CENTRAL FOREST UNIT 



This Unit is conducting field and laboratory studies of 

 nutrition and growth, and the productivity ecology of 

 spruce, as well as species and racial variation in the spruce 

 genus. It also includes some limited studies of tree nutrition 

 in relation to forest disturbance. 



NORTHERN FOREST UNIT 



The role of this Unit is to carry out investigative work and 

 experiments that will lead to the effective silvicultural 

 management of the tree species and forests of northern 

 Ontario. Programs are being conducted on poplar and 

 spruce-fir forest types. 



ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 



This Unit was established to plan and co-ordinate studies of 

 the carrying capacity of a site to attract and sustain 

 outdoor activities, and to develop a methodology for 

 determining the optimum uses of land and water resources 

 to satisfy public demand without deterioration of the 

 quality of the environment. 



WILDLIFE SECTION 



The Section supervisor assumed responsibility for two 

 projects concerning ecological effects of stream flow 

 manipulations in the Hudson and James Bays drainage 

 basins. 



BIG GAME UNIT 



A study was initiated on Long Point Peninsula in Lake Erie 

 to find the social type to which the white-tailed deer 

 belongs and to determine if it can adapt its social 

 relationships to different environmental structures. Other 

 white-tailed deer studies, involving snow depth, population 

 ecology and winter distribution, were continued as well as 

 similar moose programs. 



PREDATOR UNIT 



The black bear was the main species under investigation in 

 the field. Work on wolves was confined to the laboratory 

 and included studies on taxonomy, aging techniques and 

 analyses of reproductive tracts. Aerial surveys, to determine 

 the number and distribution of polar bears along the 

 Ontario coast of Hudson Bay, were continued. 



UPLAND GAME AND WATERFOWL UNIT 



The program of banding blue/snow geese continued in the 

 Cape Henrietta Maria area. Aerial surveys to measure 

 population numbers and colour raUos in the nesting colony 

 were conducted twice. Studies continue on the effects of 

 environmental pollutants on thickness of egg shells and 

 pesticide residues in four species of fish-eating birds. Three 

 projects under Con-Joint Agreement with the University of 

 Guelph continued. 



WILDLIFE DISEASES AND PARASITE UNIT 



The objective of this Unit is to identify the diseases and 

 parasites present in wildlife in Ontario; to determine their 

 geographic distribution, frequency and incidence as related 

 to species of wildlife; and where possible to develop 

 methods to alleviate their adverse effects on human and 

 wildlife populations. 



FURBEARER UNIT 



Most field research was temporarily in abeyance, but data 

 were maintained on the status of various furbearer 

 populations, and library research continued. 



WILDLIFE RESEARCH STATION 



This establishment is maintained to provide working 

 facilities for department staff and university personnel 

 involved in research projects of interest to resources 

 research and management. Personnel from the following 

 universities were involved in co-operative research at the 

 station: Toronto, McMaster, Waterloo, Guelph, York, 

 Queen's and Carleton. 



TECHNICAL SERVICES 



The acquisition of a teletype terminal has permitted access 

 to a PDPIO computer on a timesharing basis. Using this, a 

 budget control system was designed and put into operation. 

 Other procedures developed involve FRl data, Morowski's 

 Cull Study, Plonski's Yield Tables, and calculafions and 

 allocations of allowable cuts. 



ELECTRONICS UNIT 



Most of the work involved design, development and field 

 testing of animal telemetry transmitting and receiving 

 equipment for moose, deer, bear and fox. 



MECHANICAL DEVELOPMENT UNIT 



A highlight of the year was the display, which created much 

 interest, at the. Forest Industries Equipment Exhibition in 

 Ottawa of several pieces of equipment developed by the 

 Unit. 



PHOTOGRAPHY UNIT 



All photographic documentation in the laboratory and in the 

 field required by Research Branch personnel is provided. 



DRAUGHTING UNIT 



The Unit provides inking or engraving of maps, charts and 

 figures for photographic reproduction in departmental 

 reports and scientific journals. 



LIBRARY 



The library provides province-wide service to departmental 

 personnel, and maintains information liaison relations, as 

 well as mutual lending, borrowing and exchange agreements 

 with other libraries, governments and agencies. 



18 



