St. Lawrence Islands National Park of Canada

Landowners get involved in CSI: Mallorytown

Citizen science initiative will help residents learn more about their land

Local resident Julius Brokloff takes notes and John Clement (left) looks on while resource conservation technician Brian Farkas (centre) demonstrates research protocol during a fall Citizen Science workshop at Mallorytown Landing.
© Chris Bellemore

Did you know that private landowners own nearly 98 percent of all property in the 1000 Islands Ecosystem? St. Lawrence Islands National Park’s Citizen Science Initiative (CSI) is a program designed to involve local residents in ecological monitoring on their own properties.

The 1000 Islands ecosystem supports an astonishing variety of life, including 54 mammal species, 99 fish species, and more than 1500 vascular plants. How are these populations doing against pollution, habitat fragmentation, and other threats to ecosystem health?

“St. Lawrence Islands National Park is made up of small pieces of protected habitat within the 1000 Islands ecosystem,” said Oliver Reichl, St. Lawrence Islands National Park citizen science coordinator. “To truly understand the changes that occur in an ecosystem, long-term studies of entire communities are needed.”

For citizens or groups who have suitable property and are willing to make an annual time commitment of 1-8 hours, Parks Canada will provide equipment, material, training, and technical support, and will provide volunteers with a full report of data.

There are four ways to participate:

1. Monitoring Forest Health
   The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) has a standard protocol to measure forest health. Plots are intended to be long-term and volunteers visit annually to collect data on tree health, salamanders, decomposition, worms, seedlings, and woody debris.
2. Monitoring Wetland Health
   Wetland plots, like EMAN forest plots, are intended to be relatively permanent, revisited annually, and the source of statistically sound and consistent data about wetland health. Volunteers will survey exotic flora, breeding birds, frogs and toads, benthic invertebrates, and water quality.
3. Monitoring Rivers & Streams
   Essentially a subset of the wetland monitoring program, volunteers simply measure water quality by collecting benthic invertebrates and water samples from rivers and streams.
4. Reporting Rare Species
   The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) maintains a comprehensive database of plants and animals that occur in the province. Reporting sightings of “at risk” species is an important aspect of monitoring their populations. Anyone can report a species occurrence to the MNR’s Natural Heritage Information Centre simply by filling out an online form. To find out more, visit nhic.mnr.gov.on.ca/nhic_.cfm

“For property owners, land managers, and area residents in general, the benefits of participating in an environmental monitoring program are many,” Reichl said.

Monitoring programs can help people make informed property management decisions and assess the impacts of environmental stressors, and can provide sound scientific data for lobbying.

You don’t need to be a scientist to participate - all you need is an interest in ecology and preserving the quality of life for all living things in the 1000 Islands ecosystem.

To get involved or learn more about the Citizen Science Initiative, call 613-923-5261.