Katherine L. Parker University of Northern British Columbia

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Muskwa-Kechika Management Area

The Muskwa-Kechika Management Area covers 6.4 million hectares in northeastern British Columbia, Canada. Its goal is to maintain in perpetuity the wilderness quality, and the diversity and abundance of wildlife and the ecosystems on which they depend. The Muskwa-Kechika includes areas protected as parks, as well as management zones where resource development and use such as recreation, hunting, trapping, timber harvesting, mining, and oil and gas activities are allowed. It is intended to set a world-class standard that balances environmental values with human activities for resource extraction and recreation on the landscape. Because of its diversity of ecosystems and the lack of significant motorized access and industrial development, the Muskwa-Kechika currently supports one of the largest intact predator-prey systems in North America.

Muskwa-Kechika Management Area in northeastern British Columbia.

The Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board, with representatives from a variety of different interests for the land base, provides advice to the provincial government on the management of the Muskwa-Kechika. The Advisory Board maintains a research linkage with the University of Northern British Columbia. Dr. Katherine Parker held the Ian McTaggart Cowan Muskwa-Kechika Research Professorship at UNBC until September 2019.  Dr. Heather Bryan is now the MK Research Professor.

For additional information on the MK, see www.muskwa-kechika.com

UNBC Reports related to the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area

• Parker K. L. and J. B. Ayotte. 2004. Ecological importance of mineral licks in the Tuchodi watershed, north-central British Columbia. Final Report to Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board and Trust Fund, 44 pp.

• Parker K. L. and M. P. Gillingham. 2007. Habitat use and selection by moose and elk in the Besa-Prophet. Part 4 of Project "An Ecosystem Approach to Habitat Capability Modeling and Cumulative Effects Management". Final Report to Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board, 53 pp.

• Parker K. L. and D. D. Gustine. 2007. Winter habitat selection and calving strategies of woodland caribou in the Besa-Prophet. Part 1 of Project "An Ecosystem Approach to Habitat Capability Modelling and Cumulative Effects Management". Final Report to Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board, 52 pp.

• Parker K. L. and B. Milakovic. 2007. Defining the predator landscape in the Besa-Prophet. Part 3 of Project "An Ecosystem Approach to Habitat Capability Modelling and Cumulative Effects Management". Final Report to Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board, 66 pp.

• Parker K. L. and A. B. D. Walker. 2007. Habitat selection and behavioural strategies of Stone's sheep in the Besa-Prophet. Part 2 of Project "An Ecosystem Approach to Habitat Capability Modelling and Cumulative Effects Management". Final Report to Muskwa-Kechika Advisory Board, 48 pp.

• Parker, K.L. and K. Sittler. 2013. Response of elk and stone’s sheep to prescribed fire in northeast BC. Final report to Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation, 47 pp.

UNBC Theses conducted in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area

• Anderson, L. 2018. Mapping wilderness character in the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area. Master of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 177 pp.

• Ayotte, J. B. 2004. Ecological importance of licks to four ungulate species in north-central British Columbia. MSc. Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (Biology), University of Northern British Columbia, 120 pp.

• Elliot, N.J. 2008. Including Aboriginal values in resource management through enhanced geospatial communication. PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 282 pp.

• Gustine, D. D. 2005. Plasticity in selection strategies of woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) during winter and calving. MSc. Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (Biology), University of Northern British Columbia, 197 pp.

• Lay, R. J. 2005. Use of Landsat TM and ETM+ to describe intra-season change in vegetation, with consideration for wildlife management. Master of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 202 pp.

• Linde, R. S. 2021. The role of awareness and engagement in safeguarding the Muskwa-Kechika management area. Master of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 197 pp.

• Milakovic, B. 2008. Defining the predator landscape of northeastern British Columbia. PhD in Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Northern British Columbia, 251 pp.

• Sittler, K. L. 2013. Influence of prescribed fire on Stone's sheep and Rocky Mountain elk: forage characteristics and resource separation. MSc. Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (Biology), University of Northern British Columbia, 182 pp.

• Steinsson, O. 2019. Wilderness perceptions of visitors to the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area, British Columbia. MA. Natural Resources and Environmental Studies. University of Northern British Columbia. 155 pp.

• Walker, A. B. D. 2005. Habitat selection and behavioural strategies of Stone's sheep in northern British Columbia. MSc. Natural Resources and Environmental Studies (Biology), University of Northern British Columbia, 204 pp.

Published Articles related to the Muskwa-Kechika Management Area

• Ayotte, J.B., K.L. Parker, J.M. Arocena, and M.P. Gillingham. 2006. Chemical composition of lick soils: functions of soil ingestion by four ungulate species. Journal of Mammalogy 87:878-888.

• Ayotte, J.B., K.L. Parker, and M.P. Gillingham. 2008. Use of natural licks by four ungulate species in north-central British Columbia. Journal of Mammalogy 89:1041-1050.

• Gillingham, M.P., and K.L. Parker. 2008. Differential habitat selection by moose and elk in the Besa-Prophet Area of northern British Columbia. Alces 44:41-63.

• Gillingham, M.P., and K.L. Parker. 2008. The importance of individual variation in defining habitat selection by moose in northern British Columbia. Alces 44:7-20.

• Gustine, D.D., and K.L. Parker. 2008. Variation in seasonal selection of resources by woodland caribou in northern British Columbia, Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology 86:812-825.

• Gustine, D.D., K.L. Parker, R.J. Lay, M.P. Gillingham, and D.C. Heard. 2006. Calf survival of woodland caribou in a multi-predator ecosystem. Wildlife Monographs 165:1-32.

• Gustine, D.D., K.L. Parker, R.J. Lay, M.P. Gillingham, and D.C. Heard. 2006. Interpreting resource selection at different scales for woodland caribou in winter. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:1601-1614.

• Gustine, D.D., K.L. Parker, and D.C. Heard. 2007. Using ultrasound measurements of rump fat to assess nutritional condition of woodland caribou in northern British Columbia, Canada. Rangifer 17:249-256.

• Milakovic, B., and K.L. Parker. 2011. Using stable isotopes to define diets of wolves in northern British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Mammalogy 92:295-304.

• Milakovic, B., K.L. Parker, D.D. Gustine, R.J. Lay, A.B.D. Walker, and M.P. Gillingham. 2011. Habitat selection by a focal predator (Canis lupus) in a multi-prey ecosystem of the northern Rockies. Journal of Mammalogy 92:568-582.

• Milakovic, B., K.L. Parker, D.D. Gustine, R.J. Lay, A.B.D. Walker, and M.P. Gillingham. 2012. Seasonal habitat use and selection by grizzly bears in northern British Columbia. Journal of Wildlife Management 76:170-180.

• Milakovic, B., and K.L. Parker. 2013. Quantifying carnivory by grizzly bears in a multi-ungulate system. Journal of Wildlife Management 77: 39-47.

• Sittler, K.L., K.L. Parker , M.P. Gillingham, R.D. Wheate, and D.C. Heard. 2014. Burning for northern mountain ungulates: effects of prescribed fire. NRESi Research Extension Note Number 9, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC., 18 pp.

• Sittler, K.L., K.L. Parker, and M.P. Gillingham. 2015. Resource separation by mountain ungulates on a landscape modified by fire. 2015. Journal of Wildlife Management 79:591-604. (https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.869)

• Sittler, K.L., K.L. Parker, and M.P. Gillingham. 2019. Vegetation and prescribed fire: implications for Stone’s sheep and elk. Journal of Wildlife Management 83:393–409. (https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.21591)

• Suzuki, N., and K.L. Parker. 2016. Potential conflict between future development of natural resources and high-value wildlife habitats in boreal landscapes. Biodiversity and Conservation 25:3043-3073. (https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-016-1219-2)

• Suzuki, N., and K.L. Parker. 2019. Proactive conservation of high-value habitat for woodland caribou and grizzly bears in the boreal zone of British Columbia, Canada. Biological Conservation 230:91-103. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2018.12.013)

• Walker, A.B.D. and K.L. Parker. 2006. Fecal glucocorticoid concentrations of free-ranging Stone's sheep. Biennial Symposium of the Northern Wild Sheep and Goat Council 15:131-140.

• Walker, A.B.D., K.L. Parker, and M.P. Gillingham. 2006. Behaviour, habitat associations and intrasexual differences of female Stone's sheep. Canadian Journal of Zoology 84:1187-1201.

• Walker, A.B.D., K.L. Parker, M.P. Gillingham, D.D. Gustine, and R.J. Lay. 2007. Habitat selection and movements of Stone's sheep in relation to vegetation, topography and risk of predation. Ecoscience 14:55-70.

 

 

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