Transcript Cape Breton Highlands

Outline
 Biodiversity plots History and Description
 Data collection
 Results
 Benefits and Outcomes
 Recommendations
Biodiversity Plots History
 Smithsonian Institute Global Climate change monitoring
project
 Canada representation
 Ontario plots on escarpment
 Protocol is strict, repeatable and comparable
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500 + sites exist worldwide with 104 sites in Canada
protocols were created to be long term monitoring projects in
partnerships with communities, educators, researchers and other
environmental organizations
Why Monitor?
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As the global climate warms we need to observe and
record the well-being of many species within
their changing habitats
Trees are important
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sequester carbon and put oxygen back into the atmosphere
Monitoring makes us think critically on how trees will
be impacted by climate change, and what trees will
survive the changes predicted for 2050 and beyond
Examining how ecosystems function and the role that
biodiversity plays within this habitat can allow for
anticipated negative impacts to be mitigated
(Dallmeier 2000)
Physical Pressures
Increasing Development
grade changes, utilities, removal of edge and
corridors
Disturbance
trails, vandalism, bmx’ers, encroachment
Climate Change
drought, insect and disease, changing precipitation
patterns,
Background
Richard Jones Park woodland,
Mississauga, soil shrinking and cracking
June 2007
Benares Museum, Mississauga. Grass
dieback July 2007
flora
mammals
mammals
Historic site
visits
Picnics
Bird
watching
Bicycle trails
Guided tours
Non-motor
boating
Wildlife
viewing
Golf
Forest
activities
Geological site
visits
Programs
& talks
Cross-country
skiing
Hiking
Fishing
Data Collection
 Students
 Grade 6
 High school
University Undergraduates
 Graduates (Masters and PhD students)
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City Staff
Citizen Scientist
Data Collection
 Spring and Summer
 Protocol-based
 Base-line (Benchmark date 1990)
 Tree information
Species
 Height
 Dbh
 Health
 Location
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Data Collection
 Web-shared
 Incorporated in Climate research Analysi
 Base-line Biodiversity information
Current Diameter Class Distribution
Basal Area
Mortality Rates
Tree
Measurements
(Mensuration)
Tree ID
(Dendrology)
Math
See Nature
Mapping
(GIS)
Teamwork
Fresh Air
Communication
Meet
Experts
The Spheres of Benefits
Taste
Nature
Smell
Nature
Exercise
Geography
Hear Nature
Science
Touch
Nature
Win-Win for ALL!
 Teachers
 Students
 ACER
 Researchers
 Environment Canada
 University Research
 Smithsonian Institute
 Global Climate Change Database
 Citizens
Recommendations
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Data should be kept in one repository and copies kept with partners such as academic
institutions
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Protocols must be followed to ensure comparability.
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Share monitoring reports and data with forest managers such as municipal and conservation
managers to help them identify risks to their forests as well as to provide input to assist in
watershed management
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Sampling for biodiversity needs to be done using more than 5 plots as it does not accurately
represent the
species count.
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Sampling for basal area and stems/hectare using 5 plots was acceptable and yielded comparable
results from benchmark data basal area values of the entire 25 quadrats.
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Establish plots in additional forested areas to better capture forest change in other forest types
as well as at locations with differing future climate change characteristics and impacts.
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Need more eyes in the forest….developing citizen scientists is crucial. future climate change
characteristics and impacts.