Plant and soil biophysical properties for evaluating land reclamation in Jasper National Park, Canada

Abstract

Jasper National Park has numerous disturbances in the montane and subalpine ecoregions of varying ages and causes, such as pipelines, road ways, trade waste pits and recreational activities. These disturbances are in various degrees of effective reclamation, in some cases soil conditions have promoted invasion by non-native plant species that in turn have limited self sustaining native plant communities. Of 23 research sites 4 are effectively reclaimed and another 4 are not because of the over abundance of non-native plant species. Presently, there is no standard method for use in Jasper National Park to monitor and judge effectiveness of land reclamation. This research thesis developed a biophysical monitoring and evaluation process which is simple to employ, efficient and economic. Along with plant and litter cover, species composition, and individual densities there are 8 soil physical and chemical properties which can support science-based ecosystem management of human initiated land disturbances.