Volume 32, No. 2, Winter 2013

Home , Achipteriidae, Antennoseius, Arctoseius, Beorn (tardigrade), Brachyceridae, Bryodelphax

Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada

Vol. 32(2) Winter 2013

The Newsletter of the BSC is published twice a year by the Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit group In this issue devoted to promoting biodiversity science in Canada, particularly Editorial...... 2 with respect to the Arthropoda. Information on becoming a Report from the Annual General member ...... 2,5,41 Report from Annual General Meeting, Guelph Ontario by Dave Langor...... 3 Meeting ...... 3 New Board of Directors of the BSC ...... 3 Biota of Canada President’s Update ...... ,....4 Project: why do Recent papers in the we need it and what Canadian Journal of Arthropod are the challenges? Identification ...... 5 Three articles to set Seeking a student member for the stage. the BSC board...... 5 1. The Program on the General BSC book announcement: Volumes 3 & 4 of Arthropods Status of Species in Canada of Canadian Grasslands...... 6 by Rémi Hébert...... 9 Biota of Canada Project: 2. Tardigrades: A Brief Overview vision and progress update.8 by Gary Grothman...... 12 The Program on the General Status of Species in Canada.9 3.The Status of Systematic Tardigrades: a Brief Overview. Knowledge of the Acari of ...... 12 Canada: Tickin’ Away with The Status of Systematic some Mitey Progress Knowledge of the Acari of by Lisa Lumley, Frédéric Beaulieu, Valerie Behan- Canada: Tickin’ Away with Pelletier, Wayne Knee, Evert E. Lindquist, Mi- some Mitey Progress...... 23 chelle Mark, Heather Proctor, and David Walter ...... 23 BSC FAQs...... 38 Requests for Material...... 40 FYI and FAQs about the BSC: Notices...... 40 BSC President Dave Langor answers questions about the Biological Survey and the Biological Join the BSC...... 41 Survey Foundation ...... 38

Visit Our website | Contact us | Previous issues Biological Survey of Canada Address: c/o Entomological Society of Canada 393 Winston Avenue, Ottawa, ON K2A 1Y8 [email protected] Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 2

Editorial: An eventful period for the BSC Donna Giberson

This January marks five years for the BSC the logistics of gathering available data on as an entity separate from the Canadian Canadian species and investigating how to Museum of Nature, our previous “umbrella” make the data accessible. You’ll read of some organization. Budget cuts at the museum of the progress in this issue, including an forced some difficult decisions, including the update in Dave Langor’s President’s report and termination of the Secretariat for the BSC. a series of articles by Canadian researchers It was a difficult time for the Survey, since that address some of the challenges and members of the former Scientific Committee rewards associated with carrying out this were loathe to let it die, but lacked resources project. and experience in running a not-for-profit Other activities also occupied the Board group. Everything that used to be run out of during this recent term. Priorities included the Secretariat was suddenly in the hands modifying our by-laws and articles to conform of volunteers. Board members had a steep to the new Non-Profit Corporations Act, learning curve, and worked hard to keep the and working to merge the Biological Survey organization going. There have been growing Foundation (founded to support our publication pains, but in working through these, the BSC activities) with the Biological Survey is growing into a vibrant and effective group. corporation, to eliminate confusion about the The first Board of the newly constituted two entities. That process should be complete Biological Survey of Canada Inc. consisted this year. of the former Scientific Committee; this We reached a milestone at the AGM in group spent their first months identifying 2013, with more people expressing interest in new directions and trying to find funding being Board Members than we had positions. and a new “home” for the organization. At The new board is a great mix of young and the first Annual General Meeting (Oct. 2009, old(er), and new and old(er). Expect great in conjunction with the ESC/ESM meeting things from this group in the next two years. in Winnipeg), the board members were My own personal milestone this year is confirmed and served a 2-year term. In fall the winding down of the Grasslands project, 2011, a new board consisting of a mix of which has been on-going for several years for former and new members was elected at the the Survey. My part of it, co-editing the final AGM in Halifax. An early priority was to obtain volumes in the “grasslands books” (see p. 6) charitable status under the Canada Revenue will be finished this year, and I hope you’ll be Agency rules to allow people to receive tax as impressed as I have been at the quality of receipts for donations in support of biodiversity the submissions, and the amazing diversity of projects in Canada. this habitat. The highlight if this past term was a focus I hope you enjoy this issue, especially on a new initiative, the Biota of Canada the Biota of Canada articles! Please consider Project, which you have been reading about getting involved in this project, in any way you over the past few issues of this newsletter. feel comfortable. If you have news or notices, Progress on this project has seemed slow at send them in, and we’ll be happy to get them times, as we have worked our way through out. Best wishes for a great 2014!

Are you a member of the BSC? You may be on the mailing list to receive BSC newsletters, but may not be a member! To become a member, send a request for membership to the BSC Secretary, Jade Savage (see p.5 for instructions on becoming a member). Remember to request membership before the AGM so you are eligible to vote. If you don’t hear from us within a couple of weeks, please contact us again, to be sure your request has been received. Questions? Please contact us at [email protected]

The Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada is published twice a year (summer and winter) by the Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit group devoted to promoting biodiversity science in Canada, particularly with respect to the Arthropoda. Send submissions to: Dr. Donna Giberson ([email protected]) or Dr. Doug Currie ([email protected]) Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada Department of Biology, University of Prince Edward Island 550 University Ave., Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3

Masthead image: Tricoloured Bumblebee, Bombus ternarius photographed on Lupins in PEI in 2010, D.Giberson Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 3

Report on the Annual General Meeting of the BSC Dave Langor, President

The AGM of the BSC was held on October 23, 2013 during the JAM in Guelph, Ontario. At this meeting we elected a new Board that will serve for a 2-year period. The new Board consists of: - René Belland (Dept. of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB) - Patrice Bouchard (Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Ottawa, ON) - Syd Cannings (Canadian Wildlife Service, Whitehorse, YK) - David Langor (Northern Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Edmonton, AB) - Lisa Lumley (Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, AB) - Jade Savage (Biology Department, Bishops University, Sherbrooke QC) - David Shorthouse (Canadensys, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC) - Alex Smith (Department of Integrative Biology & The Biodiversity Institute of Ontario, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON) - Terry Wheeler (Lyman Entomological Museum, McGill University, Ste-Anne-de-Belle- vue, QC)

For the first time in our history there were more nominations for the Board than there were Board positions, and this shows an increasing interest in the BSC. Thanks to all folks who allowed their names to stand for nomination.

At the AGM the membership also voted unanimously to approve New Articles of Continu- ance and By-Laws.

At the first meeting of the new Board, the Officers were elected. The 2013-2015 Board and Officers consist of: - David Langor (President), - Terry Wheeler (Vice-President) - Jade Savage (Secretary) - Patrice Bouchard (Treasurer).

From the by-laws: The Board of Directors of the BSC

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

6.1. Number and Qualification The property and business of the Corporation shall be managed by the Board which shall be composed of not less than three (3) and not more than nine (9) Directors. The number of Directors shall be fixed by the Members from time to time. Directors shall be individuals, at least eighteen (18) years of age and have power under law to contract. A Director need not be a Mem- ber of the Corporation.

6.2 Provisional Board of Directors The applicants for incorporation named in the Letters Patent shall, on incorporation of the Corporation, become the first Board of the Corporation (the “Provisional Board”) whose term of office on the Board shall continue until their successors are elected. tA the first meeting of the Members, the Board then elected shall replace the Provisional Board.

6.3 Term of Directors The Directors shall be elected at an annual meeting for a term of two (2) years, as determined by the Members, or until their successors are elected by the Members. All Directors shall be eligible for re-election.

POWERS OF DIRECTORS

7.1 Management The Board shall administer the affairs of the Corporation in all things and make or cause to be made for the Corporation, in its name, any kind of contract which the Corporation may lawfully enter into and, except as otherwise specifically provided herein, shall exercise all such other powers and do all such other acts and things as the Corporation is by its Letters Patent or otherwise authorized to exercise and do. Without restricting the generality of the foregoing, the Board shall have power to authorize expenditures on behalf of the Corporation from time to time.

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Winter Update: Biological Survey of Canada/ Commission biologique du Canada activities David Langor, President, BSC Northern Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Edmonton, AB

Dear friends and colleagues from a wide range of disciplines is building interest in the BoC initiative. It is my pleasure to share with you some of the BSC The Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identi- highlights of the last six fication recently released two new vol- months. umes: Volume 23 – Key to the Genera of Nearctic Syrphidae by Miranda et al.; and Certainly, the major highlight is the pub- Volume 24 – Stink Bugs (Pentatomidae) lication of Volume 3 of the Arthropods of and Parent Bugs (Acanthosomatidae) of Canadian Grasslands book series. Volume Ontario and Adjacent Areas by Paiero et al. 4 will be released in February or March Thanks to Steve Marshall for his continued 2014. Both volumes focus on Biodiversity passion, leadership and hard work. and Systematics, with Volume 3 including 14 chapters and Volume 4 with 11 The BSC Symposium, Biological Survey chapters. These chapters are outstanding of Canada: 150 Years of Discovery and treatments of various components of the Change in Ontario’s Insect Fauna, held on grasslands fauna, and all authors are to be October 23, 2013 during the Joint Annual highly commended and congratulated. On Meeting of the ESC and ESO was very behalf of the BSC, I thank all authors and, well attended and received. Thanks to the in particular, co-editors Héctor Cárcamo authors of the 12 great papers presented, and Donna Giberson, for their dedication and to Joe Shorthouse, Doug Currie and and stellar work. These volumes, con- Steve Marshall for organizing the sympo- taining a wealth of detailed biodiversity sium. information, are certain to be widely used and cited. Completion of this 4-volume set A huge thank-you to Donna Giberson for marks a major milestone in Canadian sci- her continued commitment to the BSC ence and is destined to be a classic work Newsletter. This Biota of Canada issue is that will inform, guide and inspire current filled articles that showcase interesting and future generations. The BSC is proud activities and taxonomic groups. to have supported and lead this initiative. The AGM of the BSC was held on Octo- I fully expect that the new Biota of Canada ber 23, 2013 during the JAM in Guelph, Project (BoC) will also mature into a ‘prod- Ontario. At this meeting we elected a new uct’ that the BSC will also be enormously Board that will serve for a 2-year period proud of. There is increasing interest (see previous page for a report on the in this project from diverse quarters. A AGM and a list of the new board mem- small group of biodiversity professionals bers). I look forward to working as a part has been convened and challenged with of this new Board. For the first time in our the goal of constructing a detailed vision history there were more nominations for of how the BoC might look. We expect the Board than there were Board positions, to be able to widely circulate this vi- and this shows an increasing interest in sion and solicit feedback in late summer the BSC. Thanks to all folks who allowed or early fall 2014. The BSC has hired a their names to stand for nomination. part-time employee (Ms. Laura DeHaas) using funds provided by Environment Please note that we are seeking a student Canada (through the National General liaison to participate in Board meetings. Status Working Group) to collate available Please send nominations to Jade Savage. information (catalogs, databases, etc.) and build networks of expertise that will Over the last month the membership of enable us to update estimates of species the BSC has grown significantly, largely at- richness in Canada for animals, plants tributable to the increasing interest in the and fungi. These updates will serve both BoC initiative. If you are interested in bio- the purposes of Environment Canada for diversity issues, please consider becoming their reporting needs and the BoC Project. a member of the BSC (no cost). The networking with biodiversity experts

Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 5

Student Opportunity

The BSC is seeking a student liaison member to participate in Board meetings. If you are interested in biodiversity issues, please consider getting involved. It is a chance to network with other biodiversity workers, as well as add some critical experience to your CV!

Please contact Jade Savage for more information, or with nominations ([email protected]). Self-nominations are welcome

Recent papers in the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification:

Paiero, S.M., Marshall, S.A., McPherson, J.E., Ma, M.-S. 2013. Stink bugs (Pentatomidae) and parent bugs (Acanthosomatidae) of Ontario and adjacent areas: A key to species and a review of the fauna. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 24, 1 September, 2013. Available online at http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/pmmm_24.html http://dx.doi.org/10.3752/cjai.2013.24

Miranda, G.F.G, Young, A.D., Locke, M.M., Marshall, S.A., Skevington, J.H., Thompson, F.C. 2013. Key to the Genera of Nearctic Syrphidae. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 23, 23 August, 2013. Available online at http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/mylmst_23/mylmst_23.html http://dx.doi.org/10.3752/cjai.2013.23

Glasier, J.R.N., Acorn, J.H., Nielsen, S., Proctor, H. 2013. Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) of Alberta: A key to species based primarily on the worker caste. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 22, 4 July, 2013. Available online at http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/ganp_22/ganp_22.html http://dx.doi.org/10.3752/cjai.2013.22

To Jo i n t h e BSC: Send an email to Dr. J. Savage, Secretary, BSC. [email protected] or [email protected]

- In the subject line, write “BSC Membership” - in the body of the message, give your full name and contact information, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some information on your background and biodiversity interests.

Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 6

BSC Book Announcement: Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands Volumes 3 and 4

The final volumes of the Arthropods of Canadi- an Grasslands series focus on biodiversity and systematics, and provide checklists, distribution information, ecology, and biogeography for more than 8,000 species within several groups of arthropods that inhabit Canadian Grass- lands. Volume 3 should be available in January 2014, and Volume 4 is expected in late winter or early spring, 2014. See below for the tables of contents for Vols. 3 & 4.

Cárcamo, H. and Giberson, D.J. (editors) 2014, forthcoming in January. Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands, Volume 3. Biodiversity and Sys- tematics, Part 1. Biological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Canada.

Contents (Volume 3) Chapter 1. An Introduction to the Biogeography of Canadian Grassland Arthropods G. G. E. Scudder. Chapter 2. Myriapoda and Terrestrial Isopoda of the Prairies of Canada B. A. Snyder. Chapter 3. Plant-feeding Mites of the Canadian Prairies F. Beaulieu and W. Knee. Chapter 4. Spiders (Arachnida: Araneae) of the Canadian Prairies H. Cárcamo, J. Pinzón, R. Leech, and J. Spence. Chapter 5. Chewing Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) and Feather Mites (Acari: Astigmatina: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea): Ectosymbionts of Grassland Birds in Canada. T. D. Galloway, H. C. Proctor, and S. V. Mironov. Chapter 6. Springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) of the Prairie Grasslands of Canada Z. Lindo. Chapter 7. Stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Canadian Prairie Provinces L. M. Dosdal and D. J. Giberson. Chapter 8. The Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata) of Canadian Grasslands R. A. Cannings. Chapter 9. Orthoptera of the Grasslands of British Columbia and the Yukon Territory J. Miskelly. Chapter 10. The Heteroptera (Hemiptera) of the Prairies Ecozone of Canada G. G. E. Scudder. Chapter 11. Canadian Grasslands and Their Endemic Leafhoppers (Hemiptera: Auchenorrhyncha: Cicadellidae) K. G. A. Hamilton. Chapter 12. Aphids (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) of the Prairies Ecozone of Canada R. G. Foottit and E. Maw. Chapter 13. Black Flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) of the Prairie Grasslands of Canada D. C. Currie. Chapter 14. Biting Flies (Culicidae, Ceratopogonidae, Tabanidae) of the Prairies Ecozone T. J. Lysyk and T. D. Galloway.

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BSC Book Announcement, continued

Giberson, D.J. and Cárcamo, H. (editors) 2014, forthcoming in spring. Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands, Volume 4. Biodiversity and Sys- tematics, Part 2. Biological Survey of Canada, Ottawa, Canada.

Contents (Volume 4)

Chapter 1. Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) of the Prairie Grasslands of Canada. N.J. Holliday, K.D. Floate, H. Cárcamo, D.A. Pollock, A.Stjernberg, and R.E. Roughley. Chapter 2. Click Beetles and Wireworms (Coleoptera: Elateridae) of Alberta, Saskatch- ewan, and Manitoba. W.G. van Herk and R.S. Vernon. Chapter 3. Darkling Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) of Canadian Grasslands. P. Bouchard and Y. Bousquet. Chapter 4. Weevils (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae, Brachyceridae, Curculionidae) of the Prairies Ecozone in Canada. R.S. Anderson, P. Bouchard* and H. Douglas. Chapter 5. Moths and Butterflies of the Prairies Ecozone in Canada. G.R. Pohl, B. C. Schmidt, J.D. Lafontaine, J.-F. Landry, G.G. Anweiler, and C.D. Bird. Chapter 6. Moths and Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of the Peace River Region: Case study of a disjunct grassland fauna. B.C. Schmidt, F.A.H. Sperling and A.D. Macaulay. Chapter 7. The Robber Flies (Diptera: Asilidae) of Western Canadian Grasslands. R.A. Cannings. . Chapter 8. An Annotated List of Ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from the Grasslands of Alberta and Saskatchewan. J.R.N. Glasier and J.H. Acorn. Chapter 9. Ichneumonidae (Hymenoptera) of the Canadian Prairies Ecozone: A Review. M.D. Schwarzfeld. Chapter 10. Annotated Checklist of Braconidae (Hymenoptera) in the Canadian Prairies Ecozone. B.J. Sharanowski, Y. M. Zhang, and R.W.M.U.M. Wanigasekara. Chapter 11. The Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Apiformes) of the Prairies Ecozone, with Comparisons to other Grasslands of Canada. C.S. Sheffield, S.D. Frier, and S. Dumesh.

How to obtain copies of the books or chapters:

Chapters will be available for free download on the Biological Survey of Canada Website: http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/publications. htm

Hard copy books will be available as Print-on-Demand books from Volumes Direct once they are published, as with the previous volumes. Detailed order information will be posted on the website when it is available.

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Biota of Canada Project: Moving Forward Our Vision (Consult http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/news31_2/bscwinter2012.pdf for a complete version of the Biota of Canada vision document.) The Biological Survey of Canada (http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/bschome.htm) is building a consortium of partners to launch a new project to develop a comprehensive and easy-to-access census of species diversity in Canada. This project aims to collate, summarize, analyze and disseminate to the general public both new and already existing information about the species diversity of Canada. The Biota of Canada project is inspired by, and will be somewhat modelled after, an earlier BSC project that culminated in the publication of Canada and Its Insect Fauna (Danks 1979). However, this new initiative will expand its coverage beyond terrestrial arthropods to all species in Canada and build an open-access, web-based dynamic product that can be updated continuously and into the foreseeable future. To avoid duplication of effort, existing information and data sources will be linked to the Biota of Canada project, while other information and data will be compiled de novo as part of the project. Danks, H.V. (Ed.). 1979. Canada and its insect fauna. Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 108. 573 pp

You are needed! This is an opportunity for you to become involved in this project and have an influence on its design, content and functionality. Please send your feedback either via email to David Langor ([email protected]) or by using the SurveyMonkey questionnaire available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N8D58PP

Our Progress: The new Biota of Canada Project (BoC) is expected to result in an updatable and search- able on-line ‘product’ (with information on species presence, distributions, etc.) that will be accessible by scientists and the public alike. We are already seeing increasing interest in the project from diverse quarters and a group of biodiversity professionals is in place working on a detailed vision of how the BoC might look. The goal is to have this vision ready for feedback in late summer or early fall 2014. The networking with biodiversity experts from a wide range of disciplines is building interest in the BoC initiative. In this Issue: Look for three articles that are directly related to the Biota of Canada Project. First, Rémi Hébert, Scientific Project Coordinator, General Status of Species in Canada, Canadian Wild- life Service, has written an informative article about the General Status program in Cana- da, and the importance of knowing what species we have, before we can plan to conserve species. The Biota of Canada project should help to feed information to this process. But there are challenges to getting this information together, since there is limited information on the taxonony of many Canadian taxa, limited resources for collecting and processing samples and data, and a shortage of trained professionals. We present two informative articles giving a bit of a snapshot on what we know about some very tiny animals, their small size underscoring some of the challenges in getting to “know” the species in Canada. Gary Grothman’s article covers what is known about the Tardigrada, and Lisa Lumley, Fred Beaulieu, Valerie Behan-Pelletier, Wayne Knee, Evert Lindquist, Michelle Mark, Heather Proctor, and David Walter summarize known information about the incredibly diverse (and surprisingly attractive) mites! In coming issues, we’ll also review some of the infrastructure challenges we face, as well as tackling summaries of other taxonomic groups.

Biological Survey of Canada: Documenting Canada’s Biodiversity The Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) has a 35-year history of collecting, collating, analyzing and disseminating information about Canada’s biological diversity. The BSC is a non-profit, charitable organization consisting of biodiversity scientists across the country, and in other countries, who have an interest in Canadian biota. The BSC prides itself in identifying and filling biodiversity information needs using a bottom-up organizational structure, whereby front-line workers identify the needs and work to address them. The BSC has successfully demonstrated its capacity to advance national level biodiversity science and knowledge concerning terrestrial arthropods, which account for >60% of Canadian species, and is now reaching out to the broader biological community to bring together those who are experts with other taxa and who share a common vision and goal of making biodiversity information more accessible.

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The Program on the General Status of Species in Canada Prepared by Rémi Hébert, Ph.D. Scientific Project Coordinator, General Status of Species in Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment Canada, 351 St. Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau (Quebec) K1A 0H3

INTRODUCTION The first step in preventing the loss of species is to know which species we have, where they occur and what their status is. The aim of the program on the General Status of species in Canada is to provide this overview. This endeavour can only be achieved through a collaborative ap- proach, so in 1996, the wildlife ministers in Canada signed the Accord for the Pro- tection of Species at Risk. One key commitment of this Accord was to “monitor, assess and report regularly on the status of all wild species”, which is the mandate of the program on the General Status of species in Canada. A few years later, the federal government reaffirmed this commitment under the Species at Risk Act. Section 128 of this law stipulates that “five years after this section comes into force and at the end of each subsequent period of five years, the Minister must Fig. 1. Cover page of the Wild Species 2010 prepare a general report on the status of report. wildlife species”. The National General Status Work- (Figure 1). Reports from the Wild Species ing Group (NGSWG) was created to fulfil series represent the most comprehensive these commitments. The working group look at the state of Canada’s species and is composed of representatives from each contain the general status assessments of the Canadian provinces and territories for a broad cross-section of species, and of the three federal agencies whose from all provinces, territories and ocean mandate includes wildlife (Canadian regions. The first report of the series was Wildlife Service, Fisheries and Oceans Wild Species 2000. This report included Canada, Parks Canada). Members of the the assessment of 1,670 species, which working group are responsible for com- encompassed almost all vertebrates in pleting the assessments of species in Canada. This report was a huge achieve- their respective jurisdictions. Environment ment, as it summarized for the first time Canada is the co-chair and coordinator the results of monitoring efforts for many of the working group, and one provincial species across the country. The second or territorial government is the other report, Wild Species 2005, increased the co-chair (currently Newfoundland and number of assessed species up to 7,732 Labrador). The NGSWG is responsible to species. One of the greatest achieve- the Canadian Wildlife Directors’ Com- ments of this report was to assess for mittee, and ultimately to the Canadian the first time the conservation status of Endangered Species Conservation Coun- all vascular plants in Canada (represent- cil, which includes all wildlife ministers in ing more than 5,000 species, using the Canada. updated taxonomy provided by the Flora of North America). The latest report, Wild WILD SPECIES REPORTS Species 2010, reassessed most of the The main product of the NGSWG is a species that were included in the previ- report, produced every five years, titled ous reports, and added several groups of Wild Species: The General Status of Spe- invertebrates, especially insects. These cies in Canada (www.wildspecies.ca) groups included for example all spe-

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cies of spiders, odonates, predaceous in museums, and other data. The first diving beetles, ground beetles, lady step is to update or build the list of spe- beetles, bumblebees, black flies, horse cies known to occur in Canada for the flies, mosquitoes, butterflies and some specific taxonomic groups, based on the selected families of macro-moths. To best available knowledge. Then, experts highlight this new addition, a lady beetle review the available data to determine was selected as the main photo of the the status of the species to the extent cover page (Figure 1). The Wild Species possible. Finally, data are compiled by 2010 report presented the conserva- the NGSWG to produce the Wild Spe- tion status of a total of nearly 12,000 cies report. Figure 2 summarizes the species. The next report, Wild Species process. 2015, is already under preparation and For well-known taxonomic groups is anticipated to add several more taxo- such as vertebrates, expertise to assess nomic groups. available data was drawn largely from within provincial, territorial or federal SPECIES ASSESSMENT PROCESS governments. For lesser known taxo- Our assessments are based on the nomic groups, such as insects, experts best available knowledge. Sources of (university researchers or other special- data include published scientific stud- ists) were hired to assist government ies, electronic databases of collections biologists to develop their ranks.

Fig. 2. Process for species assessment in Canada.

RANKING SYSTEM Each species assessed in the Wild will be using the ranking system of Species reports received a rank in each NatureServe. For more information on province, territory, or ocean region in the NatureServe ranking system, please which they are known to be present, consult the website and documenta- as well as an overall national rank for tion of NatureServe (www.natureserve. Canada. These ranks represent the con- org). For information about the previous servation status of the species. Starting ranking system used by the National with the Wild Species 2015 report, the General Status Working Group, please National General Status Working Group consult the Wild Species 2010 report.

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RESULTS OF ASSESSMENTS CONCLUSION Since we assess all species in a tax- The program on the General Status onomic group, the results provide an of Canada is collaborating with Biologi- overview of how species in each group cal Survey of Canada. In the context are doing in Canada. For example, in of the project “The Biota of Canada: the Wild Species 2010 report, overall A Census of Canadian Species”, a results indicated that most species contract has been recently issued by are secure in Canada, but groups vary Environment Canada to revise the in the proportion that are not secure. estimated total number of species in Reptiles have the lowest proportion Canada. The results of this contract of secure species in Canada. Vascular will help the NGSWG to flag new taxo- plants have the largest proportion of nomic groups for which species lists exotic species; 24% of all plant spe- currently exist in Canada, or for which cies established in the wild are not the development of a species list is native to Canada. For some groups feasible. It will ultimately enable the of insects, a large proportion of the assessment of other taxonomic groups species are often ranked as undeter- for future reports of the Wild Species mined, reflecting a lack of knowledge. series. As an example of the results of an The reports of the Wild Species assessment, figure 3 presents the series represent a huge achievement status of ground beetles (Carabidae) by summarizing the general status in Canada, from the Wild Species assessments of a large number and 2010 report. A total of 934 species of variety of wild species occurring in ground beetles are known to occur in Canada. However, with a total number Canada. At the national level, most of species in Canada estimated to be (58%) ground beetles are secure, but more than 70,000, there are still many 28% are undetermined, 6% are ex- species left to be assessed. Future re- otic, 4% are sensitive and 4% may be ports from the Wild Species series will at risk. Main threats that were identi- continue to consolidate our knowledge fied were the use of pesticides and the of wild species by using information presence of exotic earthworms that from experts to create a baseline for compost the leaf litter within one year. comparison of the status of Canada’s species.

Fig. 3. Results of the general status assessments for ground beetles in Canada in the Wild Species 2010 report.

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Tardigrades: A Brief Overview Gary Grothman Natural and Mathematical Sciences Area, St. Mary’s University College, Calgary, Alberta

INTRODUCTION TAXONOMY & PHYLOGENY The tardigrades, also known as “water In the past, tardigrades have been bears” or “moss piglets”, are a phylum linked to rotifers, gastrotrichs, nema- (Tardigrada) of mostly microscopic ani- todes, annelids and, especially, Ony- mals found in a wide variety of habitats, chophora and arthropods (Ramazzotti with global distribution. Their common and Maucci 1983). The phylum Tardigrada names come from typical habitats (all was elevated by Ramazzotti in 1962, who tardigrades depend on an aqueous en- considered them between Onychophora vironment for activity, including notably and Myriapoda, but also closely tied to the thin layer of water adhering to moss), Nematoda. Two main hypotheses remain and their stout body plan and lumbering that describe the relationship of tardi- gait. This locomotion is also the origin grades with other phyla (Figure 3), based of their formal name, Tardigrada (Spal- on genetic sequence analysis and some lanzani 1777), from Latin tardi “slow” morphological measures: tardigrades may and gradus “step”. Spallanzani, perhaps be a sister group of nematodes within the uncharitably, compared the body shape Ecdysozoa (Dunn et al. 2008), or may be of the tardigrade to a rooster testis. The within the Panarthropoda. If the latter, “water bear” moniker pre-dates this, as tardigrades may be sister to arthropods they were described and illustrated as (Telford et al. 2008), or Onychophora and “kleiner Wasserbär” by Goeze in 1773. arthropods may be closer to each other, Figure 1 illustrates a fairly typical mem- with tardigrades the outlier (Campbell et ber. al. 2011). The grouping within Panarthro- Some of the earli- poda, in particular as the sister phylum est interest in these to arthropods, appears to hold stronger organisms was focused ground and broader support currently, for on their ability to “die” example see Mayer et al. (2013). Further and be “resurrected”; molecular studies should provide useful this became entangled information for exploring the Panarthro- with arguments over poda in more detail. spontaneous generation (Keilin 1959). It is still this capacity to enter an inactive, resistant state during long periods of unfavourable conditions Fig. 1. Hypsibius du- that attracts widest at- jardini, ventral view, tention from the pub- SEM. Credit: Gold- lic eye. They are also stein lab (Creative striking in appearance, Commons: http:// with 8 short legs end- creativecommons.org/ing in curved claws, a licenses/by-sa/4.0/) round mouth from which Fig. 3. Excerpted from Mayer et al. (2013) two piercing stylets may (Creative Commons: http://creativecom- emerge and, in some mons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) species, armoured plates and spikes or long fibres extending from points laterally The 1167 species and 113 genera of and dorsally, as seen in beautiful EM im- this phylum (as of January 2013, Vicente ages such as Figure 2. and Bertolani 2013) are divided into two main classes, Heterotardigrada and Eu- tardigrada. Some recognize a third class, Mesotardigrada which is represented Fig. 2 Echinis- by only a single doubtful species, which cus granulatus, colourized SEM. in any event has not been recorded in Credit: Oliver Canada. The majority of species found in Meckes, used by Canada are eutardigrades, of which all permission. but one Canadian genus are within the order Parachela. However, far more terrestrial than marine sampling has been

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carried out, so it is likely that marine tar- the other hand, tardigrades have no cir- digrades, particularly the marine order culatory or respiratory systems, relying Arthotardigrada within the Heterotardi- on their small size and their hemocoel to grada, are under-represented. supply all parts with oxygen and nutri- The Canadian tardigrade record thus ents (Bertolani et al. 2009). Eyespots far includes 115 species and 32 genera may or may not be present, varying (Meyer 2013). The most up-to-date even between individuals of a single spe- checklist of tardigrade species can be cies. found at http://www.tardigrada.modena. The bilaterally-symmetrical, roughly unimo.it/miscellanea/Actual%20check- cylindrical tardigrade body is surrounded list%20of%20Tardigrada.pdf (Degma et with a chitinous cuticle, and in many al. 2013). species within the class Heterotardigra- da, this cuticle may include a number of MORPHOLOGY rigid plates (Figure 2). Growth is through These 8-legged creatures are primarily a series of molts, each one shedding the microscopic (the largest may reach over cuticle and claws; the molt is preceded 1 mm in length, but 500 µm is more typ- by expelling the bucco-pharyngeal ap- ical, with newly hatched young as small paratus (the anterior “cuticular” portion as 50 µm or so). The unjointed legs are of the digestive tract). This includes the normally tipped with claws. Marine speci- stylets (two paired, calcified piercing mens, and many of the commonly seen organs which can protrude through the limno-terrestrial tardigrades (especially mouth) and the relatively rigid bucco- in class Eutardigrada), are colourless or pharyngeal tube lining the esophagus, white; often the striking colours of gut as well as the wall lining the sucking contents are easily observed. Some ani- pharynx and the placoids (Figure 6) mals do show pigmentation, particularly (Ramazzotti and Maucci 1983). In some yellows and reds and particularly among cases excretion and egg laying coincide the Heterotardigrada. Other possibili- with these molts. ties exist, e.g., bands of brown pigment granules are characteristic of some Ra- mazzottius species. Despite their small size, tardigrades have a complete digestive system Fig. 6. Macrobiotus (Figure 4) and a fairly well-developed (now Isohypsibius) nervous system with ventral nerve cord, canadensis, excerpted and complex musculature (Figure 5). On from Murray 1910. Top-left is a close-up of the buccal apparatus, including the buccal tube flanked by the two stylets, and penetrating into the roughly oval pharynx. In this case 3 rows of cuticular structures, the macroplacoids, are seen in the pharynx.

Identification of tardigrades to genus is usually straightforward, though narrow- Fig. 4. Isohypsibius granulifer, excerpted from ing the determination to the species level Thulin 1928. a: habitus, showing digestive often requires measurement and very system, with gonad dorsally. b: close-up of close examination. Typical characters bucco-pharyngeal apparatus, including needle- used in identification include details of like stylet. c: claws of fourth pair of legs. the cuticle such as any ornamentation, the shape and arrangement of the claws, proportions of the bucco-pharyngeal apparatus components including number and shape of macroplacoids, presence of microplacoids, width of the buccal tube, presence of a flexible pharyngeal tube, and so on (Figure 7). In some cases, Fig. 5. Musculature of Macrobiotus hufe- the presence of eggs is very helpful or landi, modified from Müller 1935.

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the toughest of the animals. It must be stressed, however, that their resistance is not as exceptional in their active form, during which tardigrades carry out all the usual behaviours such as eating and reproducing, although their tolerance of ionizing radiation may be greater in this active form (Jönsson et al. 2005; Beltran-Párdo et al. 2013). In active form they may also retain considerable resistance to brief periods of anoxia (Ramazzotti and Maucci 1983), and in some cases to freezing (Hengherr et Fig.7. Bucco-pharyngeal apparatuses of three al. 2009; Guidetti, Altiero, Bertolani et tardigrades for comparison. Phase contrast, not to al. 2011) or osmotic changes (Halberg scale. Left: Milnesium cf. tardigradum, with a very et al. 2009). Rather, the most remark- short, wide buccal tube and elongated pharynx. able resistance demonstrated by these Centre: Diphascon (Adropion) sp, with a flexible organisms is due to the ability of many pharyngeal tube and very long, thin macropla- - most limno-terrestrial species, though coids. Right: Isohypsibius prosostomus. Credit: Gary Grothman (Creative Commons: http://cre- normally not marine species - to enter a ativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). state of “hidden life” called cryptobiosis. Whether this is a complete, or merely a near-complete, suspension of life pro- essential in differentiating members of cesses has long been debated, and it similar species; some freely-laid tardi- was partly to side-step this controversy grade eggs are highly ornamented with and avoid terms like “resurrection” that processes of characteristic shape (Figure Keilin coined “cryptobiosis” (Keilin 1959). 8). In other cases, eggs are laid (or left) In any event, this process, especially within the shed cuticle (Figure 9). in response to desiccation, is what first drew attention to tardigrades, and to the Fig. 8. Macrobiotus harm- similarly-capable rotifers and nematodes sworthi recently emerged (Spallanzani 1777). Anhydrobiosis (liter- from egg. PC, scale bar = 50 µm. Credit: Gary ally, “life without water”) is accomplished Grothman (Creative Com- by a characteristic shortening of the mons: http://creative- body, drawing-in of the legs, and loss of commohttp://creative- body volume to enter a stage known as a commons.org/licenses/ “tun” (Figure 10). by-sa/4.0/).

Fig. 10. The normal tardigrade habitus and the highly resistant, inactive tun form. SEM. Credit: Schokraie et al. 2010 (Creative Commons: Fig. 9. Five eggs in discarded cuticle of Hypsibius http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). sp., probably H. convergens. Posterior is to right in image. Credit: Gary Grothman (Creative Commons: In tun state, tardigrades have ex- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). hibited great resistance to numerous challenges, including heat up to 120oC ENVIRONMENTAL RESISTANCE, RE- (Doyère 1840), cold below 0.05 K (Bec- SISTANT STATES querel 1950), pressure up to 600 Mpa The ability to withstand extreme (Seki and Toyoshima 2008), vacuum environmental conditions demonstrated including exposure to space (Jönsson by some tardigrades, and especially the et al. 2008, Persson et al. 2011), ultra- ability of some limno-terrestrial forms violet and ionizing radiation (Horikawa to survive essentially complete des- 2006; Altiero et al. 2011), and chemi- sication for years, is well-known and cals noxious to the active form (e.g., has prompted some to call tardigrades Baumann 1922, Ramløv & Westh 2001).

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Most of these, however, are unlikely to be water column but confined to sediment encountered in the normal existence of or aquatic plants (Garey et al. 2008). most terrestrial tardigrades, and so may Yet tardigrades all require a layer of be regarded as interesting but incidental water in which to carry out active life consequences of the tardigrade’s primary processes, so the more common “ter- resistances, to dessication (anhydrobio- restrial” populations are more properly sis) and cold (cryobiosis). An exception termed “limno-terrestrial”. It is unsurpris- could be resistance to ionizing radiation, ing that so many tardigrades have been where the organisms may routinely ben- sampled from moss, where the slow- efit from putative enhanced DNA repair drying interstitial water appears to make mechanisms (Jönsson et al. 2005). an ideal habitat. However, it is likely that In addition to the more famous tun some of this wealth of tardigrade records form, a number of tardigrades may form reflects the ease of collecting samples a cyst, a configuration that also confers from this habitat. Similarly, limno-terres- some enhanced resistance to environ- trial tardigrades are frequently found on mental challenges (Guidetti, Altiero, and lichen, liverworts, in leaf litter and the Rebecchi 2011). In this, a tardigrade upper layers of soil, as well as on some forms an additional layer or multiple ad- flowering plants (Ramazzotti and Maucci ditional layers of cuticle, then contracts 1983; Kinchin 1994; Nelson 2002). While back within this tough shell. Cyclomor- they may be found almost everywhere, phosis and resting eggs are additional tardigrade distribution within a habitat strategies employed by tardigrades with may be very patchy (Nichols et al. 2001; reduced metabolic activity and increased Romano et al. 2001; Meyer 2006). resistance (Guidetti, Altiero, and Rebec- Distributional data are lacking or lim- chi 2011). ited for many members of the Tardigrada, leading to difficulties in drawing conclu- ECOLOGY & DISTRIBUTION sions about overall distribution patterns. As a phylum, tardigrades are cosmo- This has undoubtedly contributed to politan, and have been recovered from the relative paucity of marine records all continents (McInnes and Pugh 1998). compared to those from moss, lichen, Many species used to be regarded as cos- and leaf litter (including shallow soil) - mopolitan in their own right, but recent samples easily collected and fairly easily recognition of several of these as cryptic searched for tardigrades. Marine species species complexes means that fewer are often collected from (littoral) shallow than 7% of non-marine species are now sand, partly reflecting an apparently real considered cosmopolitan (McInnes and pattern of species distribution, and partly Pugh 1998, Pilato and Binda 2001). It is the ease of sample collection (Renaud- also notable that most taxa are confined Mornant 1988). to a biogeographic region (such as the Despite limitations on distributional Nearctic, including Canada) (Pilato and data, we know that tardigrades oc- Binda 2001; Garey et al. 2008). cupy several niches in their various Collectively tardigrades are eurytopic. habitats. Their general obscurity until They are found in marine, freshwater fairly recently - when their voyages to and terrestrial environments, at high space attracted media attention - has altitudes (6600 m, Ehrenberg 1858) and been aided by their lack of significant in ocean sediment in the intertidal zone impact on humans, though they can be to the abyssal depths (below 4000 m, important members of their communi- Renaud-Mornant 1988). They are also ties. Tardigrades may be preyed upon by known from the Arctic to the Antarctic, spiders, insect larvae, mites, nematodes, in cryoconite holes in glaciers (Dastych and other tardigrades, and parasitized 1993), and in the tropics. While some by fungi and protozoans (Bertolani et al. individual species are themselves eury- 2009). In return, tardigrades consume topic, at least some habitat preference is detritus, bacteria, protists, algae, or commonly seen (Nelson 2002). Interest- moss, while others are exclusively car- ingly, a number of marine species have nivorous, consuming rotifers, nematodes, been found living in or on other organ- and other tardigrades (Nelson 2002). In isms including molluscs, echinoderms, unusual cases they may even serve as barnacles, and isopods, in some cases top predators (Nielsen et al. 2009; Glime possibly in an obligate symbiotic relation- 2013) or significant suppressors of nema- ship (Renaud-Mornant 1982, Renaud- todes (Sánchez-Moreno et al. 2008). In Mornant 1988). experimental conditions, a single adult Obligate freshwater species are rela- tardigrade has been observed to con- tively uncommon, and are not free in the sume 61 nematodes in one day (Sán-

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chez-Moreno et al. 2008). Tardigrades dispersal has been observed for nema- have also been found in some of the todes and rotifers which are often found simplest faunal communities, consisting in the same habitats as tardigrades, and of only tardigrades and rotifers (Convey which resemble them in size and in their and McInnes 2005). anhydrobiotic capacity (Kinchin 1994). Altitude appears to influence tardi- Evidence for this in tardigrades, however, grade distribution, with certain species is inconsistent: They have been observed confined to or favouring certain altitudes, in air or in raindrops in some experi- although this is likely to be an indirect ments (Kristensen 1987), though not in effect through humidity or temperature other conditions where one might expect (Dastych 1988; Kathman and Cross such movement (Sudzuki 1972; Jenkins 1991). These factors may also contrib- and Underwood 1998; Wright 2001). ute to the seasonality observed in some Also arguing against dispersal by wind as tardigrade populations, along with food a major mechanism is the localized and availability, air pollution, and competi- patchy distribution and paucity of truly tion or predation (Bertolani et al. 2009). cosmopolitan species already mentioned Some seasonality observations are con- (Pilato and Binda 2001; Wright 2001). veniently summarized in Kinchin (1994); where quantitative data are available, STUDIES IN CANADA different populations may show very I am aware of the following articles divergent seasonal peaks. or longer works reporting collection of Their resistance to desiccation allows tardigrades in Canada, most of which are limno-terrestrial tardigrades to with- conveniently listed in Collins and Bate- stand periods of poor growth conditions man (2012) which includes an updated in environments that show consider- list of all species recorded in Canada able variability over a period of days or to this point. These can also be seen in weeks. Therefore, it is unsurprising that Meyer’s (2013) comprehensive list of all they are marked as r-strategists (Hof- species records for the Americas. man 1987), relying on rapid reproduction The earliest study touching on Canadi- during transient conditions favourable an tardigrades is by Ferdinand Richters, for growth. It has also been noted that who in 1908 reported on observations taridgrades in such environments are of tardigrades from moss collected in more likely to be parthenogenic or self- Vancouver from 1896 to 1897 by Hugo fertilizing hermaphrodites, contrasting Schauinsland (Richters 1908). This was with the gonochoric species inhabiting followed by James Murray (1910), who the more stable marine environment described collecting during “pauses in (Bertolani 2001). a hurried journey across the continent” Another ecological factor in tardigrades (Murray 1910, p.159), sampling from that is poorly known is their method of Victoria to Ottawa (the sea-shore in Vic- dispersal among and within habitats. toria, Stanley Park in Vancouver, Rocky While tardigrades have been observed Mountains (several locations certainly in crawling from a patch of moss to another BC, some locations not specified), Lake on the same tree (during a rainfall that of the Woods, and Ottawa). provided the necessary continuous layer Another major figure in early-20th- of water) the speed of even the rela- century tardigrade circles, Ernst Mayer, tively swift Macrobiotus hufelandi (17.7 also reported tardigrades from BC (1929, cm/h) is considered insufficient for active 1936), the Rocky Mountains (1936), and dispersal to be a major mechanism (Ra- Niagara Falls (1936) (All cited in Meyer mazzotti and Maucci 1983). Dispersal by 2013). flowing water for truly aquatic tardi- After this there is a lull until Cooper grades, or for limno-terrestrial species (1964) established a new genus for the when insufficiently adherent to their sub- single fossil specimen designated Beorn strate, is a possibility that is presumed leggi, which was found along with a less but not yet tested in detail (Ramazzotti well-preserved tardigrade in cretaceous and Maucci 1983). amber near Cedar Lake, Manitoba. In contrast, many consider that the anhydrobiotic capacity of limno-terres- Numerous collections from specific trial tardigrades makes passive dispersal regions followed. These are summarized very likely or even certain, as the desic- in Table 1, and the full list of known Ca- cated tuns may be carried in the wind, or nadian species is given in Table 2. in soil on birds or other more wide-rang- ing travellers (Ramazzotti and Maucci 1983; Kinchin 1994). This method of

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Table 1. Recent Canadian collecting localities for Tardigrades

Yukon: Ogilvie Mountains (Dastych 1987) Near Whitehorse (Manicardi 1989)

Nunavut: Axel Heiberg Island (Węglarska 1970; Węglarska and Kuc, 1980, Szymanska 1984) Igloolik (Jørgensen and Kristensen 1991) Devon Island (Ryan 1977, Van Rompu et al. 1992) Little Cornwallis Island (Van Rompu et al. 1991) Victoria Island (Van Rompu et al. 2000) Cape Herschel, Ellesmere Island (Sutcliffe and Blake 2000) Ward Hunt Ice Shelf, Ellesmere Island (Vincent et al. 2000)

British Columbia: Emerald Lake (Anderson and DeHenau 1980, Grothman 2012) Five Vancouver Island mountains (Kathman and Nelson 1989; Kathman 1990a; Kath- man 1990b; Kathman and Dastych 1990; Kathman and Cross 1991; Guidetti and Pilato 2003) Whistler Mountain (Meyer and Hinton 2012) 3 sites: North Vancouver, Revelstoke, Roger’s Pass (Grothman 2012)

Alberta: Several mountain lakes (Anderson and DeHenau 1980) Black Cat Mountain (Boeckner and Proctor 2005) Fish Creek Provincial Park (Grothman 2011) 3 sites: Lac Beauvert, Bearberry, and Kananaskis Provincial Park (Grothman 2012)

Saskatchewan: Matador field station (Pilato 1977)

Ontario: Pelee Island in Lake Erie (Evans 1982) Duffin Creek and Rouge River near Pickering (Williams 1993) Eastern Lake Erie (Dermott and Kerec 1997) Gullfeather Lake (Saint-Jacques 2000)

Québec: In the vicinity of Baie-Comeau (Iharos 1973) Fermont and Saint Paul’s River (Collins 2010)

New Brunswick: Primarily the lower Saint John river valley (Argue 1971; Argue 1972; Argue 1974; Nelson 1991)

Newfoundland and Labrador: 59 sites around Newfoundland (Bateman and Collins 2001; Collins and Bateman 2001, Collins and Bateman 2012) Northern coastal Labrador (Boeckner et al. 2006) Burin Peninsula (Brake 2006)

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Table 2. The full list of Canadian tardigrade species recorded. All are from Meyer (2013) except that marked *, which is from Grothman (2012). These are in the standard order, as seen in the online checklist (Degma 2013). Superfamilies and subfamilies are not listed. Class Heterotardigrada Borealibius zetlandicus Order Echiniscoidea Hypsibius arcticus Family Echiniscidae Hypsibius convergens Bryochoerus intermedius Hypsibius dujardini Bryodelphax parvulus Hypsibius microps Cornechiniscus cornutus Hypsibius pallidus Cornechiniscus holmeni Itaquascon pawlowskii Diploechiniscus oihonnae Mesocrista spitzbergensis Echiniscus blumi Platicrista angustata Echiniscus canadensis Platicrista cheleusis Echiniscus dearmatus Family Microhypsibiidae Echiniscus granulatus Microhypsibius sp. Echiniscus horningi Family Ramazzottidae Echiniscus kerguelensis Hebesuncus conjungens Echiniscus mauccii Ramazzottius baumanni Echiniscus merokensis Ramazzottius cataphractus Echiniscus quadrispinosus Ramazzottius oberhaeuseri Echiniscus reymondi Family Isohypsibiidae Echiniscus spiniger Doryphoribius macrodon Echiniscus sylvanus Isohypsibius canadensis Echiniscus testudo Isohypsibius chiarae Echiniscus trisetosus Isohypsibius elegans Echiniscus wendti Isohypsibius granulifer Hypechiniscus gladiator Isohypsibius lunulatus Proechiniscus hanneae Isohypsibius nodosus Pseudechiniscus alberti Isohypsibius papillifer Pseudechiniscus facettalis Isohypsibius prosostomus Pseudechiniscus goedeni Isohypsibius sattleri Pseudechiniscus suillus Isohypsibius schaudinni Pseudechiniscus victor Isohypsibius tetradactyloides Testechiniscus laterculus Isohypsibius tuberculatus Testechiniscus spitsbergensis Isohypsibius woodsae Class Eutardigrada Thulinius augusti s.l. Order Apochela Thulinius ruffoi Family Milnesiidae Thulinius saltursus Milnesium tardigradum † Thulinius stephaniae Order Parachela Family Macrobiotiidae Family Eohypsibiidae Insuetifurca arrowsmithi Bertolanius nebulosus Macrobiotus crenulatus Bertolanius smreczynskii Macrobiotus echinogenitus Bertolanius weglarskae Macrobiotus harmsworthi Family Calohypsibiidae Macrobiotus hibiscus Calohypsibius ornatus Macrobiotus hufelandi Family Hypsibiidae Macrobiotus islandicus Diphascon (subgenus Diphascon) alpinum Macrobiotus lazzaroi Diphascon (Diphascon) brevipes Macrobiotus montanus Diphascon (Diphascon) bullatum Macrobiotus occidentalis Diphascon (Diphascon) burti Macrobiotus pilatoi Diphascon (Diphascon) chilenense Macrobiotus virgatus Diphascon (Diphascon) granifer Minibiotus intermedius Diphascon (Diphascon) cf iltisi Minibiotus jonesorum Diphascon (Diphascon) nodulosum Paramacrobiotus areolatus Diphascon (Diphascon) oculatum Paramacrobiotus richtersi Diphascon (Diphascon) pingue Paramacrobiotus tonollii Diphascon (Diphascon) ramazzottii Richtersius coronifer Diphascon (Diphascon) recamieri Tenuibiotus bondavallii Diphascon (Diphascon) rugosum Tenuibiotus tenuis Diphascon (Diphascon) ongulense Tenuibiotus willardi Diphascon (Diphascon) rugosum Family Murrayidae Diphascon (Diphascon) tenue Dactylobiotus ambiguus Diphascon (subgenus Adropion) behanae Dactylobiotus dispar Diphascon (Adropion) belgicae Murrayon dianeae Diphascon (Adropion) modestum Murrayon hibernicus Diphascon (Adropion) prorsirostre Murrayon pullari Diphascon (Adropion) scoticum Murrayon stellatus * † Milnesium tardigradum, long considered a monospecific genus, has since 1990 been divided into vero twenty species. It is likely that many of the Canadian records are not M. tardigradum, sensu stricto.

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NEXT STEPS would also aid in biogeographical studies, As can be seen from Table 1, sampling of for example see Pugh and McInnes (1998). this phylum in Canada is not extensive. This DNA barcoding of tardigrades has con- becomes more apparent when one notes siderable appeal, particularly as many of that several of the reports referred to in the characters essential for species identi- this article are the result of additional work fication are difficult to observe and require on the same earlier collections, or consider careful measurement (Schill and Steinbrück tardigrades only incidentally in examining 2007; Cesari et al. 2013). To date, 26 spe- benthic fauna more broadly, as is the case cies have been barcoded (Vogel and Schill for the three latest Ontario reports. No col- 2013), and additional work in this area is lecting has been reported in the Northwest essential. Beyond this, additional molecular Territories, Nova Scotia or Prince Edward studies are needed to further characterize Island, nor in Manitoba except for the two the phylogeny of the Panarthropoda, where fossil tardigrades by Cooper (1964). There tardigrades may serve a vital role in teasing is considerable opportunity for work such as out the origin of characters in arthropods, the Biota of Canada initiative to aid in the among others. organization and dissemination of information on this phylum; such a tool would be invaluable in highlighting both gaps and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS strengths in current knowledge, and would My thanks go to Dr. Mary Ann McLean encourage broader participation in filling (St. Mary’s University College) for her com- these gaps and deepening our understand- ments and corrections on this article. ing of these charismatic invertebrates. This

REFERENCES

Altiero T., Guidetti R., Caselli V., Cesari M., and Rebecchi L. 2011. Ultraviolet radiation tolerance in hydrated and desiccated eutardigrades. Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research, 49 (Suppl 1):104-110. Anderson R.S., and de Henau A.-M. 1980. An assessment of the meiobenthos from nine mountain lakes in western Canada. Hydrobiologia, 70:257-264. Argue C.W. 1971. Some terrestrial tardigrades from New Brunswick, Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 49:401-415. Argue C.W. 1972. Tardigrades from New Brunswick, Canada: 2. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 50:87-94. Argue C.W. 1974. Tardigrades from New Brunswick, Canada: 3. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 53:919-922. Bateman L., and Collins M. 2001. A preliminary account of the tardigrades of Newfoundland. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240:223-232. Baumann H. 1922. Die Anabiose der Tardigraden. Zoologische Jahrbücher Abteilung für Systema- tik, Geographie und Biologie der Tiere, 45:501-556. Becquerel P. 1950. La suspension de la vie au-dessous de 1/20 K absolu par démagnétisation adiabatique de l’alun de fer dans le vide le plus élevé. Comptes Rendus des Séances de l’Académie des Sciences, Paris, 231:261-263. Beltrán-Pardo E., Jönsson K.I., Wojcik A., Haghdoost S., Harms-Ringdahl M., Bermúdez-Cruz R.M., and Villegas J.E.B. 2013. Effects of ionizing radiation on embryos of the tardigrade Milnesium cf. tardigradum at different stages of development. PLoS ONE, 8: e72098. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072098. Bertolani R. 2001. Evolution of the reproductive mechanisms in tardigrades - a review. Zoologis- cher Anzeiger, 240:247-252. Bertolani R., Altiero T., and Nelson D.R. 2009. Tardigrada (Water Bears). In Encyclopedia of In- land Waters, Vol 2. Edited by G.E. Likens. Oxford (GB): Elsevier. pp. 443-455. Boeckner M.J., and Proctor H.C. 2005. Water-bears from the Rocky Mountains: a first look at Alberta’s tardigrade fauna. Canadian Field-Naturalist. 119:586-588. Boeckner M.J., Collins M., Finney-Crawley J., and Bateman L. 2006. The bryofauna of remote coastal Labrador: including a review of current Canadian records. Zootaxa, 1105:1-16. Brake K.K. 2006. Tardigrade egg production and identification on the Burin Peninsula, New- foundland [BSc (Hons.) Thesis]. Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfound- land. Campbell L.I., Rota-Stabelli O., Edgecombe G.D., Marchioro T., Longhorn S.J., Telford M.J., Philippe H., Rebecchi L., Peterson K.J., and Pisani D. 2011. MicroRNAs and phylogenomics resolve the relationship of Tardigrada and suggest that velvet worms are the sister group of Arthropoda. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 108:15920-15924. Cesari M., Guidetti R., Rebecchi L., Giovannini I., and Bertolani R. 2013. A DNA barcoding ap- proach in the study of tardigrades. Journal of Limnology, 72 (Suppl. 1):182-198.

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Collins M. 2010. Additions au groupe des tardigrades du Québec. Le Naturaliste canadien. 134:25-28. Collins M., and Bateman L. 2001. The ecological distribution of tardigrades in Newfoundland. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240:291-297. Collins M., and Bateman L. 2012. Terrestrial Tardigrada of Insular Newfoundland. Saarbrücken (DE): Lambert Academic Publishing. Convey P., and McInnes S.J. 2005. Exceptional tardigrade-dominated ecosystems in Ellsworth Land, Antarctica. Ecology, 86:519-527. Cooper K.W. 1964. The first fossil tardigrade:Beorn leggi Cooper, from cretaceous amber. Psyche. 71:41-48. Dastych H. 1987. Two new species of Tardigrada from the Canadian Subarctic with some notes on sexual dimorphism in the family Echiniscidae. Entomologische Mitteilungen aus dem Zo- ologischen Museum Hamburg. 8:319-334. Dastych H. 1988. The Tardigrada of Poland. Warszawa (PL): Panstwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe. (Monografie Fauny Polski, Vol. 16.) Dastych H. 1993. Redescription of the cryoconital tardigrade Hypsibius klebelsbergi Mihelčič, 1959, with notes on the microslide collection of the late Dr. F. Mihelčič (Tardigrada). Veröffentlichungen des Museum Ferdinandeum, 73:5-12. Degma P., Bertolani R., and Guidetti R. 2009-2013. Actual checklist of Tardigrada species. Ver. 23:15-07-2013. Available from: http://www.tardigrada.modena.unimo.it/miscellanea/Ac- tual%20checklist%20of%20Tardigrada.pdf. Dermott R., and Kerec D. 1997. Changes to the deepwater benthos of eastern Lake Erie since the invasion of Dreissena: 1979-1993. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 54:922-930. Doyère M.L. 1842. Mémoire sur les tardigrades, II: sur la faculté que possèdent les tardigrades, les rotifères, les anguillules des toits, et quelques autres animalcules, de revenir à la vie après avoir été complètement desséchés. Annales des Sciences Naturelles, série 2, 18:5-35. Dunn C., Hejnol A., Matus D.Q., Pang K., Browne W., Smith S.A., Seaver E., Rouse G.W., Obst M., Edgecombe G.D., Sørensen M.V., Haddock S.H.D., Schmidt-Rhaesa A., Okusu A., Kristensen R.M., Wheeler W.C., Martindale M.Q. and Giribet, G. 2008. Broad phylogenomic sampling improves resolution of the animal tree of life. Nature, 452:745-749. Ehrenberg C.G. 1858. Beitrag zur Bestimmung des stationären mikroskopischen Lebens in bis 20,000 Fuss Alpenhöhe. In Abhandlungen der Königlichen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin, Aus dem Jahre 1858. Berlin(DE): Realschul-Buchhandlung. pp. 429-456. Evans W.A. 1982. Abundances of micrometazoans in three sandy beaches in the island area of western Lake Erie. Ohio Journal of Science. 82:246-251. Garey J.R., and McInnes S.J., Nichols P.B. 2008. Global diversity of tardigrades (Tardigrada) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia, 595:101-106. Glime J.M. 2013. Tardigrade Reproduction and Food, ch. 5-2. In Bryophyte Ecology, Vol. 2: Bryological Interaction, by J.M. 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Horikawa D.D., Sakashita T., Katagiri C., Watanabe M., Kikawada T., Nakahara Y., Hamada N., Wada S., Funayama T., Higashi S., Kobayashi Y., Okuda T. and Kuwabara M. 2006. Radiation tolerance in the tardigrade Milnesium tardigradum. International Journal of Radiation Biol- ogy, 82:843-848. Iharos Gy. 1973. Angaben zur geographischen Verbreitung der Tardigraden. Opuscula Zoologica (Budapest). 12:73-86. Jenkins D.G., and Underwood M. 1998. Zooplankton may not disperse readily in wind, rain, or waterfowl. Hydrobiologia, 387/388:15-21.

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Jönsson K.I., Harms-Ringdahl M., and Torudd J. 2005. Radiation tolerance in the eutardigrade Richtersius coronifer. International Journal of Radiation Biology, 81:649-56. Jönsson K.I., Rabbow E., Schill R.O., Harms-Ringdahl M., and Rettberg P. 2008. Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology, 18:729-731. Jørgensen M., and Kristensen R.M. 1991. Meiofauna investigations from Igloolik, N.W.T. arctic Canada. In Arctic Biology Course 1989 Igloolik, North West Territories Canada. Edited by M. Jørgensen. Copenhagen (DK): University of Copenhagen Zoological Museum. pp. 61–80. Kathman R.D., and Nelson D.R. 1989. Pseudodiphascon arrowsmithi, a new species of tardigrade from British Columbia, Canada (Macrobiotidae: Eutardigrada: Tardigrada). Journal of the Entomological Society of British Columbia, 86:66-70. Kathman R.D. 1990a. Eutardigrada from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, including a description of Platicrista cheleusis n.sp. 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Ramazzotti G. 1962. Il phylum Tardigrada. 1st ed. Pallanza (IT): Instituto Italiano di Idrobiolo- gia. (Memorie dell’ Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia Dott. Marco De Marchi, Vol. 14). Ramazzotti G., and Maucci W. 1983. Il phylum Tardigrada. Terza edizione riveduta e aggiornata. [English translation by Beasley CW, 1995]. Verbania Pallanza (IT): Instituto Italiano di Idro- biologia. (Memorie dell’ Istituto Italiano di Idrobiologia Dott. Marco De Marchi, Vol. 41). Ramløv H., and Westh P. 2001. Cryptobiosis in the eutardigrade Adorybiotus (Richtersius) coronifer: tolerance to alcohols, temperature and de novo protein synthesis. Zoologischer Anzeiger, 240:517-523. Renaud-Mornant J. 1982. Species diversity in marine Tardigrada. In Proceedings of the third international symposium on the Tardigrada, August 3-6 1980. Edited by D.R. Nelson. Johnson City (US): Tenessee State University Press. pp.149-178. Renaud-Mornant J. 1988. Tardigrada. In Introduction to the study of meiofauna. Edited by R. 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The Status of Systematic Knowledge of the Acari of Canada: Tickin’ Away with Some Mitey Progress Lisa Lumley1, Frédéric Beaulieu2, Valerie Behan-Pelletier2, Wayne Knee2, Evert E. Lindquist2, Michelle Mark1, Heather Proctor3, and David Walter4 1Royal Alberta Museum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; 2Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; 3University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; 4University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

Fig. 1. Mites collected in one square metre of forest soil in Gatineau Park; mite diversity is extensive! (Image credit: V. Behan-Pelletier).

Next to insects and crustaceans, mites of Lindquist and other members of the (Arachnida: Acari) are the most diverse acarology unit, and to the contributions of arthropods. They occupy almost every (un) acarologists associated with other institu- imaginable ecological niche, including sea tions through identifications and specimen trenches and bee tracheae (Krantz and donations. With this impressive expan- Walter 2009; Walter and Proctor 2013). sion, one has to ask: what are the more From Arctic deserts to the heathlands of recent successes and current challenges, Sable Island to the coastal rainforests of and what steps will help us move forward British Columbia, mites are taxonomically to better survey and understand the mite and ecologically diverse in Canada. How- diversity of Canada? ever, the majority (>70%) of the estimated 10,000‒15,000 species are still to be Reference collections discovered or at least described (Lindquist There are few organized collections of et al. 1979). mite specimens in Canada. By far the most When Evert Lindquist started his career important is at the CNC in Ottawa, hosted at the Canadian National Collection of In- by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada sects, Arachnids and Nematodes (CNC) in (AAFC). The Acari section of the CNC hous- the early 1960s, he recalls that there were es approximately 330,000 slide-mounted at most a few thousand mite specimens, mite specimens, and 200,000 vials of spec- with the majority being mis- or unidenti- imens preserved in alcohol (for terrestrial fied. Now, 50 years later, there are an mites and for all specimens preserved for estimated 3‒5 million mite specimens in DNA analysis) or Koenike’s fluid (for water the CNC. Approximately 50% of these are mites preserved for morphological study), identified to genus, thanks to the work with each vial containing one to hundreds

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of specimens. The CNC also has impres- has significant holdings of oribatid and erio- sive holdings of Canadian amber from the phyoid mites. Recently, it has been decided Cretaceous, including representatives of to incorporate this now “orphaned” collec- Mesostigmata, Prostigmata and in particular tion into the CNC. The CNC has also ben- Oribatida; this collection of 177 inclusions is efited from specimens sent for identification one of the largest assemblage of mites from by the CFIA (typically upon interception Cretaceous amber in the world, according to of infested plant product shipments at our the paleontologist E. A. Sidorchuk, a world borders, or routine local inspections), other expert on fossil Acari (note that additional AAFC researchers (particularly Ranendra Cretaceous mite material is held in the Roy- Sinha and Philip Barker, Winnipeg), pro- al Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller, Alberta). The vincial agricultural departments, university CNC contains over 700 primary type speci- researchers, public health agencies, and the mens, and representatives of an estimated public. In particular, these requests have 6,500 (accurately, or tentatively identified) included many plant-associated and stored species. The CNC has a strong bias towards product mites. specimens collected in Canadian territory, The Royal Alberta Museum (Edmonton) but also has considerable holdings rep- holds a mite collection in which over 40,000 resentative of eastern Russia, the United specimens are identified to species. The States and Mexico, as well as scattered col- majority of these come from organic litter lections from Central America, Europe and samples collected by the Alberta Biodiver- Asia. The Acari section of the CNC is the sity Monitoring Institute (ABMI), along with largest collection of mites in North America, personal collecting by Dave Walter and and among the largest in the world. This technicians. The work to date has focused expansive and well-organised mite collec- on Oribatida, but Dave also curated other tion has provided aid to taxonomic re- groups. There is also a significant residual search worldwide through specimen loans collection; Oribatida that are less than 300 or on-site specimen examination. It is an µm in body size and individuals from non- important, and perhaps underused, tool for oribatid groups remain in residuals from taxonomic research in Canada and interna- annual collections taken across Alberta. tionally. Dave Walter retired from his position at the The CNC has benefited from the incorpo- Museum in November 2013 to return to ration of extensive collections amassed by Queensland, Australia and Lisa Lumley is other acarologists in Canada and the United currently managing this collection. States, often after their retirement. These Large holdings of soil mites, water mites include the collections of Donald Chant, a and bird-associated mites have been ac- professor at the University of Toronto and cumulated by Heather Proctor and her a leading expert of Phytoseiidae (see ESC students at the University of Alberta in Bulletin obituary: http://www.esc-sec.ca/ Edmonton. These include at least 10,000 obits/chant.html); Cecil Morgan, who col- specimens of vertebrate-associated mites lected plant-associated mites, particularly from Canada, South America, the Philip- spider mites and phytoseiids; the AAFC pines, China and Australia. station at Vineland, Ontario, primarily as- The Lyman Museum (Sainte-Anne-de- sembled by Howard Thistlewood; David Bellevue, Quebec) has an important collec- Cook of Wayne State University who is the tion primarily of soil mites, thanks to the foremost water mite taxonomist of his era; interest of Keith Kevan and Stuart Hill, and David Barr and associates at the Royal in turn through the work of their students Ontario Museum who amassed a collection (two of which included Valin Marshall and, of water mites between 1960 and 1980; incidentally, Valerie Behan-Pelletier). Roger Mitchell who was an expert on water The personal collection of Zoë Lindo, now mite ecology at Ohio State University; John at Western University in London, Ontario, Conroy who worked on water mites at the has grown fast since the beginning of her University of Winnipeg; and Herbert Nesbitt, graduate studies, and now holds over 2,000 whose collection at Carleton University was specimens of (primarily) oribatid mites from particularly rich in astigmatic mites. The BC coastal temperate rainforest, boreal Acari collection of the Pacific Forestry Cen- forests of northern Quebec, and peat- tre (Natural Resources Canada, Canadian lands of Ontario, including many paratype Forestry Service) in Victoria, BC, initiated specimens of the family Peloppiidae. Neville and built over the years by acarologist Valin Winchester, at the University of Victoria, Marshall and technician Marilyn Clayton, holds a duplicate collection from BC coastal

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temperate rainforest along with many resi- Despite this, additional collecting is still due samples collected during Zoë’s gradu- necessary, particularly to gather specimens ate studies. from target habitats or hosts and to obtain Five other collections have significant fresh specimens for molecular studies. mite holdings. The New Brunswick Museum Several geographically focused studies (Saint John) holds the Habeeb Collection have been published that include identifica- comprising over 250 primary types of North tions for Oribatida, Mesostigmata, Ixo- American water mite species described dida, and Prostigmata, from the Montane by Herbert Habeeb. This collection was Cordillera Ecozone (Smith et al. 1998), the in private hands before being acquired by Mixedwood Plains Ecozone (Smith et al. the Museum in 1989. It has recently been 1996), grasslands of the Canadian Prai- completely curated while on loan to Ian ries (e.g., Beaulieu and Knee, in press; Smith at the CNC and is now accessible for Behan-Pelletier and Kanashiro 2010), and study. A good collection of parasitic mites Sable Island (except the Ixodida) (Majka are preserved at the J.B. Wallis/R.E. Rough- et al. 2007). More taxon-limited studies ley Museum of Entomology at the Univer- have been made in Cape Breton Highlands sity of Manitoba (Winnipeg) which was National Park (oribatids, Behan-Pelletier largely acquired through the work of Terry 1987), Yukon (oribatids, Behan-Pelletier Galloway. A number of crop mite pests 1997) and the Atlantic Maritime Ecozone and their predators (also mites) have been (oribatids and water mites, Behan-Pelletier studied by Howard Thistlewood (AAFC) and 2010; Smith 2010). his predecessors, and are currently held in The Canadian Arctic has been of par- Thistlewood’s lab in Summerland, BC. The Royal British Columbia Museum (Victoria) has a modest, but growing mite collection. The University of British Columbia (Van- couver) has an online database of mite specimens sorted to morphospecies, which are depicted as line drawings (http://www. zoology.ubc.ca/~srivast/mites/index.html) developed by Diana Srivastava and students.

Geographical aspects of collecting – extensive but scattered Past and current collecting endeavors in Canada are impressive in their extent, and earlier collecting efforts (before 2000) made for a ‘first sweep’ in accounting for Canada’s mite diversity. Although sampling has been broad, with numerous sampling points across all provinces and territories, it has been far from exhaustive, as the majority of localities have been sampled only once with no revisiting. CNC acarologists have made focused efforts to collect in a number of Canada’s Na- tional Parks at the request of Parks Canada; these include Cape Breton Highlands N.P., Kejimkujik N.P., Kouchibouguac N.P., Thou- sand Islands N.P., and Waterton Lakes N.P. Many of the specimens collected have been incorporated into taxonomic revisions of various groups (e.g., Behan-Pelletier 1994; Behan-Pelletier and Walter 2012; Lindquist 1995; Norton 1982; Norton and Behan- Pelletier 2007), but a large number of these specimens and those from other collect- Fig. 2. Fred Beaulieu in a prairie dog colony in ing efforts are unidentified, even to family. Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan (Im- age credit: W. Knee).

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ticular interest to some acarologists. Studies conducted by the ABMI are still Their exploration of the North has led to uncovering new species annually in Alberta the description of new taxa (e.g., Behan- after eight consecutive years of sampling Pelletier 1984, 1985, 1994; Behan-Pelletier (Behan-Pelletier and Walter 2013; Walter and Norton 1983, 1985; Behan-Pelletier and Latonas 2013). Similarly, repeated and Walter 2012; Lindquist and Makarova sampling over 20 years in old-growth 2011; Zacharda 1980), evaluations of arc- forest habitats of the Pacific Northwest tic diversity (Danks 1981; Behan-Pelletier have shown the importance of repeated 2000), and studies focused on the effects sampling throughout the habitat profile, of human activity on the tundra (Kevan producing an impressive list of new taxa et al. 1995). Recently, DNA barcoding has (family and species) combined with unique been used to study mite diversity in sub- insights into the ecology of suspended soil arctic Churchill (Young et al. 2012), which and canopy habitats (e.g., Behan-Pelletier showed a surprisingly high mite diversity of 2000; Behan-Pelletier et al. 2005; Fa- nearly 900 ‘species’ based on DNA bar- gan et al. 2006; Lindo 2010, 2011; Lindo codes. This confirms that mites are indeed and Winchester 2013; Lindo et al. 2010; ubiquitous, hyperdiverse, and severely Olszanowski et al. 2002; Winchester et al. understudied in Canada, including in north- 2008). ern regions. Indeed, we need to document further the acarine biota of the High Arctic, and unglaciated regions of the western Arctic, especially in view of the effects of global warming and potential environmental pollution or disturbance which may cause further limitation (or elimination) of truly arctic taxa and greater dispersal northward of southerly taxa. Overall, many regions and habitats of Canada remain rather superficially known in terms of mite faunistics and would therefore benefit from extensive and intensive collecting. For example, Labrador still remains virtually untouched (Lindquist et al. 1979). Another example: 354 and 340 species of oribatid mites have been re- Fig. 3. Some of the new oribatid species discovered corded from British Columbia and Alberta, in ABMI samples over the past 8 years of consecu- respectively, but only 16 species have been tive sampling. Top (left to right): Tectoribates alc- reported from the adjacent province of Sas- escampestris Behan-Pelletier & Walter 2013; Oriba- tella abmi Behan-Pelletier & Walter 2012. Bottom katchewan! Although the diversity may be (left to right): Protoribates haughlandiae Walter & higher in the two most western provinces Latonas 2013; Unduloribates dianae Behan-Pelletier due to greater topographic and habitat & Walter 2009 (Image credits: David Walter). diversity, or warmer climate (in parts of BC), this great discrepancy is exacerbated Understudied habitats and hosts by insufficient collecting in Saskatchewan. Mites occupy nearly all possible niche The relatively good knowledge of the orib- types, and even the most diligently atid fauna of British Columbia and Alberta sampled habitat in Canada – soil – remains is mainly due to recent efforts to discover, poorly known for most taxa. A few reviews collate and record the mite fauna in these (Behan-Pelletier 2003; Behan-Pelletier and provinces (Lindo and Clayton 2011 and ref- Kanashiro 2010) showed how limited our erences therein; Walter et al. 2012, 2013); knowledge is on Canadian soil mites. Col- it is a demonstration of what diversity can lecting thus far in Canada has a consider- be revealed by focused efforts. However, able bias towards soil and similar detrital it is important to note that a long species habitats such as litter, decaying wood, list does not necessarily equate to good and associated mosses or lichens. This is knowledge on the geographic and ecologi- exemplified by a suite of soil biodiversity cal distribution; much work remains to be studies, with post-1979 examples including done on oribatids in these regions. Québec temperate forests (Déchêne and These aforementioned studies also Buddle 2009; Sylvain and Buddle 2010), highlight the importance of revisiting sites. old-growth forest in Newfoundland (Dwyer

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et al. 1998), re-vegetated mine-tailings specimens for taxonomic and behavioral (St. John et al. 2002), naturally disturbed research on predatory mites (especially boreal forest (Díaz-Aguilar et al. 2013), phytoseiids) that have potential for biologi- and the mite fauna post-harvest in sub- cal control of pests (e.g., Amano and Chant boreal (Battigelli et al. 2004) and boreal 1990; Bostanian et al. 2006; Chant and forest (Lindo and Visser 2004). Compared Hansell 1971; Hardman et al. 2007; This- to forest substrates, grassland soil has been tlewood 1991). In contrast, relatively little relatively understudied (Newton 2013). The sampling and research have been done extensive canopy research in the Pacific on the plant-feeding mite groups across Northwest is also largely based on soil and Canada, especially for the non-pests (see detrital habitats – as suspended litter and Beaulieu and Knee, in press, for a review epiphytic moss or lichen. This research of knowledge of plant-feeding mites of the has perhaps led to the most in-depth, Prairies Ecozone). long-term sampling and ecological studies Another major habitat type that has on Canadian Oribatida to date, leading to been explored for mites is aquatic systems. unique ecological insights, faunistic lists, Water mites (Prostigmata: Hydrachnidiae) and the descriptions of new taxa (e.g., have been studied extensively by Ian Smith Behan-Pelletier 2000; Behan-Pelletier et al. (e.g., Smith 2010; Smith et al. 1996, 2001, 2002, 2005; Lindo 2010, 2011; Lindo 1998). The water mite collection in the CNC and Winchester 2006, 2007a,b,c, 2008, developed by Smith is the largest and most 2012; Lindo, Clayton and Behan-Pelletier comprehensive Nearctic research collec- 2008; Lindo, Winchester and Didham 2008; tion of these organisms in the world. It Lindo et al. 2010; Winchester et al. 2008). includes curated specimens identified to at Arboreal habitats are an open field for new least generic level from more than 12,000 discovery for other mite groups and in collections made in all parts of Canada and other regions of the country. the United States during the past 50 years. Other terrestrial habitats sampled include Research on this collection has resulted in fragmented or patchy ephemeral habitats publication of more than 100 taxonomic such as bracket fungi (conks) (Lindquist papers on the North American fauna thus 1995), livestock dung (predatory me- far. It includes representatives of all of the sostigmatic mites, Lindquist 1998), and nearly 1,000 described North American spe- decomposing logs (Déchêne and Buddle cies of water mites and specimens of more 2010). The effect of patchy habitat struc- than 1,000 undescribed species that will ture on mite diversity has been explored form the basis of future revisionary work on in Lindo’s canopy research (described the group in North America. Additional work above) and experimentally fragment- in Canada includes that of Mark Forbes ed moss habitats (the bryosphere) of (Carleton University, Ottawa) and his stu- northern Québec (Lindo et al. 2012). dents, who have been studying the host- In addition to suspended litter and parasite ecology of water mites and their epiphytic mosses or lichens, as described odonate hosts (Forbes et al. 1999; Robb above, the foliage of plants harbours an and Forbes 2006; Mlynarek et al. 2013a,b). ecologically diverse array of mites, includ- Sampling in standing and running water ing predators, fungivores and phytophages. has also led to publications on other groups Considerable sampling of foliage, particular- of mites in Canada, such as the aquatic ly of crops, has been conducted to provide Oribatida (22 described species) (Behan- Pelletier 1989; Behan-Pelletier and Eamer 2003; Norton et al. 1988, 1996; Schatz and Behan-Pelletier 2008) and scattered records of Halacaridae (Bartsch 2011). The diversity of freshwater mites other than Oribatida, Halacaridae and Hydrachnidiae has scarcely been touched in Canada, but includes members of the families Homo- caligidae, Johnstonianidae, Stigmaeidae, Stygothrombidiidae (all Prostigmata), Ac- aridae, Histiostomatidae (Astigmatina) and

Fig. 4. Wayne Knee sampling for foliage-associated mites near Hyde, along the Qu’Appelle River, Sas- katchewan (Image credit: F. Beaulieu). Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 28

associations of phoretic and symbiotic mites, comprising parasitic and non-parasitic relationships (including Prostigmata, Mesostigmata, Astigmatina and Oribatida s.s.) with bark beetles (Scolytinae) (Knee et al. 2012a; Knee et al. 2013; Magowski et al. 2005; Mori et al. 2011), burying beetles (Silphidae) (Knee et al. 2012b), sawyer beetles (Cerambycidae) (Knee et al. 2012c; Lindquist and Wu 1991) and ground beetles (Carabidae) (e.g., Beaulieu et al. 2008; Husband 1998; Lindquist and Krantz 2002). Larvae of seven superfamilies of wa- Fig. 5. Evert Lindquist collecting aquatic mites ter mites (Hydrachnidiae) parasitize adults along the shore of a thermal pool (Image credit: of aquatic and subaquatic insects of various M. Lindquist). orders, including Odonata, Hemiptera, platyseiine Blattisociidae (Mesostigmata) Trichoptera, Coleoptera, and especially (Lindquist 2003; Proctor, pers. obs.). In Diptera (Smith and Oliver 1986; Walter particular, Canada’s remarkably extensive et al. 2009). Given the relative diversity coasts, with saltmarshes, estuaries, inter- of invertebrates vs. vertebrates, it is safe tidal habitats – as well as shallow and deep to say that much more work focused on sea floors, all of which harbour distinctive invertebrate-mite associations is needed. acarine faunas – have hardly been touched, For example, the acarine associates of but where studied show a unique fauna Canadian wasps and bees (Hymenoptera) (Behan-Pelletier and Eamer 2005). have scarcely been investigated, although The skin, hair follicles, feathers and many of these insects produce acarinaria respiratory tracts of vertebrates represent that harbour symbionts (for bee associates myriads of habitats for mites. Besides the listed in regional checklists, see Walter et well-known ticks (see below), additional al. 2012, Beaulieu and Knee in press). Also, work on vertebrate associates includes mites hitchhiking (phoretic) on invasive or Prostigmata, Mesostigmata and Astigmatina irruptive insects are little studied (e.g., Mori that feed on blood or tissues (e.g., Anholt et al. 2011) but provide opportunities for et al. 2014; Gentes et al. 2007; Knee and learning about the effect of mite-load on Proctor 2006, 2007). Recent effort has host dispersal ecology. focused on mites associated with birds, and has covered nasal mites (Knee 2008; Knee Taxonomic strengths and gaps and Proctor 2010; Knee et al. 2008), feath- Knowledge of taxonomy, diversity, er mites (Mironov et al. 2007) and blood distribution and ecology of the major mite and tissue feeding mites (Byers and Proc- groups in Canada is unevenly distributed tor, 2013; Knee and Proctor 2006). Feather among taxa. This is directly the result mites associated with grassland-breeding of the expertise that has been available birds in Canada have been surveyed by through the last decades. Below we provide Galloway et al. (in press), and include doz- an overview of this variation in expertise. ens of as yet undescribed species. Overall, But although some taxa are better under- most mite collections from vertebrates have stood than others, all groups are in need of been geographically or taxonomically re- more collecting and focused work, with the stricted, in terms of both host and parasite/ main challenge being the sheer number of symbiont, leaving much room for additional species to identify and describe in compari- work in collecting and studying mite diver- son to the number of available taxonomists. sity on vertebrate hosts. A broad array of mites is associated with Oribatida s.s. (Sarcoptiformes). invertebrates or their nests, often without Research on Oribatida to date has been doing any harm to their hosts. Apart from a significantly facilitated by the Catalogue few examples of mite associations with flies of Oribatida of North America (Marshall et (e.g., fungal-associated drosophilid flies in al. 1987), which provided a framework for bracket fungi, Lindquist 1995; subaquatic subsequent studies. There are currently flies, Lindquist 2003), published work on 820 described and undescribed species of invertebrate-associated mites has mainly oribatids known in Canada (Behan-Pelletier focused on beetle symbionts. This includes et al., in prep.), of which the majority are

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terrestrial, and for which comprehensive Prostigmata (Trombidiformes). Prostig- online checklists (Behan-Pelletier and matic mites represent the most ecologically Eamer 2004; Lindo and Clayton 2011) and diverse group of mites, comprising preda- regional identification manuals (Walteret tors, fungivores, detritivores, parasites of al. 2012, 2013) exist. Although much work vertebrates and invertebrates, parasitoids, has been completed, there is still a con- strict plant-feeders, and omnivores. Water tinual discovery of new taxa indicating that mites (Hydrachnidiae), which usually are we have not yet reached a plateau in the parasitic at the larval stage and predatory species curve. As indicated above, some re- at the deutonymphal and adult stage, are gions of Canada have been poorly explored one of the largest and most studied groups for Oribatida. of prostigmatic mites in Canada (see Smith et al. 2001, Smith et al. 2010 and Walter Astigmatina (Sarcoptiformes, Ori- et al. 2009 for a sampling of appropriate batida). Astigmatic mites represent a references). Ian Smith’s research at the diverse lineage of mites that evolved from CNC is elucidating the taxonomy of the desmonomatid oribatids (hence, phyloge- over 1,000 species estimated to occur in netically, they are oribatids). They include a Canada’s fresh waters. diverse suite of parasites of vertebrates as Plant-feeding mites include some groups well as non-parasites, such as fungivores or that are moderately well known, such scavengers associated with vertebrates or as the Tetranychidae, although even for their nests, or associates of social insects that family, many species are difficult to and solitary or communal insects forming separate morphologically and are in need of distinct nests in the ground or wood. Others research (Beaulieu and Knee, in prep.). The are free-living in organically-rich, patchy related flat mites (Tetranychoidea: Tenu- habitats such as dung, decaying wood and ipalpidae) are hardly known, and a recent tree sap flows; these species frequently survey (Beaulieu and Knee, in press) shows disperse via phoresy on insects. Astigmatic that certainly more than 15 species occur mites associated with stored products are in Canada (as estimated by Lindquist et al. relatively well studied, at least ecologically (e.g., Beaulieu and Knee, in press, and references therein; Sinha 1979), and some reasonable keys are available (e.g., Hughes 1976). These free-living astigmatic mites are nevertheless in need of revision in Canada. However, the greatest taxonomic need is for groups of symbionts of birds, and secondarily of mammals and insects, for which the large majority of the 2,000 species estimated to occur in Canada have no records and/or no names yet (Lindquist et al. 1979). Fortunately, the past and current research of Terry Galloway, Heather Proctor and collaborators is tackling some aspects of the faunistics and ecology of feather mites (Pterolichodea, Analgoidea) in Canada.

Endeostigmata (Sarcoptiformes). Endeostigmatic mites are a relatively small group of early derivative sarcoptiform mites. They are tiny and bizarre-looking (even for mites!), and some are found in soil habitats under extreme conditions (deserts, deep soils, seashores). Approximately Fig.6. A sample of the poorly known plant-feeding 20 described and undescribed species occur mite fauna: A, Aceria cf. neoartemisiae (Eriophyi- in Canada, based on CNC specimen records dae). B, Tetra sp. 1 (Eriophyidae). C, Bryobia n. and Lindquist et al. (1979). sp. 1 (praetosia sp. complex) (Tetranychidae). D, Brevipalpus (portalis group) sp. A (Tenuipalpidae). (Image credits: W. Knee and F. Beaulieu).

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1979). The Eriophyoidea in Canada, many of Mesostigmata, accounting for 20% of of which induce galls on their host plants or the described World fauna of Mesostigmata transmit viruses to crops, are in dire need (Beaulieu et al. 2011), because of their of taxonomic revision and biological stud- role as biocontrol agents of plant pests. ies. The majority of the 1,000 estimated The Canadian fauna is equally well known eriophyoid species in Canada (Lindquist et thanks to the extensive work by Chant and al. 1979) have yet to be collected, let alone collaborators (e.g., Chant 1985; Chant and described; those that already have a name McMurtry 2007; Chant et al. 1974). Over should be redescribed and compared with 100 described species of phytoseiid mites close relatives to assess potential synony- occur in Canada, based on our specimen mies and find sound diagnostic characters. records at the CNC. However, a comprehen- Besides the alpha-taxonomic research sive review of the Phytoseiidae of Canada needs in Canada, some keystone work is yet to be done and would greatly benefit has been done, based in part on Canadian agricultural and biodiversity studies and species, on the higher level systematics of more taxonomically-oriented research. spider mites (Lindquist 1985), eriophyoids In contrast, soil-dwelling and patchy (Lindquist and Amrine 1996), and Tarson- substrate-dwelling Mesostigmata are poorly emidae, which include some plant-feeders known in Canada, despite a diverse fauna and many plant-associated fungivores, as (CNC records; Walter et al. 2012). Stud- well as predators, parasites and arthropod ies like those of St. John et al. 2002 and symbionts (Lindquist 1986). Young et al. 2012 show how diverse soil Prostigmatic mites are typically the mesostigmatans can be locally, with 60 second most diverse mite groups in soil and 135 species (the latter based on DNA and litter, after the oribatids, and the barcodes), respectively. Species-rich fami- dominant group in arid soils. Most of the lies with primarily soil-dwelling members families inhabiting Canadian soil and lit- that require taxonomic revision include ter (and sometimes colonizing plants) are Laelapidae (cf. Beaulieu 2009), Parasitidae, poorly known. For instance, Eupodidae, Ascidae, Blattisociidae, and Zerconidae, Tydeoidea, Bdelloidea, Erythraeidae, and the latter being currently revised by the Raphignathoidea are diverse but relatively Hungarian acarologist Zsolt Ujvári. There poorly known in Canada. Heterostigmatic are also many mesostigmatans associated families (Scutacaridae, Pygmephoridae, and with insects and their nests, such as scoly- Tarsonemidae), comprising soil-dwellers tine beetles, bees and ants; among those and insect associates, are other groups groups, digamasellids, and uropodoids are that need revision in Canada (CNC records; the two groups that need the most atten- Lindquist et al. 1979). tion (Lindquist et al. 1979). We estimate Similarly, a host of prostigmatic mites are that about a thousand species of Mesostig- parasitic on mammals and birds in Canada mata occur in Canada, with more than half (Lindquist et al. 1979). These include of the diversity without species names, Myobiidae, Demodicidae, Harpirhynchidae, many of which have representatives at Ereynetidae, and particularly Syringophili- the CNC. A moderate portion of this fauna dae, which live inside bird feather quills. represents vertebrate parasites, although Terry Galloway (University of Manitoba) and pioneer studies on the Canadian rhinonys- Andre Bochkov (Zoological Institute of Rus- sids show how poorly known and diverse sia) have published some first endeavours mesostigmatan parasites can be, with at at assessing the diversity of bird-associated least 50 described species reported from Prostigmata in Canada (e.g., Bochkov and birds in Canada (Knee et al. 2008). Galloway 2001, 2004). Ixodida (Parasitiformes). Although of Mesostigmata (Parasitiformes). Me- humble diversity (<900 species world- sostigmatic mites represent the core of wide), ticks are probably the best known the Parasitiformes superorder, and ticks group of mites in Canada in terms of tax- (Ixodida) represent the only other group of onomy, distribution, and medicoveterinary Parasitiformes present in Canada. Me- importance. However, our knowledge of tick sostigmata are primarily soil-dwelling or diversity in Canada continues to grow. For plant-dwelling predatory mites, vertebrate instance, a new species of Ixodes parasitic parasites (some facultative) and arthropod on mustelid mammals was described from symbionts, often with unknown biology. Canada (Lindquist et al. 1999) and recent The Phytoseiidae is the best known family studies debate whether the winter tick,

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Dermacentor albipictus, represents two morphologically distinct species (Apa- naskevich 2013) or a single species with some genetic diversity, based on molecular data (Leo et al. 2010). An identification and information guide to the 40 known tick species in Canada is to be submitted for publication in 2014 (T.D. Galloway, ed.).

Many mites, too few experts Mite taxonomy is not an easy undertak- ing for several reasons: 1) only an estimated 5-10% of the world’s mite diversity is described, and perhaps 20-30% in Canada; 2) many of the early descriptions are insufficiently detailed, are published in obscure journals, and/or are not in English; and 3) mites are small. Their small size means that they cannot be hunted indi- vidually (as can, for example, butterflies) but rather samples of their habitats must be taken into the lab and examined care- fully. In some cases, several microscopy techniques (e.g., light, SEM, laser confocal) are needed to establish satisfactory diagnostic morphological characters. In other cases, molecular and detailed host data are needed to further help assess species boundaries. In some groups, numerous specimens are required to make a single, robust species identification because of intraspecific variation of characters, the difficulty in slide-mounting specimens (e.g., dorso-ventrally; slide-mounting artifacts; deterioration of many of the slides with time), and the need for multiple specimens for additional analyses (SEM, genetic). Hence, acarological progress requires steady perseverance and, as is true for those working on any very diverse taxon, acarological expertise in a given group of mites develops slowly over time. The Acari is similar in species diversity to the richest holometabolous insect orders, and mite phylogenetic diversity is com- parable to that of insects. For instance, a feather mite is about as different morphologically from a tick or a phytoseiid mite, as a fly is from a moth. Their diversity is further reflected in the fossil record, which indicates that certain groups of mites were specialized as obligate plant-feeders at a time when some orders of holometabolous insects were far from the same extent of specialization (Schmidt et al. 2012; Fig. 7. Retired acarologists still working as hard Sidorchuk et al. in press). Most entomolo- as ever to discover and describe Canada’s mite gists would justifiably argue that there are diversity. Top to Bottom: Evert Lindquist, Valerie not enough full-time remunerated taxono- Behan-Pelletier, David Walter. (Image Credits (top to bottom): E.A. Sidorchuk, J. Chen, and J. Hurly.) mist positions to fulfill our national and

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worldwide duties of classifying and describ- cess to data, online availability of data has ing insect species, particularly to address become an increasingly important aspect of agricultural (pests, invasive species) prob- the curation of specimens, and is an area lems before they get out of hand (or to be that is in need of focus to better quantify ready when they arise) and to address con- Canada’s mite diversity and to map species servation and biodiversity questions before distributions. There are specimen databases the biodiversity disappears. These same is- in various formats for several major groups sues are of concern in acarology; the num- of Acari at the CNC. However, for more than ber of acarologists currently working in mite half of the entire collection, including a con- taxonomy in Canada can be counted on two siderable portion of specimens identified to hands, of whom some have retired (Behan- genus or species (e.g., collections acquired Pelletier, Lindquist, Walter). In addition, through donations and other legacy speci- many technicians with specialised skills mens), there are still no specimen data- have retired (e.g., Marilyn Clayton, Barb bases but rather only preliminary checklists Eamer), most with no clear replacements of species. Again, the work force is lacking on the horizon. Other Canadian acarologists to perform the extent of work still required have full-time roles in which they have lim- to database mite specimens. There are ited time to focus on mite systematics (Bat- currently no publically available databases tigelli, Lindo, Proctor). This underscores the for the Acari collection at the CNC, although need for remunerated taxonomist positions there are plans to develop them in the near in order to classify and describe Canada’s future. The ABMI oribatid mite collection at mite diversity. At the CNC, the number of the Royal Alberta Museum has been fully scientist positions in acarology is reduced databased and is available online (http:// to two, as retired acarologists have not www.abmi.ca/abmi/rawdata/rawdatase- been replaced; yet there is an urgent need lection.jsp) for all 2007‒2012 samples; for additional acarologists. CNC staff and the ABMI mandate includes making data research-associated acarologists consider publically-available, and therefore the ap- that the highest hiring priority is a taxono- propriate funds and workforce have been mist specialized in soil mites with expertise put in place for databasing samples. Data- in Prostigmata, Mesostigmata or Oribatida, bases of host-mite records and associated groups that include soil-dwelling crop literature are available for feather mites pests, biocontrol agents, and bioindicators. of the world (http://www.biology.ualberta. Another key priority is a taxonomist with ca/faculty/heather_proctor/?Page=5626); expertise on mites parasitic on terrestrial however, although the localities for these vertebrates and invertebrates, particularly records include Canadian sites, geographi- the Astigmatina, but also parasitic Prostig- cal references are very broad and therefore mata and Mesostigmata. inappropriate for mapping species distribu- As the American acarologist Asher Treat tions. (1975) wrote: “To my wife, who taught me to never neglect a volunteer”, the taxonomy Strengthen our foundations and radiate of many invertebrate (especially insect) from them groups has benefited from the efforts of Since the early 1950s, and after Lindquist natural-history hobbyists, but the complexi- et al.’s review of 1979, much has been ac- ties we listed above likely contribute to the complished. A considerable portion of the lack of amateurs or volunteers studying soil and water mite fauna is now known in the Acari. Although a few amateurs exist some regions of the country. Significant, in the world of mites (their work is largely albeit recent, progress has been made on restricted to tentative identifications and the taxonomy and faunistics of parasites good photos of relatively large and colourful and symbionts of vertebrates. Fundamental live mites), they are minuscule in number biodiversity studies have been published, relative to those who contribute to the bringing forward our understanding of mite understanding of larger-bodied arthropods. ecology in parallel with some taxonomic This, again, underscores the need for more advances. remunerated taxonomic positions in acarol- Yet, if we desire a more complete picture ogy. of the taxonomy and ecology of Canadian mites, considerable work remains to be Databasing – making data accessible done. There is much uncharted territory as With globalization and increased desire most (described) species have only a few in the scientific community for open ac- distribution records. Many of the habitats

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and animal and plant hosts are yet to be biocontrols, because of their minute size surveyed for the first time in Canada (e.g., and because they are still poorly known. the case for many vertebrate species), or When they are known or noticed, it’s most more extensively geographically to bet- often because of their dark side – being ter document their range and associated considered repugnant and capable of bit- ecotypes. Canada’s responsibility to know ing and transmitting diseases. In fact, the and understand its fauna in order to better fear of ticks may even be more preva- protect it or exploit it also applies to mites. lent than arachnophobia (fear of spiders) It is a monumental but feasible task if (Vetter 2013). Apart from ticks being sufficient efforts are deployed. However, if second only to mosquitoes in importance the number of acarologists is not increased as vectors of pathogens causing diseases (first necessitating the renewal of positions among humans, mites are mostly known of retired employees), our objective may for the allergy-causing dust mites (even not be reached in this century or the next. some of the authors of this article are al- With current global changes in climate and lergic!), parasites including blood-feeding ever-increasing habitat alteration and frag- nest mites and scabies, not to mention mentation, mite biodiversity may already the ‘invisible’ parasites associated with be severely transformed before we get to delusional parasitosis. Showing the world understand it and/or its patterns. how fascinating and beautiful they are (see Perhaps more than for any other hy- Dave Walter’s mite blog http://macromite. perdiverse but poorly known group, the wordpress.com; see the peacock mite flap study of mites provides opportunities for its tail at http://www.sel.barc.usda.gov/ dramatically improved understanding of acari/frames/plantfeed.html) may give ecosystem and evolutionary processes the public a fairer perspective, and attract (Walter and Proctor 2013). This is because new acarology students, helping efforts to they populate soil, water, plants and other describe Canada’s mite diversity. habitats with myriads of abundant species that are (1) potentially useful bioindicators of ecosystem health (e.g., ABMI oribatid project; Beaulieu and Weeks 2007; Behan- Pelletier 1999; Proctor 2007; Smith et al. 2010; St. John et al. 2002), and (2) good models for testing ecological and evolutionary hypotheses (e.g., Behan-Pelletier and Newton 1997; Walter and Proctor 2010). Theoretical advances can be made through single-species studies (e.g., Proctor 1991) or by sampling a local fauna (e.g., Beaulieu et al. 2010; Lindo and Winchester 2008; Proctor and Garga 2004), thereby result- ing in species lists that are a significant Fig. 8. One of Canada’s gorgeous mites, Gozmanyina contribution to our understanding of the majestus (Oribatida: Trichthoniidae) described by faunistics and biodiversity of mites. Many Marshall and Reeves 1970 (Image credit: V. Behan- mites are relatively easy to culture, or at Pelletier and R.Norton). least to keep alive in the laboratory, allow- ing for replicated experiments and robust Acknowledgements behavioral studies. We thank Zoë Lindo and Ian Smith for their Mites are overlooked, sometimes even valued comments on earlier versions of this by the agricultural sector which is the article. industry most likely to bemoan their pestilence or to celebrate their abilities as

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Lindo, Z., and Clayton, M. 2011. The oribatid mites of British Columbia. Available from http://www.geog.ubc. ca/biodiversity/efauna/documents/OribatidMitesofBCchecklist Dec2011.pdf. Accessed 1 November 2013. Lindo, Z., and Winchester, N.N. 2006. A comparison of microarthropod assemblages with emphasis on oribatid mites in canopy suspended soils and forest floors associated with ancient western redcedar trees. Pedobiologia, 50:31-41. Lindo, Z., and Winchester, N.N. 2007a. Local-regional boundary shifts in oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) communities: species-area relationships in arboreal habitat islands of a coastal temperate rain forest, Vancouver Island, Canada. Journal of Biogeography, 34:1611-1621. Lindo, Z., and Winchester, N.N. 2007b. Oribatid mite communities and foliar litter decomposition in canopy suspended soils and forest floor habitats of western redcedar forests, ancouverV Island, Canada. Soil Biol- ogy & Biochemistry, 39:2957-2966. Lindo, Z., and Winchester, N.N. 2007c. Resident corticolous oribatid mites (Acari: Oribatida): decay in community similarity with vertical distance from the ground. Écoscience, 14:223-229. Lindo, Z., and Winchester, N.N. 2008. Scale dependent diversity patterns in arboreal and terrestrial oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) communities. Ecography, 31:53-60. Lindo, Z., and Winchester, N.N. 2013. Out on a limb: microarthropod and microclimate variation in coastal temperate rainforest canopies. Insect Conservation and Diversity, 6:513-521. Lindo, Z., and Visser, S. 2004. Forest floor microarthropod abundance and oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) composition following partial and clear-cut harvesting in the mixedwood boreal forest. Canadian Journal of Forest Research, 34:998-1006. Lindo, Z., Whiteley, J., and Gonzalez, A. 2012. Traits explain community disassembly and trophic contraction following experimental environmental change. Global Change Biology, 18:2448-2457. Lindo, Z., Clayton, M., and Behan-Pelletier, V.M. 2008. Systematics and ecology of Anachipteria geminus sp. nov. (Acari: Oribatida: Achipteriidae) from arboreal lichens in western North America. The Canadian Entomologist, 140:539-556. Lindo, Z., Clayton, M., and Behan-Pelletier, V.M. 2010. Systematics and ecology of the genus Dendrozetes (Acari: Oribatida: Peloppiidae) from arboreal habitats in Western North America. Zootaxa, 2403:10-22. Lindo, Z., Winchester, N.N., and Didham, R.K. 2008. Nested patterns of community assembly in the colonisa- tion of artificial canopy habitats by oribatid mites. Oikos, 117:1856-1864. Lindquist, E.E., with contributions by Ainscough B.D., Clulow, F.V., Funk, R.C., Marshall, V.G., Nesbitt, H.H.J., OConnor, B.M., Smith, I.M., and Wilkinson, P.R. 1979. Acari. In Canada and Its Insect Fauna. Edited by H.V. Danks. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, 108: 252-263, 267-284. Lindquist, E.E. 1985. Diagnosis and Phylogenetic Relationships. In Spider Mites: Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Edited by W. Helle and M.W. Sabelis. World Crop Pests, Volume 1A. Elsevier Science Publishers, Amsterdam. pp. 63-74. Lindquist, E.E. 1986. The world genera of Tarsonemidae (Acari: Heterostigmata): a morphological, phylogenetic and systematic revision, with a reclassification of family-group taxa in the Heterostigmata. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, 118:1-517. Lindquist, E.E. 1995. Remarkable convergence between two taxa of ascid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) adapted to living in pore tubes of bracket fungi in North America, with description of Mycolaelaps new genus. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 73:104-128. Lindquist, E.E. 1998. Predatory Mesostigmatic Mites Home Page: Arthropods associated with livestock dung. Available from: http://canacoll.org/Hym/Staff/Gibson/apss/mitehome.htm. Accessed 12 November 2013. Lindquist, E.E. 2003. Observations on mites of the subfamily Platyseiinae, with description of two new species of Platyseius from North America (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ascidae). In An Acarological Tribute to David R. Cook (from Yankee Springs to Wheeny Creek). Edited by I.M. Smith. Indira Publishing House, West Bloomfield, Michigan. pp. 155-182. Lindquist, E.E., and Krantz, G.W. 2002. Description of, and validation of names for, the genus Crotalomorpha and the family Crotalomorphidae (Acari: Heterostigmata). Systematic & Applied Acarology, 7:129-142. Lindquist, E.E., and Amrine, J.W., Jr. 1996. Systematics, diagnoses for major taxa, and keys to families and genera with species on plants of economic importance. In Eriophyoid Mites: Their Biology, Natural Enemies and Control. Edited by E.E. Lindquist, M.W. Sabelis, and J. Bruin. World Crop Pests, Volume 6. Elsevier Sci- ence Publishers, Amsterdam. pp. 33-87. Lindquist, E.E., and Wu, K.W. 1991. Review of mites of the genus Mucroseius (Acari: Mesostigmata: Ascidae) associated with sawyer beetles (Cerambycidae: Monochamus and Mecynippus) and pine wood nematodes [Aphelenchoididae: Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner and Buhrer) Nickel], with descriptions of six new species from Japan and North America, and notes on their previous misidentification. The Canadian Ento- mologist, 123:875-927. Lindquist, E.E., and Makarova, O.L. 2011. Two new circumpolar mite species of the genus Arctoseius Thor (Parasitiformes, Mesostigmata, Ascidae). Zoologicheskii Zhurnal, 90:923-941 (in Russian) [Entomological Review 91:1054-1072]. Lindquist, E.E., Wu, K.W., and Redner, J.H. 1999. A new species of the tick genus Ixodes (Acari: Ixodidae) parasitic on mustelids (Mammalia: Carnivora) in Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 131:151-170. Magowski, W., Lindquist, E.E., and Moser, J.C. 2005. Giselia arizonica, a new genus and species of mite (Ac- ari: Tarsonemidae) associated with bark beetles of the genus Pseudopityophthorus (Coleoptera: Scolyti- dae) in North America. The Canadian Entomologist, 137:648-656. Majka, C.G., Behan-Pelletier, V.M., Bajerlein, D., Błoszyk, J., Krantz, G.W., Lucas, Z., OConnor, B., and Smith, I.M. 2007. New records of mites (Arachnida: Acari) from Sable Island, Nova Scotia, Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 139:690-699. Marshall, V.G., Reeves, R.M., and Norton, R.A. 1987. Catalogue of the Oribatida (Acari) of continental United States and Canada. Memoirs of the Entomological Society of Canada, 139: 1-418. Mironov, S.V., Proctor, H.C., Barreto, M., and Zimmerman, G. 2007. New genera and species of feather mites of the family Gabuciniidae (Astigmata: Pterolichoidea) from New World raptors (Aves: Falconiformes). The Canadian Entomologist, 139:757-777. Mlynarek, J.J., Knee, W., and Forbes, M.R. 2013a. Explaining susceptibility and resistance to a multi-host parasite. Evolutionary Biology, doi: 10.1007/s11692-013-9251-6. Mlynarek, J.J., Knee, W., and Forbes, M.R. 2013b. Relative geographic range of sibling species of host damselflies does not reliably predict differential parasitism by water mites. BMC Ecology, 13:50. Mori, B.A., Proctor, H.C., Walter, D.E., and Evenden, M.L. 2011. Phoretic mite associates of mountain pine beetle at the leading edge of an infestation in northwestern Alberta, Canada. The Canadian Entomologist, 143:44-55.

Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 37

Newton, J.S. 2013. Biodiversity of soil arthropods in a native grassland in Alberta, Canada: obscure associations and effects of simulated climate change. Ph.D. thesis, University of Alberta, Edmonton. Norton, R.A. 1982. Arborichthonius n. gen., an unusual enarthronote soil mite (Acarina: Oribatei) from On- tario. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington, 84:85-96. Norton, R.A., and Behan-Pelletier, V.M. 2007. Eniochthonius mahunkai sp. n. (Acari: Oribatida: Eniochthonii- dae), from North American peatlands, with a redescription of Eniochthonius and a key to North American species. Acta Zoologica Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 53:295-333. Norton, R.A., Williams, D.D., Hogg, I.D., and Palmer, S.C. 1988. Biology of the oribatid mite Mucronothrus na- salis (Acari: Oribatida: Trhypochthoniidae) from a small coldwater springbrook in eastern Canada. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 66:622-629. Norton, R.A., Behan-Pelletier, V.M., and Wang, H-F. 1996. The aquatic oribatid mite genus Mucronothrus in Canada and the western U.S.A. (Acari: Trhypochthoniidae). Canadian Journal of Zoology, 74:926-949. Olszanowski Z., Clayton, M.R., and Humble, L.M. 2002. New species of the genus Camisia (Acari: Oribatida): an arboreal mite with enclosed sensilli. The Canadian Entomologist, 134:707-721. Proctor, H.C. 1991. Courtship in the water mite Neumania papillator: males capitalize on female adaptations for predation. Animal Behaviour, 42:589-598. Proctor, H.C. 2007. Aquatic mites in assessments of stream invertebrate diversity. In Proceedings of the 11th International Congress of Acarology. Edited by J.B. Morales-Malacara, V.M. Behan-Pelletier, E. Ueckermann, T.M. Pérez, E.G. Estrada-Venegas and M. Badii. Instituto de Biololgía; Facultad de Ciencias; Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; Sociedad Latinoamericana de Acarología, México. pp. 105-117. Proctor, H.C., and Garga, N. 2004. Red, distasteful water mites: did fish make them that way? Experimental and Applied Acarology, 34:127-147. Robb, T., and Forbes, M.R. 2006. Sex biases in parasitism of newly emerged damselflies. Ecoscience, 13:1–4. Schatz, H., and Behan-Pelletier, V.M. 2008. Global diversity of oribatids (Oribatida: Acari: Arachnida). Hydro- biologia, 595:323-328. Schmidt, A.R., Jancke, S., Lindquist, E.E., Ragazzi, E., Roghi, G., Nascimbene, P.C., Schmidt, K., Wappler, T., and Grimaldi, D.A. 2012. Arthropods in amber from the Triassic Period. Proceedings of the National Acad- emy of Sciences of the United States of America, 109:14796-14801. Sidorchuk, E.A., Schmidt, A.R., Ragazzi, E., Roghi, G., and Lindquist, E.E. In Press. Plant-feeding mite diversity in Triassic amber. Journal of Systematic Paleontology. Sinha, R.N. 1979. Role of Acarina in the stored grain ecosystem. In Recent Advances in Acarology, Volume 1. Edited by J.G. Rodriguez. Academic Press, New York, pp. 263-272. Smith, I.M. 2010. Water mites (Acarina: Hydrachnidiae) of the Atlantic Maritime Ecozone. In Assessment of Species Diversity in the Atlantic Maritime Ecozone. Edited by D.F. McAlpine, and I.M. Smith. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Canada, pp. 283-312. Smith, I.M., and Oliver, D.R. 1986. Review of parasitic associations of larval water mites (Acari: Parasitengona: Hydrachnida) with insect hosts. The Canadian Entomologist, 118:407-472. Smith, I.M., Smith, B.P., and Cook, D.R. 2001. Water mites (Hydrachnida) and other arachnids. In Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates (2nd Edition). Edited by J.H. Thorp and A.P. Covich. Academic Press, San Diego, USA. pp. 551-659. Smith, I.M., Cook, D.R., and Smith, B.P. 2010. Water mites (Hydrachnidiae) and other arachnids. In Ecology and Classification of North American Freshwater Invertebrates (3rd Edition). Edited by J.H. Thorp and A.P. Covich. Academic Press, San Diego, USA. pp. 485-586. Smith, I.M., Lindquist, E.E., and Behan-Pelletier, V.M. 1996. Mites (Acari). In Assessment of species diversity in the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone. Edited by I.M. Smith. Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, Burlington, Ontario, Canada. pp. 1-60. Smith, I.M., Lindquist, E.E., and Behan-Pelletier, V.M. 1998. Mites (Acari). In Assessment of Species Diversity in the Montane Cordillera Ecozone. Edited by G.G.E. Scudder and I.M. Smith. pp. 193-268. Available from: http://www.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/assets/Montane-Cordillera-Ecozone.pdf St. John, M.G., Bagatto, G., Behan-Pelletier, V., Lindquist, E.E., Shorthouse, J.D., and Smith, I.M. 2002. Mite (Acari) colonization of vegetated mine tailings near Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. Plant and Soil, 245:295-305. Sylvain, Z.A., and Buddle, C.M. 2010. Effects of forest stand type on oribatid mite (Acari: Oribatida) assemblages in a southwestern Quebec forest. Pedobiologia, 53:321-325. Thistlewood, H.M.A. 1991. A survey of predatory mites in Ontario apple orchards with diverse pesticide programs. The Canadian Entomologist, 123:1163-1174. Treat, A.E. 1975. Mites of Moths and Butterflies. Cornell University Press, London, UK. 362 pp. Vetter, R.S. 2013. Arachnophobic entomologists: when two more legs makes a big difference. American Ento- mologist, 59:168-175. Walter, D.E., and Proctor, H.C. 2010. Mites as modern models: Acarology in the 21st century. Acarologia, 50:131-141. Walter, D.E., and Proctor, H.C. 2013. Mites - Ecology, Evolution & Behaviour, 2nd edition: Life at a Microscale. Springer. 494 pp. Walter, D.E., and Latonas, S. 2013. A review of the ecology and distribution of Protoribates (Oribatida, Ori- podoidea, Haplozetidae) in Alberta, Canada, with the description of a new species. Zootaxa, 3620:483-499. Walter, D.E., Lindquist, E.E., Smith, I.M., Cook, D.R., and Krantz, G.W. 2009. Order Trombidiformes. In A Manual of Acarology, 3rd edition. Edited by G.W. Krantz and D.E. Walter. Texas Tech University Press, Lub- bock. pp. 233-420. Walter, D.E., Latonas, S., and Byers, K. 2012. The Almanac, Part II. Available from: http://www.royalalberta- museum.ca/_include/document/research/lifeSciences/invertebrate Zoology/Almanac_AB_Acari_Part_2-1_ Feb_2012.pdf Accessed 1 November 2013. Walter, D.E., Latonas, S., and Byers, K. 2013. The Almanac, Part I. Available from: http://www.royalalberta- museum.ca/_include/document/research/lifeSciences/invertebrate Zoology/00_PartI__Almanac_AB_Orib- atida_V23_13_Jan_2013.pdf Accessed 1 November 2013. Winchester, N.N., Lindo, Z., and Behan-Pelletier, V.M. 2008. Oribatid mite communities in the canopy of montane Abies amabilis and Tsuga heterophylla trees on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. Environmental Entomology, 37:464-471. Young, M.R., Behan-Pelletier, V.M., and Hebert, P.D.N. 2012. Revealing the hyperdiverse mite fauna of subarctic Canada through DNA barcoding. PLoS ONE, 7: e48755. Zacharda, M. 1980. Soil mites of the family Rhagidiidae (Actinedida: Eupodoidea): morphology, systematics, ecology. Acta Universitatis Carolinae Biologica, 1978:489-785.

Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 38

FYI and FAQ Biological Survey of Canada/ Commission biologique du Canada Dave Langor, Northern Forestry Centre, Natural Resources Canada, Edmonton, AB

This section is intended to answer questions about the operations and membership of the BSC. This is of concern to the Directors as there has been considerable effort invested over the last three years to clarify and communicate these issues and seek broader involvement in the BSC. The purpose of this article is to pose and answer frequently asked questions concerning the BSC.

1. What is the BSC?

The BSC is grass roots network of biologists that has been in existence for almost 35 years. The BSC is a non-profit, charitable organization that is dedicated to discovering, synthesizing, and sharing knowledge about Canada’s biological diversity. The objectives of the BSC are to: 1) identify and address gaps in knowledge of Canada’s biological diversity; 2) promote the importance of fundamental taxonomic research on Canadian species, and provide access to expertise on Canadian biodiversity; and 3) promote awareness of the values and vulnerabilities of Canada’s biological diversity by inspiring, educating, and engaging Canadians.

2. How does the BSC (Biological Survey of Canada) differ from the BSF (Biologi- cal Survey Foundation)?

The BSF was created before the BSC became a charitable organization. The BSF is a charitable organization that was created to accept proceeds of sales of BSC publications and donations for BSC activities. The BSF then invests its funds for supporting new BSC publications. In 2012, the two organizations agreed to merge, with a commitment to continue using the funds previoulsy held in the BSF for publication and related activities. This merger should be accomplished sometime this year.

3. Who can join the BSC and what is the process?

The BSC is open to anyone who has an interest in Canadian biodiversity and wishes to contribute to the BSC mandate and objectives. This includes Canadians and non- Canadians and professional and amateur biologists. There currently is no membership fee for joining the BSC. Prospective members need only write to the Secretary of the BSC [[email protected], or see last page of the newsletter] and express interest in joining. It would also be helpful if you could explain how you wish to contribute to the BSC activities so that you can be linked quickly to members involved in those particular activities. It is expected that BSC members will become involved in ongoing or new BSC projects or other activities (e.g., communication, syntheses, research)

4. Is the BSC strictly for entomologists?

While it is true that entomology and arachnology have been the main focus of the BSC over its 35 year history, it has always been (and continues to be) the desire of the BSC to be more inclusive in terms of taxa covered. The BSC will be continuing to expand its coverage of the biota of Canada, so those interested in taxonomy and diversity of snails, slugs, nematodes, millipedes, centipedes, protozoa, plants, lichens and other groups are welcome to join the BSC and diversify our suite of activities.

Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 39

5. Why should I join the BSC?

No other organization in Canada has the mandate or the track record for surveying and documenting the biological diversity of Canada. While such work certainly can be (and has been) done through individual effort, partnering with others of like interest through the BSC network provides opportunity for increased scope of work and an opportunity to pool resources and pursue new resources through collaboration. The ongoing projects and activities of the BSC all originated as a result of discussions and planning catalyzed by the BSC. Thus, if you have interest in surveying Canada’s biodiversity and analyzing and disseminating such information, the BSC can help by providing: expertise and advice born of 35 years of experience in such work; connections to other individuals and organizations that can assist; support to publish/disseminate results; and increased profile to the work through our communication tools (web site, blog, Newsletter, etc.).

6. Does the BSC have meetings?

The Board of the BSC meets monthly by conference call and has frequent email communication. Thus, the Board can deal quickly with new issues as they arise. Each year, during the Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the Entomological Society of Canada and the local entomological society, the BSC holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM), thus providing an opportunity for members to connect and discuss important issues. As well, during each JAM the BSC hosts a symposium on a topic relevant to its activities and mandate. This provides additional opportunity for members and non-members to interact.

7. What is the process for nominating and electing Directors and Officers?

The By-laws of the BSC allow for up to 9 Directors. The current Officer positions are President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Communications Officer. Direc- tors and Officers need not be members of the BSC, although to date most have been. Directors and Officers serve for a term of two years, and are eligible for re-election. BSC members have an opportunity to nominate and vote on Directors at every second AGM (the next elections will be at the 2015 AGM). Members do not vote for officers…they are determined by vote of the Directors at the first business meeting following the AGM.

8. How do I fit into the BSC?

If you have interest in surveying and documenting the biota of Canada and disseminating such information to all Canadians, then the BSC is the place for you. The BSC has a few ongoing projects and activities (see our web site for descriptions) where you may immediately find a niche. However, the BSC is open to adding new projects and activities as needs and suggestions arise. So if you have an idea for something new that fits within the BSC mandate, please come forward with your proposal so that we can have an open discussion among all BSC members.

9. Is there funding available for work?

The current fiscal resources of the BSC are limited and are largely reserved to support publication of BSC products. However, the BSC does help seek funding from outside agencies to support BSC Projects. Recent examples of outside funding successes are the Northern Biodiversity Program and the Terrestrial Arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador Project. Direct and indirect support have also been obtained to support recent Bio-blitzes and the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. The Board of the BSC continually explores opportunities to increase funding support to the BSC.

If you have more questions about the BSC, please send your inquiry to the BSC Secretary ([email protected]), and a Director or Officer will quickly contact you with an answer. In the meantime, please check out the web site of the BSC, which continues to be updated, and this may provide answers to your questions, or generate new questions.

Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 40 Notices Requests for Material or Information Invited The Biological Survey of Canada Newsletter traditionally served as a forum to encourage cooperation in taxonomic and ecological studies of the arthropod fauna through publishing requests for material or information that might be obtained by someone elsewhere in Canada. If you have a request that you would like to see in the newsletter, please send it to: Requests should clearly indicate that Owen Lonsdale, PhD they are for the Biological Survey of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Canada Newsletter, and be made by K.W. Neatby Building, Central Experimental Farm, the end of November for the Winter 960 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0C6 issue, and by the end of April for the E-mail: [email protected] Summer issue.

CANADIAN AGROMYZIDAE. Canadian specimens of the genera Liriomyza and Phyto- myza (Diptera: Agromyzidae) are welcome for ongoing revisions, particularly if these are associated with host plant rearing records. All other specimens of Agromyzidae are also welcome, as these will eventually be used for similar treatments in this series. Please contact Owen Lonsdale ([email protected]). NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR ARTHROPODS Do you have specimens of terrestrial arthropods from the province of NL in your collection? As part of the BSC project on the Terrestrial Arthropods of NL, we would like to include as many existing records as possible in our survey efforts. We are especially interested in Coleoptera and Lepidoptera, but all Classes and Orders of terrestrial arthropods are of interest. Please contact David Lan- gor, [email protected] CARABID BEETLE DATA SETS As part of a synthesis of the structure of carabid beetle assemblages in North American forests, we are looking for those who are willing to share datasets from sampling of carabids in forests (undisturbed or undisturbed by natural or man-made means). We are especially interested in data sets that include an entire season of activity. Information on assemblage composition, relative abundance of species and temporal (seasonal) patterns of change is desired. Depending on the degreee of contribution and involvement in the synthesis, there is the possibility of co-authorships. Please contact David Langor, [email protected]

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Entomological Monographs The Entomological Society of Canada has received permission to publish a number of entomological monographs (including some of the popular Insects and Arachnids of Canada Series) on their website. To access these, go to: http://www.esc-sec.ca/aafcmono.php

If you prefer the monographs in bound format, these can still be obtained on a print-on- demand process though an agreement with Volumes Direct (http://www.volumesdirect. com/). Visit their website, and search for title or author.

Call for Proposals for a 2015 Biological Survey of Canada BioBlitz A Bioblitz is a great way to start or implement a faunal inventory of a region, as can be seen by reading the report of the 2010 bioBlitz on p. 7 of Vol. 29(2), or other issues of the newsletter. If you are interested in organizing a BioBlitz for the upcoming summer, please contact Dr. Joe Shorthouse, Laurentian University ([email protected])

Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 41 Notices

Volumes I and II of the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series available on line and for purchase

Volume 1: Ecology and Interactions in Grassland Habitats. To download chapters: http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/grasslandsbook.htm To purchase a copy, go to: http://www.volumesdirect.com/detail.aspx?ID=4598

Volume 2: Inhabitants of a Changing Landscape To download chapters: http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/grasslandsbook2.htm To purchase a copy, go to: http://www.volumesdirect.com/detail.aspx?ID=4764).

Wh o w e a r e : The Biological Survey of Canada is a Not-for-Profit Corporation dedicated to promoting biodiversity science in Canada - The BSC consists of an elected board of directors and hip represent- ing all areas of biodiversity science, though with a focus on Arthropods. - We produce a newsletter twice per year, and organize events such as the annual BSC Symposium at the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) meeting, an annual “Curation Blitz” at the ESC meeting, and assist in organizing BioBlitz- es when possible. Anyone can receive the newsletter, by sending a request to the Secretary (address below). - Membership is free, and includes this newsletter and the right to vote at the Annual General Meeting. All members are encouraged to become actively involved in BSC projects, propose new projects, or to run for the positions on the Board of Directors. (A nominal membership fee may be charged in future to cover infrastructure costs). - The Annual General Meeting is held each fall at the annual meeting of the En- tomological Society of Canada, with the option of participating electronically as well as in person.

To Jo i n t h e BSC: Send an email to Dr. J. Savage, Secretary, BSC. [email protected]

- In the subject line, write “BSC Membership” - in the body of the message, give your full name and contact information, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some information on your background and biodiversity interests.

Volume 32(2) Winter 2013 Return to front page