NLIS 2
September 24, 2004
(Environment and Conservation)

 

Scientific research in protected areas of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2004

The Minister of Environment and Conservation, Tom Osborne, said today that a total of 19 scientific research permits were issued in 2004 for wilderness and ecological reserves and provincial parks.

Minister Osborne said that collecting information on the natural features within our protected areas is important when addressing management issues. "Researchers provide Parks and Natural Areas Division with important biophysical data and assist in the management of protected areas in the province."

Inland Fish and Wildlife Division and numerous agencies, such as Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service), Memorial University conduct research in the provincial reserves and parks. "Research is encouraged in our protected areas and new researchers are welcome to contact Parks and Natural Areas Division for more information." said Minister Osborne. Permits to conduct scientific research and monitoring in the parks and reserves are mandatory and can be obtained by contacting Nicole Lights, biologist, Parks and Natural Areas Division at (709) 635-4529.

Minister Osborne stated 12 of the 19 permits were for seabird reserves and of the 12, nine were for Witless Bay Islands Ecological Reserve. "There seems to be an increased interest in seabird research as evidenced by the increase in number of seabird reserve permits from seven in 2003 to 12 in 2004," said Minister Osborne.

Researchers in 2004 studied seabird population dynamics, ecosystem dynamics, caribou, snowshoe hare, fossils and endangered plants. Dr. Guy Narbonne of Queen�s University in Ontario published several articles on some of the oldest complex life forms discovered at Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve. These fossils are gaining international attention as the reserve has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Some research also focused on rare plants. A number of Memorial University students and professors monitored pathogens and effects of climate change on Long�s Braya and Fernald�s Braya, endangered and threatened species. These unique species are found only on the Northern Peninsula of Newfoundland. For a more detailed list of research projects please see attached table.

The Parks and Natural Areas Division of the Department of Environment and Conservation is the management agency responsible for the 19 wilderness and ecological reserves and 32 provincial parks in Newfoundland and Labrador. For further information on reserves and parks, please visit //www.gov.nl.ca/parks&reserves/ or call (709) 635-4520.

Media contact: Tina Coffey, Communications (709) 729-5783

Table 1: List of Scientific Research in Parks and Reserves in 2004

Name and Affiliation

Reserve/Park

Project Title

Dr. Guy Narbonne, Queen�s University

Mistaken Point, Mistaken Point Extension

Paleobiology of Ediacaran fronds at Mistaken Point

Rob Otto, Department of Environment and Conservation

Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve

Caribou and coyote interactions and demographics

Dr. Luise Hermanutz, Memorial University

Cape St. Mary�s

Demographic analysis of moss campion

Dr. Luise Hermanutz, Memorial University

Burnt Cape, Watt�s Point

Risk assessment of insect pests and pathogens on endangered plants of the limestone barrens of Newfoundland

Dr. Luise Hermanutz, Memorial University

Burnt Cape

Vulnerability assessment, management implications and socio-economic impacts of future climate change on rare plants of the limestone barrens ecosystem, Great Northern Peninsula, Newfoundland

Sarah Hustins, Memorial University

13 Provincial Parks

The ecology of Newfoundland and Labrador mosquitoes in relation to land-use and their potential as vectors of West Nile Virus

John Neville, Department of Environment and Conservation

Bay du Nord Wilderness Reserve

Determining cause-specific rates of caribou calf mortality and adult movement in the Middle Ridge caribou herd

Brian Nakashima, Fisheries and Oceans, Canada

Bellevue Beach Provincial Park

Spawning, egg deposition, and recruitment of capelin, Bellevue Beach, Trinity Bay

Sabir Bin Muzaffar, Memorial University

Witless Bay Islands

The ecology of parasitism in seabird colonies in eastern Canada

Neil Burgess, Canadian Wildlife Service

Witless Bay Islands

Organochlorine contaminants of the marine environment: trends in eastern Canadian seabirds

Neil Burgess, Canadian Wildlife Service

Gannet Islands

Organochlorine contaminants of the marine environment: trends in Labrador

John Chardine, Canadian Wildlife Service

Cape St. Mary�s, Baccalieu Island, Funk Island

Report of five-year North American northern Gannet colony census

David Fifield, Alder Institute

Witless Bay Islands

Attachment of dummy data loggers to Atlantic Puffins as an initial phase in determining post-breeding dispersal patterns and winter distribution

Dr. Bill Montevecchi, Memorial University

Baccalieu Island, Cape St. Mary�s, Funk Island, Witless Bay Islands

Foraging and feeding ecology of Newfoundland seabirds

Dr. Anne Storey, Memorial University

Witless Bay Islands

Effects of boat tours on stress hormones in Atlantic Puffins on Great and Gull Islands

Dr. Anne Storey, Memorial University

Witless Bay Islands

Reproductive behaviour, body condition and productivity in Common Murres on Great Island

Dr. Anne Storey, Memorial University

Witless Bay Islands

Monitoring kittiwake breeding success

Dr. Gregory Robertson, Canadian Wildlife Service

Witless Bay Islands

Demographic studies of seabirds on Gull Island, Witless Bay

Dr. Gregory Robertson, Canadian Wildlife Service

Witless Bay Islands

Censuses of selected seabirds in the Witless Bay Seabird Ecological Reserve

2004 09 24                         12:00 p.m.


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