Current Studies on Pine Marten
Corridor Studies / Representation (1996-Present)
Spanish River Ancient Forest (1993-1995)
Temagami Old Growth Studies (1989-1992)

AFER's research addresses current issues of forest conservation in Ontario and surrounding jurisdictions. Ideally, our research results are applied directly and immediately to the development of strategies and policies that will maintain or restore forest biodiversity and ecosystem integrity. We collect primary field data as well as information from secondary sources at a variety of spatial scales from the fine scale such as the ecology of tree regeneration to the broad scale such as the continental biogeography of forest ecosystem types.

AFER's current inventory of ancient forest landscapes is limited to the Lake Temagami Site Region of central Ontario. This is a five million hectare area about 100 km wide stretching from Lake Timiskaming in the east to Lake Superior in the west - its southern boundary is located just to the north of North Bay, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie. The most significant ancient forest areas in this region are located in Temagami (near North Bay), the Lower Spanish Forest (near Sudbury) and the Algoma Highlands (near Sault Ste. Marie).

American Marten as a Focal Species This summer AFER continues its study of the habitat needs of American marten, a member of the weasel family that is thought to require mature or old growth forest for its survival. Because of its dependence on older forests we are using the marten as a focal species in wildlife corridor design. Our study area for 2003-2004 is the Rabbit Lake watershed.

We study the marten using a non-invasive technique known as track plates. Marten are drawn to the track plates by a bait (we use chicken), they cross a metal plate covered in black soot, and then sticky paper where they leave a footprint as they move toward the bait at the far end of the track plate. We surveyed marten in a total of ten sites over the first season including one site from each decade of historical logging from 1960 to the present, a mature conifer and a mature hardwood site, and three old-growth sites. Marten were detected at 7 out of 10 sites including the 1990, 1970, and 1960 logged sites, both mature hardwood and conifer sites, and two of the old-growth sites. Marten were not detected at any track boxes occurring in recent clearcut, seed tree or selective cuts. Marten detections at the 1990's logged site occurred in an intact shoreline reserve characterized by a mature birch/poplar forest and at the edge of the shoreline reserve and a selective fuel wood cut.

Track plates with marten detections were associated with a greater live tree basal area, a greater basal area of trees greater than 10 meters in height, and greater overhead cover. Detections were also associated with structural features associated with stand maturity such as greater horizontal and vertical forest structure contributed by higher volumes of downed woody debris characterized by large diameter logs and a greater basal area of snags. The 1960 and 1970 logged sites had structural characteristics similar to the mature and old-growth sites that we sampled due to large diameter cut logs that were left on-site following harvesting. Marten were not detected at the 1980 logged site characterized by even-aged plantations of red pine and jack pine that lacked horizontal and vertical structure but had a high overhead cover. Marten detections were associated with higher deciduous overstory species composition, and a greater proportion of track boxes in mixed-deciduous and deciduous forests received detections.

In addition, we detected marten in FEC ecosites 17 (Poplar-White Birch) and 27 (Sugar Maple-White Birch-Poplar-White Pine), which are currently rated as unsuitable habitat by the OMNR marten habitat suitability index model. This model is used in implementing the guidelines for the provision of marten habitat in forest management planning in the Temagami Forest Management Unit. Ecosites 17 and 27 were found at the 1990's and 1970's logged sites as well as the mature hardwood site. Only the 1970's and mature hardwood sites received detections at all six track plates within the sample array, and these two sites received the greatest number of detections over the 12 day sampling period. Detections occurred in stands ranging in age from 23 years to 150 years according to Forest Resource Inventory data.

Our results, although preliminary, suggest that marten may use a wider range of forest types, including deciduous forest, than had been observed in boreal Ontario and Algonquin Provincial Park, and that features related to stand maturity may be available in younger logged forests as a legacy from the harvested forest, depending on the successional stage of that forest, the intensity of disturbance and the amount and size of residual material retained.

Sampling will continue this summer in the northwestern portion of the Rabbit Lake watershed which includes the Muskego Wildlands which have yet to be disturbed by logging but are slated for harvest in the new forest management plan. The results of this study, when completed, will be used to:

• Describe the habitat associations of marten in the northern Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest Region
• Refine the design of the Temagami to Algonquin Wildlife Corridor
• Evaluate the current marten habitat suitability model used by the OMNR

In 1996 AFER turned it's attention to the need for Conservation or Wildlife Corridors in Ontario, and has since pioneered work on two such Corridors : the Superior-Temagami corridor and the Temagami-Algonquin corridor, and has participated in the design of a third one, the Algonquin to Adirondack (A2A) corridor.

The increasing loss of biodiversity is a challenge that we must address now or risk waiting until it is too late. Increasing pressures on the natural environment, such as deforestation, global climate change and habitat fragmentation are causing the irreversible decline of the earth's biological diversity, including species extinction and destruction of ecosystems. One way to preserve biodiversity is in parks and protected areas, however, no parks in North America are large enough to sustain themselves unless they stay connected to each other and to other wildlands (Noss et al., 1997).

That's where corridors come into the picture. After defining core areas for protection and putting buffers around them, we need to establish connectivity between these reserves or else they may become ecologically dysfunctional islands in the landscape

Less obvious species, such as plants or insects also need connectivity to be able to adapt to changing local conditions, and for genetic exchange between populations. Corridors that facilitate the movement of plant and wildlife species will help ecosystems adjust to the changing global climate; the predicted increase in climate will cause forest regions in North America to shift northward. Climate models predict that the southern edge of the boreal forest could shift as much as 500 km north because of climate change over the next century, and some species may be extirpated or become extinct if they can't migrate fast enough to match changing conditions.

Connectivity can be much more diverse than people often imagine. Corridors generally follow the landscape and not straight lines, they may be a mix of modified management, parks, core areas, and buffers - with one thing in common, they connect. No park should exist in isolation; somehow it should connect with all the others. Successful corridors must be large enough to be used as habitat by the animals that move through them - particularly if the corridors cover long distances. And since corridor boundaries are designed around key natural features, and link up small and large natural heritage areas, they are often not of a consistent width. Generally, wider corridors allow more species to use them (Forbes, 1993); corridors should be as wide as possible, and in some cases this may be achieved by having central protected areas buffered by areas of modified management.

Corridors can fulfill many needs - their raison d'etre is usually to provide maximum flow of genes, species, energy and material between core reserves. But they also can serve for scientific research, to protect ecologically representative and cultural heritage areas, and for recreation. Good examples of the recreational value of corridors are the Bruce Trail that runs along an important natural corridor, the Niagara Escarpment, and the proposed Superior-Temagami corridor, which follows a long-distance canoe route, and was paddled by Joan and Gary McGuffin in 1997.

There are at least four corridors in the initial stages of development in Ontario, two of which were conceived by Ancient Forest Exploration & Research. These are the Superior-Temagami corridor, the Temagami-Algonquin corridor, the Niagara Escarpment, and the Algonquin to Adirondack, an international corridor. Many more are needed.

On a smaller scale, corridors are now being considered in forest management plans as a new management tool. In 1996 the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources proposed genetic linkages, corridors of mature or old growth conifer, to facilitate the movement of species that prefer old growth (e.g. lynx marten, fisher, wolf). How effectively this strategy will be implemented by the MNR remains to be seen, since so far no corridors have been put in place. In any case the strategy was proposed only within the Temagami Comprehensive Planning Area. Another example of very simple corridors are waterway parks. But because right now waterway parks are usually only 200 m wide strips along each bank of the river, sometimes less, they are not viable for the movement of most species over long distances. Corridors that are too narrow can sometimes even be detrimental to species that use them, because of high edge effect and corresponding predation.

• Mapping ancient forest areas greater than 20,000 hectares in the Temagami Site Region and proposing an approximate route for the Superior-Temagami Corridor based on these core areas (see MAP).
• Using GIS analysis to map habitat quality in south-eastern Ontario (see MAP), and determing the the ideal (least-cost) path for wildlife movement in the Canadian portion of the Algonquin to Adirondack corridor. (see MAP or REPORT).
• Using GIS mapping to chart the path of the Temagami-Algonquin corridor

Forbes, G.J., 1993. The Preservation of Genes, Populations and Habitat Specialists in Natural Heritage Areas. pp. 34-46 in Size and Integrity Standards for Natural Heritage Areas in Ontario (proceedings of a seminar). Provincial Parks and Natural Heritage Policy Branch, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Poser, S.F., W.J. Crins and T.J. Beechey, editors.

Noss, R.F., M.A. O'Connell and D.D. Murphy. 1997. The Science of Conservation Planning. Island Press, Washington, D.C., Covelo, California. 246 pp.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 1992. A Natural Heritage Areas Strategy for Ontario, Responding to the Endangered Spaces Challenge. Draft For Discussion. Provincial Parks and Natural Heritage Policy Branch, Policy Division.

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 1996. Strategies for Implementing the Comprehensive Planning Council's Land Use Reccomendations.

In 2001-2002 regeneration of white pine forests was studied. White pine forests have suffered from a combination of historical over-extraction, and fire suppression which affects regeneration of the species. White pine is one of eastern North America's largest tree species, and white pine forest is a preffered habitat for a variety of wildlife. A report of our initial findings will be available soon.

In 1999-2000 the riparian area around streams was studied, with the aim of achieving further recognition and protection for these relatively fragile ecosystems. See Ancient Forest Research Report No. 25 for some of the results

In 1997-98 AFER began addressing the problem of ensuring that all ecosystem types are represented in protected areas. Currently, most assessments of representation in Ontario are based almost exclusively on remote sensing data (eg Forest Resource Inventory maps made from aerial photos) and surficial geology types. AFER has conducted field studies with the intention of proposing more refined methods of assessing ecological representation.

Between 1993 and 1995 AFER studied the Ancient Pine Landscape in the Lower Spanish Forest. AFER began studying in the Lower Spanish Forest after a mapping analysis commissioned by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (Spectranalysis 1993) showed that the largest concentration of white and red pine (over 50 yrs.; and over 10% of a stand) in Ontario was found there. Further work (Quinby et al. (1995)) showed that roughly 40,000 hectares of this area is pristine pine landscape. A further study revealed that this is the largest pristine white and red pine landscape remaining in the world (Quinby and McGuiness 1996).

Some of AFER's scientific findings from this period include:

• Identification of the world's largest pristine white and red pine landscape,
• Confirmation of four pristine watersheds in the Lower Spanish Forest (Quinby and Suski, 1995)
• Characterization of the relationship between topography and forest composition in the Lower Spanish Ancient Pine Forest (Quinby, McGuiness, Lee, and Suski, 1995), and
• studies of the relationships between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems.

  Some of the more significant conservation gains from this period include:

• Creation of the Spanish River Provincial Park

From 1989 to 1992, AFER focused its research on the old growth pine forests in Temagami.

Before the initiation of the AFER and it's predecessor the Tall Pines Project (under Peter Quinby), not a single Ontario newspaper mentioned Ontario's ancient or old-growth forests - since then more than 350 articles addressing Temagami's ancient pine forests appeared in over 35 Ontario newspapers. One of the first things Peter Quinby and the Tall Pines Project did was to develop a definition for old growth red and white pine forests. Significant scientific findings for this period include:

• location of the world's largest known stand of old-growth white and red pine (the Obabika Lake Stand),
• evidence that white pine in some stands regenerates successfully in the absence of catastrophic fire,
• development of the first set of old-growth white and red pine forest definitions, and
• evidence that old-growth white pine ecosystems are extirpated in 29% of the jurisdictions in which they are found and endangered in the remaining 71%.

Some of the more significant forest conservation gains following the inception of Its Tall Pines Project and the later creation of AFER include:

• the Ontario government abandoned plans to allow logging of the worlds largest known old growth white pine forest (the Obabika Lake stand) which is now protected as pan of a provincial park,
• in order to increase their knowledge on the subject, the Ontario government contracted numerous studies on old-growth forests,
• the Ontario government regulated against clearcutting of white pine forest in Temagami,
• the Ontario government temporarily protected seven old-growth pine sites in northeastern Ontario many of which are now fully protected,
• the Ontario government established the Wendaban Stewardship Authority to develop community-based forest planning in Temagami,
• the Ontario government established the Old-Growth Forest Conservation Strategy Initiative to develop old growth policy for Ontario,
• the Ontario Government has committed to protecting at least 65% of Temagami's old growth white and red pine forest,
• the Ontario Government has produced a Conservation strategy for Old-Growth White and red Pine forests in Ontario, and
• the Ontario Government has produced a draft Conservation Strategy for old Growth.

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