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Title: Amphibians and Fish Within Wetlands of the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve Region 2012-13
Year: 2014
Author(s): Barbara Beasley
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
We gathered information about the distribution of two species of aquatic-breeding amphibians. Red-legged frogs (Rana aurora) and Northwestern Salamanders (Ambystoma gracile) relative to the presence of native species of fish, in particular Coho (Oncorhynchus kisutch), Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki clarki) and Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in natural and restored/created freshwater wetland habitats. The Red-legged Frog and Cutthroad Trout are blue-listed species in British Columbia and the former is also federally listed as a Species of Special Concern. Our ultimate aim is to gather information that will help us learn how to manage and restore wetlands in ways that provide productive habitat for both fish and amphibians.
We focused our project at wetlands within and adjacent to the Lost Shoe watershed on the Kennedy Flats near Ucluelet, BC. Many fish streams in the Kennedy Flats damaged by poor logging practices in the past are undergoing restoration. Improving fish access to Swan Lake, a 4-ha wetland that currently has no fish, has been a controversial project because Swan Lake has one of the highest counts of breeding Red-legged Frogs recorded in BC. It has been suggested that restoration of fish access to Swan Lake will cause a reduction in the breeding population of Red-legged Frogs and other amphibian species, but the magnitude of the reduction is unknown. Our objectives were to (1) collect baseline data on the abundance of egg masses and larvae of Red-legged Frogs and Northwestern Ssalamanders at Swan Lake to compare to abundance patterns after fish return in the future, (2) compare the relative abundance of egg masses and larvae of Red-legged Frog and other amphibians in wetlands with and without fish, and (3) document water quality variables that could limit the abundance or duration of fish presence in Swan Lake and other wetlands.
Title: CWFS Beach Blitz Targets Japanese Knotweed
Year: 2014
Author(s): Andrew Bailey
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
none
Title: Invasive species invading Tofino; attack planned; CWFS help sought
Year: 2014
Author(s): Andrew Bailey
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
none
Title: Tla-o-qui-aht Declares Potential Mine Site a Tribal Park
Year: 2014
Author(s):
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
none
Title: Kennedy Watershed Restoration Project
Year: 2014
Author(s): Jessica Hutchinson; Lily Burke; Warren Warttig
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
The Kennedy Flats Watershed is located in Clayoquot Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. Much of the watershed was logged between 1950 and 1980. Logging practices of the time were not designed to protect wildlife or fish habitat, and as a result many of the streams in the area have reduced fish access, poor water quality, and lack the necessary characteristics to support healthy and diverse wildlife populations. Central Westcoast Forest Society (CWFS) initiated the Kennedy Watershed Restoration Project in 1994 to address the conditions affecting wildlife and wild salmon productivity. Since that time, CWFS restoration crews have been working to restore the hydrological and ecological functions of the watershed. ...
Title: Eelgrass monitoring and research in Clayoquot Sound
Year: 2013
Author(s): Josie Osborne; Caron Olive
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
Purposes: (1) provide background on the importance of eelgrass ecosystems and why eelgrass is a suitable ecosystem indicator; (2) review and identify key threats to eelgrass ecosystems in Clayoquot Sound through literature search and interviews with local experts and residents; (3) review and provide a synopsis of past and current eelgrass releated reseach and monitoring; (4) make recommendations to complete past projects and for future projects in eelgrass research and monitoring
Title: West Coast Nature Notes: Wickaninnish dunes setting for war on alien species
Year: 2013
Author(s): Andrew Bailey
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
none
Title: Does Sex Matter? Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Cougar-Human Conflict in British Columbia
Year: 2013
Author(s): K. J. Teichman; B. Cristescu; S.E. Nielsen
Type: Journal Article
Description:
Wildlife-human conflicts occur wherever large carnivores overlap human inhabited areas. Conflict mitigation can be facilitated by understanding long-term dynamics and examining sex-structured conflict patterns. Predicting areas with high probability of conflict helps focus management strategies in order to proactively decrease carnivore mortality. We investigated the importance of cougar (Puma concolor) habitat, human landscape characteristics and the combination of habitat and human features on the temporal and spatial patterns of cougar-human conflicts in British Columbia. Conficts (n=1,727; 1978-2007) involved similar numbers of male and female cougars with conflict rate decreasing over the past decade. Conflicts were concentrated within the southern part of the province with the most conflicts per unit area occurring on Vancouver island. For both sexes, the most supported spatial models for the most recent (1998-2007) conflicts contained both human and habitat variables. Conflicts were more likely to occur close to roads, at intermediate elevations and far from the northern edge of the cougar distribution range in British Columbia. Male cougar conflicts were more likely to occur in areas of intermediate human density. Unlike cougar conflicts in other regions, cattle density was not a signficiant predictor of conflict location. With human populations expanding, conflicts are expected to increase. Conservation tools, such as the maps predicting conflict hotspots from this study, can help focus management efforts to decrease carnivore-human conflict.
Title: Long Distance Migrants
Year: 2013
Author(s): Adrian Dorst
Type: Magazine article
Description:
none
Title: Information in Support of the Identification of Critical Habitat for Transient Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) off the West Coast of Canada.
Year: 2013
Author(s): Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)
Type: Report (published)
Description:
none
Title: The persistence and stability of fish assemblages within eelgrass meadows (Zostera marina) on the Pacific coast of Canada
Year: 2013
Author(s): Cliff Robinson, Marine Protected Areas Research Group, UVic; Jennifer Yakimishyn, Pacific Rim National Parks Reserve
Type: Journal Article
Description:
The persistence and stability of fish assemblages found in 34 eelgrass (Zostera marina) meadows along the British Columbia coast was examined from 2004 to 2011. Assemblage persistence (nontrending species composition) and assemblage stability (constancy in abundance over time) were assessed using a time-lag regression method that tests for temporal turnover within short time series. Overall, 85 percent of the fish assemblages persisted, and 80 percent of the assemblages exhibited stability in abundance over the 8-year study. Environmental conditions in 33 of 34 meadows did not change substantially over the 8 years, and the low interannual variability may have contributed to the high persistence and stability of the fish assemblages. The lack of temporal turnover in relatively undisturbed eelgrass fish assemblage properties is a critical element for effective monitoring of coastal ecosystem integrity.
Title: Park looks to locals in war on invasive plants
Year: 2012
Author(s): Andrew Bailey
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
"Pacific Rim National Park Reserve is seeking volunteers to assist with removing invasive plant species from the area."
Title: Dangerous eyesore spun into productive habitat
Year: 2012
Author(s): Andrew Bailey
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
"An off-channel restoration project off Highway 4 near Lost Shoe Creek is expected to reach completion this week bringing 200 metres of wetlands habitat to the West Coast's salmon and amphibian populations."
Title: Attention on the Atleo River
Year: 2012
Author(s): Uu-a-thluk
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
"The Atleo River is receiving some much-needed attention thanks to a partnership between Ahousaht First Nation, Mainstream Canada, Uu-a-thluk (NTC Fisheries), and the Central Westcoast Forest Society. Late last month, the partners hosted a course for people interested in learning how to assess watershed habitat. Ten people (including six Nuu-chah-nulth-aht) took part. Now two of those six are working with biologists from the society to assess the state of the Atleo River."
Title: Eelgrass and fish assemblage properties as indicators of biotic integrity in the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve.
Year: 2012
Author(s): Cliff Robinson; Jennifer Yakimishyn
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
The conservation of biological diversity within the Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve (CSBR) is a key
element needed to drive the production of ecosystem services for long-term sustainable use by local
communities. The main objective of this study was to develop a simple framework for the Clayoquot Biosphere
Trust (CBT) to assess fish diversity in eelgrass meadows using a multimetric approach. Eelgrass (Zostera marina)
was chosen as a focal habitat because it is globally considered to be one of the most ecologically important
coastal habitats providing a variety of commercially, recreational and ecologically important fish species with
outstanding feeding and growing potential, and shelter from many piscivorous and avian predators.
This study evaluated three eelgrass metrics (water column nitrate concentration, leaf area index, and
epiphyte load) and 12 metrics describing fish assemblage species composition, assemblage abundance,
proportion of indicator species groups (e.g., fishery species), nursery function, and trophic function. The
abundance of one resident iconic species, the Bay pipefish, was also considered. Metric values for eelgrass and
fish assemblages were determined for 6 meadows sampled by the CBT in 2008 and 2011, and compared to
metric values derived for 22 meadows sampled in Clayoquot Sound (CS) by Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
from 2004-2012. The framework allows for evaluation of eelgrass and fish assemblage metrics by comparing
CBT meadow values to the distribution of natural variability observed in metric values from 114 observations
made elsewhere in Clayouqot Sound. If 3of 12 fish metrics (one quarter) for each CBT meadow fell below the
10th percentile of the 114 CS observations then potential impairment in the fish assemblage was considered.
Overall, two major conclusions were made from this analysis and can contribute to CBT vital signs
monitoring. First as of 2011, the 6 CBT meadows appear healthy because none of the eelgrass metric values
were found near the thresholds for potential impairment. Second, five out of six fish assemblages appeared in
good condition in 2011, but CBT Meadow Bawden Bay had 3 out of 12 fish metrics fall below threshold values
and it should be re-sampled to confirm for potential impairment. Overall, the limited eelgrass sampling by CBT
has demonstrated that meadows are healthy and likely functioning within natural variability.
Two major recommendations were made: 1) continue to sample the 6 CBT meadows to build a long
term understanding of temporal variability in fish diversity, and 2) map eelgrass distribution and continue to
sample fish assemblages in CSBR to better describe and understand the spatial variability in meadow structure
and function. Overall, the framework presented will aid the CBT in monitoring the vital signs of fish diversity in
ecologically important eelgrass ecosystems.
Title: Kennedy Watershed Restoration Project
Year: 2012
Author(s): Lily Burke; Jessica Hutchinson, Central Westcoast Forest Society; Warren Warttig
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
none
Title: Sea otter pros and cons
Year: 2012
Author(s): Andrew Bailey
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
none
Title: Marine Debris as a Global Environmental Problem
Year: 2011
Author(s): Richard C. Thompson; Bruce E. La Belle; Hindrik Bouwman; Lev Neretin
Type: Report (published)
Description:
Document focused on sources of plastic marine debris that contaminate marine habitats worldwide.
Title: Habitat heterogeneity in eelgrass fish assemblage diversity and turnover
Year: 2011
Author(s): Clifford Robinson; Jennifer Yakimishyn; Philip Dearden
Type: Journal Article
Description:
Maintaining habitat diveristy and heterogeneity are key ecological elements of marine spatial planning. It is often assumed that patches of the same habitat harbour similar biological diversity. However, if habitat heterogeneity is high then the efficacy of habitats as surrogates of species diversity is weakened."
Title: Restoring the Balance for Climate and Species
Year: 2011
Author(s): Jens Wieting, Sierra Club BC
Type: Brochure
Description:
none
Title: Wetland surveys for breeding amphibians within the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve Region 2008-2011.
Year: 2011
Author(s): Barbara A. Beasley
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
The goal of this project is to protect the integrity of local wetland ecosystems within the Clayoquot Biosphere Reserve Region over time. These habitats provide a variety of ecological services and support amphibian species listed as being "at risk" within Canada. This project will determine the local status of Red-legged Frogs (Rana aurora) and Western Toads (Bufo boreas) and use fluctuations in their populations, as well as Northwestern Salamanders (Ambystoma gracile), as barometers of the health of our wetland ecosystems. Amphibians are good indicators of ecosystem intergrity becuase they are particularly sensitive to changes in water quality and quantity, and they are an integral part of the food webs within wetlands and surrounding forests. Habitat destruction, highway traffic, pollution, introduced Bullfrogs, and disease may reduce amphians populations. Sharing information on how these threats influence the status of local populations will help promote stewardship of wetland ecosystems in the region.
The project objectives area:
1. To survey freshwater wetlands and monitor the breeding populations of two species at risk, the Red-legged Frog, the Western Toad, and a third species, the Northwestern Salamander, in and around Ucluelet, Tofino, and the Long Beach Unit of Pacific Rim National Park Resrve (PRNPR).
2. To describe vegetation, hydrology and surrounding conditions, of the wetlands.
3. To do surveillance for introduced Bullfrogs.
4. To provide opportunities for local youth and adults to learn skills involved in surveying amphibians and doing Bullfrog surveillance at wetlands.
5. To share information with local planners, government agencies, community leaders, landowners, and the general public in an effort to help maintain the ecological value of local wetlands, and the species at risk they support. ...
Title: Writers Atwood, Gibson Help Raise Carnivore Awareness
Year: 2010
Author(s): Parks Canada
Type: Newspaper Article
Description:
none
Title: Kennedy Watershed Restoration Project 2010
Year: 2010
Author(s): Jessica Hutchinson; Warren Warttig; Dave Clough
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
none
Title: Kennedy Watershed Restoration Project Staghorn, Kootowis, Sandhill, Twin Rivers and Lost Shoe Creeks
Year: 2008
Author(s): Jessica Hutchinson; Lily McLean; Warren Warttig; Dave Clough
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
none
Title: Black-tailed Deer ecology in and around Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Year: 2007
Author(s): Christian Engelstoft, Alula Biological Consulting
Type: Report (unpublished)
Description:
This report reviews published literature as well as governmental reports that pertain to deer studies on Vancouver Island for use towards building a habitat model based on satellite imagery.
Objectives:
1) Provide an overview of deer ecology
2) Determine Black-tailed Deer density in different forest seral stages on the west coast of Vancouver Island based on literature review