Base de données de recherche des TNO

Régions: Sahtu Settlement Area

étiquettes: biology, vegetation, wildlife, environmental baseline, fisheries assessment

Objectif(s): The objective of the research team is to document terrestrial wildlife in the study area (Sahyoue/Edacho Peninsulas, Great Bear Lake), and classify vegetation in the ecosystem units. Secondarily, the team intends to document fish species along the shoreline, and in a few tributaries along the peninsula. This study is intended to gather baseline information on wildlife and vegetation to help fulfil Step 5 of the Protected Area Strategy.

Description du projet: The research team (including Aboriginal members from Deline) will travel by boat from Deline to the Sahyoue/Edacho Peninsulas, and spend six days in the field collecting baseline information on wildlife and vegetation units. Twenty sites will be assessed and classified as to ecosystem type. For each site, vegetation and wildlife observations will be documented. Vegetation species present, plant community type, percent cover (estimate), soil texture and elevation will be documented. For wildlife, the presence or absense of different species (based on actual observation or inferred from tracks, droppings, hair or the presence of dens) will be documented for each ecosystem unit. All mammal and bird species or their sign will be recorded, with emphasis on caribou, grizzly bears, wolverines, foxes, breeding birds, raptors, and waterfowl. In addition to these animals, main vegetation types as determined from aerial-photo interpretation will be ground-truthed. Fish species will be sampled along the shoreline using a rod and reel and a minnow trap. Fish species classified as sport fish will be angled (catch and release) under a valid fishing license. Forage fish species (minnows) will be trapped using a minnow trap, with 5 voucher specimens being preserved for each species.