Forested landscapes in west-central Alberta are facing increased pressures from forest harvesting and other land-use activities, which may alter the movements and distribution of Wolves and ungulates. Information on habitat use by Wolves in logged forests is scarce, potentially limiting effective land-use planning in the boreal forest. Nine Wolves, from four Wolf packs, were fitted with GPS radiocollars in the Rocky Mountain foothills, near Grande Cache, Alberta (2000-2001). We found Wolves did not use the landscape randomly, but rather exhibited a significant preference for non-forested natural habitats (shrubs, water), relative to their availability. Within forest habitats, Wolves used cutblocks proportionately more than unharvested forest and non-forested anthropogenic habitats (pipelines, clearings); however, selection of forest cutblocks was not statistically significant. We found no evidence that Wolves preferred or avoided forest cutblock edges. Wolf pack territories contained various levels of timber harvesting, but most areas were still in the early stages of harvest. Nevertheless, these areas have been allocated for large-scale harvesting. Understanding the potential responses of Wolves to rapidly changing landscape mosaics poses a significant challenge to researchers and managers, but such information is important to informing future land-management and conservation strategies for boreal forest Wolf-prey systems.
Aerial surveys for harlequin ducks {Histrionicus histrionicus ) were conducted in the spring of 1998-2000 in the McLeod and Cardinal River watersheds, and in 10 watersheds in the Willmore Wilderness Park. Ground and aerial surveys of broods occurred in August and September 2000, respectively along the Sulphur and Berland Rivers. The objectives of the surveys were 1) to assess the utility of aerial surveys in censusing harlequin duck populations, and 2) to determine presence, relative abundance, population trends, distribution, and productivity of harlequin ducks in selected watersheds. Visibility from the air was approximately^70% that from the ground during spring surveys of the McLeod watershed in 1998 and 2000 compared with only 13-27% in 1999 when lighting conditions were poor.These results indicate that aerial surveys can be an effective method of censusing harlequin ducks when lighting conditions are favourable. Spring numbers were relatively high in the McLeod-Whitehorse, Berland, and Sulphur watersheds (approximately > 40 birds) followed by the Muskeg, Sheep-Cote, Muddywater-Fetherstonhaugh, and Jackpine watersheds (approximately > 15 birds). Relatively few birds were observed on the Smoky, Cardinal, Little Berland, Wildhay Rivers, and Hardscrabble Creek (< 15 birds). When watersheds were flown in more than one year, the number and distribution of birds were consistent across years for all watersheds except the Muskeg River in which 15 mere birds were seen in 1998 (23) than in 2000 (8). During ground surveys in August 2000, two broods with 5 young each were observed on the West and South Sulphur Rivers. Four broods (three with 7 young, one with four young) were recorded on the South and North Berland Rivers. During aerial surveys in September 2000, four broods (all with 4 young) were observed cm the Sulphur River and five broods (total of 22 young) were observed on the Berland Rivers. Unlike ground surveys, aerial surveys included the mainstems of these rivers. Based on aerial survey results, 18% of females observed in the spring produced broods on the Sulphur River compared with 23% on the Berland River. Female reproductive output (number of ducklings per number of females observed in spring) was 0.73 and 1.00 for the Sulphur and Berland watersheds, respectively. Productivity in these watersheds was, on average, lower than that reported for the McLeod-Whitehorse watershed and the Kananaskis and Elbow Rivers in Kananaskis Country, but was higher than on the Bow River in Banff National Park.
We studied pack size of Wolves (Canis lupus) on Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) winter ranges in westcentral Alberta. These Caribou winter ranges are experiencing increasing pressure from resource extraction industries (forestry, energy sector) and concerns have been raised regarding increased Wolf predation pressure on Caribou in conjunction with landscape change. Thirty-one Wolves, from eight Wolf packs, were fitted with radiocollars on two Caribou winter ranges in the Rocky Mountain foothills, near Grande Cache, Alberta (2000Alberta ( -2001. There was a mean of 8.2 Wolves/pack and between 30 and 39 Wolves on each of the RedRock/Prairie Creek and Little Smoky Caribou ranges. The average pack size of Wolves in this region does not appear to have increased over that recorded historically, but the range (5-18) in the number of Wolves per pack varied considerably over our study area. Wolves preyed predominately on Moose (Alces alces), averaging one Moose kill every three to five days. There was some indication that pack size was related to prey size, with the smallest pack preying on Deer (Odocoileus spp.). It was clear that Caribou could not be the primary prey for Wolves, due to their low numbers, and relative to the pack size and Wolf kills we observed.
Elevated levels of selenium have been found in water and aquatic biota downstream from two open-pit coal mines in the Rocky Mountain foothills of Alberta. Birds are particularly sensitive to excessive dietary selenium. However, there is relatively little information on selenium accumulation in birds' eggs on fast-flowing mountain streams. We determined levels of selenium in water samples, caddisfly larvae and eggs of American dippers (Cinclus mexicanus) nesting on the Gregg River, downstream from the mines, and on reference streams in the same general vicinity. Selenium levels (mean, 95% confidence limits) in water samples and caddisflies collected from sites near dipper nests on the Gregg River (water: 4.26, 1.90-9.56 microg L(-1); caddisflies: 8.43, 7.51-9.46 microg g dry wt(-1)) were greater than those collected from sites near nests on reference rivers (water: 0.38, 0.21-0.71 microg L(-1); caddisflies: 4.65, 4.35-4.97 microg g dry wt(-1)). The mean (+/- 1SE) selenium level in dipper eggs from the Gregg River (6.3 +/- 0.2 microg g(-1) dry wt) was significantly higher than it was in eggs from reference streams (4.9 +/- 0.2 microg g(-1) dry wt). Concentrations of selenium in eggs were significantly correlated with those in water samples (r = 0.45). The maximum selenium level in eggs from the Gregg River (9.0 microg g(-1)) may have been high enough to warrant concern from an ecotoxicological perspective. The American dipper can serve as a useful bioindicator of selenium contamination in mountainous, lotic ecosystems.
Rapid development of large scale logging and increasingly intensive petroleum exploration and development in northeastern Alberta prompted the establishment of a cooperative research program to investigate various aspects of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) biology. The ultimate goal of the program is to develop an effective plan that will ensure the long term survival of caribou while allowing for renewable and non-renewable resource development. There are three parts to the program. Part I began early in 1991 and makes use of conventional radio telemetry as a means of recording various parameters of general caribou biology. The study area encompasses approximately 4000 km2 of low relief, boreal mixedwood forest. Preliminary results from 2500 radio locations (involving 50 individuals) indicate that woodland caribou inhabiting the study area are non-migratory and are strongly associated with some of the more scarce peatland forest types present in the area. Investigations to document the basic biology and ecology will continue for another two years. Part II began in early 1993 as a part of a two-year investigation into the disturbance effects of petroleum exploration and development on caribou movements and behaviour. One objective of this study is to develop a predictive model useful in determining the cumulative effects of varying intensities of disturbance on caribou. Part III began in early 1994 with a proposed three-year investigation to determine the mechanism of spatial and temporal separation of caribou and moose in the study area. These relationships may indicate the means by which caribou minimize the impact of wolf predation on their populations in northeastern Alberta. Results will be applied to industrial land use and specifically to large scale forest harvesting planned for the area. The research program is supported through cooperative funding contributed by 24 petroleum companies, 1 forest company, 2 peat companies and the Alberta Departments of Environmental Protection and Energy. The research aspect of the program has been developed and implemented by staff of the University of Alberta, Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries, the Alberta Fish and Wildlife and Forest Services and the Alberta Environmental Centre. The program also incorporates a public information and liaison function. Newsletters, information videos, brochures and public consultation are the means used to accomplish this task
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