Grant: Strategic Projects - Group
Trent University
$99,900.00
Linking hydrological processes to biotic indicators in a large regional forest
EF 2009-10
Résumé
The Ganaraska Forest is the largest single tract of forest cover in the settled landscape of southern Ontario. As such, it is a major refuge for forest trees and the associated avifauna, including some rapidly declining aerial insectivores. The region contains greater avian biodiversity than any other region in southcentral Ontario. Since 1970, the forest has experienced significantly less snow as a proportion of total precipitation, a strong signal of the effects of climate warming. We hypothesize that this decline in snow cover will impact soil moisture, a key regulating factor of forest biodiversity. We propose to investigate causes of variation in soil moisture among different forest stands and at different slope positions, and how that variation relates to nutrient availability for vegetation, and insect and avian biodiversity and productivity. We propose to test the strength of connecting links between precipitation inputs, soil moisture, soil nutrients, vegetation, insect prey and birds. If the
connecting links are strong then changes in the pattern of winter precipitation due to climate change will have cascading effects to the bird communities. If weak, this will reflect greater resiliency in the ecosystem to changes in precipitation patterns. The study is interdisciplinary with a hydrologist, soil scientist and avian ecologist as co-applicants. Two graduate students, an M.Sc. and a Ph.D., as well as 9 technicans/research assistants are proposed. Our final objective is to construct a predictive model that will allow us to identify the most productive forest types and slope positions for long-term persistence of the avian community and forest sustainability.The model will use inputs from the field work and a range of values within those predicted for variation in the ratio of snow to total precipitation. This work will be useful for complying with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act of Ontario and has the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, a key regulator, as a supporting organization.
Programme
Strategic Projects - Group
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Ontario, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
365319-2008
Name nom
Nol, Erica
Department département
Biology
Organization id
32
Institution établissement
Trent University
Province en
Ontario
Province fr
Ontario
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2009
Competition year année de concours
2008
Award amount
99900
Program id
STPGP
Program nane en
Strategic Projects - Group
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques - De groupe
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1045
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Environment
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Environnement
Area of application code
201
Area of application group en
Natural resources (economic aspects)
Area of application group fr
Ressources naturelles (aspects économiques)
Area of application en
Forestry (silviculture, forest management)
Area of application fr
Foresterie (sylviculture, aménagement forestier)
Research subject code
4710
Research subject group en
Evolution and ecology
Research subject group fr
Évolution et écologie
Research subject en
Terrestrial ecology
Research subject fr
Écologie terrestre
Partie
2
Nb partie
3
Application title
Linking hydrological processes to biotic indicators in a large regional forest
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The Ganaraska Forest is the largest single tract of forest cover in the settled landscape of southern Ontario. As such, it is a major refuge for forest trees and the associated avifauna, including some rapidly declining aerial insectivores. The region contains greater avian biodiversity than any other region in southcentral Ontario. Since 1970, the forest has experienced significantly less snow as a proportion of total precipitation, a strong signal of the effects of climate warming. We hypothesize that this decline in snow cover will impact soil moisture, a key regulating factor of forest biodiversity. We propose to investigate causes of variation in soil moisture among different forest stands and at different slope positions, and how that variation relates to nutrient availability for vegetation, and insect and avian biodiversity and productivity. We propose to test the strength of connecting links between precipitation inputs, soil moisture, soil nutrients, vegetation, insect prey and birds. If the
connecting links are strong then changes in the pattern of winter precipitation due to climate change will have cascading effects to the bird communities. If weak, this will reflect greater resiliency in the ecosystem to changes in precipitation patterns. The study is interdisciplinary with a hydrologist, soil scientist and avian ecologist as co-applicants. Two graduate students, an M.Sc. and a Ph.D., as well as 9 technicans/research assistants are proposed. Our final objective is to construct a predictive model that will allow us to identify the most productive forest types and slope positions for long-term persistence of the avian community and forest sustainability.The model will use inputs from the field work and a range of values within those predicted for variation in the ratio of snow to total precipitation. This work will be useful for complying with the Crown Forest Sustainability Act of Ontario and has the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, a key regulator, as a supporting organization.
