Gwaii Haanas Research Articles

Acoustic and visual cetacean surveys reveal year-round spatial and temporal distributions for multiple species in northern British Columbia, Canada

Cetaceans spend most of their time below the surface of the sea, highlighting the importance of passive acoustic monitoring as a tool to facilitate understanding and mapping their year-round spatial and temporal distributions. To increase our limited knowledge of cetacean acoustic detection patterns for the east and west coasts of Gwaii Haanas, a remote protected area on Haida Gwaii, BC, Canada, acoustic datasets recorded off SG̱ang Gwaay (Sep 2009–May 2011), Gowgaia Slope (Jul 2017–Jul 2019), and Ramsay Island (Aug 2018–Aug 2019) were analyzed. Comparing overlapping periods of visual surveys and acoustic monitoring confirmed presence of 12 cetacean species/species groups within the study region. Seasonal patterns were identified for blue, fin, humpback, grey and sperm whale acoustic signals. Killer whale and delphinid acoustic signals occurred year-round on both coasts of Haida Gwaii and showed strong diel variation. Cuvier’s, Baird’s, beaked whale and porpoise clicks, were identified in high-frequency recordings on the west coast. Correlations between environmental factors, chlorophyll-a and sea surface temperature, and cetacean acoustic occurrence off Gwaii Haanas were also examined. This study is the first to acoustically monitor Gwaii Haanas waters for an extended continuous period and therefore serves as a baseline from which to monitor future changes.

Chiixuu Tll iinasdll: Indigenous Ethics and Values Lead to Ecological Restoration for People and Place in Gwaii Haanas

Chiixuu Tll iinasdll: Indigenous Ethics and Values Lead to Ecological Restoration for People and Place in Gwaii Haanas

Experiences With Governance in Three Marine Conservation Zoning Initiatives: Parameters for Assessment and Pathways Forward

IIn this perspective paper, we examine the challenges of governance in three marine conservation settings where rights, access to resources and zoning intersect with changing social and ecological conditions: 1) Tsitsikamma Marine Protected Area in South Africa; 2) Marine Protected Area of the Northern Coast of Sao Paulo (APAMLN) in Brazil and 3) Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve in Canada. Many MPAs and related zoning initiatives are located adjacent to coastal communities that rely on marine and coastal resources for their livelihoods. Thus, processes of zoning must often address local use of natural resources which can be perceived by decision-makers and regulators as problematic. Our analysis highlights how conservation zoning intersects with the perception of diverse stakeholders regarding a range of governance dimensions, including: 1) levels of participation and compliance; 2) the clarity of zoning and conservation objectives; 3) livelihood impacts and benefits; 4) evidence of ecological and conservation benefits; and 5) the influence on sense of place. Pathways forward to address the challenges of governance associated with zoning include the importance of co-producing knowledge for more robust zoning outcomes, and situating zoning processes in a co-management context in which power and authority are more evenly distributed.

Late Pleistocene vegetation and sedimentary charcoal at Kilgii Gwaay archaeological site in coastal British Columbia, Canada, with possible proxy evidence for human presence by 13,000 cal bp

RWM and TL gratefully acknowledge Discovery Grant funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Grants A3835 and 342003). We thank Parks Canada and the Gwaii Haanas Archipelago Management Board for permission to conduct research on Ellen Island and field assistance.

Seismic induced flow disruption of Gandll K'in Gwaay.yaay thermal springs, Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Canada

The October 28, 2012 magnitude 7.8 Haida Gwaii earthquake disrupted flow of the only thermal springs in the Haida Gwaii archipelago of western Canada. Springs of the Gandll K'in Gwaay.yaay geothermal system ceased discharge at existing outlets and spring pools drained empty. Subsequent visits to the remote site documented return of flow at the lowest elevation discharge points, although at a greatly reduced discharge rate. Over time thermal water discharge was renewed at higher elevations and the total discharge rate increased.To understand better how seismic activity affected the spring flow, at a site ∼30 km distant from the epicentre, a study was initiated to inform development of a conceptual model of the thermal system. Stable isotope data show that thermal waters discharging at Gandll K'in Gwaay.yaay originate in deep circulation of meteoric waters, where they are heated by the normal increase in ground temperature with depth. Geothermal gradients in the region are relatively low, and aqueous geothermometry suggests that circulation depths of the system are ∼3.6 km. There is no significant difference in overall water geochemistry from before and after the earthquake, either suggesting that the flow path was clogged, or that changes in water pressure in the recharge zone have reduced the overall system drive. We propose a conceptual model, suggesting that the earthquake induced a drop in the water table of the recharge zone, reducing the driving force of the flow system, leading to flow cessation. As the water table returned back to normal elevations the spring system has begun to return to pre-earthquake discharge patterns. This interpretation is consistent with traditional knowledge of the site, were oral history records previous earthquake induced flow cessations and subsequent returns of spring flow.

Connecting in nature

Canada has 46 national parks and reserves, 171 national historic sites and four national marine conservation areas, adding up to 300,000 square kilometres of protected areas. They represent the country's massive, yet varied, landscapes from the towering mountains of Waterton Lakes National Park in Alberta, to the sparkling sands of Sable Island National Park Reserve off Nova Scotia, to the lush rain forest of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve on the coast of British Columbia. All these places tell Canada's ecological and cultural story. As its population becomes increasingly urban – and with the average park over two hours from a city – the need is to make more visiting opportunities available.

Thermal Springs of Gandll K’in Gwaayaay (Hot Spring Island) Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve

The Gandll K’in Gwaayaay (Hot Spring Island), British Columbia Canada, geothermal system showed significant response to the October 27 2012 Haida Gwaii earthquake, including temporary flow stoppage. This indicates linkage between the hydrogeological system and seismic activity on the nearby fault. A study was initiated to assess how the spring system has changed in response to the earthquake in 2012, and whether it is it still changing, has it reached a new equilibrium and, if it has, what are the parameters of the new equilibrium. Linkages of the flow regime to seismic moment release and surface deformation measurements near Haida Gwaii were also investigated to assess if there is potential that changes in spring flow and/or chemistry may provide precursor information of near-future seismic activity. Results of this study may be used to inform decisions involving visitation by tourists, management and development of site facilities, and monitoring of the unique ecology at this site.

Cover

Rhodymenia cf. rhizoides in the low intertidal of Gwaii Haanas; a species with a predominantly disjunct distribution between California and northern British Columbia. [Vol. 50, No. 6, pp. 968–974]

Evaluation of WorldView-2 and acoustic remote sensing for mapping benthic habitats in temperate coastal Pacific waters

Maps of nearshore marine habitat are fundamental tools for the management and conservation of coastal ecosystems. While traditional field mapping techniques, such as towed video and diver surveys, are still commonly employed for generating highly detailed maps of seafloor habitat, acoustic and satellite remote sensing have proven to be efficient alternatives for generating habitat maps. To date remote sensing using satellite imagery has dominated mapping efforts over coral reefs and other tropical ecosystems with fewer studies applied in temperate marine regions where acoustic studies are more common. Few studies exist that have assessed the performance of high resolution satellite imagery in mapping seafloor habitat in temperate regions. This paper compares the efficacy of high resolution satellite imagery (WorldView-2) and a single-beam acoustic ground discrimination system (QTC View V) for mapping the distribution of submerged aquatic vegetation at a site within the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area (GHNMCA) off the north coast of British Columbia, Canada. Ground-truth data for training and validation were collected using a towed underwater video camera. Prior to classification the WorldView-2 image (8 bands, 2m resolution) was processed following orthorectification, atmospheric correction, glint correction, land and optically deep water masking. An acoustic survey was conducted using a 200kHz echosounder and data were processed and interpolated using QTC IMPACT software. The WorldView-2 imagery performed best in mapping habitat in regions shallower than 3m, obtaining a total accuracy 75%, where it could identify the distribution of green algae (Ulva spp.), brown algae (Fucus spp.) and eelgrass (Zostera marina). The 200kHz data were unable to detect the distribution of brown and green algae but were able to map the distribution of eelgrass as well as a subtidal red algae (Chondrocanthus exasperatus) (total accuracy 80%). A final habitat map containing all habitat types present at the study site was produced using the output from both datasets. The study resulted in recommendations for remote mapping of submerged vegetation in temperate coastal area.

Challenges Associated with Eradicating Invasive Rodents from Islands: Lessons Learned

Removal of introduced rats from islands is a proven and powerful conservation tool that can help restore ecosystem functioning and/or processes. Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada, is an isolated marine archipelago with distinct flora and fauna that have evolved during 14,000 years of isolation from the mainland. Approximately 1.5 million seabirds from 13 species nest on the islands of Haida Gwaii, including 50% of the global ancient murrelet population, a federally designated species at risk in Canada. Within Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site (located at the southern end of Haida Gwaii) there are 9 designated Important Bird Areas (IBAs), established primarily to denote important seabird nesting sites. However, unintentional historical introductions of rats to islands within IBAs and throughout Haida Gwaii have led to the demise of several seabird nesting colonies. In September 2013, Parks Canada Agency, in partnership with Coastal Conservation and Island Conservation, implemented Canada’s first aerial broadcast eradication of black rats from two islands within the Ramsay Island and Northern Juan Perez Sound Islands IBA, where seabird colonies and ecosystem processes have been negatively impacted by this species. The eradication of black rats from Murchison and Faraday Islands posed several challenges including ensuring adequate bait density to maximize the probability of eradication success while minimizing risks to native species. Our planning efforts focused on addressing bait competition by non-target species, the consequence of bait interception by the forest canopy, minimizing bait entering the marine environment, mitigating potential negative impacts to non-target species, and determining the ideal timing for the eradication operation. We present here a summary of these challenges and the measures that were implemented to address them.

The Black Oystercatcher as a Sentinel Species in the Recovery of the Northern Abalone

Abstract. We documented the diet of the Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani) on Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada, (2004–2010) with prey remains from 99 territories in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, National Marine Conservation Area Reserve and Haida Heritage Site. The ranking of its four main prey types did not vary annually. Numerically, the prey comprised 50–75% limpets, 14–34% mussels, 8–18% chitons, 1–2% Northern Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana), and <1% other species. In 2009, we estimated prey availability and prey preference by Ivlev's electivity index. Northern Abalone, limpets, and chitons were highly preferred; mussels, turban snails, and barnacles were taken in proportion to their occurrence or avoided. Black Oystercatchers preferred abalone of 50 mm, smaller than the mean size available, in contrast to the selection of larger-than-average prey, typical for other prey species. In 2010, 52% of nesting territories sampled contained remains of Northern Abalone, despite that species'...

Continuing Education: My Life as a Historian

Abstract: C.J. Taylor's memoir begins with a brief account of his formative undergraduate years at Simon Fraser University in the 1960s and describes some of his experiences as a graduate student at Carleton University in the 1970s and 1980s. Much of the memoir is devoted to his years working as a Parks Canada historian between 1974 and 2009. He became interested in the history of the historic sites program while writing agenda papers and plaque texts for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. After moving to Calgary in 1989 he became involved in national parks history, primarily the mountain parks of Banff, Jasper, Waterton Lakes, Yoho, and Kootenay, but also the new west coast park of Gwaii Haanas.

Continuing Education: My Life as a Historian

Abstract: C.J. Taylor's memoir begins with a brief account of his formative undergraduate years at Simon Fraser University in the 1960s and describes some of his experiences as a graduate student at Carleton University in the 1970s and 1980s. Much of the memoir is devoted to his years working as a Parks Canada historian between 1974 and 2009. He became interested in the history of the historic sites program while writing agenda papers and plaque texts for the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada. After moving to Calgary in 1989 he became involved in national parks history, primarily the mountain parks of Banff, Jasper, Waterton Lakes, Yoho, and Kootenay, but also the new west coast park of Gwaii Haanas.

Aboriginal peoples, Parks Canada, and protected spaces: a case study in co-management at Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve

Effectively preserving protected areas often requires good-working relationships between Aboriginal groups and government agencies. However, many of these associations have been poorly managed in the past, with some even resulting in the expulsion of indigenous peoples and the destruction of their villages. A co-management agreement may improve conditions, but this is no guarantee of success either; these are complex arrangements bringing together very diverse views on the management of a protected area. One group intimately involved with such accords is the Parks Canada Agency; the federal government department that is responsible for the establishment and management of nationally protected spaces in Canada. While Parks Canada has not always consulted nor considered Aboriginal groups in the past when managing conservation areas, there are signs of change in this government agency. This research looks at one positive relationship between Parks Canada and the Haida people in the operation of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve (NPR) on Canada's northwest coast. This arrangement is looked at through the lens of guidelines set out by the IUCN. The IUCN, as a global environmental agency sponsored by UNESCO, has developed guidelines to assist Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal groups to work together for the establishment and management of protected spaces. With limited research on co-management agreements though, it is unclear how well these guidelines work when applied to actual conservation areas. While not perfect, Gwaii Haanas NPR provides a valuable case study on co-management agreements, key success factors for these relationships, and hope that more of these arrangements will be implemented in the future.

Fallen between the Cracks: Conservation Linking Land and Sea

Fallen between the Cracks: Conservation Linking Land and Sea

Late-glacial vegetation dynamics of the Queen Charlotte Islands and adjacent continental shelf, British Columbia, Canada

AMS radiocarbon dates and paleoecological analyses of sediments from the continental shelf between the Queen Charlotte Islands and the British Columbia mainland confirm that portions of the shelf were subaerially exposed and ice-free between at least 14,330 and 12,860 14C years BP (17,370–14,570 cal years BP). Pollen analysis suggests that Cyperaceae likely formed the dominant plant cover on the exposed shelf at Dogfish Bank, and fossil Pediastrum algae confirm the presence of freshwater. Pollen accumulation rates suggest low plant density on the exposed shelf, although this is uncertain due to over- and under-representation of some pollen types in relation to vegetation abundance on the landscape. Paleoecological analyses of late-glacial sediments at West Side Pond on the southern Queen Charlotte Islands demonstrate succession from herb tundra dominated by Cyperaceae at 13,750 14C years BP (16,830 cal years BP) to dwarf shrub tundra with Salix and Empetrum nigrum after 13,500 14C years BP (16,400 cal years BP). Pteridophytes increased in abundance during the transition to Pinus contorta woodland ca. 13,000 14C years BP (15,600 cal years BP). Fossil conifer stomata suggest that P. contorta grew locally as early as 13,040 ± 305 14C years BP. Alnus crispa was co-dominant by 11,500 14C years BP (13,500 cal years BP), and Picea sitchensis or its hybrids were present as early as 11,400 14C years BP (13,400 cal years BP) in the south Moresby area.

Oceanographic connectivity among marine protected areas on the north coast of British Columbia, Canada

The main objective of our study was to use a three-dimensional oceanographic simulation model to understand connectivity among the proposed Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area (GHNMCA) and 10 other proposed or existing marine protected areas (MPAs) on the north Pacific coast of Canada. The simulations were conducted using passive particles placed at three depths and vertically migrating particles for 30 or 90 days in late winter. Simulated surface particle dispersion was found to be consistent with winter ocean current observations made from analysis of satellite imagery, current mooring, and drifter data. The GHNMCA would contribute to a network of MPAs because it supplies and receives particles from other MPAs in northern British Columbia. Model simulations also indicate that the greatest source of particles to GHNMCA originate from 30-m and not 2-m flows. Finally, the simulated mean daily dispersal rate of 2.0 km·day–1 would allow fish and invertebrates to self-seed northern portions of the GHNMCA in winter. Together, the GHNMCA and other MPAs appear to contribute a large percentage of particles to non-MPA regions in northern Hecate Strait, which may be considered a particle sink in winter.

Technological Correlates of Gwaii Haanas Microblades

Microblade technology in Gwaii Haanas appears to develop from a lithic technology based on bifaces and unifacial scraperplane tools. At the high resolution Richardson Island site, there are char temporal trends in artifact frequencies, particularly among bifaces, microblades and scraperplane classes, as well as raw material types, that strongly support a model of in-situ change. These changes are gradual, not sudden. The trends continue at the two slightly later and geographically separate microblade-bearing sites of Arrow Creek I and Lyell Bay, indicating they are not isolated to one location. Some morphological clues among the scraperplane classes and microblade cores are perhaps revealing of consistencies in manufacturing behaviour in pre-miaroblade and microblade phases.The initial phases of widespread, indeed pervasive, microblade manufacture coincide with peak Holocene sea level rise and stabilization at about 9000 B.P. Therefore, in-situ technological change could relate directly to stabilization of key subsistence resources whose use is facilitated by microblades, loss of resources through flooding that led to a refocus of extractive strategies (such as loss of access to stone sources or various plant species), a combination of those, or other reasons. Alternatively, the observable changes occurred as a result of other factors, such as population replacement. This suggestion of in-situ microblade technology development has bearing on the nature of microblade appearances in other areas of the greater Northwest in the late Pleistocene and throughout the Holocene period.

Lichen Zonation on Coastal Rocks in Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia

The occurrence of 43 marine lichen species on intertidal rocky shores of southern Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte Islands), British Columbia is described and related particularly to elevation on the shore (duration of seawater immersion) and exposure to waves. In the area of Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site on Moresby Island, rockdwelling marine lichens are distributed in zones much as they are elsewhere in the world, although some species found abundantly only in Haida Gwaii give the local shores a unique appearance. In common with other areas, there is a conspicuous black band of Verrucaria species (in this case, nine species plus other black lichens) at the upper edge of the intertidal zone. A conspicuous white band of Coccotrema maritimum above the black band is a unique feature of this flora. The unusually large percentage of endemic, near-endemic or disjunct lichen species and their phytogeography suggest that at least the headland rocks along the west coast were refugia during the last glacial maximum. Verrucaria striatula and V. sandstedei are reported for the first time from British Columbia. Erratum for figure included.

Twenty years of satellite observations describing phytoplankton blooms in seas adjacent to Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve, Canada

Visible satellite imagery is used to estimate the variability of chlorophyll concentration and "brightness" events in surface waters within and adjacent to the proposed National Marine Conservation Area associated with the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site in northern British Columbia, Canada. We examine ocean colour imagery from the coastal zone colour scanner (CZCS; 1979–1985) and sea-viewing wide field-of-view sensor (SeaWiFS; 1998–2000) and visible imagery from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR; 1982–2000) to document variability in these parameters because few ship-based observations of phytoplankton exist for this region. The AVHRR imagery indicates that large bright surface patches occur in most summers on the east coast but not the west coast of the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area (GHNMCA). The bright patches originate from three main sources: Dogfish Bank to the north, Queen Charlotte Sound to the south, and within the GHNMCA. The ocean colour data reveal large potential interannual variations in satellite-derived chlorophyll for three regions in the GHNMCA and indicate that the Hecate region typically has the highest estimated chlorophyll. Seasonally, all three regions show a bimodal pattern in chlorophyll concentrations, with a spring peak in April–May and a second peak in August–September. At present, few field samples exist to verify the phytoplankton species or seasonal trends in chlorophyll identified by satellite sensors.