map http://www.ontariostewardship.org/ontariostewardship/dynamicImages/41_waterloo_natural_areas.pdf
What species are in our wetland
- to-look-at
- birds
- fish
- reptiles and amphibians
- multiple animal groups
- already gone through
4.1 Rarity
4.1.1 Wetland Types research done
- rarity of wetlands around
- rarity of each of the 4 wetland types (marsh/swamp/fen/bog) within each of the Hills Site Districts
- 0=not rare, 80=very rare
- scores for 6.1: within landscape=60, marsh=40, swamp=0, fen=80, bog=80
- so within=60, type=max(80, sum(applicable types' rarities))
4.1.2 Species
- rare means any indigenous species that occurs sporadically or in very restricted area of Ontario, or at the fringe of its range
- good reference: Atlas of Breeding Birds of Ontario (Cadman et al. 1987)
- generally any species occuring in less than 10% of atlas squares in any geographic region
- 4 levels (descending): endangered and threatened, provincially significant, regionally significant (Site Region), and locally significant (Site District)
- 2 highest levels' species listed in MNR website
- evaluators not to make own judgements about rarity!
- very hard to figure out what species are there... so check out research papers, ANSI, Environmentally Sensitive Area, International Biological Program (unlikely) reports, MNR reports, Conservation Authorities and naturalist club publications, consultatnts reports, wildlife monitoring surveys, etc.
- each species scored under the "most endangered" category only - duh
- full info, references; photos are good; see pg 86a for details
- can include animals found near but not in wetland, if their life involves some portion in the wetland
4.1.2.1 breding habitat for an endangered/threatened species
4.1.2.2 traditional migration or feeding habitat for an endangered or threatened species
- traditional migration/feeding means observations in 2+ years within 10-year-period
- gotta be reviewed by MNR before they can be listed/scored
- score: 150 for one species, +75/each additional species (no max)
4.1.2.3-4 provincially significant animal/plant species
4.1.2.5-6 regionally and locally significant species
- can only do if there's a list of rare species around, may have to use municipal stuff; see appendex 15
- see p89 for scoring
4.2 significant features/habitats
4.2.1 colonial waterbirds
- p89 list of birds; p90 for scoring
4.2.2 winter cover for wildlife
4.2.3 waterfowl staging and/or moulting areas
4.2.4 waterfowl breeding
4.2.5 migratory passerine, shorebird, or raptor stopover area
4.2.6 fish habitat research done (no fish)
- anywhere that fish live (or need for life eg food breeds there)
- all fish habitat/species considered equal
- mostly in marsh/swamp, bit in fen
- p92-3
4.2.6.1 spawning and nursery habitat
- tricky, if don't know stuff then are there low mrsh, high marsh, and/or swamp?
- ugh 93-6
4.2.6.2 migration and staging habitat
4.3 ecosystem age research done
- based on what type of wetland, see p98
- if fen, is (deeper soil) or (floating mats or marl)?
4.4 great lakes coastal wetlands
- score=0 almost for sure, but need to make sure isn't tributary etc
what to figure out during the visit
- what wetland types are present (marsh/swamp/fen/bog)
- what species, as best as we can - so we can figure out which are rare (argh)
- are, what species of tallgrass, duckweed, etc. etc
- note winter cover (conifers etc.)...
- if fen, is (deeper soil) or (floating mats or marl)?
4.1 Rarity
4.1.1 Wetland Types
The wetland is 50% marsh and 50% fen. The wetland is in site district 6-1 (rarity score of 60), where those receive scores of 40 and 80, totalling to 120.
Wetland rarity score: 60
Wetland type score: 120
total: 180
4.1.2 Species
[note a species is to be scored only once, in the highest applicable category]
4.1.2.1 Breeding habitat for an endangered/threatened species
Least Bittern (threatened) [http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/speciesDetails_e.cfm?SpeciesID=51] is possible[http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?sec=64&sub1=4&sub2=0], and was seen in the area [http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/queries/species_rep.cfm] (in 1988), so we will assume that it is present.
The King Rail (endangered) [http://www.speciesatrisk.gc.ca/search/speciesDetails_e.cfm?SpeciesID=24] is present in the Grand River area[http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?sec=64&sub1=4&sub2=0] however there have been no sightings near the wetland, so assuming not present.
Score = 250/species x 1 species = 250
Breeding habitat score: 250
4.1.2.2 Traditional migration or feeding habitat for an endangered or threatened species
None.
Migration/feeding habitat score: 0
4.1.2.3-4 Provincially Significant animal/plant species
The Black Tern (Special Concern Provincially) [http://www.rom.on.ca/ontario/risk.php?doc_type=fact&lang=&id=115] is possible[http://www.grandriver.ca/index/document.cfm?sec=64&sub1=4&sub2=0], and was seen in the area [http://nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/queries/species_rep.cfm] (in 1979), however, being colonial would likely find this wetland to be too small, so assuming not present.
None.
Provincially significant species score: 0
4.1.2.5-6 Regionally and locally significant species
None.
Score: 0.
4.2 Significant features/habitats
4.2.1 Colonial waterbirds
The Black Tern, as mentioned previously, could be present but is assumed not to be.
4.2.2 Winter cover for wildlife
4.2.3 Waterfowl staging and/or moulting areas
4.2.4 Waterfowl breeding
4.2.5 Migratory passerine, shorebird, or raptor stopover area
4.2.6 Fish Habitat
There are no species of fish inhabiting this wetland.
Fish habitat score: 0
4.3 Ecosystem age
4.4 Great Lakes coastal wetlands
The wetland is not coastal to the Great Lakes.
Great Lakes coastal score: 0
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