some indication that environmental contaminants are re- 

 sponsible for this change, but further studies are required to 

 test this hypothesis. 



FURBEARER UNIT 



The high colony density and large proportion of water areas 

 occupied by beaver indicate that the beaver population in 

 Algonquin Provincial Park is nearly maximum. Previous 

 trends in the population indicate that their numbers will 

 decrease within a year or two, regardless of trapping effort. 



The beaver research project, which was part of an evalua- 

 tion of the natural resources and the social and economic 

 problems associated with resource utilization by members 

 of the Round Lake Indian Band, showed densities of colonies 

 comparable with other areas of the northern edge of the 

 Canadian Shield. Indications are that populations could 

 withstand a much higher trapping effort. 



A report in preparation of earlier studies of the ecology 

 of marten in Algonquin Park showed this animal to be 

 largely terrestrial in its activities, with a preference in both 

 summer and winter for forest types containing a high conifer 

 proportion. Analysis of 702 scats revealed a summer food 

 preference for small mammals, particularly field mice, birds' 

 eggs and young birds and berries. Insects were occasionally 

 eaten. 



WILDLIFE RESEARCH STATION 



The facilities of the station in Algonquin Park were used for 

 various parts of studies as reported above. In addition, 28 

 staff members and students from other agencies sponsoring 

 wildlife research were accommodated. 



Accommodation was provided for a biological field 

 course sponsored jointly by York, Queen's and Carleton 

 Universities. 



TECHNICAL SERVICES 



This Section, a part of the Branch Administration, provides 

 specialized professional and technical services in the follow- 

 ing fields. 



BIOMATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS 



The course on the use of computers for statistical and non- 

 statistical computations was repeated. 



The "Maple Model" was reformulated as a "growth" 

 model, and from that a cutting model was developed. This 

 appeared to demonstrate the thesis that, where plus stands 

 of hard maple exist on deep fresh soils in Algonquin Park, a 



series of selective cuts at about 20-year intervals is likely to 

 improve the quality of the stands in perpetuity. 



A system for quality-class, operational cruising of stands 

 containing hardwoods was developed. Computer programs 

 were written to compile the cruise tallies and to calculate 

 the expected volume of wood and lumber to be recovered 

 from the cruised areas. 



Simplistic models were developed to describe run-off 

 characteristics of the five major river basins of northern 

 Ontario, in terms of their mean annual temperature and 

 precipitation regimes, and to predict the depletion of snow 

 on the ground in terms of air temperature and its diurnal 

 fluctuation. 



There has been substantial involvement on a Timber 

 Branch Committee to analyze their information require- 

 ments and to design a Management Information System. 



DRAUGHTING 



The Unit provided maps, charts and figures for reproduction 

 in Branch reports and scientific journals. A map and aerial 

 photograph library is maintained. 



ELECTRONICS UNIT 



This Unit was established on |une 1, 1970, by the transfer 

 from Forest Protection Branch to Research Branch of D. A. 

 Cooper, Communications Technician. 



Work has continued on the Forest Protection Phi-TRAN 

 weather reporting system. A communication survey of the 

 province has been completed, and there was consultation in 

 the development of the infra-red fire mapper. 



LIBRARY 



The Library converted from the Dewey Decimal System to 

 the Library of Congress Classification, providing a systematic 

 arrangement of material according to subject matter. Ap- 

 proximately 600 books were added. 



MECHANICAL 



The principal projects completed were: Flail scarifier, for 

 planting site preparation in rough terrain, mounding plough, 

 for deep ploughing in poorly drained land in southern 

 Ontario; and fish conditioning apparatus, to condition 

 hatchery fish to avoid predators following planting. 



PHOTOGRAPHY 



The staff photographer provides all photographic documen- 

 tation in the laboratory and in the field required by 

 Research Branch personnel. She provides black-and-white or 

 colour, in still or in motion, employing macro, semi-macro, 

 and micro, photographic techniques. 



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