Parks Canada

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...

Many processes and functions in wetlands are driven by water quality, this measure can therefore determine the composition and health of wetland species. Point Pelee National Park collects several parameters to monitor water quality in the park wetlands such as turbidity, total suspended solids,...

Point Pelee National Park is the home to an isolated population of five-lined skink - the only lizard species found in eastern Canada. Monitoring involves overturning of logs and boards, and subsequent search for skinks. Dimensions of the cover object and its decay class are also recorded.

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

This dataset is a simplified version of water quality measurements taken in Tuktut Nogait National Park. It is a collection of measurements which make up two water quality indexes: Nutrients and Major Ions (NMI) Index and Metals Index. The measurements are taken along the Hornaday River annually...

This dataset contains monitoring data for benthic invertebrate communities along the Hornaday River Corridor. The raw data in this dataset is used to calculate benthic invertebrate richness and the percentage of Ephemeroptera (mayflies), Plecoptera (stoneflies), and Trichoptera (caddisflies)...

This dataset is a collection of measurements which make up two water quality indexes: Nutrients, Physical and Major Ions (NPMI) Index and Metals Index. The measurements are taken at two different locations along the Hornaday River annually in early-July. Project Rationale: Water quality is a...

This dataset is a count of Lemming nests in Tuktut Nogait National Park. The counts are done annually in mid-July at 12 predetermined sample locations 1 ha in size. Lemmings are an important herbivore and source of food for predators. Lemming populations often fluctuate dramatically, typically...

Monitoring contaminants in gull and tern eggs is a useful tool for gaining insights into local environmental conditions because gulls and terns are integrators of processes occurring at lower levels in the food web and their eggs are generally formed using local food sources. Therefore, the...

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...

Snowshoe hare are a keystone species of the boreal forest with a 9-10 year population cycle. Hare densities are positively correlated with other species and can have significant impacts on vegetation during portions of their cycle, and may affect plant survival and composition on a local level....

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...

This bird monitoring program uses both traditional point counts and audio recordings to detect changes and trends in the relative abundance and community composition of a suite of forest bird species within Nahanni National Park Reserve. The intent of this study is to provide an early warning of...

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...