How to access a publication

To access a publication, click the link in the catalogue of publications. If you have a question related to our scientific and technical publications or a link is broken, contact us by email with the title of the publication. For journal articles, contact the journal publisher directly.

Spotlight on new publications

Aquatics

Title: No lasting effects of wildfires on boreal lake ecosystems: Evidence from a natural BACI experiment

Summary: A Northwestern Ontario study revealed that wildfires did not cause long-term changes in boreal lake ecosystems, despite some short-term changes. The findings suggest that boreal lakes are generally resilient and tend to recover to pre-fire conditions over time.

Authors: Guest, C., D.T. de Kerckhove, G.D. Raby and A. Murdoch

Series/Journal: Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Science and Research Branch, Peterborough, ON. Science and Research Program Update.

Forests/lands

Title: Evidence of increased mercury methylation in boreal soils following vehicular disturbance by forest harvesting

Summary: Water pooled in soil depressions (wheel tracks) of forest harvesting equipment had up to four times more methylmercury and more mercury-methylating microbes than surrounding areas. Given that toxic methylmercury bioaccumulates in aquatic organisms and biomagnifies as you move up the food web, these results highlight the need to minimize soil disturbance in wet organic soils.

Authors: Syed, M.A., S.J. Melles, E.E. Smenderovac, H. Huang, E.J.S. Emilson, R.W. Mackereth and C.P.J. Mitchell

Series/Journal: Forest Ecology and Management

Natural heritage

Title: Rediscovery of the arctic-alpine disjunct, Saxifraga cernua L. in Ontario

Summary: Saxifraga cernua is a short-lived arctic-alpine plant. Despite some searching, the only Ontario record of this ~8000 year-old species was near the Hudson Bay coast in 1953. In 2025, two plants were found on a mossy ledge in Thunder Bay District — about 1000 km south of its normal range.

Authors: Brinker, S.R.

Series/Journal: Ecology and Evolution

Wildlife

Title: Seasonal stoichiometry of terrestrial consumer-resource interactions

Summary: By measuring carbon and nitrogen levels in leaves and moths throughout the summer, researchers found that nitrogen levels decreased in leaves (moth food) but remained stable in moths, indicating they do not suffer from nitrogen limitations. This is good news for insectivorous species, such as the at-risk eastern whip-poor-will, that rely on moths as a food source.

Authors: Feldman, R.E., A. Singh and P.C. Frost

Series/Journal: Ecology

What this catalogue includes

This catalogue is designed for users of natural resources scientific and technical information, such as researchers with universities and other governments, foresters and biologists, and conservation authority staff. It provides a complete list of Ontario’s scientific and technical publications on natural resources and forestry issued since 2004, including:

  • scientific and technical publications commissioned by the ministry
  • journal articles written by ministry staff

How to use this catalogue (and find what’s new)

You can search by title, author, publication series, edition or volume. To request a document or ask for assistance finding a document, contact us by email.