Ecological Habitat Mapping of the AOSERP Study Area (Supplement): Phase 1

The purpose of this study was to prepare ecological habitat working maps at a scale of 1:50,000 from false colour infrared photographs of the AOSERP study area obtained in 1977 and 1978, and to evaluate multispectral and multistage remote sensing techniques for application of mapping and monitoring in the study area. This was done in two stages, the first during 1977-1978 was reported in an Interim Report (Thompson et al. 1978), and included the development of a classification system for mapping vegetation and surficial geology, the multispectral and multistage remote sensing evaluation, and automated ecological mapping. The second stage, reported in this document and carried out during 1978-1979, involved ground surveys in the AOSERP study area, and completion of the mapping of the study area. This final report supplements the material in the Interim Report. First, ground surveys of vegetation and surficial geology are described. These surveys generally confirmed that the classification systems used in the mapping accurately described and defined the ecological habitat features within the AOSERP study area. Based on these surveys and new information from areas mapped in this second phase, a few modifications and additions were made to both the legends. Where necessary, the maps produced during the first stage of the program were altered to ensure consistency in mapping throughout. Next, additions and modifications to the Interim Report are described including revised photo interpretation keys for vegetation and surficial geology, a comprehensive overview of the surficial geology, further discussion of possibilities of larger scale mapping of surficial geology, and changes in the surficial geology glossary. Finally, a summary of the material presented is made, and conclusions drawn, showing that the maps produced are accurate within the limits of scale and represent the major vegetation communities and surficial geology features within the AOSERP study area.