Download Native Plants As Habitat For Wildlife

The Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan, Inc.
Is Pleased to Present:
Native Plants As Habitat For Wildlife
Workshop and Annual General Meeting
Speaker Notes
February 2-3, 2001
Temple Gardens Mineral Spa
24 Fairford Street East
Moose Jaw SK
Sponsored In Part By:
Tappit Resources Ltd.
Environment Canada, Luscar Ltd., Saskatchewan Forage Council, Shand Greenhouse, Meewasin Valley
Authority, Golder Associates Ltd., ERIN Consulting Ltd., Prairie Seeds Inc.,
Nature Conservancy of Canada, Saskatchewan Neutraceutical Network
The NPSS is pleased to acknowledge our funding partners:
www.ducks.ca
Shell Canada Limited
www.shell.ca
Tappit Resources Ltd.
www.Tappit.com
www.nexeninc.com
Saskatchewan
Environment
and Resource
Management
www.serm.gov.sk.ca
Saskatchewan
Agriculture
and Food
www.agr.gov.sk.ca
For further information or copies of this document contact:
Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan Inc.
P.O. Box 21099
Saskatoon SK S7H 5N9
Phone: (306) 668-3940
Fax: (306) 373-4462
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.npss.sk.ca
Workshop Program and Table of Contents
Friday, February 2nd
Workshop Chair – Ray McDougald
Page #
8:00
Registration
8:50
Opening remarks (Renny Grilz)
9:00
Morning Session (Chair – Debbie Nilesen – Shand Greenhouse)
9:00
Biodiversity and the link between native habitat and wildlife - Alan
Appleby (Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society) ................................................1
9:30
Saskatchewan Biodiversity Action Plan – Lin Gallagher (Saskatchewan
Environment and Resource Management)...............................................................2
9:50
Prairie Conservation Action Plan – Karyn Scalise (Prairie Conservation
Action Plan) .............................................................................................................5
10:10 BREAK
10:30 The Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at
Risk – Dean Nernberg (Canadian Wildlife Service)................................................7
10:50 Loss and degradation of native Mixed Grass prairie: implications for
grassland bird conservation in Saskatchewan – Steve Davis (Saskatchewan
Wetland Conservation Corporation) ......................................................................11
11:10 Native plants as spider habitat – Jeanette Pepper (Saskatchewan
Conservation Data Centre).....................................................................................12
11:30 LUNCH –
12:20 NPSS Business Meeting (Chair - Renny Grilz, NPSS/Ducks Unlimited
Canada)
1:40
Afternoon Session (Chair – Chris Nykoluk, Prairie Farm Rehabilitation
Administration)
1:40
Plant Quest program – Jim Elliot (Nature Saskatchewan)
1:45
Some Plant-Wildlife Relationships in the Lake Athabasca Sand Dunes Peter Jonker (Extension Division, University of Saskatchewan) ..........................13
2:35
Plants in the inland aquatic environment: their role in a healthy ecosystem
– Katherine Gerein (National Water Research Institute).......................................14
3:00
BREAK
3:30
The Missouri Coteau – biodiversity and wildlife management – Lyle
Saigeon (Ducks Unlimited Canada).......................................................................15
3:55
Grazing and fire management impacts on wildlife habitat – Conrad Olson
(Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management)....................................16
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4:20
Riparian area management and bird populations – Alan Smith (Canadian
Wildlife Service)....................................................................................................18
5:00
Silent auction, cocktails
6:30
BANQUET (Chair – Deanne Newkirk, SaskPower)
8:00
Banquet Speaker – Sharon Butala
Saturday, February 3rd
8:00
Registration – coffee and muffins
8:50
Welcome Back
9:00
Morning Session (Chair – Laura Herman)
9:00
Saskatchewan’s Grassland mammals: a century of change – Wayne Harris
(Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management)....................................21
9:25
Rare plant conservation in Important Bird Areas: Where is the common
ground? - Josef Schmutz (Important Bird Areas, Nature Saskatchewan) .............22
9:50
Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretative Centre – Heather Felskie
(Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre).............................................23
10:00 BREAK – Earthwatch video (Eileen Herman)
10:30 Sharon Butala - readings
11:15 Native plants as habitat for insects – Ron Hooper.................................................24
11:45 Wildlife and plants, a nature enthusiast’s perspective – Nora Stewart
(Prairie Mountain Roots) .......................................................................................25
12:00 LUNCH
1:00
Afternoon Session
1:00
The native seed industry: a discussion session.
- Industry survey results- Denise Pewarchuk (Alberta Research Council)............na
- Native seed inventory and Conservation Cover Program update – Michel
Tremblay (Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food) ...............................................na
- Native plant industry trends – Andy Hammermeister (Native Plant
Society of Saskatchewan) ...................................................................................27
- NPSS membership survey – Andy Hammermeister............................................29
2:00
Winter tree and shrub identification workshop – Anna Leighton .........................31
Special Section: Native trees and shrubs and related cultivars – Sara
Williams (Extension Division, University of Saskatchewan)................................32
4:00
Wrap-up
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Biodiversity and the Link Between Native Habitat and Wildlife
Alan G. Appleby
Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society
The concept of habitat is fundamental to our understanding of the natural world we live
in. And fundamental to our efforts to keep it healthy and sustainable. But what really do
we know about habitat and the relationships of organisms that live in and ultimately
create it?
In the broader context, habitat has dimensions of time, place and process that we have not
yet fully incorporated into our thinking. Some of these dimensions go beyond our normal
biological concept of habitat into broader geographic, social and cultural arenas not
usually integrated into the equation.
With the accelerating pace of change in our environment both locally and globally, we
need to find ways to incorporate broader ways of thinking and acting to preserve
examples of healthy functioning habitats. Protected area programs offer some hope that
we can maintain specimen areas to broadly address and preserve representative habitat
areas that sustain their internal ecological integrity and the links between habitat and
wildlife.
If we are to maintain healthy habitat for the range of biodiversity we are willing to share
this earth with, we must begin to conceptualize and work within the broader picture as
part of our local research, management and advocacy activities.
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Saskatchewan Biodiversity Action Plan
Lin Gallagher
Biodiversity Specialist, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management
The Government of Saskatchewan has publicly committed to the development of a
Saskatchewan Biodiversity Action Plan to guide the actions of government to conserve
our province’s biological resources for present and future generations.
The Action Plan will provide an umbrella for provincial actions over a five year period to
manage human activities and use of the provinces natural resources in order to maintain
ecosystem, species and genetic diversity and the natural processes that shaped them
What is Biodiversity?
Biodiversity (short for biological diversity) is the spectacular variety of life on earth and
the essential interdependence among all living things.
The Convention on Biological Diversity, June 1992 defines biodiversity as:
“The variability among living organisms from all sources, including among others,
terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which
they are a part; this includes diversity within species and between species and diversity of
ecosystems.”
Biodiversity is usually considered at three levels including:
• Genetic Diversity - variability in the genetic composition of individuals within or
among species and their populations.
• Species Diversity - the number and variety of species found in a given area.
• Ecosystem Diversity - the variety of ecosystems found within a region, where
ecosystem means a dynamic complex of plant, animal and microbial communities
and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.
What is the Value of Biodiversity?
The benefits of conserving biological diversity are numerous. Biological diversity is the
primary source for fulfilment of humanities needs and provides a basis for adaptation to
changing environments. An environment rich in biological diversity offers the broadest
array of options for sustainable economic activity, for nurturing human welfare and for
adapting to change.
The world’s species provide us with all our food and many medicines and industrial
products. For example, the fishing, forestry and to some extent agriculture industries rely
on the harvest of biological resources from the wild.
Benefits arising from the conservation of Saskatchewan’s biological diversity are not
however restricted to the continued harvest of resources, they include the provision and
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maintenance of a wide array of ecological services. The maintenance of hydrological
cycles (groundwater recharge, watershed protection, and buffering against extreme
events), climate regulation, soil production and fertility, protection from erosion, nutrient
storage and cycling, and pollutant breakdown and absorption are some of these services.
They are fundamental to the quality of our life and our economy, and they are often
grossly undervalued by society.
Threats to Biodiversity
The amazing variety of living things that are the foundation of life is disappearing. Past
and current practices including habitat destruction and fragmentation, pollution, and over
harvesting have disturbed ecosystems and ecosystem services. Human activity has been
changing ecosystems for thousands of years but, in Saskatchewan the pace and extent of
change has increased since European settlement about 150 years ago. The principle
threats to the province’s land and aquatic biodiversity can be summarized under five
main headings including habitat loss and fragmentation, non-native species invasion,
pesticides and pollution, over-harvesting.
For example agricultural soils are being lost either through erosion or agricultural
practices that are unsustainable. Drainage of wetlands has resulted in the loss of native
aquatic systems and other drainage has left communities vulnerable to flooding. Invasive
species including Dutch elm disease, leafy spurge and purple loose strife cause damage to
agricultural and natural systems and negatively affect populations of native species.
Chemical by-products from human activities are damaging the ozone layer and are
responsible for global warming.
What Can We Do?
The complexity of the threats to biodiversity call for a wide range of responses across a
large number of private and public sectors.
Global Initiative: United Nations Convention
The world wide impact of the decline of biological resources inspired the global
community to successfully negotiate the United Nations Convention on Biological
Diversity in 1992. The Convention on Biological Diversity was signed by Canada at the
June 1992 Earth Summit in Brazil and ratified in December 1992. Canada was the first
industrialized country to ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity
National Initiative: Canadian Biodiversity Strategy
Canada’s primary response to the Convention on Biological Diversity has been the
development of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy. The strategy is an important first
step in providing a national framework for jurisdictional and sectoral planning and
reporting. The completed strategy was released in November, 1995 and received
Ministerial endorsement from all jurisdictions in April, 1996. All federal, provincial and
territorial governments are now committed to its five goals.
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In May, 1995, our provincial Cabinet endorsed the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, which
specifies that each jurisdiction would implement the strategic directions set out in the
document according to its own priorities, plans and fiscal capabilities.
Provincial Initiative: Saskatchewan Biodiversity Action Plan
Saskatchewan adopted its current environmental policy in 1994 in the document
Saskatchewan’s Environmental Agenda - Securing a Sustainable Future. That agenda
outlines five goals and associated actions “to achieve a sustainable environmental future
for Saskatchewan”.
Strategies to be of any use must be turned into action through a more tactical process of
planning. Specific activities must be identified to address the broad strategies outlined in
the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy. In Saskatchewan this entails the development of a
Saskatchewan Biodiversity Action Plan. The Action Plan will guide the biodiversity
conservation efforts of the provincial government over the next five years in support of
the CBS.
An Interagency Steering Committee comprised of representatives from all Government
departments and agencies whose activities impact on provincial biodiversity resources
has been established to develop the five year Action Plan. The Action Plan will identify
direct actions for the conservation of biodiversity within the province and outline an
implementation plan which identifies priorities for government action.
Conclusion:
Human activity affects a large portion of the earth’s land area. In Saskatchewan,
agriculture, forestry and urbanization are three of the major economic uses of land. If
biodiversity and the economy must share the same land base, it follows that they must
share management systems as well. Biodiversity values can no longer be taken care of
outside of the domain of human activity
Fortunately for us, our productive forests, farmlands, and even cities remain rich in
natural biodiversity when compared to more populated countries, the challenge is to
protect and enhance this richness in the context of continuing economic activity.
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Prairie Conservation Action Plan
- Submitted by Karyn Scalise, PCAP Implementation Coordinator Box 4752 REGINA SK S4P 3Y4
Phone: (306) 352-0472; Fax: (306) 525-5852
E-mail: [email protected]; Website: www.pcap-sk.org
Significant progress continues to be made on the implementation of the Saskatchewan
Prairie Conservation Action Plan (PCAP). Progress is tracked annually through the
production of Partner Updates. Partner Update 2 is available on our website or through
the PCAP office. The PCAP is chaired by the Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association
and has representation from 21 partners representing industry, academic institutions,
government agencies and non-government organizations, including the NPSS. PCAPs
five key goals are:
·
To sustain a healthy native prairie grazing resource
·
To conserve the remaining prairie resource
·
To maintain Saskatchewan’s native prairie biological diversity
·
To promote the sustainable use of native prairie to enhance quality of life
·
To promote education and develop education programs
This summer PCAP partners hosted an impressive and diverse list of events to increase
awareness and appreciation of Saskatchewan’s native prairie ecosystems. On June 2 a
PCAP Signing Ceremony was held at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum in Regina to
mark the official launch of Saskatchewan’s 2nd Annual Native Prairie Appreciation
Week. Renny Grilz signed on behalf of the NPSS. On behalf of Deputy Prime Minister
Herb Gray and the Government of Canada, the Honourable Ralph Goodale delivered
greetings and announced that the Saskatchewan and Manitoba PCAPs would receive up
to $538, 879 through the Canada Millennium Partnership Program (CMPP).
In July, I attended a barbeque for federal Environment Minister, David Anderson, which
was jointly organized by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association and the SSGA at a ranch
near Hanley. The ranch tour demonstrated that good stewardship can provide high quality
habitat for wildlife and profits for producers. The following evening Minister Anderson
announced that $410,000 would be awarded to PCAP and four of its partners (Nature
Saskatchewan (NS), Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation (SWCC), Nature
Conservancy Canada (NCC) and the NPSS) through Environment Canada’s Habitat
Stewardship Program. Most of this funding will be targeted at the Missouri Coteau.
PCAP, SWCC, NS, NCC and Ducks Unlimited Canada are working together to ensure
coordination of stewardship programming. NPSS received Habitat Stewardship Program
funding for the booklet it is developing on managing acreages. PCAP is pleased to be
providing in-kind and financial support towards this worthwhile endeavor.
This fall, PCAP’s 21 partners evaluated progress on the 85 action items contained in the
Prairie Conservation Action Plan. We plan to present the results of this evaluation and
other information relating to PCAP progress at the 6th Prairie Conservation and
Endangered Species Conference which will be held in Winnipeg on February 22-25,
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2001. The conference is held every three years; this years theme is Sharing Common
Ground. The original PCAP document was unveiled at the 1998 conference in Saskatoon
and I am confident that delegates will be impressed by the progress that has been made in
Saskatchewan over the past three years. Since 1998, the Saskatchewan PCAP has raised
over $645,000 for prairie conservation initiatives.
Planning for Saskatchewan’s third annual Native Prairie Appreciation Week (NPAW) has
begun. A three day event is planned for June after the SSGA Convention. NPAW 2001
will be modelled after the highly successful Romancing the Prairies conference, held in
Cypress Hills in 1999. It will bring together ranchers, naturalists and environmental and
agricultural specialists for presentations, field tours and a banquet.
The Cows, Fish, Cattle Dogs and Kids Game Show on riparian stewardship was a huge
hit at Saskatoon’s Fall Fair and at Agribition in Regina this November. Between 1,500 to
2,000 Grade 4 to 6 students participated in the game. The kids have lots of fun playing
and teachers and parents are consistently impressed at its effectiveness in educating
students about riparian areas.
In January and February, PCAP is joining forces with Grasslands National Park, SK
Wetland Conservation Corporation (SWCC), the SK Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre
(SBOIC) and the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) to deliver the Eco-Extravaganza
to kindergarten to grade 6 students from schools in Assiniboia, Bengough, Coronach,
Rockglen, Radville, Crane Valley, Spring Valley, Viceroy, Ogema, Pangman, Gladmar,
Oungre and Willowbunch. Evening meetings are also being planned in some of the
communities visited to provide landowners with information on the PCAP and
stewardship programs operating in the Missouri Coteau.
I am looking forward to the NPSS Conference this February and to providing you with
more information on PCAP.
The PCAP gratefully acknowledges funding and in-kind support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
through the National Soil and Water Conservation Program (NSWCP) and the Canadian Adaptation &
Rural Development Fund in Saskatchewan (CARDS), Canada Millennium Partnership Program (CMPP),,
Ducks Unlimited Canada (DUC), Environment Canada - Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS), Environment
Canada’s Habitat Stewardship Program, Nature Saskatchewan (NS), Saskatchewan Agriculture & Food
(SAF), Saskatchewan Environmental Industry and Managers Association (SEIMA), Saskatchewan
Environment & Resource Management (SERM), SERMs Fish and Wildlife Development Fund,
Saskatchewan Stock Growers Association (SSGA), Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation
(SWCC) and the University of Regina’s Canadian Plains Research Centre (CPRC).
Note: this article was reprinted from Volume 5, No. 4 of the NPSS newsletter Native
Plant News.
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The Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk
Dean Nernberg
Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada
Stewardship and the Federal Strategy
Stewardship refers to the wide range of voluntary actions by Canadians to care for the
environment. Activities range from monitoring and conserving wildlife species and their
habitat, to protecting and improving the quality of soil, water, air and other natural
resources. These types of conservation actions, particularly those activities that provide
habitat, are essential to the recovery of species at risk and to the prevention of other
species from becoming at risk in the first place.
Examples of activities that Canadians, such as farmers, naturalist club members, fishing
interests and resource companies, are undertaking to care for the environment and to
protect species at risk and their habitats include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Protecting habitat for Burrowing Owls and reporting sightings of them;
Installing nest boxes for species such as the Eastern Bluebird, Prothonotary
Warbler, and the Barn Owl;
Improving habitat conditions for the Eastern Loggerhead Shrike by putting cattle
into pastures where controlled grazing is required to prevent encroachment of some
plants;
Clearing habitat and protecting nesting areas for the Spiny Softshell Turtle;
Restoring fish habitat and cleaning up streams;
Developing selective fishing gear methods to reduce catch of species at risk;
Assisting in the development of land use guidelines that further protect habitat for
species at risk.
A variety of players help make these stewardship actions possible and successful over the
long-term.
The federal government's three-part strategy to protect species at risk consists of building
on the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk, the new legislation, the proposed
Species at Risk Act (SARA), and the introduction of stewardship programs. Stewardship
programs will help Canadians protect species at risk and their habitats.
Value of Partnerships
Governments, both federal and provincial, have for many years assisted Canadians in
protecting species at risk and their habitats. They have done so by providing scientific
information and technical assistance, as well as economic incentives such as direct
financial assistance and income tax reductions for donations of ecologically sensitive
lands.
Non-profit organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited Canada and the Nature Conservancy
of Canada, are key in making these types of activities possible by helping landowners to
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identify and implement stewardship actions. Their activities have been funded by the
private sector, by government, and by partnerships between the two.
Other partners in protecting species at risk and their habitats include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Private landowners and land users (individuals or companies);
Fishing interests (individuals or companies);
Not-for-profit organizations such as charitable and volunteer organizations,
Professional associations, and non-governmental organizations;
Aboriginal organizations and associations and wildlife management boards;
Educational institutions (Universities & Colleges);
Local organizations such as community associations and groups, seniors' and
youth groups, and service clubs;
Private individuals and companies that lease crown lands or have lease
agreements or permits for resource use and exploitation;
Provincial, municipal and local governments and public agencies.
Stewardship programs recognize that landowners and land users prefer to make decisions
about their own land management activities. Often all they need is access to information
that will help them make decisions about what they can do to conserve species, access to
financial assistance where the cost of action is prohibitive, and some recognition for their
contributions. The evidence is clear-where these tools are available, the results for
species and their habitats can be very positive. The federal government has recognized
this reality by making stewardship a cornerstone of its three-part strategy to protect
species at risk.
The Habitat Stewardship Program
The Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk is a partnership-based, conservation
initiative sponsored by the Government of Canada. The Program is managed
cooperatively by Environment Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and
Parks Canada, and administered by Environment Canada.
A portion of the $90 million that Budget 2000 is investing in a national strategy to protect
species at risk over the next three years will be used for this program. The program will
enhance existing, and encourage new, conservation activities that foster land use and
resource use practices that maintain habitat critical to the survival and recovery of
threatened or endangered species as identified in recovery planning. To be proactive and
prevent wildlife species from becoming at risk, the program will also contribute to the
implementation of management plans for species of conservation concern. There will be
an increased focus
on recovery of species at risk, especially over the next few years while conservation
strategies identified in recovery plans and action plans are being put in place.
The Missouri Coteau Initiative
The Missouri Coteau is considered as one of North America’s and Prairie Canada’s most
significant tract of prairie grasslands, lakes, and pothole complexes. This extensive
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glacial moraine covers approximately 26,000 square miles (6.7 million hectares) in the
prairie ecozone of Saskatchewan extending into North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana,
and Minnesota.
In Canada, this landscape occupies 9,000 square miles (2.35 million hectares) in the
mixed grassland ecoregion of Saskatchewan. The Missouri Coteau encompasses 25 rural
municipalities and is orientated in a diagonal belt from the northwest near the community
of Biggar through Chaplin, Crane Valley, and extending to Lake Alma and the United
States border.
Key Reasons for Integrated Conservation in the Missouri Coteau
! Significant threat for loss or degradation of native prairie and wetlands.
Only 17% of native prairie is estimated to remain in southern Saskatchewan while 1/3
of the Missouri Coteau landbase is under natural grassland. Remnant native prairie
still is being converted to cropland resulting in fragmented smaller land parcels,
vulnerable to invasion of exotic species. In addition, over 70% of southern
Saskatchewan’s wetlands are annually impacted upon by agricultural activities.
The Coteau’s rural farming and ranching community is undergoing social and
economic changes. With many landowners nearing retirement age, there will be
considerable turnover in land ownership during the next 20 years. This will result in
more intensive land use and accelerated loss of wildlife habitat.
! The Missouri Coteau is an important prairie waterfowl breeding area.
In May 1999, an estimated 4.1 million birds, or 28 % of the southern prairie duck
population, used this region. Northern Pintail and Lesser Scaup, both species well
below their NAWMP population goals, breed in the Missouri Coteau.
! Key wetland complexes for shorebird breeding and migration.
There are 32 species of shorebirds that commonly occur in Saskatchewan and the
Missouri Coteau. Sixteen of these species migrate through the province and another
16 species are local breeders. The Chaplin, Reed, and Old Wives Lake complex has
been identified by WHSRN as having Hemispheric significance for shorebirds.
! The Missouri Coteau has important habitat for Species at Risk.
Species at risk found in this region include: Piping Plover, Whooping Crane,
Ferruginous Hawk, Burrowing Owl, Sprague’s Pipit, Loggerhead Shrike, Long-billed
Curlew, Sage Thrasher, Peregrine Falcon, Short-eared Owl, Yellow Rail, Northern
Leopard Frog, Great Plains Toad, Monarch Butterfly, and Hairy Prairie Clover. For
example, about 250 pairs of Piping Plover, or 36% of the breeding population in
Saskatchewan, is present in the Missouri Coteau.
! Native prairie provides critical habitat for grassland birds.
Common species include Chestnut-collared Longspur, Baird’s Sparrow, Western
Meadowlark, and Sprague’s Pipit. Many of which are experiencing the sharpest
population declines in North America.
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! The Missouri Coteau has important breeding areas for colonial waterbirds.
Common species include Great Blue Heron, Black-crown Night-Heron, White
Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Eared Grebe, and Franklin’s Gull.
! A number of habitat conservation activities already underway in the Missouri
Coteau.
Conservation activities range from a national Migratory Bird Sanctuary, agricultural
extension, native prairie stewardship, education, conservation easements, fee title
purchases, leases, flood consents, and land management agreements.
How Can This Be Accomplished?
The activities by the partners in the Missouri Coteau Initiative will target areas of key
importance to Species at Risk, areas with a high proportion of remnant native prairie,
areas with critical wetlands, areas where soil classification puts native prairie at risk for
conversion to cropland, and areas with mixed farming operations where cropland
conversion to perennial cover would be more likely to succeed and be maintained. These
are some of the activities underway in the Missouri Coteau:
• Private and Paid Stewardship Activities
• Conservation Easements
• Land Purchase
• Cropland Conversion
• Education
• Data Collection
• Targeted Species Projects
In 2000, the Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species at Risk
provided $410,000 to assist non-profit organizations with their Habitat Stewardship
activities in the Missouri Coteau. These groups included: Nature Conservancy of
Canada, Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation, Nature Saskatchewan, Prairie
Conservation Action Plan, and the Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan. There are
other organizations that have not received funding through this program that have
stewardship projects and activities centred in the Missouri Coteau as well, such as Ducks
Unlimited Canada. The Government of Canada Habitat Stewardship Program for Species
at Risk will continue to support Habitat Stewardship activities in the Missouri Coteau in
2001 as well as other areas of Saskatchewan and across Canada.
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Loss and Degradation of Native Mixed-grass Prairie: Implications for Grassland
Bird Conservation in Saskatchewan
Steve Davis
Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation
Analyses of data from the North American Breeding Bird Survey indicate that grassland
bird populations are experiencing the steepest and most consistent declines of any avian
group. Widespread loss and degradation of prairie habitat have often been cited as the
primary factors responsible for these declines. Unfortunately, few studies of grassland
birds have been conducted in Prairie Canada despite the fact that 70% of grassland birds
are declining in Canada and that several endemic grassland bird species reach their
greatest abundance in this region. Here I summarize recent research in an attempt to
identify factors that may contribute to the decline of grassland birds in Canada.
Results from grassland bird surveys indicate cropland habitat is least attractive for all
species with the exception of the Horned Lark. Several species are often associated with
hayland and seeded pastures (e.g. Baird’s Sparrow), while other species are mostly
restricted to native pasture (e.g. Sprague’s Pipit). These results suggest that 1) the
conversion of native prairie to cropland has likely played a major role in the decline of
grassland birds and, 2) while forage crops provide habitat for some generalist species,
they do not provide habitat for grassland specialists.
Over-grazing is often cited as having a deleterious effect on grassland birds because of
drastic changes in vegetation structure, although some species are associated with heavily
grazed habitats. Indeed, some species are least abundant in heavily grazed pastures and
residual vegetation has been found to be the most important parameter in nest-site
selection models. However, the overall impact that grazing has on grassland bird
populations in Saskatchewan is unknown and may be relatively minor.
Breeding habitat may also be degraded through the process of fragmentation. The
increased edge habitat resulting from habitat fragmentation may cause the loss of species
that require interior habitats and increase the abundance of edge species, including
predators and brood parasitic Brown-headed Cowbirds. Indeed, my research indicates
that grassland specialists are more likely to occur on large pastures and cowbird
parasitism is inversely related to patch size. However, nest success and productivity of
grassland birds was as high or higher in small native pastures (≤ 65 ha) than in large
pastures (> 256 ha). The results of these studies support the contention that the
destruction and fragmentation of native grasslands has contributed to the decline of some
grassland bird species. Thus conservation of Saskatchewan’s native range should be the
province’s highest conservation priority for sustaining endemic grassland bird
populations.
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Native Plants as Spider Habitat
Jeanette Pepper
Saskatchewan Conservation Data Centre, Sask. Environment and Resource Management
In the past, the importance of native plants as habitat for arthropods, such as spiders and
insects, has been overlooked. All animals, including small ones, rely on specific plants
and plant communities for their survival. Although spiders are strictly predaceous, they
depend on plants to attract prey, provide protective cover and structural support for web
construction.
Arachnids, such as spiders, are fundamentally different from insects and other arthropods.
Spiders have two body parts, the cephalothorax and abdomen. Attached to the
cephalothorax are four pairs of legs, a pair of biting chelicerae or fangs, a pair of
pedipalps and eight eyes. Unlike insects, spiders undergo incomplete metamorphosis.
Spiderlings moult many times before reaching maturity, making identification to the
species' level difficult for juveniles.
Most, if not all spiders are venomous and through a variety of techniques typically prey
on insects in Saskatchewan. All spiders are able to produce silk even though not all
species build webs. Web designs and hunting techniques are specific to each spider
Family. Wandering spiders, such as Lycosids (wolf spiders), Salticids (jumping spiders)
and Thomosids (crab spiders) do not typically build webs to capture prey but rather
ambush insects. Araneids (orb web spiders) and Agelenids (funnel-web spiders) construct
elaborate webs to catch either flying or wandering insects respectively.
Native plants provide essential habitat for spiders in a variety of ways. Vegetation
attracts insect prey and provides the structural support for web building as well as ground
cover for wandering species. Different vegetation zones have been identified as habitat
for spider species. Spiders live on the ground, in short vegetation, taller shrubs and the
upper canopy of forests. Spiders not only inhabit specific zones but move within a single
zone according to the season and prey availability.
Research conducted in 1995 on Saskatchewan grasslands illustrated the importance of
plants to spider species richness and species assemblages. Range condition assessments
and ground-dwelling arthropod surveys were conducted on pastures of native prairie. The
pasture with the poorest range condition due to high levels of bare soil and little litter,
had the lowest number of spider species. This was most likely due to the higher soil
temperatures, little cover and lower moisture levels which would be less conducive for
wandering spider species. Although most cursorial or wandering species do not build
webs, the low structural heterogeneity of the vegetation on this pasture may have limited
species richness since suitable prey may have also been affected by the structurally
simplistic vegetation available.
This research provides evidence to support what we intuitively know: conservation of
native plants and plant communities is essential to the preservation of our native
biodiversity.
12
Some Plant-Animal Relationships in the Lake Athabasca Sand Dunes
Peter Jonker
Extension Division, University of Saskatchewan
I cannot tell you that the dunes are teeming with unusual wildlife relating in most unusual
ways to local plants. The truth is that, although the wide open sand fields occasionally
serve as places to escape mid-summer mosquitoes and blackflies, they are generally
avoided by various local animal species as largely unfriendly terrain with little to offer in
comfort or food. The dunes are in many ways a mostly deserted, windswept landscape
suffering from temperature extremes.
It is this very desolation, however, which serves to bring into surprising and delightful
contrast the presence life. Whether it be, on a small scale, a single clump of floccose
tansy clinging to the surface of an immense sand field or, on a larger scale, a pocket of
felt-leaved willow or jack pine sprouting from a moist interdune trough, each is like an
oasis. These often provide important opportunities for a variety of insects, birds, or
mammals during the course of a year. These provide ongoing opportunities for human
visitors to encounter and observe such animal life. Having camped and hiked in the dunes
on 12 occasions with groups or on personal expeditions, I have had recurring
opportunities to observe some relationships.
In this presentation, supported with slides, we will consider what vegetation
characteristics are likely to be of interest to resident animals, how this is reflected in their
use of the dunes area generally, and how this is reflected in their use of particular species.
13
Plants in the Inland Aquatic Environment:Their Role in a Healthy Ecosystem
Katherine Gerein and Marlene Evans
National Water Research Institute, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, SK, S7N 3H5
Plants are a crucial component to the functioning of a healthy aquatic ecosystem. As in
terrestrial ecosystems, plants form the base of the food web and interactions between
plants and animals ultimately affect food web structure. Aquatic plants provide habitat
for invertebrates, fish, both migratory and nesting waterfowl and other wildlife, such as
beavers and moose. As well, they are an important source of dissolved oxygen in the
water column, stabilize the sediments of the littoral (near-shore) zone, and provide sites
for the growth of epiphytic algae. Some aquatic plants have medicinal properties.
Aquatic plants exhibit great morphological diversity, varying from microscopic algae to
large macrophytes (rooted plants). Within a freshwater lake, the littoral zone is
subdivided into different zones characterized by their plant community. Emergent
macrophytes, such as cattails (Typha) and bulrushes (Scirpus), are found along the
nearshore region; whereas floating macrophytes, such as pond weed (Potamogeton) and
water lilies (Nymphaea and Nuphar), occur in waters up to 3 m. Submerged
macrophytes, such as stoneworts (Chara), grow on the substrate in waters up to 10 m,
depending on water clarity. Macrophytes also provide substrate for epiphytic algae.
Plants in the pelagic (open-water) zone of a lake are dominated by algae, ranging from
single-celled (e.g., Chlamydomonas) to large, colonial algae (e.g., Aphanizomenon). The
rapid movement of water in rivers limits plant growth to rooted macrophytes and
epiphytic algae growing along the shoreline.
While a naturally balanced flora is necessary, problems arise if plant growth becomes
excessive. Many Saskatchewan lakes are naturally eutrophic, although algal blooms are
frequently exacerbated by human activities, such as sewage effluent discharge and runoff
of fertilizers from agricultural lands. In eutrophic lakes, when blooms of large colonial
algae die, bacteria decompose the algae which can result in anoxia causing the death of
fish. Algal blooms are also aesthetically unpleasant as they decrease water clarity, and
can have an odour. As well, certain algal species release toxins into the water that can
poison wildlife and cattle. Excess nutrients also lead to increased macrophyte growth
which can foul recreational areas.
Saline lake aquatic plant communities have reduced diversity as a result of the elevated
salinity. Saline lakes are unique ecosystems and until recently, their importance has been
overlooked. They are vital to the shorebirds ecology, and several of these saline lakes in
Saskatchewan have been declared protected areas. Phosphorus and nitrogen
concentrations in saline lakes are high, but the total plant biomass is generally lower than
expected. Macrophytes are often absent in these ecosystems and the algal community
appears to be dominated by single-celled taxa, and have fewer colonial forms.
14
The Missouri Coteau - Biodiversity and Wildlife Management
Lyle Saigeon
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Mixed grass prairie historically covered much of southern Saskatchewan. That which
remains today is critically important to maintain many species of wildlife, and to preserve
the floral biodiversity of the mixed grasslands. At the heart of the Saskatchewan prairies
lies the grasslands of the Missouri Coteau, a last vestige of the prairie and pothole
wetlands recognized as some of the very best remaining natural habitat in North America.
The loss of wildlife habitat and biodiversity to date coupled with the threat of further
decline of the ecosystem and damage to wildlife populations require a call to action from
the conservation community. The shared sense of urgency about conservationists and the
common recognition of the value of preserving mixed grasslands have lead Ducks
Unlimited Canada to develop a comprehensive, multi-functional action plan for the
Missouri Coteau.
This plan must look beyond traditional conservation measures and address demographic
change from declining rural populations and the on-going deflated grain economy that
threatens agricultural sustainability. Up-scaled industrialization of agriculture may result
in a departure from a land stewardship ethic that conserves native uplands and wetlands
for their natural and heritage values. Changes may also provide opportunity for
enterprise change favorable for wildlife and the preservation of natural biodiversity.
Ducks Unlimited Canada’s action plan will: guide DUC in maintaining and, where
possible, improving the ecological function of the Missouri Coteau landscape; develop
conservation initiatives that can provide broad-based benefit to wildlife and biodiversity;
align DUC strategies to meet the goals of new partnerships within both the agricultural
and conservation communities.
15
Grazing and Fire Management Impacts on Wildlife Habitat
Conrad Olson
Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management
Background
• In an effort to protect important wildlife habitat in Saskatchewan the government
initiated the Wildlife Development Fund, in 1970, which was financed by an impost
on all hunting and trapping licences
• A fisheries component was added in 1984, and the Fund name was changed to the
Fish and Wildlife Development Fund (FWDF)
• Currently 30% of the revenue derived from all hunting, trapping, and angling licences
go into the FWDF
• The primary focus of the FWDF is to secure, protect, and enhance both fish and
wildlife habitat
• Current wildlife habitat holdings under the FWDF is approximately 185,000 acres, of
which nearly 90% remains in a natural state. Regional breakdown is as follows:
o Grassland EcoRegion
7%
o Parkland EcoRegion
53%
o Boreal Transition EcoRegion
40%
• Approximately 25,000 acres of these lands are jointly owned and managed by other
conservation agencies (Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, and
Saskatchewan Pheasants Forever)
• These FWDF lands are Crown lands and grants-in-lieu of taxes are paid to the local
municipalities
Management Initiative
Previous habitat management excluded grazing, primarily because of the concern for the
lack of control. Fire occurrences on these lands were also actively controlled. However,
in an effort to develop a more pro-active ecological approach to the maintenance and
improvement of FWDF lands, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management
(SERM) has contracted the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) to complete a detailed
“before and after” review of four grazing sites and three prescribed burning sites within
the Parkland and Grassland EcoRegions. SERM, in co-operation with the Saskatchewan
Wildlife Federation, assumed the responsibility for organizing and initiating these trials.
Public consultation within the communities was also undertaken.
Objectives of this management initiative were as follows:
Control woody vegetation and invasive plants
Restore native grassland
Enhance biodiversity
16
Guiding principles for the development of a future policy are also outlined:
The initial approach to management grazing and prescribed fire would be
experimental and only temporary fencing would be considered
The approach to these impacts would be safe and have a practical
application for both wildlife habitat and the livestock producer
High impact - low frequency grazing is preferable
These impacts must be cost effective
These impacts must also be supported within the community, and
The best available science will validate these initiatives
Although the research has not been fully completed, preliminary findings would suggest:
Community support has been positive, for both fire and grazing, and
livestock producers involved in the trails have been most co-operative
There is no evidence to suggest the habitat has been negatively impacted,
although there has been some local concern expressed on thistle growth
after the burns
In most of these grazing trials it has been difficult to achieve high impacts
Habitat composition shifts happen over time and it may be difficult to
measure any significant change over a short period (1 or 2 years)
Following the complete scientific analysis of these trials (by September/2001) it is
SERM’s intention to develop a policy on the use of grazing and prescribed fire for
wildlife habitat management.
17
Riparian Areas Management and Bird Populations
Alan R. Smith
Environment Canada, Saskatoon
Riparian habitats are plant communities occurring at the interface of terrestrial and
aquatic ecosystems. In the southern Prairies these areas are well-defined and usually
narrow zones along intermittent and perennial watercourses. These areas are both diverse
and productive, largely a result of biotic and nutrient exchanges between the aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems (Gregory et al. 1991). Occupying less than two percent of the
southern Prairies, riparian habitats assume an importance disproportionate to their area.
This phenomenon is well illustrated by the avifauna, of the 280 species of birds that
regularly occur in the southern Prairies (A. R. Smith, unpublished data) no less than 50
percent of them are either restricted to riparian areas or depend on riparian areas for a
critical part of their life-cycle. Savoy (1991) found that the highest densities of breeding
birds anywhere in Canada were in riparian forests.
Riparian areas in southern Saskatchewan harbour a number of species that are rarely
found in other parts of the province. These include the Eastern Screech-Owl, Red-headed
Woodpecker, Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli and Indigo
Buntings, and Field Sparrow. These areas are also important in the study of bird
taxonomy as a number of sibling species pairs meet and sometimes hybridise in the
riparian woodlands of Saskatchewan. These species pairs include the Western and
Eastern Screech-Owls, Spotted and Eastern Towhees, Black-headed and Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks, Indigo and Lazuli Buntings, and Bullock’s and Baltimore Orioles.
Riparian ecosystems are among the most threatened of ecosystems in the southern
Prairies. They are favoured for many uses including water management, grazing,
irrigation farming and recreation. Perhaps the greatest threat to this ecosystem is water
management which usually involves the construction of dams and related infrastructures.
These may be constructed for a variety of reasons, flood control, power generation,
recreation or irrigation.
Whatever the reason, dams alter or destroy riparian habitat either directly through the
flooding to fill reservoirs, or indirectly by altering downstream flows. Studies along the
Milk River in Alberta (Bradley 1982) have shown that repression of flooding by dams
eventually results in the loss of cottonwood forests downstream of the dams. Occasional
major floods are needed to create new sandbars, the beds for the seedlings that replace
these short-lived trees.
In this presentation, I summarize the findings of two rather modest studies on two of the
possible threats to bird populations in riparian forests of two widely separated study
areas. The first involves the effects of Dutch Elm Disease on a population of Eastern
Screech-Owls along the Souris river in Southeastern Saskatchewan. The other involves
the effects of moderate grazing on riparian forest birds at Leader-Estuary area.
18
In the first study widespread loss of Elm trees to Dutch Elm Disease appears to have
resulted in a decline of Eastern Screech Owls along the lower Souris River. Two
comprehensive surveys have been conducted along this stretch of the river, the first was
conducted in the spring of 1986 the second in the spring of 1997. Fifteen calling birds
were found along the river in 1986, whereas only four calling birds were heard calling in
1997. The decline of the Screech-owl may have been be exacerbated by competition with
increasing number of Fox Squirrels in the area. Fox Squirrels actively compete with other
wildlife including Screech-owls for nesting and roosting sites. The provision of nest
boxes may, however, help reverse the trend in Screech-Owl populations in the area.
In the other study area bird were surveyed on 36 point counts distributed between the
Alberta border and the old Prelate Ferry northeast of Leader. Sample sizes were too small
to yield statistically significant results for some of the parameters studied, but were
sufficient to determine the effects of moderate grazing on the avifaunal composition.
Three of the fifteen most common species, the American Robin, Spotted Towhee and
Western Meadowlark, were significantly more common on grazed than on ungrazed point
counts. On the other hand, no species were found to be negatively affected by moderate
grazing.
The results of this study were, for the American Robin, consistent with the majority of
nine studies of the effects of cattle grazing in the western United States as reviewed by
Saab et al. (1995). Spotted Towhees may have been more abundant on grazed plots
because moderate grazing promotes the growth of shrubbery by reducing competition for
water and nutrients by grasses (Nernberg, pers. Comm., 1999). Meadowlarks are
presumably rarer on ungrazed plots because the grassland areas are often cultivated.
Anstey et al. (1995) found meadowlarks at less than one fifth the density in cropland
compared to native prairie.
The second study suggests that, in the short term, moderate grazing has no adverse effects
on bird populations in the Leader area. Longer more intensive studies are, however,
needed to determine the effects of more intensive grazing on the flora and fauna, as well
as the potential effects of even moderate grazing on the regeneration of woodlands in the
area.
Literature Cited
Anstey, D. A., S. K. Davis, D. C. Duncan and M. Skeel. 1995. Distribution and habitat
selection of eight grassland songbird species in southern Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan Wetland Conservation Corporation, Regina. 11pp. + Tables.
Bradley, C. 1982. Modified meandering river regimes-Effects on plains cottonwood
regeneration, Milk River Valley, S. E. Alberta, and N. Montana. M. S. Thesis, Dep.
of Geog., Univ. of Calgary, Alta.
Gregory, S. V., F. J. Swanson, W. A. McKee, and K. W. Cummins. 1991. An ecosystem
perspective of riparian zones. Bioscience 41:540-551.
19
Saab, V.A., C. E. Bock, T. D. Rich and D. S. Dobkin. 1995. Livestock grazing effects in
western North America. Pp 311-353 in Ecology and management of Neotropical
migratory birds-A synthesis and review of critical issues (T. E. Martin and D. M.
Finch, eds). Oxford University Press, New York.
Savoy, E. 1991. The importance of riparian forests to prairie birds: A case study from
Dinosaur Provincial Park. In the biology and management of southern Alberta’s
cottonwoods. (S. Rood and J. Mahoney eds.). May 3-4, University of Lethbridge.
20
Saskatchewan’s Grassland Mammals: a Century of Change
Wayne C. Harris
Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management
In the 1800's, with the arrival of Europeans, major changes occurred in the mammalian
fauna of the Northern Great Plains. Plain’s bison, were hunted to near extinction; elk
disappeared from the grasslands; pronghorn and mule deer were seriously depleted.
Their primary predators, plain’s wolves and plain’s grizzly bears, were eliminated
completely. Although these losses were catastrophic in their own right, they had subtle
wide ranging affects on other species that happened slowly over the next 100 years.
Swift Foxes disappeared from the prairie provinces early in the twentieth century,
probably a side affect of the earlier poisoning campaign to eliminate wolves and the loss
of bison, elk and deer carcasses for food during winter months. Other species began to
fill the vacated niches. Domestic cattle replaced the large grazing herbivores. Coyotes
and red foxes, though probably always present in small numbers, increased dramatically.
The twentieth century saw the arrival of cereal crop production and the control of fire.
During this time, large areas of annual grassland (wheat) or bare soil (summer fallow)
replaced more than 75% of the native perennial grassland; trees and shrubs began to
develop around wetlands. Species that could adapt to these changes began to increase or
arrive from other areas. Coyotes and red foxes thrived. White-tailed deer expanded their
range from the eastern hardwood forests into Saskatchewan; so did racoons. Species
such as white-tailed jackrabbits probably increased at least initially as more cover and
food developed. Others declined dramatically as their habitat was lost or they competed
with agricultural production and were eliminated; Richardson’s ground squirrel is an
obvious example.
Other changes were much more subtle. The “prairie” cycle has seemingly disappeared.
The cycle referred to is the periodic population highs and lows which species such as
hares and microtine rodents traditionally experienced. Hares reached peaks in their
populations about once every ten years while voles are thought to have reached highs
every 3-5 years. The population peaks for white-tailed jackrabbits occurred in 1960,
again in 1970 and 1980 but the expected peaks for 1990 and 2000 did not occur.
Population explosions experienced by meadow voles in southern Saskatchewan during
1997 were the first in more than two decades. This combined with an unexplained crash
in Richardson’s ground squirrels in 1994, has had implications for predator species
dependent upon them for food. Some may be headed to extirpation (burrowing owls)
while others such as the very adaptable coyote prey on other species (i.e. pronghorn and
deer fawns) and continue to thrive.
What does the future hold for our grassland mammals? Will our attempts to re-establish
swift foxes succeed? Will other species increase, and more decrease? Ever evolving
agricultural practices and changes to our remaining native grassland base will
undoubtedly result in ongoing changes in our native mammalian fauna.
21
Rare Plant Conservation in Important Bird Areas - Where is the Common Ground
Josef K. Schmutz
Community Conservation Planner, Important Bird Areas Program/ Nature Saskatchewan
In the Important Bird Area (IBA) Program, special areas are awarded an Important Bird
Area designation for conservation purposes if the areas are used by large concentrations
of birds, if birds present are at risk, or if the sites represent intact biomes and their natural
bird inhabitants with restricted ranges.
The IBA Program was launched initially by BirdLife International in the UK. Today
there are BirdLife Partners in over 100 countries. In Canada the national partners are the
Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies Canada. In Saskatchewan, the
conservation component of this program is being delivered by Nature Saskatchewan.
Funding partners of the Community Conservation Plan for Chaplin, Old Wives and Reed
lakes include Canadian Adaptation and Rural Development Saskatchewan (CARDS), the
University of Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Environment and Resource Management
(SERM) and the Canadian Millennium Partnership Program.
Nature Saskatchewan is working with the Canadian Nature Federation and Bird Studies
Canada to deliver the conservation planning component of this program in Saskatchewan.
IBA Saskatchewan was launched on 1 February 1999. At the inaugural IBASaskatchewan workshop held in Saskatoon on 22 October 1997, 123 candidate areas
were nominated by several dozen naturalists. Data compilation and assessment by
outside reviewers is now completed, yielding 53 IBAs approved by Bird Studies Canada.
The number of approved IBAs may yet grow as more information becomes available,
particularly in the north. However, current IBA priorities involve conservation planning
and implementation of suggested actions. The 13 sites shown below have conservation
plans completed or in various stages of completion. The program takes an ecosystem
view to conservation, and seeks to combine sustainability with bird protection.
Two of the 13 sites focus on grasslands (Govenlock, Nashlyn and Battle Creek IBA, and
Colgate IBA), one on a marsh-lake-upland complex (Cumberland Marshes IBA), and the
remainder on water bodies. For lake IBAs the adjacent upland is usually equally if not
more important in the ecology of IBA birds. In some cases the IBA has been expanded to
include the entire watershed (Redberry Lake, and Chaplin, Old Wives and Reed lakes) or
portions of watersheds.
22
The Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre: Taking an Ecosystem
Approach
Heather Felskie
Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre, Moose Jaw
What do burrowing owls, a ferruginous hawk, an acre of native prairie, allot of
Richardson’s ground squirrels and twenty students have in common? - The
Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretive Centre’s (SBOIC) new Eco system approach
to education. The SBOIC is dedicated towards raising awareness about the burrowing
owl and it’s battle against habitat loss. Furthermore, we hope to emphasis the importance
of a healthy prairie eco system. In a step towards this ecosystem approach the SBOIC
began a reclamation project. The project was initiated in the fall of 1999. The SBOIC in
partnership with The Saskatchewan Wetlands Conservation Corporation set out to
prepare the land, collect seeds, plant the seeds and monitor the first year’s results.
Planting the seeds provided a unique educational opportunity, as students from a local
Moose Jaw elementary school participated in the “Seed Stomp”. As the students played
games on the plot they not only pushed the seeds into the ground but also learned about
the interactions of prairie plants and animals. This newly planted acre of native prairie
has many long lasting educational and ecological benefits. In addition, visitors of all ages
will have the opportunity to explore the wonders of the prairies.
23
Native Plants as Habitat for Insects
Ronald Hooper
When a person is looking for certain insects it is necessary to look in the right habitat in
order to find them. Those that feed on certain plants as the larval food plants are usually
found in the same environment as the adults except when they are attracted elsewhere to
feed at flowers or to come to lights. The Hoary Elfin butterfly is rarely found except in
bearberry patches. The larvae feed on bearberry leaves arid the adults feed at the
bearberry blossoms.
In order to find a species of insect that feeds on plants one needs to find Out what the
food plant is and become acquainted with it, and look in the area where it grows for that
insect The Harris' Checkerspot is a good botanist. The female lays her eggs on the Flattopped Aster (Aster umbellatus). She apparently has no trouble sorting it out from the 75
or so species of asters in Eastern North America.
Insects of Bogs
It is worth enduring the mosquitoes and boggy terrain to find the interesting insects of
bogs. Different things are found in cranberry bogs, pitcher plant bogs, and labrador tea
bogs.
Insects of Coniferous Woods
So many species of insects lay their eggs on spruce and pine as well as associated plants
that a person can find this environment to be a great place to find insects. Some are in
roots; some in trunks; some on twigs; some on needles; and some on cones.
Insects of Marches
Numerous insects feed on sedges, cattails, and willows, as well as many aquatic insects
making them their borne in the adult stage.
Insects of Deciduous Woods
A large percentage of our insects are found in aspen woods. Many special species occur
in oak woods, ash woods, and maple woods. Those of elm woods are flow threatened
because of the advance of Dutch Elm Disease.
Insects of Prairies
Every prairie flower and shrub has special insect species that depends on it for the food
plant.
Insects of Badlands
Although the badlands are thought of as being places of sparser vegetation yet the special
plants that do grow there provide a habitat for special species of insects that can be found
nowhere else, such as the Mormon Metalmark, Simius Roadside Skipper, the Small
Checkered Skipper, and several kinds of moths and beetles.
24
Wildlife and Plants, a Nature Enthusiast’s Perspective
Nora Stewart
Prairie Mountain Roots, Arcola
There have been eight growing seasons since I planted the first seeds in our native plant
plots. I spend much of the time between May and October in what is now about one and a
half acres of small plots of native flowers and grasses and a separate three acres with four
species of grasses. I’ve encountered various forms of wildlife feeding in these plots.
The first planting included some healthy seedlings I had started indoors. The next
morning I found that the deer had been on the scene and, in trying to eat the manyflowered asters, had uprooted most of them. An eight-foot fence around the flowerbeds
eliminated this browsing. The larger area of grasses was left with just a fence to exclude
cattle. Tracks show that deer travel through these plots but the only signs of eating are on
herbaceous weeds and, in early spring, on Kentucky blue grass (our most troublesome
grassy weed), so we are happy to have this “hoofed herbicide”.
I had expected to have a lot of snowshoe hares (bush rabbits) to contend with, but I’ve
only seen one in the plots and it came in, streaked past me and went through the fence on
the other side. I believe these animals have been at the lower part of their population
cycle and it will be interesting to see what the situation is if the numbers increase
dramatically.
Small mammals present a major problem. We try to keep the plots clean of debris and
only mulch with black plastic sheets rather than straw, in order to discourage nesting of
mice and voles. In early summer the mounds of the pocket gophers announce their
arrival. The first year they destroyed the American hedysarum and did some damage to
the dotted blazingstar. More recently their target is Indian breadroot and, across a fourfoot path, silverleaf psoralea. Interestingly, these species of the same genus seem to
recover each year so maybe a certain amount of root pruning is beneficial. We have both
Richardson’s and Franklin’s ground squirrels in the area, but they’re rarely seen in the
plots.
Thirteen-lined ground squirrels, on the other hand, are there frequently. Their favourite
food is green needle grass which they “swath” as the seeds begin to ripen. If the stalks
don’t fall in a thick plot, sections of the stem may be chewed off until the seed head is
within reach. There have been cleacut sections of green needle grass, the ground littered
with stem “cordwood”. I have also observed thirteen-lined ground squirrels eating seed
capsules of harebells and pods of slender milk vetch. One year some small mammal ate a
few buds of the western red lily so we put protective cages around the rest. In the large
grass plots there is only a little evidence of pocket gophers and thirteen-lined ground
squirrels – a few mounds and a bit of “swathing” of blue grama. Last year I had a close
encounter there with the largest garter snake I’ve ever seen and I wonder whether having
this resident might deter the ground squirrels, even if they’re not part of its diet.
25
Various birds delight or frustrate me. Every year the goldfinches congregate, waiting for
the gaillardia and meadow blazingstar seed to be just right – just before it’s the ripeness
we want for harvest. After two years of watching these plots ravaged, we now protect
them in cages of half-inch mesh hardware cloth or bird netting. The netting is best on the
roof because the birds can get tangled if loose sections of it lie on the ground. Last year
we also had pine siskins which shared the goldfinches’ interest in these seeds. A couple
of these birds managed to squeeze into both plots but were quite upset about not finding a
way out, and it only happened once.
We have silver buffaloberry bushes along the edge of the plots. Sometime cedar
waxwings eat the berries but more often a flock of robins will strip the bushes in a day or
two. Another fairly common visitor to the wildflowers is the ruby-throated hummingbird.
I had been told that red flowers would attract them but from my observations, colour
doesn’t seem to be important. In the spring, they hover around the smooth blue
beardtongue and the early yellow locoweed. I have watched one spend quite a bit of time
at the drab flowers of alumroot when western red lilies were blooming in the adjacent
plot. Last year they were seen most often at the patch of white evening primrose.
Insects and spiders thrive in these plots. Sometimes if the sunlight is at the right angle I
can see hundreds of strands of spider webs, often going from one plot to another.
Monarch butterflies found our dwarf milkweed plants the first year they bloomed, laid
their eggs and we had caterpillars. Last year we had an infestation of the superb plant
bug. This sucking insect, which normally attacks alfalfa, was only on our ground plum,
although several other legumes are nearby. The book ‘Insect Pests of the Prairies’
describes the effects as “reduced vegetative growth and destroyed or blasted flower
buds”. Our ground plum had no flowers as a result of the feeding of these bugs. The
heads of prairie muhly grass often have tiny yellow balls resulting from a parasitic insect
attacking a seed. Some of the bees or butterflies seem to prefer a particular plant species
while others move from one to another.
Even if wildlife can utilize different plants, a greater variety is important because in some
years certain plants will do poorly. As a result of watching the wildlife attracted to the
many wildflowers and grasses, I am convinced of the importance of plant diversity in
supporting many different species of wildlife.
(Note: Nora’s plots are located in the Moose Mountains north of Arcola.)
26
Native Plant Industry Trends
Andy Hammermeister
Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan
These notes were taken from a presentation by Terry Anderson (Prairie Seeds Inc.) at
Forage and Turf Seed Conference in Saskatoon (January 20th, 2001) and The Seed
Source (Prairie Seeds Inc. newsletter).
Native seed markets are strongly influenced by the political environment
• Not a rational crop because incentives are required, turf and agronomic forage
seed are more reliable markets
• Government regulations in SK and AB push for native species, this is not typical
across Canada
• Government promoted conservation programs increase demand
Opportunities
• Reclamation market is primary source of demand
o Includes conservation/restoration markets as well as industrial disturbance
• Emerging markets:
o Bioenergy
# Native plants as fuel sources (e.g. switch grass)
# Increasing potential if fuel prices continue to rise
# Lots of information on internet
o Low-maintenance turf
# Many breeding challenges, has to look as good as conventional turf
# Disadvantage for natives in production economics
o Farm forages
# Has potential if economics are favourable
# Advantageous to include in rotations
o Herbal remedies
# Good potential for useful products
• Native legumes
o Commercial production continues to be a problem (weeds, disease, pest)
Canadian production primarily in competition with northern U.S. production
• Canadian advantages
o Lower land values than U.S.
o Downey brome not a large problem (yet)
o Varieties adapted to north should produce best here?
• Canadian disadvantages
o Climatic variability – dry conditions (U.S. irrigates or has more consistent
precipitation)
o Slower reaction time – U.S. responds to market demand in 9 months
versus 16 months in Canada
o Harvest 2-3 months earlier in U.S. which gives advantage for fall market
27
Production Challenges
• Production economics
• Stringent quality restrictions
• Weed control
• Market variability
• More players
• More production
Market Trends
• Currently native seed supply is quite high
o New varieties and Ecovars™ being released
o Lower demand from Conservation Reserve Program in U.S.
o Prices for most native grasses down 20-50% (except rough fescue)
• Usage and awareness increasing
• Production information good for some, poor for others
• Quality standards will remain high
• Must keep up to speed with new markets
• Market still has potential but must be a good producer
• Irrigation is an advantage, otherwise can’t compete (esp. in Brown soil zone)
Seed Industry Issues (From Heather Sinton – Alberta Environment)
• Local collections, Ecovars™, ecological varieties, cultivars
o Genetic diversity vs. performance – can there be a compromise?
• How far can (should) seed be moved? No definitive information available for
most species.
• How can seed purity be assured? Source identified and tested seed. Need
certificate, relying on Canada No.1 rating is not good enough.
28
NPSS Role in the Native Seed Industry
Andy Hammermeister – Native Plant Society of Saskatchewan
% of Respondants
Seed Industry Priority Level for NPSS.
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Low
Medium
High
Producers
Nonproducers
Overall
Resource Allocation (%)
Suggested Allocation of NPSS
Resources to Industry Support.
Other Comments
• Help procure funds for research
• Lobby government to put arid
land back to native
• Facilitate development of
appropriate seed sources for seed
production
• Promote ethical harvest practices
• New producers frustrated facilitate interaction and
collaboration within industry
• Increase public awareness
100
80
60
40
20
0
Producers
Non-producers
Survey Results
• 35 respondents (12 producers)
• Industry of medium priority,
allocate 35% of resources to
industry development
• NPSS should:
o Coordinate meetings to
support industry
o Help producers stay
abreast with market
(mixed results)
• NPSS should not:
o Promote producers at
booth, in general at
meetings nor by
advertising
o Broker seed
Overall
Other Considerations
• 13% (26 of 201) of members are producers
• 35% of resources = $20,000 or 4.5 months
• Membership fees raise $5,000/yr (industry members = $1,300 = 26%)The NPSS
spends $2,500/yr on newsletter
• Most grants require matching funding
• No charitable status while supporting industry
29
Questions to be addressed
1. What challenges face new vs. established producers?
2. Does producer philosophy/size influence success?
3. What goals should direct the industry? (i.e. diversity vs. volume)?
4. What changes are needed to assist producers?What is the role of the NPSS?
6. Who should pay for NPSS involvement in industry?
7. Volunteers for Strategic Committee for Native Plant Industry Development?
30
Winter Twig and Shrub Identification Workshop
Anna Leighton
Winter identification of trees and shrubs is based primarily on the buds that grow on the 6
inches at the end of a branch - the area of last summer’s growth. Other surface features
such as prickles thorns and bark texture are also used. Berries and fruits are useful in
some groups but most fleshy fruits disappear in winter, so the buds are a more reliable
feature for mid-winter identification (although a number of these also get consumed by
animals and birds).
Looking at buds on bare twigs will help you identify different kinds of shrubs (i.e.
genera) but will not always allow you to separate species. In spite of this, a surprising
amount can be learned about the landscape by looking at trees and shrubs after their
confusing leaves are gone.
BUDS - The two things to look for are the
arrangement on the branch and bud characteristics.
Arrangement. This is easy to see with the naked eve.
The buds will be either alternate or paired. When
paired they are called opposite.
Characteristics
Bud scales - The bud is tightly covered with
scales to protect it from drying out in winter. If you
look closely with a lens you can seethe overlapping
edges of these scales and can estimate how many
there are. If you see no overlapping edge, there is
probably only one scale that fits like a cap over the
bud.
Leaf scar - underneath every bud there is a
scar where the leaf that grew under the bud detached
in fall. This is called a leaf scar. The shape of this scar
and the number of dots (called bundle scars) on it are
useful in identification.
Position of the terminal bud - Another key
feature is whether the bud at the end of the branch is
centred on the tip (a “true” end bud) or is offset a
little to the side (a “false” end bud).
THORNS and PRICKLES - These features persist in
winter and are useful for separating certain groups so
you should know the difference between them.
Thorns are actually woody growths of the
stem and are very firm and deeply seated in the
branch. Prickles are more fragile outgrowths of the
bark and can be removed with it.
31
Native Trees and Shrubs and Related Cultivars
Sara Williams
Extension Division, University of Saskatchewan
List of species:
Acer negundo (Manitoba maple)
Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon berry)
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry or kinnikinnick)
Crataegus spp. (hawthorn)
Elaeagnus commutata (wolfwillow)
Fraxinus pensylvanica var. subintegerrima (green ash)
Juniperus spp. (juniper)
Pinus banksiana (Jack pine)
Pinus contorta var. latifolia (lodgepole pine)
Potentilla fruticosa (cinquefoil)
Prunus pensylvanica (pincherry)
Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa (chokecherry)
Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak)
Ribes aureum (golden currant)
Rosa spp. (rose)
Shepherdia argentea (silver buffaloberry)
Symphoricarpos occidentalis (snowberry)
32
Acer negundo (Manitoba maple or box elder)
Description:
Manitoba maples are native to the Prairies and have been used extensively as shelterbelt,
shade, and boulevard trees. They are fast growing with a high head and may attain a
height of 10 to 13 m (30 or 40 ft) or more. Their life span is about 60 years.
Their leaves are very untypical of maples and more closely resemble those of ash:
pinnately-compound with 3 to 7 leaflets, each of which is irregularly lobed. Autumn
color is a clear yellow.
Male and female flowers are on separate trees with only female trees producing seeds.
The female flower is greenish-yellow in drooping clusters. The male flower is a dense red
tassel. Flowers appear before the leaves. The seed-containing samaras are winged and vshaped, persist into winter, and constitute an important winter food source for birds.
Problems associated with the Manitoba maple include a relatively weak structure (prone
to breakage in wind, ice or with heavy snow loads); sensitivity to 2,4-D damage (are in
fact considered an "indicator plant" to the presence of that herbicide); and the presence of
several insects.
Culture:
They are adapted to full sun, a wide range of soils, and are fully hardy. They will not do
well in shade. Infestations of aphids which excrete "honeydew" onto decks, picnic tables
or vehicles are common. Manitoba maples are also beloved by cankerworms. Red and
black box elder bugs lay eggs on the leaves and bark but seldom damage the tree. If
wounded, the tree may produce an abundance of watersprouts from the base of the trunk.
Use:
Excellent in shelterbelts, farmsteads or acreages, they cannot be recommended for
smaller urban lots due to their size and undesirable characteristics. They remain an
excellent tree house and climbing tree. Manitoba maples provide food and cover for a
wide variety of birds. They have been used as hedges. They may be taped for maple
syrup.
Propagation:
Harvest seeds in mid-September and sown in spring.
33
Amelanchier alnifolia (saskatoon berry)
Description:
The species name “alnifolia” means alder-like and refers to the alder-like leaves. A
native shrub well known for its berries, the saskatoon also has ornamental value in
flower, fruit, and attractive fall color. It shows tremendous variation in form. Heights
range from 2.6 to 5 m (8 to 15 ft.) with a spread of 1.3 to 2.0 m (4 to 6 ft). Dense erect
clusters of fragrant white flowers are produced in May, followed by edible dark blue
berries in mid-summer. Used by indigenous peoples and early European settlers as food,
saskatoon berries have become a maior commercial fruit crop on the prairies in the last
decade.
Among the fruiting cultivars are 'Honeywood', 'Northline', 'Pembina', 'Smoky', and
'Thiessen'. 'Altaglow' is a white fruited Saskatoon, columnar in form, with outstanding
gold fall color.
Culture:
Saskatoons grow in a wide range of soils in sun or partial shade. They are drought
tolerant once established. If grown within a few kilometres of junipers, they may become
infected with saskatoon-juniper rust, especially following warm rainy springs. This
fungal disease is characterized by orange lesions on the leaves and fruit of the saskatoon
plants.
Use:
Saskatoons are excellent as part of an informal shrub border, as a small specimen tree, or
a tree grouping. They are widely used in shelterbelts. The edible berries are a bonus!
Saskatoons provide cover and food for birds.
Propagation:
Saskatoons are propagated by cuttings, tissue culture, budding or grafting, and by seed.
The first three methods will produce plants which are identical to the parent plants. Seed
is harvested in August and either down directly outdoors in fall or stratified in damp
peatmoss for 5 moths and sown in the spring. Plants grown from seed will show variation
in form, height and fruiting characteristics (size of berry and overall yield of plant).
Plants which are budded or grafted, usually onto cotoneaster rootstock, will be less
productive and have a shorter life span. Etiolated cuttings or tissue culture are the
preferred methods of propagation.
34
Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (bearberry or kinnikinnick)
Description:
Both the common name and the botanical name refer to the fact that bears like the fruit. A
member of the heath family, bearberry is low evergreen shrub, native to the prairies,
which forms a prostrate mat about 15 cm (6 in.) in height of thick, glossy green leaves,
usually turning a bronzy green in winter. The pink and white flowers are urn-shaped. The
red fruit are bright scarlet, 1 cm (less than 0.5 in.) in diameter, and persist through the
winter - if not eaten by bears and other wildlife.
‘Vancouver Jade’ is a cultivar with fragrant, dark pink flowers which spreads more
readily.
Culture:
Usually found on dry sandy slopes, they will grow in full sun or light shade on welldrained soil. Some references say they prefer acid soils.
Use:
Kinnikinnick makes an excellent ground cover and would be in place in a perennial
border or rock garden. The berries are eaten by birds.
Propagation:
They are very difficult to transplant from the wild, but softwood cuttings are readily
rooted. Seed should be stratified for 3 months at 40C prior to sowing.
Crataegus spp. (hawthorn)
Description:
The genus name is from the Greek "kratos" which means strength and refers to the hard
wood. Large shrubs, or small trees somewhat resembling a crabapple in fruit and form,
hawthorns are attractive in spring when in flower and in late summer and fall when in
fruit. The fruit is generally red and about one-half inch in diameter. The common name
"hawthorn" is a combination of the word "haw", meaning a hedge or enclosure for which
they are commonly used in England as "hedgerows", and "thorn" referring to the nature
of their armament - not a tree recommended for climbing! The leaves are highly variable
among species - from slightly lobed to deeply incised. Because the species hybridize
easily, identification is not always easy.
Crataegus arnoldiana ('Arnold' hawthorn) is about 4 m (12 if) and makes an attractive
small tree with shiny leaves, single white flowers and scarlet fruit. It can be pruned to a
single trunk.
'Snowbird' is a hybrid (C. oxyacantha x C. succulenta) from Agriculture Canada's
Morden Research Centre in Manitoba. It has double white flowers and is 3.3 to 4 m (1012 ft). It is resistant to cedar-apple rust.
35
'Toba', also from Morden and with the same parentage, is about 4 m (12 ft) has double,
pale-pink flowers, bright red fruit, and glossy, deeply-lobed leaves, but is less hardy. It is
also resistant to cedar-apple rust.
Crataegus crus-galli (cockspur hawthorn) is a native hawthorn with white flowers and
bright red fruit retained over much of the winter. Both the common and botanical names
refer to the similarity of the 5 cm (2 in.) thorns to the spurs of a rooster! It is up to 5 m
(15 ft) in height with a distinctive and attractive horizontal branching habit. The bright
green glossy leaves show resistance to rust. The foliage has good fail color ranging from
orange to scarlet.
C. crus-galli inermis (thornless cockspur hawthorn) is similar in every way to the species
except for the absence of thorns. "Inermis" means, of course, unarmed or without thorns!
C. columbiana (Columbian hawthorn) is native to the Cypress Hills of Alberta and
Saskatchewan, 4 m (12 ft) in height, with white flowers, dark red fruit and well armed
with stout thorns up to 6 cm (2.5 in.)in length.
C. succulenta (fleshy hawthorn) is also native, and about the same height. It has white
flowers, red sticky fruit, and is highly susceptible to cedar apple rust.
C. chrysocarpa (round-leaved or fireberry hawthorn) is another native species, with dark
green, glossy leaves and red orange berries. Three metres (10 ft) in height, it has white
flowers and thorns.
Culture:
Hawthorns do well in full sun on a variety of soils as long as drainage is good. They may
occasionally be infected with pear slug or fireblight. Cedar apple rust, which can
completely disfigure the leaves and even cause defoliation, is the most serious problem.
Planting resistant species is recommended.
Use:
Because of its small size, the hawthorn is an excellent but under-used tree in the small
urban yard. It can be grouped is larger spaces. Not recommended for climbing, its value
lies in its size, flowers and fruit. It provides both cover and food for birds and is a nectar
plant for humming birds. It is also used in shelterbelt plantings.
Propagation:
Seed which has first been stratified for 3 months at 40°C.
36
Elaeagnus commutata (wolf willow or silverberry)
Description:
The genus name comes from the Greek for olive and refers to the fruit. Native to the
prairies, wolf willow casts its sweet scent along fence lines in May. An upright, leggy
shrub to 2.6 m (8 if), the branches and leaves are covered with silvery scales. The tubular
flowers are inconspicuous, yellow outside and silver inside, and extremely fragrant. The
small silver fruit is dry and mealy. Wolf willow suckers freely forming thickets.
Culture:
Plant in full sun in a variety of soils. It is drought and saline tolerant.
Use:
Wolf willow is used for wildlife plantings, naturalization, hedging, reclamation, and on
banks and slopes to control erosion. It provides food and cover for birds and is a bee
nectar source. Grafted onto Russian olive root stock (to prevent suckering), it is useful in
a shrub border, especially if planted where one can smell the scent in spring.
Propagation:
Stratify seed for 2 to 3 months at 40C prior to sowing. Cuttings, suckers. Grafted onto
Russian olive root stock.
Fraxinus pensylvanica var. subintegerrima (green ash)
Description:
A hardy tree of 8 to 12 m (24 to 36 if.) with an upright oval form, green ash is native to
Manitoba and Saskatchewan. It is both fast-growing and long lived. It has pinnatelycompound leaves each with 5 to 9 leaflets. Fall color is an attractive gold. Male and
female flowers are borne on separate trees. The single-seeded samaras produced by
female trees are retained through the winter,
providing food for birds. The green ash has a deep fibrous root system which is able to
"tap" subsoil moisture and is not competitive with lawns or flower beds.
'Patmore' is a male clone from Manitoba which leafs out earlier in the spring than most
other green ash and retains its foliage longer into the fall. 'Marshall's Seedless' is also
male selection.
Culture:
Green ash do well in full sun or partial shade in a variety of soils. They may be subject to
occasional attacks of cankerworm and lygus bug. Gall mites sometimes infest male trees.
Use:
Because of their form and the nature of their root system they are excellent as shade or
boulevard trees. They are used extensively in shelter belts and provide food and cover for
birds.
37
Propagation:
Seed first stratified at 40°C for 3 months. Cultivars are grafted.
Juniperus spp. (junipers)
Description:
Junipers are one of the most drought tolerant of the evergreens. They have scale-like,
awl-like or needle-like leaves. Male and female cones are borne on separate plants. The
male cones are catkin-like while the female comes resemble small blue-grey fruit. The
'conelets' mature in 1 to 3 years, depending on the species, to become dark blue, berrylike fruit with a powdery coating or bloom. They are fragrant and form the basis of gin,
but are believed to be poisonous to livestock. Many species and cultivars exist, varying
from ground covers to columnar forms of 4 to 5 m (12 to 15 ft.)
Juniperus horizontalis (creeping juniper) is native to the Canadian prairies and is
generally only 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in.) high. The leaves are scale or awl-like. Color
varies from blue to green, often turning purple with the onset of colder weather in late
fall. Some of the more common selections are 'Bar Harbour' (grey-green), 'Blue Chip'
(bright blue), 'Waukegan’ (blue turning purple in fall), 'Dunvegan Blue' (silver blue),
'Prince of Wales' (bright green), and ‘Wapiti' (green turning purple in fall).
Juniperus communis (common juniper) is native to the prairies as well as much of North
America, Europe, and Asia. Extremely variable in form and height, it is usually about 0.6
m (2 ft.) and tends to turn purple in cooler fall weather. It is identifiable by its sharppointed needles which have a white band down the centre of the upper side. The needles
are found in whorls of three. Indigenous peoples used the berries, which ripen in their
third year, both decoratively and as an insect repellent. Early settlers used the berries as a
coffee substitute. Today the fruit is used in the manufacture of gin as well as a Norwegian
beer. 'Depressa Aurea' is a selection with golden yellow foliage equal or superior to the
better known 'Golden Pfitzer'.
Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper) is native to Canada. It varies in form
from pyramidal to columnar, and attains heights from 4 to 5 m (12 to 15 if.).
“Scopulorum” means growing on rocks or cliffs and refers to its native habitat. The
foliage is green, silver or blue-grey. Among the denser selections offered are 'Blue
Heaven', 'Grizzly Bear', and 'Medora'. Most are susceptible to Saskatoon-juniper rust.
Because the berries mature in their second year but often persist on the plant into their
third year, plants may have one, two, and three
year old fruit.
Culture:
Junipers prefer a well drained soil and full sun and will usually perform well on southern
and western exposures where cedars will riot. Unfortunately, many are alternate hosts for
saskatoon-juniper rust which should be pruned and removed as soon as noticed.
38
Use:
Depending on their size and form, junipers are used as foundation plantings, screening,
massed as ground covers or understories to hold difficult slopes or banks, or in a rock
garden. The berry-like cones add to their landscape value. They provide cover and food
for birds which often act as dispersal agents for the seed.
Propagation:
Cuttings or seeds. Seeds may take 2 years to germinate and should be stratified at 40C for
3 months. Most cultivars are grafted. Branch tips are easily layered. Stem cuttings may be
rooted.
Pinus (pines):
Pines grow naturally on light sandy soils and are well suited the prairie xeriscape. Their
needles, in bundles of 2, 3 or 5, and triangular in cross-section, are arranged spirally on
the whorled branches. Male and female cones are on the same tree. The male cones are
found on young shoots at the base
of the tree and disintegrate after releasing pollen. When transplanting pines ensure that
the root ball of soil is left intact. Exposing the tiny root hairs to air and sun more often
than not dooms the transplant to failure. Pines provide food and cover for birds and other
wildlife species.
Pinus banksiana (Jack pine)
Description:
The botanical species name honors Sir Joseph Banks, the noted British horticulturist.
Native to the northern forests they are the most widely distributed pine in Canada. To the
early European settlers, jack pines signalled poor soil and unsuitable farmland. When
grown in the open, they are typically gnarled and twisted with a broad open form like a
"Group of Seven" painting. In the forest they tend to be straighter due to competition with
other trees. They reach up to 12 m and can live 150 years.
Needles are sharp-pointed, dark green to yellowish-green, in bundles of two but spread
apart within the bundle. The ends of the cones point forward to the ends or tips of the
branches, are often curved and appear in clusters of two or three. The cones have no
prickles. Most remain closed and will persist on the tree for ten or twenty years until
triggered by the heat of fire or direct
sunlight.
The root system is wide spreading, and fairly deep, usually with a tap root. When their
ranges overlap, jack pine will hybridize with lodge pole pines.
Culture:
39
They grow well on poor sandy or gravely soils in full sun.
Use:
Jack pines are useful in naturalization on poor soils. They make interesting specimen
trees where a twisted gnarled appearance is wanted.
Propagation:
Seed
Pinus contorta var. lattfolia (lodgepole pine)
Description:
The species name "contorta" means twisted and may be a reference to the gnarled
branches, the twisted needles, or the coastal variety of this tree. The common name refers
to the use of the wood in teepees and lodges by Indigenous peoples who also used the
resin for water-proofing canoes, baskets, moccasins and other articles. Lodgepole pine is
native to the Rocky Mountains and Cypress Hills. Once commonly called "cypress", the
Cypress Hills of Alberta and Saskatchewan
were named for this conifer.
Up to 20 m in height, lodgepole pines have a life span of up to 200 years. The trunk is
tall, straight and has little taper. The needles are dark green to yellow-green, in bundles of
two, twisted and sharp-pointed. Within the bundle they are parallel rather than spread out.
The cones are claw-shaped, with each scale having a sharp but fragile bristle or point.
The tips of the cones point backward toward the trunk of the tree. The cones usually
remain closed and persist on the tree for 10 to 20 years, opening when exposed to the heat
of fire or direct sunlight – which softens the resin holding the scales together. The root
system consists of a tap root and spreading lateral roots. Where their ranges overlap,
lodgepole pine hybridizes freely with jack pine.
Culture:
It will grow in full sun on a wide range of soils.
Use:
Lodgepole pine is useful for screening, as a specimen tree and in shelterbelts.
Potentilla fruticosa (cinquefoil)
Description:
Potentilla is from the word "potens" meaning power, a reference to the medicinal power
of some species. "Illa" means small. Thus we have a small plant of great power certainly a tough one with a long period of bloom.
Native to the prairies, the species has deep yellow, buttercup-like flowers up to 2.5 cm (1
in.) in diameter which are borne in small clusters at the end of branches through the
40
summer. The grey-green compound leaves each have five leaflets (thus the common
name, cinquefoil, meaning five leaves). It forms a bushy shrub of 30 to 120 (1 to 4 ft)
growing mostly in sandy soils.
The hybrids are a group of small (up to 1 m or 3 ft.) flowering shrubs with mainly white
or yellow flowers. They produce a flush of blooms in June followed by less profuse
flowering the remainder of the summer. The bark is loose and shredding. Among the
more dependable cultivars are:
‘Coronation Triumph’ is an upright plant of 1 m (3 ft) with a loose informal appearance.
It is one of
the longest blooming potentillas with bright green leaves and large yellow flowers.
'Katherine Dykes' is slightly smaller (up to 60 cm or 2 ft) with an arching growth habit
and pale yellow flowers and grey green leaves.
'Abbotswood' has large pure white flowers and a dwarf spreading habit with a height of
60 cm (2 ft) and a width of 90 cm (3 ft). It begins blooming earlier than most and
continues until late summer.
Culture:
These are extremely hardy and drought-tolerant plants with few insect or disease
problems. Under extremely hot dry conditions spider mites may be a problem. Plant in
full sun on well-drained soil.
Use:
Because of their size and long blooming period, potentillas are useful as foundation
plantings, in shrub borders, perennial borders, or a mixed border. They are well suited to
informal groupings and massing as ground covers.
Propagation:
Seed, division, cuttings.
Prunus pensylvanica (pincherry)
Description:
Native to much of North America, including the Canadian prairies, "prunus" is the Latin
word for plum, while the species name, "pensylvanica", refers to Pennsylvania (or
William Penn's woods) to which the tree is also native. The common name is a reference
to the size of the fruit!
Pincherries grow to about 5 m (15 ft) and are considered a large shrub or small tree. As a
tree they are oval or round-headed. The bark is red brown. The lance-shaped leaves are
bright green in summer and turn a bright orange in fall. Small white flowers in round
41
clusters are produced in great abundance in May and June and are followed by umbels of
small red cherries, excellent in jelly. Most sucker freely.
Some of the better cultivars are:
'Jumping Pound' which 4 m (12 ft) with a lovely weeping form. 'Liss' which has larger
fruit than the species. 'Stockton' which is double flowering making it an attractive
ornamental.
Culture:
Pincherries do well in full sun on well drained soils. They will sucker much less if they
are mulched. Root disturbance from cultivation encourages suckering.
Use:
The improved cultivars are excellent in an informal shrub border and as specimen trees
either singly or in groupings. The species are used in shelterbelts, for naturalization,
reclamation, and wildlife plantings. They provide food for birds. Branches may be cut
and brought indoors in February for winter forcing of blooms.
Propagation:
Suckers, budding and grafting of cultivars. Seeds of the species should be stratified for 5
months in moist peat moss at 40C prior to sowing. In nature, seed germination is
stimulated by exposure to light and temperature fluctuation following site disturbance or
clearing.
Prunus virginiana var. melanocarpa (chokecherry)
Description:
The chokecherry is a large upright shrub or small tree native to much of temperate North
America. Usually found in shrub form, it grows up to 5 m (15 ft.) and is quite broad due
to its tendency to sucker. The fragrant white flowers are produced in long racemes in
May and June followed by clusters of black edible berries in July and August. Various
cultivars are available.
The 'Schubert' chokecherry, introduced from North Dakota in 1943, is noted for its
purple-red foliage and can be grown in either tree or shrub form. The leaves emerge
green in the spring but turn a purple-red by mid-summer. The fruit is blue-black. 'MiniSchubert' is smaller and more compact but otherwise similar.
'Boughen's yellow', introduced from Valley River, Manitoba, has large yellow sweet fruit
as does 'Spearfish'. 'Copper Schubert' has coppery green leaves and less astringent red
fruit. 'Boughen's chokeless' has almost non-astringent fruit.
Culture:
Hardy and drought-tolerant chokecherries are adapted to a wide variety of soils and will
do well in full sun or partial shade. On a small property their tendency to sucker may
42
need control. They are susceptible to a fungal disease black knot, which may be
controlled through pruning.
Use:
If pruned to a single trunk, they make an attractive small tree. As a large shrub they are
useful in an informal shrub border, especially when seen against silver-grey foliage. They
are used extensively for wildlife or shelterbelt plantings. The fruit makes an excellent jam
or syrup. They provide food and cover for birds.
Propagation:
Seed, suckers, or cuttings.
Quercus macrocarpa (bur oak)
Description:
Native to Manitoba and eastern Saskatchewan, it is a large, attractive, and long-lived (200
years) tree of 10 m (30 ft.) or more.
Bur oak has a straight trunk, high head and branchlets which often have corky ridges.
Although it has a long standing reputation for slow growth I have seen very young trees
on sandy soil put on 30cm (12 in.) of growth in a single season without supplemental
water.
Its leaves are typically "oak"-like, with 7 to 9 deep lobes, shiny green above and whitish
and hairy below, with yellow to red fail coloration. The acorns are "mossy cup" or
fringed. It has a deep root system with a wide-spreading deep tap root.
Culture:
Adapted to most of the prairies, the bur oak is drought-tolerant once established due to
the nature of its taproot. The taproot also makes it difficult to transplant once it is over .6
m (a few feet) high. This is probably the reason why it is not readily available
commercially.
Use:
It is excellent as a shade or specimen tree in a medium or large lot. Because of its taproot,
it is not competitive with nearby lawns or flowerbeds. It provides cover and food for
birds.
Propagation:
Seed planted outdoors in the fall.
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Ribes aureum (golden currant)
Description:
The species name “aureum” means golden and is a reference to the golden yellow
flowers. This is a hardy, native plant found in the Cypress Hills and elsewhere of 1.3 to
2m (4 to 6 ft.) with loose, open arching branches, often becoming somewhat leggy with
age. Like other currants, it has no prickles. The fragrant tubular yellow flowers in May
and June are followed by edible black berries useful for jelly. The tiny light green leaves
are 3-lobed, wedge-shaped at their base, and turn an attractive orange-scarlet in the fall. It
spreads through suckering.
Culture:
Golden currant is drought tolerant and adapted to a variety of soils in sun or partial shade.
Use:
Part of the "edible landscape", plant it where you can take advantage of its fragrance. Its
form lends it to informal plantings and its tendency to sucker makes it more useful on
larger lots. It is also used as a wildlife planting to attract birds and wildlife. It is a
butterfly nectar plant. Useful for jams and jellies.
Propagation:
Cuttings, layering, or seed which has first been stratified for 3 months at 4cC.
Rosa spp. (rose)
Description:
Many of the hardy shrub roses long grown on the prairies are drought-tolerant. All do
best in full sun and will benefit from mulching. Most are large, thorny, and some sucker.
The red hips provide fall and winter landscape value as well as bird food. High in vitamin
C, the hips are also used in jelly.
A number of native roses have been planted as ornamentals, for naturalization or
reclamation, in shelterbelts and in wildlife plantings. These roses hybridize freely and
intermediate types are difficult to identify. Among these are:
Rosa acicularis (prickly rose) - The species name, acicularis, means sharp-pointed and
refers to the prickles. It is up to 2.5 m high, bushy with lots of prickles on young stems.
The leaves are pinnately compound each with 3 to 7 blue-green oval leaflets. The rosy
pink flowers occur singly in June and July followed by red pear-shaped hips with distinct
necks which persist over winter.
Rosa woodsii (common wild rose or woods rose) - Both the common and species names
refer to its habitat - in the woods. The bush is up to 1.5 m in height with pink flowers
produced in small clusters followed by round red hips. The compound leaves each have S
to 9 sharp-toothed leaflets. There are thick thorns below the stipules on the leaf.
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Rosa arkansana (prairie rose) - This rose used in much of the hybridizing work which
produced the Parkland series of roses. They are short (up to 0.6 m or 2 ft) with many
branches and usually die back to ground level each winter. Each leaf contains 9 to 11
leaflets.
Culture:
All of these roses grow best in full sun in a rich, organic soil and will benefit from
mulching. Although they are drought-tolerant, they will do better with even moisture
during establishment. Protection from wind is beneficial.
Use:
The larger shrub roses and those which sucker are more suited for an untrimmed hedge or
an informal shrub border. The smaller ones, if non-suckering, can be planted in smaller
urban yards where any other rose would be used. They work well in a mixed border.
They are also used in wildlife plantings where they provide food and cover for birds and
serve as butterfly nectar plants.
Propagation:
Cuttings.
Shepherdia argentea (silver buffaloberry)
Description:
The species name “argentea” is the Latin for silver and refers to the color of the leaves
and stems. The common name is a reference to the reputed fondness of buffalo for the
berries. Buffaloberry is a large native shrub (up to 4m or 12 ft) often forming a dense
thicket. It is characterized by silver, strap-shaped leaves, thorns, and clusters of bright red
berries (sometimes orange or yellow) in mid-summer. Flowers are creamy white,
inconspicuous, and bloom in May. The berries are 4 to 6 mm long and contain one seed.
Branchlets, which often terminate as thorns, grow almost perpendicular to the branches.
Because it is dioecious (male and female flowers are borne on separate plants), plants of
both sexes must be grown to ensure fruit. It suckers generously.
Culture:
Buffaloberry will grow on any well drained soil in full sun and are both drought and
saline tolerant.
Use:
Because of its size and tendency to sucker, it is best used as an informal planting on a
larger lot. It can be sheared to form a hedge, used for screening, or pruned to a single
stem and used as a small specimen tree in the smaller urban yard. It is also used
extensively for wildlife and shelterbelt plantings where it provides food and cover for
birds. It has also been used as a "barrier planting" due to the presence of thorns.
Propagation:
Cuttings and seed stratified for 3 months at 40C.
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Symphoricarpos occidentalis (western snowberry, buckbrush or wolfberry)
Description:
The genus name means "fruit-borne-together" and refers to the dense clusters of waxy
greenish-white berries. The fruit, believed to be poisonous, is retained through winter but
changes color to a purplish light brown. The species name, occidentalis, means "of the
west" and is similar to the common name.
A member of the honeysuckle family, snowberry is a native shrub, 30 to 120cm (1 to 4 ft)
in height which forms dense clumps or thickets and suckers readily. The flowers are pink
and white and are borne in ???July?? The small, oval leaves are gray-green and opposite.
Stems are hollow.
Culture:
Grow in full sun on well drained soil.
Use:
Snowberry can be massed as a ground cover, used as an understory below trees, and for
naturalization. It provides food and cover for birds and is a hummingbird nectar plant.
Propagation:
Softwood cuttings, division, rooted suckers. Seed should be warm stratified in moist peat
for 5 months at room temperature, then cold stratified at 4°C for 5 months, and then
sown.
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