Ecology and Earth Sciences Section

The Ecology and Earth Sciences Section of the Research Branch is divided into research groups for seven disciplines. Ecological sciences groups address Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification and plant ecology, landscape ecology, range ecology, and wildlife habitat ecology. Earth sciences groups address soils, watersheds, and climatology.

Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) provides a fundamental basis for all forest research and has become an integral component of operational forest management decision-making. Landscape ecology focusses on landscape modelling for mountain pine beetle management and various other purposes. Range ecology research is applied to many aspects of rangeland management. Wildlife habitat ecology examines forest habitat management for species of concern.

The soils sciences can be further divided into soil productivity, soil ecology, and soil rehabilitation activities. Watershed research includes watershed hydrology, geomorphology, and fish/forestry interactions. Climatology encompasses climate change and carbon dynamics.

Additionally, the Section conducts interdisciplinary research on topical matters, notably, climate change, mountain pine beetle, and non-timber forest products.

Staff

Work Units

• Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification / Plant Ecology
• Climatology
• Landscape Ecology
• Range Ecology
• Soils
• Watershed Research
• Wildlife Habitat

Research Areas

• Climate Change
• Mountain Pine Beetle
• Non-Timber Forest Products
  

Selected Projects

• TEM Alternatives Task Force - Coordination, development, testing, and documentation of Predictive Ecosystem Mapping (PEM) and other alternatives to TEM.
• EcoGen - EcoGen is a predictive ecosystem mapping tool that utilizes TRIM, forest cover, and any other available digital mapping to model or predict the ecosystems likely to occur on the landscape. SIBEC site indices can then be used with the predicted ecosystems to derive a predicted 'ecoyield'.
• Provincial digital biogeoclimatic subzone/variant mapping - A brief description of the BEC Subzone/Variant classification system, and digital maps for the forest regions of B.C.
• Dead Tree Web Site - An information source for wildlife trees, snags, and coarse woody debris.

Ministry contact: Evelyn Hamilton.
Please direct questions regarding webpage to For.Prodres@gov.bc.ca
Updated May 2009