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Plant community types of sand dunes and sand plains in selected areas of the boreal natural region

Description

This study focused on the inventory of natural and semi-natural plant communities. Unique or recurring plant communities were identified in the field and inventoried using standard provincial... More ≫

Description

This study focused on the inventory of natural and semi-natural plant communities. Unique or recurring plant communities were identified in the field and inventoried using standard provincial ecological site and vegetation forms. The concepts for potential plant communities were first developed in the field by tabulating the percent ground cover of dominant species within each stratum for each stand sampled. This preliminary grouping of stands with similar characteristics helped to identify potential communities and to direct sampling efforts. A range of site positions and ecological conditions were investigated in search of unique or recurring plant communities. Field data was then analysed using PC-ORD (Version 4.25) to statistically determine grouping of plant communities using Detrended Correspondence Analysis and agglomerative cluster analysis. The results were critically reviewed and final plant communities were then classified according to The International Classification of...

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Pilot inventory of invasive plant species in selected protected areas in Alberta : Dinosaur Provincial Park

Description

The purpose of this project is to locate, document and map the occurrences of invasive plants in Dinosaur Provincial park. This protected area was selected to extend the pilot inventory to a... More ≫

Description

The purpose of this project is to locate, document and map the occurrences of invasive plants in Dinosaur Provincial park. This protected area was selected to extend the pilot inventory to a protected area with climate, landform and disturbance conditions widely different from those affecting areas previously studied, namely Police Outpost and Beauvais Lake parks. Target invasive plant species to be inventoried will include those threatening rare plants and those commonly associated with human caused disturbances. As before, local site managers may indicate additional target species of special concern for park management. The project will serve to test and possibly modify or improve methodology developed for the two previously inventoried areas.

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Status of the tiny cryptanthe (Cryptantha minima) in Alberta

Description

This wildlife status report looks at the tiny cryptanthe. Also known as small cryptanthe and little cat's-eye, it is an annual vascular plant species found in semi-arid grasslands of the great... More ≫

Description

This wildlife status report looks at the tiny cryptanthe. Also known as small cryptanthe and little cat's-eye, it is an annual vascular plant species found in semi-arid grasslands of the great plans of western North America. Its known range in Canada is in the dry mixedgrass prairie of southeastern Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan, and it is included on on the list of species that may be at risk in Alberta. This report is part of the Alberta Wildlife Status Report series, which provides comprehensive summaries of selected wildlife species intended to be useful to those managing populations of species and their habitats, and to help identify species that may be formally designated as endangered or threatened.

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Plant community classification of the Pakowki Sandhills and sand plains

Description

The primary objective of this project was to develop a plant community classification of sand dune and sand plain plant communities of the Grassland Natural Region based on field survey,... More ≫

Description

The primary objective of this project was to develop a plant community classification of sand dune and sand plain plant communities of the Grassland Natural Region based on field survey, correlations with other surveys and any available previously-collected data. Furthermore, each identified community type was evaluated and assigned a preliminary provincial rank, based on its rarity/endemism or threats to its condition. This was accomplished by developing a sampling protocol and subsequently collecting field data on plant communities of the sand dune and sand plain landscapes of the Pakowki Sandhills. Furthermore, a comparison of defined plant community types to similar types described in previously conducted field surveys in similar landscapes in Alberta and adjacent provinces and states was completed. A similarity rating based on a scale provided by Corns (1983) was also provided.

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Rare plant inventory of the eastern edge of the lower foothills natural subregion, west-central Alberta

Description

A rare plant inventory was conducted in an area south of Whitecourt, to identify and locate rare vascular and nonvascular plant populations. The inventory was conducted in the summer of 2001, and... More ≫

Description

A rare plant inventory was conducted in an area south of Whitecourt, to identify and locate rare vascular and nonvascular plant populations. The inventory was conducted in the summer of 2001, and followed, where possible, Alberta Native Plant Council guidelines. The study discovered 14 populations representing 12 rare non-vascular plant species. No rare vascular plant populations were confirmed. Most rare plant occurrences (nine non-vascular plant populations and one lichen population) were detected on Whitecourt Mountain. Eight rare species occurrences were protected in provincial natural areas (six in Whitecourt Mountain Natural Area). Rare plants were found in a variety of habitat types, characterized by varying levels of human influence. This study resulted in the identification of potential threats to the rare plant populations discovered and of measures that may enhance their protection. Suggestions for future surveys, both in terms of logistical considerations and of...

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