Parks Canada

Introduced Moose, lacking natural predators in Gros Morne, are causing widespread damage in park forests. Park-wide Moose density will be monitored using aerial surveys and estimated using the Gasaway (1986) stratified random block method. Bull, cow, calf and unknown Moose are counted in...

Terra Nova National Park monitors non-native mammal browse pressure on forest plant communities on transects and plots.

Late snowbeds afford critical habitat for many species of Arctic and alpine plants in Gros Morne National Park. Temperature loggers are being anchored at ground level within the perimeter of 14 late snowbeds, which allows measurement of the meltout date for that point in each snowbed each year.

Stream hydrology strongly affects habitat quality for most stream-dwelling species, and is affected by both climate and land use. This measure, which is colocated with stream temperature regime, reports on flow parameters in 10-12 park streams over time - using in-situ water level data loggers,...

The park correlates pitcher plant morpology with availability of atmospheric nitrogen, as the latter may affect pitcher-plant development.

The park monitors water quality of streams and ponds (lakes) on a triennial cycle, reporting on total organic carbon, acidity, phosphorus, nitrogen, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and Chlorophyll A. These metrics are compiled into a water quality index (WQI) that summarizes overall water quality.

Plant community structure is measured at 16 sites within the park on a four-year schedule. A series of five 2x2 metre quadrats are completed at each site with percent cover of all ground vegetation recorded.

The park is developing a protocol to monitor the extent of eelgrass beds through remote sensing.

Terra Nova National Park employs a kicknet sampling procedure to monitor the species richness and relative species abundance of stream invertebrates. Streams chosen for sampling are randomly selected within second order watersheds.

Terra Nova National Park conducts weekly shorebird surveys during August and early September in order to monitor the abundance of Greater Yellowlegs and other shorebird species.

The park employs aerial surveys to map active beaver lodges/dams in Terra Nova. A selection of sites are ground-thruthed on foot or by canoe.

Terra Nova National Park monitors wetland plant richness at 30 randomly selected plots along a 80 meter transect.

This measure includes monitoring of browsing impacts of non-native mammals on populations of the balsam fir populations at 30 randomly selected plots. This measure records percent of browsing on particular firs, and collects multiple metrics, including species diversity, seral stage, etc.

Terra Nova National Park monitors intertidal invertebrate communities using a line transect and quadrat sampling method. The survey focusses on invertebrate community composition and diversity, and should detect presence of invasive marine species.

The park monitors angling stress in several ponds (lakes) in Terra Nova with Fyke nets. Angling stress is assesed against calculated values of fish biomass and fish condition (Fulton’s condition factor, K).

Terra Nova National Park monitors crab populations for the presence of the invasive European Green Crab; the abundance of native Rock Crab is also monitored. Park personnel uses baited traps for these surveys.

Terra Nova National Park employs fixed station pressure/temperature loggers to continuously monitor stream water temperatures over the entire summer at designated stream study sites.

This measure aims at monitoring forest plant community structure in Terra Nova National Park, including taxa richness, and presence of exotic species.

Terra Nova National Park monitors annual decay rate by measuring decomposition of tongue depressors buried within randomly selected Balsam Fir and Black Spruce plots.

The park maps the existing human footprint and footprint edge in Terra Nova.