Conference Posters Abstracts
Category 7 — Changes in Species Conservation
Seed Bank Project to Conserve Manitoba's Native orchid Species
Presenter: Native Orchid Conservation Inc.
Authors: Doris Ames;
Peggy Bainard Acheson
In 2006, we began a new project to conserve native orchid species. This involves the collection of native orchid seed capsules in Manitoba for long-term storage in Canada's national seed-bank in Saskatoon. The seed-bank's more formal name is Plant Gene Resources of Canada.
Although we believe that conservation of their habitat is the best way to protect native orchids, we also know that long-term seed storage will improve our ability to respond to rapid environmental changes that may be harmful to them. Since 25% of Canada's vascular plants are considered rare and there are many orchid species among them we believe it is important to conserve their genetic biodiversity by storing some of their seeds in an appropriate facility.
This poster illustrates some of our activities in seed collection and preparation as well as some of the procedures carried out at Plant Gene Resources of Canada to ensure survival of the orchid seeds during long-term storage.
The Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas
Presenter: Christian Artuso
Author: Christian Artuso
The Manitoba Breeding Bird Atlas is a citizen-science project of many partner organizations, including Bird Studies Canada, Nature Manitoba, The Manitoba Museum, Environment Canada, Manitoba Conservation and others to engage Manitobans in gathering essential baseline data on the distribution and abundance of all bird species breeding in the province, including special surveys for species at risk. Data will be collected from 2010 - 2014 following standardized protocols. We have a three-phase mission: 1) to increase and strengthen the pool of active volunteers in ecosystem monitoring; 2) to produce high quality data on all species of birds throughout the province; and 3) to create a state-of-the-art living document (web-based interactive mapping tool, regularly updated and accessible to all, as well as bilingual printed editions) with multiple applications including long-term monitoring and education. This poster provides information on this ambitious project.
Influential Variables in Ferruginous Hawk Nest Site Selection
Presenter: Brad Downey
Authors: Brad Downey;
Paul Jones
The ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) is a bird of the open prairies, which has experience declines in their population over the last 20 years. Ferruginous hawks are considered “Endangered” in Alberta and listed as “Threatened” within COSEWIC in Canada. Several factors may influence nest site selection and thus impact their population, such as disturbance, number of suitable nesting sites, competition, loss of native prairie, or the abundance of prey. Surveys conducted in southern Alberta, Canada in 2004 and 2005 collected information on variables within seventy-two 6.4 by 6.4km blocks, in order to determine which were the most influential on nest site selection. Poisson regression was used to analyze eight priori candidate models. These models were selected based on limiting factors identified in the, “Status of the Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) in Alberta: update 2006”. Forage models consisting of Richardson’s ground squirrels (Model 1) and Richardson’s ground squirrels and native prairie (Model 2) had positive impacts on nesting and were found to be the most influential models in nest site selection. The identification of forage as the most limiting factor for nest site selection by ferruginous hawks highlights the need for continued maintenance of native grasslands with an abundant Richardson's ground squirrel component.
Native versus hay: effects of grassland type on survival of juvenile Sprague’s pipits
Presenter: Ryan Fisher
Authors: Ryan J. Fisher;
Stephen K. Davis
There is little information concerning survival during the post-fledging period (i.e., the period between leaving the nest and migration) for many avian species. Consequently, this lack of information hinders management strategies for species recovery, especially for many declining grassland songbirds. Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii), a threatened grassland songbird, prefers to breed in grazed native grasslands, but will also nest in planted hay fields. Whether differences in habitat quality between native grasslands and hay fields could lead to different survival rates of juvenile pipits remains unknown. I initiated a radio-telemetry study in 2004 to document survival of Sprague’s Pipit juveniles (n=55) in the Last Mountain Lake National Wildlife Area and Nokomis PFRA, SK. My objectives were to describe post-fledgling survival in relation to nesting habitat (native grassland and planted hay field), date of fledging, age of the juvenile, body mass, ambient temperature, and daily precipitation. Survival was highest for pipits that fledged from late broods in native grassland and lowest for individuals reared in early broods from both native grasslands and hay fields. In general, daily survival probability (DSP) of pipits in native grasslands was higher than in hay fields (DSPnative = 0.971, DSP hay = 0.857). Age of the fledgling, body mass, ambient temperature, and precipitation had marginal effects on survival. Low post-fledging survival coupled with low nesting success of this species raise concerns regarding the viability of pipits in North America. My study also raises concerns regarding the demographic consequences of pipits nesting in planted hay fields.
Small White Lady’s-slipper stewardship summary - information for landowners and managers
Presenter: Chris Friesen
Authors: Chris Friesen;
Nicole Firlotte;
Jason Greenall
Small White Lady’s-slipper (Cypripedium candidum) is a nationally and provincially Endangered plant. Threats include habitat loss, shrub and invasive species encroachment, thatch accumulation, and changes in soil hydrology. At many sites, the disruption of natural ecological processes makes active management necessary to maintain suitable habitat. When applied at the appropriate time, management techniques such as mowing/haying and prescribed burning can assist in mitigating threats to this species. This poster highlights efforts that the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre is making to provide information to owners and managers of lands supporting Small White Lady’s-slippers to assist them in developing appropriate management and mitigation strategies.
Is Livestock Production for the Birds?: Grassland Songbird Conservation through Grazing Management
Presenter: Allison E. Henderson
Authors: Allison E. Henderson;
Dr. Stephen K. Davis
In Saskatchewan, remaining native prairie supports livestock production and provides important habitat for many grassland songbirds, including those listed under the Species at Risk Act like Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) and McCown’s Longspur (Calcarius mccownii). Native prairie management, in particular grazing management, plays an important role in securing grassland songbird habitat and preventing its further loss and degradation. In our research, we examine how the grazing management decisions that livestock producers make influence grassland songbird habitat and abundance. Our goals are 1) to identify socioeconomic and ecological factors that influence grazing management decisions, 2) to examine ecological relationships between rangeland health and songbird abundance and 3) to identify options for engaging livestock producers in songbird recovery and conservation. We use vegetation measures to assign indices of range health, point count surveys to esti mate grassland songbird abundance and personal face-to-face interviews to gather information from livestock producers. Our research will provide insight into how livestock producers contribute to grassland songbird recovery in south-western Saskatchewan through their grazing management decisions.
Operation Burrowing Owl and Shrubs For Shrikes: Conserving Habitat through Land Stewardship
Presenters: Andrea Kotylak and Jennifer Banning
Authors: Andrea Kotylak;
Jennifer Banning
The stewardship program Operation Burrowing Owl (OBO) was launched in 1987 in response to declining grasslands and Burrowing Owl numbers in southern Saskatchewan. A study of OBO from 1987-1994 demonstrated that voluntary stewardship was effective in conserving habitat and retaining participants. Thus, longevity and success of OBO in engaging rural landowners in stewardship prompted the initiation of Shrubs For Shrikes in 2003 for the Prairie Loggerhead Shrike. Working closely with landowners, these programs conserve grassland and shrub habitat and monitor these species’ populations on lands of participants who had owls/shrikes at the time of joining. Landowners sign a voluntary agreement to maintain habitat by not cultivating or destroying shrubs or shelterbelts and they annually report owl/shrike numbers on their land. Since 1988, OBO has documented an owl population decline of 92% based on landowner reports, with an average annual decline rate of 12%. Participants receive an annual newsletter, an attractive gate sign in recognition of their commitment, and a toolbox of information. While visiting landowners, species-at-risk best management practices are discussed and site-specific management plans are developed with interested landowners to suggest practices that would benefit both the species at risk and the producers’ operations. Funding assistance is available to qualifying landowners to enhance and restore grasslands to improve habitat for Burrowing Owls and Loggerhead Shrikes by enlarging pastures to increase grassland patch size and reduce fragmentation. Since 2000, 121 enhancement projects have resulted in 15,254 acres of cropland seeded to grassland, 55.08 miles of strategic fence, and 12 watering sites established. Landowners who undertake a project join OBO/SFS and participate in owl/shrike monitoring. A pilot evaluation of the habitat enhancement program and its value to owls and grassland birds occurred in 2007 with encouraging results. Currently, 503 landowners participate in OBO and SFS, conserving 159,000 acres of prairie.
Skink Watch: Involving Landowners in Skink Monitoring on Private Land in Southwestern Manitoba
Presenter: Allison Krause Danielsen
Authors: Allison Krause Danielsen;
Pamela Rutherford;
Dr. Nicola Koper
Southwestern Manitoba is home to six squamate reptile species (red-bellied snakes, smooth green snakes, red-sided garter snakes, plains garter snakes, western hognose snakes, and northern prairie skinks). The northern prairie skink is of conservation concern and was listed as Endangered by COSEWIC in 2004; there is limited data in Manitoba for the skink, and for several of the other snake species. Northern prairie skinks and western hognose snakes are limited to sandy habitats, much of which is in Spruce Woods Provincial Park and on the CFB Shilo military base. There is potential, however, for extensive habitat for all squamate reptile species to exist on lands outside the park and the military base, such as privately owned land, land purchased by NGOs such as Nature Conservancy of Canada, and First Nations land. Valuable information on the distribution of these species can be gained through landowners monitoring reptiles on their own properties, particularly as landowners and other groups have shown great interest in skinks on their properties and often take the lead for stewardship. Protocols were developed that are appropriate for different target audiences (e.g. general public, field biologists, website material (SOS website and Herp Atlas), Centre for Indigenous Environmental Resources (CIER), Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC)).
The monitoring protocol will enable groups to take ownership of monitoring reptiles on their own land and will in turn provide more information to researchers for recovery of species at risk. During the summer of 2009, researchers worked with private landowners and NGOs to test and refine the protocol and gain some idea of its usefulness in a practical setting. The protocol project is a preliminary step for research on reptile distribution on private land and landowner stewardship of reptile species at risk.
Managing Transmission Lines for Prairie Plants And Animals
Presenter: Lionel Leston
Authors: Lionel Leston;
Dr. Nicola Koper
Transmission lines could be managed to provide habitat for native prairie species (plants, butterflies, grassland birds, etc.), whose original habitat has been severely reduced. From 2007 - 2009, we conducted abundance surveys of prairie plants, arthropods, and birds along 51 half-km sections of transmission lines within 200 km of Winnipeg, as well as at 3 urban remnant prairies of similar area. These study sites varied in their annual management (mowing and spraying frequency 0 - 2X per year) and in surrounding land uses, all of which are hypothesized to influence the abundance and richness of species that colonize and persist in a given site. For example in 2007 - 2008, butterfly species richness was most strongly and positively correlated with the amount of wooded land within 400 m of transects, whereas prairie birds like Savannah sparrows and Western meadowlarks were most strongly and negatively correlated with that landscape feature. Other prairie birds (Bobolink, Le Conte’s sparrow, Sedge wren, Wilson’s snipe) were found at fewer sites with more grassland and little to no urban land within 400 m. Savannah sparrows were also more abundant at hayed sites, which had more grasshoppers, suggesting that some grassland birds may settle in grassland fragments with more arthropod prey. Native plant species richness was most strongly and negatively correlated to urban land within 400 m, whereas native plant cover was most strongly and negatively correlated to agricultural land within 400 m. Management and land use appear to influence prairie plants and animals in different ways. Thus, multiple transmission line sections with more grassland and less urban land nearby should be managed for prairie species, each varying in management to benefit different species. With these data, I will identify the urban transmission line sections with the highest priority for active restoration and management for prairie wildlife.
An assessment of recovery efforts and outcomes for the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) in Manitoba.
Presenter: Isabel Martinez-Welgan
Authors: Isabel Martinez-Welgan;
Dr. R. Baydack;
Robert Wheeldon
The Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a migratory raptor considered to be “Endangered” in Manitoba and “Threatened” nationally. Low productivity due to eggshell thinning linked to chlorinated hydrocarbons caused a precipitous decline in Peregrine Falcon populations beginning in the 1950’s. By the 1970’s, the anatum subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon had been extirpated from most areas south of 60oN and east of the Rocky Mountains.
Provincial conservation efforts initiated in 1981 were focused primarily on hack and release programs from various urban sites in Manitoba. These programs were successful in releasing Peregrine Falcons; more than 170 as of 2007/08. Data from 2007 confirm that three breeding pairs were identified in the Province that year, two in Winnipeg and one in Brandon. In 2000, a captive breeding facility for Peregrine Falcons was constructed, with the first release taking place in 2005. Approximately 15 Peregrine falcons have been released to date from the Parkland Mews facility, located south of Winnipeg.
The monitoring of dispersed Peregrine Falcons is dependent on actual physical evidence through leg band identifications. Consequently, it is impossible to know the exact number of dispersed falcons which survive to return to potential nesting areas the next year. Although researchers in other regions have determined that falcons will return to the same type of area (urban or rural) from which they were released, they may be located a significant distance from the original dispersal site.
Future research needs include satellite tracking to enable detailed assessments of dispersal and first year survival of Peregrine Falcons produced in Manitoba, and the acquisition of data related to migration and locations of wintering grounds. Long-term monitoring is necessary to assess the success of current conservation efforts, to achieve a change in status from “Endangered” under the Endangered Species Act to “Protected” under the Wildlife Act.
Habitat Selection Of The Eastern Yellow-Bellied Racer (Coluber constrictor) and Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer) In Southern Saskatchewan
Presenter: Jessica Martino
Authors: Jessica Martino;
Ray G. Poulin;
Chris M. Somers
Understanding the habitat requirements of a species is vital for developing an effective recovery or management strategy. The eastern yellow-bellied racer (Coluber constrictor) is a Threatened species in Canada, primarily because its range is restricted to a small area around Grasslands National Park in southern Saskatchewan. There have been no studies published on the ecology of this species in the Canadian prairies, and thus there is little detailed information from which to draft a recovery strategy. The bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer) shares habitat and hibernacula with the racer. The geographic range of the bullsnake is larger than that of the racer but again no ecological studies have been published on this species in Canada and as a consequence, its conservation status is designated as “data deficient”. We employed radio-telemetry to begin identifying important ecological parameters of these two snake species, including habitat selection, movement patterns and den locations. Over two years we tracked 20 racers and 16 bullsnakes from 5 den sites in the Grasslands National Park area. We measured a wide range of habitat features selected by snakes (percent vegetation, maximum vegetation height, distance to nearest burrow, etc.) and these measures will be incorporated into a multivariate habitat selection model. There appears to be a general trend of racers spending their summer in proximity to the Frenchman River as opposed to inhabiting the upland pasture areas. Bullsnakes showed a similar trend, spending time along waterways, but also seemed to prefer habitat in roadside ditches. All snakes avoided black-tailed prairie dog colonies. When completed, the results of this project will be used to inform recovery strategies and help identify critical habitat for these species.
Understanding Urban White-tailed Deer Movement within the Greater Winnipeg Area
Presenter: Erin McCance
Authors: Erin McCance; Dr. Richard Baydack; Dr. David Walker; Dr. Rick Riewe
The Greater Winnipeg Area (GWA) urban white-tailed deer (WTD) population has grown substantially over the last three decades (Hagglund, 2006). Growing WTD populations in heavily human populated areas have led to human-deer conflict and represent a significant human health and safety concern. There has been a substantial increase in the number of deer-vehicle collisions within the GWA, WTD host a number of diseases transmittable to humans and other wildlife, and WTD cause significant property damage. Despite these downfalls, residents of the GWA view the urban WTD population as a valuable resource (McCance, 2009). This poster presents research using GPS and reflector collars to track WTD population movement within the GWA. Gaining a better understanding of urban WTD movement patterns, corridor use, and habitat choices will provide community leaders with invaluable information that will furnish an understanding of the importance of urban wildlife corridors in conserving the deer population and the necessary biodiversity to support urban wildlife species. GIS analysis of deer land use promises to have a major impact on how we manage the population, design roadways, and proactively plan for urban development and infrastructure. Throughout the twentieth century, urbanization and capital expansion have progressively engulfed undeveloped land (Adams, 2006), and yet, today, there is recognition of the implications of this development and a growing concern for the environment, habitat loss, and reduction of global biodiversity (Jones, 2000). The importance of acknowledging ecosystem integrity is becoming increasingly apparent in what Wolch (1999) calls the “zoopolis”, that is, the contemporary metropolis that is populated by both humans and animals, and that must be designed for their co-existence. Since human responsibility to non-human animals can no longer be avoided, it is necessary to develop co-existence principles that recognize this responsibility and that translate into feasible, future-oriented practices in contemporary urban settings.
Crossing the Medicine Line Network
Presenter: Sue Michalsky
Authors: Steve Forrest;
Pat Fargey;
Brian Martin; John Carlson;
Sue Michalsky
Many agencies, conservation organizations, landowners and land managers recognize the ecological importance of the Northern Great Plains ecoregion and the unique suite of natural biodiversity it supports. Spanning some 250,000 square miles, the prairies of the northern United States and southern Canada represent North America’s most expansive tract of natural grassland habitat, and as such is the last, best hope for survival for many imperiled and endemic grassland species.
In recent years there has been increasing recognition of the power of the international boundary between Canada and the US to shape ecosystems and determine the fate of species and natural biological communities. Considerable cooperation now exists among government agencies and conservation groups in the United States and Canada and an integrated international approach is needed if we are to restore and conserve the habitats, species, and ecological processes of the North American prairie.
In 2006, several of the partners involved in the Northern Mixed Grass Transboundary Conservation Initiative formed the Crossing the Medicine Line Network. The goals of the Crossing the Medicine Line Network are:
- To build a broader awareness and forge a deeper commitment to conserve the region’s native biodiversity through the engagement of stakeholders, clarification of conservation priorities and stakeholder interests, development of trans-boundary partnerships, and coordinated program delivery;
- To develop a collaborative environment that effectively balances conservation with the needs of human communities; and,
- To ensure that important conservation advances occur through the action of staff and strategic investments made by the Crossing the Medicine Line Network partners.
Cooperative transboundary initiatives being implemented by Crossing the Medicine Line Network partners include, but are not limited to, regional conservation planning, invasive species management, species at risk management and recovery, grassland bird management and pronghorn migration.
Effects of grazing intensity and years grazed on songbird nesting success in northern mixed-grass prairies
Presenter: Emily Pipher
Authors: Emily Pipher;
Dr. Nicola Koper
Prairie songbirds are declining due to loss of habitat and the removal of natural grassland processes such as historical grazing by bison. Nesting success of songbirds is influenced by vegetation, which can be affected by grazing. Cattle were introduced into Grasslands National Park of Canada using an adaptive management experiment. We used hand-dragging to find nests in 26 plots (each 300- m²) in pastures with grazing intensities ranging from 0-70% biomass removal, which were grazed for 0, 2 or >15 years. We monitored nests of seven songbird species, and present analysis for three. Modified logistic regression indicated a nonlinear effect of grazing intensity on nesting success of Sprague’s pipits, which had lowest success at low grazing intensities, but highest success at moderate intensities. There was a negative correlation between years grazed and nesting success for chestnut-collared longspurs, but a positive correlation with grazing intensity. Nesting success of vesper sparrows, and all species combined, was not influenced by grazing. If the management objective is to maintain songbird diversity, grazing does not influence the quality of nesting habitat. However, if management is aimed toward increasing threatened Sprague’s pipit populations, certain grazing regimes may reduce nesting success, while others may increase it.
Sprague's Pipit and Vesper Sparrow Breeding Success during Pipeline Construction and Clean-up Activity
Presenter: Glenn Sutter
Authors: Lois Pittaway;
Janice Skiffington;
Glenn Sutter;
Steve Davis
Understanding the effects of industrial activity on grassland birds is necessary to ensure that effective protection measures are implemented. Currently, federal and provincial guidelines are in place to recommend restricted activity periods and setback distances for species at risk, including the threatened Sprague’s Pipit. In spring and summer 2009, we studied the appropriateness of the recommended setback distance for Sprague’s Pipit, which recommends that industrial activity does not occur within 200-250 m of an active nest. Nesting success of Vesper Sparrow was also monitored for comparative purposes since these birds occupy similar types of habitat. Field work focused on construction and clean-up activities associated with an Enbridge Pipelines Inc. pipeline that crosses Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba and traverses the northern edge of the Sprague’s Pipit breeding range. Treatment and control plots were established at locations where pipits were detected during preconstruction surveys, with treatment plots being adjacent to the pipeline right-of-way and control plots being 600 m away in similar habitat. In both types of plots, Sprague’s Pipit and Vesper Sparrow nests were located using rope drags and monitored to estimate survivorship. The locations of singing Sprague's Pipit males were mapped to document changes in the size and location of breeding territories. Ambient noise levels were also recorded before, during, and after pipeline activities and compared to the frequency spectra of Sprague’s Pipit and Vesper Sparrow breeding calls. A summary of the results will be presented and discussed.
The Effects of Twice-over Rotation Grazing on the Abundances of Grassland Birds
Presenter: Cristina Ranellucci
Authors: Cristina Ranellucci;
Dr. Nicola Koper
The mixed-grass prairie region of southwestern Manitoba is a hotspot for many endangered grassland birds. Once covering approximately 6,000,000 ha, this region has been degraded to less than a quarter of the historical amounts. Presently, the remaining prairie is primarily used for livestock grazing. We evaluated the potential role of sustainable land management practices, such as rotational grazing, for aiding in conservation of the regional avian community. We surveyed a total of 45 sites to compare the effects land management regimes on the abundances of grassland birds, including: 22 twice-over rotation grazed pastures, 15 continuously grazed pastures, and 8 ungrazed fields. Bird surveys were conducted using 100-m fixed-radius point count plots. In 2008, twice-over rotation grazed pastures had higher species richness per plot than continuously grazed pastures, while ungrazed fields had the lowest species richness. An ANOVA indicated a significant difference among treatments (p=0.08). However, a Fisher’s post-hoc test did not indicate a significant difference between the two grazing regimes, but did indicate a significant difference between grazed and ungrazed sites (α = 0.1). Future analysis will include evaluating the effects of vegetation structure on the occurrences of grassland bird species, and the use of generalized linear mixed-models to accommodate for non-normal and clustered distributions of species within pastures.
Does Buffalograss need Buffalo?
Presenter: Diana B. Robson
Authors: Diana Robson ; Vernon Harms;
Darcy Henderson;
Candace Neufeld;
Chris Friesen
Buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides) was designated a “threatened” species in 2001 by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). This species is rare as it is only found along the Souris River Valley in southeastern Saskatchewan, and the Souris and Blind River Valleys in southwestern Manitoba. Buffalograss occurs on relatively infertile, clayey, somewhat sodic soils in shallow coulees and valley floors. As Buffalograss is a poor competitor with tall grasses, it is generally restricted to areas being grazed. Recent survey work suggests that there are between 1 and 4.2 million Buffalograss clones occupying approximately 0.032 km2 in Saskatchewan and 4.07 km2 in Manitoba. Threats to this species include coal strip mining, invasive exotic species, a lack of grazing and/or fire, flooding, cultivation, road construction or upgrades, urban expansion and clay pit mining.
Ecology of the Rare Western Silvery Aster
Presenter: Diana B. Robson
Author: Diana B. Robson
Western Silvery Aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum) is a nationally threatened plant found in southern Manitoba and Ontario. Preliminary research indicated that low seed production might be negatively affecting this species. Research was conducted in 2008 and 2009 to (a) determine the frequency and constancy of insect visitors, (b) determine if pollen is limiting seed production, and (c) determine if clipping and/or fertilizing can be used to stimulate flower production. Insect visitation rates to Western Silvery Aster and the more common co-flowering plant Showy Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) were similar but the constancy of the visitors was lower to the former species. In a pollination experiment, seed production was significantly higher when flowers were pollinated by hand. None of the treatments applied (e.g. clipping, fertilizing with nitrogen and both), significantly increased height, the number of capitula per stem or seed production over the control; clipping actually decreased height and capitula production. In summary, pollen limitation and possibly low overall soil nutrient levels are hampering seed production but not light.
Population Connectivity as a Critical Factor in Prairie-Chicken Sustainability
Presenter: Jen Ruch
Authors: Jen Ruch;
Dr. John Toepfer
The purpose of this poster is to encourage new and insightful discussion around the biggest threat to prairie-chicken conservation - the loss of grassland habitat which disconnects local populations, threatening the species as a whole. Connective corridors that enable the birds to move meaningful distances and distribute their genes are of critical demographic importance in the long-term viability of this species - and by long-term we mean over the course of centuries. And so it follows that the preservation of strategically located habitat is the primary challenge in prairie-chicken conservation.
Research indicates that local populations tend toward extirpation when habitat quality is reduced and predation increases. And although these and other limiting factors contribute to overall species decline, the critical limiting factor for species extinction - the ultimate extirpation - appears to be the loss of usable space, or habitat quantity. This is further illustrated in geologic time where random and unpredictable natural events have extirpated a species locally, and yet it continues to persist by way of recolonization.
And so it should follow that effectual concern for a local population is really only reasonable if that population has the opportunity to ultimately sustain itself via the natural movement of birds and their genes.
Which leads us to the question, how can we assist - or at the very least not inhibit - the chickens in their movement? The answer is likely by maintaining functional habitat corridors that offer and lead to usable space.
The greater prairie-chicken is capable of choosing usable space and its distribution is only limited by our grassland management strategies. At what point will we begin to use our foresight, predictions and logic to prevent dangerous declines in numbers so that a species might be able to “save itself?”
Large-scale abiotic influences on Burrowing Owl home-range habitat selection in the Canadian Prairies
Presenter: A.F. Joy (Manalo) Stevens
Authors: A.F. Joy (Manalo) Stevens;
Erin M. Bayne;
Troy I. Wellicome
Understanding species-environment relationships through the use of statistical habitat models is important for developing wildlife conservation strategies. Such studies are typically conducted on a small geographic scale (hundreds of square kilometres) resulting in a relatively small range in environmental variation. Models from local studies are often used to predict the suitability of other unsampled regions. However, without considering the large-scale processes structuring spatial patterns in the species distribution the value of these models can be questionable. We examined home-range habitat selection by Burrowing Owls across the entire mixed prairie grassland region of western Canada to determine whether selection for biotic factors changes across abiotic gradients.
Specifically, we classified 37 explanatory variables into five categories (geography, land-use, grassland fragmentation, soil, and climate), created models for each set of variables, and evaluated the predictive ability of each model. We then examined interaction effects to determine if the relationship between vegetation variables and the probability of owl home-range selection varied within large-scale abiotic criteria. Our results show that soil and climate produce the most predictive models of Burrowing Owl home-range selection at this scale and create unique habitat conditions for owls which are independent of vegetation. This study provides new insight into Burrowing Owl habitat requirements, and strengthens the case for the consideration of large-scale geographic gradients when prioritizing areas for conservation.
Rare Plant Rescue: Identifying and Conserving Habitat for Rare Plants in Saskatchewan
Presenter: Sarah Vinge
Author: Sarah Vinge
Rare Plant Rescue (RPR) is a land stewardship program that works with landowners for the conservation of plant species at risk and their habitat. Most of the rarest Saskatchewan plants are found on the province’s remaining natural grasslands, a great deal of which is privately owned and managed. RPR contacts private landowners having suitable habitat for permission to conduct targeted searches for rare plants. Searches are generally focused in areas having historical records of species occurrences, but other areas with suitable habitat are also searched. Landowners with suitable habitat are invited to join RPR, and when a new occurrence is found, RPR maintains a working relationship with the landowner to monitor the population. Both searches and monitoring are conducted following standardized methodology refined in 2008.
Participating landowners sign a voluntary agreement to conserve the habitat; this is a first step towards legal protection and landowners are encouraged to consider a conservation easement. RPR landowners are educated about species at risk, beneficial management practices, and threats to the land and receive recognition for their stewardship through an annual Stewards of Saskatchewan newsletter and personalized gate sign (those with species occurrences) or certificate (those with habitat but no occurrences).
In 2008 and 2009, RPR staff visited over 40 landowners (15 have joined the program so far) and located 22 previously unknown sites having plant species at risk (7 with Small-flowered Sand-verbena, 3 with Western Spiderwort, 4 with Hairy Prairie-clover, and 8 with Buffalograss). Monitoring was conducted on 14 sites (of a possible 39) in 2009. Other species on RPR sites include Slender Mouse-ear-cress, Small Lupine, Prairie Dunewort, Beaked Annual Skeletonweed, Smooth Goosefoot, and Bur Ragweed. RPR has gained 59 participating landowners conserving over 27,000 acres of rare plant habitat since it began in 2002.
The Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan: Embracing a New Approach For 2009-2013
Presenter: Michelle Yaskowich
Author: Michelle Yaskowich
Since 1998, the Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan (SK PCAP) has brought together diverse organizations representing producers, industry, provincial & federal governments, environmental non-government organizations and research & educational institutions working towards a common vision of native prairie and species at risk conservation in Saskatchewan. The PCAP Partnership, which has grown from 16 to 27 partners, has proven to be an important forum for guiding conservation and management efforts within Saskatchewan's Prairie Ecozone as it reduces duplication, increases communication and coordination amongst partners, addresses gaps in native prairie research, activities and programming, guides the development of programs and policies that reward sustainable use and promote ecological health and integrity including species at risk recovery, and improves public understanding of native prairie and species at risk.
After ten years of collaborative prairie conservation experience through the implementation of two five- year action plans (1998-2003 and 2003-2008), the Partnership decided to embrace a new approach over its next five years. Rather than a five-year action plan, the Partnership developed a five-year Framework for Action upon which annual work plans are built. The Framework sets out a renewed Vision, Mission and Guiding Principles for the Partnership including three goals and five priority focus areas.
Focus groups, including other stakeholders, are formed each year around these focus areas and are responsible for developing, reporting on and revising the annual work plans. The deliverables outlined in the annual work plans are realistic and can be achieved within each given year allowing PCAP to take small attainable steps towards its overall goal.
Over the next five years, the PCAP Partnership will deliver innovative and critical prairie conservation activities that grow out of the unique capacity provided by a partnership such as this that will benefit the social, cultural, economic and ecological fabric of Saskatchewan.
The genus Allium: Conservation status in the Canadian Prairie Provinces
Presenter: Hyeok Jae Choi
Authors: Hyeok Jae Choi; J. Hugo Cota-Sánchez
With over 700 species, Allium is widely distributed in the northern hemisphere, especially in the temperate regions of Eurasia, but it also found in the southern hemisphere in regions of Africa and Central and South America. Approximately 1/6 of the world’s Allium diversity is represented in North America, that is, about 96 species, 12 of which are known in Canada. Here we present a revision of the taxonomy of Allium in the Canadian Prairie Provinces based on the examination herbarium specimens and field studies. A brief discussion of the taxonomic treatment is provided along with descriptions, distribution maps, new illustrations, information on nomenclatural types, and ecological data, but the main focus is on the rarity and conservation status of the species investigated. Five taxa in four species and one variety are recognized: A. cernuum, A. geyeri var. tenerum, A. schoenoprasum, A. stellatum, and A. textile. In this study A. geyeri var. geyeri, reported for Alberta and Saskatchewan and ranked by the Nature Conservancy provincial (“S”) rarity rankings as S2 and S1, respectively, is excluded from the list of rare species of the Prairie Provinces because it comes from misidentification of an herbarium specimen, whose identity is A. textile. Therefore, we recommend its exclusion from the Canadian flora. Allium tricoccum is also regarded as an introduced, non-native species to Manitoba. The rarity and conservation status of Allium in the Canadian Prairie Provinces is as follows:
- A. schoenoprasum, listed as S2 in Saskatchewan, but according to our findings it is also rare in Manitoba
- A. geyeri var. tenerum, whose distribution is restricted to the Waterton National Park areas of Alberta and listed as S1, is the rarest Allium species, and
- A. cernuum is reassessed as a S1S2 rare species in Saskatchewan in connection with the south-western distributional habitat.
The Prairie and Parkland Marsh Monitoring Program
Presenter: Kiel Drake
Author: Kiel Drake
Efforts to protect birds and their habitats are being carried out in each country of North America, but significant gaps still exist, and many bird populations continue to decline. The Prairie Habitat Joint Venture (PHJV) Implementation Plan 2007-2012 affirms that we lack an ability to set habitat conservation objectives for waterbirds, landbirds, and shorebirds because of a lack of information on species distribution and habitat associations. In Prairie Canada, we currently lack an ability to establish population objectives that are explicitly linked to habitat. This project seeks to link the occurrence of wetland-associated migratory birds to habitat characteristics at varying levels of spatial scale (i.e., marsh-specific to landscape-level habitat attributes); the overall goal being to enable the development of spatially-explicit Decision Support System (DSS) models that will serve efforts to conserve and manage habitats for wetland-associated birds within the PHJV delivery area. During summer 2009, bird and habitat data were collected at over 450 marshes located within 27 study sites (AB 19; MB 5; SK 3). To date, fieldwork has been delivered by employing seasonal technicians, but we aspire to deploy a delivery model that includes efforts from volunteers who will assist with data collection. The current phase of this project is planned to continue with field-based data collection through spring and summers of 2010-2012. This habitat-based study also serves as the initial step in developing a sustainable long-term monitoring program for wetland-associated birds within the PHJV area.
Winter Destinations and Ecology of 'Canadian Burrowing Owls' in a Changing Landscape
Presenter: Geoff Holroyd and Helen Trefry
Authors: Geoff Holroyd; Helen Trefry; Enrique Valdez; Jason Duxbury
The winter destination and ecology of Burrowing Owls (Athene cunicularia) that breed in Canada was unknown when this study was initiated. We identified the winter locations of owls using aerial telemetry searches of south Texas and the Gulf Coast lowlands and central Mexico for signals from VHF transmitters that were attached to Burrowing Owls in Canada; using stable isotope analysis; and using light data loggers. We have combined these records with all band recoveries to provide an up to date picture of what is known about winter distribution of 'Canadian' Burrowing Owls. We studied the over winter survival, diet and habitat of the owls in one study area in south Texas, and two in central Mexico. The winter day time roosts used by the owls included vegetation, natural burrows, arroyos and wood piles. Winter habitats around roosts were also highly variable, much less open than breeding habitat in Canada but always included at least 35% low vegetation within 1 km of roosts. In the winter predators included barn owls and short-eared owls. Another owl died due to earth moving equipment. The return rate of owls with attached data loggers was very low but the one recovered indicated that Alberta nesting owls may migrate further west than owls from Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Annual Dispersal and Implications for Conservation of Burrowing Owls in Canada
Presenter: Geoff Holroyd and Helen Trefry
Authors: Geoff Holroyd; Jason Duxbury; Helen Trefry
In Canada, the western Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia hypugaea) is endangered and its numbers are reduced to fewer than 1000 pairs in Canada. The number of breeding pairs declined at about 22% per year through the 1990s even though over 700 landowners voluntarily protected over 37,000 hectares of grassland habitat. Burrowing Owl populations are also in decline in other parts of western North America. One of the factors implicated in the Burrowing Owl’s (Athene cunicularia) decline is its apparent low recruitment. Return rates for banded birds are about 6% for hatch year owls and 30% for breeding owls. However banding studies are limited by the ability of observers to detect bands away from their study sites. Stable-isotope analysis provides a technique to investigate annual dispersal. We compared the stable-isotope signature of feathers collected from breeding adults to those collected from nestlings across western North America. Annual breeding dispersal distance for owls was approximately 400 km indicating many owls were dispersing beyond the boundaries of study areas where owls were banded. Our comparison of the origin of owls breeding in the Canadian Great Plains with those in adjacent northern states indicated that net emigration of owls from Canada approximates the decline of the Canadian population. High rates of dispersal maybe an evolutionary response to dynamic prairie ecology or to the advent of irrigated agriculture as postulated by US researchers. The implications of these findings on burrowing owl conservation will be discussed. We also recommend implementation of the Commission on Environmental Cooperation’s Conservation Action Plan for the Burrowing Owl through future of cooperation of agencies in Mexico, USA and Canada.
Suitable habitat distribution of the hognose snake in Manitoba using GIS technologies
Presenter: Chelsea Jaeger
Authors: Chelsea Jaeger; Pamela Rutherford; Dion Wiseman
The distribution of the western hognose snake (Heterodon nasicus nasicus) in Manitoba is not well defined. Manitoba is the most northern and eastern portion of its range, yet due to its secretive nature the overall distribution and range here is unknown. It is known that this species shows a preference to sandy soils where native grasslands remain, and is found close to water which allows them to burrow and find prey. Conversion of these habitats to cultivation and aspen parkland (as a consequence of fire suppression) has contributed to a significant decline in available habitat for this species. The purpose of this project is to apply GIS technologies to map the suitable habitat distribution of the western hognose snake in Manitoba. The suitability map will be designed using a habitat suitability model for northern prairie skinks (Plestiodon septentrionalis), originally created by Nick Cairns and Andrea Dransfield, with modifications for the habitat preferences of the snakes taken into account. Western hognose snakes are known to inhabit similar habitats as the prairie skink (and will prey on them), thus the habitat suitability model for the skinks will provide a reasonable initial model. GPS locations of captured snakes will be gathered from field captures (2006-09) and historic records from the Manitoba Conservation Data Centre. This data will be used to judge the effectiveness of the model. The final outcome will produce an accurate habitat suitability distribution map for the western hognose snake which contains all the current known snake locations. This model will be used in the determination of a conservation status and future protection of the western hognose snake.
Yellow Rail Habitat Selection in South-Eastern Manitoba
Presenter: Kristen Martin
Authors: Kristen Martin; Dr. Nicola Koper
Yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) populations continue to be threatened by extensive wetland loss on both their breeding and wintering grounds. Yellow rails are often found in wetlands dominated by sedges and with low water levels, but the influence of other structural habitat factors, such as wetland size, amount of cattails or woody vegetation, and surrounding land use, is not well understood. In 2010-2011, I will conduct a multi-scale habitat analysis to evaluate yellow rail habitat at the local and landscape levels in south-eastern Manitoba. I will conduct call-playback surveys for yellow rails at 200 wetlands. In 2010, study wetlands will consist of randomly selected wetlands in addition to all known sites within the study area at which yellow rails have been previously detected. Local wetland habitat characteristics will be evaluated through measurements of water depth, maximum vegetation height, canopy density, overall wetland size, and vegetation species community. Landscape level habitat will be evaluated through measurements of land cover types (e.g amount of wetlands, trees) and land use types (e.g grazed, cropland) within 3 km2 of each study wetland, using GIS. Data will be analyzed using generalized linear mixed models, and the best-fitting model will be selected using Akaike’s Information Criterion. In the second year, we will test the efficiency and accuracy of our model by selecting wetlands, in the same study area, based on suitable and non-suitable wetland habitat according to the best-fitting model. The habitat suitability model developed in this study will be useful for identifying new yellow rail habitat and predicting critical yellow rail habitat on which conservation efforts should be focused in south-eastern Manitoba.
A new technology to determine Burrowing Owl critical foraging habitat.
Presenter: Alan Marsh|
Authors: Alan Marsh; Erin Bayne; Troy Wellicome
The Burrowing Owl has been listed as endangered in Canada since 1995. Efforts to increase the population focus, in part, on creating habitats with tall grass because these habitats support high abundances of the small mammal species consistently eaten by B. owls. However, high prey abundance does not necessarily translate into optimal foraging habitat if the vegetative structure precludes prey detection or capture. Previous research focused on identifying the habitats in which owls forage. However, data acquisition was via the use of radio telemetry or dataloggers, both of which acquired single locations at largely-spaced intervals. Conclusions about the owls’ use of, and behaviour at, these points (e.g., flying, perching, roosting, foraging, etc.) are assumed, as conclusions about behaviour cannot be inferred from a single location. Thus, links between behaviour and habitat, or habitat conditions, are ambiguous. My research focuses on identifying precisely where burrowing owls capture their prey. I use new dataloggers that acquire a location, accurate to <5m, every second, allowing me to follow a foraging owl’s precise paths. Used in conjunction with Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), which film prey deliveries at the nests, I can pinpoint where the owl captured the species delivered. I can then determine the habitat type and conditions at the capture site. To date, 41 small mammal capture sites have been located. Preliminary analysis indicates owls are capturing prey in a variety of vegetation types, but consistently in areas of low vegetative height/density, which contradicts the reasoning behind current vegetation-enhancement strategies. Further analysis is needed to understand the relationship between height of grass and the effect this has on prey sources, as well as on prey capture.
Pronghorn habitat selection and movement in the Northern Sagebrush Steppe
Presenter: Paul F. Jones
Authors: Mike Suitor; Mike Grue; Cormack Gates; Dale Eslinger; Kim Morton; Darren Bender
Among the diversity of prairie wildlife, pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) are the most specialized and representative large mammal in the Grasslands of North America. They are not typically found in any other natural regions of Alberta and are considered to be an obligate grassland species. Alberta Conservation Association (ACA), sought to bring issues surrounding pronghorn conservation to the forefront in 2000, which resulted in the formation of a pronghorn working group and the initiation of a collaborative research program between ACA, University of Calgary, and Alberta Fish and Wildlife. Seventy-four female pronghorn were captured between December 2003 and March 2006 and fitted with a Lotek GPS collar. Using habitat associations in the fawning period we classified pronghorn into one of three groups: Native Prairie, Agriculture or Mixed. Approximately 41% of our animals used native landscapes year round, 11% used cultivated landscapes year round, while the remainder used a mixture of native and cultivation. Approximately 38% of our collared animals were migratory, moving on average 450 km round trip annually. One collared female moved 830 km in a 6 month period, the longest recorded migration for the species. Our research also documented the negative impacts of barbed-wire fences on pronghorn, such as barrier effects, hair removal and tissue scaring. The above research and management actions have catalyzed further research in Saskatchewan and Montana to describe movement corridors, barriers, and the effect of various land uses on pronghorn’s seasonal requirements throughout the Northern Sagebrush Steppe.
Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve: Providing Habitat for Protected and Provincially Rare Species
Presenter: C. Borkowsky
Author: C. Borkowsky
The establishment of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve in 1989 secured some of the highest quality and largest parcels of tall grass prairie remaining in the province. Shortly after securement by either Nature Manitoba (formerly Manitoba Naturalist Society) or Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation, seasonal staff began inventory efforts to document the various floral and faunal species in the area. With the addition of the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Preserve has grown in size to nearly 5,000 hectares and so to has the list of species. To date, over 900 species have been documented for the area, with nine species protected under the federal Species at Risk Act and six species by Manitoba’s Endangered Species Act. The Preserve provides refuge for many provincially rare species, some of which have very limited distributions.
Recent Successes in Maximizing Piping Plover Productivity in Manitoba
Presenter: Alexandra Froese
Authors: Alexandra Froese; Ken De Smet
In Manitoba, Piping Plover populations have declined from more than 130 adults in the 1980s to under 15 adult detections in recent years. Breeding habitat conditions have deteriorated due to flooding (high water levels exacerbated by high winds) and vegetation encroachment at former nesting sites on Lake Manitoba and Lake Winnipeg. Other threats to nesting plovers in Manitoba include human disturbance (pedestrian and ATV traffic).
The National Recovery plan has specific objectives for each province. Prairie population criteria requires each province to maintain a median chick fledging rate of greater than 1.25 chicks/pair/year to achieve minimum provincial population targets. In Manitoba, the targeted population level is 120 plovers, a level that equates to known populations from the mid-1980s.
Due to sharp declines throughout Manitoba, a Piping Plover Recovery Implementation Group (PPRIG) and Piping Plover Stewardship Program (PPSP) were formed in 2002. These groups strive to protect the provincial adult Piping Plover population and maximize plover productivity in Manitoba. Specific tasks overseen by these groups include: a) monitoring and research; b) habitat management and protection; c) productivity enhancement; and d) increased communication and public/volunteer participation. In recent years, Manitoba’s Piping Plover productivity has increased substantially, with four of the last five years surpassing the national fledgling rate goal. Other highlights include increased chick survival rates and nesting activity at restored habitat sites, and increased volunteer involvement. Ongoing evaluation of project objectives by both PPRIG and PPSP has positively contributed to project improvements and increased success in meeting productivity targets for Piping Plovers in Manitoba.
