Studies of the Environmental Effects of Disturbances in the Subarctic
chercheur principal: Kershaw, G. Peter (38)
Nᵒ de permis: 12927
Organisation: University of Alberta
Année(s) de permis: 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1990
Délivré: juil. 14, 1997
Équipe de projet: Jerome Lesemann, Stewart Brown & Stephanie Nowak

Objectif(s): The main study objective is to describe post-fire ecosystem responses in a subarctic forest. In 1985 the SEEDS site was created and then in June 1995, a fire swept over the site. Consequently, the burned SEEDS site offers an opportunity to study post-fire responses with a comprehensive pre-fire database. Studies will involve mircoclimate, soil, vegetation and wildlife on the site and on a nearby unburned area.

Description du projet: Access to the site will be along existing seismic lines from Tulita. Transport will involve helicopter, boat, ATV and foot. The research is planned to see what happens after the fire to the permafrost, soils, plants and animals. An unburned site will be monitored to provide comparison with the burned area. Many studies will be done, including measurement of air and soil temperatures, wind speed, moisture, water movement, permafrost, snow, plants and small animals. Most measurements will be made by hand, however, several automated microclimate stations will be set up to run year-round. Small mammal (mice-size) live trapping will be conducted on capture and release grid to determine how they have been affected by burning of the research site. The studies will involve spring (May-June), summer (July-August) and winter (February) data collection.