Foothills Of Southwestern Alberta Research Articles

An environmental domain classification of Canada using earth observation data for biodiversity assessment

Broad ecosystem based classifications are increasingly applied as a context to consider, understand, and manage biodiversity. The need for more spatially explicit, repeatable, transferable, transparent, and defensible environmental regionalization has become apparent. Increased computing power, sophisticated analysis software, and the availability of spatially explicit descriptions of the environment, principally derived from Earth observation data, have facilitated the development of statistical ecosystem regionalizations. These regionalizations are desired to produce environmentally unique ecoregions to provide the basis for stratification for ongoing biodiversity monitoring efforts. Using a suite of indicators of the physical environment, available energy such as vegetation production, and habitat suitability all derived from remote sensing technology at 1 km spatial resolution, we undertook an environmental regionalization using a two-stage multivariate classification of terrestrial Canada. A relatively large number of classes were initially derived (100) and a hierarchical clustering approach was then applied to derive a 40 level classification. These clusters where then used to assess which clusters were the most dissimilar to the majority thus providing indication of the most unique environmental domains across Canada. Secondly, a 14 class stratification was then produced to emulate the current ecozone stratification commonly used in Canada. Results indicated that a number of unique clusters exits across Canada, specifically the forest/urban-industrial/cropland mosaic in the southern portion of Ontario, the mixed wood forests in south–central Ontario and western Quebec, the foothills of south western Alberta, regions of the southern Arctic and the northern Boreal shield (particularly the areas south of Hudson Bay and Labrador). A resemblance between the 14 class stratification and the ecozone classification for Canada is evident; locations of within and between ecozone heterogeneity are also indicated. A critical key benefit of utilising ecoregions quantitatively using key indicators, such as those derived from remote sensing observations, is the capacity to establish, and quantify, how well particular networks of sites, or plot locations, represent the overall environment. As such, the incorporation of these types of methods, and remotely derived indicators, into biodiversity assessment is an important area of ongoing research.

Simulating daily soil water under foothills fescue grazing with the soil and water assessment tool model (Alberta, Canada)

AbstractGrazing is common in the foothills fescue grasslands and may influence the seasonal soil‐water patterns, which in turn determine range productivity. Hydrological modelling using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) is becoming widely adopted throughout North America especially for simulation of stream flow and runoff in small and large basins. Although applications of the SWAT model have been wide, little attention has been paid to the model's ability to simulate soil‐water patterns in small watersheds. Thus a daily profile of soil water was simulated with SWAT using data collected from the Stavely Range Sub‐station in the foothills of south‐western Alberta, Canada. Three small watersheds were established using a combination of natural and artificial barriers in 1996–97. The watersheds were subjected to no grazing (control), heavy grazing (2·4 animal unit months (AUM) per hectare) or very heavy grazing (4·8 AUM ha−1). Soil‐water measurements were conducted at four slope positions within each watershed (upper, middle, lower and 5 m close to the collector drain), every 2 weeks annually from 1998 to 2000 using a downhole CPN 503 neutron moisture meter. Calibration of the model was conducted using 1998 soil‐water data and resulted in Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (EF or R2) and regression coefficient of determination (r2) values of 0·77 and 0·85, respectively. Model graphical and statistical evaluation was conducted using the soil‐water data collected in 1999 and 2000. During the evaluation period, soil water was simulated reasonably with an overall EF of 0·70, r2 of 0·72 and a root mean square error (RMSE) of 18·01. The model had a general tendency to overpredict soil water under relatively dry soil conditions, but to underpredict soil water under wet conditions. Sensitivity analysis indicated that absolute relative sensitivity indices of input parameters in soil‐water simulation were in the following order; available water capacity > bulk density > runoff curve number > fraction of field capacity (FFCB) > saturated hydraulic conductivity. Thus these data were critical inputs to ensure reasonable simulation of soil‐water patterns. Overall, the model performed satisfactorily in simulating soil‐water patterns in all three watersheds with a daily time‐step and indicates a great potential for monitoring soil‐water resources in small watersheds. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Alkaloid Levels of a Tall Larkspur Species in Southwestern Alberta

Tall larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) are widely distributed in western North America and they kill more cattle on rangelands than any other poisonous plant. In Alberta, Canada, D. brownii Rydb. has a long history of causing cattle poisoning. The neurotoxic norditerpenoid alkaloid methyllycaconitine (MLA) was first detected in D. brownii over 50 years ago. A 2-year (1996 to 1997) survey was conducted on the levels of MLA in D. brownii collected at 5 sites in the foothills of southwestern Alberta. The vegetative stage of growth yielded the highest levels of MLA and the decline and change in concentration during that interval could be predicted on the basis of Julian day alone. The MLA levels during bud to pod development were not significantly different but they exceeded the reported levels for MLA in low larkspur by 5-to 10-fold. A new method is described for the determination of MLA by HPLC. DOI:10.2458/azu_jrm_v53i2_majak

Alkaloid levels of a tall larkspur species in southwestern Alberta

Tall larkspurs (Delphinium spp.) are widely distributed in western North America and they kill more cattle on rangelands than any other poisonous plant. In Alberta, Canada, D. brownii Rydb. has a long history of causing cattle poisoning. The neurotoxic norditerpenoid alkaloid methyllycaconitine (MLA) was first detected in D. brownii over 50 years ago. A 2-year (1996 to 1997) survey was conducted on the levels of MLA in D. brownii collected at 5 sites in the foothills of southwestern Alberta. The vegetative stage of growth yielded the highest levels of MLA and the decline and change in concentration during that interval could be predicted on the basis of Julian day alone. The MLA levels during bud to pod development were not significantly different but they exceeded the reported levels for MLA in low larkspur by 5-to 10-fold. A new method is described for the determination of MLA by HPLC.

Effect of Forty-Four Years of Grazing on Fescue Grassland Soils

A grazing study was initiated in the foothills of southwestern Alberta on the rough fescue grasslands (Festuca campestris (Rydb.) in 1949 comparing various grazing intensities. In 1992, soil samples were obtained from the Ah horizon of paddocks grazed at 1.2 (light), 2.4 (heavy), and 4.8 (very heavy) animal unit month ha-1 and from an ungrazed exclosure (control). The thickness of the Ah horizon of the control averaged 22 cm while that of the lightly, heavily and very heavily grazed paddocks averaged 18, 12, and 8 cm, respectively. Soil color changed from 10YR 2/1 (black) to 10YR 4/3 (dark brown to brown) in response to very heavy grazing. Grazing pressures decreased the mean-weight diameter of water-stable aggregates, total C and P, monosaccharide content and the galactose + mannose/xylose + arabinose ratio, while it increased bulk density, pH-CaCl2, and total N. The loss of P must be viewed with concern. Treatment effects on most soil parameters were most pronounced at the two heavier grazing pressures. Particularly, the heavy grazing pressure jeopardized the sustainability of the ecosystem by reducing fertility and water-holding capacity.

Pedosedimentary history and floodplain dynamics of the Lower Cretaceous upper Blairmore Group, southwestern Alberta, Canada

Thick alluvial successions in the upper Blairmore Group in the Foothills of southwestern Alberta contain few well-developed paleosol profiles, but abundant evidence of pedogenic modification. The pedogenically modified successions are characterized by vertical root traces, compound illuvial clay coatings, and ferruginous coatings and nodules. Five representative paleosol successions, composed of nine microfacies, are analyzed. The paleosol successions indicate soil development on more or less continuously aggrading floodplains; however, locally, rates of sedimentation and pedogenesis were highly variable. The paleosol successions contain features similar to modern alluvial soils, Brunisols, and Luvisols. Vertical trends within individual paleosol successions preserve the changing paleoenvironmental record at each site. The dynamic nature of the floodplain topography is reflected in alternating drainage conditions, represented by quasi-regular colour banding, compound clay coatings, and the type and degree of pedogenic development upwards within the paleosol successions. Overall, the paleosols indicate soil development under a warm, temperate paleoclimate with seasonal precipitation. Although representing minor diastems, the paleosols formed contemporaneously with sedimentation and are an integral part of the alluvial successions. Local variations in paleosol development are attributed to variations in sediment supply and water-table conditions related to the overall floodplain geomorphology.

Postglacial palaeoecology of the subalpine forest — grassland ecotone of southwestern Alberta: New insights on vegetation and climate change in the Canadian rocky mountains and adjacent foothills

Postglacial vegetation change at the subalpine forest-grassland ecotone in the foothills of southwestern Alberta is reconstructed from fossil pollen, plant macrofossils and fossil charcoal. The fossils were obtained from the sediments of a small lake. Chronological control for the record is provided by tephra analysis and the 14C dating of terrestrial plant macrofossils. The fossil record is compared with the results from similar studies at sites in the Rocky Mountains and foothills of Alberta and British Columbia. The comparison of vegetation change at the upper and lower elevational limits of the subalpine forest provides a record of changes in temperature and aridity over the Holocene. At 10,000 yr B.P. the study site supported a shrub and herb dominated vegetation. Picea-Pinus-Abies forests were present at mid- to high-elevations in the mountains and in the northern foothills by this time. The climate in the southern foothills was likely arid, but not severely cold. A relatively open Picea and Pinus forest was established in the study area between 9400 yr B.P. and 8000 yr B.P. Fire activity in the region was at a postglacial maximum during this period. The transition to forest suggests moister conditions. By 8000 yr B.P. the importance of members of the Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae and Typha latifolia increased suggesting an onset of arid conditions characterised by low and fluctuating water levels in lakes. Between 8000 yr B.P. and 5000 yr B.P. the Picea and Pinus contorta forest at the study site was largely replaced by grassland and Pinus flexilis. At high-elevation sites treeline was located above its modern position during this period. Little vegetation change is recorded at sites in the northern foothills and at mid-elevations at this time. The vegetation change in the southern foothills and at high-elevations suggests both an elevational and latitudinal displacement of vegetation zones during the mid-Holocene. Warm and arid conditions were prevalent in southwestern Alberta. Picea glauca-Pinus contorta-Populus tremuloides forest has occupied the site since 5000 yr B.P., when cooler and moister conditions were established.

The Behavior of Buoyant Merging Plumes in The Rocky Mountain Foothills

Natural gas often contains high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide which must be removed before the gas can be transmitted by pipeline. Sour gas plants extract the sulfur, by converting it to elemental sulfur through a modified Claus process. The sulfur recovery is 93% for small plants (10–100 tonnes of sulfur per day) to 99% for large plants (1000–4000 tonnes of sulfur per day). The unrecovered sulfur is Incinerated giving rise to relatively small emissions of SO2 characterized by high buoyancy and low momentum. Using a unique aerial probing methodology, plume dispersion studies were conducted on two plants located fn the foothills of southwestern Alberta, Canada. These studies were generally conducted under neutral conditions and with westerly air flows typical of Chinook conditions. Notable variations of the plume dispersion parameters from accepted predictive values were found, indicating that such values cannot be used with confidence to estimate plume rise and dispersion in the mountain foothills.

Lithostratigraphic nomenclature of the Upper Cretaceous Judith River Formation in southern Alberta; philosophy and practice

ABSTRACT Lithostratigraphic nomenclature in the Upper Cretaceous Montana Group in the southern Plains of Alberta is ambiguous and confusing. The name Belly has not been used consistently and has outlived its usefulness. The names Oldman and Foremost are vague, ill-defined terms whose use should be discontinued. The name should be employed for the entire interval between the Pakowki Formation below and the Bearpaw Formation above. It has been applied consistently to this stratigraphic interval in northern Montana and, at times, in southern Alberta, for the past 100 years and its use would serve to unify and simplify the nomenclature throughout this area. Use of the name Belly should be retained in the Foothills of southwestern Alberta, beyond the western limit of the Pakowki Formation, where the Judith River and Milk River Formations are not differentiated.

Pleistocene Glacial Lake Sequences in the Foothills, Southwestern Alberta, Canada

Three separate advances of Laurentide ice during the preWisconsin and Early Wisconsin led to the formation of proglacial lakes in the Foothills of southwestern Alberta. Lakes formed in both the advance and recessional stages, the most extensive occurring during the latter. Evidence of lakes formed by the first advance is fragmentary, but for the later advances, the occurrence of extensive glaciolacustrine deposits and related features attests to the presence of former large bodies of water. Two lakes (Glacial Lakes Oldman and Westrup) resulted from the second advance of Laurentide ice into the Foothills. Damming of Cordilleran meltwaters by the third (Early Wisconsin) Laurentide ice sheet to affect the area, led to the formation of Glacial Lake Caldwell and the development of complex flights of valley train terraces along the Oldman and Crowsnest River valleys.The relationship of the proglacial lakes to the ice fronts substantiates the stratigraphic evidence that the Cordilleran and Laurentide ice-maxima during each advance were not synchronous and that the valley glaciers had receded considerably before the Continental ice sheet advanced into the Foothills of southwestern Alberta.

Phytogeography and ecology of the lichen family Umbilicariaceae in southwestern Alberta

Eleven species of the genera Omphalodiscus and Umbilicaria in the lichen family Umbilicariaceae are reported from a 13 400-km2 area in the mountains and foothills of southwestern Alberta. Previous reports of Umbilicaria arctica and U. cylindrica are, or are felt to be, in error. Umbilicaria cinereorufescens is reported as new to Alberta. The distribution and habitats occupied by each of the taxa are described and a key to all species is provided. All taxa obligately occur on rock and in most cases are only on silicate rocks. Ten of the species are Circumpolar, Arctic–Boreal Alpine–Montane, and one is American, Cordilleran.

Phytogeography and ecology of the lichen family Parmeliaceae in southwestern Alberta

Forty-eight species and two varieties of the genera Cetraria, Hypogymnia, Parmelia, Parmeliopsis, and Platismatia in the lichen family Parmeliaceae are reported from a 13 400-km2 area in the mountains and foothills of southwestern Alberta. Twelve of these taxa are new to Alberta. The distribution and habitats occupied by each of the taxa are described. Thirty-four (67%) of the taxa are of Circumpolar distribution and 17 (33%) are endemic to North America. The three best represented distribution elements are Circumpolar, Arctic – Boreal Alpine – Montane (13 taxa, 26%); Circumpolar, Boreal Montane (9 taxa, 18%); and American, Cordilleran (12 taxa, 24%). One new combination, Hypogymnia enteromorpha var. inactiva, is proposed.

Lower Carboniferous Algal Microflora, Southwestern Alberta

A diverse and relatively prolific Lower Carboniferous algal microflora has been encountered in the Rocky Mountains and Foothills of southwestern Alberta. The algae occur in the Banff, Livingstone, Pekisko, Shunda, Turner Valley, Mount Head, and lower Etherington Formations. They are generally conspicuous throughout the Banff Formation, scarce in the Livingstone Formation, but are rather abundant in the upper parts of the Pekisko and Shunda Formations, and in the Loomis, Opal, Marston, and Carnarvon Members of the Mount Head Formation.The most favorable facies for algae are mixed skeletal and oolitic-skeletal packstones—grain-stones representing shallow, open sea shoals. Lagoonal deposits also yield a very rich microflora. The most unfavorable facies are echinoderm-bryozoan packstones, and sandy, silty mudstones and wackestones found in relatively deeper, offshore lithofacies.Twenty genera and at least 22 species are recognized, of which 6 genera and 9 species are new taxa. The new forms are: Orthriosiphonoides salterensis, n. gen., n. sp., Intextulella agglomerata n. gen., n. sp., Pseudokamaena armstrongi n. gen., n. sp., P. boulderensis n. sp., Stacheoides ? spissa n. sp., S. tenuis n. sp., Epistacheoides nephroformis n. gen., n. sp., Pseudostacheoides loomisi n. gen., n. sp., and Asphaltina cordillerensis n. gen., n. sp.The present study indicates that the associated Foraminifera offer a better detailed zonation of the Lower Carboniferous than the algae, although the latter appear to be more sensitive to facies change and, therefore, may be more useful to reconstruct paleoenvironments. However, five local algal assemblages, based on the succession of genera, seem stratigraphically consistent in Alberta.

Phytogeography and ecology of the lichen family Cladoniaceae in southwestern Alberta

Forty-two species of the genera Cladonia and Baeomyces in the lichen family Cladoniaceae are reported from a 13 400 km2 area in the mountains and foothills of southwestern Alberta. Thirteen of the species are new to Alberta. The distribution and habitats occupied by each of the species are described. The following North American distribution elements are represented: Arctic–Boreal, 48%; Boreal, 26%; Arctic–Alpine, 10%; Temperate, 5%; Arctic–Temperate, 5%; Boreal–Temperate, 2%,; Temperate–Tropic, 2%; and Pan North American, 2%. Only one of the species is endemic to North America.

Hepaticae of southwestern Alberta

Twenty-two families, 37 genera, and 82 species of Hepaticae are reported from a 13 400 km2 area in the mountains and foothills of southwestern Alberta. The distribution and habitats occupied by each of the species are described. The following distributional elements are represented: Arctic–Boreal, 43%; Pan North American, 33%; Boreal, 20%; Eastern Boreal, 1%; Cordilleran, 1%; and Temperate, 1%. Only one of the species is endemic to North America.

Zones in Alberta Shale (Benton"Group) in Foothills of Southwestern Alberta"

Zones in Alberta Shale (Benton"Group) in Foothills of Southwestern Alberta"