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Alberta conservation information management system ecological community tracking list

Description

Natural ecological communities are defined as recurring assemblages of plant species; the species occurring together because they respond similarly to a variety of site attributes (Grossman et al... More ≫

Description

Natural ecological communities are defined as recurring assemblages of plant species; the species occurring together because they respond similarly to a variety of site attributes (Grossman et al 1994). The species that make up the assemblage often show an affinity or association with each other (Kent and Coker 1992). To develop an initial tracking list of natural ecological community elements, publications describing vegetation in Alberta were reviewed and discussions were held with knowledgeable individuals. Community types that have been described as 'unusual', 'uncommon', 'of limited extent' or 'encountered infrequently' by vegetation experts were considered for inclusion on the Ecological Community Tracking List. Community types that have been described as 'in decline' or 'threatened' by vegetation experts were also considered for inclusion. Only natural communities were considered. The assistance many individuals in developing this tracking and watch list is gratefully...

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Inventory of tiny cryptanthe (Cryptantha minima) and small-flowered sand verbena (Tripterocalyx micranthus) in Alberta

Description

Alberta Sustainable and Resource Development initiated an inventory of small-flowered sand verbena and tiny cryptanthe in southern Alberta in July 2007, in order to obtain additional information... More ≫

Description

Alberta Sustainable and Resource Development initiated an inventory of small-flowered sand verbena and tiny cryptanthe in southern Alberta in July 2007, in order to obtain additional information on their populations, abundance and distribution. Priority areas for this survey included the Bow River populations, north of Medicine Hat, and near McNeill. Prioritization of these areas occurred because of the absence of other survey efforts covering these known populations of tiny cryptanthe and/or sand verbena.

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Survey and analysis of plant community types of Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park : final report

Description

A fundamental strategy in the preservation of functional ecosystems is to identify and preserve a full compliment of habitat types, which in return support a diversity of animals, plants, and... More ≫

Description

A fundamental strategy in the preservation of functional ecosystems is to identify and preserve a full compliment of habitat types, which in return support a diversity of animals, plants, and other life forms. Vegetation is an integral component of habitat and provides a relatively easy means of inventory and monitoring of ecosystem health both spatially and temporally. The current study, in Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park, focuses on the identification of unique riparian and coulee plant associations, or plant community type. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development contracted Wildlands Ecological to complete an inventory of natural/semi-natural plant communities, statistically analyse the data, and describe potential plant community or association types.

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Sundance Provincial Park vegetation survey

Description

The purpose of this vegetation survey was to identify and describe all associated plant community types found within the Sundance Provincial Park and associated special management zone. As part of... More ≫

Description

The purpose of this vegetation survey was to identify and describe all associated plant community types found within the Sundance Provincial Park and associated special management zone. As part of this process other features of unique, sensitive or disturbed nature were noted. These included, but were not limited to, new disturbance features (cutlines, well site roads, quad trails, and hiking/horse trails) significant wildlife habitat areas or migration corridors (including mineral licks and hibernacula), or areas of high biodiversity (old growth forests and highly diverse plant communities). The information collected as part of this vegetation survey not only provides a detailed assessment of the vegetation communities that occur in the region, but also identifies areas of high use, sensitive areas that may be in need of additional protection, or other significant features that may be of ecological, biological or cultural interest. This is a well-used provincial park with a number...

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Proposed protocols for inventories of rare plants of the grassland natural region

Description

Several reports have been prepared on the status of Alberta's native plant species. More recently, nonvascular plants have been given some attention and tracking lists have been developed. There... More ≫

Description

Several reports have been prepared on the status of Alberta's native plant species. More recently, nonvascular plants have been given some attention and tracking lists have been developed. There is a relatively good information base for rare vascular species but a very limited one for rare non-vascular plants. This report analyzes the vascular plant species and discusses potential approaches to research, monitoring and conservation of vascular and non-vascular plants in the Grassland Natural Region. There is a fundamental recognition that habitat or landscape level approaches are preferred but that some single species attention may still be required. One hundred and twelve vascular plant species were selected for detailed analysis and preparation of protocols based on their distribution within the Grassland Natural Region.

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Preliminary classification of native wheat grass (Agropyron spp.) community types in Alberta

Description

Agropyron SPP, a perennial commonly known as wheat grass, occurs extensively across North American, ranging from Alaska, Yukon, Ellesmere Island and Greenland in the north to Newfoundland in the... More ≫

Description

Agropyron SPP, a perennial commonly known as wheat grass, occurs extensively across North American, ranging from Alaska, Yukon, Ellesmere Island and Greenland in the north to Newfoundland in the east and Texas, California and Arizona in the south. The overall goal of this project was to produce a synopsis of historical data on selected native Agropyron plant community types and to create a preliminary provincial classification of these community types. This information will be used to provide a better understanding of the plant community aspects of Alberta's biodiversity.

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A preliminary classification of the Rocky Mountain shrubland communities of Alberta

Description

The Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC) collects, analyses and disseminates information on the natural biodiversity of Alberta. One of the elements of diversity which ANHIC... More ≫

Description

The Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre (ANHIC) collects, analyses and disseminates information on the natural biodiversity of Alberta. One of the elements of diversity which ANHIC monitors are plant community types. Plant communities of special conservation concern are placed on tracking and watch lists which are being developed for the province (Allen 2000). Much of the vegetation of Alberta is still poorly understood, and ANHIC has identified several high priority vegetation groups that require further study and classification. One such high priority group is the shrubland communities of the Rocky Mountain Natural Region. The objective of this report was to develop a better understanding of the shrubland community types of the Rocky Mountain Natural Region through the numerical classification of existing plot data.

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Soil and vegetation inventory of Wagner Natural Area, Alberta

Description

Wagner natural area is situated approximately 6.4 km west of the present city limits of Edmonton Alberta and encompasses approximately 160 ha of Crown land. The management plan stated that site... More ≫

Description

Wagner natural area is situated approximately 6.4 km west of the present city limits of Edmonton Alberta and encompasses approximately 160 ha of Crown land. The management plan stated that site has been 'designated by policy as a conservation natural area'. The following specific project objectives were identified: Complete a detailed soil survey and produce a soils map of the area; Complete a detailed vegetation inventory and produce a vegetation community type map of the area; Complete a plant community classification for the area based on a field survey, previously collected data and correlation with other work; Produce a report outlining the details of field and analytical methods, study results and a discussion of possible applications of the soil and vegetation inventories to biodiversity monitoring.

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Vegetation, flora, fauna and special features of the proposed McGregor Lake natural area, Alberta, Canada

Description

The McGregor Lake area was chosen as a prospective Natural Area because of its representative foothills vegetation and the presence of Oplapanax Horridum (Devil's club). A biophysical survey of... More ≫

Description

The McGregor Lake area was chosen as a prospective Natural Area because of its representative foothills vegetation and the presence of Oplapanax Horridum (Devil's club). A biophysical survey of the McGregor Lake Natural area was undertaken from August 15-21, 1987. The vegetation and physical features of 25 stands, representing seven major vegetation types, were described. The vegetation types were mapped at 1:15,000. The vegetation and flora were found to be characteristic of the Boreal Uplands Ecoregion. Approximately 80 percent of the study area is dominated by lodgepole pine and/or white spruce forests. Other habitats include poplar forests, shrub-forb thickets, tall grass meadows and a treed fen.

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