Biological/Ecological Consulting

Professional Services

Paul Heydon Biological Consulting can provide leadership and professional expertise in: floral and faunal surveys, Species at Risk Act (SARA), recovery strategies for SARA, the protection and recovery of federally and provincially rare species, ecosystem land classification (ELC), forest ecosystem classification (FEC), environmental assessment, soil classifications, wetland evaluations, stream assessments/profiles, presentations, interpretive trail design, forestry and woodlot management. Knowledgeable of theories, principles and practices of biology, applied ecology, landscape management and statistical design as it relates to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Our staff has excellent knowledge of computer systems, software applications, statistics and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications. Our staff is capable of reading maps and doing site investigations/inspections.

Paul Heydon Biological Consulting Services include, but are not limited to:

Floral and faunal surveys
Our staff has excellent flora and fauna identification skills.

Species at Risk Act (SARA)
SARA became law in June 2003 and this act prohibits killing, harming, harassing, capturing or taking species at risk, and against destroying their critical habitats. SARA which is governed by three government bodies, Environment Canada, Parks Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada was created to protect wildlife species from becoming extinct. We are well versed in SARA, COSEWIC and other relevant information that pertains to endangered species. We can plan, develop, advise and coordinate the implementation of the species at risk program in accordance with the Species at Risk Act and other relevant legislation and policy. Paul Heydon Biological Consulting has written reports and performed field research on the ecology/biology of the Engelmann's Quillwort Recovery Team for the last four years. Capable of performing public outreach to landowners and other interested persons on SARA through brochures, questionnaires, open houses, mailing, and home visits. A brochure and questionnaire on the intrinsic and evolutionary importance of the Engelmann's quillwort was handed out to interested people that were encountered during the ecological and biological investigation of this species at risk. An up to date list of landowners was compiled from the land registry of homeowners that lived near the sites that contained Engelmann's quillwort. A cover letter, brochure and questionnaire was mailed to homeowners.

Reports we have written include:

Heydon, P.A. and Pidgen, K.L. 2004. Engelmann's quillwort (Isoetes engelmannii) ecological study in the Trent-Severn Waterway Big Chute and the Gull River West Guillford, Ontario. [Unpublished report], Parks Canada.

Heydon, P.A. 2005. Cytokinin systems in three species of quillwort in the Trent-Severn Waterway Big Chute and the Gull River West Guilford Haliburton County [Unpublished report], Parks Canada.

Balch, G and Heydon, P. A. 2005. Species At Risk Inventory for Wetland Properties Along The Trent-Severn Waterway. Unpublished report], Parks Canada.

Heydon, P.A. 2006. Environmental variables that affect the distribution of the Engelmann's (Isoetes engelmannii) and Eaton's quillwort (Isoetes xeatonii) in the Trent-Severn Big Chute of Muskoka and Simcoe counties and the Gull River West Guilford Haliburton County areas. [Unpublished report], Parks Canada.

Heydon, P.A. 2006. Testing the effects of varying phosphorus levels on Eaton's quillwort. [Unpublished report], Parks Canada.

Heydon, P.A. 2006. Refining critical habitat for Engelmann's quillwort - literature review. [Unpublished report], Parks Canada.

Heydon, P.A. 2007. Environmental variables that affect the distribution of the Engelmann's quillwort (Isoetes engelmannii) in the Trent-Severn Big Chute of Muskoka and Simcoe Counties and the Gull River West Guilford Haliburton County areas. Part 2. [Unpublished report], Parks Canada.

Heydon, P.A. 2008. Engelmann's Quillwort (Isoetes engelmannii) Critical Habitat Upland Extension Study. [Unpublished report], Parks Canada.

Recovery strategies for SARA
*Describe the ecology/biology of the endangered species and its needs
*Identify threats to its survival and classify the species' critical habitat, where possible
*Provide examples of activities that are likely to result in destruction of the critical habitat and set goals, objectives and approaches for species recovery and identify information gaps that should be addressed
*Writing action plans

Ecosystem land classification (ELC)
*Received two MNR ELC training courses
*Can perform all aspects of ELC surveying including vegetation identification and description, soil analysis, air photo interpretation, and GPS and GIS mapping
*Paul Heydon has two years experience as leader of an ELC crew for Parks Canada.
*Joe Pearson has two years experience as an ecological researcher for an ELC crew with Parks Canada.
*ELC sampling was completed in all wetland and forested areas within 5km of the Trent-Severn Waterway, from Lake Ontario, throughout Central Ontario, to Georgian Bay.
*Forest ecosystem classification (FEC)
*Able to classify forested areas according to the Forest Ecosystem Classification of Ontario
*GPS and GIS mapping of forest habitats

Environmental assessment
*Able to perform environmental assessments
*Able to prescribe site remediation plans and ecological restoration plans for degraded areas

Soil classification
*Ability to classify soil texture and moisture regime using soil cores and test pits according to the field manual for describing soils in Ontario
*Use ELC soil sampling procedures

Wetland evaluation
*Familiar with a wide variety of wetland flora and fauna over many geographic regions
*Experience using aerial photography and ground observations to delineate wetland extent and wetland zone boundaries
*Experienced with GPS and GIS mapping of wetlands
*Perform ELC sampling of wetlands
*Perform Southern Ontario Wetland Evaluation System studies

Stream assessments/profiles
*Able to sample streams according to the Southern Ontario Stream Assessment Protocol (OSAP) and the Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network protocols (OBBN)
*Ability to identify stream vegetation, fish and invertebrates
*Stream mapping using GPS and GIS
*Water quality analysis

Forestry and woodlot management
*Managed Forest Tax Incentive Plan (MFTIP)
*Forest stand description including under story vegetation
*Forest mensuration
*Forest tending

Interpretive trail design
*Designing trails through ground-truthing and air photos
*Design signs that outline interesting, ecological/biological and geographical information

Presentations
*Able to perform presentations on biological and ecological issues on request

Employees

Paul Heydon, Hon. B.Sc. Biology (Trent University), Forestry Technician Diploma (Sir Sandford Fleming College)
*Has been working in this field for the last eight years doing floral and faunal surveys, species at risk research, ecological restoration and ELC surveying for organizations such as Friends of the Rouge Watershed, Trent University, Parks Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Download resume here

Joe Pearson, Hon. B.Sc. Biology (Trent University), Fish and Wildlife Technology diploma (Sir Sandford Fleming College)
*Has been working in the field for the last two years conducting floral and faunal surveys, species at risk research, ecological restoration and ELC surveying for organizations such as Parks Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources.

Download resume here

Amanda Billard, Hon. B.Sc. Biology (Queen's University)

We are strong advocates of natural biodiversity and environmental causes