In 2012 the Terrestrial Vascular Plant Monitoring Project for the Lower Athabasca, known at the time as the Ecological Monitoring Committee for the Lower Athabasca Rare Plants Project, was initiated to inform the status of rare vascular plant species, test protocols to improve sampling and monitoring, and develop models to assist with management of rare plants across the Lower Athabasca Planning Region (LAPR). In the survey years of 2012 to 2015 a total of 602 Rarity and Diversity plots were completed, generating a comprehensive dataset consisting of 536 vascular plant species across regionally significant habitat types.
A conservation plan for Northwest Alberta, Canada based on coarse and fine-filter conservation values.
A digital atlas for 21 species of fruiting plants across the Lower Athabasca region of northeast Alberta south of Lake Athabasca. Models were developed and used to map shrub presence, abundance (% cover) and fruit production for each species using environmental predictors and field plot data (845 plots for presence; 335 plots for cover & fruit production).
Nielsen SE (2016) Fruiting shrubs of the Lower Athabasca: Distribution, ecology and a digital atlas. A report to the Cumulative Environmental Management Association (CEMA). 81 pgs.
Maps and data of distribution and prioritization of key areas for Grizzly Bear conservation, including sources, sinks, food resources, suitable habitats and mortality risks. Publication supplemental (online data & models).
Braid & Nielsen (2015) Prioritizing sites for protection and restoration for grizzly bears in southwest Alberta, Canada. PLoS ONE. 10(7):e0132501.
Atlas of synthesis maps representing rare plant vulnerabilities to climate change & migration stresses in Alberta under a variety of rates of climate change; maps of how organism ranges have to shift to keep up with climate change.
Barber, Nielsen & Hamann (2016) Assessing the vulnerability of rare plants using climate change velocity, habitat connectivity, and dispersal ability: a case study in Alberta, Canada. Regional Environmental Change.
Atlas of current and future (2080s) distribution of 1,541 vascular plant species of Alberta, indicating richness, phylogenetic diversity and endemism. Analysis includes areas projected to lose or gain species, and potential future refugia. Publication supplemental.
J. Zhang, Nielsen SE, Stolar J, Chen Y & Thuiller W (2015) Gains and losses of plant species and phylogenetic diversity for a northern high-latitude region. Diversity and Distributions.21(12):1441–1454
Atlas of land facet models for Alberta representing combinations of terrain, climate, and lithology conditions as coarse-filter representations of biodiversity. Atlas data in preparation.
Probable habitat model atlas for species of Orchidaceae in Alberta, Canada under current and projected climates.
Stolar & Nielsen (2012) Probable habitat for species of Orchidaceae in Alberta, Canada. Version 1. Alberta Species Conservation Atlas, Applied Conservation Ecology Laboratory.
Ecological niche models for rare vascular plants of Alberta, present-day and 2050 and 2080 projections. Atlas contains 146 genera, 214 species & subspecies in 54 families.
Stolar & Nielsen. (In review) Mitigating potential losses of Alberta’s rare vascular plants and butterflies under climate change and resource use. Ecosphere.
Ecological niche models for rare butterflies of Alberta, present-day and projections for 2050 and 2080.
Atlas contains 7 genera, 9 species in 4 families.
Stolar & Nielsen. (In review) Mitigating potential losses of Alberta’s rare vascular plants and butterflies under climate change and resource use. Ecosphere.