Biogeoscience Institute
University of Calgary
BGS Institute :: Location & Natural History
BARRIER LAKE STATION
Location: Kananaskis Valley in the Front ranges of the Rocky Mountains
(51° 02'N, 115° 03'W)
Elevation: 1390 m (located at the base of Mount Baldy, 2192 m)
Ecoregion: Located in lower Subalpine forest with convenient access to Montane, Alpine, Grasslands and Aspen Parkland forest
Forest composition: Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta), White Spruce (Picea glauca),Aspen Poplar (Populus tremuloides), Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera), and Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menzeisei)
Climate: transitional between Cordilleran and Continental, with warmer winter temperatures due to frequent chinook activity (snow and freezing temperatures can occur every month of the year)
Wildlife: Black Bears (Ursus americanus), Grizzly Bears (Ursus horribilis), Moose (Alces), Elk (Cervus canadensis), Cougars (Felis concolor) and Wolves (Canis lupus)
R.B. MILLER STATION
Location: 30 kilometres west of Turner Valley in the Sheep River Valley (50° 39'N, 114° 39'W)
Elevation: 1500 m
Ecoregion: located in Aspen Parkland-Subalpine transition with a small area of Montane forest nearby.
Communities: a variety of communities are closeby, including grasslands on steep south-facing slopes
Climate: transitional between Cordilleran and Continental, with warmer winter temperatures due to frequent chinook activity (snow and freezing temperatures can occur every month of the year)
Wildlife: small mammals such as Columbian Ground Squirrels (Citellus columbianus), Rock Rabbits (Ochotona princeps), Pocket Gophers (Thomomys talpoides); birds such as Blue Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus), Golden Eagles (Aquila chrysaetos); and large mammals such as the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis)
