PARENT SESSION
OOS 2: Anthropogenic Disturbances to Western Alpine Lakes: Past, Present, and Future .
Organized by: JE Saros and CE Williamson
Monday, August 2, 8:00 AM to 11:30 AM, Meeting Room E 143.
Anthropogenic threats to the national parks of the Canadian Rockies, II. Terrestrial and wetland fauna and flora.
Bayley, Suzanne1, Schindler, David1, Wong, Agnes1, Guimond, Julie1, Nietvelt, Clifford1, 1 University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
ABSTRACT- Development of the Canadian park system in the Rockies changed the processes controlling the native flora and fauna. Fire suppression, predator control and transportation systems altered terrestrial and wetland habitats. The valley bottoms were particularly altered. Dams flooded some wetlands, although wetland loss in the parks is less than losses outside the parks. In the parks, while there is less loss due to dams, numerous wetlands were altered by the construction of railroads and highways which bisected the floodplain wetlands, blocking floodwaters. Productivity and species richness were reduced with the more impoverished wetlands behind roadbeds. Riparian willow communities and beavers have been depleted by the growth of elk populations. Increased elk use of the wetlands was associated with changes in wolf behaviour and reduction in aspen communities.
Key words: disturbance, wetlands, Canadian Rockies