Alberta Badlands

Plant Ecology in Alberta’s Badlands

Objectives
1. Observe a unique habitat-type within Alberta while gaining experience conducting field-
based research
2. Learn to describe plant communities
3. Learn to identify and quantify natural gradients
4. Conduct independent research
5. Become familiar with some statistical methods commonly used by plant ecologists.

Introduction
This field trip will introduce students to vegetation and ecology of the southern Canadian
prairies. Grassland communities will be examined, including short grass, mixed grass and
‘badland’ successional communities.
Most species of plants grow quite well under warm and wet conditions, until herbivores and
competitors cause species exclusion. However, under hot and dry conditions, the environment
itself serves as a filter of species occurrences. Under these conditions, there can be substantial
changes in plant community structure (the identity and abundance of the species present) at a
scale of only a few meters. Why? Small differences in micro-topography can have large effects
on microclimatic conditions, thereby influences the strength of the environmental filter.
We are going to be examining the plant communities found on eroding bentonitic clays and
shales in Dinosaur Provincial Park. The terrain can be considered badland topography exhibiting
steep nearly vegetation free slopes and gently sloping alluvial washes. Prairie grassland
communities may be found on the tops of the hills, a variety of arid/semiarid adapted plants
(sagebrush, cactus etc) on the slopes and various colonizers on and near the washes.
We will survey the plant community composition using quadrats and a variety of environmental
measures. Your data will be pooled with the data collected by the rest of the class to determine
what factors are important in structuring these plant communities.

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Notes on Dinosaur Provincial Park

Dinosaur Provincial Park was established on the 27th of June 1955 to protect its unique
geological features. In 1979 the park was designated a World Heritage Site. The park is about
73km2, encompassing extensive riparian areas of plains cottonwood (considered endangered),
exceptional rich fossil beds of dinosaurs and other early vertebrates and the largest and most
spectacular areas of badlands in Canada.
Weather: Conditions are variable, September temperatures range from nighttime lows of -2C
to daytime highs up to 31C with a mean of around 12C. The fall tends to be dry, with most of
the precipitation falling as rain.
Geology: The uppermost layer is composed primarily of Paleocene glacial deposits, composed
of till, glacial lacustrine and sand dune deposits. It is on these deposits that the classic prairie
grasslands are found.
The next deposit down is the 10m thick Bearpaw Formation, (74.2-74.5 million years) of dark
brown and gray marine sediments. This is followed by a 80m of Dinosaur Park Formation (74.5-
76.5 million years). These are a mixture of sandstones, siltstones, claystones and a few thin coal
beds derived from warm tropical coastal lands. This zone contains most of the fossil dinsosaurs.
The Oldman Formation (76.5-77 million years) comprises the lower 30 meters (down to river
level). Rocks in this formation are sandstone and mudstone (silt and claystones (or bentonite))
derived from braided streams and flood plains along a seaway.
The badlands you see in the park first developed about 12-14,000 years ago, and continued
erosion maintains this type of topography. Badlands form as a result of rapid erosion of
relatively soft bedrock. High intensity summer storms flush materials away from unprotected
slopes.
The plants you will be examining have a difficult time, there is little soil formation, rapid
erosion, poor moisture holding capacity of the ground, sporadic rainfall and periods of drought.
Keep this in mind when examining the structure of the communities or placement of individual
platns on the landscape. The badland habitat is part of the Grassland Natural Region, but is not
typical becase of the erosional features of the terrain.
We will conduct three main exercises, including studies of individual, population and
community ecology. For some of these projects your data will be pooled with data collected by
the rest of this class as part of ongoing monitoring. For the group data collection you will
conduct on this trip, you will present your results in a formal oral presentation later in the term.
It is a privilege to be able to sample within the reserve at DPP (a permit is required). You will
among a small number of people who will have ever set foot in the restricted area of the park.
Please respect this privilege – the landscape is fragile and unique. The dinosaur fossils that will
be at your feet as you work are irreplaceable.

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Trip Logistics
Contacts: Please leave this information at home for emergency contacts.
Dinosaur Provincial Park
PO Box 60
Patricia Alberta, T0J 2K0
Park Phone Number: 1-403-378-4342
Accommodations: Group Camp Site, Sand Hill Creek
Travel: Motor Coach and driver provided by the University of Alberta
Safety: If any student has a medical problem or physical disability please inform the instructors.
Hazards include but are not limited to rattle snakes (seen on previous trips), hot weather, freezing
weather, uneven ground, slippery terrain and cactus (in previous years students have stepped on
them, and the spines can go through many types of footware!)
Cost $60 (food and camping fee)
Students Bring:
Fall is upon us. Therefore be prepared for everything from +30C to snow. We will be hiking on
uneven ground which may become extremely slippery if wet. Sturdy hiking boots or walking
shoes are required. Open toed shoes (sandals) are not permitted for use during the field
exercises. If you do not pack well you will be miserable if the conditions turn unfavourable.

 Sleeping bag/toiletries
 Tent, sleeping pad/mattress
 Warm clothing for legs and torso (layers, wind and waterproof)
 Raingear
 Shade hat, sunblock, sunglasses
 Sturdy boots/walking shoes
 Snacks/dinner for Friday night bus trip
 Day pack/water bottle
 Camera/field glasses/ID guides
 Clipboard, pencils, eraser, graph paper, large Ziploc bag

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Trip Itinerary:
Friday
1645 Arrive at Loading dock, west side of the Biological Sciences Building
1700 Depart from loading dock. Room CW311 will be available to store personal
equipment and gear prior to boarding the bus. Bring snacks and dinner for the trip,
or eat before boarding. All food for the remainder of the trip will be provided.
2130 Arrive at Dinosaur Provincial Park, set up camp/tents

Saturday
0700-0800 Breakfast

0830 Exercise I: Describing plant communities using quadrats

1000 Exercise II: Describing plant communities using line transects

1200 Lunch

1300 Exercise III: Population estimates and long-term data

1500 Exercise IV: Phenotypic plasticity and plant traits

1700 Exercise V: Developing a group project

1800 Dinner back at camp.

2000 Group project discussion and finalization

Sunday

0700-0800 Breakfast

0830 Exercise VI: Group project data collection

1230 Lunch

1300 Depart for Edmonton

1830 Arrive at Biological Sciences Centre, Edmonton

Note: Arrival and departure times Saturday and Sunday are approximate and will be adjusted according
to exercises, weather and rate of student completion. In the event of bad weather we
may do alternate exercises.