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The population of loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus excubutirudes) in Grassland National Park of Canada (GNPC) has undergone a severe decline due to habitat loss and limitation. Shrike habitat availability is highly impacted by the biophysical characteristics of grassland landscapes. This study was conducted in the west block of GNPC. The overall purpose was to extract important biophysical and topographical variables from both SPOT satellite imagery and in situ measurements. Statistical analysis including Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), measuring Coefficient Variation (CV), and regression analysis were applied to these variables obtained from both imagery and in situ measurement. Vegetation spatial variation and heterogeneity among active, inactive and control nesting sites at 20 m × 20 m, 60 m × 60 m and 100 m × 100 m scales were investigated. Results indicated that shrikes prefer to nest in open areas with scattered shrubs, particularly thick or thorny species of smaller size, to discourage mammalian predators. The most important topographical characteristic is that active sites are located far away from roads at higher elevation. Vegetation index was identified as a good indicator of vegetation characteristics for shrike habitats due to its significant relation to most relevant biophysical factors. Spatial variation analysis showed that at all spatial scales, active sites have the lowest vegetation abundance and the highest heterogeneity among the three types of nesting sites. For all shrike habitat types, vegetation abundance decreases with increasing spatial scales while habitat heterogeneity increases with increasing spatial scales. This research also indicated that suitable shrike habitat for GNPC can be mapped using a logistical model with ATSAVI and dead material in shrub canopy as the independent variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of Mirex, Dechlorane (Dec) Plus (DP), Dec 602, Dec 603, and Dec 604 were significantly higher in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs from Canada than Spain, with the former having the only measurable concentrations of the dechlorinated DP products, decacliloropentacydooctadecadiene (aCl10DP) and undecachloropentacyclooctadecadiene (aCI11DP). Large variations also occurred in the in ovo concentrations of the DP monoadduct, DPMA. This is the first study to report die accumulation and metabolism of DP by peregrines, both DP and dechloranes in European biota, as well as dechloranes in a terrestrial organism and one at the top of the food web. The geographical differences in the measured in ovo concentrations reflect local exposure of the adult peregrines on their breeding ground, likely differences in diet of the adults, the production of DP on the Niagara River, and the greater use of Mirex and dechloranes as flame retardants in North America than Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]