Biodiversity

Increased abundance of plant species associated with human created habitats can negatively affect other plant species through competition. As an index of human associated plants, the presence/absence of human associated vascular plant species at boreal ABMI sites was used.  The plants included in the indicator are Common Fireweed, Common Horsetail, Virginia Strawberry, Northern Bedstraw, Common Timothy, Fowl Blue Grass, Kentucky Blue Grass, Northern Cinquefoil, Prickly Rose, Wood’s Rose, Wild Red Raspberry, Dewberry, Bebb’s Willow, Hooded Skullcap, Canada Goldenrod, Northern Snowberry, Common Dandelion, Alsike Clover, Stinging Nettle, and Purple Vetch.  Average human associated plant presence/absence associated with simulated landscapes was estimated using coefficients from Schieck (2009) that relate human associated vascular plant presence/absence to natural and anthropogenic cover types.  The coefficients were estimated using ABMI and landcover data from boreal Alberta.  The cover types with the largest coefficients were transmission lines, seismic lines, hardwood forest, cutblocks, and industrial/agriculture.

Increased abundance of species associated with human created habitats can negatively affect other species through competition, predation, or parasitism.  As an index of human associated vertebrates, the average abundance across human associated bird species at boreal ABMI sites was used.  The birds included in the indicator are Mallard, Tree Swallow, Gray Jay, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Robin, Cedar Waxwing, Warbling Vireo, Yellow Warbler, and Brown-headed Cowbird. Average human associated bird abundance associated with simulated landscapes was estimated using coefficients from Schieck (2009) that relate human associated bird abundance and occurrence to natural and anthropogenic cover types.  The coefficients were estimated using ABMI and landcover data from boreal Alberta. The cover types with the largest coefficients were transmission lines, industrial/agriculture, and seismic.

Wetland and streams support a diverse vertebrate community.  As an index of riparian vertebrates, the average abundance across riparian bird species at boreal ABMI sites was used.  The riparian birds included in the indicator are Canada Goose, Mallard, Sora Rail, Sandhill Crane, Greater Yellowlegs, Solitary Sandpiper, Common Snipe, Bonaparte’s Gull, Alder Flycatcher, Tree Swallow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Palm Warbler, Northern Waterthrush, Common Yellowthroat, Canada Warbler, Le Conte’s Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, and Swamp Sparrow.  across old forest bird species at ABMI sites was used.  Average riparian bird abundance associated with simulated landscapes was estimated using coefficients from Schieck (2009) that relate average riparian bird species abundance and occurrence to natural and anthropogenic cover types.  The coefficients were estimated using ABMI and landcover data from boreal Alberta.  The cover types with the largest coefficients were water, shrubland, transmission lines, herbaceous, industrial/agriculture, cutblocks, and roads.

Old forest birds are sensitive to changes in forest age class that may occur with land use.  As an index of old forest birds, the average abundance across old forest bird species at boreal ABMI sites was used.  Each ABMI site has 9 point-count stations.  The old forest birds included in the indicator are Boreal Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Golder-crowned Kinglet, Swainson’s Thrush, Blue-headed (Solitary) Vireo, Cape May Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Western Tanager, White-winged Crossbill, and Pine Siskin.  Average old forest bird abundance associated with simulated landscapes was estimated using coefficients from Schieck (2009) that relate old forest bird abundance and occurrence to natural and anthropogenic cover types.  The coefficients were estimated using ABMI and landcover data from boreal Alberta. The cover types with the largest coefficients were older forest types and transmission lines/pipelines.

Evaluated using a model developed by Boutin and Arienti (2008) that relates Woodland Caribou finite rate of increase to anthropogenic edge density and younger forest.  Both of these attributes are negatively associated with Wood Caribou finite rate of increase.  A finite rate of increase less than 1 implies a declining population.

Evaluated using a habitat suitability index (HSI).  HSI models incorporate data and information from a variety of sources and are typically used when insufficient data are available to develop empirical models.  An HSI model relates habitat suitability to simulated landscape attributes including composition, anthropogenic features, and human population. The wolverine HSI is a modified version of an HSI model that was developed for southwest Alberta (Fisher et al. 2009).   According to the model, the primary determinant of wolverine habitat suitability is a negative association with anthropogenic footprint.

Evaluated using a HSI that relates habitat suitability to simulated landscape attributes (Fisher et al. 2009).  The barred owl HSI reconciles models developed for the foothills with models developed for the boreal forest. According to the model, the primary determinants of habitat suitability are older forest (positive association) and anthropogenic footprint (negative association).

Evaluated using an HSI that relates habitat suitability to simulated landscape attributes (Fisher et al. 2009).  The Canadian Toad HSI is based on a model developed for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.  According to the model, the primary determinants of habitat suitability are human density and anthropogenic footprint.

Evaluated using an HSI that relates habitat suitability to simulated landscape attributes (Fisher et al. 2009).  The northern long-eared bat HSI is a modified version of an HSI developed for Missouri. According to the model, the primary determinants of Northern Long-eared Bat habitat suitability are older forest (positive association) and anthropogenic footprint (negative association).

The index of native fish integrity conveys changes in abundance of fish species that are most likely to change in response to anthropogenic effects such as rare fish, apex predators, common specialists, common generalists, and irruptives.  An index value of 1 reflects an undisturbed fish community and an index value of reflects a highly disturbed community. The INFI was developed for CEMA SEWG. The relationship between INFI and attributes of the study region is based on expert opinion.  Variables that affect the INFI include human density, water use, and watershed discontinuity due to hanging culverts.  All of these variables negatively affect INFI (Lagimodiere 2009).

Evaluated using an HSI model that relates habitat suitability to simulated landscape attributes (A. Hubbs, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, unpubl.).  The moose HSI is based on a model developed for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.

Evaluated using an HSI model that relates habitat suitability to simulated landscape attributes (Fisher et al. 2009).  The fisher  HSI is based on a model developed for the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.