PAD vegetation change - Wood Buffalo National Park

The Peace Athabasca Delta (PAD) is a dynamic deltaic ecosystem that is driven by natural, periodic floods. Vegetation communities naturally vary with floods and droughts, but changes in the long term can be detected. Specific concerns include: a shift away from aquatic communities, encroachment of shrubby species, and spread of invasive species. The Wood Buffalo National Park (WBNP) PAD Vegetation Invasive Species dataset documents the occurrence and cover of invasive plant species in permanent plots in the Peace Athabasca Delta. In 1993, thirty six vegetation transects were established. Survey frequency was every five years; exceptions were: a) after a flood, and b) in 2014-2016 the survey was split across three years. Percent cover of each plant is estimated and identifications are made to the species level, where possible. Non-native invasive species grouped in the dataset were Taraxacum officinale (common dandelion), Cirsus arvense (Canada thistle), Sonchus species (sowthistles).