Reference number : GC-2017-Q1-00542, amendment number : , agreement type : G, recipient legal name : Hodges, Karen (The University of British Columbia), recipient country : CA, recipient province : nan, recipient city : British Columbia|Colombie-Britannique, recipient postal code : nan, program name english : Engage Plus Grants for Universities, program name french : Subvention d'engagement partenarial Plus pour les universités, program purpose english : In British Columbia, applying biosolids to land is regulated via the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation_x000D_
(2002), which enables beneficial use of biosolids as a fertilizer while managing the potential for adverse_x000D_
impacts to the environment, livestock, or public health. No policy currently addresses mitigating impacts on_x000D_
wildlife. Although such impacts are assumed to be minimal, these impacts have not been well examined, and_x000D_
no policy nor best management practices have been developed (e.g. timing or amount of application, or_x000D_
leaving set-asides in areas for sensitive species). Understanding how wildlife respond to biosolids will allow_x000D_
SYLVIS and other biosolids managers to adopt ecologically sensitive and appropriate practices that extends_x000D_
beyond current rangeland management and existing regulation. The objective of this research is to assess_x000D_
whether biosolids applied to grasslands affect the insect and bird communities at the OK Ranch, a 8000 hectare_x000D_
cattle ranch near Jesmond BC. We will address three main questions: 1) Do biosolids affect habitat use and_x000D_
nest success by dusky grouse? 2) does songbird diversity or behavior differ between biosolids-treated and_x000D_
untreated grasslands, and 3) is there a difference in grasshopper abundance or diversity between these_x000D_
grasslands? We will radio-collar and track female grouse to see if they are selecting for or against_x000D_
biosolids-treated grasslands. A combination of point counts, acoustic monitoring, nest searching, and cameras_x000D_
will be used to compare songbird diversity and behavior between grasslands. Grasshopper diversity and_x000D_
abundance will be estimated through repeated trapping in treated and untreated grasslands. Many of the birds_x000D_
eat grasshoppers, thus our research will link biosolids to insects to the bird communities. This information will_x000D_
help SYLVIS to manage their timing of application, as well as indicating whether there are key sensitive areas_x000D_
to leave as buffers or setbacks for specific grassland bird species., program purpose french : In British Columbia, applying biosolids to land is regulated via the Organic Matter Recycling Regulation_x000D_
(2002), which enables beneficial use of biosolids as a fertilizer while managing the potential for adverse_x000D_
impacts to the environment, livestock, or public health. No policy currently addresses mitigating impacts on_x000D_
wildlife. Although such impacts are assumed to be minimal, these impacts have not been well examined, and_x000D_
no policy nor best management practices have been developed (e.g. timing or amount of application, or_x000D_
leaving set-asides in areas for sensitive species). Understanding how wildlife respond to biosolids will allow_x000D_
SYLVIS and other biosolids managers to adopt ecologically sensitive and appropriate practices that extends_x000D_
beyond current rangeland management and existing regulation. The objective of this research is to assess_x000D_
whether biosolids applied to grasslands affect the insect and bird communities at the OK Ranch, a 8000 hectare_x000D_
cattle ranch near Jesmond BC. We will address three main questions: 1) Do biosolids affect habitat use and_x000D_
nest success by dusky grouse? 2) does songbird diversity or behavior differ between biosolids-treated and_x000D_
untreated grasslands, and 3) is there a difference in grasshopper abundance or diversity between these_x000D_
grasslands? We will radio-collar and track female grouse to see if they are selecting for or against_x000D_
biosolids-treated grasslands. A combination of point counts, acoustic monitoring, nest searching, and cameras_x000D_
will be used to compare songbird diversity and behavior between grasslands. Grasshopper diversity and_x000D_
abundance will be estimated through repeated trapping in treated and untreated grasslands. Many of the birds_x000D_
eat grasshoppers, thus our research will link biosolids to insects to the bird communities. This information will_x000D_
help SYLVIS to manage their timing of application, as well as indicating whether there are key sensitive areas_x000D_
to leave as buffers or setbacks for specific grassland bird species., agreement title english : Responses of insects and birds to biosolid application on grasslands, agreement title french : Responses of insects and birds to biosolid application on grasslands, agreement number : EGP2, agreement value : 5600.0, agreement start date : 2017-06-14, agreement end date : nan, description english : nan, description french : nan, expected results english : nan, expected results french : nan, additional information english : Grant or Award spanning more than one fiscal year. (2017-2018 to 2018-2019), additional information french : Subvention ou bourse octroyée s'appliquant à plus d'un exercice financier. (2017-2018 à 2018-2019), owner organization : nserc-crsng, owner organization title : Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada | Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada