urban wildlife habitats: Winnipeg's Seine RIver

Riverbank Parkway: Patches and Edges

Introduction:

The Riverbank Parkway extends from the south of the Provencher-Seine Bridge to the eastern edge of residential lots in Central Saint Boniface. The walkway is relatively new and was developed with the assistance of all three levels of government.

Patches: Spirn notes that the "habitat patch is frequently the most important factor in cites" for the creation and maintenance of urban wildlife (Spirn 1984, pg 217.)

The western banks of the Seine River maintain several large patches of natural forest, interdispersed amongst small open fields of tall grass. The eastern banks of the river although, has less patches and more open fields. The benefits of large patches on the western banks of the river are many. As Dramstad, Olson and Foreman explain, large patches are "likely (to) have more habitats present and...contain a greater number of species than a small patch" (Dramstad et al, 1996 pg. 21)

A greater number of animals and bird species were present in these large patches. The majority of these natural forests are located along the banks of the river and are known as the "River bed bottom." Foxes, muskrats, beavers and different species of ducks call these patches home.

Since the eastern banks of the river have more open grasslands that sit adjacent to manufacturing plants, the prevalance of "pest species" is more along the eastern banks. Pigeons, sparrows, and rats can create habitats in the short grasses and adjacent to industrial buildings.

Edges: Edges and patches both sustain unique wildlife habitats, and compliment each other. Edges along the Seine's banks have a strong structural diversity of vegation and layers of foliage. These layers include cut grasses, tall grasses, pioneer species of willow, popular and dogwood and mature river bed bottom woods of Elm.

Mice, Robins and Sparrows habitat the first layer. Other species of birds and small rodents such as squirrels habitat the pioneer forests while ducks, foxes, muskrats and beavers habitat in the mature woodland.
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GREEN MAP

Urban WIldelife Habitats
The Riverbank Parkway i s located along the western banks of the Seine River south of Provencher Blvd. Edges along the banks of the Seine River have a complex structural diversity of vegetation. The complex layers of vegetation support a rich diversity of species that are differnt from one section of forest to the other.