Parks Canada

Recent observations suggest that shallow lakes and ponds in the Arctic are becoming increasingly dynamic in response to climate change, and changes in water levels, lake surface area, and biological communities have been observed at several high-latitude locations. The Old Crow Flats, located 25...

Permafrost and snow are critical to the ecology of many northern ecosystems. They influence hydrology and vegetation and can dramatically affect the quality of wildlife habitat. In recent decades permafrost temperatures in North America have increased and snowfall and spring snow cover in the...

Tundra is an important ecosystem in Vuntut National Park. It covers approximately 56% of the park and is used extensively by the Porcupine Caribou Herd during it’s spring and fall migrations. The Porcupine Caribou Herd is critically important to the Vuntut Gwitchin and protecting portions of the...

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...

Herring gull (Larus arentatus, HERG), great blue heron (Ardea Herodias GBHE), double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus, DCCO) and ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis, RBGU) have been monitored in Pukaskwa National Park since 1977 as part of the colonial waterbird monitoring program. A...

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...

Moose aerial surveys are conducted approximately every 5 years by helicopter, subject to snow and weather conditions or to coincide with a survey being done in the adjacent Wildlife Management Unit. The dataset includes surveys conducted during the winters of 1996, 1999, 2003, 2008, 2009, 2011...

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...

Frogs and toads were monitored through visual and audio surveys during twice-yearly wetland visits between May-June 2006-2014. Frogs and toads were assessed by park staff for physical deformities, abundance and diversity

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,...

In order to assess long-term changes in streams Thousand Islands NP monitors their water quality yearly in July. Samples are analyzed for multiple parameters including: total phosphorus, ammonium, nitrate, turbidity, and specific conductivity.