Mount Royal Park Swamp Characterization and Amphibian Habitat Protection and Enhancement Recommendations

Mount Royal Park Swamp Characterization and Amphibian Habitat Protection and Enhancement Recommendations

Mount Royal Park Swamp Characterization and Amphibian Habitat Protection and Enhancement Recommendations Kerri Landry V00773610 University of Victoria Submitted to Dr. Schaeffer April 1st 2014 1 Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 6 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................... 7 Importance of Wetlands and Surrounding Uplands to Aquatic-Breeding Amphibians ............. 8 Current Status of Blue-Spotted Salamander Population on Mount Royal ................................. 8 Landscape and Ecosystem Features ...................................................................................... 10 Mount Royal Park ............................................................................................................ 10 Mount Royal Swamp ........................................................................................................ 11 Vegetation .................................................................................................................... 11 Hydrology .................................................................................................................... 12 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................. 14 Reconnaissance Visit and Field Survey Site Selections ........................................................... 14 Methods and Protocols ........................................................................................................ 15 Field Survey Assessment Scope ............................................................................................ 15 Site Photographs .................................................................................................................. 16 Aquatic Ecosystem Field Sampling ....................................................................................... 16 Equipment and Materials .................................................................................................. 16 Aquatic Sampling Technique ............................................................................................ 16 Plot Location Selection .................................................................................................... 17 Plot layout ....................................................................................................................... 17 Relevé Sampling Procedure .............................................................................................. 17 Water Quality Sampling .................................................................................................... 18 Terrestrial Ecosystem Field Sampling ................................................................................... 19 Equipment and Materials .................................................................................................. 19 Terrestrial Sampling Technique ........................................................................................ 19 Transect-quadrat layout .................................................................................................... 20 Sampling Procedure ......................................................................................................... 20 Soil/Substrate Assessment ............................................................................................... 23 Hydroperiod Analysis ........................................................................................................... 23 RESULTS ............................................................................................................................... 26 Ecosystem Characteristics and Conditions ............................................................................ 26 Physical Attributes, Site Description and Observations ..................................................... 26 MRS-1 .......................................................................................................................... 26 MRS-2 .......................................................................................................................... 26 2 Aquatic Characteristics and Conditions ............................................................................. 27 MRS-1 .......................................................................................................................... 27 Aquatic Vegetation Relevé ............................................................................................. 27 Water Quality ............................................................................................................. 28 Sedimentation .............................................................................................................. 28 Aquatic Amphibian Microhabitat-refugia ......................................................................... 29 MRS-2 .......................................................................................................................... 29 Aquatic Vegetation Relevé ............................................................................................. 29 Water Quality ............................................................................................................. 29 Aquatic Amphibian Microhabitat-refugia ......................................................................... 29 Hydroperiod .................................................................................................................... 29 Summary and Interpretation Data in Relation to Habitat Suitability Criteria .................. 30 Terrestrial Characteristics and Conditions ......................................................................... 31 MRS-1 .......................................................................................................................... 31 Vegetation .................................................................................................................. 31 Ground Cover of Human Created Habitats, Natural Habitats and Amphibian Microhabitat Features ..................................................................................................................... 33 MRS-2 .......................................................................................................................... 34 Vegetation .................................................................................................................. 34 Ground Cover of Human Created Habitats, Natural Habitats and Amphibian Microhabitat Features ..................................................................................................................... 34 Soil Characteristics and Conditions ............................................................................... 34 DISCUSSION ......................................................................................................................... 37 Aquatic ................................................................................................................................ 37 Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 37 Aquatic Amphibian Microhabitat-refugia .......................................................................... 37 Water Quality ................................................................................................................... 37 Dissolved oxygen ......................................................................................................... 37 Temperature ................................................................................................................. 38 pH ............................................................................................................................... 38 Hydrology ........................................................................................................................ 39 Hydroperiod ................................................................................................................ 39 Sediment .................................................................................................................... 40 Water Retention ........................................................................................................... 41 3 Terrestrial ............................................................................................................................ 41 Vegetation ....................................................................................................................... 41 Ground Cover of Human Created Habitats, Natural Habitats and Amphibian Microhabitat Features ........................................................................................................................... 41 Adjacent Landscape Characteristics and Conditions within Mount Royal Park ...................... 42 Protection of Core Habitat Area ....................................................................................... 42 Alternative Breeding Sites ................................................................................................. 44 Emerald Ash Borer .............................................................................................................. 45 Racoons ..............................................................................................................................

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