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| Biosphere Reserve Information | ||||
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FRONTENAC ARCH |
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| General Description |
Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve is situated in south-eastern Ontario at the intersection of terrestrial and riverine ecosystems, the Frontenac Arch and the Saint Lawrence River. The area comprises islands and islets of the Saint Lawrence River which are important stepping stones for the migration of plants and animals. This land bridge is known as Frontenac Arch which is important for habitat connection of the Algonquin and Adirondack Park regions. The river borders the biosphere reserve and contributes to the natural richness. As a flooded landscape, it has a wealth of natural habitat types such as deep channels, rocky shoals and bars, submerged cliffs, broad reed beds and shallow wetlands. The biosphere reserve is an ecological ‘tension zone’ because of the amplifying, combined effects of intermixing and diversity of species and environments. The forests, which constitute half of the area, are in the interface of Atlantic coastal, Appalachian forest, northern boreal forest, southern deciduous and Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Lowland forest regions. The biosphere reserve covers an area of around 150,000 hectares with a human population of about 50,000 (2002). Ecotourism, heritage tourism and agri-tourism play an increasing role in the region and correspond well with the history, environment, cultural values and interests of residents. The biosphere reserve is hoped to promote the link between nature conservation and economic development in close cooperation with the local communities. |
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| Major ecosystem type | Temperate and sub-polar broadleaf forests or woodlands / Boreal needleleaf forests or woodlands | |||
| Major habitats & land cover types | Deciduous forest characterized by Acer saccharum, Quercus rubra, Fagus grandifolia, Carya ovata etc.; mixedwood forest with Acer saccharum, Quercus rubra, Ostrya virginiana, Acer pensylvanicum, Tsuga canadensis etc.; coniferous forest including Pinus strobus, P. resinosa, P. rigida and Tsuga canadensis; scrubland/old field characterized by Juniperus virginiana, Betula populifolia, Populus tremuloides etc.; aquatic habitats including Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River system, Rideau Canal/Rideau Waterway system, Charleston Lake, Gananoque River; wetlands including marshes (with Typha latifolia, Nymphaea tuberosa, Nuphar variegatum etc.), fens and bogs; urban / inhabited areas | |||
| Location | Gananoque: 44°20'N; 76°10'W | |||
| Area (hectares) | ||||
| Total | 150,000 | |||
| Core area(s) | ~3,000 | |||
| Buffer zone(s) | ~15,000 | |||
| Transition area(s) when given | ~132,000 | |||
| Altitude (metres above sea level) | +75.2 to +195 | |||
| Year designated | 2002 | |||
| Administrative authorities | 1000 Islands-Frontenac Arch Biosphere | |||
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| Brief description |
Monitoring at Environment Canada Climate Stations Climate change research Environmental change research Water monitoring Monitoring of the impact of visitor use (soil trampling, erosion etc.) Monitoring of several ecological integrity indicators, primarily at species and population levels (e.g. black rat snakes, bullfrogs) Biodiversity analysis as a first step toward a Protected Area Strategy for economic integrity Monitoring of species at risk Life Science inventories Wetland monitoring Monitoring program focused on identifying immediate threats to ecosystem or regional integrity, and on identifying longer-term, cumulative factors of environmental degradation Frogwatch, Plant Watch, Loon Survey, Marsh Monitoring programmes (community-based monitoring) Surveys of natural history information Forest biodiversity in SI-MAB plot Vertebrate and invertebrate biodiversity Monitoring impact of human activities on selected organisms Documenting genetic change in plant populations Behavioural ecology of birds, snakes, water mites Ecology of fish Population genetics of plants Pollination biology Neuroethology of moths Population ecology of frogs Demographic information and analysis Health status indicators in population health research |
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| Specific variables... | ||||
| Abiotic | n.a. | |||
| Biodiversity | n.a. | |||
| Socio-economic | n.a. | |||
| Integrated monitoring | n.a. | |||
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| Contact address |
Don Ross Thousand Islands-Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve 19 Reynolds Road, RR1 K0E 1L0 Lansdowne, Ontario Canada |
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| Telephone | 1 (613) 659-4824 | |||
| Fax | (613) 923-5291 | |||
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dmross@1000island.net |
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| Web site | www.fabr.ca | |||
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| Last updated: 27/01/2010 |
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