SUMMARY
Alberta's boreal forest is famous for it's long-standing, unwavering fortitude in the face of a dramatically changing global landscape. It can be categorized as both resistant to outside influences, and resilient in it's ability to recover from major environmental impacts. However, this beautiful ecosystem is also infamous for being one of the most heavily disturbed landscapes in the entire world. The density and intensity of disturbances from forestry, and oil exploration have left the boreal carved up, and left in a state of vulnerability they have never before experienced.
My project is to investigate the movement of non-native plants species through Alberta's boreal forest, and how that is influenced by the combination of both natural, and anthropogenic disturbances. It is predicted that increased levels of disturbance will result in larger numbers of Helicopter photograph of undisturbed boreal forest (Photo by Tobin Grimshaw)
invasive species, in higher densities. The linear corridors that are being cut through the forest are also expected to provide opportunity for these species to migrate, and spread deeper than they would into a healthy, untouched forest. We will test these ideas through the comparison of natural forests, those that have succumbed to either natural burns, or human made linear disturbances, as well as the combination of the two.
It is my hope that this project may give us an indication of the state of risk we are putting our forests in. The levels of existing invasion, and potential for further invasion could help us better understand whether the boreal is as fortified against disturbance as we once thought. If we hope for the boreal to recover from our impact in the future, with a healthy composition of natural species, then we must test it's tolerance for the disturbances that already exist.
My project is to investigate the movement of non-native plants species through Alberta's boreal forest, and how that is influenced by the combination of both natural, and anthropogenic disturbances. It is predicted that increased levels of disturbance will result in larger numbers of Helicopter photograph of undisturbed boreal forest (Photo by Tobin Grimshaw)
invasive species, in higher densities. The linear corridors that are being cut through the forest are also expected to provide opportunity for these species to migrate, and spread deeper than they would into a healthy, untouched forest. We will test these ideas through the comparison of natural forests, those that have succumbed to either natural burns, or human made linear disturbances, as well as the combination of the two.
It is my hope that this project may give us an indication of the state of risk we are putting our forests in. The levels of existing invasion, and potential for further invasion could help us better understand whether the boreal is as fortified against disturbance as we once thought. If we hope for the boreal to recover from our impact in the future, with a healthy composition of natural species, then we must test it's tolerance for the disturbances that already exist.
About meI have spent my entire life in Alberta, being raised in Edson, and living in Edmonton ever since starting university in 2010. I graduated from the University of Alberta in 2014 with a BSc in Conservation Biology. After working for several years in different laboratories, and contract positions I decided it was time to return to school and apply my new skill set in the pursuit of an MSc.
The vast majority of the field work that I have done has revolved around Alberta's boreal forests. If anything I am more familiar with them than I would like to be (a few too many 12 hours days stomping through peatland can really make you question your priorities). So it is only fitting that my MSc thesis has brought me back to true north, strong and green! |