Abstract It is unrealistic to achieve high-resolution biodiversity inventories required support local conservation strategies over large areas; however, benchmark associations between arthropods and ecosystem classification can landscape scale biomonitoring. We investigated habitat of ground-dwelling spiders (Araneae), staphylinid beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae), carabid Carabidae) in three forest ecosystems northwestern Alberta, Canada also studied the effect variation depth pitfall...

Logging is the main human disturbance in boreal forest; thus, understanding effects of harvesting practices on biodiversity essential for a more sustainable forestry. To assess changes spider composition because harvesting, samples were collected from three forest layers (overstory, understory, and ground) deciduous conifer dominated stands northwestern Canadian mixedwood forest. Spider assemblages feeding guild compared between uncut controls harvested to 20% retention. In total, 143...

The extent to which past states influence present and future ecosystem characteristics (ecosystem memory (EM)) is challenging assess because signals of ecological conditions fade with time. Using data about seven different taxa, we show that gradients initiated by wildfires up three centuries earlier affect biotic recovery after variable retention harvest in the boreal mixedwood forest. First, fire history over last 300 years reflected pre‐harvest species‐specific stand basal area (BA),...

The Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbances (EMEND) project tests the hypothesis that varying levels of green tree retention maintain and retain forest biodiversity better than conventional clear-cutting. We studied epigaeic spiders to assess changes 2, 5, 10 yr following a range partial harvests (clear-cut, 10-75% retention) unharvested controls in four boreal mixedwood cover types. A total 56 371 adult representing 220 species was collected using pitfall traps. Lasting effects...

Abstract Spiders (Araneae) were sampled in white spruce ( Picea glauca (Moench) Voss (Pinaceae)) dominated stands from the ground and shrub layers, several overstorey strata to assess patterns species composition diversity (alpha beta) along vertical gradient (0–12 m above ground). Overall, 3070 adult spiders 15 families 76 collected, with layer accounting for highest richness (40 species) followed by mid-overstorey (36 spp.) layers (33 species). Vertical stratification was apparent samples:...

The genetic base of Brassica napus canola need to be broadened for exploitation heterosis at a greater level in the breeding F1 hybrid cultivars. In this study, we evaluated 228 inbred B. lines derived from six × oleracea interspecific crosses and following two methods (F2- BC1-derived lines) understand effect alleles on different agronomic seed quality traits. Test hybrids inbreds involving vars. botrytis (cauliflower), alboglabra (Chinese kale) capitata (cabbage) cv. Badger Shipper, an...

Abstract The industrial footprint of oil and gas extraction in Alberta, Canada dissects the landscape a network linear polygonal disturbances such as roads well pads. changes to biotic abiotic factors beyond boundaries these into adjacent ecosystem are called edge effects. A common assumption is that effects proportional width disturbance, with wider leading deeper forest. objective this study compare on plant composition, seed dispersal distance, weight, microclimate across three...

Boreal peatlands of Alberta (Canada) are heavily dissected by a large network linear disturbances, including seismic lines used for Oil and Gas exploration. Edge effects resulting from these disturbances can increase their footprint affect wildlife habitat, the quality quantity plant lichen forage. In 2012, line restoration became priority in Alberta, under realm habitat threatened boreal woodland caribou. More accurate understanding biotic abiotic interactions leading to edge be important...

Partial retention harvest (PRH) has received attention as an alternative to clear-cutting, yet most studies of its effects on boreal songbirds have been conducted shortly after harvest. We assessed responses songbird assemblages PRH over a 15-year post-harvest period at the EMEND experiment in mixedwood forest Alberta, Canada. Four partial levels (10%, 20%, 50%, and 75% stems) were applied series 10 ha "compartments" during winter 1998–1999 with matching clearcuts unharvested control...

Abstract Exploration practices for oil sands developments in the boreal forest of western Canada create a network thousands kilometers linear features, particularly seismic lines that dissect these forests posing significant environmental challenges. As wildfire is one prevalent stand‐replacing natural disturbances Canadian forest, it an important driver change and stand development may contribute to mitigation such industrial footprint. Here, we evaluate short‐term cumulative (also known as...

Seismic lines—narrow and straight corridors from which overstory has been removed to allow access for oil gas exploration—are a major human footprint in the boreal forest of western Canada. With slow minimal recovery tree cover along these corridors, seismic lines have become persistent landscape feature affecting connectivity habitat quality forested ecosystems, particularly wetland areas. Soil mounding is common ground preparation treatment widely applied lines, with expectation that it...

Tree trunks link the forest floor and higher canopy layers, thus constituting an important habitat element for many arthropod species, including spiders living in canopy. We sampled moving on tree boreal using two trap designs referred to as “bottle traps” (BT) “cup (CT) placed both trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux) white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) trees of similar DBH (diameter at breast height). Over average 83.5 ± 6.3 days/trap (48 traps), we collected a total 333...

Linear disturbances from geological exploration (i.e., seismic lines) have an extensive footprint across much of Canada’s western boreal forest; however, how lines interact with subsequent wildfire remains poorly understood. We assessed whether wildfires effectively mitigate the by promoting forest recovery. evaluated structure legacy burned in 2001 and 2002 comparing them against adjacent unburned control plots, using metrics derived airborne laser scanning (ALS) data collected between 2007...

Local spatial variation in species distributions is driven by a mix of abiotic and biotic factors, understanding such hierarchical important for conservation biodiversity across larger scales. We sought to understand how composition understory vascular plants, spiders, carabid beetles associated with concomitant forest structure on 1‐ha permanent plot never‐cut mixedwood central Alberta (Canada). Using correlations among dendrograms produced cluster analysis we data about mapped distribution...

ABSTRACT The narrow genetic base of Brassica napus L. canola, especially its C genome, is an impediment for continued improvement this crop. We investigated the gene pools different variants B. oleracea to improve agronomic and seed quality traits canola. For this, canola inbred populations were developed from six interspecific crosses, involving a single line accessions belonging four species, following two breeding techniques (F 2 – BC 1 –derived lines). Among these, population derived...

Green roofs are valuable ecosystems that enhance the biodiversity value of urban landscapes in northern Alberta. Using pitfall traps on green and adjacent ground sites, we show roof arthropods characteristic native grasslands threatened Although found lower abundance spiders carabids roofs, species richness as assessed by rarefaction did not differ between nearby sites. Thus, arthropod communities these extensive do seem to be impoverished compared habitats, despite differences local...

In northern Alberta, Canada, much of treed boreal peatlands are fragmented by seismic lines—linear disturbances where trees and shrubs cleared for the exploration fossil fuel reserves. Seismic lines have been shown to slow tree regeneration, likely due loss microtopography during creation lines. Inverted soil mounding is one treatments commonly applied in Alberta restore mitigate use these corridors wildlife humans. We assessed effects on understory plants arthropod assemblages three years...