Elk Island Research Articles

Genetic relationship of wood and plains bison based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms

To evaluate the genetic relationship within and between wood and plains bison of Elk Island National Park, genomic DNA samples were screened for restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) with cDNA probes for growth hormone, growth hormone releasing factor, somatostatin, and insulin-like growth factor-1. Of the 28 fragments identified, two revealed RFLPs, both of which were associated with the growth hormone releasing factor locus. The observed frequencies of the polymorphic sites did not differ from a Hardy–Weinberg distribution in either population, which is indicative of random mating populations. The contingency χ2 tests for homogeneity indicate that the fragment frequencies of the polymorphic restriction sites differ significantly (P = 0.00) between the wood and plains bison. The number of net nucleotide substitutions between the two populations was 0.0007, indicative of a recent divergence. Conversion of the bison nucleotide divergence results in a relative protein divergence of 0.007 to 0.018. This converted divergence corresponds closely to the divergence reported for other geographically isolated populations; thus, this preliminary analysis suggests the bison have at least reached the stage of geographic isolation in their evolutionary divergence.

Elk Island National Park

Elk Island National Park

The effect of fire severity level on postfire recovery of hazel and raspberry in east-central Alberta

A study of the effects of fire on the regrowth of beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta Marsh.) and wild red raspberry (Rubus strigosus Michx.) was carried out in Elk Island National Park, Alberta. Shrubs growing under an aspen stand were subjected to five levels of fire severity by artificially adjusting the fuel load on small plots within a larger prescribed fire. Effects studied included mortality, number of stem sprouts, height growth of sprouts, and number of leaves per sprout, all during the first growing season, and biomass after the second season. Generally, fire killed the shrub stems at all severity levels. Variation in fire severity had little significant effect on regrowth, except that lower levels seemed to favor higher numbers of hazel sprouts and increased raspberry height growth.

A Brief Survey of the Bats of Elk Island National Park

A Brief Survey of the Bats of Elk Island National Park

Location of larvae of the Winter Tick, Dermacentor albipictus (Pack.), in Elk Island National Park, Alberta

Location of larvae of the Winter Tick, Dermacentor albipictus (Pack.), in Elk Island National Park, Alberta

Influence of nordic skiing on distribution of Moose and Elk in Elk Island National Park, Alberta

Influence of nordic skiing on distribution of Moose and Elk in Elk Island National Park, Alberta

Island forest year: Elk Island National Park, by Deirdre Griffiths [Review

Island forest year: Elk Island National Park, by Deirdre Griffiths [Review

Habitat Use by 4 Sympatric Ungulates in Boreal Mixedwood Forest

Habitat use by moose (Alces alces), wapiti (Cervus canadensis), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), and bison (Bison bison) during 1972-73 was investigated in a fenced national park. Ungulates differed in use of habitat types in terms of time spent and kinds of winter activity. Bison and wapiti strongly selected upland grassland at all seasons. Moose preferred shrubland, and sedge meadow was a close second during spring and summer. Deer preferred shrub meadow in spring, summer, and, to a lesser extent, winter, when dense aspen (Populus tremuloides) forest was selected equally. Habitats selected for activity were not always those in which the most time was spent. Between 1948 and 1972, proportions of habitat types on the park showed a 10% decrease in shrub meadow; minor increases occurred in water area due to beavers (Castor canadensis) and in several terrestrial habitats. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 44(4):849-857 Elk Island National Park in central Alberta, Canada, has long had dense populations of moose, wapiti, deer, and bison (Blood 1973, Telfer and Scotter 1975). The area thus provided an excellent location for studies of several aspects of the ecology of those species. Secondary succession in the aspen parkland region has been thought to advance rapidly from openings to continuous forest in the absence of fire (Bird 1961), and data on ungulate habitat selection were required to predict possible population changes due to suppression of fire. The goals of our study were to evaluate selection of existing habitats by the 4 species, especially in winter, both in terms of time spent and kinds of activity. Changes in the proportions of various habitat types in the park over the period 1948-72 also were examined to determine the extent of successional changes. We acknowledge the assistance of many individuals on the staff of Parks Canada, especially H. Webb, R. Jones, M. Kjorlien, R. Eddy, and C. Allen; and Canadian Wildlife Service technicians J. Langevin, C. Larsen, and H. Reynolds. C. Bird of the University of Calgary, G. Scotter of the Canadian Wildlife Service, and R. Hudson of the University of Alberta reviewed the manuscript.

Statistical Evaluation of Remotely Sensed Thermal Data for Deer Census

A statistical decision theory that originated with the development of radar and electronic communications systems was adapted to the problem of remote detection of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and mule deer (0. hemionus). The theory provided a model by which thermal emission data obtained in a ground-based field study of the effective radiant temperature of deer, brush, and snow were used to evaluate feasibility of use of airborne thermal scanners for deer census. Deer could be detected successfully against a snow-covered background under conditions existing during 2 widely separated field experiments. However, a thermal scanner would exhibit large errors in detecting deer when the probability of encountering snow-free objects was greater than the probability of encountering deer. Thermal contrast, by itself, is not of value in censusing deer populations. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 44(2):397-402 Thermal infrared (ir) scanning techniques of remote sensing have been proposed for censusing white-tailed and mule deer. Most studies were conducted in the spectral ranges of 3-5 or 8-14 gm. Choice of the thermal emission bands appeared to have been based upon the assumption that systems developed for military use might be applied to wildlife detection, because an animal, like a military target (tank, jet plane, etc.), was a heat-generating system. Croon et al. (1968) and McCullough et al. (1969) speculated that white-tailed deer might be censused with an aerial thermal scanner in the 8to 14-Aum range. Graves et al. (1972) found the 3to 5-am range was best under certain conditions. Parker and Driscoll (1972) and Parker (1972) concluded that thermal scanning for wildlife detection was feasible, but research was needed to optimize a thermal scanner for deer detection. Isakson et al. (1975) used digital techniques to interpret thermal ir data; results were superior to those obtained by visual interpretation of ir imagery, but were experimental and not operational. Wride and Baker (1977) at Elk Island Park, Alberta, Canada, reported limited success with an operational system, but absence of ground truth made the value of the experiment difficult to

Helminths in moose of Alberta.

Sixteen species of helminths (five cestodes, eight nematodes, and three trematodes) were found during examination of 215 moose from Alberta. Different helminth faunas occurred in moose from the major population in the west and north, and from isolated populations in central (Elk Island National Park) and southeastern (Cypress Hills Provincial Park) Alberta; only Moniezia sp., Taenia hydatigena, and Nematodirella longispiculata were found in all three populations. Thysanosoma actinioides, Protostrongylus macrotis, Setaria labiatopapillosa, Fascioloides magna, and Zygocotyle lunata were found in only one of the three populations; their presence was most likely due to cohabitation by moose and other infected vertebrates. The presence of wolves probably accounted for the high prevalence of Echinococcus granulosus, T. hydatigena, and Taenia krabbei in the west and north, while coyotes were of local importance in maintenance of E. granulosus and T. hydatigena in the park populations. Wehrdikmansia cervipedis was not found in park populations probably because of absence or scarcity of the intermediate host. Moniezia expansa, P. macrotis, S. labiatopapillosa, and Z. lunata are reported for the first time from moose in North America.

Aspects of Variation in Cranial Characters of Plains Bison (Bison bison bison Linnaeus) from Elk Island National Park, Alberta

A sample of 157 known age skulls from a population of plains bison ( Bison bison bison ) were examined following the taxonomic measurements described by Skinner and Kaisen (1947). Lower jaws were also examined following the characters defined by Butler et al . (1971). Tables of these data are presented against which samples from other studies may be compared. Cranial characters could be used to estimate the age of individuals within certain limits, and sexes were readily distinguishable from these parameters. Lower jaws, however, were found unsuitable for clear discrimination of age and sex unless teeth were present. The importance of the measurements for archaeological studies, and the need for a revision of the genus Bison , are also discussed.

NOTES ON HYLPOXYLON CANKER OF ASPEN IN ALBERTA

The rate of canker growth, caused by HYPOXYLON PRUINATUM (Klotzsch) Cke. (H. MAMMATUM (Wahl.) Miller) and the intensification of the disease were investigated on trembling aspen, POPULUS TREMULOIDES Michx. in Elk Island National Park, Alberta. In 1963, 45.1 per cent of the trees on a 1/3-acre plot were either killed or infected. This number increased to 49.0 per cent during the following three years. All stem cankers were located below the 9 foot level and 75.0 per cent were facing north or northeast. The disease was not confined to a particular crown class. Infected, trees were killed in 4 to 8 years. Fifteen cankers were sectioned to study the nature of canker growth. The rate of girdling was not related to either the diameter or dominance of the tree. The cankers grew at a faster rate on dominant and co-dominant trees during the initial year of infection than on intermediate and overtopped trees. The disease did not cause increment loss during the infection period.

Weights and Measurements of Moose in Elk Island National Park, Alberta

Weights and Measurements of Moose in Elk Island National Park, Alberta

POLYMORPHUS PARADOXUS SP. NOV. (ACANTHOCEPHALA) PARASITIZING BEAVERS AND MUSKRATS IN ALBERTA, CANADA

A new species of Acanthocephala, Polymorphus paradoxus, is described from beavers (Castor canadensis) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethica) from a lake in Elk Island National Park, Alberta. A species of amphipod in the lake was heavily infected with larval Acanthocephala, although the possible relationship of this infection to that in the beaver and muskrat has not yet been determined. While all other species of Polymorphus have been described from birds, a possible avian host of P. paradoxus has not yet been found.