Information and publications available online. read more...
Research of Interest
Amro Zayed and Laurence Packer of York University have just published research that indicates that the invasive North American population of a European solitary bee was likely founded by one mated female. We need to be aware of factors other than just numbers in the control of invasives! more...
Garlic Mustard impact on hardwood forests
New research has documented how an invassive species like Garlic Mustard has major impact on our native hardwood forests.
See the synopsis, or the complete paper.
This research paper is provided on the open access journal website of PLoS Biology, a publication of the Public Library of Science.
The citation for the paper is:
Stinson KA, Campbell SA, Powell JR, Wolfe BE, Callaway RM, et al. (2006) Invasive Plant Suppresses the Growth of Native Tree Seedlings by Disrupting Belowground Mutualisms. PLoS Biol 4(5): e140
Donald Sutherland (Biodiversity Section, MNR) provides an interesting perspective on the ecological implications.
Benefits of Buffers
See this review article from the USA about the environmental benefits of conservation buffers. more...
The reference to the article is:
Environmental benefits of conservation buffers in the
United States: Evidence, promise, and open questions" from Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 112 (2006) 249-260
Climate Change
The Ontario Forest Research Institute has many publications related to climate change and its impact on Ontario's biodiversity.
See their publications list and available downloads at:
http://ofri.mnr.gov.on.ca/ofripublications.cfm
An example of what is there...
How Will Climate Change Affect Diseases in Ontario?
Current climate change models for Ontario predict that mean annual temperature will increase by up to 3 degrees Celsius over the next century. As Ontario's climate changes, the distribution and abundance of many diseases and parasites will likely change as well, affecting the health and well-being of animals (including humans) and plants. A Synopsis of Known and Potential Diseases and Parasites Associated With Climate Change, a report published by MNR's Ontario Forest Research Institute, describes a number of diseases and parasites that will impact many organisms in various ecosystems throughout the province.
An excllent summary of changes that are possible along with suggestions about how we might respond.
University and College Level
York University Plant Ecology Course - in addition to interesting course content, this site has informative presentations from the students. Frequently updated.
Carbon Budget Modelling
Learn more about carbon budget modelling and its role in Canada's response to climate change. This is a research report from MNR titled: The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Large-Scale Forest Carbon Project: A Summary.
Websites of Interest:
Ducks Unlimited research projects
Ducks Unlimited research library
Ducks Unlimited publications page of links to sources