A Compendium of Experimental Sites and Scientific Investigations in the Turkey Lakes Watershed

Authors
K.L. Webster
P.W. Hazlett
S.D. Yanni
S.A. Nelson
B.K. Webber
K.H.Y. Chan
F. Norouzian
S.V. Phippen
Resource Date:
2021
Page Length
131

The Turkey Lakes Watershed (TLW) study is a federal, interdepartmental study established in 1979 to investigate the effects of acid rain on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The 10.5 km2 watershed, located in the Eastern Temperate Mixed Forest on the Canadian Shield, has been the site of multidisciplinary studies on biogeochemical and ecological processes conducted across plot to catchment scales. The whole-ecosystem investigative approach was adopted from the outset and has allowed research to evolve from its original (and continuing) acidification focus to include investigations on the effects of climate change, forest harvesting and other forest ecosystem perturbations. The extensive scientific and support infrastructure allows for collection of a comprehensive data record essential for understanding long-term environmental trends. These data have contributed to over 400 published research papers and graduate theses. The watershed has also figured prominently in many continent-wide comparisons advancing fundamental watershed theory, as well the importance of "uniqueness of place". The knowledge gained at TLW has influenced pollutant emission and natural resource management policies provincially, nationally and internationally. This compendium provides a summary of those investigations, listing publications in 12 different categories: Site Overview, Atmospheric/Meteorology, Vegetation - Forest/Understory, Soils, Hydrology – Soil Water/Ground Water, Hydrology – Streams, Hydrology – Lakes, Water Birds, Fish and Aquatic Communities, Modelling and Remote Sensing, Internal Reports and Theses, and Harvesting Impacts Project.