The site, which has been under development since 1998, enables users to learn about some of this research, and provides access to a wealth of information on wildlife. Visitors to the site can search from either a species or spaces perspective. A species search provides links to detailed information on 431 species of Canadian birds, including colour photos, life history, sound bytes of calls, range and breeding area maps, and research activities.
Limited information is also available on a number of reptiles, amphibians and mammals.
A spaces search gives the user the option of choosing from maps of the Western Hemisphere, Canada or Ontario, and then selecting from a list of geographically referenced themes, such as ecozones, ecoregions, provinces, and research projects to query for information. It is even possible to generate correlations between themes and species, such as the percentage of a bird s breeding range that falls within a certain geographic area. The DSS, which currently has access to more than half of the 60 data sets compiled to date, can instantly calculate changes in bird populations, breeding densities and other spatial information, factor in other attributes, such as political boundaries, and transfer the resulting summary onto a thematic map. This ability to highlight trends or anomalies makes it an invaluable tool for environmental assessment and management. The creation of the information management system, DSS and web site, is an ongoing effort involving expertise from across the Department and cooperation with a wide range of government and non-government partners.