Introduction toSaskatchewan’sForest Ecosystem Classification Guide

Michael McLaughlan, R.P.F.

Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment

Saskatoon – February 12, 2011

Field Guide to the Ecosites of Saskatchewan’s Provincial Forests

M.S. McLaughlan, R.A. Wright, and R.D. Jiricka

• Overview of the guide

• Historical context

• Description of the fact sheet

components

• Example applications for the

guide

• Availability of the guide

First Things First… Acknowledgements

Thank-you to the 150+ folks who contributed

to the development of this guide…

Nelson Ackerman

Kathy Acton

Dianne Allen

Bill Archibold

Al Arsenault

Brad Ashdown

Ken Baldwin

Sid Banting

Marcy Bast

Angela Battiste

Krystal Bauer

Janet Bauman

Floyd Bear

Rhys Beaulieu

Yvonne Benz

George Bihun

Michael Bock

Joachim Boehm

Roger Bonneau

Lillith Brooks

Corny Budd

Laena Buller

Bob Busch

Andrea Busse

Angus Carr

James Case

Ned Casey

Dave Chaban

Joe Chernysh

Sylvia Chipman

Hazel Cloak

Valeria Coenen

James Daigneault

Bernie De Vries

Henry Desjarlais

Julie Deugau

Steven Deugau

Carman Dodge

Keith Dodge

Jennifer Doubt

Dave Downing

James Ehnes

Don Ens

Karla Ens

Baosheng Fan

Verna Fedoruk

Joe Gaudry

Donovan Gauthier

Vicki Gauthier

Kathleen Gazey

Lane Gelhorn

Ann Gerry

Glenda Goertzen

Wilf Goerwell

Mike Goodyear

Genny Greif

Dusty Guedo

Charlie Harper

Diane Haydukewich

Brendan Hemens

Murray Hilderman

Brian Holmes

Dick Honch

John Hudson

Gerry Ivanochko

Darwin Janke

Mark Johnston

Heather Jones

Alex Juorio

Jack Keel

Dwayne Keir

Kirsten Ketilson

Bea Kobialko

Mike Kryzanowski

Helena Lamb

Nadine Penney

Allan Lewis

Dave Lindenas

Corey Linnen

Jianwei Liu

Tim Loran

Donna Lundquist

Pat MacKasey

Will Mackenzie

Paul Maczek

Paul Mason

Colin McConnell

Rory McIntosh

Stan McKenzie

Sam McLaughlan

Diane McLeod

Joe Meehan

Jose Menezes

Mo Miller

Darrell Misner

Kelly Mooney

Robert Moore

Gary Neil

Jason Nelson

Val Nicholson

Vesna Nikolic

Jennifer Nuedorf

Wendy Numendahl

Martha O‟Sullivan

Randy Olsen

Bas Oosenbrug

Brenda Parenteau

Cory Pederson

Brad Pinno

Steve Porter

Judy Postle

Mary Priznik

Gerry Racey

Shawn Regnier

Tony Richmond

Michael Rushton

Derek Sattler

Barbel Schwab-Moe

Jason Sharpe

J.R. Smith

Jim Smith

Ted Snow

Will Stafford

Kietha Swenson

Rod Thompson

Jeff Thorpe

Miodrag Tkalek

Bill Towill

Tim Trottier

Ken van Rees

Louise Versteeg

Bruce Walter

Karen Waters

Paul Weedon

Al Willcocks

Bob Wilson

Floyd Wilson

Selena Wong

Bob Wynes

Fritz Yungwirth

Ken Yurach

Mr.

• The Introduction

• The Instructions

• The Informative

• The Immaterial

1. ABOUT THIS GUIDE

Ledum decumbens – northern Labrador tea

The Guide:An Overview

Introduction

Saskatchewan‟s Ecosystem Field Guide:

…can be thought of as an encyclopedia or

dictionary of Saskatchewan‟s provincial forest

ecosystems, but it is not just forests…

…represents the mature, natural, and ambient

ecosystem conditions across our landscapes,

…is cornerstone to results-based management in a

natural resource sector environment because it

describes the qualitative and quantitative attributes

associated with our ecosystems.

Introduction… More than Just Forests

The Ecosystem Field Guide describes:

Forests

Coniferous

Deciduous

Mixedwoods

Wetlands

Swamps

Bogs

Fens

Marshes

Non-treed Conditions

Grasslands

Dunes

Felsenmeer

Introduction…Project Context

January, 2004Meeting – in which we

obtained input about

what ecosystem

attributes would be

displayed and what

structure and format the

guide would follow.

The guide was shaped by 2 meetings with

various resource professionals, and other

potential users.

May, 2000 Meeting – in which we obtained important

input about the scope and application of the project.

Specifically, it was at this meeting that users told us

that they wanted a regionally specific ecosystem

classification (i.e., a separate classification for each

ecozone)….creep !

The Introduction

1. About this Guide Purpose, Project Scope &

Users

2. Ecological Classification and Forest Ecosystem Classification Hierarchy & Saskatchewan

Context

3. Biophysical Context Geographical Location,

Geology, Topography & Soils, Climate and Vegetation

4. Development Process Project Planning, Experimental

Design, Stratification, Data Management and Analysis

La Ronge

Regina

Prince

Albert

Meadow Lake

Hudson Bay

Creighton

Saskatoon

The Instructions

5. How to use the Guide

Diagnostic species

Nested format Ecosite Keys

Overview

Terrestrial

Wetland

Non-Forested

Explanations &

Descriptions of the

Fact Sheet

Attributes

Cautionary Notes

The Informative (& Important)

6. Ecosite Factsheets (81)

Taiga Shield Boreal Shield

Boreal Plain Prairie

The Immaterial

7. Common & Scientific Species Names Harms, V.L. (2006). Annotated catalogue of Saskatchewan vascular plants. W.P. Fraser Herbarium, University of

Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK. 116 pp.

Anderson, L.E.; Crum, H.A.; Buck, W.R. (1990). List of the mosses of North America North of Mexico. The Bryologist, 93(4):448-499

Anderson, L.E. (1990). A Checklist of Sphagnum in North America North of Mexico. The Bryologist. 93(4):500-501

Stotler, R.; Crandall-Stotler, B. (1977). A Checklist of the Liverworts and Hornworts of North America. The Bryologist. 80(3):405-428.

Esslinger, T. L. 2009. A cumulative checklist for the lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the continental United States and Canada. North DakotaState University

http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/instruct/esslinge/chcklst/chcklst7.htm (First Posted 1 December 1997, Most Recent Version # 15 – 27 Aug. 1997) Fargo, N.D

8. Jurisdiction Synonyms Alberta,

Manitoba,

Canadian National Vegetation Classification

9. Glossary

10. Literature Cited

Historical Context

Ecosystem

Classification in

Saskatchewan

From Palliser to Kabzems

and

Beckingham and Beyond

Corallorhiza maculata – spotted coralroot

3. BIOPHYSICAL CONTEXT

Palliser Expedition

Also called the British North American Exploring Expedition.

The expedition explored and surveyed western Canada from 1857 to 1860.

In 1863 Palliser submitted his report to British Parliament which described the flora, fauna, inhabitants and capabilities of the land for settlement and transportation. Eugene

Bourgeau

(expedition

botanist)

John Palliser - geographer (left)

James Hector - naturalist,

geologist & surgeon (right)

Saskatchewan Soil Survey

Following the Swift Current “Better Farming” conference held in 1920, a Royal Commission was appointed to to assess the farming conditions in southwest Saskatchewan.

Led by the University of Saskatchewan Soil Science Department, the first survey covered four R.M.‟s near Moose Jaw in 1921.

In 1950 the work was expanded with more detailed mapping and for the next 40 years, crews (of 10 to 20 people) set out to collect information about the province‟s soils and ecosystems.

So after only 80 short years, the task was complete and Saskatchewan‟s Soil Survey is perhaps the longest-running project undertaken to understand Saskatchewan's environment.

Ecological Regions of SK Originally produced in 1983

(and revised in 1989).

Contributing authors were: Wayne Harris, Alf Kabzems, Adam Kosowan Glen Padbury Stan Rowe

Recognized 6 ecoregions and 13 ecodistricts based on climate, physiography, and vegetation.

Described the ecoregions according to their climate, terrain features, vegetation, wildlife, resources, and land use.

Ecoregions of Saskatchewan

Poster map was produced in 1994.

Identifies 11 ecoregions and 157 „Landscape

areas‟ (ecodistricts).

Is consistent &

compatible with the

Canadian ecozones

& ecoregions.

Formed the basis

for the Department

of Environment‟secological operation framework

(ecoregional structure) in 2000.

Site Level Classification

Has occurred in the form of botanical

investigations describing plant associations

and sub-associations for quite some time.

Examples include:

George Argus. 1966. Botanical investigations in northeastern Saskatchewan: The Subarctic Patterson-Hasbala Lakes region.

Vern Harms. 1974.Botanical studies in the boreal forest along the Green Lake-La Loche road, Northern Saskatchewan.

Zoheir Abouguendia, Bob Godwin & Dan Richert. 1979. Botanical investigations along the proposed Key Lake road.

The ‘Red Book’

Formally know as the Field Guide to the

Ecosites of the Mid-boreal Ecoregions of

Saskatchewan.

Produced in 1996 (Natural Resources

Canada) by:

John Beckingham

Darrin Nielsen

Vince Futoransky

Classifies and describes:

13 ecosites (a through m)

29 ecosite phases

78 plant community types

Today

The field guide was finally published in 2010 after

approximately 10 years of project planning, data

collection, multivariate analysis, and compilation.

It was built on data from

approximately 2000 plots.

Is supported by a

comprehensive database.

Provides a consistent

nomenclature for

Saskatchewan‟s

ecosystems.

Concisely describes the

ecosystems in 81 fun-filled

fact sheets.

Interpreting theFact Sheets

Anemone patens – Prairie crocus

HOW TO USE THE GUIDE

Ecosite Factsheets (81)

Taiga Shield (17)

Boreal Shield (27)

Boreal Plain (28)

Prairie (9)

The Fact Sheet… part 1

Ecosite title (& code)

Site Silhouette

Edatope

Description

& sample size

Characteristic species

By physiognomy

& richness

The Fact Sheet…part 2

Site features

Soil profile

Ecozonal synonyms

Forest productivity

Ecological interpretation

Ecosite Profile

Conveys information about the site:

Substrate & proportion

Slope

Shrub understory

Tree species

Composition

Canopy Cover

Height (avg. & ±)

BS11

The Edatopic Grid

The SK FEC edatope is not so typical.

It represents the ecosite position on a matrix of

moisture regime and vascular plant species

richness.

The sum of the

richness values in

the characteristics

species section

correspond to the

relative position of

the ecosite on the

grid.

So… BP12 has:

Moisture Regime = 4.1

Species Richness = 15.5

15.5

4.1

Further details available at:

The workshop explores and explains all of the details and nuances associated with correctly interpreting the ecosite guide.

Training locations are planned as follows:

Date Location

TBD Prince Albert

TBD Regina

TBD Saskatoon

TBD Meadow Lake

TBD Hudson Bay

TBD La Ronge

TBD Creighton

Applications

Examples of Applications

of the Guide and Future

Direction

Pholiota limonella – Golden Pholiota Shroom

HOW TO USE THE GUIDE

Application - Site Restoration

The most obvious use of the guide is to use

the ecosite description and list of characteristic

species to identify the „required‟ species for

reclaiming and restoring ecosystems following

disturbance.

This example illustrates how the guide not only

supports, but is fundamental to results-based

initiatives.

Results-Based Initiatives… Articulate expected results,

Inform and facilitate decision-making,

Foster collaboration among agencies,

Provide benchmarks or targets that communicate the desired condition,

Are based on quantifiable measures of indicators, and are

Linked to the strategic goals of an organization.

The field guide represents a

tangible example of a results-

based approach

The field guide communicates both

qualitative and quantitative features

about our ecosystems for the purpose of

improved land management.

Application – Habitat Definition

Each ecosite can be

interpreted as habitat for

any number of species.

The ecosite factsheets

provide information critical

to describing the

composition and structure

of habitat.

Ecosites are even referred

to as “habitat types” in

other jurisdictions (e.g.,

Wisconsin).

Caribou habitat is currently

being determined from the

ecosite factsheets. F&W…an early adopter

http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/images/

BorealCaribouMap_small_16Mar10.jpg

Application – Silviculture

Knowledge of the vegetation that occupies a site allows for the development of pre-harvest silvicultural prescriptions.

Ecosite factsheets identify the constancy and abundance of both competitive and „crop‟ species (as well as soil conditions).

Knowing the site and the species allows the silviculturalist to capitalize on a plant‟s reproductive strategies.

http://www.tree-planter.com/

Application – Ecological Monitoring

The ecosite fact sheets

represent benchmarks

for the natural, mature, &

ambient ecosystem

condition.The FEC data set is used regularly by provincial, federal, and international agencies and

the private sector including:

- Natural Resources Canada

- Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada

- University of Saskatchewan

- NASA

Application – Forest Fuels

The current Canadian Forest Fire Behavior Prediction System recognizes 16 distinct fuel types as inputs to the model.

At least 3 of the 16 have little relevance to Saskatchewan: C-5: Red & White Pine

C-7: Ponderosa Pine / Douglas-fir

S-3: Coastal Cedar/Hemlock/Douglas-fir slash

Ecosites, interpreted as

fuels could increase the

sophistication and

relevance of the model

because:

Ecosites are regionally

specific, and

Present information about

the trees, the duff, the

abundance and structure

of other vegetation.

Ecosite fact sheets contain information about where you

would expect to find non-timber forest products such as

Blueberries Fireweed

Lingonberries Cherries

Cranberries Lichens and mosses

The FEC database is a wealth of information about

species that occur with < 40% constancy and would be

valuable in defining the ecosites that have the greatest

probability of containing rare species.

Application – Non-timber Forest Products& Rare Species

Some of the ecosite species

lists contain about 350 species.

The FEC program has „discovered‟ over a dozen species of lichens that have

never been recorded in the province

before.

Future Directions & Products

The Canadian National Vegetation Classification: …is a nationally standardized classification of vegetation.

…was launched in 1998 as part of the International Vegetation

Classification,

…is using our dataset which represents the bridge between western and eastern Canadian vegetation associations.

This worldwide classification system provides a valuable structure for framing and answering important scientific and applied inquiries about vegetation patterns and ecological processes.

Future Directions & Products

Predictive Ecosystem Mapping

The goal is to map the ecosites across the Taiga

Shield, Boreal Shield, and Boreal Plain ecozones.

This work increases the functionality of the

ecosystem classification exponentially because it

allows for the planning, analyzing, and modeling of

any of the previously mentioned ecosystem

attributes or any of the derived products (e.g.,

habitat, fuel type).

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Represented on the Ground

Represented by SamplingPrince Albert & Pasquia Porcupine

fma areas

Availability

Printed copies of the Ecosystem Guide

are available at the workshops & from: Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment

Forest Service

Box 3003

Prince Albert,

Saskatchewan S6V 6G1

A searchable electronic copy (in Adobe Acrobat portable document format –PDF) is available from:

http://www.environment.gov.sk.ca/forests

The Field Guide

Is made to bring into the field.

Is made from Polyart® synthetic paper which: Resists water, grease, and most chemicals,

Resists ultraviolet light,

Resists tears,

Is archive-able, and

Is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and is therefore 100% recyclable in category 2 HDPE…think milk jugs!

Questions