The University of Manitoba Field Station Delta Marsh 1971 Annual Report Number 6

Abstract

This year saw a wide range of research and teaching at the Station and consequently heavy demands on the facilities. Eight projects were undertaken, four continued froin the previous year and four new studies were initiated. The first group included investigations of habitat and food use by white-tailed deer; the relationship between evapotranspiration in PhJr..a..gmUe6 and water table fluctuations; the ecology of the hardand soft-stem bulrush (Sc£npU6 aQutuh and S. validU6) and the effect of the Assiniboine Diversion on the southern end of Lake Manitoba. New research projects covered an equally wide range of topics, namely: life cycle studies of two nematodes (Rhabdi~ sp.) in frogs and toads; a survey of soil and water fungi in the marsh; the effect of fire on P~agmUe6 and the mapping of lakeshore vegetation. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the continued financial support from the Department of ' Mines, Resources and Environmental Management, the National Research Council, Ducks Unlimited, Canadian Industries Limited and the University of Manitoba. In addition, this year two of our summer assistants were supported by the Opportunity for Youth program. We were pleased to welcome two other researchers: Mrs. C. H. Nelson, who spent three days continuing her work on downy ducklings, and Dr. B. J. Richardson, who collected blood samples from redbacked voles and deer mice for enzyme studies. Four projects were concluded in 1971. T. O. Acere was awarded an M.Sc. for his stickleback population study, while D. Bernard and D. Brown should complete their M.Sc. theses in the spring of 1972. Dr. J. Wright's ecological study of benthic fauna has yielded a wealth of information, particularly with respect to the effects of freezing on invertebrates. His publication should be in press in the near future. The importance of winter research is also emerging from the white-tailed deer studies of Dr. E. Kucera. Our long-term objective is to obtain an understanding of the dynamics of the marsh ecosystem, and each project brings it a little nearer. The Station was used for 334 resident-weeks. The following staff, graduate students and techni ci ans were present for a 11 or part of the summer: Faculty Dr. J. Gee (Zoology) Dr. E. Kucera (University Field Station) Dr. J. M. Shay (Director) ' Graduate Students A. J. Macaulay (Botany) E. E. Mowbray (Botany) J. Pearn (Botany) F. Phillips (Botany) M. Quaye (Zoology) Station Staff Mr. N. Mulder Mrs . G. Mulder Mrs . I. Garnham Miss P. Wickstrom Summer Assistants T. Cantlon G. Connor R. Gray R. A. Janusz L. Landreth D. Paton R. Scarth Informal seminars were given by the staff and graduate students, and we were glad that members of the Delta Waterfowl Research Station joined us and also reciprocated the invitation .