Cecil lake Ecological Reserve Overview, Biological and Physical

Note: Management Planning
There is no online management planning information for this Ecological Reserve available at this time.

ORIGINAL PURPOSE
To preserve aspen, fen and bog ecosystems representative of the Peace River area of the Alberta Plateau.

SIGNIFICANT SPECIES
Philadelphia Vireos
heathed cotton-grass

THREATS
Climate Change:
It has been projected that the effects of climate change, particularly rising temperatures, may be most intense in the north and interior of BC. The decrease in stored water sources such as snow pack, glaciers and the resultant changes in hydrology, alongwith increased temperatures and growing degree days may result in the drying of bog and fen ecosystems, resulting in the reorganization of the associated communities. Drier conditions may also change the forest composition to represent more drought
tolerant species assemblages.
:

Adjacent oil and gas activity threatens ecosystem integrity within reserve. There has been a significant trespass of oil and gas activity.

SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF SPECIES MENTIONED IN THE CECIL LAKE ER ACCOUNT
Flora
arnica, heart-leaved (Arnica cordifolia)
aspen, trembling (Populus tremuloides)
bedstraw, northern (Galium boreale)
birch, scrub (Betula nana)
bluebells, tall (Mertensia paniculata)
bluejoint, reedgrass (Calamagrostis canadensis)
bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)
cloudberry (Rubus chamaemorus)
cotton-grass, sheathed (Eriophorum vaginatum ssp.vaginatum)
fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium)
Labrador tea (Ledum groenlandicum)
moss, peat(Sphagnum spp.)
peavine, creamy (Lathyrus ochroleucus)
soopolallie (Shepherdia canadensis)
spruce, black (Picea mariana)
spruce, white (Picea glauca)
strawberry, wild (Fragaria virginiana)
vetch, American (Vicia americana)
Fauna
Deer (Odocoileus sp.)
Northern Harrier, (aka Marsh Hawk) (Circus cyaneus)
Red-tailed Hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis)