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Arthropods of Canadian grasslands: a retrospective of a 40-year project of the Biological Survey of Canada
Abstract
The Biological Survey of Canada initiated a project in 1979 to collect and synthesise information on the native arthropod fauna of the vanishing grassland habitats of Canada. At that time, it was thought that the Canadian arthropod fauna might comprise about 66 000 species. Recent studies suggest that the fauna may exceed 100 000 species, of which >25% may occur in the Prairies Ecozone. Results of this near 40-year project have been published in four volumes of the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands monograph series of the Biological Survey of Canada. Here, the editors of this series review the grasslands project of the Biological Survey of Canada, summarise the contents of the volumes, and discuss current knowledge on the diversity of the grasslands arthropods of Canada. Whereas information on the species richness of some groups in the Prairies Ecozone is largely complete, information on the diversity of many other groups remains sparse. Reviewing the steps between initiation and publication of the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series may aid development of similar projects elsewhere. Identifying knowledge gaps will direct future research efforts. Identifying the diversity of grassland arthropods, their distribution and abundance, and the ecosystem services that they provide will facilitate efforts to conserve the remaining grassland habitats in Canada.
... Therefore, the history of the BSC is also, to some extent, a history of arthropod faunistic studies in Canada. Floate et al. (2017) illustrate this in their retrospective paper on the BSC's long-running "Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands" project. They trace the project from the original choice of grassland ecosystems for study due to rapid habitat loss and lack of faunal information, through a multi-year process of identifying needs and gaps, to its milestone achievement of publishing a four-volume series summarising current knowledge on the geography, climate, ecology, and biodiversity of these fragile ecoregions. ...
The Biological Survey of Canada turns 40: a special issue for a special occasion - Volume 149 Issue 6 - Donna J. Giberson, Héctor A. Cárcamo
... Biodiversity studies conducted in agroecosystems of the Canadian Prairies focus primarily on carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) ( Holliday et al. 2014), although some information on other taxa, such as ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) is available. The Biological Survey of Canada has been instrumental in advancing our knowledge of Prairies Ecozone arthropods ( Floate et al. 2017). One of its volumes is largely devoted to prairie agroecosystems (Floate 2011). ...
The prairie grasslands have been transformed to become the primary source of agricultural production in Canada. Soon after its establishment, the Biological Survey of Canada recognised the urgent need to document the arthropods of the prairie grasslands, especially in the few pristine remnants. Although this initiative has yielded considerable progress in documenting the species present in the Prairies Ecozone, comprehensive ecological studies are sparse. Landscape effects on arthropods are well studied elsewhere, but no equivalent studies have been published for the Canadian Prairies. Crop rotation varies landscape composition annually, changes host plant resources in fields, and interacts with other agricultural inputs to disturb pest and beneficial arthropods. Despite only a handful of studies on grazing, there is an emerging pattern: moderate grazing increases arthropod diversity and benefits certain arthropod guilds. Abiotic inputs elicit variable responses from different arthropod taxa; Carabidae (Coleoptera) are best studied, with some information available for ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and aquatic arthropods. Biotic inputs include arthropods released for biocontrol of weed and insect pests; evidence indicates that biocontrol agents of insects have a greater potential for impact on native communities of arthropods. The studies reviewed here reveal important trends and research gaps to be addressed in the future.
Cutworms and armyworms (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are a pest complex in North America that cause sporadic damage in field crops on the Canadian Prairies; however, no methods have been developed to reliably monitor population densities. Food-based semiochemicals attract both sexes of adult moths and could be used to monitor multiple species with a single lure in a single trap. Here, we focus on enhancing the attractiveness of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol (AAMB) lures to redbacked cutworm (Euxoa ochrogaster) (RBC) and other noctuid pests. Experiments conducted in canola and wheat fields tested AAMB lures at different release rates, from different devices and in combination with other semiochemicals. High-release lures captured more females in canola, while low-release lures captured more males in wheat. Thus, crop volatiles may influence response to lures. Semiochemicals embedded in an inert matrix caught more RBC moths than semiochemicals released from Nalgene or polyethylene dispensers did. More RBC females were attracted to AAMB lures with 2-methyl-1-propanol than phenylacetaldehyde. Fermented volatiles appear to be a more reliable attractant than floral volatiles for these species. RBC moth antennae produced significant responses to all doses of phenylacetaldehyde tested in electroantennogram assays, but only to higher doses of acetic acid and 3-methyl-1-butanol. Physiological state of the RBC moths also influenced responsiveness to the tested semiochemical. Feeding status did not influence the antennal response to acetic acid and phenylacetaldehyde in either sex, but it increased the response to 3-methyl-1-butanol in females when fed. AAMB lures should be further developed to monitor RBC moths and other noctuid pests in field crops.
A list of 53 species of ants, all known from the grassland regions of Alberta and Saskatchewan, is presented, along with collecting localities and annotations regarding the biology of each species. As the fauna is not well-known, this list is considered preliminary. Résumé. Ce chapitre présente une liste de 54 espèces de fourmis décrites dans les régions des prairies de l'Alberta et de la Saskatchewan, ainsi que des informations sur les lieux de capture et des détails sur la biologie de chaque espèce. Cette faune étant toujours mal connue, cette liste doit être considérée comme préliminaire.
Carabid beetles are among the best-known of Canada's insect families and are important indicators of environmental condition and change. Reasons for the relatively good level of knowledge include excellent taxonomic resources, a compendium of ecological information, and up-to-date checklists. The biology of carabid beetles is well understood in general terms, although for most species of the Prairies Ecozone, detailed studies of life cycles are lacking. Although pitfall traps are by far the most prevalent method of sampling, interpretation of trap catches without knowledge of life cycles can be misleading. Information from the literature on patterns of distribution, habitat use, and diet is tabulated for the 398 species of Carabidae (including Cicindelinae) reported to occur in the Prairies Ecozone, and more detailed information is presented on 15 tribes of particular interest. A brief summary is presented of 31 published and unpublished faunistic studies of carabid beetles in the Prairies Ecozone and in cultivated habitats in adjacent ecoregions. For 15 of these studies, relative abundance data are presented and discussed, and three studies, presenting previously unpublished information, are described in detail.
One hundred twenty species of aleocharine beetles (Staphylinidae) are recognized in the province of Saskatchewan. Sixty-five new provincial records, including twelve new species and one new North American record, are presented. Oligota inflata (Mannerheim), a Palearctic species, is newly recorded for North America. The following twelve species are described as new to science: Acrotona pseudopygmaea Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Agaricomorpha pulchra Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n. (new genus record for Canadian fauna), Aleochara elisabethae Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Atheta (Dimetrota) larsonae Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Atheta (Microdota) pseudopittionii Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Atheta (Microdota) spermathecorum Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Atheta (sensu lato) richardsoni Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Brachyusa saskatchewanae Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Dochmonota langori Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Dochmonota simulans Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., Dochmonota websteri Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n., and Oxypoda domestica Klimaszewski & Larson, sp. n. Colour images of habitus and black and white images of the median lobe of the aedeagus, spermatheca, and tergite and sternite VIII are presented for all new species, Oligota inflata Mannerheim and Dochmonota rudiventris (Eppelsheim). A new synonymy is established: Tetralina filitarsus Casey, syn. n. = Tetralina helenae Casey, now placed in the genus Brachyusa Mulsant & Rey.
Recent estimates suggest that the global insect fauna includes fewer than six million species, but this projection is very uncertain because taxonomic work has been limited on some highly diverse groups. Validation of current estimates minimally requires the investigation of all lineages that are diverse enough to have a substantial impact on the final species count. This study represents a first step in this direction; it employs DNA barcoding to evaluate patterns of species richness in 27 orders of Canadian insects. The analysis of over one million specimens revealed species counts congruent with earlier results for most orders. However, Diptera and Hymenoptera were unexpectedly diverse, representing two-thirds of the 46 937 barcode index numbers (=species) detected. Correspondence checks between known species and barcoded taxa showed that sampling was incomplete, a result confirmed by extrapolations from the barcode results which suggest the occurrence of at least 94 000 species of insects in Canada, a near doubling from the prior estimate of 54 000 species. One dipteran family, the Cecidomyiidae, was extraordinarily diverse with an estimated 16 000 species, a 10-fold increase from its predicted diversity. If Canada possesses about 1% of the global fauna, as it does for known taxa, the results of this study suggest the presence of 10 million insect species with about 1.8 million of these taxa in the Cecidomyiidae. If so, the global species count for this fly family may exceed the combined total for all 142 beetle families. If extended to more geographical regions and to all hyperdiverse groups, DNA barcoding can rapidly resolve the current uncertainty surrounding a species count for the animal kingdom. A newly detailed understanding of species diversity may illuminate processes important in speciation, as suggested by the discovery that the most diverse insect lineages in Canada employ an unusual mode of reproduction, haplodiploidy.
This article is part of the themed issue ‘From DNA barcodes to biomes’.
The main goals of the Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Preserve Research Symposium were to bring together Preserve researchers and conservation practitioners to share their work with one another, and to provide a forum for an open discussion and exchange of knowledge, information, and ideas.
The round table format of the symposium gave participants the opportunity to speak briefly about their current and recent projects and observations, interact with one other in an open environment, and compare and contrast their understandings of the Preserve ecosystem and its management. All participants were asked to provide a brief summary of their research, along with their contact information and links to any published information or available reports. Participants were also asked to highlight upcoming projects as well as opportunities for future research and collaboration. This information has been compiled below.
The symposium brought together individuals representing academia, provincial and federal governments, Canadian and American not-for profit organizations and Museums, as well as independent volunteers. The passion of symposium participants and their commitment to sharing knowledge and perspectives is to be commended, and will inform conservation activities at the Preserve for years to come.
The symposium was made possible thanks to the generous support of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.
Wheat midge,
Sitodiplosis mosellana
(Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), Palaearctic in origin, is thought to have been introduced into North America in the early 1800s. It is a major pest of spring wheat (
Triticum aestivum
Linnaeus (Poaceae)), durum wheat (
T. durum
Desfontaines), triticale (X-
Triticosecale
), and, to a lesser extent, spring rye (
Secale cereale
Linnaeus (Poaceae)) throughout the northern Great Plains. Climate is the principal factor regulating the distribution and abundance of most insects. A bioclimate simulation model was developed to explain the current distribution and abundance of
S. mosellana
. The current distribution for North America, Europe, and Asia was consistent with model projections. General circulation model scenarios (CSIRO-MK 3.0 and MIROC-H) for the 2030 and 2070 time periods were applied to the bioclimate simulation model of
S. mosellana
to assess the potential impact of changing climates on their distribution and relative abundance. Potential changes to relative abundance and distribution were most sensitive to time period, as opposed to climate change scenario. Differences between the MIROC-H and CSIRO-MK 3.0 models were restricted to particular regions in North America. The study found that the range and abundance of
S. mosellana
, and associated crop risk, was predicted to expand in a northerly direction and contract across the present southern limits.
Approximately 1460 species of spiders have been reported from Canada, 3% of the global fauna. This study provides a DNA barcode reference library for 1018 of these species based upon the analysis of more than 30,000 specimens. The sequence results show a clear barcode gap in most cases with a mean intraspecific divergence of 0.78% versus a minimum nearest-neighbour (NN) distance averaging 7.85%. The sequences were assigned to 1359 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) with 1344 of these BINs composed of specimens belonging to a single currently recognized species. There was a perfect correspondence between BIN membership and a known species in 795 cases while another 197 species were assigned to two or more BINs (556 in total). A few other species (26) were involved in BIN merges or in a combination of merges and splits. There was only a weak relationship between the number of specimens analyzed for a species and its BIN count. However, three species were clear outliers with their specimens being placed in 11 to 22 BINs. Although all BIN splits need further study to clarify the taxonomic status of the entities involved, DNA barcodes discriminated 98% of the 1018 species. The present survey conservatively revealed 16 species new to science, 52 species new to Canada and major range extensions for 426 species. However, if most BIN splits detected in this study reflect cryptic taxa, the true species count for Canadian spiders could be 30-50% higher than currently recognized. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Tardigrades are cosmopolitan animals with a patchy distribution record, largely due to the limited collection history for this phylum rather than actual rarity. Most Canadian records are from near coastal areas, with a few notable exceptions, most recently one study of tardigrades in central Alberta. The present study reports the occurrence of 12 species or species groups in Fish Creek Provincial Park in southern Alberta. Eight of these taxa are new records for Alberta, and two (Diphascon (Diphascon) granifer and Echiniscus granulatus) are new records for Canada.
In Canadian agricultural soils, mites (Acari) are the most diverse and abundant arthropods. In comparison with other arachnids, mites are notable for their small size, diverse feeding habits, often complex life histories, and the range of habitats in which they live. Collembola are also abundant and diverse in soil and litter, they are in the same size range as the Acari, and for that reason the two groups are often combined in soil ecological studies as "microarthropods". This paper provides a descriptive overview of the state of our knowledge on the taxonomy of these arthropods. It reviews the literature on biology and ecology of microarthropods in Canadian agroecosystems, especially on implications of various agricultural practices for their diversity and population structure. It discusses the research challenges in taxonomy and ecology to address effective use of this biodiversity in Canadian agroecosystems.
Fifty-four new Canadian provincial records of aleocharine beetles (Staphylinidae), including three new Canadian records and one new North American record, are presented. Of these, 33 are new provincial records for Saskatchewan, 14 for Alberta, two for British Columbia, three for Manitoba, two for the Northwest Territories and one for the Yukon Territory. The following are new Canadian records: Trichiusa
pilosa Casey [formerly reported from Nova Scotia and Ontario as Trichiusa
postica Casey], Acrotona
recondita (Erichson) and the adventive Palaearctic Atheta
nigra (Kraatz), which is also a new North American record. Bionomics information and new locality records are provided. The following new synonyms of Trichiusa
pilosa Casey are established: Trichiusa
atra Casey, Trichiusa
monticola Casey, Trichiusa
parviceps Casey, and Trichiusa
postica Casey. The numbers of Aleocharinae remaining to be discovered in Canadian provinces and territories are discussed.
The parasitoid family Ichneumonidae is the largest family in the order Hymenoptera. This chapter provides a checklist of 1,160 ichneumonid species (299 genera) known from the Canadian Prairies Ecozone. The list is primarily drawn from literature records and also includes 35 newly recorded species from the ecozone. The number of species on the list is a vast underestimate of the number of ichneumonid species present, as many genera lack revisions and few biodiversity surveys have been conducted. Most species recorded from this ecozone are only known from the Nearctic region, but are not restricted to the Prairies Ecozone. Little is known about the ecology, habitat requirements, or host associations of most ichneumonid species, with 43% of the species on the checklist lacking any host records. Future research should include revisions of the many genera that have not been studied in the Nearctic region, as well as biodiversity surveys in prairie habitats, rearing of potential host species, and the creation of user-friendly identification resources. Résumé. Les guêpes parasitoïdes de la famille des Ichneumonidae forment la plus grande famille de l'ordre des hyménoptères. Le présent chapitre dresse la liste des 1 160 espèces de cette famille, réparties en 299 genres, présentes dans l'écozone des prairies. Cette liste, établie principalement à partir de sources documentaires, fait état de 35 nouvelles mentions provenant de l'écozone. Elle sous-estime cependant très largement le nombre d'espèces d'ichneumonidés présentes puisque de nombreux genres n'ont toujours pas fait l'objet d'une révision et que les études sur la biodiversité restent peu nombreuses. La plupart des espèces recensées dans cette écozone ne sont connues que dans la région néarctique, mais ne sont pas limitées à l'écozone des prairies. On sait peu de choses sur l'écologie, les besoins en matière d'habitat ou les hôtes des ichneumonidés, et la liste n'a aucune information à fournir sur les hôtes de 43 % des espèces répertoriées. Les recherches futures devraient inclure des révisions des nombreux genres qui n'ont toujours pas été étudiés dans la région néarctique, l'étude de la biodiversité dans les habitats des prairies, l'élevage d'espèces hôtes possibles et la création de ressources documentaires d'identification facile à utiliser.
The Odonata are energetic aerial predators of other insects; the aquatic larvae are voracious predators of invertebrates and small vertebrates. As of 2010, 5,952 species of the order were described worldwide; 211 species are known from Canada. Grasslands across the country support about 59% of the national fauna. A checklist and systematic overview of 124 species in nine families are presented. Species totals in these families are as follows:, 37. The geographical ranges of the species are defi ned and summarized; according to the defi nitions herein, 20 species have boreal ranges, 17 are transition species, 12 are Cordilleran, 1 is Pacifi c coastal, 10 are western, 4 are more or less restricted to the Great Plains, 16 have southern ranges, 38 are considered eastern, and 6 are widespread species. A summary of studies on grassland Odonata and recommendations for inventory and taxonomic research are provided. The geographical scope of the Canadian grassland fauna is described briefl y with respect to lotic and lentic habitats in grasslands of the Cordillera, the Great Plains, and southern Ontario. Résumé. Les odonates sont de féroces prédateurs aériens d'autres insectes ; leurs larves aquatiques sont aussi des prédateurs voraces d'autres invertébrés et petits vertébrés. En 2010, 5 952espèces d'odonates avaient été décrites dans le monde. De ce nombre, 211 sont connues au Canada. Environ 59 % des odonates de la faune canadienne s'observent dans les prairies. Ce chapitre présente une liste et un aperçu de la systématique de 124 espèces, réparties en neuf familles comme suit: espèces sont par ailleurs défi nies, ce qui permet de conclure que 20 espèces ont une aire de répartition boréale, 17 sont des espèces de transition, 12 vivent dans la Cordillère, 1 vit sur la côte du Pacifi que, 10 sont occidentales, 4 sont plus ou moins limitées aux Grandes Plaines, 16 ont une aire de répartition méridionale, 38 sont considérées orientales, et 6 sont des espèces largement répandues. Le chapitre présente un résumé des études réalisées sur les odonates des prairies ainsi que des recommandations concernant les travaux d'inventaire et les études taxonomiques à réaliser. La portée géographique de la faune de la prairie canadienne est brièvement décrite en ce qui a trait aux habitats lotiques et lentiques des prairies qui se trouvent dans la Cordillère, dans les Grandes Plaines et dans le sud de l'Ontario.
Robber flies (Asilidae) are predatory Diptera that kill other insects with paralyzing saliva injected through the proboscis. Over 7,000 species of the family are described worldwide and, although there is no list of species, well over 200 are reported in Canada. The present analysis indicates that grasslands and grassland–forest interface areas in western Canada (Yukon and British Columbia east to Manitoba) support 134 species of robber flies, and more remain to be recorded. A checklist and a systematic overview of these species are presented. The geographical scope of the Canadian grassland fauna is described briefly with respect to the grasslands of the Cordillera and the Great Plains. The species' geographical ranges are defined and summarized. Of the 134 grassland species, seven are boreal (including two with Holarctic ranges), three are East Beringian, one is Palearctic–East Beringian, four are transition, 66 are Cordilleran, five are Pacific coastal, eight are western, 23 are Great Plains, four are southern, 10 are eastern, and three are widespread species, according to the definitions given here. A summary of studies on grassland Asilidae is provided, as well as recommendations for inventory and taxonomic research. Résumé. Les asilides (Asilidae) sont des diptères prédateurs qui tuent d'autres insectes en leur injectant une salive paralysante à l'aide de leur trompe. Plus de 7 000 espèces de cette famille ont été décrites à travers le monde, et le nombre d'espèces présentes au Canada est de loin supérieur à 200, bien qu'on n'en ait pas encore établi la liste. La présente analyse indique que les habitats des prairies et de l'interface prairie–forêt de l'ouest du Canada (Yukon et Colombie-Britannique, jusqu'au Manitoba vers l'est) abritent 134 espèces d'asilides, et qu'il pourrait y en avoir plus. Ce chapitre présente une liste et un aperçu de la systématique de ces espèces. La portée géographique de la faune de la prairie canadienne est brièvement décrite en ce qui a trait aux habitats des prairies qui se trouvent dans la Cordillère et dans les Grandes Plaines. Les aires de répartition géographiques des espèces sont définies et brièvement décrites. Sept des 134 espèces répertoriées dans les prairies sont boréales (y compris deux à aire de répartition holarctique), trois sont de la Béringie orientale, une vient de la zone paléarctique–Béringie orientale, quatre sont des espèces de transition, 66 sont de la Cordillère, cinq sont de la côte du Pacifique, huit sont occidentales, 23 viennent des Grandes Plaines, quatre sont méridionales, 10 sont orientales et trois sont largement réparties, selon les définitions utilisées dans ce chapitre. Le chapitre présente un résumé des études réalisées sur les Asilidae, ainsi que des recommandations concernant les travaux d'inventaire et les études taxonomiques à réaliser.
Fresh cattle dung is a nutrient-rich habitat that is quickly colonized by a speciose and abundant assemblage of organisms. The ease with which this habitat is manipulated by using artificially formed pats (size, shape, site, and time of deposition), the speed of community succession, and the complex interactions among its diverse inhabitants combine to make the dung pat a model ecosystem for scientific study. This chapter is intended to provide an overview of the arthropod species found in cattle dung on pastures of the Canadian prairies. It introduces the features of cattle dung that affect the activity of these arthropods and the key arthropod groups. It summarizes patterns of arthropod succession and discusses some of the more intriguing aspects of the cow pat community. Success will have been achieved if at least a few readers develop a desire to delve into dung. Résumé. Le fumier frais de bétail est un habitat riche en éléments nutritifs qui est rapidement colonisé par des organismes nombreux et diversifiés. La facilité avec laquelle elle se prête à diverses manipulations (taille, forme, site et moment du dépôt), la vitesse de succession des communautés d'organismes qu'elle abrite et les interactions complexes qui s'observent entre les divers types d'organismes qu'elle contient font de la bouse un écosystème modèle pour l'étude scientifique. Le présent chapitre vise à fournir un aperçu des espèces d'arthropodes que l'on trouve dans les bouses du bétail, dans les pâturages des prairies canadiennes. Il décrit les caractéristiques des bouses qui influent sur les activités des arthropodes, et présente les principaux groupes auxquels appartiennent ces arthropodes. Il résume les schémas de succession des espèces, et traite de certains des aspects particuliers des communautés d'arthropodes des bouses. L'objectif consiste à convaincre au moins quelques lecteurs de se pencher de près sur ce sujet.
Members of the arachnid subclass Acari (mites) are the most diverse and abundant arthropods in Canadian grasslands. Mites are notable for their small size, diverse feeding habits, often complex life histories, and the range of habitats in which they live. This chapter provides a descriptive overview of the state of our knowledge of the ecology of these arthropods in grassland soils, reviews the literature on their biology and ecology, and highlights research challenges. Résumé. Les acariens (Acari), une sous-classe d'arachnides, constituent le groupe d'arthropodes le plus diversifié et le plus abondant des prairies canadiennes. Ils se caractérisent par leur petite taille, leurs modes d'alimentation diversifiés, leurs cycles biologiques souvent complexes et la gamme des habitats dans lesquels ils vivent. Ce chapitre présente un aperçu descriptif de l'état de nos connaissances sur l'écologie de ces arthropodes dans les sols des prairies, examine la documentation portant sur leur biologie et leur écologie, et met en lumière les enjeux de la recherche les concernant.
The underlying uniqueness of Canada's prairie grasslands is its aridity. The dominant air mass of this region is continental in nature and is associated with a relatively low amount of precipitation and high potential evaporation during the summer. Drought in this region is frequent, lasting one to two months on average, and presents a significant barrier to ecological capacity and agriculture. Severe droughts are associated with a stalled anticyclonic system that directs advected moist air around the region. Canada's prairie grasslands receive on average of between 300 and 550 mm of precipitation, most of which is received as rain in spring and summer. Over the last century, changes to the climate have resulted in a general warming trend that is projected to increase further as a result of an enhanced greenhouse gas effect. Native grassland plant diversity and insect populations may shift as a result of expected climate changes. Résumé. Les prairies canadiennes doivent leur caractère unique à leur aridité. La masse d'air dominante dans cette région est continentale, et se caractérise par un degré relativement faible de précipitations et une évaporativité élevée en été. Les sécheresses sont fréquentes dans cette région; elles durent en moyenne de un à deux mois et réduisent sensiblement la capacité limite du paysage et le rendement agricole. Les sécheresses graves sont causées par un système anticyclonique stable qui empêche les courants d'air humide de pénétrer dans la région. Les prairies canadiennes reçoivent en moyenne de 300 à 550 mm de précipitations, la plupart sous forme de pluie au printemps et en été. Au cours du dernier siècle, le changement climatique a provoqué un réchauffement général qui devrait s'intensifier sous l'effet de l'augmentation des concentrations de gaz à effet de serre. La diversité des espèces végétales indigènes et les populations d'insectes pourraient évoluer sous l'effet des changements climatiques attendus.
The collective impact of humans on biodiversity rivals mass extinction events defining Earth’s history, but does our large population also present opportunities to document and contend with this crisis? We provide the first quantitative review of biodiversity-related citizen science to determine whether data collected by these projects can be, and are currently being, effectively used in biodiversity research. We find strong evidence of the potential of citizen science: within projects we sampled (n=388), ~1.3 million volunteers participate, contributing up to $2.5 billion in-kind annually. These projects exceed most federally-funded studies in spatial and temporal extent, and collectively they sample a breadth of taxonomic diversity. However, only 12% of the 47,388 projects surveyed obviously provide data to peer-reviewed scientific articles, despite the fact 48 that a third of these projects have verifiable, standardized data that are accessible online. Factors influencing publication included project spatial scale and longevity and having publically available data, as well as one measure of scientific rigor (taxonomic identification training). Because of the low rate at which citizen science data reach publication, the large and growing citizen science movement is likely only realizing a small portion of its potential impact on the scientific research community. Strengthening connections between professional and non-professional participants in the scientific process will enable this large data resource to be better harnessed to understand and address global change impacts on biodiversity.
This chapter describes the insect fauna of Ojibway Prairie, a tallgrass prairie complex in southern Ontario, highlighting the tallgrass-dependent and tallgrass-associated species among the over 2,000 insect species found there so far. The presence of tallgrass-dependent and tallgrass-associated species reflects Ojibway Prairie's status as a fragment of a formerly more continuous grassland and thus supports the prairie peninsula hypothesis. The chapter includes a discussion of insect species associated with other southern Ontario tallgrass prairie sites and compares these species with those found in Ojibway Prairie. Also discussed are rare species found at Ojibway Prairie but not associated specifically with tallgrass habitats. Forty-four insect species new to Canada or new to Ontario (1 Orthoptera, 3 Hemiptera, 10 Coleoptera, 16 Diptera, and 14 Hymenoptera) are recorded from Ojibway Prairie. Résumé. Ce chapitre décrit l'entomofaune de la prairie Ojibway, un complexe de prairies à herbes hautes du sud de l'Ontario, en portant une attention particulière aux espèces dépendantes des herbes hautes ou associées à ces dernières et qui sont au nombre des quelque 2 000 espèces d'insectes recensées jusqu'ici à cet endroit. La présence d'insectes dépendants des herbes hautes ou associés à ces dernières est un reflet de l'état actuel de la prairie Ojibway, qui n'est plus qu'un fragment d'une prairie autrefois plus continue, et vient appuyer l'hypothèse de la « péninsule de prairie ». Le chapitre traite également des espèces d'insectes associées à d'autres prairies à herbes hautes du sud de l'Ontario et compare ces espèces à celles qui se trouvent dans la prairie Ojibway. Il examine enfin les espèces rares qui vivent dans cette prairie mais qui ne sont pas associées directement aux habitats d'herbes hautes. On a établi la présence dans la prairie Ojibway de 44 espèces nouvelles pour le Canada ou l'Ontario (1 orthoptère, 3 hémiptères, 10 coléoptères, 16 diptères et 14 hyménoptères).
KEY FINDINGS
Biodiversity – the variety of species and ecosystems and the ecological processes of which they are a part – has a paramount influence on Canada’s natural capital and its ability to deliver services. Those services, in turn, contribute to human health and well-being and support a wide range of economic sectors. Climate change, interacting with other human stressors such as pollution and landscape fragmentation, is already impacting biodiversity in Canada. Future impacts will be affected by the magnitude of continuing climate change and adaptation decisions made to enhance ecosystem resilience. Key findings of this chapter include:
• Climate-related shifts in species distributions have already been documented in Canada. Future range shifts will include expansion, contraction and fragmentation in species-specific patterns. In many locations, differential range shifts among species are likely to result in novel ecosystems.
• Phenological mismatches occur when shifts in the timing of life cycle events differ between dependent species and, as an example, can result in migrating species arriving at a site after the peak prey availability has passed. Phenological mismatches are expected to become more frequent in the future, as is hybridization. The impacts of hybridization can drive rare species to extinction or, in other cases, increase the adaptability of some species by introducing genetic variation.
• For many species, the current and projected rates of environmental change are likely to exceed their natural ability to adapt, increasing stress and threatening biodiversity. As a result, climate change is magnifying the importance of managing ecosystems in a manner that enhances resilience and preserves biodiversity.
• Protected areas, including parks, wildlife reserves and marine protected areas will play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity in a period of rapid change. Many protected areas will provide “refuge” or migration corridors for native species, serving to maintain genetic diversity. Protected areas tend to be more resilient than the intervening landscapes and waterscapes because they contain relatively intact ecosystems and are less impacted by non-climate stressors such as habitat loss and fragmentation.
• Many Canadian jurisdictions are expanding their system of parks and other protected areas as part of their overall management plans and climate change adaptation strategies. Initiatives aimed at maintaining or restoring landscape connectivity serve to increase ecosystem resilience by enhancing the capacity for species to adjust their distribution in response to climate change. Associated research, monitoring, citizen science, public awareness, and visitor experience programs build understanding and help to engage the public in meaningful participatory decision-making.
• The conservation community recognizes the value of ecological restoration in strengthening the resilience of ecosystems to climate change. Integration of climate change adaptation strategies into restoration decision-making in Canada, as elsewhere, is complex.
With more than 19,000 described species worldwide, parasitic wasps in the family Braconidae are the second largest group of Hymenoptera next to its sister lineage, Ichneumonidae. Despite their abundance and economic importance as potential biological control agents of forest and agricultural pests, little is known about the biodiversity of braconids in the Prairies Ecozone of Canada. The checklist of Braconidae was compiled by cross-referencing specimen localities with published records of braconid species found in the Prairie Provinces and supplemented with databased specimens from the Wallis-Roughley Museum of Entomology at the University of Manitoba. This checklist consists of 251 species, representing 22 different subfamilies, and includes14 new species records. Braconids in subfamilies such as Microgastrinae, Agathidinae, and Aphidiinae have a relatively large number of known species because of past research attention. Other subfamilies with fewer known species are undoubtedly more speciose than currently known, but are more difficult to identify because of a lack of taxonomic research and resources. It is hoped that this checklist serves as a baseline that will facilitate future biodiversity studies, conservation programs, and biological control research on Braconidae in the Prairies Ecozone of Canada.
The Prairies Ecozone of southern Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta supports a diverse fauna, with 2,232 species of butterflies and moths (order Lepidoptera) recorded to date in 61 families. By far the best known Lepidoptera are the butterflies, with 177 species known to occur in the ecozone. The species known to occur in the Prairies Ecozone are listed by province. The Lepidoptera fauna of this ecozone is reviewed in terms of diversity, state of knowledge of the major groups, postglacial and relict patterns, recent changes in distribution, and endangered and threatened species.
The prairie grasslands of Canada are home to at least 387 bee species. This represents almost half (i.e., 48%) of the bee taxa reported for Canada and over 90% of the total recorded from the three Prairie Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. The Prairies Ecozone thus represents one of the most diverse and important areas supporting bee diversity in the country, with 23% of the bee species listed not found anywhere else in Canada, a value similar to that of the tallgrass savanna of the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone (southern Ontario and Québec) and only surpassed by that of the bunchgrass/sagebrush grasslands of the Western Interior Basin Ecozone (south central British Columbia) with respect to endemism. However, the Canadian Prairies support a higher proportion of bee species with dietary specialization; over half of these are oligoleges of the Asteraceae. Over 70% of the native prairie grasslands were lost before 1990. Therefore, it is likely that many of the endemic floral specialists have also become much less common, though little baseline data exist for rigorous comparison. Much of the Canadian Prairies have not been surveyed extensively for bees, and several new records are reported here. A full taxonomic review of the bees of the prairie grasslands is presented, including bionomic summaries.
Most Plecoptera (stonefl y) species require cool, well-oxygenated water and are therefore not as well represented in prairie grassland habitats as they are in steep mountain streams or forested habitats. One hundred thirty-one species of Plecoptera have been recorded from the Prairie Provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, including 61 that occur in or border aquatic habitats in the Prairies Ecozone. Alberta has the highest stonefl y diversity because of its proximity to the mountains (108 species, 104 of which occur in the mountains), and the diversity in Saskatchewan is similar to that of Manitoba at 44 and 46 species, respectively. Only 2 of the 61 Prairies Ecozone species (Perlesta dakota and Pteronarcys pictetii) are restricted to this ecozone in Canada, and most of the species that occur in the Prairies Ecozone also occur in the Boreal Shield and Boreal Plains ecozones (40 species) and/or in the Montane Cordillera Ecozone (42 species). A list of species collected for each province and ecozone is provided, with references and probable refugial origins. Information on stonefl y ecology, taxonomic works, zoogeography, and importance as monitoring tools pertinent to the region is also presented. Résumé. La plupart des espèces de plécoptères (perles) ont besoin d'eau fraîche et bien oxygénée et ne sont donc pas aussi présentes dans les habitats des prairies qu'elles ne le sont dans les cours d'eau des habitats de montagne ou de forêt. On a recensé 131 espèces de plécoptères dans les provinces des prairies — Alberta, Saskatchewan et Manitoba —, y compris 61 vivant à l'intérieur ou à la périphérie d'habitats aquatiques de l'écozone des prairies. L'Alberta présente la plus grande diversité de plécoptères à cause de la proximité des Rocheuses (108 espèces, dont 104 se trouvent en montagne), tandis que la Saskatchewan et le Manitoba présentent des diversités semblables (44 et 46 espèces respectivement). Seules 2 des 61 espèces de l'écozone des prairies (Perlesta dakota et Pteronarcys pictetii) sont exclusives à cette écozone au Canada, la plupart des espèces observées dans l'écozone des prairies se trouvant également dans les écozones du bouclier boréal et des plaines boréales (40 espèces) ou dans l'écozone de la cordillère alpestre (42 espèces). Une liste des espèces prélevées dans chaque province et dans chaque écozone est fournie, accompagnée de références et d'informations sur les refuges d'où elles sont probablement issues. On présente enfi n des informations sur l'écologie des plécoptères, les études taxonomiques réalisées sur ces insectes, leur zoogéographie et leur importance en tant qu'outils de surveillance pertinents pour la région. Introduction Stonefl ies (Plecoptera) (Fig. 1) spend most of their life cycles as aquatic larvae before emerging from the water as terrestrial adults. The majority of stonefl ies require well-oxygenated water and are found in clean, cool, fast-fl owing streams and rivers (Hynes 1976; Stewart and Harper 1996; Stewart and Stark 2002, 2008), although a few species are also known from cold boreal and alpine lakes (Harper 1979; Donald and Anderson 1980; Dosdall and Lehmkuhl 1987). This restricts most Canadian species to areas such as the
Canada's grasslands are located primarily in western Canada within the prairie provinces, but also with significant portions in the interior of British Columbia. Before European contact, their character and distribution were significantly influenced by disturbances from fire and large herbivores, which killed woody plants and produced a more arid environment where grasses were competitive. Aboriginal Indians also influenced these processes, both directly by increasing the number of fires either by accident or for strategic reasons (Lewis 1982) and indirectly through over-hunting (Kay 1994). Anthropogenic impacts were, therefore, present before European contact; whether or not these disturbances could be considered as natural is debatable. However, there is no question that the disturbances introduced through Eurocentric farming practices by settlers beginning early in the 19 th century and overtaken within the last 50 years by resource extraction economies were ecologically catastrophic. As a result, most of the grasslands have been cultivated and those that remain have been altered by grazing or severely fragmented by roads, conduits for energy, or urbanization. This chapter deals primarily with anthropogenic changes to the grasslands made since the arrival and establishment of Europeans. Résumé. Les prairies canadiennes se trouvent principalement dans l'ouest du Canada, dans les provinces des Prairies, mais il en existe également des portions importantes à l'intérieur de la Colombie-Britannique. Avant l'arrivée des Européens, leurs caractéristiques et leur répartition étaient en grande partie définies par l'action du feu et des grands herbivores qui détruisaient les plantes ligneuses et créaient un environnement plus aride, où les herbacées détenaient un avantage concurrentiel. Les autochtones influaient également sur ces processus, soit directement en augmentant le nombre d'incendies — par accident ou pour des raisons stratégiques (Lewis, 1982) —, soit indirectement par une chasse excessive (Kay, 1994). Les incidences anthropiques étaient donc déjà présentes avant l'arrivée des Européens, et la question de savoir si ces effets pouvaient être qualifiés de « naturels » reste matière à débat. Cependant, il est clair que les perturbations provoquées par les pratiques culturales des colons européens à partir du début du XIX e siècle et l'avènement, observé au cours des 50 dernières années, d'une économie fondée sur l'exploitation des ressources, ont eu des conséquences écologiques catastrophiques. Les prairies sont aujourd'hui presque entièrement cultivées, et les portions qui subsistent ont été perturbées par le pâturage ou gravement fragmentées par les routes, les corridors énergétiques ou l'urbanisation. Le présent chapitre traite principalement des changements anthropiques survenus dans les prairies depuis l'arrivée et l'installation des Européens.
Spiders are the seventh most diverse order of arthropods globally and are prominent predators in all prairie habitats. In this chapter, a checklist for the spiders of the Prairie Provinces (767 recorded species and 44 possible species) is presented along with an overview of all 26 families that occur in the region. Eighteen of the species from the region are adventive. Linyphiidae is by far the dominant family, representing 39% of all species in the three provinces. Gnaphosidae and Lycosidae each represent 8% and three other families (Salticidae, Dictynidae, and Theridiidae) each account for 7%. A summary of biodiversity studies conducted in the Prairies Ecozone and from transition ecoregions is also provided. The Mixed Grassland Ecoregion has the most distinctive assemblage; Schizocosa mccooki and Zelotes lasalanus are common only in this ecoregion. Other ecoregions appear to harbour less distinctive assemblages, but most have been poorly studied. Lack of professional opportunities for spider systematists in Canada remains a major barrier to the advancement of the taxonomy and ecology of spiders.
Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Apiformes) are taxonomically and ecologically diverse, with a wide range of social complexity, nesting preferences, floral associations, and biogeographic restrictions. A Canadian bee checklist, greatly assisted by the gene-assisted approach of DNA barcoding, is nearing completion. Previous evaluation of bee diversity in Canada, assisted by DNA barcoding, was restricted to Nova Scotia, which contains about 25% of the bee species in the country. Here, we summarise efforts to date to build a comprehensive DNA barcode library supporting bee taxonomic studies in Canada, consisting of more than
12 500 barcode-compliant sequences yielding 811 distinct barcode index numbers (BINs). This appears to represent ~ 95%of the 856 bee species presently recorded from Canada, but comparison with known morphological species in each genus shows that some genera are still under-sampled or may contain cryptic taxa, with much taxonomic work still to be done on bees in Canada. This is particularly true within the taxonomically difficult genera Andrena Fabricius (Andrenidae), Hylaeus Fabricius (Colletidae), Melissodes Latreille (Apidae), Nomada Scopoli (Apidae), Osmia Panzer (Megachilidae), and Sphecodes Latreille (Halictidae). DNA analysis will likely be a key asset in resolving bee taxonomic issues in Canada in the future, and to date has even assisted studies of well-known bee taxa. Here we present summaries of our results, and discuss the use of DNA barcoding to assist future taxonomic work, faunal lists, and ecological studies.
For 40 years, the Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) has encouraged and organised studies of the arthropod fauna of Canada, through the wide involvement of the scientific community and the leadership of an expert steering committee. The benefits of the BSC to science include the completion of major cooperative projects to acquire and synthesise knowledge (documenting faunas in the Yukon, Canadian grasslands, and other significant regions and habitats), the assembly and organisation of information and specimens, and improved communication among entomologists. Its efforts have led to valuable monographs, scientific briefs, newsletters, and other products summarised here, including documents that are also useful to those outside entomology. Key operating principles of the BSC are identified. In particular, decisions come from broadly based scientific considerations, an approach to understanding the fauna that guarantees the scientific relevance of the work and is not offset by political or other influences. Core work is planned over the long term to ensure collaboration, focus, efficiency, integrity, quality, productivity, and delivery. The achievements of the BSC over many years confirm the effectiveness of this model for scientific cooperation.
Four hundred and twelve species of Canadian and Alaskan Collembola arranged in 16 families and 83 genera are listed with all known provincial and state records. Species of questionable status or those identified only to genus were omitted. -from Author
The authorization of veterinary medicinal products (VMP) requires that they be assessed for non-target effects in the environment. Numerous field studies have assessed these effects on dung organisms. However, few studies have examined effects on soil-dwelling organisms, which might be exposed to VMP residues released during dung degradation. We compared the abundance of earthworms and springtails in soil beneath dung from untreated cattle and from cattle treated 0, 3, 7, 14, and 28 d previously with ivermectin. Study sites were located in different ecoregions in Switzerland (Continental), The Netherlands (Atlantic), France (Mediterranean), and Canada (Northern Mixed Grassland). Samples were collected using standard methods from one to twelve months after pat deposition. Ivermectin concentrations in soil beneath dung pats ranged from 0.02 (3 months) to typically less than 0.006 (5-7 months) mg/kg dry weight. Earthworms were abundant and species-rich at the Swiss and Dutch sites, less common with fewer species at the French site, and essentially absent at the Canadian site. Diverse but highly variable communities of springtails were present at all sites. Overall results showed little effect of residues on either earthworms or springtails. We recommend that inclusion of soil organisms in field studies to assess the non-target effects of VMPs be required only if earthworms or springtails exhibit sensitivity to the product in laboratory tests. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Mean monthly maximum, minimum and mean surface temperatures are analysed for 131 locations in Canada for the period 1895 to 1989. These data were obtained from the Historical Canadian Climate Database (HCCD). There has been a statistically significant rise in mean annual national temperatures over the past century of about l.l0c. Annual mean maximum and minimum national temperature trends since 1895 show a significant increase in mostly-daytime maximum temperatures of about 0.7°C and a highly significant increase in mostly-nighttime minimum temperatures of about 1.5° C. Mean maximum and minimum temperature trends since 1895 are also examined seasonally and regionally and indicate significant increases in minimum temperatures mainly during the spring and summer seasons in the western, northwestern and eastern continental regions of the country. Few significant regional increases are evident in maximum temperatures during any season for this period. Significant decreases in mean temperature range, an important measure of climate variability, occur in most regions during all seasons. Mean maximum and minimum national temperature trends for the past 40 years, since 1950, are also examined. They indicate no significant increases in either minimum or maximum temperatures annually or seasonally. Mean maximum and minimum regional temperature trends since 1950 indicate significant increases in both minimum and maximum temperatures mostly during the spring season in the western and northwestern regions of the country. RESUME Les moyennes mensuelles des temperatures de surface maximales, minimales et moyennes sont analysees pour 131 stations du Canada pour la periode allant de 1895 a 1989. Ces donnees proviennent de la Base de donnees climatiques canadiennes historiques (BDCCH). Ce dernier siecle, il y a eu une hausse statistiquement importante des temperatures nationales annuelles moyennes, hausse d'environ 1,1 DC. Depuis 1895, les tendances de la moyenne annuelle des temperatures nationales maximales et minimales indiquent une nette augmentation, d'environ 0,7 DC, dans les temperatures maximales 63 enregistrees surtout pendant Ie jour et une hausse tres signilicative, d'environ 1,5 °C, des temperatures minimales enregistrees surtout pendant la nuit. Depuis 1895, les tendances des temperatures maximales et minimales moyennes sont aussi examinees par saison et region et revelent d'importantes hausses de la temperature minimale survenant surtout pendant les saisons du printemps et de l'ete dans les regions interieures ouest, nord-ouest et est de la partie continentale du pays. Pendant cette periode, il n'apparmt guere de hausses regionales importantes dans les temperatures maximales. Les baisses signilicatives de la gamme de temperature moyenne, importante mesure de la variabilite climatique, se presentent dans la plupart des regions et pendant toutes les saisons. En outre, on examine les tendances de la moyenne des temperatures nationales maximales et minimales des 40 dernieres annees, depuis 1950. Elles ne revelent aucune hausse importante, annuelle ou saisonniere, des temperatures minimales ou maximales. Les ten dances de la moyenne des temperatures regionales maximales et minimales, depuis 1950, indiquent d'importantes hausses dans les temperatures tant minimales que maximales, surtout pendant la saison du printemps dans I'ouest et Ie nord-ouest du pays.
This chapter describes the Elateridae of Alberta (144 species), Saskatchewan (108 species), and Manitoba (109 species). It provides current names for species, as well as synonymized names that persist in the literature. Also discussed are the species that have been left out during recent changes to elaterid renaming and classification, although no new name combinations are given. The chapter outlines species distributions, biogeography where known, and the life histories of five common species: Aeolus mellillus (Say), Agriotes mancus (Say), Hypnoidus bicolor (Eschscholtz), Limonius californicus (Mannerheim), and Selatosomus aeripennis destructor (Brown). An examination of the seasonal movements and activity of larvae in response to soil temperature and moisture and moulting cycles is followed by an overview of past research on Prairie Province species. The chapter concludes with a discussion of current research needs and management issues.
This checklist records the occurrence of 1413 species of spiders (Araneae) in 43 families in Canada and Alaska. Distributions of species are given by state, territory and province. Each species name is presented in its original combination, followed by primary synonyms, if any. The list is dominated by members of the family Linyphiidae (39.5% of total species). Highest numbers of species are recorded for Ontario (746), British Columbia (700) and Québec (677). We record 69 species that are thought to be introduced from elsewhere and 321 that are known in the Palaearctic.
This chapter lists 81 species of biting flies from the families Culicidae, Ceratopogonidae (genus Culicoides), and Tabanidae for the Canadian Prairies. Twenty-five species of Culicidae are listed, including one species of Anophelinae and 25 species of Culicinae. Twenty-six species of Culicoides are listed. This group has been the least intensively studied in Canadian grasslands, and this is undoubtedly an underestimate of the number of species present. Thirty species of Tabanidae are listed, including seven species of Chrysopsinae and 23 species of Tabaninae. All three families are readily captured using a variety of trapping methods. Identification of the Culicidae and Tabanidae is facilitated by the availability of excellent identification resources. Identification of the genus Culicoides is hampered by the lack of a unified key for western Canada. Despite this, there are many opportunities for investigators to increase knowledge of these groups in Canadian grasslands.