SIB Tech Rept Template - Canadian Institute of Forestry

Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
Science & Information Branch
Northeast Science & Information Section
News and Information from Northeast Science & Information (NESI) Summer 2010
Northeast Science and Information: NESI in a nutshell
Northeast Science & Information (NESI) is one of three regional sections in the Science and
Information Branch (SIB) of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). Our mission is to
provide timely and effective knowledge and information products and services to clients within the
Northeast Region in order to sustain and enhance ecosystems and the benefits they provide.
Our staff has expertise across a range of scientific and technical areas in natural resource
management and information management including:
*aquatic ecology
*communications
*data management
*forest ecology
*hydrology
*fish and wildlife management
*geomatics
*knowledge transfer
We work with colleagues within the MNR, across the OPS, and with external partners from
educational institutions, industry and other organizations; if we don’t have the expertise to deal with
an issue, we will search out those that do, and help facilitate their involvement.
In addition to our responsibilities for delivering a variety of provincial monitoring and assessment
programs such as Growth and Yield and Broad Scale Fisheries Monitoring, we alocontribute to
improving management practices and policy by collecting new information and by enhancing our
capability to use what we already know. We do this by extracting additional meaning from existing
scientific data, synthesizing and repackaging information into an appropriate management context,
and ensuring that information is both accessible and discoverable. We communicate our knowledge
through scientific publications, workshops, client outreach and training and a variety of extension
activities.
If you are government and private sector resource manager responsible for natural resource
management of Crown lands and waters in Northeastern Ontario, we want to hear from you.
For more information about NESI, visit us on the MNR intranet (http://mnronline.mnr.gov.on.ca/
spectrasites/nesi/nesihomepage.cfm) or MNR internet (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/en/Business/NESI/
index.html).

NESI develops River Characterization Tool to support efforts in the Far North
To date, very little baseline information has been collected in the Far North. The Far North landscape
is too vast and inaccessible for it to be financially viable to acquire enough field data to adequately
describe the condition of the entire region. Therefore, it is imperative to leverage existing tools and
methodologies that use remotely sensed data for characterizing the landscape. In order to develop
resources in an economically sustainable manner, current and accurate science and information
must be available to guide management decisions.
Northeast Science and Information (NESI) has developed a River Characterization tool as part of
the Far North Information and Knowledge Management initiative. The tool provides a user friendly
ArcGIS toolbar for scientists and resource managers to perform automated characterization of
the riverine landscape across various scales: watershed, river, and reach. This tool integrates and
aggregates various types of information into one characterization tool and draws from concepts
and methodologies of several existing MNR tools, helping improve efficiency in how to use existing
science and information.
As the proposed development activities, such as hydro power and mining, have the potential to
adversely affect the aquatic resources of the Far North, the river characterization tool will provide
a cost effective method to provide initial science and information and determine where more
intensive field data collection is required. This ultimately saves money by optimizing the use of
available digital data and reduces the time required to collect data in the field.
For more information on the river characterization tool, please contact Jennifer Potvin, 705-235-
1260, jennifer.potvin@ontario.ca.
NESI’s Terra Team collaborates with UQAT and CFS on the Regional Fire Regime
Knowledge of the regional natural disturbance regimes (stand replacing fire) is required to develop
a natural benchmark landscape pattern for Ontario’s Boreal forest management planning process.
Detailed fire history mapping is expensive and, for Ontario, is only available for the Lake Abitibi
Model Forest. Dave Etheridge, NESI’s Forest Landscape Specialist, and Gordon Kayahara, NESI’s Forest
Science Specialist, approached Yves Bergeron (Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue) and
Sylvie Gauthier (Canadian Forest Service) with an idea to extrapolate their work on the fire mapping
of the Lake Abitibi Model Forest to the rest of Ontario’s Claybelt using regional forest resource
inventories. Dominic Cyr, who worked on his PhD under Professor Bergeron, came up with the novel
method of using Bayesian statistics. Classic statistical approaches like regression are normally used
and deal with average outcomes. For those “older” Trekkies among us, you will be familiar with the
more Bayesian approach of the original Spock who gives the probability of an individual outcome
given various levels of prior knowledge.
In this paper, two classes for fire history were used: time since fire (TSF) < 150 years and TSF ≥ 150
years. A Bayesian Belief Network was then constructed to place each FRI polygon into one these two
fire history classes based upon latitude and the FRI map attributes. The relative abundance of early
(jack pine and poplar) and late (balsam fir) successional tree species were the best indicators of the
two fire history classes. These variables were followed by photo-interpreted age, stocking, height,
and site class. The results suggests that more than 72.4% of the forests located within the Claybelt
originated ≥ 150 years from stand replacing fire. We now have a method that gives us an efficient
estimate of time since fire classes and the resulting amount of old forests for the entire claybelt, and
a process that can be extrapolated to the rest of Ecoregion 3E. We learned that average time since
fire is much longer than currently believed, further confirming obtained results through modelling
exercises used to develop the provincial Landscape Guide. In addition, the exposure to the Bayesian
approach holds promise as a technique for various other MNR tasks such as silviculture effectiveness
monitoring or developing succession rules.
For additional information on this collaboration, please contact Gordon Kayahara, 705-235-1237,
gordon.kayahara@ontario.ca or Dave Etheridge, 705-235-1230, dave.etheridge@ontario.ca

BSFM: What is it What is happening
As Ontario has moved to modernize fisheries
management programs and improve public
participation through Fisheries Management Zone
councils, new monitoring programs were required to
monitor fish populations and the health of Ontario’s
lakes. The Broad-scale Fisheries Monitoring (BSFM)
program was designed to help quantitatively
determine the status of fisheries resources and
evaluate the success of various management
activities.
In the Northeast Region (NER), we have completed
two successful BSFM field seasons in partnership
with district staff, and are embarking on our third.
Key elements of the monitoring program include
water quality sampling, index netting, and angling
effort surveys.
This year, the NER is further adopting a decentralized
delivery model where delivery of the index netting
component will be distributed among multiple
districts.
We plan to conduct netting surveys on
approximately 60 lakes across FMZ 8 and FMZ 10
in 2010. Netting surveys help determine sport fish
abundance, life history characteristics of key species,
and the diversity of the fish community including
the presence of invasive species. Many fish are
also sampled to assess contaminant levels. Water
samples are collected and sent to the Ministry of the
Environment for water quality analysis. Aerial angler
count surveys are also conducted and these surveys
provide the program with estimates of summer and
winter fishing pressure leading to estimates of total
angling effort (angler hrs/ha/year) on these lakes.
Analysis of data collected from hundreds of lakes
over multiple years will be required to properly
inform management decisions, and this requires an
information system designed to house and ultimately
serve up all the data collected for the program.
Northeast Science and Information (NESI) has taken
the lead on developing a BSFM database to complement
existing data stored in Fishnet and to link that
data to other information that will support its analysis
in the future.
For additional information on BSFM, please contact:
Jeff Amos, 705- 235-1214 or jeff.amos@ontario.ca

• Aquatic Ecosystems and Fisheries,
Nigel Lester and John Gunn;
• Terrestrial Ecosystems: Biodiversity, Jeff
Bowman;
• Terrestrial Ecosystems: Protected
Areas, Karen Hartley;
• Renewable Energy in the NER, Bryan
Karney; and
• Aboriginal Perspectives on
Climate Change, David Flood and
Mushkegowuk Environmental
Research Centre
NESI leading Climate Change Awareness
within the Northeast Region
In response to the growing global concern about
climate change, MNR has made climate change a
corporate priority and as a result is becoming increasingly
involved in climate change initiatives.
In support of these initiatives, and recognizing
the need for local understanding and action, a
series of climate change information sessions
were hosted by the Northeast Region (NER),
under the leadership of NESI and led by Rachelle
Lalonde, NESI’s Terrestrial Ecologist.
There were seven information sessions conducted
between September 2009 and February 2010.
Each session highlighted a unique speaker(s) who
focused on a specific climate change topic. These
included:
• MNR’s Role in Reducing the Impacts
Associated with Climate Change: Paul
Gray, Paul Ward, Jenny Gleeson, and Gary
Nielsen;
• Climate Change Modeling, Dan
McKenney;
• Peatland carbon biogeochemistry, Jim
McLaughlin;
• Fire and Forest Management, Rob
McAlpine and Steve Colombo;
Information sessions were hosted via WebEx
to ensure maximum participation. Participants
included personnel from all NER units
including Districts and Area Offices, Planning
Unit, Regional Engineering and Operations,
Northeast Science and Information Section,
Far North Regional Unit, and appropriate
Parks Zone staff, regional Aviation and Forest
Fire Management and Regional Enforcement
Branch staff.
At the end of each session participants had an
opportunity to identify key areas where they
believe further action is required in regards
to climate change. These key areas will be
incorporated into future discussions that will
use this information to develop a NER Climate
Change Action Plan. This Plan will be used to
help assist the region respond to and integrate
climate change considerations into our
resource management plans and activities.
The sessions were recorded and can be
accessed at http://mnronline.mnr.gov.on.ca/
spectrasites/nesi/nesihomepage.cfm
For additional information on the NER Climate
Change sessions and future Action Plan,
please contact: Rachelle Lalonde, 705- 235-
1004 or rachelle.lalonde@ontario.ca.
Find this interesting Interested in receiving future editions of NESI NEWS
NESI NEWS is an internal newsletter created to share information about ongoing activities and
events occurring within Northeast Science and Information and provide project and information
updates related to our section and our branch, Science and Information. Comments and feedback
on this inaugural newsletter as well as requests to subscribe, can be sent to: Erika Luoma,
Communications Specialist, Northeast Science and Information, erika.luoma@ontario.ca

NESI: our PEOPLE, going PLACES & doing THINGS
Ken Lennon, Forest Productivity Specialist - Growth & Yield, has been a guest
presenter for the CIF e-Lecture series on the Forest Co-op Growth & Yield Science
Unit Permanent Growth Plot Program, has given Forest Management Planning
training on Silvicultural Ground Rules for 2011 FMPs in the Northeast Region and
recently helped organize a Vegetation Management Workshop in Kapuskasing for
the Forest Research Partnership.
Charles Hendry, Aquatic Biologist, is currently collaborating with several First Nations
to document aboriginal traditional knowledge of lake sturgeon in their traditional
areas. The information generated from this project would improve MNR’s knowledge
of the distribution of lake sturgeon in the lowlands. Charles also recently organized a
successful bathymetry survey and mapping workshop during June where 23 people
from across the NER attended.
David Shaw has been the Acting Science Coordinator for NESI since January
2010. Welcome Dave! He had the opportunity to present at the Aboriginal Youth
and Climate Change Workshop that took place last summer at Cedar Meadows
alongside NESI’s Terrestrial Ecologist, Rachelle Lalonde.
Stephen Mills, Forest Wildlife Habitat Specialist, supported Kirkland Lake District
MNR at the International Plowing Match in September by providing fish and
wildlife information to the public, has attended and presented at numerous
Trapper and Fur Council Meetings including in Restoule, Cochrane and Chapleau
speaking about the American Marten, represented MNR with a booth at the Fur
Harvesters Annual Convention in North Bay on the American Marten and has
assisted the Timmins, Hearst and Kapuskasing MNR offices with various support
and extension on Moose Population Objectives and habitat modeling.
Stan Vasiliauskas, Project Forester, attended the Fluxnet Conference in Montreal
and has recently co-authored the Standard Forest Units for Northeastern Ontario
Boreal Forests, NESI Tech Note #21. He is currently involved in a cedar project and
with plot remeasurements in the National Forest Inventory and Growth and Yield
Programs.
Lyle Walton, Wildlife Population Specialist, has transferred information and
results from the Far North Caribou project, the Caribou Research project and the
Northeast Region Moose Pregnancy Rate Study to the Northeast Regional Fish and
Wildlife Forum and other internal clients. He has also presented results to several
NER trapping councils on provincial wolf research and monitoring projects. He is
the lead on the NER Moose pregnancy study, is on the Caribou Conservation Plan
implementation team and one of the team players delivering the Far North Caribou
Project as well as providing support to the Ecosystem Status and Trends Report for
the Hudson Plains Ecozone.

What we’ve been up to
Rachelle Lalonde, Terrestrial Ecologist, assisted with the southern ELC training
course in June as well as organized the NER Climate Change sessions through
Fall 2009-Winter 2010 and presented at the Aboriginal Youth and Climate
Change Workshop. Rachelle also recently returned from Ontario’s Far North
where she assisted Ontario Parks with data collection.
Steve McGovern, Aquatic Ecosystems Team Leader,
presented to the Moose Cree First Nation in Moose
Factory on the Albany Project as well as at the Far North
Aquatics and Hydrology Day in Peterborough and
made a presentation with Jennifer Potvin on the River
Characterization Project at a NESI Staff Meeting. Steve also
recently co-authored Fisheries and Aquatic Resources -
Status and Trends Report: Hudson Plains Ecozone portion of
the Far North Planning Area, NESI Information Report #29.
Rich Pyrce, Hydrologist, presented the topic of Sediment Regime, Riverine
Hydrology, & Fluvial Geomorphology in a Waterpower Context to the
Northwest Region Renewable Energy Community of Practice in April
2010 and was a co-author of a recent article in Hydro Review on Studying
Ramping Rate Restrictions.
Dan Potvin, Terrestrial Senior Technician, sits on NESI’s Health and Safety
Team where he brings industrial and operations experience to the table
and recently hosted a Communications Safety Protocol meeting for NESI
staff. Dan also participates through planning and field work on NESI
projects and initiatives with emphasis on Far North sciences, such as
preparing field crews for Summer 2010 work in the Far North. Some of the
projects he has worked on include Far North Terrestrial Biodiversity and
Albany River Aquatic Assessment.
Erika Luoma, Communications Specialist, is a member of the Science and
Information Branch Communications Team and has represented Science
and Information Resources Division (SIRD) at booths at the International
Plowing Match held in Earlton in September 2009 as well as at the Toronto
Sportsmen’s Show in March 2010. Erika is a co-lead of the SIRD Photo
Contest currently taking place and acted as NER IO for the month of July.

What’s New at NESI
Have you seen our latest products
Aquatics-Related Publications:
Annear, T., D. Lobb, C. Coomer, M. Woythal, C. Hendry, C. Estes, and K. Williams, 2009. International
Instream Flow Program Initiative: A Status Report of State and Provincial Fish and Wildlife Agency
Instream Flow Activities and Strategies for the Future - Final Report for Multi-State Conservation
Grant Project WY M-7-T. Instream Flow Council. February 2009.
Smokorowski, K.E., Metcalfe, R.A., Jones, N.E., Marty, J., Niu, S., and Pyrce, R.S. 2009. Studying
Ramping Rate Restrictions. Hydro Review (July 2009), p.68-88.
McGovern, S.P. and Vukelich, M. 2009. Fisheries and Aquatic Resources - Status and Trends Report:
Hudson Plains Ecozone portion of the Far North Planning Area. Ontario Ministry of Natural
Resources, Northeast Science and Information (NESI) Information Report, IR-029. December 2009.
Terrestrial-Related Publications:
Cyr, D., S. Gauthier, D.A. Etheridge, G.J. Kayahara and Y. Bergeron. 2010. A simple Bayesian Belief
Network for estimating the proportion of old-forest stands in the Clay Belt of Ontario using the
provincial forest inventory. Canadian Journal of Forest Research 40: 573-584 (2010). NRC Research
Press.
Cluff, H.D., P.C. Paquet, L.R. Walton and M. Musiani. 2010. Wolf Ecology and Management in
Northern Canada: Perspectives from a Snowmobile Wolf Hunt. In The world of wolves: research
sample cases from two continents. Edited by M. Musiani, L. Boitani and P.C. Paquet. The University
of Calgary Press, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Man, R., G.J. Kayahara, Q. Dang, and J. Rice. 2009. A case of severe frost damage prior to budbreak
in young conifers in northeastern Ontario: Consequences of climate change Forestry Chronicle 85:
453-462.
Chen, H.Y.H., S. Vasiliauskas, G.J. Kayahara, and T. Ilisson. 2009. Wildfire promotes broadleaves and
species mixture in boreal forest. Forest Ecology and Management 257: 343–350
Landriault, L.J., B. J. Naylor, S.C. Mills and D. Lewis. 2009. Preliminary investigation of the effects
of timber harvesting on the activity status of beaver lodges in central Ontario, Canada. Forestry
Chronicle 85: 878-884.
Vanderwel, M.C., S.C. Mills and J.R. Malcolm, 2009. Effects of partial harvesting on vertebrate
species associated with late-successional forests in Ontario’s boreal region. Forestry Chronicle 85:
91-104.
Parton, J., S. Vasiliauskas, G. Lucking and W.R. Watt. 2006. Standard Forest Units for Northeastern
Ontario Boreal Forests. OMNR, Northeast Science & Information, NESI Technical Note TN-021.