Download - Gbp 2009 06 prsnttn fri agm gbp
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Grizzly Bear Research ProgramAGM June 2009
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FRI Grizzly Bear Research Program
Past, Present and Future
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Long Term Program Goal
• To provide resource managers with the necessary knowledge and planning tools to ensure the long-term conservation of grizzly bears in Alberta.
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A Program based on partnerships
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Program Research Team�Habitat Mapping and Landscape Change
Dr. Steven Franklin (U of Saskatchewan)
Dr. Greg McDermid (U of Calgary)
Dr. Nicholas Coops (UBC)
Dr. Mike Wulder (CFS-Victoria)
David Laskin – RS technician & PhD student
Julia Linke – PhD student
Adam Collingwood – PhD student
�Graph Theory ModelingBarb Schwab (WLU) – PhD student
�Statistical Analysis and ModelingDr. Scott Nielsen (U of A)
John Boulanger – (statistician)
�Camera CollarsDr. Naser El-Sheimy (U of Calgary)
Dr. Andrew Hunter (U of Calgary)
�DNA – Status and TrendsDr. David Paetkau
Dr. Michael Proctor
�Wildlife HealthDr. Marc Cattet (CCWHC)
Dr. Matt Vijayan (U of Waterloo)
Dr. David Janz (U of S)
Bryan McBeth – PhD student
Bryan Sarauer – Lab technician
Ruth Carlson – PhD student
Jason Hamilton – MSc student
� GIS Applications - FMFJerome Cranston
Julie Duval
� Grizzly Bear EcologyGordon Stenhouse
Karen Graham
Terry Larsen – MSc student
Karine Pigeon – PhD student
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Program Sponsors• Ainsworth Lumber• Alberta Conservation
Association• Alberta SRD• Alberta Fish and Game• Alberta Newsprint• Alberta Advanced Education
and Technology (Innovation and Science)
• Anadarko • Anderson Exploration Ltd.• Anderson Resources Ltd. • AVID Canada• BP Canada Energy Company• Banff National Park• BC Oil & Gas Commission• Buchanan Lumber-Tolko• Burlington Resources Ltd.• Canada Centre for Remote
Sensing• Canadian Hunter • Canadian Wildlife Service• Canfor • Cardinal River Operations• Canadian Forest Service• CNRL• Conoco Phillips Ltd.• Conservation Biology Institute
• Devon Canada Corp.• DMI• Elk Valley Coal• Enbridge Inc.• EnCana Corp.• Environment Canada –HSP• Foothills Model Forest• Fording Coal• FRIAA• GeoAnalytic Ltd.• Gregg River Resources• Husky Energy• Jasper National Park• Komex International Ltd.• Lehigh Inland Cement• Luscar Ltd.-Coal Valley• Manning Forestry Research• Millar Western Ltd.• Mountain Equipment Co-op• Nexen• Natural Resources Service• Northrock Resources Ltd.• NSERC • Petro Canada• Peyto Exploration• Precision Drilling Ltd.• PTAC (CAPP)• Rocky Mountain Elk
Foundation• Shell Canada
• Spray Lake Sawmills• Suncor Energy• Sundance Forest
Industries• Talisman Energy Ltd.• Telemetry Solutions• Trans Canada Pipelines• University of Alberta• University of Calgary
• University of Lethbridge
• University of Saskatchewan
• University of Washington
• Veritas• West Fraser
Hinton Wood ProductsBlue Ridge LumberSundre Forest ProductsSlave Lake Pulp
• Western College of Veterinary Medicine
• Weyerhaeuser Ltd.• World Wildlife Fund
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Research Supporting Management
Our Approach –
Providing maps and models for all grizzly bear habitat in Alberta.
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Mapping History and Expansion
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Classified Landcover map (10-class)30m resolution
Remote Sensing Products
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Crown closure model 30m resolution
Remote Sensing Products
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Species composition model (coniferous/deciduous mix)
30m resolution
Remote Sensing Products
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Classified Landcover map (15-class)30m resolution
Created by combining the 10-class Landcover with crown closure and species composition models.
Remote Sensing Products
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Agricultural mask30m resolution
Remote Sensing Products
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Agricultural classes (vector)
Remote Sensing Products
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Collection of Bear Data
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GPS locations collected:
1999-2008
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Total: 205,610
Bear Habitat use data
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Produce RSF Maps
Remote sensing is the basis for grizzly bear habitat mapping. Landsat TM5 imagery is used to create classified landcover maps of all grizzly bear range in Alberta.
The landcover maps have been combined with the GPS locations
to create Resource Selection Function (RSF) models of grizzly
bear distribution.
…and a map showing the probability of occurrence of grizzly
bears can be created
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Seasonal RSF models have now also been developed for the Clear Hills area (Chinchaga)
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Grizzly Bear travel corridors
Graph Theory travel corridors connect areas of high-quality habitat. The darker and thicker the lines, the more likely they are to be used as travel routes.
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Although bears use areas with high risk, use of these areas results in lower survival rates
Mortality riskDefining mortality sites
Human-causedmortality risk:
lowmoderatehighvery high
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Safe Harbours for Grizzly Bears
Where are the areas of best habitat and lowest probability of mortality for grizzly bears on the landscape?
We have termed these areas - safe harbours.
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Raw Landsat imagery
ClassifiedLandcover grid
ResourceSelection Function
GraphTheory Corridors
What has been provided to date:The models are GIS layers that can be overlaid with other feature layers, such as proposed developments, to determine their interaction.
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New GIS tools to support application of research findings
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The RSF_calculator script allows the user to choose an analysis extent and, optionally, add new roads and openings.
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Similarly, the risk_calculator script allows the user to choose an analysis extent and, optionally, add new roads, trails, and cut blocks.
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Grizzly Bearsand Habitat Modeling
Now Available!
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How Good are These models? - an independent test
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Research results and
Products used for management
Provincial Grizzly Bear DNA Inventory
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Bears investigating the scent leave tufts of hair on the wire, which is then collected and analyzed for DNA profiles from which a population size can be estimated.
What is a DNA mark-recapture survey?
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RSF models –BMA 3
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RSF models –BMA 3
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Watershed Delineation
by RSF models –BMA 3
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Mortality Risk
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0.00 0.02 0.04 0.06 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14
access density
Surv
ival
rat
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Does the Research Get
Used?
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Sound Science to support management decisions
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Present Activities…….
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Grizzly Bear Health – different landscapes
Evidence found to indicate that different grizzly bear populations in Alberta exhibit different reproductive output and show different “health characteristics”.
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Traditional Approach to Wildlife Management – N!
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Detecting Landscape Effects on Wildlife Health: An Approach to
Monitoring Populations
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Stress Biomarkers In Blood Serum
Blood collection fromcaptured bears
Separation of serumfrom blood cells
Measurement of stress-associatedsubstances (cortisol, heat-shock proteins, etc.)
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Stress Biomarkers In Skin & Muscle
Remote biopsy collection
Custom protein array(“bear stress chip”)
Stress-associatedprotein profile
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Hair Cortisol: A Relevant Measure of Long Term Stress
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Tools & Techniques Applicable to Other Species of Concern
E.g., Polar bears of Hudson Bay
Long-term Stress as Indicated bySerum Heat-shock protein 70 Levels95% Confidence interval for:Western Hudson Bay (WH) = 1.2-1.7 ng/mlSouthern Hudson Bay (SH) = 0.7-1.0 ng/ml
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Tracking Landscape ChangeHuman Activities and Grizzly Bears
in the Kakwa- an example.
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Linking Geospatial data to Bear data
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New Geospatial datasets
Annual change features
Roads, pipelines, well sites, and cut blocks have been classified by year of construction in BMA 3 (1998-2005) and BMA 4 (2002 -2005)
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AnthropogenicChange
Humanactivity
Habitatchange/loss
Immunity
Long-termstress
Growth
Reproduction
Remote sensingand
habitat mapping
- lab researchWildlife health- field research
Meta Analysis now underway
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The challenge of studying a species that is found in remote habitats and
difficult to follow or observe
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Our new Approach – Animal Pathfinder
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Bear Path from GPS Points alone
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assumed travel path using traditional approach
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actual travel path using data from animal pathfinder
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Movement Phases with Sensors
)ln( rll
rss
rff
lsf eNeNeNy λλλ λλλ ++=
1minm52
ln1
−=
−=
ss
ff
sfc N
Nr
λλ
λλ
Adapted from Silby et al (1990) and Johnson (2002)
N: number of movements
λ: Prob. that an event occurs in the next movement rate interval
r: movement rate1minm223
ln1
−=
−=
ll
ss
lsc N
Nrλλ
λλ
LocomotionSearching
Foraging
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Denning and climate variables:10 years of data in place:
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Habitat selection and climate:10 years of data in place:
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Mountain Pine Beetle:grizzly bear response
How will grizzly bears respond to MPB and associated management actions?
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• Classified image data;• Tasseled Cap Wetness (based on image spectral values);• Wombled edges (brightness relates strength);• Class transitions at edge locations and combine with model input, describe outputs /
trends
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The Future…………
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Population Trend - Unknown
Time
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New Approaches to Monitor Population Status of Grizzly Bears In Alberta. (N with health)
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Grizzly Bear Foods
1. Plant Phenology
2. Energetics
Understanding the carrying capacity of the landscape for grizzly bear populations
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International Collaboration –
Scandinavian Brown Bear Project
• Grizzly Bears extirpated in Norway by 1930’s
• By 1970 only 140 grizzly bears remaining in Sweden
•Major management activities undertaken to recover species
•Currently 3500 grizzly bears in Sweden with some expansion into Norway
•Sweden now has an annual well managed grizzly bear hunt
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Collaboration Topics:Health Movements
Forestry responses Dispersal of expanding populations
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Questions