Few fish care for their young, but the mouth-breeder does so by sheltering them in her mouth when danger threatens. She spits the young out when it is safe.
Reconstruction and Management of Garry Oak Ecosystems
Investigation of management practices and ecosystem recovery.
The Garry Oak ecosystems on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands of British Columbia are biologically diverse and extremely threatened landscapes. These ecosystems have evolved with the traditional management of the indigenous peoples who used the forests to gather plants. This management created and maintained the diversity of the landscape. Suppression of indigenous management, the use of fire, and uncontrolled land development has severely reduced the Garry oak ecosystems, and only one per cent remain in a 'natural' state. This research intends to establish the ecological role of indigenous management practices, with the help of members of the Songhees nation, and develop a guide to an effective conservation strategy for the remaining Garry Oak forests.
GF Research
