Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada

Vol. 35(1) Summer 2016

The Newsletter of the BSC is published twice a year by the Biological Survey of Canada, an incorporated not-for-profit In this issue group devoted to promoting science in Canada. Editorial...... 2 Biota of Canada Project Report: Information on Announcing a new publication Series...... 17 Membership ...... 3 Cory Sheffield, Royal Saskatchewan Museum Student Corner President’s Update ...... 4 1. Using lake islands as natural models to resolve relationships between BSC on facebook & twit- habitat fragmentation and butterfly ter...... 5 diversity...... 6 Zachary MacDonald, John Acorn, BSC Student Corner: ...... 5 Scott Nielsen, Department of Renewable Resources, University of Alberta Ticks of Canada book an- nouncement: ...... 15 2. A handful of sediments: a frontier of discovery and why it is interesting.....9 Biota of Canada project re- Kurt Yakimovich, BSc port: ...... 17 Department of Biology, Laurentian Univer- sity and Vale Living with Lakes Centre Recent paper in the Canadian Journal of 3. Increasing the biodiversity of fish Identification on our dinner plates...... 11 ...... 18 Gretchen L. Lescord, Laurentian Uni- versity, Vale Living with Lakes Center Check out the BSC and the Canadian Network for Aquatic Website: Publications ....18 Ecosystem Services (CNAES)

Biota of Canada Project Upcoming Book: Synopis ...... 19 Handbook to the Ticks of Canada...... 15 Terry Galloway, Dept. of Entomology, University of BSC FAQs...... 20 Manitoba

Notices ...... 22 Biota of Canada: Project synopsis Your chance to get involved...... 19 FYI and FAQs about the BSC: BSC President Dave Langor answers questions about the Biological Survey and the Biological Survey Foundation..20

Visit our Website | Previous issues Contact us: [email protected] Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 2

Editorial Donna Giberson This issue of the BSC Newsletter includes biodiversity-related reports representing new work, as well as work that has been ongoing for several decades. We are highlighting three exciting student research projects in this issue, thanks to the work of BSC Student Representative, Erin Campbell in engaging student biodiversity workers to talk about their work in the newsletter. Look for these articles starting on p. 6, and if you or one of your research students would like to submit an update on student activities, we’d love to hear from you. Just contact Erin at [email protected] to submit an article. At the other end of the time spectrum, Terry Galloway reports on the upcoming Ticks of Canada Handbook, which has been in the works since the 1990s, and is coming out this summer just in time for tick season. Both of these types of projects are evidence, I think, of the incremental nature of biodiversity science, as well as the hard work that goes into really cataloguing the biodiversity of a region the size of Canada. And both types will feed into a new publication project that we’ll be introduced to this issue, in the Biota of Canada update. Lots of exciting things happening, and I hope you enjoy reading about them.

If you haven’t yet looked up the new website or checked out the BSC on facebook, consider doing so, and send us your comments; of course, if there are any little bumps in navigating the site, we’d like to hear about them. The new site will continue to have links to biodiversity resources of the BSC, and our publications, and will be easier to keep up to date. Check it out, at http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ D.Giberson Tiger beetles on Blooming Point Beach, PEI.

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]) 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 35(1) Summer 2016 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 3

Biological Survey of Canada: Documenting Canada’s Biodiversity

The Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) has been collecting, collating, analyzing and disseminating information about Canada’s biological diversity since 1977. 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 , 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.

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 Sav- age (see below). 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.

To Join the 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 infor- mation, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some informa- tion on your background and biodiversity interests.

Check out the BSC website! http://biologicalsurvey.ca/

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

Ahhhh….field season has finally arrived in my part of the world (Alberta), providing precious opportunities to occasionally escape the office brig…shed the cyber-shackles…bid “adieu” to admin- istrivia…and get back in touch with nature to savour its sounds, smells, sights, and other sensational titillations. This is the time of year when I am most excited to be a field biologist! The BSC also excites me, and there are some great things going on that I’ll tell you about and try to entice you to become involved in. The Biota of Canada (BoC) Project is making headway on several fronts. The BSC is kick-starting two publication series that will foster the development of content for the BoC The first series, the ‘Biodiversity Assessment’ series, will focus on provide esti- mates of species richness for each family of organisms in Canada. Planning for the first volume (Terrestrial Arthropods) has already begun. The second series will focus on the development of species checklists. Both series will be published in Pensoft journals. Your involvement is welcome! Please see the article by Cory Sheffield in this issue for more details about the series and opportunities to get involved. As well, the BSC is in the early stages of exploring options for developing a Biota of Canada literature data- base that will provide a library of references about the diversity of Canada’s species. A highly anticipated monograph on the Ticks of Canada by Evert Lindquist, Terry Galloway and colleagues is very close to publication. We expect to see it published this summer. Check out the article on the Ticks of Canada in this issue. Data from the 2015 Bio-Blitz in the Peace River valley of northeastern BC continue to roll in. There have been many interesting records of arthropods, gastropods and plants thus far. These data are publically accessible through the BC Ministry of Environment’s Wildlife Species Inventory database (http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/wildlife/wsi/index.htm). The 2016 Bio-Blitz in the vicinity of Carmacks, YK is very close…June 24-26. Many have signed up to participate. It is not too late to join in. For details please visit our website http://biologicalsurvey.ca/pages/read/bio-blitzes. Already planning is under way for the 2017 Bio-Blitz in the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan and Alberta – stay tuned for more details in the next newsletter and on our web site. A special thanks to Donna Giberson for putting together another great Newsletter issue. Please consider contributing an article about Canada’s terrestrial, aquatic or marine biodiversity to a future issue. We would love to have articles about earthworms, horsehair worms, ribbon worms…nematodes, trematodes, frogs & toads…plants, ani- mals, fungi, protozoa, chromists and bacteria…genes, species, habitats and communi- ties…your current biodiversity research…you get the picture. Share your biodiversity passions, activities and aspirations with other bio-philes who will appreciate it. Please remember that the BSC is a grassroots network of biodiversity enthusiasts who seek to work together to better understand Canada’s rich biota. Join up (free of charge) and get involved with current projects or build new projects. All ideas are welcome! Have a bio-wonderful summer!

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BSC on Facebook and Twitter Kyle Knysh University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, PE

The BSC is now active on Facebook (www.facebook.com/biolsurvey1can) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/BiolSurCan). We are regularly sharing news about new biodiversity research in Canada and updates from the BSC. Like and Follow the Biological Survey of Canada! If you have content you would like to share with the BSC please email knyshk@gmail. com.

BSC Student Corner Erin Campbell, Student representative to the BSC Board

Three student research projects relating to biodiversity are high- lighted in this issue, ranging from a case for increasing the diver- sity of fish in our diets, microbial diversity associated with shallow lakewater sediments, and butterfly diversity on islands in a large freshwater lake.

If you are a graduate or undergraduate student who would like to submit an article on an aspect of Canadian biodiversity, we would love to hear from you. please get in touch with me at [email protected].

Articles can be on preliminary data, experiences in the field, or any other aspect of your work or study. Examples of other student articles can be found in this issue, or on pp.27-35 in Vol 29(2) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscfall2010.pdf), pp.41-49 in Vol 30(2) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscwinter2011.pdf), and pp.7-19 in Vol 34(1) (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/newsletter/bscsummer2015.pdf).

Erin Campbell

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STUDENT CORNER: Using lake islands as natural models to resolve relationships between habitat fragmentation and butterfly diversity

Zachary MacDonald, John Acorn, Scott Nielsen University of Alberta, Department of Renewable Resources

As our vehicle devoured the kilometers eastward across Saskatchewan and Manitoba on our way from Alberta to Ontario, I recall thinking to myself, “what geological phe- nomenon could possibly be responsible for this implausible flatness?!” A gas station Google search found the culprit: Lake Agassiz—a once massive body of glacial meltwa- ter that existed towards the end of the Wisconsin Glaciation spanning over the three present-day provinces. I grew to resent this lake of another time, with its lacustrine deposits burying any interest- ing land formation within eyeshot of the TransCanada highway. Rather ironically, we were methodically shortening the distance between us and the remains of this formerly massive lake. We were headed to Lake of the Woods, Ontario, to set up a research camp 15 kilometers

northeast of the small town of Morson. Z.MacDonald Our primary mission: to chase butterflies A female Canadian Tiger Swallowtail and count plants. (Papilio canadensis).

Under the supervision of Scott Nielsen and John Acorn at the University of Alberta (Department of Renewable Re- sources), Iraleigh Anderson (BSc student), Meg Dauphinee (artist) and I (Zachary MacDonald, MSc student) were on our way to survey and study patterns of biodiversity on 30 of the 14,552 islands dotting Lake of the Woods. Why? Be- cause lake islands serve as excellent experimental habitat patches for resolving relationships between habitat frag- mentation and terrestrial biodiversity. Unlike many types of habitat patches occurring on terrestrial landscapes, lake islands allow for the unambiguous delineation of habitat patch edges—something generally reported as problematic in past studies. Additionally, the matrix of unsuitable habi- tat (open water) surrounding habitat patches (islands) is not thought to contribute to patch-level butterfly diversity. This effectively controls for any “matrix effects,” whereby

S.Nielsen the biodiversity within habitat patches is structured by Zachary MacDonald with a Red factors other than the composition and configuration of Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) in habitat patches. hand. In our current research, we are measuring butterfly populations on lake islands to shed light on how butterfly diversity within the boreal forest is affected by habitat fragmentation. Butterflies were chosen as a focal taxon because 1) they are commonly used as model organisms in spatial ecology, allowing for comparisons to be drawn with the findings of other studies, and 2) because butterflies are generally accepted as surrogate indicators of biodiversity within a wide range of ecosystems. Coupled with high detectability, these traits make butterflies excellent study subjects for research addressing habitat fragmentation. Habitat fragmentation and its negative effects on biodiversity are often cited as the

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justification for protecting fewer larger (unfragmented) habitat patches instead of many smaller (fragmented) patches dis- persed across a landscape. In spite of this, there exists a continued debate about direct relationships between habitat fragmentation and biodiversity. New research is suggesting that habitat fragmentation may not depress biodiversity in many systems because nega- tive relationships between fragmentation and biodiversity are confounded by habitat

loss (Fahrig 2013). Therefore, controlling Z.MacDonald for total habitat area is critical to determin- Lateral view of a Northern Crescent (Phyciodes ing whether habitat fragmentation depresses cocyta), a common species on many of our study biodiversity. islands. To control for habitat area, we are comparing butterfly species diversity across sets of islands differing in number and size, but summing to equivalent aggregate areas. Sets of fewer larger islands represent lower degrees of habitat fragmenta- tion, while sets of many smaller islands represent higher degrees of habitat fragmentation. Because aggregate area is held constant between sets of islands ranging in size, we can compare levels of butterfly species diversity across these sets to see how butterflies respond to varying degrees of habitat fragmentation.

Z.MacDonald These butterfly diversity analyses are still underway, and results have yet to be A striped hairstreak (Satyrium liparops), nectaring on our largest study island of eight hectares. published.

From the beginning of June to the end of August, 2015, island butterfly diversity was measured through a series of repeated full island surveys. Thirty-four but- terfly species were detected in total. It was a pleasant surprise to find so many butterflies making use of island habitats, especially those small enough to throw a stone across. We had been quite nervous during our first commute, aerial nets aboard, in our 15’ alu- minum boat out to the unknown S.Nielsen islands. We were not sure whether butterflies would be mobile enough Iraleigh Anderson and Zachary MacDonald overlooking an to make the long journey out to array of study islands. the isolated patches of habitat, as some of our islands were separated from other landmasses by several kilometers. To en- sure that we would have at least some data, we brought sampling equipment to survey other pollinators, including syrphid flies and bees. However, butterflies were abundant enough to keep us busy and satisfy our research requirements, so we decided to focus on our primary taxon, the butterflies, and exclude the other groups. Butterfly assemblages varied with both the size and vegetation of islands. This, coupled with species turnover throughout the summer, made every island visit a unique

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and exciting experience. Novel butterfly welcoming parties always lightened the load as we struggled to pull the boat up steep granite shores. Our most exciting find, in my opinion, was a pair of Dion Skippers (Euphyes dion) on a four-hectare island in the south east of our study area. This discovery marked a significant north- ern range expansion for the species. Dion Skippers are abundant as far north as Min- nesota, 300 to 400 kilometers south of our study area. Few Dion records have been Z.MacDonald reported in northern Ontario, with ours Coral Hairstreak (Satyrium titus), a butterfly being the most northerly of the bunch. We found to frequent rocky outcrops. look forward to monitoring the expansion of this species’ range. Besides the skippers, with few people to talk with, I developed a rather deep connec- tion with the local populations of Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta). This was one of the few species that was common throughout the entire survey period, and it frequented islands of all sizes. Every time island populations dwindled and I feared my friends would be lost for another year, another brood was quick to replace the last. It is unclear which populations of Red Admirals are migrants, and which complete their life cycles within lake islands and surrounding habitat. We look forward to return- ing to the islands in 2016 to see if this year’s Red Admirals are as abundant as the last. I have a deep appreciation and respect for the ability of these butterflies to evade almost every attempt of capture, but I do believe this appreciation and respect for mobility is overwhelmingly one-sided. The summer of 2015 was marked by contests of mobil- ity, endurance, and persistence between lepidopterist and I.Anderson lepidopterans. I recall being thoroughly embarrassed in front Zachary MacDonald with of my research contemporaries on many occasions while at- a Red Admiral (Vanessa tempting to run down admirals, anglewings, and swallowtails atalanta) in hand. gliding over island shores. These butterflies often left me lying on beaches—gasping for air, sand in every orifice—as they proclaimed their own sweet victory, flitting above me, just out of net’s reach. As we gathered our thoughts after unsuccessful chases such as these, deep down we knew we had won the contest on some level. Unknowingly, the butterflies had exposed their iden- tities to us, and we had what we needed. In spite of this (as any lepidopterist will attest) there are few things sweeter in life than watching the brim of your net travel over the leading edge of a swallowtail’s wing. Despite many unfruitful pursuits over lush meadows and through thick forests, I recall one encoun- ter that I would call a complete and undisputed victory for the lepidopterists. The contest took place not on land, but over open water. Tiller in one hand and aerial net in the other, we were in hot pursuit of a lone Red Admiral

fleeing across the great Lake of Z.MacDonald the Woods. Our 25 horsepower A Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis). Honda outboard engine was per-

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fectly matched to the flight muscles of the little brush-footed individual. After a taxing competition, we triumphed, and the butterfly found its way to the back of my net. We thought it only fair to reward the efforts of this butterfly with its freedom. Encounters such as this one over open water have left us asking new questions about how but- terflies travel between habitat patches. At what distances are butterfly species able to detect island habitats during their open water commutes? Is there considerable variation in this perceptual range between species? How about within species? We hope to answer these questions over the course of this year’s flight season at Lake of the Woods.

References Fahrig L. 2013. Rethinking patch size and isolation effects: the habitat amount hypoth- esis. Journal of Biogeography 40:1649-1663.

STUDENT CORNER: A handful of sediments: a frontier of discovery and why it is interesting

Kurt Yakimovich, BSc Current MSc student affiliated with Laurentian University Department of Biology and Vale Living with Lakes Centre

It can be difficult to communicate my interest in microbiology, as most people don’t think a lot about microbes in a positive sense, and they remain unseen by most. But what first attracted me to the topic during my undergraduate degree at the University of Alberta was learning about the sheer diversity of the microbial world. This diver- sity spans the three domains of life: Eukarya (which includes humans), Bacteria, and Archaea … and they’re pretty much everywhere! Human society would instantly collapse and everyone would die if we were to lose the microbial world (a very short apocalypse story). What made it even more interesting to me as an aspiring scientist was the fact that a majority of these microbes around the world remain unidentified—mysteries to science. Through recent advances in technology, we have been given an unprecedented look into the microbial world by examining the DNA present in various environments. However, the challenge still remains to fully identify the microbes behind the DNA frag- ments we detect, and what that DNA tells us about their role in their community and ecosystem. Many microbes live in tight-knit communities, relying on the diversity of their neighbors to survive, therefore, exploring this untapped biodiversity reveals to us the processes they are involved in. Ultimately, looking at the microbial world leads us to understand the functioning, ecology, and biogeochemical cycling of the diverse environ- ments that drive the natural world, which can benefit humanity and in- form our stewardship of the Earth. It is for these reasons I have become passionate about doing research in this area. I am cur- rently doing my MSc at Laurentian University in Sudbury ON, working out of the Vale Living with Lakes Centre co-supervised by Dr. Nadia Mykytczuk and Dr. Nathan Basiliko. My research involves looking at the

poorly understood microbes that Centre Living with Lakes Vale link forests to shallow lake sedi- The field sampling dock system at the Vale Living with Lakes Centre on Ramsey Lake, Sudbury ON.

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ments. This project is in collaboration with an ecology group under Dr. Andrew Tanent- zap from Cambridge University. Our current field project looks at the carbon cycling (including greenhouse gases) initiated by leaf litter input into lakes, and my main focus is understanding the roles microbes play in this process. To explore this, we have built and installed numerous mesocosms full of artificially constructed sediments (dirt com- bined with softwood leaves and pine needles) in three different lakes within Sudbury’s industrially-impacted region. This experiment will allow us to study the decomposition of the leaves in these lakes, and how they fuel the microbes and other members of the aquatic food webs. C. Desjardins C. Desjardins The artificial sediment mesocosms installed in Kurt Yakimovich sampling the underwater bins Laurentian Lake, Sudbury ON. full of artificial sediment mesocosms.

Little is known about the diversity of microbes in lake sediments, however it is clear that members from all three taxonomic domains play a role in the productivity and health of the lake ecosystem. Through our research, we hope to understand how these microbes interact with a changing forests and the terrestrial landscape, and in turn affect the food webs and carbon cycling on a local and global scales. Additionally, having the opportunity to work in Sudbury with its mining and industrial history and world-renowned re-greening science, we are able to ask important questions about ecosystem recov- ery. At the heart of my research lies the impact of biodiversity on these systems, and our research group is working towards this. It is an exciting time for this sort of research, considering the fast-paced advancements in DNA sequencing technologies. It allows us to ask powerful questions as we explore

the tiny members of this seemingly ubiquitous mi- K. Yakimovich crobial world. Some of the equipment used for water As I engage in this research, I am constantly try- sampling from the artificial mesocosms. ing to think of ways to explain what I do in a way that is interesting to most people. Our science is only as good as the stories we can communicate to the rest of society. And so, I would like to end this article by having my readers imagine having a handful of beautiful, icky, wet lake sediments and take a mo- ment to think about the millions of tiny little microbes that are making a living in there. Many of the microbes in that handful are like aliens, unknown and full of metabolic potential we can only guess at. This is the frontier my colleagues and I work on, and this is where we endeavor to explore the unseen world using science!

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STUDENT CORNER: Increasing the biodiversity of fish on our dinner plates

Gretchen L. Lescord, Ph.D. Candidate ([email protected]) Laurentian University, Vale Living with Lakes Center and the Canadian Network for Aquatic Ecosystem Services (CNAES)

Fish are one the healthiest sources of protein in the world, packed with heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and, generally, less saturated fat than other meats (Horrocks and Yeo 1999). These benefits are particularly important in North America, where residents of remote northern communities, many of whom are Aboriginal, rely heavily on freshwa- ter fish as subsistence food; both the public health and cultural importance of these wild fish cannot be overstated. However, fish are also the main pathway for mercury (Hg), a neurotoxic metal, to enter the human body (Clarkson and Magos 2006). If enough is ingested, Hg can cause serious harm to people, particularly during early development (Clarkson and Magos 2006). Therefore, children and pregnant women (or women who could become pregnant) are the groups considered most at risk to the detrimental effects of excessive Hg consumption. How then do we balance the health benefits and cultural importance of consuming fish and the risks from Hg? A large part of the answer is a diversification of the fish we choose to eat. As explained below, not all fish behave the same and, as a result, their Hg concentrations are vastly different. While there are a number of different environmental contaminants, many exist in very low or non-detectable concentrations in fish and only pose an issue to human health in highly contaminated regions. Mercury, on the other hand, has been found in aquatic environments across the globe. Although Hg is an element generally bound in sulfur- rich rocks near volcanoes and hot springs, its concentrations in the environment have increased 3-fold since the industrial revolution. This is, in large part, due to the burn- ing of coal, one of the largest sources of Hg to the environment today (Weiss-Penzias et al. 2007). The use of coal has declined in North America in recent decades but remains stable or is increasing in others areas, and most current atmospheric Hg emissions now come from Asian countries. The emitted elemental Hg is very stable in the atmosphere and can be transported vast distances, eventually falling into remote lakes, rivers, and wetlands across Canada in rain or snow (Jaffe and Strode 2008). Due to cold-conden- sation and various photochemical reactions that occur in our atmosphere, more Hg is deposited in colder regions of the planet, partly explaining why fish from Boreal and Arctic ecosystems often have higher concentrations of Hg than those from more southerly systems (Steffen et al. 2008; AMAP 2011). Like most elements, Hg has complex cycling and can exist in many different forms, all of which have different chemical attributes which effect their behaviours in the environ- ment and levels of toxicity. In the deep waters of lakes and oceans or in wetlands, where very little oxygen is present, bacteria can transform inorganic Hg to methyl mercury (MeHg), which is the most toxic form (Gilmour et al 1992). MeHg is “sticky”, binding strongly within body tissues (Clarkson and Magos 2006); so strongly in fact, that and people only excrete ~1% of their body burden of MeHg per day (Crinnion 2011), resulting in an accumulation of this contaminant in their bodies over time. Therefore, while Hg concentrations in fish are certainly variable, larger and older fish within a species generally have more Hg than smaller fish from the same lake, river, or oceanographic region (Depew et al. 2013). Accumulation of Hg also occurs through food webs; small con- sumers accumulate Hg from their surroundings and when eaten by fish, their Hg is transferred up the food chain, a process known as biomagnifica- tion (Figure 1). Within a

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lake, river, or oceanographic region, fish that are higher on their respective food chains have higher Hg concentrations than those lower on the food chain (Depew et al. 2013). Furthermore, like us, a fish’s diet is its main source of Hg (Hall et al. 1997) and what a fish eats largely dictates its MeHg concentration. In freshwater lakes for example, fish that feed on insect larvae along the nearshore lake bottom tend to have lower MeHg concentrations than fish that feed in open water on zooplankton (Chételat et al. 2013). Moving up the food chain, fish that live closer to shore and feed on the fish that con- sume insect larva, such as northern pike (Esox lucius), generally have lower Hg con- centrations than fish which feed on planktivorous fish in open waters, such as walleye (Sander vitreus; Figure 2). However, both walleye and pike are piscivorous; they eat other fish which have already accumulated MeHg from the base of the food web. In contrast, Lake whitefish Corego( - nus clupeaformis) and suckers (Catostomus sp.), which feed mainly on invertebrates at a lower trophic position, generally accumulate less MeHg than piscivorous lake trout, walleye, bass, or pike of a similar age (Chételat et al. 2013). While several important inland lake whitefish fisheries exist (in the Great Lakes, for example; Kinnunen 2003), fewer people appear to consume suckers. In Ontario’s northern First Nations communi- ties, suckers were commonly eaten before the 1980s. However, consumption of suck- ers today seems to be low; only 8% of people surveyed from First Nation communities across the Yukon in 2008 reported eating longnose suckers, part of their traditional diet (Schuster et al. 2011). Figure 3 shows various freshwater fish that generally have low MeHg concentrations as well as those whose concentrations are more likely to be above recommended consump- tion limits (based on MOECC 2015). Overall, people concerned about Hg consumption should consume fish that are less predatory and smaller (MOECC 2015). It is important to note that Hg concentrations within a fish species fluctuate between regions (Depew et al. 2013). This is partly because many different physical and chemical characteristics of lakes and rivers can affect Hg cycling and MeHg biomagnification (Lavoie et al. 2013), a fact that has driven many of the questions that researchers (myself included) are cur- rently addressing. It is therefore important to consult advisories from your local regional Hg monitoring programs, when such data are available. In Canada, the governments of 5 provinces (Québec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Alberta) provide detailed consumption recommendations for many fish based on species, location, and body size, while many others provide a general overview on Hg in their regional fish. The Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), for example, produces one of the most comprehensive consumption guides for freshwater fish (seehttps://www. ontario.ca/document/guide-eating-ontario-fish for more information).

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Consumption diversification is also important when considering commercial sh;fi many fish populations are rapidly declining world-wide, especially those of popular marine fish such as tuna and cod (FAO 2012). Many easily accessible resources exist to help con- sumers choose more sustainable fish, including the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch (http://www.seafoodwatch.org/) and Sea Choice Canada (http://www.seachoice. org/). Furthermore, the same principals discussed above regarding Hg in freshwater fish apply to commercially-purchased marine species; less predatory and smaller fish, such as tilapia or Arctic char, will have less Hg than fish higher on the food chain such as alba- core tuna or swordfish (Health Canada 2007). A complete switch in our diets to alternative fish species is not necessarily the best answer; food chains are delicate and over-exploitation of any step, predator or prey, can cause imbalances that may have cascading effects on other species. Instead, bio-diver- sifying our plates may help spread the demand we place on various fish populations. By taking advantage of available information and diversifying the types and sizes of fish eaten, whether caught locally or purchased commercially, consumers can make better choices for both personal and environmental health.

Acknowledgments: I thank Drs. Tom Johnston (OMNRF), John Gunn, and David Pearson (Laurentian Uni- versity) for their feedback on this article. I also thank Chantal Sarrazin-Delay (Lauren- tian University) and Rachel DeJong (University of Waterloo) for their input on Figure 3.

References: AMAP 2011. The Arctic Mercury Assessment Program. Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme, Oslo, Norway. Chételat J, Cloutier L, & Amyot M. 2013. An investigation of enhanced mercury bioaccumulation in fish from offshore feeding. Ecotoxicology 22:1020-1032. Clarkson TW & Magos L. 2006. The toxicology of mercury and its chemical compounds. Critical Re- views in Toxicology 36:609-662. Crinnion WJ. 2011. Polychlorinated biphenyls: persistent pollutants with immunological, neurological, and endocrinological consequences. Alternative Medicine Review 16:5-13. Depew DC, Burgess NM, Anderson MR, Baker R, Bhavsar SP, Bodaly RA, Eckley CS, Evans MS, Gantner N, Graydon JA, Jacobs K, LeBlanc JE, St. Louis VL, & Campbell, LM. 2013. An overview of mercury concentrations in freshwater fish species: a national fish mercury dataset for Canada. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 70:436-451. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2001. Fact Sheet: Water Quality Criterion for the Protection of Human Health: Methylmercury. EPA-823-F-01-001 Available online from http://nepis.epa.gov/ [not cited in text] FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN). 2014. The State of World Fisheries and Aqua- culture. Fisheries & Aquaculture Department, FAO. Available online from http://www.fao.org/do- crep/016/i2727e/i2727e00.htm Gilmour CC, Henry EA, & Mitchell R. 1992. Sulfate stimulation of mercury methylation in freshwater sediments. Environmental Science & Technology 26:2281-2287.

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Health Canada. 2007. Human Health Risk Assessment of Mercury in Fish and Health Benefits of Fish Consumption. Bureau of Chemical Safety Food Directorate Health Products and Food Branch. Avail- able online from http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/mercur/merc_fish_poisson-eng.php Horrocks LA & Yeo YK. 1999. Health benefits of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Pharmacological Re- search 40:211-225. Jaffe D & Strode S. 2008) Sources, fate and transport of atmospheric mercury from Asia. Environ- mental Chemistry 5:121-126. Kinnunen, RE 2003. Great Lakes commercial fisheries. Michigan Sea Grant Extension, Marquette. Available online from www.glerl.noaa.gov/seagrant/GLFLI/Notebook/Curriculum/Projects/GLCom- mercialFinal.pdf Lavoie RA, Jardine TD, Chumchal MM, Kidd KA, & Campbell LM. 2013. Biomagnification of mercury in aquatic food webs: a worldwide meta-analysis. Environmental Science & Technology 47:13385- 13394. MOECC (Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change). 2015. Guide to eating Ontario fish, 2015-2016. Available online fromhttps://dr6j45jk9xcmk.cloudfront.net/documents/4460/ fishguide2015-final-aoda-en-final.pdf Schuster RC, Wein EE, Dickson C, & Chan HM. 2011. Importance of traditional foods for the food se- curity of two First Nations communities in the Yukon, Canada. International Journal of Circumpolar Health 70: 286-300 Steffen A, Douglas T, Amyot M, Ariya P, Aspmo K, Berg T, Bottenheim J, Brooks S, Cobbett F, Dastoor A, & Dommergue A. 2008. A synthesis of atmospheric mercury depletion event chemistry in the atmosphere and snow. Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 8:1445-1482. Weiss-Penzias P, Jaffe D, Swartzendruber P, Hafner W, Chand D, & Prestbo E. 2007. Quantifying Asian and biomass burning sources of mercury using the Hg/CO ratio in pollution plumes observed at the Mount Bachelor Observatory. Atmospheric Environment 41:4366-4379.

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Upcoming: Summer 2016 A Handbook to the Ticks of Canada (Ixodida: Ixodidae, Argasidae)

Terry Galloway Department of Entomology, University of Manitoba

Despite their insignificant form and size, ticks are one of the most readily recog- nized groups of arthropods in Canada. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would rank ticks among their favou- rite animals. In fact, most people find them repugnant, not only because of their blood-feeding habits, but some species may cause paralysis or serve as reservoirs and vectors of a remarkable variety of pathogens, including viruses, rickettsiae, bacteria, protozoans and spirochaetes. In Canada, these pathogens include the causative agents of Lyme borreliosis, re- lapsing fever, tularaemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Q fever, Colorado tick fever, Powassan encephalitis, and perhaps oth- ers, some of which afflict wild and domes- ticated animals as well as humans, leading to highly pervasive medico-veterinary and economic issues. An important step is cor- rect identification of the offending entity, which with ticks may be any of the active immature or adult forms. The Handbook to the Ticks of Canada is an identification and information guide to all known active instars of the nine nine genera and forty species of ticks that occur in Canada. Identification keys and other information about ticks in Canada were last presented by John D. Gregson in a 1956 monograph which gradually became outdated. Previous keys did not account for the larva, which is just as important as subsequent in- stars. Also, the distributions of ticks have changed markedly, in view of climatic changes and other factors.

A checkered history This handbook has had a rather checkered history. The Expert Committee on Arthro- pod Pests of Animals acknowledged the need for an updated version of Gregson’s 1956 manual and launched the handbook in 1990, with components assigned to various com- mittee members. The committee confidently set out to complete the project yb the fall of 1993. However, the task quickly extended beyond the capacity of the committee be- cause of prior commitments by many members, the volume of information to assimilate, and the imminent demise of the Expert Committee system. Drafts were completed for some sections, but others languished, until eventually, the project ground to a halt. With the resurrection of the Handbook Series for and Arachnids of Canada under the

Volume 35(1) Summer 2016 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 16

umbrella of NRC Press, Terry Galloway and Rob Roughley jokingly suggested one day in the coffee room in the Department of Entomology at the University of Manitoba, that this might allow a fitting platform for the revival for of the Ticks of Canada. When Terry con- tacted several of the former contributors, they unanimously agreed the project should go forward. Taxonomic treatments and keys were rewritten, drawings were completely redone, and collection records were updated and distribution maps prepared. Additional authors were recruited where specific expertise was required and the literature and host associations were updated, in some cases almost to the time of publication. Along the way, the mandate of NRC Press changed and no longer included scientific monographs. Fortunately, the Biological Survey of Canada came to the rescue and provided immea- surable support and encouragement to bring the handbook to a successful conclusion.

What to expect in this handbook Handbook topics include general information on tick life history, external structures and terms used for identifying ticks, methods of collecting, rearing and preserving ticks, medical, veterinary and wildlife importance of ticks in Canada, illustrated keys to larvae, nymphs, females and males of genera and species and, for each species, diagnoses, summary life histories, host preferences, general distribution, disease vector potential, and maps of Canadian distribution. Host/tick and tick/host indices are also provided. This handbook will be equally useful in Alaska and the northern tier of contiguous states of the United States of America.

Contributors Of course, with such a broad range of topics covered in the handbook, several authors contributed to the effort. Evert Lindquist is an honorary research associate with Agricul- ture and Agri-Food Canada, in Ottawa and is the lead author. Evert is one of only three of the original authors in this project and he prepared chapters on general tick biology and morphology. Evert also wrote the taxonomic treatments for all species of ticks. Terry Galloway is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. Terry was responsible for overall editing and compilation of the handbook, as well as contributing to species accounts and the chapter on medical/veterinary importance of ticks. Several scientists from the National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada in Winnipeg were the primary contributors to the chapter on medical/veterinary importance of ticks. Harvey Artsob is one of the original contributors, now retired, and Robbin Lindsay, Mike Drebot and Heidi Wood each brought their own special expertise to the handbook. Rob- bin Lindsay also prepared sections on the biology of the most important tick vectors in Canada and provided many new records for ticks. Richard Robbins, the third of the origi- nal contributors, is a recently retired Civilian Entomologist with the Armed Forces Pest Management Board, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Energy, Installations and Environment in Washington, D.C. Rich wrote the chapter on collecting and preserv- ing ticks and lent his considerable editorial skills to proof-reading many early drafts of the handbook. King Wan Wu is a retired technician from the Canadian National Collec- tion, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada in Ottawa and he prepared most of the figures for the handbook. Tom Naughten is a retired Parks Canada employee who generously contributed his skills and expertise to produce the distribution maps.

How to obtain the Handbook The Handbook to the Ticks of Canada will be available for download through the monographs section of the Biological Survey of Canada web- site (http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs) in summer of 2016. The book will also be available in a Print-on-Demand format for purchase; See the monograph section of the website for information

once the book is posted to the site. C. Desjardins Female American dog tick, Der- macentor variabilis.

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Biota of Canada Project Update: New Biota of Canada Publication Series Cory S. Sheffield, PhD Research Scientist - Curator of Invertebrate Zoology Royal Saskatchewan Museum 2340 Albert St., Regina, Saskatchewan S4P 2V7

The Biological Survey of Canada’s Biota of Canada project is launching two new pub- lication series that will serve to disseminate information about the diversity of species in Canada to the general public. These peer-reviewed works will be published in two formats: a Biodiversity Assessment of the species richness in each family of organisms at the national level, and Species Accounts (e.g., checklists). Datasets will also be made available online on the Biota of Canada website. The Biodiversity Assessments will be published as a series of volumes, each volume containing chapters dedicated to a specific range of taxa. The first volume in this series will cover the terrestrial arthropods, updating and building on the classic work of Danks (1979); subsequent volumes over the next few years will be dedicated to other taxa. The focal point of each chapter will be a table which will summarize a standard set of statistics and information for each family (e.g., the number of species of each family known from Canada, an estimate of the number of species expected to be yet discov- ered or described, the general distribution of each family in Canada, sources of data) with accompanying text building on the information in the table and highlight changes in diversity since the last national account in 1979. The Species Accounts initiative will be focused on documenting the species found in Canada (terrestrial, aquatic, and marine/estuarine habitats), primarily through the publication of checklists. Although we will strongly encourage the development of na- tional lists, with distribution data for each jurisdiction (e.g., province and territory and/ or ecozone), we will also encourage the publication of works covering other geographic levels (e.g., province/territory, region, national park, habitat). Using the content of these works as a starting point, we will build an online Biota of Canada digital platform to keep our knowledge of biodiversity in Canada up-to-date and to permit searching, information summarization, and knowledge syntheses. Our understanding of the nation’s diversity has increased greatly in recent decades, including the publication of many taxonomic and diversity studies, the development of online platforms for assisting with species identification (e.g., Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification), the development of DNA Barcoding and the Barcodes of Life Data (BOLD) system as molecular tools to assist in species delineation and identification, the development of online data-sharing networks (e.g., Canadensys, GBIF) for making museum collection data publically accessible, websites dedicated to disseminating infor- mation about global biodiversity (e.g., EOL, ITIS), and venues for conservation assess- ments including the Wild Species: The General Status of Species in Canada (http://www. wildspecies.ca/) and NatureServe Canada (http://www.natureserve.org/natureserve- network/canada). These resources have made biodiversity data more readily available for a range of users. The Biota of Canada project is currently looking for interested and qualified individuals or parties to provide species-level coverage for any and all taxa. Contributors will receive full authorship for articles published in refereed journals, and contributions will be brand- ed accordingly for the Biota of Canada series. For information on these projects, please contact the Biological Survey of Canada at [email protected].

Volume 35(1) Summer 2016 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 18

Recent paper in the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification:

H. Goulet, C. Boudreault and N. M. Schiff. 2015. Revision of the World species of Xeris Costa (: Siricidae). Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification No. 28. Available online at http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ejournal/gbs_28/gbs_28.html. doi: 10.3752/cjai.2015.28 http://zoobank.org/References/1360ED3A-8330-43BD-B051-2DDBBBD76AA0

Reminder of BSC Publications The BSC has produced a number of monographs and briefs on various topics relating to Biodiversity. Briefs and some monographs are available as downloadable pdf documents from our website: http://biologicalsurvey.ca/home

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Synopsis of the Biological Survey of Canada initiative THE BIOTA OF CANADA: A CENSUS OF CANADIAN SPECIES The diversity and importance of cies in Canada is an achievable goal Canadian species. that is foundational to meet interna- In 1995, it was reported that about tional obligations (e.g., Convention on 71 000 species, spanning all 6 King- Biological Diversity Aichi Targets) and doms of life, were known from Canada fully implement the Canadian Biodiver- and that an additional 68 000 spe- sity Strategy. cies are likely to occur (Mosquin et al. 1995). Human health and prosperity The Biota of Canada project: are intimately dependent on (or im- An ambitious proposal pacted by) biota and the economic, The Biological Survey of Canada ecological and social bounty that spe- (http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ cies provide. Consequently, knowledge bschome.htm) is building a consortium about the biota among which humans of partners to launch a new project to live and interact with is of importance develop a comprehensive and easy-to- to Canadian society. For some taxa access census of species diversity in such as plants and vertebrates, recent Canada. This project aims to collate, lists of Canadian species and their summarize, analyze and disseminate distribution are readily accessible. to the general public both new and Nonetheless, there are still enormous already existing information about the information gaps, particularly concern- species diversity of Canada. The Biota ing hyper-diverse groups such as inver- of Canada project is inspired by, and tebrate animals, bacteria and fungi that will be somewhat modelled after, an are relatively poorly studied in spite of earlier BSC project that culminated in their influence on human health and the publication of Canada and Its Insect prosperity. Clearly, much remains to be Fauna (Danks 1979). However, this discovered (and disseminated) about new initiative will expand its coverage Canada’s biota. At this time we do not beyond terrestrial arthropods to all even have an inventory of which spe- species in Canada and build an open- cies live in Canada. access, web-based dynamic product Our capacity to respond to and pre- that can be updated continuously and dict societal emergencies and services into the foreseeable future. To avoid involving other species requires de- duplication of effort, existing informa- tailed understanding of how we interact tion and data sources will be linked to with those species and the roles that the Biota of Canada project, while other they play in the ecosystems on which information and data will be compiled we depend. Detailed study of all spe- de novo as part of the project. cies in Canada is likely not achievable or affordable in the lifetimes of current Consult http://biologicalsurvey.ca/ Canadians, however, a basic inventory pages/read/the-biota-of-canada for a including information about the known complete version of the Biota of Canada distribution and functional roles of spe- vision document.

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])

References: Danks, H.V. (Ed.). 1979. Canada and its insect fauna. Mem. ent. Soc. Can. 108. 573 pp; Mos- quin, T. Whiting, P.G. & McAllister D.E. 1995. Canada’s biodiversity: the variety of life, its status, economic benefits, conservation costs and unmet needs. Canadian Museum of nature, Ottawa, ON. 293 pp.

Volume 35(1) Summer 2016 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 20

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 in- volvement 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 more than 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. 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)

3. 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 and diversity of snails, slugs, nematodes, millipedes, centipedes, protists, plants, lichens and other groups are becoming involved in the BSC and helping to diversify our suite of activities.

4. 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 dis- seminating such information, the BSC can help by providing: expertise and advice born of

Volume 35(1) Summer 2016 Return to front page Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada 21

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.).

5. Does the BSC have meetings?

The Board of the BSC meets monthly (except during summer) by conference call and has frequent email communication. Thus the Board can deal quickly with new issues as they arise. Each year the BSC holds its Annual General Meeting (AGM) during the Joint Annual Meeting (JAM) of the Entomological Society of Canada, 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.

6. 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 and Treasurer. Directors and Officers are generally members of the BSC and are elected by the Directors at the first business meeting fol- lowing the AGM at which they are elected. 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 2017 AGM).

7. How do I fit into the BSC?

If you have interest in surveying and documenting the biota of Canada and dissemi- nating 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 activi- ties 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.

8. Is there funding available for work?

The current fiscal resources of the BSC are limited and are largely reserved to sup- port 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 enquiry 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.

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Notices

Volumes 1 through 4 of the Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands series available on-line (individual chapters) and for purchase (hard-copy books)

Volume 1: Ecology and Interactions in Grassland Habitats. Volume 2: Inhabitants of a Changing Landscape Volume 3: Biodiversity and Systematics, Part 1 Volume 4: Biodiversity and Systematics, Part 2

To download chapters: http://biologicalsurvey.ca/monographs/read/17 To purchase copies, go to: http://www.volumesdirect.com/SearchResult. aspx?KeyWords=Arthropods%20of%20Canadian%20Grasslands

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Entomological Monographs

The Entomological Society of Canada has published 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 2018 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 2015 bioBlitz on p. 11 of the December 2015 issue. The 2016 Bioblitz will be held in Carmacks, Yukon in June, and plans are underway for a bioblitz in the Cypress Hills of Alberta and Saskatchewan. If you are interested in orga- nizing a BioBlitz for the next summer, please contact the Biological Survey of Canada: [email protected]

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Add Your Voice: Biological Survey of Canada on Social media

Join the biodiversity discussion on the BSC facebook site, and other ways to engage in discussing topics in Canadian biodiversity.

visit our facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/biolsurvey1can/?fref=nf#

Who we are: 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, organize events such as the annual BSC Symposium at the Entomological Society of Canada (ESC) meeting, a “Curation Blitz” at some ESC meetings, and assist in organizing BioBlitzes when possible. Anyone can receive the newsletter, by sending a request to the Sec- retary (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 Ento- mological Society of Canada.

To Join the 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 infor- mation, and a valid email address. Remember to update the BSC if you change email addresses. Please also provide some infor- mation on your background and biodiversity interests.

Volume 35(1) Summer 2016 Return to front page