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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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Lepidoptera of the Lowden Springs Conservation Area, Alberta, 2002-2011

Description

Three hundred and nineteen species of moths and 4 butterflies are reported from the Lowden Springs Conservation Area. Most collections were made at night and, therefore, butterflies and day-flying... More ≫

Description

Three hundred and nineteen species of moths and 4 butterflies are reported from the Lowden Springs Conservation Area. Most collections were made at night and, therefore, butterflies and day-flying moths are underrepresented. If all species in the undetermined categories were named, the actual total would be over 350. With further study and names on all of the undetermined specimens, the total would probably be close to 500 species of moths. To put things into perspective, Pohl et al (2010) document 2367 species of Lepidoptera for Alberta. It was especially encouraging to have a first for Alberta (Sparganothis directana) plus several discoveries of seldom encountered species, such as Xenotemna pallorana, Sciota fernaldi, Lipographis fenestrella, Escaria homogena, Heliothis phloxiphagus and Schinia meadi. The list of species would have been considerably greater if the area had additional habitats such as woods or a riverine community but, at the same time, it is quite interesting to...

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Lepidoptera of the Medicine Lake Provincial Recreation Area, 2003-2011

Description

The Lepidoptera of the area was studied on 13 different days (30 trap nights) from June 27 to August 15 in the years 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. All collected specimens were... More ≫

Description

The Lepidoptera of the area was studied on 13 different days (30 trap nights) from June 27 to August 15 in the years 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. All collected specimens were databased and information on most is available on the Virtual Museum website of the University of Alberta Strickland Museum (http://www.entomology.ualberta.ca/). No collections were made in the spring or fall and thus many species remain to be documented.

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Lepidoptera of the Tolman Bridge Area, Alberta, 2000-2011

Description

Tolman Bridge, is located in the valley of the Red Deer River, 18 km (10 miles) east of the town of Trochu. The bridge and adjoining Park land are in the north half of section 14, range 22,... More ≫

Description

Tolman Bridge, is located in the valley of the Red Deer River, 18 km (10 miles) east of the town of Trochu. The bridge and adjoining Park land are in the north half of section 14, range 22, township 34, west of the Fourth Meridian. The coordinates at the bridge are 51.503N and 113.009W. The elevation ranges from around 600 m at the river to 800 m or so near the top of the river breaks. In a Natural Area Inspection Report dated 25 June 1982 and in the 1989 Trochu 82 P/14, 1:50,000 topographic map, the land southwest of the bridge was designated as the “Tolman Bridge Municipal Park” while that southeast of the bridge was referred to as the “Tolman Bridge Recreation Area”. In an Alberta, Department of the Environment, Parks and Protected Areas Division paper dated 9 May 2000, the areas on both sides of the river are included in “Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park”. Campgrounds are found in both areas and they are patrolled by a Conservation Officer stationed in Drumheller.

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Moths of the Buffalo Lake Moraine Conservation Area

Description

Provincial Parks and other areas where natural vegetation is protected are of great value as the flora and fauna present in them is typical of what was in Alberta before widespread agricultural... More ≫

Description

Provincial Parks and other areas where natural vegetation is protected are of great value as the flora and fauna present in them is typical of what was in Alberta before widespread agricultural activities replaced them with flora and fauna that was reduced in numbers and made up of species that were associated with cultivated grains and hay crops. As a result, many of Alberta’s “rare and endangered” species are now found only, or mainly, in such protected areas.

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Lepidoptera of the J.J. Collett natural area, 2002-2011

Description

Provincial Parks and other areas where natural vegetation is protected are of great value as their flora and fauna is typical of what was in Alberta before widespread agricultural activities which... More ≫

Description

Provincial Parks and other areas where natural vegetation is protected are of great value as their flora and fauna is typical of what was in Alberta before widespread agricultural activities which resulted in a replacement of many native species by weedy species associated with cultivated grains and hay crops. As a result, many of Alberta’s “rare and endangered” species are now found only, or mainly, in such protected areas.

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Eastern Bow Valley wildlife corridor study : an analysis of winter tracking and monitoring final report

Description

Initially planned as a five-year study focusing on winter field work involving survey transects and snow tracking, the project has expanded to include year-round field work utilizing remote... More ≫

Description

Initially planned as a five-year study focusing on winter field work involving survey transects and snow tracking, the project has expanded to include year-round field work utilizing remote wildlife cameras, monitoring of wildlife crossing structures across the Trans Canada Highway, human-use monitoring along trails using passive infrared trail counters, and monitoring fine-scale elk movements using GPS collars. This report deals only with the results of the five-year winter transect and snow tracking portion of the greater Eastern Bow Valley Corridor Study.

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All season trail plan for West Bragg Creek, Kananaskis country

Description

This trails plan for West Bragg Creek is sponsored jointly by the GBCTA and TPR through their partnership agreement. Planning funds included a grant to GBCTA from the Shell/Husky Moose Mountain... More ≫

Description

This trails plan for West Bragg Creek is sponsored jointly by the GBCTA and TPR through their partnership agreement. Planning funds included a grant to GBCTA from the Shell/Husky Moose Mountain Environmental Enhancement Fund as well as matching funds and contributions in-kind from TPR, Kananaskis Country. This plan to upgrade and enhance trail opportunities in West Bragg Creek is intended to improve existing recreation while reducing impacts on the Elbow River watershed and area wildlife, as well as conflicts with other land uses. A series of objectives and principles guided plan preparation by a Plan Advisory Committee consisting of trail users, land managers, conservation groups, key stakeholders and a planning consultant. They gathered background information, determined user needs, assessed potential trail opportunities and constraints, and have made a series of recommendations. The plan was revised following review and comment by stakeholders and the public between November 2009...

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Spiders of Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park

Description

This report documents the collection of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) during a 2004 survey of Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park (representative of Alberta’s Upper Boreal Highlands... More ≫

Description

This report documents the collection of spiders (Arachnida, Araneae) during a 2004 survey of Birch Mountains Wildland Provincial Park (representative of Alberta’s Upper Boreal Highlands Subregion). A total of 6,211 identifiable specimens were collected. These represented 185 species within 17 families. Most species were common residents of the boreal forest. New linyphiid records for Alberta were Lophomma vaccinii, Tapinocyba bicarinata, Tunagyna debilis, and Wabasso cacuminatus. Likely undescribed species belong to the genera Hypsosinga (Araneidae), Ceratinops (Linyphiidae) and Oreonetides (Linyphiidae). A few updates and corrections of species names are given for three other reports on spiders from north-eastern Alberta.

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