NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region, South Slave Region

Tags: mining, environmental impact, biology, bioaccumulation, ecological indicators, vegetation, carbon budget, forestry, industrial development, resource management, ecological change, aquatic invertebrates, boreal forests, conservation plan, ecological sustainability

Objective(s): Although the boreal forest takes more than 13% of the earth's total surface, there is little known about the structure, stability, resilience and regenerative power of this unique ecosystem which is deteriorated by variable man made environmental impacts like deforestation, harvest or mining. Fundamental scientific research is necessary for protecting undisturbed boreal woodland and for accepting the concept of ecological sustainability in the boreal forest management. Research demand seems to concern the sensitive and vulnerable northern boreal forests close to the treeline border like the forests in the vicinity of Great Slave Lake where lumber industry does not play an important role. However, the rich mineral deposits of the Canadian Shield in this area including diamond, gold, or non-ferrous metals that result in booming, abandoned, or newly developed mines. This gives the chance to study anthropogenic effects on boreal forest ecosystem health in the past and present. Environmental impact research is often restricted to plant and animal species of direct economic value. This project intends to contribute to the understanding of the northern boreal forests reaction to mine operation and settlement by determining the changing and succession of vegetation patterns and selected aquatic invertebrate communities due to environmental fluctuations.

Project Description: The project will focus on understanding, analyzing and evaluating the reactions of the northern boreal forest ecosystems in the Great Slave Lake region due to man made stress of mining, settlement and connecting activities. The project will try to develop some general conclusions, statements and model systems. The research team (2 persons) will come from Europe to Yellowknife by plane. The base will be located in Yellowknife. The research site at Pine Point will be reached by a rented mobile home or van, and will serve as accommodation. The research site at Lac de Gras will be reached by float plane. Sites located near settlements will be reached via road system. Lakes, ponds and water filled pits will be explored by boat. Ecological field equipment to be used includes pH meter, oxygen electrode, thermometer, field photometer, plumbline, sediment core sampler, mechanical tree growth auger (5mm), plant press, field microscope, field GPS, laptop computer, single gauge auger for soil drilling and sampling as well as some nets for catching the aquatic insects. Samples will be taken in variable numbers: 100-200 soil & water samples, 20-40 lake sediment samples, 200 leaf samples, 50-75 tree core samples, and individual samples of various lichens and aquatic megafauna. Results obtained will be available for local people and scientists.