Project Description:

The primary scope of this project will be an assessment of historical, current, and predicted caribou ranges and space use in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. This will include time-series analysis of habitat characteristics and connectivity in order to determine if there have been changes in use of land cover type and patterns of movement by caribou over the past 40 years and, if those changes can be linked to changes in cover type or land use. The project will also complete an assessment of habitat availability and connectivity under different climate change scenarios.

Project Outcomes or Intended Outcomes:

There are several general objectives of this project

1. Delineate and quantify areas of the landscape utilized by caribou in Newfoundland and Labrador.
2. Delineate and quantify landcover types found in areas utilized by caribou.
3. Delineate and quantify changes in landcover in areas utilized by caribou over time.
4. Where possible identify caribou range shift over time.
5. Determine the relationships between any observed caribou range shifts and any changes found in land cover types over time.
6. Compare/augment results with traditional knowledge data.
7. Determine potential impacts of climate change scenarios on caribou habitat availability and connectivity.
8. Generate information to support mitigation of road mortality through (i) analysis of movement patterns and space use relative to roads, (ii) selection of roads as a habitat feature, and (iii) generate a predictive map of relative risk along roads by comparing movement data and georeferenced data on road mortality compiled by the province and Parks Canada with factors such as road class (e.g. speed limit or road type) and surrounding habitat.
9. Mobilize project results and outputs so that they are available to, and usable by, a range of end-users.

Our goal is to improve conifer seedling survival and growth so that planted seedlings will reach the "free to grow" stage sooner. It is at this stage when the exponential growth trajectory towards mature conifer tree cover begins. We are applying a natural plant biostimulant during forest nursery culture to improve the development of root growth potential, which is expressed after planting on restoration sites. We are first determining the rate of biostimulant to apply (tree species dependent) and assessing its physiological effects on seedlings in a CFS research nursery (greenhouse, outplanting beds, and growth chambers). Next, we will be collaborating with a commercial forest nursery to implement the new practice.  Seedlings from this nursery will be outplanted on linear features with annual measurements over a 5-year period, in collaboration with an oil and gas end user.

This study will provide forest nurseries with a novel tool for production of designer, summer-planting conifer seedlings with enhanced root growth for caribou habitat restoration. These seedlings with enhanced root growth will improve rates of survival and growth compared with current rates.  Our goal is to share this knowledge with nurseries across Canada growing conifer seedlings for boreal caribou habitat restoration and with various end-users.