Publications

Ecological sites and successional plant community types of the Peace River parkland subregion. Second approximation

Description

The Peace River Parkland Natural Subregion accounts for only 0.5 per cent of the province and is characterized by gently rolling cultivated plains and steep south-facing grassy and forested slopes... More ≫

Description

The Peace River Parkland Natural Subregion accounts for only 0.5 per cent of the province and is characterized by gently rolling cultivated plains and steep south-facing grassy and forested slopes along the Peace River and its tributaries. Vegetation is a mosaic and dominated by forests of aspen and white spruce, wetlands and small remnant grasslands on the uplands, and dry grasslands and aspen forests on valley slopes. This guide represents the analysis of 378 plots described in the Peace River Parkland subregion. These 378 plots represent 73 observed and described plant community types. An analysis of successional changes in the presence and absence of grazing disturbance for the grasslands (Appendix 1) and aspen (Appendix 2) dominated community types for the Peace region is also outlined in Appendices 1 and 2. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System (AWCS) and a list of ecological sustainable stocking rates for each plant...

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Ecological sites and plant communities for the Alpine subregion. First approximation

Description

The Alpine Natural Subregion is a land of mountains, glaciers and snowfields extending north to south along the Continental Divide. Steeply inclined to vertical bedrock exposures, short, cold... More ≫

Description

The Alpine Natural Subregion is a land of mountains, glaciers and snowfields extending north to south along the Continental Divide. Steeply inclined to vertical bedrock exposures, short, cold summers, strong winds and high snowfalls limit extensive tree growth in favour of low growing shrubs and herbs in sheltered areas. The alpine is a complex of plant associations dominated by dwarf shrub and herbaceous vegetation and/or lichen tundra occurring at elevations above 1900 m at the northern extent of the Rocky Mountains of Alberta in Jasper National Park and 2150m at the south in Waterton Lakes National Park. This guide represents the analysis of over 970 plots described in the Alpine Natural Subregion that were subsequently split into 8 ecological sites and 52 plant community types. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soils and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System...

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Ecological sites of the Montane subregion. Fourth approximation

Description

This guide represents the analysis of approximately 3852 plots described in the Montane subregion. This guide includes plots done in the Montane subregion of Banff and Jasper National Parks, the... More ≫

Description

This guide represents the analysis of approximately 3852 plots described in the Montane subregion. This guide includes plots done in the Montane subregion of Banff and Jasper National Parks, the Ya Ha Tinda area west of Sundre, Kootenay Plains west of Rocky Mountain House and community types described in the Cypress Hills. The 3852 plots represent 276 community types. The classification system presented in this guide is intended to assist field staff to assess disturbance and evaluate health on lands within the subregion. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soils and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System (AWCS), new soil type descriptions and successional changes on grassland community types of south and west facing slopes.

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Ecological sites of the Lower Foothills subregion. Fourth approximation

Description

The Lower Foothills Natural Subregion occupies a broad northwest-to-southeast belt between the Bow River Valley to the south and Grande Prairie to the north, with outliers in the Swan Hills and... More ≫

Description

The Lower Foothills Natural Subregion occupies a broad northwest-to-southeast belt between the Bow River Valley to the south and Grande Prairie to the north, with outliers in the Swan Hills and Pelican Mountains to the east, and the Saddle Hills to the north. This guide represents the analysis of 2120 plots described in the Lower Foothills subregion, representing 119 community types. These community types were described in 15 ecological sites. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soils and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System (AWCS), new soil type descriptions and successional changes on harvested deciduous community types.

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Ecological sites of the Dry Mixedwood subregion. Third approximation

Description

The Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions cover nearly 40 per cent of the province and are dominated by aspen, with jack pine on coarse textured soils, and black spruce, willows, and sedges in the... More ≫

Description

The Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions cover nearly 40 per cent of the province and are dominated by aspen, with jack pine on coarse textured soils, and black spruce, willows, and sedges in the poorly drained areas. The vegetative communities in these subregions are important because they provide summer range for livestock, prime habitat for many species of wildlife, productive watersheds, recreational areas and timber production. As a result guides like this were developed to provide a framework that will easily group the vegetative community types. It is hoped these classification systems can be used by resource managers to assess the ecology of the sites and develop integrated management plans within each region. This guide represents the analysis of 1110 plots described within the Dry Mixedwood subregion. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soils and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta...

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Ecological sites of the Central Mixedwood subregion. Third approximation

Description

The Central Mixedwood subregion covers 25 per cent of the province and is dominated by aspen, with jack pine on coarse textured soils, and black spruce, willows, and sedges in the poorly drained... More ≫

Description

The Central Mixedwood subregion covers 25 per cent of the province and is dominated by aspen, with jack pine on coarse textured soils, and black spruce, willows, and sedges in the poorly drained areas. The vegetative communities in these subregions are important because they provide summer range for livestock, prime habitat for many species of wildlife, productive watersheds, recreational areas and timber production. As a result guides like this were developed to provide a framework that will easily group the vegetative community types. It is hoped these classification systems can be used by resource managers to assess the ecology of the sites and develop integrated management plans within each region. This guide represents the analysis of 1787 plots described within the Central Mixedwood subregion. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soils and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland...

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Ecological sites of the Foothills Parkland subregion. First approximation

Description

This guide is the first effort to classify and describe the ecological sites in the Foothills Parkland Natural Subregion. This guide represents the analysis of 453 plots and represents 74 grass,... More ≫

Description

This guide is the first effort to classify and describe the ecological sites in the Foothills Parkland Natural Subregion. This guide represents the analysis of 453 plots and represents 74 grass, shrubland, conifer and deciduous community types within 8 ecological sites. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soil, and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System and new soil type descriptions from over 280 described soil profiles.

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Ecological sites of the Northern Mixedwood subregion. Second approximation

Description

The second approximation of this guide represents the analysis of 107 grass, shrubland, conifer and deciduous plots described in the Northern Mixedwood Natural Subregion. The 107 plots represent... More ≫

Description

The second approximation of this guide represents the analysis of 107 grass, shrubland, conifer and deciduous plots described in the Northern Mixedwood Natural Subregion. The 107 plots represent 32 community types. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soil group and subgroup, and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System and new soil type descriptions.

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Ecological sites of the Upper Boreal Highlands subregion. Second approximation

Description

The second approximation of this guide represents the preliminary analysis of 147 plots described in the Upper Boreal Highlands Natural Subregion. The 147 plots represent 39 community types. The... More ≫

Description

The second approximation of this guide represents the preliminary analysis of 147 plots described in the Upper Boreal Highlands Natural Subregion. The 147 plots represent 39 community types. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, soil and environmental conditions are outlined for each type. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System and new soil type descriptions.

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Ecological sites of the Montane subregion. Version 2

Description

The Montane subregion of the Rocky Mountain Natural Region is one of the most diverse subregions in Alberta. The lands in the subregion are valued for a multitude of uses, including summer range... More ≫

Description

The Montane subregion of the Rocky Mountain Natural Region is one of the most diverse subregions in Alberta. The lands in the subregion are valued for a multitude of uses, including summer range for livestock, prime habitat for many species of wildlife, productive watersheds, wood fibre production and recreation. The classification system presented in this guide is intended to assist field staff in assessing the ecology and developing management prescriptions on lands within this region. The guide represents the analysis of approximately 2759 plots within three ecosections and 261 community types. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, environmental conditions and soils are outlined for each ecological site and plant community type.

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