ALL ABSTRACTS BY AUTHOR ABSTRACTS FOR THIS SESSION
Arctic
Science 2000 - Crossing Borders: Science and Community
Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada, Sept 21-24 2000
American Association for the Advancement of Science & Yukon Science Institute
Biological Communities of Southeast Yukon Ecosystems
M. Gill (Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, 91782 Alaska Hwy, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 5B7; 867-393-6760; e-mail: mike.gill@ec.gc.ca)
C. Eckert (Yukon Protected Areas Secretariat, Yukon Department of Renewable Resources, Box 2703, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 2C6; 867-667-8546; e-mail: cameron.eckert@gov.yk.ca)
V. Loewen (Yukon Department of Renewable Resources, Habitat Section, Box 2703, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2C6; 867-667-5281; e-mail: vloewen@gov.yk.ca)
S. Olsen (DIAND Forest Resources, 345-300 Main St. Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 2B5; 867-393-7916; e-mail: olsens@inac.gc.ca)
P. Sinclair (Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, 91782 Alaska Hwy, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 5B7; 867-667-3931; e-mail: pam.sinclair@ec.gc.ca)
J. Staniforth (Yukon Department of Renewable Resources, Habitat Section, Box 2703, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2C6; 867-667-3649; e-mail: jennifer.staniforth@gov.yk.ca)
B. Bennett (Yukon Department of Renewable Resources, Wildlife Viewing Unit, Box 2703, Whitehorse, YT Y1A 2C6; 867-667-5331; e-mail: bruce.bennett@gov.yk.ca)
W. Nixon (Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, 91782 Alaska Hwy, Whitehorse, YT, Y1A 5B7; (867) 667-3929; e-mail: wendy.nixon@ec.gc.ca)
Prior to 1995, little had been documented about the biological communities in the extreme southeastern Yukon. Current range maps suggested that some bird and plant species known to occur in northwestern Alberta, northeastern BC and southwestern Northwest Territories, were likely to occur in the southeast Yukon. Current industrial development (forestry and oil and gas) in the lower La Biche River valley and potential development in the Beaver River valley threaten to cause dramatic changes in the natural landscape. We conducted biological surveys of the Yukon’s La Biche and Beaver River valleys over a five-year period, from 1995 to 1999. The goals of this study were: 1) to determine the northwest extent of the ranges of species thought to inhabit the extreme southeast Yukon, 2) to identify avian and plant species associated with forested and wetland habitats in the La Biche and Beaver River valleys, and 3) to provide recommendations that will help ensure the long-term health of the region’s biological communities.
Field surveys of forest, wetland, sub-alpine and alpine birds and plants; habitat structure; amphibians, fish; forest insects and disease; forest dynamics; bats; and black bears have been conducted during June and July in some or all of the five years. This work has involved biologists from the Canadian Wildlife Service, Yukon Department of Renewable Resources, DIAND Forest Resources and independent consultants.
Our results show that this area is one of the most ecologically significant, unique and productive areas in the Yukon. The physiographic and climatic conditions of the area, together with the geographical position, combine to produce a unique mosaic of ecosystems, supporting bird, plant, mammal, fish and amphibian communities unlike those found elsewhere in the Yukon and possibly in the boreal northwest region. Surveys revealed nine bird species, one amphibian species, one bat species and twelve plant species not previously recorded in the Yukon. The exceptionally productive forests support high densities of both widespread Yukon bird species and species at the edge of their range. Approximately 500 of the 1176 known plant species in the Yukon are found in the La Biche and Beaver River valleys.