|
|
|||
|
General information and editorial notes
News and Notes: Activities at the Entomological Societies' meeting Head of Biological Survey to retire Summary of the Scientific Committee meeting Project Update: Pending publications Dubious awards: Sashes and such Canadian Perspectives: Life-cycle Types in the Arctic From the canoe to the microscope: arctic mayflies and stoneflies List of Requests for Material or Information
|
Bio-Blitz 2007
Riding Mountain National Park is in southwestern Manitoba, in a forest-agricultural transition zone approximately 225 km northwest of Winnipeg. It can be accessed by road from south and north on Highway 10, which becomes Riding Mountain Parkway through the park. From east and west, the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 16 intersect Highway 10. Riding Mountain National Park protects about 10,000 ha of aspen parkland, an ecotone between boreal forest and grassland. The park is an upland sloping down gently to the west and steeply to the east, surrounded by agricultural lowland. Much of the park is forest of the Mixedwood Section of the Boreal Forest Region dominated by trembling aspen and white spruce, often with a rich understory of shrubs, on a clay-loam soil. Areas of Rough Fescue Grassland and Mixed Grassland occur particularly in the west of the park, but meadows of grasses and forbs are scattered throughout the park. The wildflower display in mid-summer is always colourful and sometimes spectacular. Patches of oak, with ash and elm in moister areas, occur in the east. Isolated dry habitats occur on the south-facing steep slopes of gullies cut into the eastern escarpment. An excellent guide to the park’s flora is available, making host associations of insect herbivores. Much of the forest was established after wild fires before the surrounding farmland was settled by Europeans. The park is rich in wetlands, with springs, bogs, streams, many beaver ponds, small rivers, numerous marshes and lakes. Moose, elk, white-tailed deer, black bears and beaver are common; lynx, fisher and wolves are occasionally seen. The bird life is diverse, as is the insect fauna, although the latter is not well studied. One paved highway and a few gravel roads provide ready access to over 400 km of trails, from which the diverse habitats can be reached on foot, by bicycle or on horseback. An excellent trail guide is available. Bob Lamb and Pat MacKay have hiked many of the trails and conducted entomological research in many parts of the park over the past decade and will be able to direct entomologists with particular interests to the appropriate habitats. Collecting permits and group camping have been arranged. In addition, there are 297 hotel, motel, or cabin units in Wasagaming and 109 units adjacent to the park. Past BSC Bio-Blitzes have been very successful in collecting a lot of new material from interesting habitats, creating public awareness, and forging new partnerships that will assist in future arthropod biodiversity work.
See more of Pat MacKay's photographs of Riding Mountain National Park by clicking here.
|
||
| Back to top | Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods) home page |
Bio-Blitz 2007 The Biological Survey of Canada will hold its 7th annual Bio-Blitz in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba, July 16-20, 2007.