducted by park staff. Each plot is composed of nine circular subplots (2-m radius) in a 3 x 3 grid, spaced at 15 m intervals. The number of seedlings (5 – 30 cm) and saplings (30 – 200 cm) of each tree species are counted. Seedling recruitment...

Benthic invertebrate data is collected and used for two biological measures that assess TINP’s freshwater quality. Data collection from streams in the park occurs yearly in July, and follows the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network protocol. Field procedures involve a kick and sweep method at...

Benthic invertebrate data is collected and used for two biological measures that assess TINP’s freshwater quality. Data collection from streams in the park occurs yearly in July, and follows the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network protocol. Field procedures involve a kick and sweep method at...

Browse surveys occur in early spring and are conducted by park staff. Each plot is composed of nine circular subplots (2-m radius) in a 3 x 3 grid, spaced at 15 m intervals. Browse pressure of woody species 30 cm – 2 m tall is assessed visually. Seedling recruitment is correlated with herbivore...

Several measures that characterise downed woody debris are recorded along three, 45.14 m transects associated with long-term Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) forest plots. Several measures are recorded including the diameter of the DWD at point of contact, tree species,...