Terrestrial environments
Understanding what is happening in a variety of ecosystems requires careful scientific monitoring over an extended period of time. Such monitoring and research is most effective when it is open ended, public in nature and results in peer reviewed publication. Over the past three years the Conservative Government of Canada has systematically reduced the support and funding for such research. Such research and monitoring remain essential if we are to understand what happens to ecosystems. NGO's, community groups and schools have increasingly become active in such research in hopes of sustaining some of the research initiatives. The protocols outlined in this section deal with the monitoring of terrestrial ecosystems.
One of the first steps in studying a landscape is to identify the type ecosystem you are in. This can be undertaken by using a MUC Key (Modified UNESCO Code). Once the ecosystem has been identified more specific studies may be undertaken to determine more specific information about the compositions and dynamics of the ecosystem, (You may need to do some of the activities before you can adequately identify the ecosystem using the MUC Key).
This site addresses forested ecosystems. There are a number of methods for systematically studying forests. Trees are the most notable feature of forests. The species of trees, their size (height and diameter) the density of the stand, their preferred site locations, their health and the plants and soils associated with the forest are all parts that need to be studied to understand the structure of the forest. Each of these features have specific protocols that are used when studying forests. Click on the specific analysis you wish to examine.
One of the first steps in studying a landscape is to identify the type ecosystem you are in. This can be undertaken by using a MUC Key (Modified UNESCO Code). Once the ecosystem has been identified more specific studies may be undertaken to determine more specific information about the compositions and dynamics of the ecosystem, (You may need to do some of the activities before you can adequately identify the ecosystem using the MUC Key).
This site addresses forested ecosystems. There are a number of methods for systematically studying forests. Trees are the most notable feature of forests. The species of trees, their size (height and diameter) the density of the stand, their preferred site locations, their health and the plants and soils associated with the forest are all parts that need to be studied to understand the structure of the forest. Each of these features have specific protocols that are used when studying forests. Click on the specific analysis you wish to examine.
- using the MUC key for identifying a terrestrial environment.
- forest studies: forest structure analysis
- tree studies: species, diameter, height, age, canopy closure,
- ground cover analysis
- fine and course woody debris analysis
- analysis of forest soils
- wildlife habitat, wildlife trees
