Research and monitoring

Water composition, measured at 16 lakes located in the main ecozones of the park (coastal fen, interior peat plateau bog, and boreal spruce forest), provide data to assess changes in lake hydrological conditions. To monitor the consequences of Lesser Snow Goose disturbance, 31 lakes are monitored in the northern half of the park where the geese nest and migrate. A range of highly-disturbed to non-disturbed lakes are measured for air and water temperatures, pH, and conductivity, and sampled for water chemistry and isotope composition. This allows Parks Canada to understand where the water is coming from and to assess changes in water quality.

This project supports knowledge transfer between research partners and Parks Canada. This is achieved through direct training and the development of monitoring protocols. It supports the development, implementation, sustainability and review of the park’s Ecological Integrity Monitoring Plan. It also contributes to understanding the impacts of Lesser Snow Geese on habitats and on other species and the development of a management strategy for this over abundant species.

Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) act as ecosystem engineers in areas of the tundra with low-lying vegetation and no trees. They increase nutrients in the soil near their dens through their waste and prey leftovers, which causes vegetation to grow taller. This taller vegetation has more nutrients that decompose faster than vegetation in other areas of the tundra. The taller vegetation also traps more snow in the winter, providing a unique habitat for both plants and animals.

This research seeks to understand the effects of increasing soil nutrients and snow depth around fox dens. Snow fences are constructed and/or fertilizer is added to plots in areas where foxes typically den. Snow depth and vegetation cover in these plots are compared to each other and to control plots with no fences or fertilizer. Results show that some species produce more flowers and larger thinner leaves when both fertilizer and fertilizer combined with snow fencing are added. For plots with fertilizer and fences, there has been an increase in lemming grazing on low-lying shrubs. These plots have also been invaded by sea lyme-grass, which is typically found on fox dens and increases plant productivity. Trail camera imagery has shown that wildlife is attracted to and feed in the fertilized plots, especially those with a buildup of grass.

Understanding how Arctic foxes enhance biodiversity will help predict how vegetation may respond to potential population decline and to changes in soil nutrients brought about by climate change.

This project contributes to the understanding of carbon cycling and transport in the continuous permafrost zone of Hudson Bay. Rivers and streams from peat uplands in the interior, where permafrost is common, transform and transport carbon to estuarine and coastal wetlands systems. These areas store carbon in sediments and vegetation; which may provide a source of carbon to the marine system of Hudson Bay.

In July 2024, water samples were collected at nine river and lake stations within Wapusk National Park. These samples will provide a baseline for organic and inorganic properties. Further analysis will focus on understanding carbon and nutrient loads in rivers and streams throughout the park, particularly the Owl and Broad Rivers, and the flow of these components from rivers-to-coast-to-sea.

The seawater transport of carbon is a major carbon loss for the terrestrial peatland system. This project aims to measure that loss to better understand the carbon cycle in the Hudson Bay area.

Since 1969, the Lesser Snow Geese nesting colony at La Pérouse Bay in Wapusk National Park, has grown from 2500 pairs to more than 75,000 pairs. The area occupied by these geeese has expanded from a 1km wide swath along a small portion the coast to a more than 400 km2 area along the coast and inland to the tree line. As the numbers of geese using La Pérouse Bay for nesting and spring staging have increased, the habitat has become severely degraded by the destructive foraging behavior of the geese and the resulting negative impact on physical processes. As local habitat degrades, many of the geese disperse coastally or inland to less degraded habitat, causing further degradation.

Aerial and ground surveys are conducted to monitor habitat impact and the staging and nesting of snow geese in the park. Overall, 2024 was a warm season with snow cover disappearing early, and there was a correspondingly early peak hatch of lesser snow geese and early flying goslings. Nesting density was down in 2024, when compared to 2010.

Results from this study form the basis of the combined Canada/US plan to manage Lesser Snow Geese. Study data also help with the management of damage related to destructive foraging by Lesser Snow Geese in the park. Results from past years alerted park management to a serious habitat situation at Thompson Point and this ongoing monitoring allows for detection of similar impacts.

This long-term research (47 years) focusses on Lesser Snow Geese (LSG) and their interaction with, and impact on, the ecosystems associated with the Hudson Bay Lowlands, including Wapusk National Park. The research includes annual studies of lesser snow and Ross’s geese, common eiders, savannah sparrows and a variety of species of ducks, shorebirds and passerines. It also includes studies on the interactions of snow geese with predators and plant resources in the region. The habitat damage caused by LSG, its impact on other species and recovery once abandoned, along with LSG forage quality and predator monitoring are evaluated in light of climate change.

The recovery exclosure study shows that there is recovery potential inside the exclosures. The greatest recovery is at the sites with the least vegetation damage. Information collected during the banding study showed that goslings appeared more robust and bigger than average, suggesting they hatched early and there was correspondence between plant phenology and the peak in nutrition/abundance of goose forage species in 2024.

Results from this study form the basis of the combined Canada/US plan to manage Lesser Snow Geese. Results are also used by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Canadian Wildlife Service to re-evaluate the management plan for the Mid-continent Population of Lesser Snow Geese. They also help with the management of damage related to destructive foraging by Lesser Snow Geese in the park.

This long-term monitoring project takes place in and around Wapusk National Park. It investigates changes in how species interact in Arctic food webs. Arctic foxes prey on lemmings, geese, and seals. Changes in the numbers of these species can affect how they are hunted by foxes. As southern species, such as red foxes and meadow voles, become more common on the tundra, the hunting patterns and success of Arctic foxes can be affected. Understanding these interactions helps predict effects of future species loss or environmental changes.

In 2024, surveys were conducted in and near Wapusk National Park to estimate the numbers of lemming and voles. Canada goose nest density was estimated, as was clutch size and the start date of each nest. Arctic fox and red fox use of dens in the park was surveyed in the spring to understand den use by the different species and in the summer to measure reproductive success.

Results show that lemming numbers have continued to decrease in this area since the 1930s. This is also happening in many parts of the low Arctic, possibly because of a decrease in snow quality related to climate warming. However, earlier snow melt may allow geese to start nesting sooner, which reduces nest predation and increases hatch success.

The expansion of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) into areas that used to be occupied by Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) can threaten the survival of Arctic fox populations. This project uses location information from satellite collars attached to both species of foxes to better understand this threat. The location information shows how foxes use the landscape in and around Wapusk National Park.

In April 2024, 4 foxes were captured in the park: 3 red foxes and 1 Arctic fox. All foxes were found at dens near the Nester One research station. Satellite collars were put on the red foxes; however, the Arctic fox was not collared due to its small size. A total of 7 foxes from 2023 and 2024 remained in the study area during the targeted reproductive period of April 1 to August 31. All other foxes with active collars travelled away from the project area during this time.

Predators such as foxes play an important role in Arctic and sub-Arctic food webs. Changes in the numbers and types of predators and in how they use ecosystems may also impact other species. A warming environment may also increase the range of species into new territories like the Arctic tundra. Understanding the interactions between these two species might help understand why species normally found in the boreal forest may be found in more northern tundra ecosystems and how that might affect ecosystems in the park.

Shorebirds that breed in the Arctic are currently experiencing population declines. There are significant knowledge gaps about shorebird migration patterns. However, research shows that Wapusk National Park’s shoreline is critical to more than a dozen shorebird species during their migrations.

In 2022, Parks Canada deployed two MOTUS (Motus Wildlife Tracking System) towers in Wapusk National Park and one at York Factory National Historic Site. These towers support the designation of the park’s coastline as a shorebird conservation area. In addition to these MOTUS towers, Dr. Erica Nol from Trent University has one seasonal MOTUS tower deployed at Nester 1 research camp. Since deployment, the towers have detected 7 different species, including the endangered Red Knot.

This project provides Parks Canada with a better understanding of how Arctic-breeding shorebirds are using Wapusk National Park during their spring and fall migrations. Tracking data collected by the MOTUS towers is available on www.motus.org. It includes data for birds in Dr. Nol's project, as well as birds of other national and international MOTUS projects.

This project takes place both inside and outside of Wapusk National Park. It consists of an aerial survey to estimate the size of the Southern Hudson Bay Canada goose population as well as the age and sex of the geese. It also includes the banding of flightless interior Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) and lesser Snow goose (Anser caerulescens caerulescens) adults and young to estimate harvest and survival rates. These activities are conducted each year by researchers and staff of states and provinces within the Mississippi Flyway, a major north-south bird migration route in North America extending from the southern Mississippi River to the north of Baffin Island. Results from this project provide information for the management of geese populations along this route.

In 2024, 635 adult and 1,297 juvenile Canada geese were banded along the Manitoba Hudson Bay coastline. Of these, 1,909 were interior Canada geese, 22 were giant Canada geese, and 1 was a Cackling goose. In early June an aerial survey took place along the coastlines of Ontario and Wapusk National Park.

Results from the survey show where, and how densely, breeding Canada geese are found in the coastal areas of Wapusk National Park. Results from the banding program show how many geese hatch each year within the park and where they are raised. The banding of lesser Snow geese supports long-term population and habitat monitoring within the park, with the long-term goal of recovering habitats damaged by this overabundant population.