AndreaBozzo/ceres-open-data-index huggingface dataset:
Density of moose - Gros Morne

Introduced Moose, lacking natural predators in Gros Morne, are causing widespread damage in park forests. Park-wide Moose density will be monitored using aerial surveys and estimated using the Gasaway (1986) stratified random block method. Bull, cow, calf and unknown Moose are counted in randomly-selected blocks expected to have extremely high, high and low moose density. Survey occurs in late February or March, with sufficient snow cover to see tracks.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Understory woody plant diversity - Gros Morne

Intensive moose browsing appears to have led to a  large reduction in woody plant abundance and diversity in Gros Morne National Park mature forests.This measure assess the biodiversity of native shrubs and tree saplings in the understory of mature balsam fir forest stands. Stems are being enumerated by species in 1x20 m strip transects, 6 of which are sampled at each of 15 sites in forests throughout the 3 ecoregions in GMNP (90 strip transects total). Sampling is carried out every second year, during the months of July to September.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Estuarine Index of Biotic Integrity - Kouchibouguac

The Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) is a valuable multi-metric approach to assess the integrity of fish assemblages in aquatic ecosystems. The purpose of the estuarine IBI monitoring program at Kouchibouguac National Park is to use this index in order to evaluate the condition of selected rivers and estuaries within coastal ecosystems. The methods for this biennial measure involve beach seining in shallow nearshore waters at 20 stations, once a month from May to October. This monthly sampling is required so as to maximize detection of the various species in fish communities and account for variable phenology due to their reproductive cycles. All organisms caught in the beach seine are counted and identified to the species level. These records are supplemented with water quality parameters and eelgrass (Zostera marina) habitat data. Eelgrass is an important and representative component of undisturbed coastal Northumberland Strait estuaries therefore we plan to integrate the state of this resource to our program in the near future.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Forest Disturbance - Pukaskwa

To assess the current state of wildland fire as an ecological process in the interior forests (Pukaskwa Plains, Bremner Uplands and Bremner-Widgeon Uplands ecodistricts) of Pukaskwa, the Area Burned Condition Class (ABCC) measure calculates the modern-day departure from historical wildland fire cycles (i.e., fire frequency). Area burned (hectares) and fire locations from wildland and prescribed burns are collected annually. Calculations of the ABCC follow the methods outlined in the Park Canada Agency’s Fire Monitoring Guide.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Forest bird biodiversity in winter - Gros Morne

Birds are an important component of the biodiversity of boreal forests and bird populations can serve as a useful measure of forest health. The monitoring of winter forest bird assemblage combines a passive point count with broadcasts of chickadee and Red Crossbill calls. The survey is done for two consecutive years, every five year during February and March along 19 routes located at low to mid elevations in Western Newfoundland and the Northern Peninsula forest ecoregions in Gros Morne.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Status of herb willow in late snowbeds - Gros Morne

Herb willow is dominant Arctic-alpine plant in snowbeds and, being a low-growing species, could potentially be crowded out if southern species colonise these sites. Herb willow is being monitored at 14 snowbeds in Gros Morne. At each snowbed willow is sampled along a 1 m x 15 m permanent strip transect. These data are used to calculate a herb willow % cover index, a herb willow incidence index. The average of these two indices is taken as the overall index. The percent cover of herb willow within every 1 m2 interval is recorded for each transect every two years.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Advanced regeneration of balsam fir - Gros Morne

Overbrowsing of balsam fir saplings by introduced moose can lead to stand conversion to non-forest. The park measures the browse rates of fir saplings in mature forest stands, which will indicate whether non-browsed advanced regeneration is sufficent to allow stand replacement following disturbance. Browsed and unbrowsed saplings are being enumerated in 1x20 m strip transects, 6 of which are sampled at each of 15 randomnly selected sites in mature forests throughout the 3 ecoregions in GMNP (90 strip transects total). Sampling will occur every 2 years during the months of July to September.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Harlequin duck abundance - Gros Morne

In eastern Canada, Harlequin ducks are uncommon and are listed by COSEWIC as a species of special concern. Resident of fast flowing-rivers and streams during the breeding season, their presence and abundance reflects the health of these ecosystems. The park censuses harlequin ducks on four rivers and streams of Gros Morne National Park; the Spring breeding survey is done in 1 day of helicopter surveys, every 5 years in May.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Arctic hare population size - Gros Morne

On insular Newfoundland, the Arctic Hare reaches the southernmost limit of their distribution and are typically found in mountainous areas where elevation and climate have created an arctic-like landscape therefore making it an important herbivore species within the Tundra/Barrens ecosystem. A quadrat-based survey is being used to track the park population of Arctic hare during winter, in both low and high quality hare habitats. Eight permanent plots are sampled every 2-3 years (weather dependent) using snowmobiles equipped with GPS. The number of individuals observed in each quadrat is recorded.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Bog Dynamics - Kouchibouguac

Peatlands are valuable ecosystems due to their critical ecological functions, however these sensitive habitats are vulnerable to various anthropogenic (e.g., peat-moss extraction, forestry or land-use practices, hydrological modifications, fragmentation, infrastructures); atmospheric (e.g., acid rain, nitrogen deposition, climate change); and natural (e.g., fire, erosion, invasive vegetation) stressors. The purpose of the bog dynamics monitoring program is to evaluate the condition of several ombrotrophic bogs with water quantity and quality parameters, as well as modifications in vegetation composition in order to detect degradation of these systems over time due to the potential stressors. The methods for this measure involve the monitoring of six stations, each consisting of three vegetation plots placed at set points along a transect located in representative vegetation away from the moat zone; and one surface water well for the measurement of water quantity and quality parameters. Each permanent vegetation plot consists of one shrub quadrat (5m x 5m) and four ground vegetation quadrats (1m x 1m). Vegetation monitoring is conducted once every five years in summer from June to August, and parameters recorded include: species percent cover, structure and relative abundance of key groups, as well as the presence of invasive plants. In addition, automatic data loggers are installed annually in the wells from early spring to late fall and record water table levels twice daily. In terms of water quality, YSI parameters are recorded in situ twice a year, at the same time as logger installation and retrieval. Water samples are also collected from the wells twice a year in spring and fall for laboratory analysis of nutrients.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Salmonid counting fence - Gros Morne

Atlantic salmon are an ecologically and culturally important species in healthy aquatic systems of western Newfoundland. This measure determines the status and trend, over a 10 year period, of Atlantic salmon returning to spawn in three rivers in Gros Morne - Western Brook, Trout River and Deer Arm Brook. Secondarily, it will detect invasive anadromous species. A salmonid counting fence is rotated through the 3 rivers. The fence operates from spring to fall (June to October), and each river is sampled at least once in a five year cycle. The count of large salmon, grilse and Brook trout is obtained.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Forest Songbirds - Kouchibouguac

Songbirds are indicators of habitat conditions within forest or bog ecosystems, as these species have a high level of specialisation to various ecological niches and are extremely sensitive to natural processes. In consequence, these communities can demonstrate a rapid response to a broad range of environmental or successional changes at several spatial scales. The purpose of the forest songbirds monitoring program at Kouchibouguac National Park is to detect changes in the occurrence of 20 selected avian indicator species over time within specific habitat types: closed-canopy coniferous forest, open-canopy coniferous forest, deciduous forest, closed-canopy mixedwood forest, open-canopy mixedwood forest, late-seral bog, and open bog. The methods for this measure involve the monitoring on a 5-year cycle of 119 point-count stations in summer from mid-May to early August at the early morning hours to correspond with an increase in bird activity. The prescribed sampling time is 20-minutes each to maximize species detection but is divided in four 5-minute periods, which allows for comparisons with other data based on different listening durations. All birds detected through sight or sound are documented as well as other information such as weather conditions, quadrant or location, distance from observer(s), and species behavior. Each station is visited twice during the sampling period following an inverse order, to limit any bias linked to the period of the morning that stations are observed. A two-week waiting period is applied between visits to the same station, to account for variability in the detectability of individual species during different stages of the breeding cycle.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
River Otter - Kouchibouguac

River otters (Lontra canadensis) are semi-aquatic mammalian predators closely associated to freshwater resources but also linked to terrestrial habitat features, at the aquatic-terrestrial interface of riparian zones. This species is an indicator of freshwater ecosystem conditions as healthy tributaries should be able to sustain populations of this resident top-level predator with two main ecological requirements: the availability of food and shelter opportunities. The purpose of the river otter monitoring program at Kouchibouguac National Park is to determine the total number of distinct groups as an indication of population status. The sampling methods for this measure involve an annual census in winter, usually between the end of January to early March, where transects are conducted on the entire lengths of the main watercourses from the estuaries to the Park’s border. A transect is initiated after a minimum 24 to 48-hour waiting period succeeding snowfall, and is stopped after 5 days however can resume following the next snow precipitation. All sites with river otter activity signs (e.g., tracks, water access, refuges, slides, faeces, latrines, burrows and other shelters, visual observation) detected during the census are recorded with a global positioning system, along with the count of individuals or groups (when possible) at each site determined from visible snow tracks.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Piping Plover - Kouchibouguac

The piping plover (Charadrius melodus) is a small endangered shorebird listed under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA). This species uses ocean shorelines as breeding grounds and nests in soft sandy areas with sparse vegetation above the high tide water line. These birds are indicators for the condition of coastal ecosystems due to their critical status; but also since this species is susceptible to human disturbance, habitat loss or alterations, predation, and sensitive to inclement weather related to sea level rise or climate change. The extensive barrier islands within Kouchibouguac National Park host a considerable percentage of the population along the Atlantic Coast therefore our role is crucial in the outcome of this species on a continental scale. The purpose of the piping plover monitoring program is to evaluate the general population status of these birds through productivity (i.e., number of fledglings or hatchlings per nesting pair) and abundance (i.e., number of nesting pairs); in addition to enhance breeding success with the implementation of protective measures and outreach education. The program is also an integral part of the species recovery and contributes to a long-term productivity dataset in collaboration with other government agencies or non-profit organizations. The methods for this measure involve an annual census from early May to mid-August along the entire 25 km of coastline. Nest locations are marked with a global positioning system, then are monitored every 3 to 5 days for bird observations, breeding pairs, and/or nest activity. Additional information on the outcome and progress of each nest is recorded in order to relate productivity with the fate of the clutch. This monitoring is carried out for the duration of the breeding season, until all chicks have fledged and all adults have left the Park beaches.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Salmon Thermal Stress - Kouchibouguac

The influence of water temperature on the ecology of aquatic organisms with optimal thermal ranges is quite substantial, as these regimes regulate activity, growth, survival, and spawning behaviour. In consequence, a deviation from normal temperature ranges often cause displacement, disease, or even mortality therefore water temperature constitutes an important limiting factor for the condition of fish habitat and freshwater ecosystems. The purpose of the fish thermal stress monitoring program at Kouchibouguac National Park is to determine the number of consecutive “hot” days within a particular time period and detect changes in the level of thermal stress imposed on fish due to warm temperatures. Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) was selected as a focus species due to its lowest thermal tolerance compared to several other fish groups. This measure is based on scientific information with bioenergetic considerations that thermal stress can ensue after two successive 24-hour cycles where daily minimum water temperature is ≥ 20 degrees Celsius. The methods for this measure involve an annual sampling from late spring to early fall, where water temperatures are recorded every hour with data loggers positioned at permanent sites within riffles of five tributaries: Portage River, Black River, Rankin Brook, Tweedie Brook, and Kouchibouguacis River.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Common Tern Colony - Kouchibouguac

The second largest concentration of common terns (Sterna hirundo) in North America is found on Tern Islands, a set of three small barrier islands separated by water at high tide located within Kouchibouguac National Park. These seabirds are indicators for the condition of coastal, marine, as well as estuarine ecosystems due to the use of these nesting and/or breeding grounds, and their reliance on the distribution of small fish populations in lagoons or along the outer beaches of barrier islands throughout the breeding season. The purpose of the common tern colony monitoring program is to determine the annual total number of nests and estimate mean clutch size in order to evaluate long-term breeding population health. The methods for this measure involve an annual systematic census on Tern Islands over a 1-2 day period in mid-to late June during the late incubation stage. Observers are separated by 2 m along a line that transects each island in a sweeping NE-SW direction, and record the number of nests that contain ≥ 1 egg between them and the nearest observer; either to their right when walking in a NE direction or to their left when walking in a SW direction. In addition, clutch sizes of 3 or 4 randomly selected nests are recorded by each observer during these individual transects. Field crew leaders delineate covered island areas with survey flags at frequent intervals along census line extremities to ensure coverage of the entire colony.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Mammal Occurrence - Banff

Motion-detection cameras are a cost-effective and non-invasive tool used in Banff National Park for sampling mammal populations and estimating species occurrence. Occupancy modelling, which uses detection/non-detection data from cameras, provides a useful and flexible framework for population trend analyses. Data are collected throughout the year across Banff National Park to determine change in the distribution of key animal populations as well as supporting demographic predictions to better inform management. 

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Wildlife Mortality - Banff

Rail- and vehicle-caused wildlife mortality and wildlife management destruction data for Banff National Park between the years 2005 and 2017. Each species mortality is recorded by date, location, count, age, gender, and cause. 

For more recent records please refer to “Human-wildlife coexistence incidents in selected national parks from 2010 to 2021 - Open Government Portal (canada.ca)”: https://open.canada.ca/data/en/dataset/cc5ea139-c628-46dc-ac55-a5b3351b7fdf

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Mountain Goats - Banff

Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus) annual aerial helicopter survey data for the area of Lake Louise, Banff between 2002 and 2017.  The objective of these surveys, initiated in 2002, has been to monitor trends in relative abundance. The aerial survey transect runs from just northwest of Lake Louise, near Ross Lake, to just south east of Taylor Lake. These surveys have been conducted annually since 2006, with two additional surveys conducted in 2002 and 2003. The transect elevation is set at approximately 7500 ft (2286m) and all observed goats are counted.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Stream Fish Occupancy - Banff

This is a backpack electrofishing based survey that enumerates all species caught a random selection of sites within a given watershed. Cascade, Panther and Spray watersheds were sampled in the fall of 2015, 2016 and 2017 respectively. The purpose is to repeat these surveys every 10 years to quantify changes to the distribution of native and non-native fishes.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Wildlife Crossing Structures - Banff

The objective of this project is to monitor the effectiveness of wildlife crossing structures along the Trans-Canada Highway (TCH) in Banff National Park and  Hwy 93 south (93S) in Kootenay National Park. Specifically this monitoring includes the detection of large mammals (including carnivores, and ungulates) using the crossing structures. Monitoring is on-going throughout the year. 
Parks Canada monitors 44 wildlife crossing structures along the TCH using remote wildlife motion triggered cameras. 
Roadways have been recognised as a barrier to wildlife, and can act as a barrier for wildlife movement and migration in the Rocky Mountains National Parks. Of critical concern is the TCH and Highway 93 South.  The purpose is to quantify the success of the mitigation efforts in decreasing wildlife road mortality and maintaining habitat connectivity.  


Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Area Disturbed by Fire - Banff

The area burned by fire in Banff National Park between 1910 and 2017 is contained in this dataset. The number of hectares burned was calculated either by a GPS track of the fire perimeter (<200 hectares) or by remote sensing (>200 hectares). Measuring area burned allows Parks Canada to calculate departure from historic conditions and to track the progress of fire restoration. 

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Whitebark Pine Blister Rust - Banff

Whitebark pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) is an introduced pathogen affecting whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) and limber pine (Pinus flexilis).  Whitebark pine is an endangered species protected under the Federal Species at Risk Act (SARA) and Limber pine is designated as an endangered species by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Infection and mortality rates of these species are increasing across their northern range. Every five years, data are collected from permanently marked plots to monitor infection levels across the mountain national parks. Survey data are collected to quantify infection for Banff National Park to inform management action. 

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Canadian Aquatic Biomonitoring Network - Banff

Benthic macro-invertebrate diversity, stream hydrology, water chemistry, climate, geology, and landcover are collected at randomly selected sites using a standard protocol for the assessment of stream condition and are being monitored both at reference and impacted sites. The overall scope or aim of this measure is the use of a reference condition approach model capable of assessing the ecological integrity of streams and rivers in the eight national mountain parks of Western Canada. 

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Aquatic-Water Connectivity - Mount Revelstoke

This is a multi-park measure, which includes an inventory and assessment of 1,754 culvert and 51 bridge locations along the major highways and roads in Banff, Kootenay, Yoho, Waterton Lakes, Mount Revelstoke, and Glacier national parks. In Mount Revelstoke National Park the capacity for fish in streams above the Trans Canada Highway is limited, yet we have 89 road-stream crossings that have the potential to maintain aquatic connectivity or divert streams if blocked.  Aspects of a stream crossing that may pose a barrier to aquatic connectivity include elevated intake, physical blockage, and structural failure.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Aquatic-Water Connectivity - Glacier

This is a multi-park measure, which includes an inventory and assessment of 1,754 culvert and 51 bridge locations along the major highways and roads in Banff, Kootenay, Yoho, Waterton Lakes, Mount Revelstoke, and Glacier national parks. In Glacier National Park the capacity for fish passage above and below each crossing was evaluated for 107 road-stream crossings in 2007, of which 32 were considered likely to support fish passage.  In 2017, an additional culvert was added to the inventory, bringing the total road-stream crossing count to 33.  Aspects of a stream crossing that may pose a barrier to aquatic connectivity include high water velocity, insufficient water depth, outfall drop, a debris blockage, flow contraction/excessive turbulence, an inlet drop and/or culvert bottom raised above substrate.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada
Forest Composition – Kluane

Parks Canada monitors vegetation composition in Kluane National Park and Reserve forests to determine resilience following a spruce bark beetle outbreak of unprecedented severity that occurred in the mid 1990’s.  Understanding stand development after this landscape-level disturbance will be critical to assessing its effect on wildlife habitat and the impacts of beetle salvage logging outside of the park.   Sampling is done every 5 years in 50 randomly located permanent sample plots in white spruce dominated mature forests.  Three sub-measures are assessed: 1) Relative dominance of deciduous basal area, 2) percent cover of berry-bearing shrubs, and 3) ratio of willow clumps to tall spruce regeneration.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada