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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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RIDING MOUNTAIN |
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| General Description |
Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve is located in south central Canada, some 300 km north-west of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It is situated at the junction of the grassland and boreal forest biome. Forests cover most of the area, dominated by aspen (Populus tremuloides). Although grasslands occupy only 7,400 of the total 1,331,800 hectares, they are of national importance since they exist as discrete units and the rare climax rough fescue community represents the eastern extent of its range. This was the reason for its designation as a national park (core area of the biosphere reserve). The grasslands once occurred throughout southern Manitoba but they have been transformed since the European settlement in the late 19th century. The biosphere reserve also includes agricultural areas which used to be forests or grasslands. The forest ecosystem maintains many larger mammals, such as black bear (Ursus americanus), gray wolf (Canis lupus) and coyote (Canis latrans). Descendants of the Ojibwa First Nations live in four relatively small Indian Reserves within the transition zone. The rest of the area was settled mainly by people of Ukrainian, English, French or Scandinavian descent. Some 28,400 people live in the biosphere reserve on a permanent basis. However, peak summer weekends can bring many thousands of visitors to the area (2001). The region supports a rural agricultural economy supplemented by tourism associated mainly with the national park. The national park maintains a well-developed interpretive center with a wide variety of public information materials. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Temperate grasslands / Boreal needle-leaf forests or woodlands | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Mixedwood forest dominated by aspen (Populus tremuloides), balsam poplar (P. balsamifera), white spruce (Picea glauca) on well-drained sites; black spruce (P. mariana) and tamarack (Larix laricina) on wetter sites; and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) on well-drained sandy sites; eastern hardwoods characterized by white elm (Ulmus americana), Manitoba maple (Acer negundo), mountain maple (A. spicatum), green ash (Frazinus pennsylvanica) and bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa); aspen and oak parklands with aspen, balsam poplar and bur oak surrounded by grasslands; grassland ecosystems dominated by rough fescue (Festuca halli - part of the F. scabrella complex); agroecosystems with grain cereals, forage crops, canola and lentils; pasture land; rural areas, cities and towns; elk and bison ranches | |||
| Location | 50°45'N; 100°19'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 1,331,800 | |||
| Core area(s) | 270,800 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | 26,800 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | 1,034,200 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +304 to +755 | |||
| Year designated | 1986 | |||
| Administrative authorities | Riding Mountain National Park Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve Management Committee | |||
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| Brief description |
Erosion impacts of streams flowing off the escarpment Water quality in 15 lakes, and hydrological monitoring Possible climate change trends through analyses of available meteorological records Pollen analyses from lake bottom sediments to describe vegetation changes Winter aerial surveys of elk, moose, and beaver catches as a basis for population estimates Nesting data on herons (Ardea herodias), bald eagles (Haliaetus leucocephalus) and ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) and resumption of a breeding bird survey route in the park Creel surveys for fish Monitoring cadmium uptake in liver and kidneys of moose and elk Establishment of an ungulate disease testing facility in the park, especially to test for bovine tuberculosis in elk, and monitor baseline health of ungulates generally Movement and habitats of black bears Study of habitat suitability for lynx Quantification of change in habitat diversity and complexity in the national park Establishment of Smithsonian Institution biodiversity monitoring plot (SI/MAB) in the eastern hardwoods forest association, and plan to establish a similar plot in a grassland site Grassland ecology , and rough fescue vegetation assemblages Grassland restoration project Structure and dynamics of bur oak (Quercus macrocarpus) stands Study of land use change since 1873 through the use of original land survey records, air photos and satellite imagery Introduction of GIS and historical land use data GIS mapping of location of cattle herds as background information for monitoring elk/cattle interactions and related issues of animal health Demonstration of portable sawmills for on-farm use of poplar wood Study of public attitudes towards wildlife, especially wolves Cooperative beaver management Aboriginal or traditional uses of the park area Historical timber harvesting and forest fires (literature review) Effectiveness of a 1972-1979 alternative land use program along the Manitoba escarpment through air photos analyses of land use change, questionnaire survey and interviews |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | Climate, erosion, habitat, heavy metals, hydrology, meteorology, monitoring/methodologies. | |||
| Biodiversity | Beach/soft bottom, biodiversity, birds, breeding/reproduction, ecology, fires/fire ecology, fishes, forest systems, freshwater/inland water, methodologies, pests/diseases, plants, population genetics/population dynamics, restoration/rehabilitation/redevelopment, species inventorying/inventory, temperate grassland, vegetation studies/plant cover, wildlife. | |||
| Socio-economic | Forestry, livestock and related impacts/overgrazing, people-nature relations/man/nature, traditional practices/ethnology/traditional knowledge. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | Geographic Information System/GIS, impact and risk studies/environmental impact, land use/land cover, management issues, monitoring/methodologies. | |||
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| Contact address |
John Whitaker Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve P.O. Box 399 R0J 1N0 Erickson, Manitoba Canada |
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| Telephone | (1.204) 636 2595 | |||
| Fax | (1.204) 636 2595 | |||
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jwhitaker@escape.ca |
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| Last updated: 26/02/2007 |
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