. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history. 408 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 115. Figure 2. Ground level view of flarks and strings at Benchmark Creek valley, 10 August 2001. Photo cour- tesy Mark Bradley, Wood Buffalo National Park. ing on Triglochin palustris). Sandhill Cranes {Grus canadensis). Least Sandpipers {Calidris minutilla). Western Sandpipers {Calidris Maori), American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), and a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) observed during the hour-long sample. There were abundant aquatic invertebrates in the flarks. This saline wet- land
. The Canadian field-naturalist. Natural history. 408 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 115. Figure 2. Ground level view of flarks and strings at Benchmark Creek valley, 10 August 2001. Photo cour- tesy Mark Bradley, Wood Buffalo National Park. ing on Triglochin palustris). Sandhill Cranes {Grus canadensis). Least Sandpipers {Calidris minutilla). Western Sandpipers {Calidris Maori), American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), and a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) observed during the hour-long sample. There were abundant aquatic invertebrates in the flarks. This saline wet- land complex appears distinct ecologically from the gypsum-dominated Whooping Crane nesting area. In the latter area, the dominant vegetation types are shrub bog-marsh, mixed marsh, diatom ponds, and shrubby organic terrain; salt marshes are not present (Timoney 1999). Discussion While the study area lies geographically within the Continental High Boreal wetland subregion (National Wetlands Working Group 1988), the biota, saline hydrogeology, and minimal peat accumulation in these patterned salt marshes indicate the type to be allied with wetlands of the Aspen Parkland Conti- nental Prairie subregion. The virtual lack of bryo- phytes and characteristic fen species, the predomi- nance of marsh halophytes, and the prevalence of plants and birds characteristic of the Great Plains (Table 1) indicate these communities are similar to Prairie type intermittent saline lakes, not boreal fens. It is also noteworthy that the Benchmark Creek salt marshes lie adjacent to true Prairie grassland disjunct occurrences on the south-facing uplands along the creek where Stipa, Agropyron, and dryland Carices dominate on Dark Grey and Black Solods (Schwarz 1994; Schwarz and Wein 1997). Soil observations in the two wetlands bear on the question of whether these communities are salt marshes or fen peatlands (Table 2). The minimal peat accumulation and the predominance of a heavily-gleyed clayey Cg ally th
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