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Activities and Projects |  |
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Marble Ridge Ecological Reserve Nomination The Manitoba Association of Plant Biologists has worked to nominate the Marble Ridge alvar as a protected area. The site is one of the few alvars known west of Ontario and supports at least three noteworthy plant species. Alvars consist of naturally open habitat with sparse, prairie-like vegetation growing on a limestone or dolostone plain, with either a thin covering of soil or no soil. Alvars are generally uncommon world-wide, and are rare in Canada. The site is located between Fisher Branch and Hodgson, on the south side of Hwy 325, one mile west of Hwy 17. Three botanical species of interest include: Gastony’s Cliffbrake (Pellaea gastonyi) rated as “Very Rare” (S1) provincially and “Rare-uncommon” (N2N3) nationally and globally is the only known site for this species in Manitoba, Western Dwarf Cliffbrake (Pellaea glabella subsp. occidentalis) ranked as “Rare” (S2) both provincially and nationally (N2), and Prairie Spikemoss (Selaginella densa) at the northeast limit of its range in Manitoba. Three field trips have been planned for the summer of 2011 in order to conduct a more broad botanical inventory of the Marble Ridge site.
Bursary for students in Plant Biology related fields at the U of M
The Manitoba Association of Plant Biologists has established an endowment fund at the University of Manitoba to support graduate students in plant biology. The Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative has made a contribution to this fund. From time to time (allowing the interest from the fund to accumulate to a level sufficient to support an award, as decided by the selection committee), the available annual income shall be used to provide fellowships and bursaries whose frequency, number and value, will be determined by the selection committee. Consider making a donation through the Office of Private Funding, 179 Continuing Education Complex, Univ. of Manitoba, Winnipeg, R3T 2N2. Remember it is the professional faculties that receive all the big donations and the basic sciences lag far behind in support for student awards. Provincial Plant Mapping Project MAPB struck a committee in 2007 to examine the feasibility of mapping plant distributions in Manitoba. Richard Staniforth posed the idea at our spring meeting, and there has been discussion at several meetings since. A similar type of project was completed in the UK in the 50's and recently revisited; the data resulting from such mapping projects is useful in many ways to scientists, consultants and government departments. The project in the UK had the benefit of having to cover a smaller, more accessible land area in a country with many trained naturalists. Members of MAPB are currently exploring the scope and logistics such a project in Manitoba. Species at Risk Legislation
Species Lists: Assiniboine Forest, Winnipeg, 2007 Plant species reported present in Assiniboine Forest, compiled by Mary and Kelvin Krieger. Hart Trail, 1999 This species list was collected during the summer of 1999 along the Hart Trail. Julie Gold maintained the list, Jeannie Gilbert organized the members of MAPB. Pembina Valley Provincial Park, 2001 The following species list was generated from several surveys of the park flora compiled by Jennifer Shay. Additions were made to the list from a further trip in early July 2003. Manitoba Ferns, 2009 Manitoba ferns and other spore-bearing vascular plants compiled by David Greenwood. Elk Glen Property, Rossburn, 2008 On July 26th, a joint MAPB/Nature Conservancy of Canada Volunteer event was held at NCC's 800 acre Elk Glen Property near Rossburn, Manitoba. The property is located immediately adjacent to the southern boundary of Riding Mountain National Park. The property’s rolling terrain supports a mix of habitats, from aspen and mixed-wood forest to ponds, wetlands, and streams. Grassland areas exist on some of the property’s hills -- prior to the event it was thought that these may represent remnant native fescue or mixed-grass prairie. NCC’s long- term goals for the property include restoring and maintaining these grasslands. The need for a thorough botanical inventory and ecological assessment of the property, and especially its remnant prairie sites, was identified. The purpose of the MAPB/NCC event was to create a baseline to compare future ecological changes on the property. Prior to any prairie restoration activities, a thorough inventory is a first, critical step. In advance of the event, MAPB's Liz Punter surveyed the property in June. Her surveys produced an initial list of 109 species, including 2 provincially rare sedges (Carex microptera (S1S2) and Carex hookeriana (S1)). This list grew to 155 confirmed species after the July 26th survey. The presence of Plains Rough Fescue in some of the grassland areas suggests that the property supports fescue prairie - a community type rarely encountered in Manitoba. |
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