Wetland Invertebrates (Ants) - Cape Breton Highlands

What? Wetland ecosystem condition is being monitored in Cape Breton Highlands National Park through invertebrate (ants) population sampling. When? Monitoring frequency for this program is on a five year cycle, with site visits occurring in July and August. How? Monitoring consists of setting up pitfall traps and bait stations, as well as direct sampling through an aspirator. Why? Species richness and proportion of wetland habitat specialists present in a wetland is an indicator of wetland ecosystem health. Many ant species are important soil engineers, and are influenced by wetland structure, water level and stability. Changes to proportions of wetland specialists, and generalist or forest associated species, may indicate changes to wetland hydrology, chemistry, or other structural changes due to pollution, climate change, deforestation, and other stressors.

Organization: Parks Canada | Parcs Canada

Last modified: 2024-12-09T17:03:40.689147