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Master of Science in Ecological Restoration Applied Research Projects
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- Geochemical and biological response of an intertidal ecosystem to localized restoration efforts
- Geochemical and biological attributes of three intertidal areas in the Squamish Estuary with different levels of disturbance (low, medium, and high) were assessed to determine short-term ecosystem responses to localized restoration efforts conducted one year previously on a former log handing site. Sediment and macroinvertebrate variables were analyzed among sites to characterize the ecosystems response and provide insight on the nature and process of an assisted successional trajectory. Invertebrate composition and biomass were lowest on the site with the highest level of disturbance. The high disturbance site also contained the highest percentage of fine sand (0.0067 mm to 0.25 mm). This confirms that in the short term there are distinct site responses to disturbance and ameliorative restoration efforts – even in a highly dynamic estuarine environment. The medium site contained more invertebrates than the low disturbance site indicating that something other than localized disturbance is affecting the invertebrate community on the low site. All sites exhibited a less-rich and less diverse invertebrate community than that of historical records (circa. 1970-1980). Invertebrate community in the east delta today is more typical of estuarine environments with higher salinity levels - which indicates more widespread levels of disturbance throughout the Estuary is affecting the study sites. This study highlights the importance of considering temporal and spatial scales when setting restoration goals, objectives and creating monitoring plans. Additional monitoring of sediment, invertebrate, and other variables on restored and reference sites is recommended to characterize typical recolonization and reassembly attributes of restoring intertidal estuaries in coastal British Columbia. This would provide evidence and rigor in determining effective restoration techniques and management strategies for a critical and increasingly threatened ecosystem., Macroinvertebrates, Restoration, Sediment, Benthic ecology, Estuaries, Intertidal flats
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- The impact of roadway mortality on a long-lived freshwater turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii
- Road mortality poses a significant threat to freshwater turtles globally, including the western painted turtle (Chrysemys picta bellii). Even low levels of road mortality can severely impact the long-term survival of these long-lived reptiles. While mitigation infrastructure is employed to reduce mortality, its effectiveness may vary depending on the location and species involved. Population viability analysis can be a valuable alternative for wildlife managers to assess the viability of the populations they monitor and the potential impact of management decisions, but are most useful when data from target populations is available. This research project aimed to evaluate the long-term persistence of a rural western painted turtle population experiencing road mortality. The study first investigated the effectiveness of a turtle tunnel and drift fencing in reducing road mortality. Parameters derived from the population were then used to model the long-term viability of the turtle population in the program Vortex under various scenarios of ongoing road mortality. This study analyses three years of mark-recapture, ratio telemetry tracking, and road mortality surveys done by contractors and summer hires of the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship at Baynes Lake, BC. The turtle population was estimated to be 1,451 (SD= 75) individuals, with a female-biased sex ratio (1.5 females: 1 male). Only a quarter of sexually mature females were found to be gravid in a given year, with gravid females laying only one clutch. Subadult and adult survivorship were calculated using the same dataset employed for the population estimate, resulting in a survivorship rate of 96.4% (SD = 1.3%) per year. Radio telemetry was used to assess the number of road crossings made in a given year. Gravid females were found to make a higher average number of road crossings (1.6 road crossings per season) than males (0.1 road crossings per season) or non-gravid females (0.7 road crossings per season). In 2021, an under-road turtle tunnel was installed in Baynes Lake, followed by the installation of drift fencing in the spring of 2023. Over time and after the implementation of drift fencing, more turtles were observed encountering the installed turtle tunnel. However, evidence regarding the complete traversal of the turtle tunnel was not conclusive. Before the installation of the turtle tunnel, casual community-led surveys in 2021 estimated a mortality rate of 1% of the population. Mortality rates, calculated over the duration of the survey periods, decreased after the installation of the turtle tunnel (0.1 mortalities per day in 2022) and further decreased after drift fencing was installed (0.03 mortalities per day). The long-term viability of the Baynes Lake population was modeled in Vortex, with additive road mortality modeled as a percentage loss of the population. The road mortality rate of 1% additive mortality, seen before road mortality reduction strategies, resulted in a 60% decrease of the initial population after 100 years. This indicates that even low levels of additive adult road mortality can lead to declines in the Baynes Lake western painted turtle population. Sensitivity testing of the model indicates that the Baynes Lake population is highly sensitive to changes in adult/subadult and juvenile mortality. Pre-mitigation mortality levels had the potential to dramatically impact the population of Baynes Lake. It is crucial to acknowledge and address what may appear to be relatively low levels of roadway mortality in rural areas, as even these seemingly modest rates can have a significant impact on western painted turtle populations., Western painted turtle, Chrysemys picta bellii, roadway mortality, population viability modeling, population estimate, scavenge rate
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- Investigating bull kelp decline in Saturna Island Interim Sanctuary Zone
- Kelp is an ecologically, economically, and culturally important species that is facing global declines. This pilot project investigated if declines in Bull Kelp in the Saturna Island Interim Sanctuary Zone could be attributed to increased herbivory by sea urchins, and/or thermal stress caused by increased ocean temperatures. In areas where sea urchins were excluded, bull kelp was more abundant and in areas where sea urchins were not excluded, heavy grazing was observed. Throughout the summer 2023 study period, sea surface temperature did not exceed bull kelp’s adult or gametophyte thermal tolerance. Restoration of this site should include methods to reduce sea urchin herbivory, while carefully considering cultural and ecological implications., macroalgae, sea urchin, bull kelp, kelp restoration, herbivore exclusion
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- Modelling potential impacts of sea level rise on Siwash Island
- Siwash Island is a tidal marsh situated at the southern end of the Widgeon Marsh Regional Park Reserve, Coquitlam, British Columbia (BC). The numerical model MarshMorpho2D was used to depict the evolution of marsh under various scenarios of sea level rise (SLR), suspended sediment concentration (SSC), and tidal range (TR) over the next 80 years. Changes in SLR and TR substantially impact the island’s morphology. Higher TR and SLR cause higher inundation and erosion rate, resulting in loss of vegetation, elevation, and habitat across the island. The model projection indicates that Siwash Island is likely to submerge within the next 80 years. The MarshMorpho2D model provides insights for policymakers and conservationists to develop adaptive strategies to mitigate the effect of SLR on coastal ecosystems., tidal marsh, numerical model, MarshMorpho2D, sea level rise, tidal range, suspended sediment concentration
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- Nanaimo River estuary restoration: an assessment of berm removal on benthic macroinvertebrates in tidal channels
- Macroinvertebrates in two berm-impacted tidal channels (Site A and Site B) were compared to a natural channel (Site C) to determine short-term response to berm removal restoration using a BACI study design. Multivariate analysis indicates that the benthic community composition shifted from before berm removal to after berm removal conditions but not in a predictable organized way. Total abundance was highest at Site A in both conditions (before and after berm-removal). Invertebrate diversity was similar and low among sites. Biomass was highest at Site C. Organic matter percentage was highest at Site C in both conditions and it appeared to increase in Site A and Site B after berm removal. Silt & Clay (>0.0063mm) were statistically different in Site C compared to Site A and Site B although very fine sand was the highest in percentage among sites and in both conditions. Berms affect channel and benthic invertebrate dynamics; time and more research are needed to fully restore the Nanaimo estuary., © Okezioghene Akporuno, 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright heron may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphics, electronic, or mechanical including photocopying, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems – without written permission of the author., Estuary restoration, Tidal channel, Benthic macroinvertebrate, Sediment, Detritus, Berm
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- Novel ecosystems: necessity, revolution, or laziness?
- The earth’s environment, climate, and natural systems are constantly changing, having little resemblance of ecosystems past. These new systems functioning in balance are termed “novel ecosystems” and have arisen as the new normal posing an important question in the restoration field as to how these systems should be approached. To address the state of novel ecosystems in the academic literature, I devised a matrix to assess variables of description regarding novel ecosystems and how they are expressed in the literature. Results showed a predominance of self-assembled systems with a disposition towards invasive species as a primary threat. Chemical, physical, and landscape data was severely lacking and most metrics for success were ecological. Data from the literature show a lack of research on designed novel ecosystems but shows promise for success given several examples. More research on novel ecosystems in restoration must be undertaken to fill gaps in aggregate data., © Michael Paleologou, 2020. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright heron may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphics, electronic, or mechanical including photocopying, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems – without written permission of the author., Ecological Restoration, Novel Ecosystems, Literature Review
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- Restoration of old forest characteristics in a 1957 spacing trial in the Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, British Columbia
- Forest managers are interested in determining how stands that have been logged might be managed to restore features characteristic of forests in later-stages of development. Incorporating forest restoration into forest management enables the use of forest-management skills, such as silviculture and regeneration techniques, to manage individual stands for multiple objectives. Therefore, I performed a comparative analysis of large trees, very-large trees, large snags, very-large snags, and large CWD among three stand types (i.e., 60-yr-managed, 140-yr-natural, and 500-yr-natural stands). The 140-yr-natural and 500-yr-natural stands were used as reference conditions to guide the restoration of a 59-yr-managed spacing trial. All attributes differed among stand-types; however, large snags were the most similar attribute between 140-yr-natural and 500-yr-natural stands. Large trees were the fastest attribute to recover in 60-yr-managed stands, however mean values among stand-types still differed. This study highlights the potential of restoring old-natural attributes in younger-managed stands to increase ecological resiliency., forest, natural, managed, prescription, restoration, old-natural attributes
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- Restoring a culturally eutrophic shallow lake: Case study on Quamichan Lake in North Cowichan, British Columbia
- Quamichan Lake is a culturally eutrophic shallow lake located in North Cowichan on Vancouver Island in British Columbia. My research project examined the current trophic status and water quality of Quamichan Lake and investigated a number of watershed and in-lake restoration methods to return the lake back to mesotrophic (nutrient rich) conditions. Based on the data collected, Quamichan Lake is currently in a hypertrophic state caused by excess phosphorus inputs that leads to Cyanophyte phytoplankton species (cyanobacteria) to dominate during the summer. Eutrophication is both an environmental and human health issue as cyanobacteria algal blooms can disrupt the lake ecology and are toxic to most mammals. The goal of my research was to provide the Municipality of North Cowichan and Vancouver Island Health Authority with a comprehensive restoration plan to contribute to the restoration of Quamichan Lake and other lakes in southern Vancouver Island that are experiencing cultural eutrophication., © Kathleen E Moore, 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright heron may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphics, electronic, or mechanical including photocopying, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems – without written permission of the author., Eutrophication, Limnology, Watershed Management, Cyanobacteria, Restoration
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- Restoring hydro-impacted wetlands for secretive marsh birds
- Secretive marsh birds can be difficult to detect and are dependent on wetlands, leaving them vulnerable to wetland loss or alteration. This study examines the influence of management-altered hydrological regimes on five secretive marsh bird species in the West Kootenay and Columbia Wetlands in British Columbia, Canada. Focal species occupied wetlands with less frequently altered hydrological regimes more often and in greater numbers. Occupancy models suggested that woody vegetation, tall vegetation, and open water are important drivers of occupancy for these species. Wetlands most frequently experiencing heavily altered hydrological regimes had more open water and less tall vegetation, both of which were negatively associated with wetland occupancy. Water management operations may be promoting altered vegetation communities within these wetlands, in turn promoting lower occupancy of secretive marsh bird species. Restoration recommendations include: prioritizing lower elevation wetlands, limiting woody vegetation encroachment, and experimentally restoring the hydrological regime of affected wetlands., © Ashleigh M. Westphal 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright heron may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphics, electronic, or mechanical including photocopying, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems – without written permission of the author., secretive marsh bird, Kootenays, British Columbia, hydro, water management, wetlands
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- Splendor without spoil: restoring tidal channel habitat on Swishwash Island
- Restoration of estuarine and tidal marsh habitats in Canada’s Fraser River estuary is imperative for the conservation and recovery of select depressed Pacific salmon populations and the many species that depend on them. In the 1930’s through to 1940’s, dredge spoils were deposited on East Swishwash Island, permanently altering the small delta island’s geomorphology and ecology. The purpose of this study was two-fold: 1.) Confirm and describe fish use of remnant tidal channel habitat on Swishwash Island, using juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) as a focal species and 2.) Quantify the historical tidal channel loss on East Swishwash Island and potential for restoration. Tidal channels and adjacent marshes were sampled for realized fish use, plant distributions, basic water parameters, and large woody debris (potential predator refugia). Remote data sets (historical and present-day) were used to quantify historic, current, and future tidal channel density scenarios. Swishwash tidal channels were utilized during the sampling period by Chinook salmon with comparable relative abundances and fork lengths. Tidal channel capacity and marsh habitat have been reduced by 50% on East Swishwash Island due to spoil deposition and marsh erosion. Based on reference conditions derived from undisturbed and historic marsh islands, restoring island elevations could facilitate the addition of 1 km of marsh edge while increasing tidal channel area on East Swishwash Island by nearly 200%. This would provide important habitat in a fragmented distributary of the Fraser River estuary to species of fish and wildlife, including 3 ecotypes of juvenile Chinook salmon., © Kyle Armstrong, 2019. All rights reserved. No part of this work covered by the copyright heron may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means – graphics, electronic, or mechanical including photocopying, taping, or information storage and retrieval systems – without written permission of the author., Estuaries, Chinook, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, rearing, restoration, mitigation, tidal channels
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- A Test of ARP Topic Categories
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