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Ecological Information Systems Data

Description

The ECOSYS (Ecological Information System) database is a provincial database that stores over 26,000 vegetation and soil plots described in the province of Alberta. This information is used in the... More ≫

Description

The ECOSYS (Ecological Information System) database is a provincial database that stores over 26,000 vegetation and soil plots described in the province of Alberta. This information is used in the development of management tools (plant community guides, ecosite guides, natural subregion maps, range health tools etc.) to ensure Alberta’s public lands are being managed sustainably. ECOSYS also summarizes the raw plot information into Ecosite Guides for each subregion in the province.

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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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