Publications
Persistent Changes to Ecosystems following Winter Road Construction and Abandonment in an Area of Discontinuous Permafrost, Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories, Canada
Disturbances to discontinuous permafrost terrain, such as those caused by winter road construction and abandonment, can lead to large and persistent changes in ecosystem composition and structure. A study conducted 32 years after the abandonment of a winter access road in Nahanni National Park Reserve (NNPR) found that these changes are driven by interactions between soil conditions and vegetation communities. The research compared disturbed (road) and undisturbed sites across four terrain types: spruce peatland, black spruce parkland, deciduous forest, and alpine treeline terrain. Findings suggest that when disturbances fundamentally disrupt stabilizing interactions between soil conditions and vegetation, lasting changes to ecosystem structure and function are likely, even in the context of climate warming.
Bats of Nahanni National Park Reserve and Surrounding Areas, Northwest Territories
A groundbreaking bat survey in Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada, significantly expands the known range of several bat species. Researchers confirmed the presence of seven bat species, including five not previously recorded in the region: Long-eared Myotis, Long-legged Myotis, Big Brown Bat, Hoary Bat, and Eastern Red Bat. Notably, this study documents the most northerly records (61°N) for Long-eared Myotis and Long-legged Myotis in North America, extending their range approximately 300 km northward. The survey employed mistnets and AnaBat ultrasound detectors over 23 nights, capturing four species and acoustically detecting three others. While reproduction was confirmed only in Little Brown Myotis and Northern Myotis, the findings highlight the region's ecological significance as a potential northern range limit for multiple bat species.
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