Dominion beach has been dramatically reshaped by recent storms, including post-tropical storm Fiona, which altered dunes, destroyed the boardwalk and transformed critical wildlife habitat. ContributedArticle contentCape Breton University students and faculty are blitzing a local beach to document biodiversity and track climate change impacts on one of Cape Breton’s most vulnerable coastal ecosystems.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentArticle contentThe Dominion Beach BioBlitz will bring together upper-level courses in biology and environmental studies, including the bachelor of arts and science in environment field course. Working side-by-side, students and faculty are surveying birds, insects, marine invertebrates, vegetation and coastal sediment, with some species observations uploaded to a public online iNaturalist project that community members are also invited to contribute to.Article contentArticle content This summer, piping plovers nested on Dominion beach for the first time in years, underscoring both the ecological challenges and conservation opportunities facing the site. CONTRIBUTEDArticle content“This project is about more than just counting species,” says Kellie White, co-director of the bachelor of arts and science in environment program at CBU. “It’s a collaborative effort that gives students the chance to do real science while helping our community understand how climate change is reshaping Cape Breton’s coastline.”Article contentDominion beach has been dramatically reshaped by recent storms, including post-tropical storm Fiona, which altered dunes, destroyed the boardwalk and transformed critical wildlife habitat. This summer, piping plovers nested on the beach for the first time in years, underscoring both the ecological challenges and conservation opportunities facing the site.Article contentThe initiative is supported by partners including the Beaton Institute, which is providing historical context on Dominion beach, and CBU’s chemistry faculty, who are analyzing sediment samples to assess potential impacts from coal contamination on the shoreline.Article contentThe BioBlitz will run through the fall, with students sharing results at CBU in December, presenting findings to the community at public events, and showcasing their work at the Science Atlantic Environment Conference at Acadia University in 2026.Article contentResearchers also plan to publish results in a special issue of the Proceedings of the Nova Scotia Institute of Science to share the work with the wider scientific community.Article content
Cape Breton University launches beach bioblitz
