Parks Canada

Amphibians are vulnerable to an array of environmental changes because of their permeable skin, a complex life history, and a dependence on moist terrestrial or wetland habitats. These attributes make them excellent indicators of the health of aquatic ecosystems. Amphibians can indicate problems...

Birds are the most diverse of land vertebrates and are an important indicator of ecosystem health. Large protected areas, such as Waterton Lakes National Park, provide important habitat for a wide range of bird species. Data collected can provide a number of ecological indices; for example, used...

This program, led by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), is part of a larger national program serving to describe spatial and temporal patterns in water quality on many major rivers in Canada. In Waterton, physical and chemical variables are measured at water quality sites located on...

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...

This project aims to capture population trends by estimating absolute abundance of American Black Bears (Ursus americanus) every 2-3 years and relative abundance of three forest mammals (American Black Bear, Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) and Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus ssp.)) annually. Forty...

From the point of view of ecological integrity and the responsibility of the park to protect and maintain a biotic community naturally associated with the ecoregion, we are primarily interested in the extent of two land cover classes, the old-growth forest, which should not decrease in the park,...

Calling frogs and toads are surveyed annually at permanent stations, three times during the spring and early summer, at least 15 days apart. Each survey is 3 minutes long. These surveys are conducted by park staff and volunteers.

Changes in the cover of emergent vegetation (cattails and Phragmites predominantly) and open water are quantified through the classification of remote sensing data taken in spring. Cattails are the dominant feature of Pelee marsh, and their spread has altered the habitat mosaic of the wetland....

The endangered eastern prickly pear cactus is a focal species for Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannas (LESSS), one of the most imperiled terrestrial ecosystems in North America. Although monitoring of the of eastern prickly pear cactus has occurred within the park since 1971, accurate estimation of...

An estimated 65% reduction in Lake Erie Sand Spit Savannas (LESSS) has occurred over the last 72 years. A land cover mapping standard is used to classify the types of landscape cover in the park and assess change over time. Both remote sensing and ground data are utilised to complete this...

The rapid beach recession in Point Pelee National Park has resulted in sustained breaching of the barrier beach in the Northeastern corner of the park. Continuous exposure to Lake Erie via a breach could alter marsh plant and animal communities and eventually result in total loss of marsh and...

Monitoring consists of four trap lines consisting of five traps each baited for five sessions (of five days each) every two years.

The Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD) is a huge wetland complex which provides important habitat for wildlife and migrating waterfowl. Remote sensing provides a way to monitor this large and remote area. A combination of optical and radar (Radarsat) satellite imagery is used along with ground truthing...

This measure is based on muskrat aerial surveys in the Peace-Athabasca Delta (PAD), done in collaboration with local indigenous groups. Muskrats are a keystone species. They play a pivotal role in the food web of the PAD and as such are a good indicator of what is going on at higher trophic...

The Peace Athabasca Delta (PAD) is a dynamic deltaic ecosystem that is driven by natural, periodic floods. Vegetation communities naturally vary with floods and droughts, but changes in the long term can be detected. Specific concerns include: a shift away from aquatic communities, encroachment...

Monitoring the abundance diversity and distribution of birds in wetlands is used to track the effect of changes in hydrology and water quality related to human activities, flow regulation and climate change. Automated Recording Units (ARU) are deployed annually in the spring prior to the...

The Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) Bison Abundance database is a data set that documents numbers of bison observed during bison population estimate surveys conducted in WBNP. Survey methodology was standardized from 2002 to present. A strip transect survey allows for both minimum counts and a...

Vegetation determines primary productivity as well as the diversity and types of habitat available to wildlife species. Alpine vegetation is sensitive to environmental and ecological changes. Park staff measure vascular plant diversity and the relative abundance of major plant life-forms in...

Forest ecosystems are a vital component of Nahanni National Park Reserve, covering approximately 80% of the park. Forest vegetation condition is currently a composite of three sub-measures: changes in (1) mature spruce stand growth rates, (2) mature spruce stand mortality rates, and (3)...

Monitoring pika occupancy and persistence over time will help to assess the impacts of climate change and the ecological integrity of Alpine Tundra ecosystems within Nahanni National Park Reserve. Annual visual counts of active hay piles by foot as well as auditory surveys are used to assess pika...