DOCSLIB.ORG

Influence of Prescribed Fire on Stone's Sheep and Rocky Mountain Elk: Forage Characteristics and Resource Separation

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Influence of Prescribed Fire on Stone's Sheep and Rocky Mountain Elk: Forage Characteristics and Resource Separation INFLUENCE OF PRESCRIBED FIRE ON STONE'S SHEEP AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK: FORAGE CHARACTERISTICS AND RESOURCE SEPARATION by Krista L. Sittler B.Sc. University of Victoria, 2008 THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE IN NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES (BIOLOGY) UNIVERSITY OF NORTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA September 2013 © Krista L. Sittler, 2013 UMI Number: 1525688 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI Dissertation PiiblishMiQ UMI 1525688 Published by ProQuest LLC 2014. Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. ProQuest LLC 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106-1346 Abstract For over 30 years prescribed fire has been used as a management tool to enhance ungulate habitat in northeastern British Columbia (BC), where up to 7,800 ha are burned annually. Yet relatively few studies have quantified the role of fire on both plant and animal response, and whether it enables competition between focal grazing species such as Stone's sheep (Ovis dalli stonei) and elk (Cervus elaphus). Seven prescribed bums (150-1,000 ha) were implemented in the spring of 2010 and 2011 in the Besa-Prophet area of northern BC. I examined the response of Stone's sheep and elk to seasonal changes in forage quantity and quality by elevation in treatment versus control areas. I monitored vegetation and fecal pellet transects at a fine scale and used Landsat imageiy, survey flights and GPS telemetry at a landscape scale. By one year after burning, forage digestibility and rates of forage growth were higher on burned than unbumed areas. At both scales Stone's sheep and elk always used bums more than control areas in winter. Stone's sheep and elk appeared to partition their use of the landscape through topography and land cover. Increased use of burned areas suggests that prescribed fire enhanced habitat value for grazing ungulates in the short-term. By altering animal distributions, however, the use of prescribed fire has the potential to change complex predator-prey interactions in northern BC. Table of Contents Abstract .................................................................................................................................................... ii Table of Contents ................................................................................................................................... iii List of Tables ............................................................................................................................................v List of Figures ...................................................................................................................................... xiii Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................xvii Chapter 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1 Background .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Prescribed burning in the Peace Region of northern British Columbia ......................................1 Vegetation response to fire and forage for ungulates ...................................................................4 Stone's sheep and elk .......................................................................................................................5 Resource partitioning and the potential for competitive interactions ........................................ 7 Objectives .............................................................................................................................................7 Organization of the thesis ..................................................................................................................10 Chapter 2. Response of vegetation to prescribed fire in the northern Rockies: Implications for Stone's sheep and elk .................................................................................................11 Abstract .............................................................................................................................................. 11 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................13 Study area ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Methods ..............................................................................................................................................20 Prescribed bums ............................................................................................................................20 Nutritional quality .........................................................................................................................24 Bum severity and landscape-level vegetation response to fire ................................................ 24 Animal response to prescribed bums ..........................................................................................26 Statistical analysis .............................................................................................................................26 Bum severity .................................................................................................................................27 Vegetation quantity and quality .................................................................................................. 27 Rate of forage growth ................................................................................................................... 28 Vegetation composition ................................................................................................................ 28 Vegetation height ..........................................................................................................................28 Winter vegetation in pre-bum versus post-bum areas .............................................................. 28 Pellet counts ..................................................................................................................................29 Distribution flights ....................................................................................................................... 29 Grazing ...........................................................................................................................................30 Results................................................................................................................................................30 Prescribed fires and bum severity ............................................................................................... 30 Vegetation quantity ...................................................................................................................... 30 Forage quality ................................................................................................................................38 Animal use of bums-pellet counts ..............................................................................................43 Animal use of bums-distribution flights .................................................................................... 44 Range exclosures and forage quantity .........................................................................................45 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................... 45 Prescribed burning ........................................................................................................................ 45 Response of vegetation to fire ..................................................................................................... 51 iii Use of bums by ungulates ............................................................................................................ 54 Management Implications.................................................................................................................58 Chapter 3. Resource separation on a landscape of prescribed bums: Stone's sheep and elk in the northern Rockies ....................................................................................................................60 Abstract .............................................................................................................................................. 60 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................62 Study area ........................................................................................................................................... 63 Methods .............................................................................................................................................
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Dionisio Point Excavations
    1HE• Publication of the Archaeological Society of Vol. 31 , No. I - 1999 Dionisio Point Excavations ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF &MIDDEN BRITISH COLUMBIA Published four times a year by the Archaeological Society of British Columbia Dedicated to the protection of archaeological resot:Jrces and the spread of archaeological knowledge. Editorial Committee Editor: Heather Myles (274-4294) President Field Editor: Richard Brolly (689-1678) Helmi Braches (462-8942) arcas@istar. ca [email protected] News Editor: Heather Myles Publications Editor: Robbin Chatan (215-1746) Membership [email protected] Sean Nugent (685-9592) Assistant Editors: Erin Strutt [email protected] erins@intergate. be.ca Fred Braches Annual membership includes I year's subscription to [email protected] The Midden and the ASBC newsletter, SocNotes. Production & Subscriptions: Fred Braches ( 462-8942) Membership Fees I SuBSCRIPTION is included with ASBC membership. Individual: $25 Family: $30 . Seniors/Students: $I 8 Non-members: $14.50 per year ($1 7.00 USA and overseas), Send cheque or money order payable to the ASBC to: payable in Canadian funds to the ASBC. Remit to: ASBC Memberships Midden Subscriptions, ASBC P.O. Box 520, Bentall Station P.O. Box 520, Bentall Station Vancouver BC V6C 2N3 Vancouver BC V6C 2N3 SuBMISSIONs: We welcome contributions on subjects germane ASBC on Internet to BC archaeology. Guidelines are available on request. Sub­ http://home.istar.ca/-glenchan/asbc/asbc.shtml missions and exchange publications should be directed to the appropriate editor at the ASBC address. Affiliated Chapters Copyright Nanaimo Contact: Rachael Sydenham Internet: http://www.geocities.com/rainforest/5433 Contents of The Midden are copyrighted by the ASBC.
    [Show full text]
  • Bc12 Report.Pdf
    Soils of the Fort Nelson Area of British Columbia K.W. G. VALENTINE Canada Department of Agriculture, Vancouver, B.C. REPORT No. 12 British Columbia Soi1 Survey Research Branch - Canada Department of Agriculture. 1971 3 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The author wishes to acknowledge the help of Mr. L. Farstad, Canada Depart- ment of Agriculture, Vancouver, and Mr. P. N. Sprout, British Columbia Depart- ment of Agriculture, Kelowna, who initiated the project and gave constructive advice during various parts of the field and office work. Mr. D. Hodgson helped with the field work in the summer of 1967. Soi1 analyses were carried out by Mr. S. K. Chan and Miss M. E. Turnbull. Mr. J. M. Wallace, Department of Energy, Mines, and Resources, Water Resources Branch, Vancouver, B.C., provided valuable information on the seasonal flood levels of the Muskwa and Fort Nelson rivers., Mr. R. A. Nemeth, pipeline engineer, Westcoast Transmission CO. Ltd., Van- couver, gave permission for information from his company’s Yoyo pipeline muskeg survey to be used in Fig. 5. Dr. H. Vaartnou, Research Station, Canada Department of Agriculture, Beaverlodge, Alta., identified many of the plant specimens that were collected during the survey. Mr. G. W. Robertson, Agrometeorology Section, Canada Department of Agri- culture, Ottawa, supplied estimates of agroclimatic normals based on the Hopkins regression formulas. Mr. R. Marshall, Agroclimatology, British Columbia Depart- ment of Agriculture, also supplied much climatic data. The soi1 map and Fig. l-5, 11, 13, 15, and 16 were prepared by the Cartogra- phy Section, Soi1 Research Institute, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa. Messrs.
    [Show full text]
  • Quarterly Report on Short-Term Water Approvals and Use
    Quarterly Report on Short-Term Water Approvals and Use April to June 2011 About the BC Oil and Gas Commission The BC Oil and Gas Commission is an independent, single-window regulatory agency with responsibilities for overseeing oil and gas operations in British Columbia, including exploration, development, pipeline transportation and reclamation. The Commission’s core roles include reviewing and assessing applications for industry activity, consulting with First Nations, ensuring industry complies with provincial legislation and cooperating with partner agencies. The public interest is protected through the objectives of ensuring public safety, protecting the environment, conserving petroleum resources and ensuring equitable participation in production. TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction Page 2 Processes and Requirements Page 3 Results Page 4 Summary Page 7 Appendix A Page 8 Appendix B Page 9 Appendix C Page 12 1 BC Oil and Gas Commission Quarterly Report on Short-Term Water Approvals and Use Introduction The Oil and Gas Activities Act (OGAA) provides authority to the BC Oil and Gas Commission (Commission) to issue short-term water use approvals under Section 8 of the Water Act to manage short-term water use by the oil and gas industry. Approvals under Section 8 of the Water Act authorize the diversion and use of water for a term not exceeding 12 months. This report details the Commission’s responsibilities and authorities under Section 8 of the Water Act; it does not include the diversion and use of water approved by other agencies (such as the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, which has responsibility for water licensing) or for purposes other than oil and gas activities.
    [Show full text]
  • Volume 5 Appendix A21 Part 1 Community Summary: Prophet River First Nation
    SITE C CLEAN ENERGY PROJECT VOLUME 5 APPENDIX A21 PART 1 COMMUNITY SUMMARY: PROPHET RIVER FIRST NATION FINAL REPORT Prepared for: BC Hydro Power and Authority 333 Dunsmuir Street Vancouver, B.C. V6B 5R3 Prepared by: Fasken Martineau 2900-550 Burrard Street Vancouver, B.C. V6C 0A3 January 2013 Site C Clean Energy Project Volume 5 Appendix A21 Part 1 Community Summary: Prophet River First Nation Prophet River First Nation Prophet River First Nation (PRFN), also known as Dene Tsaa First Nation, has one reserve, Prophet River No. 4, with an area of 373.9 ha.1 The reserve is located approximately 100 km south of Fort Nelson on Highway 97.2 According to Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada, as of December 2012, PRFN has a registered population of 260, with 103 members living on PRFN’s reserve.3 PRFN has a Chief and two Councillors, and uses a custom electoral system.4 The PRFN’s economic activities include a restaurant and commercial services, camps, and catering.5 PRFN is a member of the Treaty 8 Tribal Association and the Council of BC Treaty 8 Chiefs.6 Historical Background Members of PRFN speak Dunne-zaa (Beaver), part of the Athapaskan linguistic group.7 Some relatives of present-day PRFN peoples adhered to Treaty 8 on August 15, 1910, and the rest adhered on August 4, 1911.8 PRFN peoples were joined with the Fort Nelson Slave Band between 1957 and 1974. PRFN was created when it split away from the Fort Nelson Band in 1974.9 Traditional Territory PRFN’s traditional lands cover approximately 25,000 km² from the Rocky Mountains to the 10 boreal forest east of the Prophet River.
    [Show full text]
  • Glaciers of the Canadian Rockies
    Glaciers of North America— GLACIERS OF CANADA GLACIERS OF THE CANADIAN ROCKIES By C. SIMON L. OMMANNEY SATELLITE IMAGE ATLAS OF GLACIERS OF THE WORLD Edited by RICHARD S. WILLIAMS, Jr., and JANE G. FERRIGNO U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 1386–J–1 The Rocky Mountains of Canada include four distinct ranges from the U.S. border to northern British Columbia: Border, Continental, Hart, and Muskwa Ranges. They cover about 170,000 km2, are about 150 km wide, and have an estimated glacierized area of 38,613 km2. Mount Robson, at 3,954 m, is the highest peak. Glaciers range in size from ice fields, with major outlet glaciers, to glacierets. Small mountain-type glaciers in cirques, niches, and ice aprons are scattered throughout the ranges. Ice-cored moraines and rock glaciers are also common CONTENTS Page Abstract ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- J199 Introduction----------------------------------------------------------------------- 199 FIGURE 1. Mountain ranges of the southern Rocky Mountains------------ 201 2. Mountain ranges of the northern Rocky Mountains ------------ 202 3. Oblique aerial photograph of Mount Assiniboine, Banff National Park, Rocky Mountains----------------------------- 203 4. Sketch map showing glaciers of the Canadian Rocky Mountains -------------------------------------------- 204 5. Photograph of the Victoria Glacier, Rocky Mountains, Alberta, in August 1973 -------------------------------------- 209 TABLE 1. Named glaciers of the Rocky Mountains cited in the chapter
    [Show full text]
  • Synoptic Taxonomy of Major Fossil Groups
    APPENDIX Synoptic Taxonomy of Major Fossil Groups Important fossil taxa are listed down to the lowest practical taxonomic level; in most cases, this will be the ordinal or subordinallevel. Abbreviated stratigraphic units in parentheses (e.g., UCamb-Ree) indicate maximum range known for the group; units followed by question marks are isolated occurrences followed generally by an interval with no known representatives. Taxa with ranges to "Ree" are extant. Data are extracted principally from Harland et al. (1967), Moore et al. (1956 et seq.), Sepkoski (1982), Romer (1966), Colbert (1980), Moy-Thomas and Miles (1971), Taylor (1981), and Brasier (1980). KINGDOM MONERA Class Ciliata (cont.) Order Spirotrichia (Tintinnida) (UOrd-Rec) DIVISION CYANOPHYTA ?Class [mertae sedis Order Chitinozoa (Proterozoic?, LOrd-UDev) Class Cyanophyceae Class Actinopoda Order Chroococcales (Archean-Rec) Subclass Radiolaria Order Nostocales (Archean-Ree) Order Polycystina Order Spongiostromales (Archean-Ree) Suborder Spumellaria (MCamb-Rec) Order Stigonematales (LDev-Rec) Suborder Nasselaria (Dev-Ree) Three minor orders KINGDOM ANIMALIA KINGDOM PROTISTA PHYLUM PORIFERA PHYLUM PROTOZOA Class Hexactinellida Order Amphidiscophora (Miss-Ree) Class Rhizopodea Order Hexactinosida (MTrias-Rec) Order Foraminiferida* Order Lyssacinosida (LCamb-Rec) Suborder Allogromiina (UCamb-Ree) Order Lychniscosida (UTrias-Rec) Suborder Textulariina (LCamb-Ree) Class Demospongia Suborder Fusulinina (Ord-Perm) Order Monaxonida (MCamb-Ree) Suborder Miliolina (Sil-Ree) Order Lithistida
    [Show full text]
  • Scale Site SS Region SS District Site Name SS Location Phone
    Scale SS SS Site Region District Site Name SS Location Phone 001 RCB DQU MISC SITES SIFR 01B RWC DQC ABFAM TEMP SITE SAME AS 1BB 2505574201 1001 ROM DPG BKB CEDAR Road past 4G3 on the old Lamming Ce 2505690096 1002 ROM DPG JOHN DUNCAN RESIDENCE 7750 Lower Mud river Road. 1003 RWC DCR PROBYN LOG LTD. Located at WFP Menzies#1 Scale Site 1004 RWC DCR MATCHLEE LTD PARTNERSHIP Tsowwin River estuary Tahsis Inlet 2502872120 1005 RSK DND TOMPKINS POST AND RAIL Across the street from old corwood 1006 RWC DNI CANADIAN OVERSEAS FOG CREEK - North side of King Isla 6046820425 1007 RKB DSE DYNAMIC WOOD PRODUCTS 1839 Brilliant Road Castlegar BC 2503653669 1008 RWC DCR ROBERT (ANDY) ANDERSEN Mobile Scale Site for use in marine 1009 ROM DPG DUNKLEY- LEASE OF SITE 411 BEAR LAKE Winton Bear lake site- Current Leas 2509984421 101 RWC DNI WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS INC. MAHATTA RIVER (Quatsino Sound) - Lo 2502863767 1010 RWC DCR WESTERN FOREST PRODUCTS INC. STAFFORD Stafford Lake , end of Loughborough 2502863767 1011 RWC DSI LADYSMITH WFP VIRTUAL WEIGH SCALE Latitude 48 59' 57.79"N 2507204200 1012 RWC DNI BELLA COOLA RESOURCE SOCIETY (Bella Coola Community Forest) VIRT 2509822515 1013 RWC DSI L AND Y CUTTING EDGE MILL The old Duncan Valley Timber site o 2507151678 1014 RWC DNI INTERNATIONAL FOREST PRODUCTS LTD Sandal Bay - Water Scale. 2 out of 2502861881 1015 RWC DCR BRUCE EDWARD REYNOLDS Mobile Scale Site for use in marine 1016 RWC DSI MUD BAY COASTLAND VIRTUAL W/S Ladysmith virtual site 2507541962 1017 RWC DSI MUD BAY COASTLAND VIRTUAL W/S Coastland Virtual Weigh Scale at Mu 2507541962 1018 RTO DOS NORTH ENDERBY TIMBER Malakwa Scales 2508389668 1019 RWC DSI HAULBACK MILLYARD GALIANO 200 Haulback Road, DL 14 Galiano Is 102 RWC DNI PORT MCNEILL PORT MCNEILL 2502863767 1020 RWC DSI KURUCZ ROVING Roving, Port Alberni area 1021 RWC DNI INTERNATIONAL FOREST PRODUCTS LTD-DEAN 1 Dean Channel Heli Water Scale.
    [Show full text]
  • Schedule K – List of Federal Indian Day Schools
    SCHEDULE K – LIST OF FEDERAL INDIAN DAY SCHOOLS Closing or Transfer Religious Province School Name Name Variants Opening Date Date Location Affiliation Alberta Alexander November 1, 1949 September 1, 1981 In Riviere qui Barre Roman Catholic Glenevis Located on the Alexis Alberta Alexis Alexis Elementary June 1, 1949 September 1, 1990 Reserve Roman Catholic Assumption, Alberta on Alberta Assumption Day September 9, 1968 September 1, 1971 Hay Lakes Reserve Roman Catholic Atikameg, AB; Atikameg (St. Atikamisie Indian Reserve; Alberta Atikameg Benedict) March 1, 1949 September 1, 1962 Atikameg Lake, AB Roman Catholic Alberta Beaver Lake September 1, 1952 June 30, 1960 Lac La Biche, AB Roman Catholic Bighorn Ta Otha Located on the Big Horn Ta Otha (Bighorn) Reserve near Rocky Mennonite Alberta Big Horn Taotha March 1, 1949 September 1, 1989 Mountain House United Church Fort Chipewyan September 1, 1956 June 30, 1963 Alberta Bishop Piché School Chipewyan September 1, 1971 September 1, 1985 Fort Chipewyan, AB Roman Catholic Alberta Blue Quills February 1, 1971 July 1, 1972 St. Paul, AB Alberta Boyer River September 1, 1955 September 1, 1964 Rocky Lane, AB Roman Catholic June 1, 1916 June 30, 1920 March 1, 1922 June 30, 1933 At Beaver Crossing on the Alberta Cold Lake LeGoff1 September 1, 1953 September 1, 1997 Cold Lake Reserve Roman Catholic Alberta Crowfoot Blackfoot December 31, 1968 September 1, 1989 Cluny, AB Roman Catholic Faust, AB (Driftpile Alberta Driftpile September 1, 1955 September 1, 1964 Reserve) Roman Catholic Dunbow (St. Joseph’s) Industrial Alberta School 1884 December 30, 1922 High River, Alberta Roman Catholic 1 Still a federally-operated school.
    [Show full text]
  • Stratigraphy, Structure, and Tectonic History of the Pink Mountain Anticline, Trutch (94G) and Halfway River (94B) Map Areas, Northeastern British Columbia
    Stratigraphy, Structure, and Tectonic History of the Pink Mountain Anticline, Trutch (94G) and Halfway River (94B) Map Areas, Northeastern British Columbia Steven J. Hinds* and Deborah A. Spratt University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr. NW, Calgary AB, T2N 1N4 [email protected] ABSTRACT Pink Mountain Anticline stands out in front of the Foothills of northeastern British Columbia (57ºN, 123ºW). Geologic mapping and prestack depth-migrated seismic sections show that it is localized above and west of a northwest-trending subsurface normal fault. Along with isopach maps they demonstrate episodic normal movement during deposition of the Carboniferous Stoddart Group, Triassic Montney Formation and possibly the Jurassic-Cretaceous Monteith- Gething formations. West of this step, during Laramide compression, a pair of backthrusts nucleated on either side of a minor east-west trending Carboniferous fault and propagated across it in an en échelon pattern. One backthrust ramped laterally across the area and separated the Pink Mountain and Spruce Mountain structures, which both are contained within a 30+ km long pop-up structure above the Besa River Formation detachment. Glomerspirella fossils confirm the existence of the Upper Jurassic Upper Fernie Formation and Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous Monteith Formation at Pink Mountain. Economic Significance of the Pink Mountain Area Since the building of the Alaska Highway during the early 1940’s, various companies have carried out petroleum, coal, and mineral surveys of the study area. To the east of Pink Mountain, several shallow gas fields such as the Julienne Creek and Julienne Creek North gas fields (Figure 1) were successfully drilled and produced gas from Triassic sandstone and carbonate rocks that were gently folded during the formation of the northern Rocky Mountains.
    [Show full text]
  • Rangifer Tarandus Caribou) in BRITISH COLUMBIA
    THE EARLY HISTORY OF WOODLAND CARIBOU (Rangifer tarandus caribou) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA by David J. Spalding Wildlife Bulletin No. B-100 March 2000 THE EARLY HISTORY OF WOODLAND CARIBOU (Rangifer tarandus caribou) IN BRITISH COLUMBIA by David J. Spalding Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks Wildlife Branch Victoria BC Wildlife Bulletin No. B-100 March 2000 “Wildlife Bulletins frequently contain preliminary data, so conclusions based on these may be sub- ject to change. Bulletins receive some review and may be cited in publications. Copies may be obtained, depending upon supply, from the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks, Wildlife Branch, P.O. Box 9374 Stn Prov Gov, Victoria, BC V8W 9M4.” © Province of British Columbia 2000 Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data Spalding, D. J. The early history of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in British Columbia (Wildlife bulletin ; no. B-100) Includes bibliographical references : p. 60 ISBN 0-7726-4167-6 1. Woodland caribou - British Columbia. 2. Woodland caribou - Habitat - British Columbia. I. British Columbia. Wildlife Branch. II. Title. III. Series: Wildlife bulletin (British Columbia. Wildlife Branch) ; no. B-100 QL737.U55S62 2000 333.95’9658’09711 C00-960085-X Citation: Spalding, D.J. 2000. The Early History of Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in British Columbia. B.C. Minist. Environ., Lands and Parks, Wildl. Branch, Victoria, BC. Wildl. Bull. No. 100. 61pp. ii DISCLAIMER The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent those of the B.C. Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks. In cases where a Wildlife Bulletin is also a species’ status report, it may contain a recommended status for the species by the author.
    [Show full text]
  • Response of Elk and Stone's Sheep to Prescribed Fire In
    Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation April 2013 RESPONSE OF ELK AND STONE’S SHEEP TO PRESCRIBED FIRE IN NORTHEAST BC Katherine L. Parker and Krista Sittler Natural Resources and Environmental Studies University of Northern British Columbia Prince George, British Columbia V2N 4Z9 K. Sittler HCTF CAT13-7-354 Prepared for: Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation April 2013 Page 1 of 47 Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation April 2013 HABITAT CONSERVATION TRUST FOUNDATION MULTI-YEAR PROJECT REPORT 1. PROJECT NAME RESPONSE OF ELK AND STONE’S SHEEP TO PRESCRIBED FIRE IN NORTHEAST BC 2. HCTF PROJECT FILE # CAT13-7-354 3. FISCAL YEARS (1 APRIL 2010 TO 31 MARCH 2013) FOR CONTINUING PROJECTS, FINAL REPORT 4. LOCATION a) Distance from a known place: 215 km from Fort St John b) Longitude (degree/minute/seconds): between 121°51’ and 124°31’ c) Latitude: (degree/minute/seconds): between 57°11’ and 57°15’ 5. PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Peace-Liard Prescribed Burn Program in northern British Columbia (BC) uses fire intensively to create, maintain, and enhance habitats for large game species. The Peace Region of BC is internationally known for its abundance of ungulates and predators. To quantify the influence of prescribed burns in the Besa-Prophet area of northern BC, we focused our efforts on two focal species: elk (Cervus elaphus), which contribute the largest ungulate biomass to a globally significant predator-prey system; and Stone’s sheep (Ovis dalli stonei), which are highly dependent on traditional ranges and which have high ecological and economic values. Specific objectives of the three-year study were to monitor seasonal movements of elk and Stone’s sheep in relation to burned areas; to determine how the age and vegetative quality of burns influence the use of burns; to identify any seasonal range overlap in the use of burned areas by these two focal species; and to quantify the interactive effects of prescribed burning on the two species.
    [Show full text]
  • Prophet River First Nation Book of Authorities
    NATIONAL ENERGY BOARD IN THE MATTER OF the National Energy Board Act, R.S.C. 1985, c. N-7, as amended, and the regulations made thereunder; IN THE MATTER OF the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012, S.C. 2012, C. 37, as amended, and the regulations made thereunder; AND IN THE MATTER OF an application by NOVA Gas Transmission Ltd. for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity and other related approvals pursuant to Part III and Part IV of the National Energy Board Act. PROPHET RIVER FIRST NATION BOOK OF AUTHORITIES September 26, 2014 To: The Secretary National Energy Board 444 Seventh Avenue S.W. Calgary, Alberta T2P 0X8 TAB A S.C. 2012, c. 19, s. 52, s. 4 Page 1 Canada Federal Statutes Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 Purposes s 4. Federal English Statutes reflect amendments current to June 18, 2014 Federal English Regulations are current to Gazette Vol. 148:13 (June 18, 2014) 4. 4(1) Purposes The purposes of this Act are (a) to protect the components of the environment that are within the legislative authority of Parliament from significant adverse environmental effects caused by a designated project; (b) to ensure that designated projects that require the exercise of a power or performance of a duty or function by a federal authority under any Act of Parliament other than this Act to be carried out, are considered in a careful and precautionary manner to avoid significant adverse environmental effects; (c) to promote cooperation and coordinated action between federal and provincial governments with respect
    [Show full text]