Status of the Verna’s Flower Moth (Schinia verna) in Alberta
SPECIES AT RISK
Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 65 Status of the Verna’s Flower Moth (Schinia verna) in Alberta
Prepared for: Alberta Sustainable Resource Development (SRD) Alberta Conservation Association (ACA)
Prepared by: Gary Anweiler This report has been reviewed, revised, and edited prior to publication. It is an SRD/ACA working document that will be revised and updated periodically.
Alberta Wildlife Status Report No. 65
April 2008
Published By:
i Publication No. T/178 ISBN: 978-0-7785-7017-2 (Printed Edition) ISBN: 978-0-7785-7018-9 (On-line Edition) ISSN: 1206-4912 (Printed Edition) ISSN: 1499-4682 (On-line Edition)
Series Editors: Sue Peters, Robin Gutsell and Lisa Matthias Illustrations: Brian Huffman Maps: Nicole Hopkins
For copies of this report, visit our web site at: KWWS VUGDOEHUWDFD¿VKZLOGOLIHVSHFLHVDWULVN and click on “Detailed Status”
OR
Contact: Information Centre - Publications Alberta Sustainable Resource Development Main Floor, Great West Life Building 9920 - 108 Street Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5K 2M4
Telephone: (780) 944-0313 or 1-877-944-0313
This publication may be cited as:
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 2008. Status of the Verna’s Flower Moth (Schinia verna) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Wildlife Status Report No. 65, Edmonton, AB. 17 pp.
ii PREFACE
(YHU\¿YH\HDUVWKH)LVKDQG:LOGOLIH'LYLVLRQRI$OEHUWD6XVWDLQDEOH5HVRXUFH'HYHORSPHQW reviews the general status of wildlife species in Alberta. These overviews, which have been conducted in 1991 (The Status of Alberta Wildlife), 1996 (The Status of Alberta Wildlife), 2000 (The General Status of Alberta Wild Species 2000), and 2005 (The General Status of Alberta Wild Species 2005 DVVLJQLQGLYLGXDOVSHFLHV³UDQNV´WKDWUHÀHFWWKHSHUFHLYHGOHYHORIULVNWRSRSXODWLRQV that occur in the province. Such designations are determined from extensive consultations with professional and amateur biologists, and from a variety of readily available sources of population data. A key objective of these reviews is to identify species that may be considered for more detailed status determinations.
The Alberta Wildlife Status Report Series is an extension of the general status exercise, and provides comprehensive current summaries of the biological status of selected wildlife species in Alberta. Priority is given to species that are At Risk or May Be At Risk in the province, that are of uncertain status (Undetermined), or that are considered to be at risk at a national level by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).
Reports in this series are published and distributed by the Alberta Conservation Association and the Fish and Wildlife Division of Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. They are intended to provide detailed and up-to-date information that will be useful to resource professionals for managing populations of species and their habitats in the province. The reports are also designed to provide current information that will assist Alberta’s Endangered Species Conservation Committee in identifying species that may be formally designated as Endangered or Threatened under Alberta’s Wildlife Act. To achieve these goals, the reports have been authored and/or reviewed by individuals with unique local expertise in the biology and management of each species.
iii EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK Schinia verna)LVDVPDOOGD\À\LQJPRWKZLWKDJOREDOGLVWULEXWLRQOLPLWHG to the Grassland and Parkland natural regions of the southern Prairie Provinces. It is known from RQO\¿YHVLWHVWKUHHRIZKLFKDUHLQ$OEHUWD2QO\VLQJOHLQGLYLGXDOVKDYHEHHQIRXQGDWIRXURI WKH¿YHVLWHVLQFOXGLQJDOOWKUHH$OEHUWDVLWHV7ZRRIWKH$OEHUWDVLWHVZHUHORFDWHGRQO\UHFHQWO\ (2000 and 2007); the third is an historical record from 1929. Both recent sites are located on SULYDWHO\RZQHGODQG,Q9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKZDVDVVLJQHGDQDWLRQDOVWDWXVRIThreatened by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada).
9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLVIRXQGLQFDWWOHJUD]HGQDWLYHJUDVVODQGSDVWXUHV,WLVGHSHQGHQWXSRQ one or more species of a single genus of native plants, pussytoes (Antennaria sp., Asteraceae), IRUUHSURGXFWLRQ/DUYDOIHHGLQJLVFRQ¿QHGWRWKHÀRZHULQJSDUWVRIWKHSODQW ÀRZHUVVHHGV and seed capsules) and the life cycle of this moth is intimately linked with the blossoming cycle of the host plant.
9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV H[WUHPHO\ GLI¿FXOW WR LGHQWLI\ DQG REVHUYH LQ WKH ZLOG FRQVHTXHQWO\ OLWWOHLVNQRZQDERXWSRSXODWLRQVL]HVWUHQGVDQGDQ\RIWKHIDFWRUVLQÀXHQFLQJWKHP7KHUHLV an abundance of apparently suitable habitat available throughout the range of the moth, but very IHZRIWKHPRWKVKDYHHYHUEHHQHQFRXQWHUHG$OWKRXJK9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK¶VDSSDUHQWUDULW\ PD\LQSDUWEHDQDUWLIDFWRIWKHGLI¿FXOW\LQREVHUYLQJDQGLGHQWLI\LQJLWWKLVPRWKGRHVEHORQJ WRDODUJHUJURXSRIPRWKV ÀRZHUPRWKVRUJHPV WKDWKDVORZUHSURGXFWLYHUDWHVFRPSDUHGWR RWKHUQRFWXLGPRWKVKDVVSHFLDOL]HGDQGYHU\UHVWULFWHGKRVWSODQWGHSHQGHQFLHVDQGFRPSULVHV an inordinately large proportion of the rare Alberta moth fauna.
7KHUHDUHQRREYLRXVIDFWRUVFRQWULEXWLQJWRDQ\VLJQL¿FDQWGHFOLQHLQHLWKHU9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK population or its habitat. Large-scale changes in the cattle industry, either greatly increasing RU JUHDWO\ UHGXFLQJ JUD]LQJ LQWHQVLW\ LQ QDWLYH SDVWXUH FRXOG SRVVLEO\ UHVXOW LQ D VLJQL¿FDQW UHGXFWLRQLQTXDQWLW\DQGRUTXDOLW\RI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKKDELWDWDVZRXOGWKHFRQYHUVLRQRI QDWLYHSDVWXUHWRRWKHUXVHV7KHIHZDYDLODEOHGDWDDUHLQVXI¿FLHQWWRSURYLGHPXFKLQVLJKWLQWR SRSXODWLRQVL]HVRUWUHQGVRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKDWSUHVHQW$VLJQL¿FDQWDPRXQWRIDGGLWLRQDO ¿HOGZRUN DQG GDWD FROOHFWLRQ LV QHHGHG WR SURYLGH LQVLJKW LQWR WKH SRSXODWLRQ G\QDPLFV DQG habitat relationships of this interesting little moth. In addition to providing basic protection from LQGXVWULDORURWKHUGHYHORSPHQWIRUERWKWKHKDELWDWDQGWKHPRWKDWNQRZQVLWHVRQJRLQJ¿HOG surveys appear to be the most reasonable management option available at this time.
iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Thanks are due to the following institutions and individuals who provided observations or LQIRUPDWLRQUHJDUGLQJ9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK /DUV&UDER 1RFWXLGPRWKVSHFLDOLVW%HOOLQJKDP WA); Chuck Harp (Heliothine specialist, Littleton, CO); Don Lafontaine (Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes [CNC], Ottawa, ON); Marku Savalu (naturalist, Finland) and Chris Schmidt (CNC, Ottawa, ON). Assistance and companionship during various ¿HOGVXUYH\VZDVSURYLGHGE\&KULV6FKPLGW-DVRQ'RPEURVNLHDQG'DYLG/DZULH7KDQNV WR-LP7URXEULGJH &1&2WWDZD IRUSURYLGLQJLQIRUPDWLRQRQKRZWRORFDWHWKHVHDQGRWKHU UDUHPRWKV'RURWK\)DELMDQ 8QLYHUVLW\RI$OEHUWDKHUEDULXP NLQGO\LGHQWL¿HGVSHFLPHQVRI pussytoes. Dr. Felix Sperling and Danny Shpeley provided access to the University of Alberta Strickland Entomological Museum collections and facilities. Thanks are also due to several XQQDPHGODQGRZQHUVZKRZHUHNLQGHQRXJKWRJUDQWDFFHVVWRWKHLUSURSHUW\-RHO1LFKROVRQ (Alberta Sustainable Resource Development [SRD], Medicine Hat) provided insight into the loss of native grassland habitat in Alberta. Chris Schmidt and Greg Pohl (Canadian Forest Service, Edmonton) reviewed an early draft of the report.
&26(:,&SURYLGHGIXQGLQJIRU¿HOGZRUNDQGSUHSDUDWLRQRIDQDWLRQDOVWDWXVUHSRUWIRU9HUQD¶V ÀRZHUPRWKLQ,Q65'SURYLGHGIXQGLQJIRUDGGLWLRQDO¿HOGVXUYH\VLQ$OEHUWD Preparation of this report was funded by the Alberta Conservation Association and the Fish and Wildlife Division of SRD.
v vi TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE ...... iii
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... iv
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS...... v
INTRODUCTION ...... 1
SPECIES TAXONOMY...... 1
HABITAT...... 2 1. Habitat Characteristics...... 2 2. Habitat Trends...... 5
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY...... 5
DISTRIBUTION...... 7 1. Alberta...... 7 2. Global...... 9
POPULATION SIZE AND TRENDS ...... 10 3RSXODWLRQ6L]H ...... 10 2. Population Trends ...... 11
LIMITING FACTORS...... 11
STATUS DESIGNATIONS ...... 11 1. Alberta...... 11 2. Other areas ...... 12
RECENT MANAGEMENT IN ALBERTA...... 12
SYNTHESIS...... 12
LITERATURE CITED...... 14
$SSHQGL['H¿QLWLRQVRIVWDWXVUDQNVDQGOHJDOGHVLJQDWLRQV ...... 16
LIST OF FIGURES
)LJXUH$OEHUWDFROOHFWLRQVLWHVIRU9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK ...... 8
)LJXUH*OREDOGLVWULEXWLRQRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK ...... 9
vii INTRODUCTION SPECIES TAXONOMY
The purpose of this report is to compile and 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV D PHPEHU RI WKH summarize all available information for Verna’s VXEIDPLO\ +HOLRWKLQDH ÀRZHU PRWKV JHPV ÀRZHU PRWK Schinia verna ZLWK HPSKDVLV RUÀRZHUJHPV LQWKHODUJHFXWZRUPRURZOHW on information that can be used to determine moth family Noctuidae. Many species in the its status in Alberta for conservation and VXEIDPLO\LQFOXGLQJ9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKDUH PDQDJHPHQW SXUSRVHV 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK active only during the day. Most species are has a very limited global distribution composed highly specialized and dependent upon a very RI ¿YH FROOHFWLRQ VLWHV LQ WKH *UDVVODQG DQG limited range of plants as larval hosts, in many 3DUNODQG QDWXUDO UHJLRQV RI ZHVWHUQ &DQDGD cases a single genus or even a single species of 0RUHWKDQKDOIRIWKHNQRZQRFFXUUHQFHV WKUHH plant, and in most cases only the reproductive RI¿YH DUHIURPWKH&HQWUDO3DUNODQGDQG'U\ SDUWV ÀRZHUV DQG VHHGV RI WKH SODQW DUH 0L[HGJUDVVVXEUHJLRQVRI$OEHUWDDQGWZRRI consumed. This subfamily consequently WKHVH DUH WKH RQO\ VLWHV ZKHUH9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU contains a disproportionate number of the rare moths have been found in the past 25 years. Alberta moths, including the gold-edged gem %RWKVLWHVDUHRQSULYDWHO\RZQHGSURSHUW\ S. avemensis EODFNVSRWWHGJHP S. honesta), URVHWLQWHG JHP S. roseitincta), dark-banded 7KH JOREDO VWDWXV RI9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK KDV ÀRZHU JHP Melaporphyria immortua), recently been summarized in a report prepared $PHULFDQ VSRWWHG FORYHU S. nuchalis) and IRUWKH&RPPLWWHHRQWKH6WDWXVRI(QGDQJHUHG 9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK :LOGOLIH LQ &DQDGD &26(:,& DQG based on that report a status of Threatened* $OWKRXJKWKH¿UVWNQRZQVSHFLPHQZDVFROOHFWHG KDV EHHQ DVVLJQHG WR 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LQ DW0HGLFLQH+DWLQ LWZDVQRWUHFRJQL]HG &DQDGD,QVSULQJRIDGGLWLRQDOVHDUFKHV DQG LGHQWL¿HG XQWLO DIWHU WKH VSHFLHV ZDV IRU 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK ZHUH FRQGXFWHG LQ GHVFULEHGLQ +DUGZLFN 7KH¿UVW Alberta, including revisiting and searching FRORQ\RI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKZDVGLVFRYHUHG WKH VLWH IRXQG LQ ZKHUH WKLV PRWK KDG UDWKHUUHFHQWO\ E\'+DUGZLFNQRUWK EHHQ IRXQG IRU WKH ¿UVW WLPH LQ$OEHUWD VLQFH RI*OHQERURLQVRXWKZHVWHUQ0DQLWREDLQZKDW 1R9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKVZHUHIRXQGDW LVQRZSDUWRI6SUXFH:RRGV3URYLQFLDO3DUN WKHRULJLQDOVLWHEXWRQHQHZVLWHZDVORFDWHG 7KHIROORZLQJ\HDUKHUHWXUQHGWRWKHVLWHDQG DV D UHVXOW RI WKH ¿HOGZRUN H[WHQGLQJ FROOHFWHG DGGLWLRQDO VSHFLPHQV IURP ZKLFK WKHNQRZQUDQJHLQ$OEHUWDIURPWKHQRUWKHUQ he obtained eggs and reared them through to SRUWLRQRIWKH*UDVVODQG1DWXUDO5HJLRQQRUWK adults. He formally described the species in LQWRWKH3DUNODQG1DWXUDO5HJLRQ +DUGZLFN 7KHW\SHVSHFLPHQVDUH LQWKH&DQDGLDQ1DWLRQDO&ROOHFWLRQRI,QVHFWV 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV QRW LQFOXGHG LQ WKH DQG $UWKURSRGV 2WWDZD +DUGZLFN ' General Status of Alberta Wild Species 2005, /DIRQWDLQH SHUV FRPP 2QO\ IRXU VLQJOH DQGLVFXUUHQWO\UDQNHG68 VWDWXVXQGHWHUPLQHG additional specimens have been found since, uncertain) in Alberta by the Alberta Natural RQHDWHDFKRIWKHIRXUUHPDLQLQJNQRZQVLWHV +LVWRU\,QIRUPDWLRQ&HQWUH $1+,& EHFDXVH IRU9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK$OOSRSXODWLRQVDUH of the paucity of information that is available treated as belonging to a single species and no for this moth. VXEVSHFLHVRUORZHUWD[RQRPLFFDWHJRULHVKDYH been proposed.
6HH $SSHQGL[ IRU GH¿QLWLRQV RI VHOHFWHG VWDWXV 9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLVDVPDOO FPFP designations. ZLQJVSDQ GD\À\LQJPRWK7KHIRUHZLQJVDUH
1 cream-white with dull maroon and olive-brown ,W FDQQRW EH RYHUHPSKDVL]HG KRZ GLI¿FXOW LW bands and two prominent spots of the same LV WR LGHQWLI\ D OLYLQJ9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LQ colours. The hindwings are white, broadly WKH¿HOG,WLVDVPDOOYHU\DFWLYHGD\À\LQJ margined in black, with a prominent black moth with a rapid buzzing bee-like, rather central spot. It occurs with, and is extremely WKDQPRWKOLNHÀLJKWDQGWKHZLQJVWHQGWREH GLI¿FXOWWRVHSDUDWHLQWKHZLOGIURPWKHUHODWHG kept in motion even when the moth is visiting white-spotted midget (Eutricopis nexilis). ÀRZHUVWRREWDLQQHFWDURUGHSRVLWHJJV,WKDV 7KHVHWZRVSHFLHVDUHPRVWHDVLO\LGHQWL¿HGE\ almost universally been mistaken for a white- examining the underside of the forewings, which VSRWWHGPLGJHWZKHQHQFRXQWHUHGOLYH7KH¿UVW DUHEODFNDQGZKLWHLQ9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKEXW specimens collected by Hardwick were thought have rose-pink patches in the white-spotted to be specimens of white-spotted midget, and it midget. Both wing surfaces of both species was not until he examined the dead specimens are illustrated in colour on the University of that he realized they were a new and undescribed Alberta virtual museum site (Anweiler 2003). species (Hardwick 1983). Both of the recent $GXOWVDQGODUYDHRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKDUH Alberta specimens were collected as white- illustrated by Hardwick (1983) and adults and spotted midgets, and again it was not realized larvae of both species are also illustrated in WKH\ZHUHVSHFLPHQVRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKV colour in Hardwick (1996). until the specimens were examined in hand. 7KHUHPDLQLQJWZRVSHFLPHQVZHUHLGHQWL¿HG 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV PRVW FORVHO\ UHODWHG RQO\ DIWHU EHLQJ VXEPLWWHG IRU LGHQWL¿FDWLRQ to the black-spotted gem, which is restricted by the collectors. The two species are best to the mountains of western North America separated by examining the undersides of the (Hardwick 1996). The early life history stages wings, which are rarely visible in the wild but of the black-spotted gem are unknown, and how can be examined while alive in a collecting closely the two species are related must await net. The diagnostic underside of the forewings either more information about the life history of both species are illustrated in colour on the of the black-spotted gem or DNA data. The University of Alberta Strickland Entomological two species may be separated by size (Verna’s Museum website (www.entomology.ualberta. ÀRZHUPRWKLVVPDOOHU ZLQJFRORXU 9HUQD¶V ca/searching.php). ÀRZHUPRWKLVPRUHGHOLFDWHO\FRORXUHGJUH\ and maroon as opposed to black and white in HABITAT EODFNVSRWWHGJHP DQGUDQJH 9HUQD¶VÀRZHU moth in prairie grasslands; black-spotted gem 1. Habitat Characteristics. - Information on in mountain meadows). WKHKDELWDWRFFXSLHGE\9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLQ Canada is available from only three of the sites ,Q WKH SDVW ¿YH \HDUV WKHUH KDYH DOVR EHHQ where it has been found; the other two sites are UHSRUWVRIZKDWKDVWHQWDWLYHO\EHHQLGHQWL¿HG based simply on single specimens submitted DV 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK IURP WZR ORFDWLRQV without precise collection locations or habitat in Washington State, USA (L. Crabo, pers. information. The three sites for which we have comm.; G. Anweiler, unpubl. data). However, data are all in native grassland pastures being owing to the very large disjunction between the actively grazed by cattle, all with numerous Washington sites and the nearest known sites populations of the larval host plant, Antennaria IRU 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK DV ZHOO DV WKH YHU\ sp. (pussytoes; Asteraceae family), as well as different kinds of habitats where they have been DYDULHW\RIVSULQJEORRPLQJQDWLYHÀRZHULQJ found in Washington (sand dunes; mountain SODQWV QRWDEO\ WKUHHÀRZHUHG DYHQV Geum meadows), there are serious doubts about the WULÀRUXP), prairie crocus (Anemone patens), identity of the Washington populations. ÀHDEDQH Erigeron sp.) and mouse-eared
2 FKLFNZHHG Cerastium arvense $OOVLWHVZKHUH ÀRZHUPRWKKDELWDWVXFKDVLVIRXQGLQZHOO 9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKKDVEHHQFROOHFWHGDUHDOVR grazed pastures, has little grass cover to burn. SUR[LPDWHWRPDMRUULYHUV\VWHPVLQFOXGLQJWKH $OWKRXJK &26(:,& VXJJHVWHG ¿UH $VVLQLERLQH 0DQLWRED 6RXWK 6DVNDWFKHZDQ may also release pussytoes from overstory 6DVNDWFKHZDQ$OEHUWD 5HG'HHUDQG%DWWOH JUDVVHV LQ WKH DEVHQFH RI JUD]LQJ XVLQJ ¿UH $OEHUWD ULYHUV to release pussytoes and promote blooming is not recommended, as it has been reported that 7KH VLQJOH IDFWRU NQRZQ WR EH FULWLFDO LQ VPDOOOHDYHGSXVV\WRHV Antennaria parvifolia 9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKKDELWDWLVDSRSXODWLRQRI 1XWW LQ0RQWDQDLVNLOOHGE\PRVW¿UHV 86'$ blossoming pussytoes, the only genus of plants )RUHVW 6HUYLFH ,W LV SRVVLEOH WKDW WKH XVHGDVDODUYDOKRVWE\9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKV VHHGVRISXVV\WRHVPD\VXUYLYHDORZLQWHQVLW\ Blossoming pussytoes plants, as opposed to ¿UH DOORZLQJ WKH SODQW WR UHHVWDEOLVK DQG QRQÀRZHULQJ FORQHV DUH D SUHUHTXLVLWH IRU ÀRZHU DIWHU WKH GLVWXUEDQFH EXW WKLV ZRXOG KRVWLQJ 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV VLQFH RQO\ WKH QHHGWREHWHVWHG -*RXOGSHUVFRPP DOVR ÀRZHULQJ SDUWV RI WKH SODQW ÀRZHUV VHHGV VHH86'$)RUHVW6HUYLFH and seed receptacle) are consumed by Verna’s ÀRZHUPRWKODUYDH +DUGZLFN 3XVV\WRHV .QRZQ 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK KDELWDW YDULHV DSSHDUWRUHTXLUHDUHOHDVHIURPRYHUJURZWKRU IURP VLWH WR VLWH LQ WRSRJUDSK\ VRLOV ÀRUDO heavy competition from other vegetation, in components and intensity of grazing by cattle. particular grasses, in order to produce mass ,Q JHQHUDO RFFXSLHG 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK blooming. This release from competition is KDELWDWLVORFDWHGRQSRRUHUVRLOVDQGRURQODQG SURYLGHG LQ 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK KDELWDW E\ ZLWKWRSRJUDSK\WRRVWHHSRUXQGXODWLQJWREH grazing cattle. Pussytoes colonies are often VXLWDEOHIRUFXOWLYDWLRQ5HODWLYHO\LVRODWHGDQG present as non-blooming or very sparsely GLVMXQFWDUHDVZLWKDSSDUHQWO\VXLWDEOHKDELWDWLQ blooming mats in ungrazed grasslands or $OEHUWD LHJUD]HGSDVWXUHZLWKDQDEXQGDQFH JUDVVODQGVZLWKDQRYHUVWRU\RIOLJKWO\JUD]HG of blooming pussytoes) occur in knob-and- JUDVVHV &26(:,& 7KH DPRXQW RI kettle end-moraine deposits in central Alberta DQQXDO SUHFLSLWDWLRQ PD\ DOVR LQÀXHQFH WKH HJ QRUWK RI 6WHWWOHU WKH 3LQH /DNH DUHD DPRXQWRIDQQXDOEORVVRPLQJRISXVV\WRHV & DQG WKH 5XPVH\ (FRORJLFDO 5HVHUYH 0RUH 6FKPLGWSHUVFRPP 0DVVEORRPLQJDIWHU H[WHQVLYH DUHDV RI VRPHZKDW LQWHUFRQQHFWHG mechanical release is readily observed in parks habitat occur in native pasturelands in the DQGURDGVLGHVRURWKHUDUHDVZKHUHQDWLYH RU &HQWUDO3DUNODQGDQG'U\0L[HGJUDVVQDWXUDO VHHGHG JUDVVHVDUHEHLQJPRZHGRQDUHJXODU VXEUHJLRQV RI $OEHUWD LQ DQG DGMDFHQW WR WKH basis. The densest and most abundant patches larger creek and river valleys, in particular along of blossoming pussytoes observed during WKH%DWWOH5HG'HHUDQG6RXWK6DVNDWFKHZDQ VXUYH\VLQZHUHLQPRZHGVLWHVLQVHYHUDO rivers and their tributaries. These areas appear UHJLRQDO SDUNV DQG UHFUHDWLRQDO DUHDV * to have been left largely in a natural or semi- $QZHLOHUXQSXEOGDWD +RZHYHUVXFKVLWHV natural state because of unsuitable topography GR QRW FRQVWLWXWH XVHIXO 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK for cultivation, and in some cases possibly also KDELWDWVLQFHUHFXUUHQWPRZLQJZRXOGGHVWUR\ because of locally poor soils. Both the Verna’s DQ\ ODUYDH DQG IHZ RWKHU ÀRZHULQJ SODQWV ÀRZHUPRWKVLWHQHDU$OOLDQFH$%DQGWKHVLWH suitable as nectar sources for adult moths are QHDU-HQQHU$%DUHGLUHFWO\OLQNHGWRWKHJUHDWHU available in such sites. river valley systems. The upland pasture site at $OOLDQFHDQGWKHKLOOVLGHSDVWXUHVLWHDW-HQQHU 7KH UROH RI ¿UH LQ FUHDWLQJ RU PDLQWDLQLQJ VKDUHDVLPLODUÀRUDZLWKWKHPDLQGLIIHUHQFHV KDELWDW LV XQNQRZQ EXW LV EHOLHYHG WR EH being the presence of aspen clones at Alliance UHODWLYHO\ XQLPSRUWDQW 6XLWDEOH 9HUQD¶V EXWQRWDW-HQQHUDQGOLJKWHUVDQG\ORDPVRLODW
3 Alliance and clay soils at Jenner (G. Anweiler, Alliance site, what appeared to be two species pers. obs.). The Manitoba site is located in the RISXVV\WRHVZHUHSUHVHQWZKHUH9HUQD¶VÀRZHU Assiniboine River drainage on relatively level moth was found; however, specimens of both topography on sandy soil (COSEWIC 2005). ZHUH VXEVHTXHQWO\ LGHQWL¿HG DV A. parvifolia All three sites share many of the same spring- (Nutt.) (D. Fabijan, pers. comm.). These blossoming prairie plants (COSEWIC 2005; G. two forms of A. parvifoliaRFFXUUHGLQPL[HG Anweiler, unpubl. data). patches. The one with larger, greener basal OHDYHVKDGDOUHDG\¿QLVKHGEORRPLQJZLWKWKH Moderate to heavy grazing on native grassland ÀRZHUKHDGVH[SDQGHGDQGGU\ WKHRWKHUZLWK sites may be critical in maintaining suitable smaller greyer leaves was in fresh bloom and 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK KDELWDW ([WUHPH ZDV WKH IRUP WKDW 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK ZDV overgrazing, as occurred in the early part of visiting (G. Anweiler, pers. obs.). The larval this century in parts of eastern Alberta, tends SHULRG RI 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV WLPHG WR to remove too much of the native plant cover, coincide with blossoming and seed set of larval including pussytoes, even though the latter host species of pussytoes, thus some species at is reported to be unpalatable (USDA Forest a site may not be suitable hosts (C. Schmidt, Service 2007). Pussytoes has little food pers. comm.). value; it is reported to be somewhat palatable to sheep, but is otherwise usually avoided by Small-leaved pussytoes (A. parvifolia) is grazing animals (Tannas 2004). It seldom generally found on open plains and prairie, in IRUPVVLJQL¿FDQWDPRXQWVRIIRUDJHDQGZKDW open forest, dry meadows and pastures, and is produced is usually in mats below foraging DORQJ URDGVLGHV ,W H[KLELWV JRRG JURZWK RQ levels. It also increases with and is an indicator gentle slopes, but does not grow well on steep of overgrazing (Tannas 2004). slopes. It grows best on loam, clay-loam and FOD\WH[WXUHGVRLOV*URZWKLVSRRURQJUDYHO 9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKKDVEHHQIRXQGDVVRFLDWHG sand, and dense clay (USDA Forest Service with several species of pussytoes and, although 2007). it is not known if all species of pussytoes are VXLWDEOH KRVWV IRU 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV LW $W DOO VLWHV ZKHUH 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK ZDV is likely that more than one of the common IRXQG LW ZDV À\LQJ WRJHWKHU ZLWK DQRWKHU widespread grassland species are used (i.e., VXSHU¿FLDOO\ VLPLODU EXW PRUH ZLGHVSUHDG Antennaria aprica Greene, A. neglecta Greene, DQG FRPPRQ SXVV\WRHVIHHGLQJ ÀRZHU PRWK and A. parvifolia Nutt.). At the type locality the white-spotted midget (Hardwick 1983; LQ 0DQLWRED 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK ZDV IRXQG COSEWIC 2005; G. Anweiler, unpubl. data). using only one species of pussytoes, A. neglecta The presence of white-spotted midgets at many Greene (= howellii Greene, = neodioica Greene), VLWHV ZKHUH 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK ZDV 127 as larval hosts, although a second species, found suggests that white-spotted midgets A. aprica E. Green, was also accepted when may have broader or slightly different habitat offered to larvae reared in captivity (Hardwick UHTXLUHPHQWV WKDQ 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV DQG 1983). A. aprica is also present at the Jenner their presence at a site may not necessarily be site (COSEWIC 2005). Both A. neglecta and DQ LQGLFDWLRQ RI VXLWDEOH9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK A. aprica are widely distributed, although habitat. However, the absence of the more often local, over much of North America common white-spotted midgets at a site appears (Scoggan 1979). Pussytoes species have an to serve as a good indicator that the habitat is H[WUHPHO\GLI¿FXOWDQGFRPSOH[WD[RQRP\DQG XQVXLWDEOHIRU9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKRUWKDWWKH LGHQWL¿FDWLRQ RI WKH YDULRXV SODQWV WR VSHFLHV timing of the survey may be off. can be problematic (Chambers 1998). At the
4 2. Habitat Trends. - There is little doubt that ,QJHQHUDOLWDSSHDUVWKDWWKHUHLVDQDEXQGDQFH native grassland pasture habitat in the Parkland RI VXLWDEOH KDELWDW IRU 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK 1DWXUDO 5HJLRQ DQG QRUWKHUQ SRUWLRQ RI WKH available in the Parkland and northern *UDVVODQG 5HJLRQ LQ$OEHUWD DQG HOVHZKHUH *UDVVODQGQDWXUDOUHJLRQVRI$OEHUWDRIZKLFK have been reduced in the past and continue to RQO\DYHU\VPDOOSURSRUWLRQ SHUKDSVOHVVWKDQ GHFUHDVHLQDUHD(YHU\SLHFHRIQDWLYHJUDVVODQG KDVEHHQVXUYH\HGIRUWKLVPRWK:KHUH WKDWLVSORZHGRURWKHUZLVHFRQYHUWHGIURPWKH VXLWDEOH KDELWDW KDV EHHQ VXUYH\HG KRZHYHU native state is essentially of no use to Verna’s the moth has been very rarely encountered. ÀRZHUPRWKDQGRWKHUZLOGVSHFLHVWKDWUHO\RQ There is no evidence suggesting that habitat is QDWLYHJUDVVODQGKDELWDW2QO\DERXWRIWKH OLPLWLQJ SRSXODWLRQV RI 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK RULJLQDO&DQDGLDQSUDLULHKDELWDWVWLOOVXSSRUWV 0XFKPRUHZRUNLVQHHGHGLQRUGHUWRLGHQWLI\ QDWLYH YHJHWDWLRQ 6WDWLVWLFV &DQDGD WKHSUHFLVHKDELWDWHOHPHQWVWKDWGH¿QHTXDOLW\ 7KDWEHLQJVDLGWKHUDWHDWZKLFKFRQYHUVLRQ KDELWDWIRUWKLVPRWKDQGZKDWIDFWRUVLIDQ\ of native habitat for agriculture is happening are limiting populations at present. WRGD\KDVVORZHGDVPRVWRIWKHODQGVXLWDEOH IRUFURSVKDVDOUHDG\EHHQFRQYHUWHGDQGZKDW CONSERVATION BIOLOGY remains is usually marginal land. The amount of land in Alberta reported as native land used 9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLVDVPDOOVLQJOHEURRGHG IRU SDVWXUH GHFOLQHG E\ DERXW KD\U RQH JHQHUDWLRQ SHU \HDU GLXUQDO PRWK WKDW RUDERXWD\HDUEHWZHHQWKH\HDUV is totally dependent upon a single genus of DQG 6WDWLVWLFV&DQDGD +RZHYHU plants, Antennaria or pussytoes species, for conversion of native grassland considered UHSURGXFWLRQ ,W KDV D W\SLFDO IRXUVWDJH marginal for agriculture is continuing, because lepidopteran life cycle of egg, larva, pupa RIXUEDQL]DWLRQ DFUHDJHGHYHORSPHQW RLODQG DQGDGXOWDQGRYHUZLQWHUVLQWKHSXSDOVWDJH gas exploration and extraction, recreational LQRURQWKHVRLO7KHDFWLYHJURZWKSHULRGRI uses, gravel or sand extraction, transportation WKH OLIH F\FOH RI9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK HJJ WR FRUULGRUV DQG RWKHU W\SHV RI GHYHORSPHQW - pupation) is very short, taking only about three 1LFKROVRQ SHUV FRPP 6R VRPH VXLWDEOH ZHHNV DYHUDJHRIGD\VLQWKHODERUDWRU\ KDELWDWIRU9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLVXQGRXEWHGO\ Most of its life, approaching 11 or 12 months, being lost. is passed essentially dormant as a pupa in a cell LQRURQWKHVRLO +DUGZLFN 7KHDGXOW Both economic and climatic factors may have PRWKVDUHVKRUWOLYHG+DUGZLFN IRXQG long-term deleterious impacts on habitat of WKDW DGXOW ÀRZHU PRWKV OLYHG QR PRUH WKDQ D 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK 2YHUJUD]LQJ RI QDWLYH ZHHNLQFDSWLYLW\3HUVVRQ UHSRUWHGWKDW pastures during the extreme drought conditions ORQJHYLW\ LQ QRFWXLG PRWKV ZDV WHPSHUDWXUH in east-central Alberta in recent years resulted in dependent, and that in spring adult moths lived some native pasture being critically overgrazed for an average of 11.8 days, in summer for 4.8 WRWKHSRLQWZKHUHHVVHQWLDOO\DOOQDWLYHVSHFLHV GD\V&RROHUVSULQJZHDWKHUUHGXFHGDFWLYLW\ ZHUH UHSODFHG E\ PRQRFXOWXUHV RI ZHHG\ SHULRGVDQGSURPRWHGORQJHUOLIHZKHUHDVKRW VSHFLHV HJ SDVWXUH VDJH Artemesia frigida summer temperatures resulted in increased :LOOG &KDQJHVLQWKHHFRQRPLFVRIWKHFDWWOH activity, desiccation and a shortened life span. LQGXVWU\VXFKDVZKDWUHVXOWHGIURPWKHUHFHQW Although there are no longevity data for Verna’s outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy ÀRZHUPRWKLWLVDVSULQJÀ\LQJQRFWXLGDQG %6( LQFDWWOHPD\UHVXOWLQVPDOOHUQXPEHUVRI DQDGXOWOLIHH[SHFWDQF\RIZHHNVLVPRVW cattle being produced and some areas of native likely. grassland being underutilized or converted to other uses.
5 7KH OLIH F\FOH LV LQWLPDWHO\ OLQNHG ZLWK WKH ODUYDH)LUVWLQVWDUODUYDHKDWFKLQJLQDÀRZHU EORRPLQJF\FOHRIWKHKRVWSODQW6LQJOHHJJV KHDGDOUHDG\RFFXSLHGE\D9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK DUH GHSRVLWHG GHHSO\ ZLWKLQ WKH ÀRZHULQJ ODUYDZHUHREVHUYHGWRDEDQGRQWKHRFFXSLHG KHDGRIWKHSXVV\WRHVSODQWDQGKDWFKZLWKLQ KHDGDQGVHHNRQHWKDWZDVXQRFFXSLHG7KH WKUHHGD\V7KHQHZO\KDWFKHGODUYDEXUURZV VXUYLYDOUDWHRIWKHVHODUYDHZDVWKRXJKWWREH immediately into the seed layer of the blossom ORZEHFDXVHLQPRVWFDVHVREVHUYHGWKHODUYDH ZKHUH LW IHHGV RQ WKH GHYHORSLQJ VHHGV DQG ZHUHXQDEOHWRHQWHUQHZKHDGVDQGIHOOIURP UHFHSWDFOH 7KH ODUYD SDVVHV WKURXJK ¿YH WKHKRVWSODQW6HFRQGLQVWDUODUYDHZHUHDEOH instars prior to pupation. WRPLJUDWHIURPRQHÀRZHUKHDGWRDQRWKHUDQG RQFHWKH¿UVWLQVWDUZDVFRPSOHWHGWKH\ZHUH 2QFHPDWXUHWKHODUYDGHSDUWVIURPWKHSODQW observed to regularly move to another, entering DQGGLJVDVKRUWWXEHDWRUMXVWEHORZWKHVRLO from the top. Third and later instar larvae often surface; at the end of this tube, it prepares a WLHGDGMDFHQWKHDGVWRJHWKHUWRIRUPDSURWHFWLYH FHOO LQ ZKLFK LW SXSDWHV 7KHUH LW UHPDLQV VKHOWHU LQ ZKLFK WKH\ IHG 3ULRU WR PRXOWLQJ dormant until the host plant blooms again the in these later instars, they form a nest out of IROORZLQJVSULQJ1RWKLQJLVNQRZQUHJDUGLQJ ÀRUDOSDUWVLQZKLFKWKH\UHVWXQWLOWKHPRXOWLV mortality factors or rates that occur during this completed. Last instar larvae feed on the base SHULRG+RZHYHULWLVSRVVLEOHWKDWH[FHVVLYH RIWKHÀRZHUKHDGIURPDQH[SRVHGSRVLWLRQRQ grazing can compact soil and destroy pupating WKHVWHPEHORZ +DUGZLFN 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK SXSD DW DQG MXVW EHORZ the soil surface, although this has never been 1RRWKHUPRUWDOLW\DJHQWVDUHNQRZQIRU9HUQD¶V demonstrated. ÀRZHUPRWKEXW/HSLGRSWHUDLQJHQHUDOVXIIHU high mortality during the larval stages as a result 7KH HJJ RI 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV XQXVXDOO\ of predation by birds, predatory invertebrates ODUJH DQG OLNHO\ UHODWLYHO\ IHZ DUH SURGXFHG LQFOXGLQJSDUDVLWLFÀLHVDQGZDVSVDQGIXQJDO 7KHFORVHO\UHODWHGZKLWHVSRWWHGÀRZHUPRWK EDFWHULDODQGYLUDOSDWKRJHQV&RQFHDOPHQWLQ ZKLFKIHHGVRQWKHVDPHKRVWDQGKDVDSDUDOOHO ÀRZHUKHDGVGXULQJIHHGLQJPD\EHDSUHGDWRU life history, also produces unusually large SDUDVLWRLGDYRLGDQFHVWUDWHJ\LQÀRZHUPRWKV HJJV )HPDOHV RI ZLOGFDXJKW ZKLWHVSRWWHG +DUGZLFN PLGJHWVSURGXFHGRQO\HJJVLQFDSWLYLW\ DQ H[WUHPHO\ ORZ IHFXQGLW\ UDWH IRU RZOHW Pussytoes tend to bloom en masse, but the PRWKV +DUGZLFN $VLPLODUUDWHFDQEH WLPLQJFDQYDU\E\VHYHUDOZHHNVIURP\HDUWR H[SHFWHGIRU9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK \HDU *$QZHLOHUSHUVREV 7KHFORVHOLQN DQGGHSHQGHQF\RI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKWRWKH 1HZO\KDWFKHGODUYDHRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKV ÀRZHULQJF\FOHRIWKHKRVWSODQWVXJJHVWVWKDW DUHYHU\FDQQLEDOLVWLFDVZHOODVSUHGDWRU\RQ the environmental factors triggering blooming ODUYDHRIZKLWHVSRWWHGÀRZHUPRWKV$QXPEHU DOVRWULJJHUHPHUJHQFHRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK RIGLVVHFWHGÀRZHUKHDGVZHUHIRXQGWRFRQWDLQ adults. This has implications for surveys for UHPDLQV RI ERWK 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK DQG WKHPRWK WKHÀLJKWSHULRGLVDUHODWLYHO\VKRUW ZKLWHVSRWWHGÀRZHUPRWKODUYDHDORQJZLWKD RQHDQGFDQYDU\E\VHYHUDOZHHNVIURP\HDUWR KHDOWK\¿UVWRUVHFRQGLQVWDUODUYDRID9HUQD¶V \HDU +DUGZLFN *$QZHLOHUSHUVREV ÀRZHUPRWK +DUGZLFN 7KLVLQWHUHVWLQJ and to be effective, surveys must be timed to and unusual life-history trait may confer a FRLQFLGHZLWKWKHÀLJKWSHULRG FRPSHWLWLYHDGYDQWDJHRQ9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKV particularly if the quantity or quality of food is $OWKRXJKWKHGLVSHUVDODELOLW\RI9HUQD¶VÀRZHU DOLPLWLQJIDFWRU,WLVXQNQRZQLIZKLWHVSRWWHG PRWKLVXQNQRZQDGXOWVDUHVWURQJIDVWÀLHUV PLGJHWODUYDHDOVRSUH\RQ9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK ,WLVSRVVLEOHWKDWODUJHUDUHDVRIFRQWLQXRXVRU
semi-continuous suitable habitat, such as those The impact of agricultural chemicals on Verna’s WKDW RFFXU LQ DQG DGMDFHQW WR GUDLQDJHV PD\ ÀRZHU PRWKV LV XQNQRZQ $SSOLFDWLRQV RI be important to maintaining populations over herbicides and insecticides in occupied habitat WKHORQJWHUP$OWKRXJKDGXOW9HUQD¶VÀRZHU ZRXOGDOPRVWFHUWDLQO\KDYHDQHJDWLYHLPSDFW PRWKVPD\EHFDSDEOHRIFURVVLQJZLGHDUHDV RQ 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV DORQJ ZLWK RWKHU of unsuitable habitat, possibly many kilometres LQVHFWV 7KHUH DUH IHZ GDWD RQ WKH H[WHQW LI LQH[WHQWWKHUHZRXOGEHDJUHDWHUOLNHOLKRRG any, that insecticides are applied in actively of encountering suitable habitat and, more grazed native grassland pasture. importantly, other individuals of their species ZLWK ZKLFK WR PDWH LQ DUHDV ZLWK FRQWLQXRXV DISTRIBUTION RU VHPLFRQWLQXRXV KDELWDW 8QIRUWXQDWHO\ data on long-distance dispersal and survival 1. Alberta. - Based on the current state of DUHYHU\GLI¿FXOWWRREWDLQDQGDUHHVVHQWLDOO\ NQRZOHGJH WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ RI9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU QRQH[LVWHQW IRU ÀRZHU PRWKV *HQHUDOLVW moth in Alberta is probably quite fragmented, feeders, like a related Heliothine moth, the DOWKRXJKSHUKDSVOHVVVRDORQJGUDLQDJHVZKHUH FRUQ HDUZRUP Helicoverpa zea Boddie), are ribbons of unbroken native grassland exist. NQRZQ WR XQGHUJR ORQJGLVWDQFH GLVSHUVDO +RZHYHUHYHQLQVXFKKDELWDWJUD]LQJLVUDUHO\ KDYLQJ UHDFKHG HYHQ +DZDLL LQ UHFHQW \HDUV RFFXUULQJ WKURXJKRXW ZLWK XQJUD]HG EORFNV +DUGZLFN +RZHYHU ORQJ GLVWDQFH DQGKHQFHXQVXLWDEOHKDELWDW IUDJPHQWLQJWKH dispersal must be much more hazardous and distribution. much less successful for specialist species, VXFK DV 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV ZKLFK PXVW 6LQJOHVSHFLPHQVRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKKDYH ORFDWHVXLWDEOHKDELWDWZLWKVXLWDEOHKRVWSODQWV EHHQFROOHFWHGDWWKUHHVLWHVLQ$OEHUWD )LJXUH of a single species or genus. 2QHUHFHQWVLWH FROOHFWHGLQ LVQHDU $OOLDQFHE\WKHVRXWKHUQHGJHRIWKH&HQWUDO 7KH KRVW SODQWV RI 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK 3DUNODQG 6XEUHJLRQ LQ WKH 3DUNODQG 1DWXUDO DUH ZLGHVSUHDG SODQWV IRXQG LQ JUDVVODQGV 5HJLRQ $QRWKHU UHFHQW VLWH FROOHFWHG LQ throughout much of North America. Because LV QHDU -HQQHU LQ WKH 'U\ 0L[HGJUDVV SXVV\WRHVVSHFLHVLQFOXGLQJWKHRQO\FRQ¿UPHG 6XEUHJLRQ RI WKH *UDVVODQGV 1DWXUDO 5HJLRQ KRVW IRU 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV KDYH VXFK D *LYHQWKHORFDOL]HGJHRJUDSKLFGLVWULEXWLRQRI broad range and occur in several ecoregions WKHVHUHFHQWO\UHFRUGHGÀRZHUPRWKFRORQLHV RXWVLGHRIWKHSUDLULHV9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLV WKHVHUHFRUGVPRVWOLNHO\UHSUHVHQWWZRH[WDQW unlikely to be limited by the distribution of the colonies rather than dispersing individuals KRVWSODQW,WLVPRUHOLNHO\WKDWDFRPELQDWLRQ caught by chance. The third site is a historical of factors such as host plant availability, soil RQHLQ0HGLFLQH+DWDOVRORFDWHGLQWKH'U\ substrate type and adult nectar sources limit 0L[HGJUDVV 6XEUHJLRQ 7KH SHUFHQW RI WKH GLVWULEXWLRQ &6FKPLGWSHUVFRPP JOREDOSRSXODWLRQRFFXUULQJLQ$OEHUWD RIWKH RFFXUUHQFHV LV OLNHO\ VRPHZKHUH EHWZHHQ $OWKRXJKDGXOW9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKVKDYHEHHQ DQG observed feeding on nectar from blossoms of SXVV\WRHV * $QZHLOHU XQSXEO GDWD LW LV 7KH NQRZQ $OEHUWD SRSXODWLRQ LV H[WUHPHO\ QRW NQRZQ ZKHWKHU RU QRW RWKHU VSHFLHV RI IUDJPHQWHGZLWKWKHWZRUHFHQWFRORQLHVDERXW VSULQJÀRZHULQJSODQWVDUHQHHGHGWRSURYLGH NP DSDUW DQG WKH KLVWRULFDO VLWH NP a supplemental nectar source. The related IURPWKHQHDUHVWRIWKHWZRDOOORFDWHGDORQJ JROGHGJHGJHPXVHVLWVKRVWVXQÀRZHUSODQW different river valleys. There are no data as a nectar source, but also avidly obtains GRFXPHQWLQJWKHDELOLW\RI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK QHFWDUIURPRWKHUQHDUE\XQUHODWHGVSHFLHV * to colonize. Most Schinia species are strong $QZHLOHUSHUVREV
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8 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV HYHQ LQ RFFXSLHG The global extent of occurrence for Verna’s habitat. ÀRZHU PRWK LV DSSUR[LPDWHO\ NP2 - NP2+RZHYHUWKHDUHDRIRFFXSDQF\ 2. Global. - 9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLVNQRZQRQO\ ZLWKLQWKLVDUHDLVDIUDJPHQWRIWKDWWRWDO8VLQJ IURPWKH&DQDGLDQSUDLULHSURYLQFHVLQVRXWK a 2-km x 2-km grid per occurrence method ZHVWHUQ0DQLWRED RQHFRORQ\ZLWKDQXPEHU DGDSWHGIURP,8&1 WKHJOREDODUHDRI RI LQGLYLGXDOV VRXWKFHQWUDO 6DVNDWFKHZDQ occupancy, including both current and historical RQHVLQJOHVSHFLPHQUHFRUG DQGVRXWKHDVWHUQ RFFXUUHQFHVLVDSSUR[LPDWHO\NP2. There $OEHUWD KLVWRULFDO VSHFLPHQ UHFHQW DUH WRR IHZ GDWD WR SURYLGH D UHDOLVWLF ¿JXUH REVHUYDWLRQVHDFKRIDVLQJOHOLYHPRWK )LJXUH IRUDUHDRIRFFXSDQF\+RZHYHUWKLV¿JXUHLV 7KHUHDUHDOVRUHFHQWXQFRQ¿UPHGUHSRUWV EDVHGRQWKHQXPEHURIORFDWLRQVZKHUH9HUQD¶V RI 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV IURP WZR ORFDWLRQV ÀRZHU PRWK KDV DFWXDOO\ EHHQ ORFDWHG ZKHQ LQ WKH VWDWH RI :DVKLQJWRQ 86$ +RZHYHU one considers the amount of suitable habitat there is evidence suggesting these records WKDWKDVQRWEHHQVXUYH\HGDQGWKHGLI¿FXOW\LQ may refer to a closely related, but undescribed, ORFDWLQJWKHPRWKHYHQZKHQLWLVSUHVHQWDQ VSHFLHVLQVWHDGRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKDQGWKH HVWLPDWHRIEHWZHHQNP2DQGNP2 is SUHVHQFHRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLQ:DVKLQJWRQ suggested as being more reasonable. VWLOO QHHGV WR EH FRQ¿UPHG / &UDER SHUV FRPP *$QZHLOHUXQSXEOGDWD
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9 POPULATION SIZE AND TRENDS 0RVWRIWKHSRWHQWLDOKDELWDWIRU9HUQD¶VÀRZHU PRWK UHPDLQV WR EH VXUYH\HG ,W LV KLJKO\ 1. Population Size. - 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV probable that the general decrease in native NQRZQ IURP RQO\ ¿YH VLWHV JOREDOO\ WKUHH grassland has resulted in a corresponding RI ZKLFK DUH LQ $OEHUWD $W DOO EXW RQH VLWH decrease in size and number of populations. *OHQERUR 0% RQO\ D VLQJOH VSHFLPHQ KDV EHHQFROOHFWHG*LYHQWKHORFDOL]HGJHRJUDSKLF 6XUYH\VLQDQGRIORFDOLWLHVDWZKLFK GLVWULEXWLRQRIÀRZHUPRWKFRORQLHVLQJHQHUDO 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK KDG SUHYLRXVO\ EHHQ each of these records most likely represented recorded failed to locate extant populations. a local population rather than a dispersing Although patches of the larval host plant are individual encountered by chance. relatively conspicuous and can be locally abundant, the lack of observations of Verna’s Nevertheless, nothing concrete can be stated ÀRZHUPRWKVGXULQJVHDUFKHVRIWKHVHSDWFKHV regarding population sizes or trends based on suggests that other less obvious environmental VXFK OLPLWHG GDWD 7KH ¿YH REVHUYDWLRQV DUH factors may determine the presence and VSUHDGRYHUDSHULRGRIDOPRVW\HDUVZLWKDOO DEXQGDQFHRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKV+RZHYHU EXWWKH¿UVWLQWKHODVW\HDUV2EVHUYDWLRQV the paucity of records and the recent discovery DWWKHVH¿YHVLWHVZHUHPDGHLQ 0HGLFLQH RIWKLVVSHFLHVVXJJHVWWKDW9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK +DW $% *OHQERUR 0% LVWUXO\UDUH'DWDRQWKHSRSXODWLRQG\QDPLFV 6DVNDWRRQ6. -HQQHU$% DQG RIÀRZHUPRWKVSHFLHVLQJHQHUDODUHODFNLQJ $OOLDQFH $% $OWKRXJK IHZ REVHUYDWLRQV KRZHYHU 6ZHQJHO DQG 6ZHQJHO VKRZ ZRXOG EH H[SHFWHG RI D WUXO\ UDUH VSHFLHV D that population levels of Schinia indiana PLQLPXP VWDQGDUG RI D WZRKRXU VHDUFK RI 6PLWK YDULHG VXEVWDQWLDOO\ RYHU D ¿YH\HDU VXLWDEOHKDELWDWXQGHUVXLWDEOHFRQGLWLRQV HJ SHULRG,WLVSRVVLEOHWKDW9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK q& RU KLJKHU DQG VXQQ\ ZRXOG UHDVRQDEO\ exhibits similar population dynamics, making EH H[SHFWHG WR ORFDWH PRUH WKDQ RQH RU WZR GHWHFWLRQLQ\HDUVRIORZSRSXODWLRQOHYHOVHYHQ VSHFLPHQVLIDSRSXODWLRQLVSUHVHQW,WLVDOVR more improbable. Many species of heliothines possible that once a better understanding of the have the ability to remain in the pupal stage SUHFLVH KDELWDWV RFFXSLHG E\ 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU for a number of years before emerging; this PRWKVLVDYDLODEOHWKHPRWKZLOOEHIRXQGWREH DELOLW\LVSDUWLFXODUO\ZHOOGHYHORSHGLQVSHFLHV PRUHFRPPRQDQGZLGHVSUHDG7KLVKDVEHHQ LQGLJHQRXV WR DULG DUHDV +DUGZLFN GHPRQVWUDWHG UHSHDWHGO\ E\ -7URXEULGJH IRU 0RUH¿HOGVXUYH\VRYHUPXOWLSOH\HDUVLQRUGHU numerous species of noctuid moths thought to WR GHWHFW SRWHQWLDO SRSXODWLRQ ÀXFWXDWLRQV EHUDUHEXWIRXQGWREHORFDOL]HG EXWIDUIURP are needed before population sizes can be UDUH RQFHWKHFRUUHFWKDELWDWZDVLGHQWL¿HG - evaluated. Troubridge, pers. comm.). ,WFDQQRWEHRYHUHPSKDVL]HGWKDW9HUQD¶VÀRZHU $OWKRXJK ' +DUGZLFN IRXQG D WKULYLQJ PRWK LV D YHU\ GLI¿FXOW PRWK WR ORFDWH DQG SRSXODWLRQ VSHFLPHQVZHUHFROOHFWHGDWWKH LGHQWLI\LQWKH¿HOG8QOLNHQRFWXUQDOPRWKV VLWHRYHUDVHYHQGD\SHULRG DWWKH*OHQERUR ZKLFKLQPRVWFDVHVFDQEHHDVLO\VDPSOHGXVLQJ VLWHLQERWK DQG +DUGZLFN D D YDULHW\ RI OLJKW WUDSV 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK YLVLWWRWKHVLWHLQIDLOHGWRORFDWHWKHPRWK must be searched for during the day by eye and &26(:,& 7KHVLWHDW-HQQHUZKHUH ZLWK QHW &RQFHUWHG DQG UHSHDWHG VXUYH\V LQ D VLQJOH 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK ZDV FROOHFWHG SRWHQWLDO KDELWDW WKURXJKRXW WKH NQRZQ DGXOW LQ ZDV UHYLVLWHG DQG VHDUFKHG LQ ÀLJKW SHULRG DUH QHHGHG EHIRUH PXFK FDQ EH DQG DOVR ZLWKRXW VXFFHVV VDLGZLWKDQ\FRQ¿GHQFHDERXWSRSXODWLRQVL]HV &26(:,& *$QZHLOHUXQSXEOGDWD DQGWUHQGV0RVWOLNHO\DQRQJRLQJDZDUHQHVV
of the possible presence of this little moth and LIMITING FACTORS LWVKDELWVZLOOVORZO\DGGWRRXUNQRZOHGJHDQG database, leading to a more comprehensive and 1LHPLQHQ KDV SRLQWHG RXW WKDW WKH UHOLDEOHSLFWXUHRIWKHVWDWXVRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHU pattern of population extinction in moths is moth in Alberta. affected by host plant characteristics rather than by the characteristics of the moths themselves; 2. Population Trends. - The limited data can furthermore, moths that feed on a single host provide little insight into population trends. species are more likely to suffer extirpation than What can be said is that, in spite of the insect DUHVSHFLHVWKDWIHHGRQDZLGHUUDQJHRIKRVWV collecting that has taken place in the prairie as are species that occur in highly fragmented, SURYLQFHV RI &DQDGD DOPRVW FRQWLQXRXVO\ GLVMXQFW SRSXODWLRQV 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV RYHU WKH SDVW \HDUV9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK thus a highly vulnerable species, being both KDV EHHQ NQRZLQJO\ HQFRXQWHUHG DW RQO\ ¿YH monophagous and having a highly fragmented VLWHV,WLVLOOXVWUDWLYHWKDWLWZDVQRWIRXQGLQ population. WKH 6SUXFH :RRGV 3URYLQFLDO 3DUN DUHD SULRU WR HYHQ WKRXJK 1RUPDQ &ULGGOH ZDV D 1R RWKHU VSHFL¿F OLPLWLQJ IDFWRUV IRU 9HUQD¶V UHVLGHQWFROOHFWRULQWKHDUHDIRUVRPH\HDUV ÀRZHU PRWK KDYH EHHQ LGHQWL¿HG 3RWHQWLDO during the early part of the last century. threats include anything that adversely affects the health and abundance of the larval host 7KH¿UVWNQRZQVSHFLPHQZDVDVLQJOHVSHFLPHQ plants. Loss or fragmentation of habitat as FROOHFWHG E\ )6 &DUU LQ WKH 0HGLFLQH +DW a result of agricultural tillage and severe $OEHUWDDUHDLQ ,WZDVQRWFROOHFWHGDJDLQ RYHUJUD]LQJZRXOGUHVXOWLQORVVRIQDWLYHSODQW XQWLO ZKHQ ' +DUGZLFN GLVFRYHUHG WKH cover, including larval and adult food plants. FRORQ\LQ0DQLWRED+HUHWXUQHGWKHIROORZLQJ The host plants are also intolerant of a thick year and collected additional specimens and vegetation overstory, so large, invasive plant ZRUNHGRXWWKHOLIHKLVWRU\$VLQJOHVSHFLPHQ VSHFLHV FRXOG DOVR EH GHWULPHQWDO 6LQFH WKH ZDVFROOHFWHGLQWKH6DVNDWRRQ6DVNDWFKHZDQ SXSDH VSHQG DOPRVW PRQWKV LQ D VKDOORZ DUHDLQ DVZHOO7KHQH[WVSHFLPHQZDV underground chamber, soil trampling by FROOHFWHGQHDU-HQQHU$OEHUWDLQDQGWKH livestock in heavily grazed pastures may be a ODVWRQHQHDU$OOLDQFHLQ7KXVLWDSSHDUV limiting factor. Less severe disturbances, such this moth has been present for many years, but DV ¿UHV DQG KD\LQJ ZRXOG KDYH WKH JUHDWHVW DOZD\VLQVPDOOQXPEHUV SRWHQWLDO LPSDFW GXULQJ WKH ÀRZHULQJ DQG VHHGLQJ VWDJH RI SXVV\WRHV ZKHQ ODUYDH DQG 6LWHV ZKHUH 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWKV KDYH EHHQ HJJVDUHGHYHORSLQJ'HSHQGLQJRQSXSDWLRQ IRXQGLQWKHPRUHUHFHQWSDVW LHLQWKHODVW GHSWKDQG¿UHLQWHQVLW\9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKV \HDUV VKRXOGEHYLVLWHGDQGVHDUFKHGXQGHU PD\EHDEOHWRVXUYLYH¿UHHYHQWVGXULQJWKH IDYRXUDEOHFRQGLWLRQV ZDUPDQGVXQQ\ DWOHDVW pupal stage. WZLFHDQGSUHIHUDEO\WKUHHWLPHVHDFKVHDVRQ DW DERXW RQHZHHN WR GD\ LQWHUYDOV 6LWH STATUS DESIGNATIONS* YLVLWVVKRXOGEHJLQZKHQWKH¿UVWSXVV\WRHVDUH blooming. This protocol should be conducted 1. Alberta. – 6LQFH 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK ZDV RYHUDSHULRGRIDWOHDVW\HDUV RUORQJHU not described until 1983, there are no historical if necessary, to ensure that varying annual GHVLJQDWLRQV ,W LV QRW LQFOXGHG LQ $OEHUWD¶V moisture conditions are represented) before concluding the site is no longer supporting the moth. 6HH $SSHQGL[ IRU GH¿QLWLRQV RI VHOHFWHG VWDWXV designations.
11 Wildlife Act, or in the General Status of Alberta LQ $OEHUWD ,Q SDUWLFXODU PRUH H[WHQVLYH DQG Wild Species 2005 $OEHUWD 6XVWDLQDEOH intensive surveys could be carried out in 5HVRXUFH'HYHORSPHQW ,WLVUDQNHGDV QDWLYHSDVWXUHODQGVDORQJWKHWKUHHPDMRUULYHU 6WDWXV8QFHUWDLQ 68 E\WKH$OEHUWD1DWXUDO V\VWHPVLQVRXWKHUQ$OEHUWD %DWWOH5HG'HHU +HULWDJH ,QIRUPDWLRQ &HQWHU $1+,& SHUV DQG6RXWK6DVNDWFKHZDQ DQGHVSHFLDOO\DORQJ comm.) WKHORZHU5HG'HHUDQG%DWWOH5LYHUYDOOH\V ZKHUH9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKVKDYHEHHQIRXQG 2. Other Areas. – 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK KDV LQUHFHQW\HDUV*LYHQWKHGLI¿FXOW\RI¿QGLQJ not been assigned a national general status WKHPRWKVXUYH\LQJIRUORFDWLRQVRIWKHNQRZQ LQ &DQDGD &DQDGLDQ (QGDQJHUHG 6SHFLHV KRVWVZRXOGEHDJRRGVWDUWLQJSRLQW,WZRXOG &RQVHUYDWLRQ &RXQFLO >&(6&&@ ,W DOVR EH RI YDOXH WR LGHQWLI\ DQG FRQ¿UP WKH ZDVDVVLJQHGThreatenedVWDWXVE\&26(:,& taxonomic status of the species of Antennaria &26(:,&DQG EXWKDVQRWEHHQ SUHVHQWDWWKHWZRNQRZQ9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWK DGGHGWR6FKHGXOHRIWKHIHGHUDO6SHFLHVDW sites in Alberta. 5LVN$FW 6$5$ EHFDXVHLWZDVUHIHUUHGEDFN WR&26(:,&E\WKH0LQLVWHURI(QYLURQPHQW ,Q &26(:,& FRPPLVVLRQHG D VWDWXV EHFDXVHRISHUFHLYHGGH¿FLHQFLHVLQWKHGDWDRQ UHSRUW IRU 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK DQG SURYLGHG species distribution, abundance, range, threats IXQGLQJIRUOLPLWHGVXUYH\ZRUNLQFOXGLQJLQ DQG VXLWDEOH KDELWDW &DQDGD *D]HWWH VRXWKHUQ$OEHUWD7KLVUHVXOWHGLQ&26(:,& &26(:,& KDV VLQFH UHFRQ¿UPHG WKH VWDWXV DVVLJQLQJ 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK D VWDWXV RI of Threatened and has re-submitted it to the ThreatenedLQ 0LQLVWHU IRU OLVWLQJ XQGHU 6$5$ DV VXFK $ ¿QDOGHFLVLRQRQZKHWKHURUQRW9HUQD¶VÀRZHU ,Q $OEHUWD 6XVWDLQDEOH 5HVRXUFH PRWKZLOOEHOLVWHGXQGHU6$5$LVH[SHFWHGLQ 'HYHORSPHQW SURYLGHG IXQGLQJ IRU DGGLWLRQDO ODWH ¿HOG VXUYH\V IRU 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LQ VRXWKHUQ$OEHUWDDQGWRJHWKHUZLWKWKH$OEHUWD 1DWXUH6HUYH OLVWV LW JOREDOO\ DV *8 &RQVHUYDWLRQ $VVRFLDWLRQ VXSSRUWHG WKH JOREDOVWDWXVXQFHUWDLQEHFDXVHRIORZVHDUFK preparation of this status report. effort or cryptic nature of the element; more GDWDQHHGHG 7KH6DVNDWFKHZDQ&RQVHUYDWLRQ SYNTHESIS 'DWD &HQWUH UDQNV 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK DV 6+ KLVWRULFDO RFFXUUHQFH 6DVNDWFKHZDQ 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV D UHFHQWO\ GHVFULEHG &RQVHUYDWLRQ'DWD&HQWUH 0DQLWREDOLVWV VPDOO GD\À\LQJ QRFWXLG PRWK ,W LV NQRZQ LW DV 61$ 6WDWXV 1RW$SSOLFDEOH 0DQLWRED JOREDOO\ IURP RQO\ ¿YH ORFDWLRQV LQ WKH &RQVHUYDWLRQ'DWD&HQWUH 3DUNODQGDQG*UDVVODQGQDWXUDOUHJLRQVRIWKH VRXWKHUQSUDLULHSURYLQFHVRI&DQDGD7KUHHRI 9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKLVQRWNQRZQWRRFFXULQ WKHVHVLWHVDUHORFDWHGLQ$OEHUWDDQGWZRRIWKH DQ\RWKHUMXULVGLFWLRQV $OEHUWDVLWHVDUHWKHRQO\SODFHVZKHUH9HUQD¶V ÀRZHUPRWKKDVEHHQIRXQGLQWKHSDVW\HDUV RECENT MANAGEMENT IN ALBERTA DQ\ZKHUH9HUQD¶VÀRZHUPRWKKDELWDWFRQVLVWV of native grasslands that are being actively 6R IHZ GDWD DUH DYDLODEOH IRU WKLV PRWK LQ grazed by cattle; undisturbed native grasslands $OEHUWDWKDWPDQDJHPHQWVSHFL¿FDOO\GLUHFWHG do not appear to be favoured by this species. IRULWKDVEHHQSUHFOXGHG7KHRQO\MXVWL¿DEOH management at this time appears to be to 9HUQD¶V ÀRZHU PRWK LV H[WUHPHO\ GLI¿FXOW WR provide funding for data collection, especially UHFRJQL]HLQWKHZLOGZKLFKJUHDWO\FRPSOLFDWHV ¿HOGZRUNGLUHFWHGWRORFDWLQJH[WDQWSRSXODWLRQV HIIRUWVWR¿QGDQGREWDLQLQIRUPDWLRQWKDWZRXOG
12 assist in evaluating its management needs. Alberta appear to provide favourable habitat This, combined with the fact that it appears WKDWLVVXSSRUWLQJSRSXODWLRQVRI9HUQD¶VÀRZHU to be a rare species, makes gathering the data moths. The only practical management options needed to determine population size and trend that appear to exist at present are to provide a slow and frustrating exercise. basic protections for known sites, and to support DGGLWLRQDODQGPRUHLQWHQVLYH¿HOGVXUYH\VLQ There are no obvious imminent or other threats to order to provide a more complete picture of the this moth at present. The life history of Verna’s status and ecology of this interesting moth in ÀRZHUPRWKOHDYHVLWYXOQHUDEOHWRH[WLUSDWLRQ Alberta. (Nieminen 1996). Current grazing practices in
13 LITERATURE CITED &26(:,&'DWDEDVH&RPPLWWHHRQ WKH 6WDWXV RI (QGDQJHUHG :LOGOLIH LQ $OEHUWD 1DWXUDO +HULWDJH ,QIRUPDWLRQ &HQWUH &DQDGD 85/ KWWS ZZZFRVHZLF $1+,& 5DQN GH¿QLWLRQV JFFD>8SGDWHG @ 3DUNV DQG 3URWHFWHG $UHDV 'LYLVLRQ $OEHUWD &RPPXQLW\ 'HYHORSPHQW &KDPEHUV./ ³&KHUFKH]OHVKRPPHV´ 85/ KWWS ZZZFGJRYDEFD LQAntennaria, boys are a minority). SUHVHUYLQJSDUNVDQKLFGH¿QLWLRQVDVS 2UHJRQ )ORUD 1HZVOHWWHU 9RO >8SGDWHG'HFHPEHU@ 2UHJRQ6WDWH8QLYHUVLW\
$OEHUWD 6XVWDLQDEOH 5HVRXUFH 'HYHORSPHQW +DUGZLFN ') 7KH OLIH KLVWRU\ RI 7KH *HQHUDO 6WDWXV RI $OEHUWD Eutricopis nexilis 1RFWXLGDH -/HS :LOG6SHFLHV85/ KWWS ZZZ 6RF VUGJRYDEFDIZZLOGVSHFLHVLQGH[ KWP>8SGDWHG-DQXDU\ +DUGZLFN') $QHZVSHFLHVRISchinia 1RFWXLGDH IURP VRXWKHUQ 0DQLWRED $QZHLOHU * 6SHFLHV SDJH ± Schinia DQG6DVNDWFKHZDQZLWKGHVFULSWLRQVRI verna. 8QLYHUVLW\ RI $OEHUWD (+ LWVOLIHKLVWRU\-/HS6RF 6WULFNODQG (QWRPRORJLFDO 0XVHXP 85/ KWWS ZZZHQWRPRORJ\ +DUGZLFN ') $ 0RQRJUDSK WR WKH XDOEHUWDFDVHDUFKLQJBVSHFLHVBGHWDLOV North American Heliothentinae SKS"V /HSLGRSWHUD 1RFWXLGDH 3XEOLVKHG privately. 281 pp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¶VÀRZHUPRWK 1DWLRQDO5HVHDUFK&RXQFLO 6FLHQFHDQG Schinia verna LQ &DQDGD &RPPLWWHH WKH(QGDQJHUHG6SHFLHV$FW1DWLRQDO RQWKH6WDWXVRI(QGDQJHUHG:LOGOLIH $FDGHP\3UHVV:DVKLQJWRQ'& LQ&DQDGD2WWDZDYL SS ZZZ pp. VDUDUHJLVWU\JFFDVWDWXVVWDWXVBHFIP 1DWXUH6HUYH 1DWXUH6HUYH ([SORUHU &26(:,& 'H¿QLWLRQV DQG DQ RQOLQH HQF\FORSHGLD RI OLIH >ZHE $EEUHYLDWLRQV &RPPLWWHH RQ WKH DSSOLFDWLRQ@9HUVLRQ$UOLQJWRQ 6WDWXV RI (QGDQJHUHG :LOGOLIH LQ 9LUJLQLD 86$ 1DWXUH6HUYH 85/ &DQDGD 85/ KWWS ZZZFRVHZLF KWWS ZZZQDWXUHVHUYHRUJH[SORUHU JFFD>8SGDWHG$SULO@ >8SGDWHG-XQH@
14 1LHPLQHQ 0 5LVN RI SRSXODWLRQ 6WDWLVWLFV &DQDGD &HQVXV RI H[WLQFWLRQLQPRWKV HIIHFWRIKRVWSODQW $JULFXOWXUH2WWDZD FKDUDFWHULVWLFV2LNRV 6WDWLVWLFV &DQDGD KWWS ZZZVWDWFDQ 3HUVVRQ% /RQJHYLW\RI1RFWXLGPRWKV FDHQJOLVKDJFHQVXVLQGH[KWP LQUHODWLRQWRFHUWDLQGD\WLPHZHDWKHU IDFWRUV 2LNRV 6ZHQJHO $% DQG 65 6ZHQJHO &RSHQKDJHQ 2EVHUYDWLRQV RQ Schinia indiana and Schinia lucens LQ WKH 0LGZHVWHUQ 6DVNDWFKHZDQ &RQVHUYDWLRQ 'DWD &HQWUH 8QLWHG6WDWHV /HSLGRSWHUD 1RFWXLGDH 6SHFLHV /LVWV 85/ KWWS +RODUFWLF/HSLGRSWHUD ZZZELRGLYHUVLW\VNFD)73KWP>/DVW 8SGDWHG -XQH@ 7DQQDV . Common Plants of the Western Rangelands. Vol. 3: Forbs. 6FRJJDQ +- 7KH )ORUD RI &DQDGD 2OGV&ROOHJHDQG$OEHUWD$JULFXOWXUH 3DUW 'LFRW\OHGRQHDH /RDVDFHDH )RRGDQG5XUDO'HYHORSPHQW WR&RPSRVLWDH 1DWLRQDO0XVHXPRI 1DWXUDO 6FLHQFHV 1DWLRQDO 0XVHXPV 86'$ )RUHVW 6HUYLFH )LUH (IIHFWV RI&DQDGD2WWDZD3S ,QIRUPDWLRQ 6\VWHP ZZZIVIHG XVGDWDEDVHIHLV $FFHVVHG 6HSW
15 Appendix 1: Definitions of status ranks and legal designations.
A. The General Status of Alberta Wild Species 2005 (after Alberta Sustainable Resource Development 2007)
2005 Rank 1996 Rank Definitions At Risk Red Any species known to be At Risk after formal detailed status assessment and designation as Endangered or Threatened in Alberta. May Be At Risk Blue Any species that may be at risk of extinction or extirpation, and is therefore a candidate for detailed risk assessment. Sensitive Yellow Any species that is not at risk of extinction or extirpation but may require special attention or protection to prevent it from becoming at risk. Secure Green Any species that is not At Risk, May Be At Risk or Sensitive. Undetermined Status Any species for which insufficient information, knowledge or data Undetermined is available to reliably evaluate its general status. Not Assessed n/a Any species that has not been examined during this exercise. Exotic/Alien n/a Any species that has been introduced as a result of human activities. Extirpated/Extinct n/a Any species no longer thought to be present in Alberta (Extirpated) or no longer believed to be present anywhere in the world (Extinct). Accidental/Vagrant n/a Any species occurring infrequently and unpredictably in Alberta, i.e., outside its usual range.
B. Alberta Species at Risk Formal Status Designations Species designated as Endangered under Alberta’s Wildlife Act include those listed as Endangered or Threatened in the Wildlife Regulation (in bold).
Endangered A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened A species likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. Species of A species of special concern because of characteristics that make it particularly sensitive to Special Concern human activities or natural events. Data Deficient A species for which there is insufficient scientific information to support status designation.
C. Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (after COSEWIC 2006)
Extinct A species that no longer exists. Extirpated A species that no longer exists in the wild in Canada, but occurs elsewhere. Endangered A species facing imminent extirpation or extinction. Threatened A species that is likely to become endangered if limiting factors are not reversed. Special Concern A species that may become threatened or endangered because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats. Not at Risk A species that has been evaluated and found to be not at risk of extinction given the current circumstances. Data Deficient A category that applies when the available information is insufficient to (a) resolve a wildlife species' eligibility for assessment, or (b) permit an assessment of the wildlife species' risk of extinction.
16 D. Heritage Status Ranks: Global (G), National (N), Sub-national (S) (after Alberta Natural Heritage Information Centre 2007, NatureServe 2007)
G1/N1/S1 5 or fewer occurrences or only a few remaining individuals. May be especially vulnerable to extirpation because of some factor of its biology. G2/N2/S2 6 to 20 or fewer occurrences or with many individuals in fewer locations. May be especially vulnerable to extirpation because of some factor of its biology. G3/N3/S3 21 to 100 occurrences; may be rare and local throughout its range, or in a restricted range (may be abundant in some locations). May be susceptible to extirpation because of large- scale disturbances. G4/N4/S4 Typically > 100 occurrences. Apparently secure. G5/N5/S5 Typically > 100 occurrences. Demonstrably secure. GX/NX/SX Believed to be extinct or extirpated; historical records only. GH/NH/SH Historically known; may be relocated in the future. G?/N?/S? Not yet ranked, or rank tentatively assigned.
E. United States Endangered Species Act (after National Research Council 1995)
Endangered Any species that is in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. Threatened Any species that is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a significant portion of its range.
17 List of Titles in This Series (as of April 2008)
No. 1 Status of the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) in Alberta, by David R. C. Prescott. 19 pp. (1997)
No. 2 Status of the Wolverine (Gulo gulo) in Alberta, by Stephen Petersen. 17 pp. (1997)
No. 3 Status of the Northern Long-eared Bat (Myotis septentrionalis) in Alberta, by M. Carolina Caceres and M. J. Pybus. 19 pp. (1997)
No. 4 Status of the Ord’s Kangaroo Rat (Dipodomys ordii) in Alberta, by David L. Gummer. 16 pp. (1997)
No. 5 Status of the Eastern Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma douglassii brevirostre) in Alberta, by Janice D. James, Anthony P. Russell and G. Lawrence Powell. 20 pp. (1997)
No. 5 Update 2004. Status of the Short-horned Lizard (Phrynosoma hernandesi) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 27 pp. (2004)
No. 6 Status of the Prairie Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis viridis) in Alberta, by Sheri M. Watson and Anthony P. Russell. 26 pp. (1997)
No. 7 Status of the Swift Fox (Vulpes velox) in Alberta, by Susan E. Cotterill. 17 pp. (1997)
No. 8 Status of the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) in Alberta, by Petra Rowell and David P. Stepnisky. 23 pp. (1997)
No. 9 Status of the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in Alberta, by Greg Wagner. 46 pp. (1997)
No. 9 Update 2003. Status of the Northern Leopard Frog (Rana pipiens) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 61 pp. (2003)
No. 10 Status of the Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) in Alberta, by David R. C. Prescott. 14 pp. (1997)
No. 11 Status of the Burrowing Owl (Speotyto cunicularia hypugaea) in Alberta, by Troy I. Wellicome. 21 pp. (1997)
No. 11 Update 2005. Status of the Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 28 pp. (2005)
No. 12 Status of the Canadian Toad (Bufo hemiophrys) in Alberta, by Ian M. Hamilton, Joann L. Skilnick, Howard Troughton, Anthony P. Russell, and G. Lawrence Powell. 30 pp. (1998)
No. 13 Status of the Sage Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus urophasianus) in Alberta, by Cameron L. Aldridge. 23 pp. (1998)
No. 14 Status of the Great Plains Toad (Bufo cognatus) in Alberta, by Janice D. James. 26 pp. (1998)
No. 15 Status of the Plains Hognose Snake (Heterodon nasicus nasicus) in Alberta, by Jonathan Wright and Andrew Didiuk. 26 pp. (1998)
No. 16 Status of the Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) in Alberta, by Dorothy P. Hill. 20 pp. (1998)
No. 17 Status of the Columbia Spotted Frog (Rana luteiventris) in Alberta, by Janice D. James. 21 pp. (1998) No. 18 Status of the Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) in Alberta, by Josef K. Schmutz. 18 pp. (1999)
No. 18 Update 2006. Status of the Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 22 pp. (2006)
No. 19 Status of the Red-tailed Chipmunk (7DPLDVUX¿FDXGXV) in Alberta, by Ron Bennett. 15 pp. (1999)
No. 20 Status of the Northern Pygmy Owl (Glaucidium gnoma californicum) in Alberta, by Kevin C. Hannah. 20 pp. (1999)
No. 21 Status of the Western Blue Flag (Iris missouriensis) in Alberta, by Joyce Gould. 22 pp. (1999)
No. 21 Update 2005. Status of the Western Blue Flag (Iris missouriensis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 29 pp. (2005)
No. 22 Status of the Long-toed Salamander (Ambystoma macrodactylum) in Alberta, by Karen L. Graham and G. Lawrence Powell. 19 pp. (1999)
No. 23 Status of the Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens) in Alberta, by Michael R. Norton. 24 pp. (1999)
No. 24 Status of the Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) in Alberta, by David R. C. Prescott and Ronald R. Bjorge. 28 pp. (1999)
No. 25 Status of the Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons) in Alberta, by Richard D. Lauzon. 17 pp. (1999)
No. 26 Status of the Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) in Alberta, by M. Lynne James. 21 pp. (2000)
1R 6WDWXVRIWKH3\JP\:KLWH¿VK Prosopium coulteri) in Alberta, by William C. Mackay. 16 pp. (2000)
No. 28 Status of the Short-eared Owl ($VLRÀDPPHXV) in Alberta, by Kort M. Clayton. 15 pp. (2000)
No. 29 Status of the Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) in Alberta, by Bryan Kulba and W. Bruce McGillivray. 15 pp. (2001)
No. 30 Status of the Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Alberta, by Elston Dzus. 47 pp. (2001)
No. 31 Status of the Western Spiderwort (Tradescantia occidentalis) in Alberta, by Bonnie Smith. 12 pp. (2001)
No. 32 Status of the Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) in Alberta, by Michael Norton. 21 pp. (2001)
No. 33 Status of the Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina) in Alberta, by Michael Norton. 20 pp. (2001)
No. 34 Status of the Whooping Crane (Grus americana) in Alberta, by Jennifer L. White. 21 pp. (2001)
No. 35 Status of Soapweed (Yucca glauca) in Alberta, by Donna Hurlburt. 18 pp. (2001)
No. 36 Status of the Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) in Alberta, by Beth MacCallum. 38 pp. (2001)
No. 37 Status of the Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) in Alberta, by John L. Kansas. 43 pp. (2002)
No. 38 Status of the Wood Bison (Bison bison athabascae) in Alberta, by Jonathan A. Mitchell and C. Cormack Gates. 32 pp. (2002) No. 39 Status of the Bull Trout (6DOYHOLQXVFRQÀXHQWXV) in Alberta, by John R. Post and Fiona D. Johnston. 40 pp. (2002)
No. 40 Status of the Banff Springs Snail (Physella johnsoni) in Alberta, by Dwayne A.W. Lepitzki. 29 pp. (2002)
No. 41 Status of the Shortjaw Cisco (Coregonus zenithicus) in Alberta, by Mark Steinhilber. 23 pp. (2002)
No. 42 Status of the Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) in Alberta, by Dale Paton. 28 pp. (2002)
No. 43 Status of the American Badger (Taxidea taxus) in Alberta, by Dave Scobie. 17 pp. (2002)
No. 44 Status of the Yucca Moth (Tegeticula yuccasella) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 21 pp. (2002)
No. 45 Status of the White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca deglandi) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 15 pp. (2002)
No. 46 Status of the Lake Sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 30 pp. (2002)
No. 47 Status of the Western Silvery Minnow (Hybognathus argyritis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 24 pp. (2003)
1R 6WDWXVRIWKH6PDOOÀRZHUHG6DQG9HUEHQD Tripterocalyx micranthus) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 24 pp. (2003)
No. 49 Status of the Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 30 pp. (2003)
No. 50 Status of the Mountain Plover (Charadrius montanus) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 25 pp. (2003)
No. 51 Status of the St. Mary Shorthead Sculpin (provisionally Cottus bairdi punctulatus) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 24 pp. (2003)
No. 52 Status of the Stonecat (1RWXUXVÀDYXV) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 22 pp. (2003)
No. 53 Status of the Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 23 pp. (2004)
No. 54 Status of the Tiny Cryptanthe (Cryptantha minima) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 39 pp. (2004)
No. 55 Status of the Slender Mouse-ear-cress (Halimolobos virgata) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 27 pp. (2005)
No. 56 Status of the Barred Owl (Strix varia) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 15 pp. (2005)
No. 57 Status of the Arctic Grayling (Thymallus arcticus) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. 41 pp. (2005)
No. 58 Status of the Weidemeyer’s Admiral (Limenitis weidemeyerii) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 13 pp. (2005) No. 59 Status of the Porsild’s Bryum (Bryum porsildii) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 30 pp. (2006)
No. 60 Status of the Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 29 pp. (2006)
No. 61 Status of the Westslope Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisii) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 34 pp. (2006)
No. 62 Status of the Limber Pine (3LQXVÀH[LOLV) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 17 pp. (2007)
No. 63 Status of the Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 22 pp. (2007)
No. 64 Status of the Western Small-footed Bat (Myotis ciliolabrum) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 24 pp. (2008)
1R 6WDWXVRIWKH9HUQD¶V)ORZHU0RWK Schinia verna) in Alberta. Alberta Sustainable Resource Development and Alberta Conservation Association. 17 pp. (2008)