All Resources

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...

Tags

Adopt-a-plant Alberta : a volunteer-based conservation initiative for rare plants and lichens : program summary 2005-2008

Description

The Adopt-a-Plant Alberta program was initiated in 2005 to help address the shortage of information on population size and occurrence of most rare plants and lichens in Alberta. This information... More ≫

Description

The Adopt-a-Plant Alberta program was initiated in 2005 to help address the shortage of information on population size and occurrence of most rare plants and lichens in Alberta. This information is needed to carry out provincial detailed status assessments of species. The idea behind the program was to train volunteer plant enthusiasts, "citizen scientists", from across the province to collect this information by searching for new locations and monitoring known sites of potentially at-risk plants and lichens. The program was designed to provide the training and support services needed to facilitate the collection of standardized data on rare plants by volunteers.

Tags

Adopt-a-plant Alberta : implementing recovery actions for western spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) 2007-2008

Description

Western spiderwort, designated as Endangered in Alberta, is a plant found in the southeastern corner of Alberta, within the Grassland natural region. This study reports on the work done in 2007... More ≫

Description

Western spiderwort, designated as Endangered in Alberta, is a plant found in the southeastern corner of Alberta, within the Grassland natural region. This study reports on the work done in 2007 and 2008 by the Adopt-a-Plant Alberta program to implement some of the recovery strategies outlined in the recovery plan for western spiderwort by collecting standardized population data and conducting invasive species management in western spiderwort habitat.

Tags

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.

Tags

2004 Pinhorn Grazing Reserve soapweed population survey

Description

Soapweed was approved for provincial listing as an 'endangered' species in 2003. This vascular plant species has an obligate mutualistic relationship with its specialized moth pollinator, the... More ≫

Description

Soapweed was approved for provincial listing as an 'endangered' species in 2003. This vascular plant species has an obligate mutualistic relationship with its specialized moth pollinator, the yucca moth, which is also considered endangered both provincially and federally. There are two known natural populations; one population is on the Agriculture and Agri-food Canada Research Substation in Onefour and the other is on the Pinhorn Grrazing Reserve along half a kilometre of southwest-facing coulee slope of the Milk River drainage. Little is known about the Pinhorn population of soapweed, except that there is little evidence of sexual reproduction at the site.

Tags

Maintenance and recovery plan for western spiderwort in Alberta 2005-2010

Description

The Maintenance and Recovery Plan for Western Spiderwort in Alberta 2005-2010 was reviewed by the Endangered Species Conservation Committee in June 2005. The committee subsequently recommended to... More ≫

Description

The Maintenance and Recovery Plan for Western Spiderwort in Alberta 2005-2010 was reviewed by the Endangered Species Conservation Committee in June 2005. The committee subsequently recommended to the Minister that the plan be approved as written, and implemented. On December 16, 2005, the Minister approved the recovery plan and directed the Department to work toward its effective implementation.

Tags

Western spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) inventory in Alberta, 2005

Description

Western spiderwort is listed as Threatened nationally and has been recommended for Endangered status provincially. In 2004, the Alberta Western Spiderwort Recovery Team created a maintenance and... More ≫

Description

Western spiderwort is listed as Threatened nationally and has been recommended for Endangered status provincially. In 2004, the Alberta Western Spiderwort Recovery Team created a maintenance and recovery plan for western spiderwort in Alberta. In addition to identifying several knowledge gaps in various aspects of biology of the species, the plan calls for an annual population inventory of western spiderwort. The objective of this study was to complete a population inventory for the year 2005 using a method that could be repeated in future studies. Limited information on habitat requirements was also provided.

Tags

Western blue flag conservation program : 3-year summary report

Description

The western blue flat conservation program, managed by the Alberta Conservation Association, was established to deliver the monitoring and stewardship activities identified in the Action plan. In... More ≫

Description

The western blue flat conservation program, managed by the Alberta Conservation Association, was established to deliver the monitoring and stewardship activities identified in the Action plan. In 2003, two new landowners joined the program for a total of eight participants. In 2002, a monitoring protocol for the conservation program was initiated. This includes a landowner questionnaire, tracking of on-the-ground management on cooperating ranches, and monitoring the response of western blue flag over time.

Tags

A rare plant survey of the Wainwright Dunes Ecological Reserve

Description

The Wainwright Dunes Ecological Reserve is administered by Alberta Community Development, Parks and Protected Areas Branch. Its 2 821 ha present a provincially significant landform of sand dune... More ≫

Description

The Wainwright Dunes Ecological Reserve is administered by Alberta Community Development, Parks and Protected Areas Branch. Its 2 821 ha present a provincially significant landform of sand dune ridges, alkaline seeps and lake basins, and patterned fens which provide habitat for 19 provincially rare vascular plant species with provincial conservation Ranks within Alberta of S1, S1S2, S2, S2S3, S3W. This report presents the findings of a three phase, 20-day long, on-site inventory of rare plants in order to confirm their previously reported locations, populations and habitats, and to discover and document additional species locations within the Reserve.

Tags

Inventory and monitoring protocol for naturally occurring western blue flag (Iris missouriensis) in Alberta

Description

In Canada, naturally occurring western blue flag is known only from a small area of southwestern Alberta. Because of its restricted range and small population size, the species is listed as... More ≫

Description

In Canada, naturally occurring western blue flag is known only from a small area of southwestern Alberta. Because of its restricted range and small population size, the species is listed as Threatened in the province. A maintenance and recovery plan was developed for the species. Major objectives of the plan included a revised census of western blue flag based on information regarding new sites, and the development and implementation of an ongoing inventory and monitoring program. During the spring and early summer 2002, an inventory and monitoring program was developed and implemented. This report describes the inventory procedures and monitoring protocol developed for western blue flag.

Tags