Regional Research

TLB's Current Research

These are current research efforts. Related publications will be featured on our posts and linked below in our "library" once complete.

Lake and Fisheries Health

Since 2015, The Land Between has integrated and standardized datasets for thousands of lakes across the bioregion, beginning with priority Lake Trout lakes. The database called the Blue Lakes warehouse, now includes over 30,000 lakes, with ~2,652 lakes containing 20 years of data, sufficient to model lake health, identify trends, and analyze shoreline and watershed development in relation to fisheries and water quality.

Bird Monitoring and Habitat Research

The Land Between conducts bird monitoring and habitat research to better understand the conditions that support bird populations across the region. Our work combines several complementary approaches.

We are installing Motus wildlife tracking towers, which are part of an international network used to track the movements of migratory birds fitted with small radio transmitters. These stations help reveal migration routes, stopover habitats, and seasonal movement patterns.

We also conduct presence–absence surveys and acoustic monitoring, using both field observations and automated recording units to document which bird species are present across different habitats and times of year.

To better understand the habitat conditions associated with bird populations, we assess vegetation structure using Ecological Land Classification (ELC) methods. These surveys help characterize forest composition, canopy structure, and understory conditions that influence bird habitat use.

In addition, we have studied Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies) abundance relative to human footprints to ascertain thresholds of food availability for aerial insectivores, particularly the Eastern Whip-poor-will, a species of conservation concern in Ontario. We are now calling on community scientists to support moth diversity research through our Moth Monitors program.

By examining insect abundance and diversity alongside bird observations, this work aims to better understand the relationship between habitat, prey availability, and bird population health.

Together, these approaches help build a clearer picture of bird habitat requirements and inform conservation efforts across The Land Between region.

Turtle Population Ecology and Conservation Science

Turtle Guardians conducts long-term research to better understand turtle populations, habitat requirements, and the impacts of human infrastructure across The Land Between region. Our work combines field monitoring, ecological research, and conservation engineering to inform practical solutions that support turtle recovery.

Road Ecology and Population Monitoring
Since 2017, Turtle Guardians has maintained one of the longest-running turtle road ecology datasets in Canada. Staff and trained volunteers patrol dedicated routes each year, collecting standardized data on species, mortality, body condition, and crossing behaviour. These data are used to examine population trends across landscapes and road classes, assess biomass and age-class structure, and identify mortality and nesting hotspots.

Individual Identification and Movement
Individual turtles are tracked using photographic identification and temporary marking techniques. Unique markings on the plastron of Blanding’s turtles and the bridge region of Midland Painted turtles allow individuals to be recognized across seasons, helping researchers understand movement patterns, site fidelity, and population dynamics.

Nest Monitoring and Hatchling Recruitment
Volunteers and staff are trained to recognize nesting behaviour and respond to reports of turtles nesting in vulnerable locations. Nests found along primary roads or construction zones may be carefully excavated and incubated ex situ to protect them from immediate threats. Turtle Guardians operates one of the largest turtle incubation programs in Ontario, helping offset extremely high nest predation rates and road mortality in human-settled landscapes.

Eggshell Integrity Research
Beginning in 2021–2022, Turtle Guardians documented cases where turtle eggs rapidly collapsed after excavation in some locations but not others. This observation has led to ongoing research into eggshell strength, calcium availability, environmental conditions, and maternal health. The work is being pursued with scientific partners, including researchers at the University of Manitoba.

Overwintering Habitat Research
Research is also underway to identify and map overwintering habitats in Ontario’s Highlands and to examine how environmental conditions such as water levels influence winter survival. This work aims to quantify thresholds of critical overwintering habitat and inform wetland conservation and water level management.

Ecopassage Design and Mitigation Testing
Turtle Guardians is also developing and field-testing an ecopassage jump-out fencing system designed to guide turtles toward wildlife crossings while allowing animals to exit roadway corridors. The prototype uses durable materials, is quick to install, and is easy to maintain and repair. The system has been tested in the field for over five years and is currently undergoing engineering review.

Together, these initiatives help improve understanding of turtle populations and inform conservation planning, habitat protection, and practical solutions to reduce turtle road mortality.

See our research details and results here

Beaver, Canids, and Human Footprints

The Land Between is conducting research to better understand relationships between beaver populations, canids (including wolves and coyotes), and human landscape change across the region. These species play important roles in shaping ecosystem processes and habitat conditions.

Beavers are well known as ecosystem engineers, creating wetlands that influence water levels, nutrient cycling, and habitat availability for many species. At the same time, wolves and other canids are key predators that help regulate wildlife populations and influence ecosystem balance.

This research combines community observations, discussions with harvesters and land users, and landscape analysis to examine how beaver abundance, predator presence, and human footprint interact across the region. Particular attention is being given to how changes in wetland availability, forest structure, road density, and human settlement patterns may affect these relationships.

By improving understanding of these dynamics, this work aims to support more informed stewardship of wetlands, forests, and wildlife populations across The Land Between landscape.

American Eel

The Land Between is conducting research to better understand the historic presence and abundance of American Eel (Anguilla rostrata) within the region’s river and watershed systems. Once widespread across eastern North America, American Eel populations have declined significantly, and understanding their historical distribution is important for informing recovery efforts.

This work involves compiling historical records, archival observations, and watershed data to document where American Eel were historically present across river systems connected to The Land Between region.

In addition, the research is exploring historic biomass estimates using river and watershed modeling, examining how river size, connectivity, and habitat characteristics may have supported eel populations in the past. By reconstructing potential historical abundance, this work helps place current eel observations into a longer-term ecological context.

Wetland Hydrological Function

The Land Between is conducting research t

The Land Between is conducting research to better understand how wetlands influence watershed hydrology across the region. Wetlands play a critical role in regulating water movement through landscapes, helping store water during periods of high flow and slowly release it during drier periods.

This work involves modelling watershed hydrographs to examine how the abundance, size, and position of wetlands within a watershed influence the timing and magnitude of water flows. By comparing watersheds with different wetland configurations, the research aims to better understand how wetlands contribute to flood moderation, groundwater recharge, and drought resilience.

Understanding the relationship between wetland distribution and watershed hydrographs can help inform wetland conservation, watershed planning, and climate adaptation strategies, particularly in landscapes where wetland loss or alteration may change how water moves through the system.

Current Partner Research

We work with Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC) to do research on grassland birds and loggerhead shrike.
WPC also works to increase populations of yellow banded bumble bee in The Land Between.
Scales Nature Park is researching the habitat and range of Massassauga Rattlesnakes, with support from TLB
We work with Blazing Star Inc. to support their research in eastern musk turtle habitat requirements
We work with UIT to understand the prevalence of algal blooms in the region

Research and Project Reports

The Land Between supports and works with many organizations, institutions, and individuals for research and conservation. Some files are sensitive and/or accessed through data sharing agreements. Visit our data sharing page for more information.

Browse by category below to view different research results presented by The Land Between!

REGIONAL GEOGRAPHY AND NATURAL HERITAGE

The Land Between as an ecotone. Peter Alley, Ben Porchuck, with Leora Berman 2006
What Do You Mean, The Land Between Leora Berman
TLB Start Up A Phase 1 Report Overview of elements, challenges and opportunities. Leora Berman 2007
The Land Between Boundary 2007_Dr. MJ Fortin and Allan Brand
TLB Boundary Detection_FortinReport_December2008 , Dr. Marie-Josee Fortin and Allan Brand, University of Toronto, 2008
TLB Boundary Callibration with Habitat and Breeding Bird Occurrences_ Dr. MJ. Fortin- Presentation
The Land Between Handout on Boundary Detection_Alan Brand
Natural Heritage Information Centre Inventory of Ecosites and communities; species at risk 2007
Analysis_Haliburton Soils_brief. Full report and data available to sharing agreement holders.
Haliburton Highlands Natural Heritage Mapping Haliburton Highlands Land Trust 2008
Final - The Land Between - Alvars, Derek Matheson, Trent University, 2007
Ecotone_delineation- Fortin et al.
From_field_to_objects: A review of boundary detection. Fortin et al
The Status of Science Examining Ecotones_Risser 1995
The Benefits of Micro-climates in The Land Between, by Basil Conlin, 2018
Natural Heritage Information Centre_The_Land_Between_interim_report_Mar10_08- Ecosites and communities; species at risk

PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT

Development Trends and Threats_ summary-report- Exurban Development Threats in The Land Between_summary report, Dr. Tenley Conway and Namarata Shriesthra, University of Toronto, 2009.
Residential Development ThreatsPresentation_Shriesthra and Conway. 2007
Natural Heritage Policy_Comparative Study_Katie AllenComparative Survey and Study of Natural Heritage Official Plan Protections in The Land Between, Katie Allen, 2007
Soil and Water Protection Planning Review_The Land Between_Allen and Benishek - Comparative Study of Shoreline and Shallow Soil-Water Quality Protection in The Land Between, Katie Allen and Nicole Benishek- April 2008
Shoreline Development - -Developed and Natural Shorelines in The Land Between, Paul Heaven, Glenside Ecological Consultants, 2007
Mainmap Shoreline Development, Capacity and Lake Trout HabitatCallibration and Review 2013. Horacheck, Roorda, and Rempel. Summary.
BlueLakesReport2019-FINAL, Research into the Need and Potential Efficacy of the Blue Lakes Ecolabel Program. Danielle Lachance
Biodiversity Planning and Protection in The Land Between. Samantha Dunlop for Trent University CBR. 2021TLB CBR report - Samantha Dunlop

HERITAGE

Preliminary Thoughts and Images on How Landscape Has Shaped Early History of The Land Between. William Allen.
Importance of Archaeology re Species at Risk American Eel. Draft 3 2007 10 21 _American Eel_Allen 2008
Historic Trent Canal. map attached
Forest Distribution in the Trent River Watershed_1913_Peterborough, Haliburton, Hastings Trent_FOREST_1913
Historic Place Names of Peterborough and Kawarthas in TLB Origins in North Peterborough and Kawarthas of The Land Between_Leitch, Premkumar and Watt, 2008
Strata _Archaeology in TLB_ Winter 2014 Vol 4 No 4 The Land Between_Conference_Articles_ Archaeological Society of Ontario
Farmsteads_a Heritage_Thomas McIlwraith _Thomas McIlwraith, University of Toronto, 2010
North Limestone Island_William AllenGeorgian Bay_Archaeology and History_William Allen, 2007
Mississauga Traditional Ecological Cultural Knowledge (contact Curve Lake First Nation Cultural Centre, and if affecting Traditional Rights and Title or the Commons, this is accessed through the Duty to Consult process)
Ghost Towns in TLB (database and map by request- or see Land Stories)

SOCIO-ECONOMIC

Luka-Multiple Residency _Placing the Edges of Cottage Country PhD-summary
Economic structural breakdown by class of Haliburton County (2014)
Modernity,_Metaphor_and_Maples_The_Landscape_Created_by_the_Wood_Chemical_Plant_in_Donald_1992_Trent University, Canadian Studies, 1992
Around the Circle in 365 days . GovernanceStructures for Social Sector Enterprises. Leora Berman.
Ontario_Cultural_and_Heritage_Tourism Product Report_Brain Trust and Lord Cultural_2009

ARTICLES

A Journey of Traditional Knowledge_Curve Lake FN_Coppaway and edited by Berman for Curve Lake First Nation 2007
Conservation Needs Collective Knowledge. The Value of Citizen Science. By Emma Halupka, Conservation Technician
Night Lighting Effects on Birds, Bees, and Don't Forget About the Trees. By Siena Smith. Siena Smith, Conservation Technician 2020
HIPPO- The Greatest Threat to Biodiversity. Siena Smith, Conservation Technician. 2020
TLB water quality sensitivity. Summary paper. Leora Berman. 2008.
Dark Skies for Health_Leora Berman_Can They Affect Health_Leora Berman 2008
Outdoor Lighting Effects_Dr. Robert Dick, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada_2010
Guidelines for Outdoor Lighting, Dr. Robert Dick, Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, 2016
Where have all the stars gone, the costs and impact on human health of artificial light at night. Daniel Grenon. 2020
The Devastating Impacts of Fireworks on the Environment, by MaryJane Proulx, 2019
Chemical Sprays and The Land Between, by MaryJane Proulx, 2019
The effects of Fireworks on Lake Health and Wildlife. Fireworks article. The Land Between newsletter. fall 2016Boyce 2016
Wrapped in Plastic Daniel Grenon 2020

REPTILES

(for all turtle research see the Turtle Guardians Science and Research page)

1. Skink Tales_Briar Howes_The Five Lined Skink_Dr. Briar Howes, Parks Canada 2010
2. Aging Turtles_Doug Armstrong_How Old is That Turtle_Dr. Doug Armstrong, Massey University_2010
3. Turtle UnderpassDesign Best Practices for The Land Between_Heaven with Berman_Haliburton Land Trust 2013
4. Blanding's TurtlePopulation and Distribution in The Land Between
5. Best Management Practices for Mitigating Threats to Turtle Nests During Road Maintenance - Leora Berman, edits by Kari Gunson
6. The Five Lined Skink and The Land Between, Basil Conlin