NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: North Slave Region

Tags: vegetation, caribou, community based monitoring, remote sensing, habitat, impact analysis

Objective(s): To fill the information gap on Bathurst caribou summer range conditions using satellite remote sensing data and community-based ground vegetation monitoring; to develop a cumulative impact assessment method that makes cumulative impact assessment possible even if data are incomplete and provides timely feedback for guiding the refinement of monitoring plan; and, to assess the impacts of habitat changes on caribou demographic variables (e.g., calf:cow ratios, survival rates, calving time), so that decision-makers can better manage expectation of a management.

Project Description: The goals of this research project are: 1. To fill the information gap on Bathurst caribou summer range conditions using satellite remote sensing data and community-based ground vegetation monitoring 2. To develop a cumulative impact assessment method that makes cumulative impact assessment possible even if data are incomplete and provides timely feedback for guiding the refinement of monitoring plan; and 3. To assess the impacts of habitat changes on caribou demographic variables (e.g., calf:cow ratios, survival rates, calving time), so that decision-makers can better manage expectation of a management) Three sites each near Wekweètì and Daring will be selected (one shrub, one herb dominated area, and one lichen dominated area). A site should be relatively homogeneous and at least 100 m by 100 m. Every 5 days from June to October, the vegetation monitors will measure vegetation heights of main vascular plants and take multi-spectral digital photos at 5 plots for each site. Seasonal changes in vegetation indices (e.g., simple ratio), plant percentage cover, mean heights as well as leaf biomass will be derived from these measurements, and used for validating remote sensing products. Through the project involvement, the two community members from Wekweètì and biologists and managers from GNWT, Tlicho Government, and Wek'èezhìi Renewable Resources Board build up their capacity for monitoring habitat and assessing their impacts on caribou. Results of this research project will be communicated through an annual report to the Cumulative Impact Monitoring Program (CIMP) and the Northwest Territories Discovery Portal. Habitat monitoring results will be delivered to Environment and Natural Resources, Government of Northwest Territories; Wek'èezhìi Renewable Resources Board, and the CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment Network annually. The team members will present monitoring results at meetings organized by CIMP, Government of Northwest Territories, Wek'èezhìi Renewable Resources Board, and CircumArctic Rangifer Monitoring and Assessment Network. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from June 27, 2013 to October 31, 2013.