Arthropods of Canadian Forests
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Arthropods of ForestsCanadian Forests Number 1 April 2005 Contents Welcome . Inside front cover Invitation to Contribute . Inside front cover BSC Project – Forest Arthropods . 1 Database of Forest Arthropod Biodiversity Projects . 2 Project Updates . 3 Monitoring biodiversity close to home: collecting generalist arthropod predators from McGill University’s research forests. 3 The Forked Fungus Beetle as a Model System in Ecology . 8 The Ecosystem Management Emulating Natural Disturbance Project . 12 Feature Article . 17 Spiders at the Hub of Canadian Forest Research . 17 Graduate Student Focus . 24 Host use patterns in saproxylic Coleoptera: explaining species succession along the wood decay gradient . 24 The Walbran Valley Canopy Arthropod Project . 24 News and Events . 26 New Publications . 28 Male forked fungus beetle, Bolitotherus cornutus (Tenebrionidae) (photo courtesy of CFS). Welcome Welcome to the first issue of Arthropods of Canadian Forests. This newsletter is a product of a collabora- tion between Natural Resources Canada, Canadian Forest Service and the Biological Survey of Canada, Terrestrial Arthropods (BSC). The goal of the newsletter is to serve as a communication tool to encourage information exchange and collaboration among those in Canada who work on forest arthropod biodiver- sity issues, including faunistics, systematics, conservation, disturbance ecology, and adaptive forest man- agement. As well, the newsletter supports the Forest Arthropods Project of the BSC. This annual newsletter will be distributed electronically (pdf) in late March. If you wish to be placed on the distribution list, please contact David Langor. Newsletter Content will include project updates (short articles that introduce ongoing relevant projects in Canada); feature articles (overviews, summaries, commentaries or syntheses); a graduate student section featuring brief summaries of thesis research, funding opportunities, employment notices, etc.; brief news articles concerning meetings, symposia, collaboration opportunities, collecting trips, etc.; and a listing of new publications and websites. Please consider submitting items to the Arthropods of Canadian Forests newsletter. We welcome articles in English or French, and we invite your comments on how we can improve the content and delivery of this newsletter. Contributions of articles and other items of interest to students of forests and their arthropods are welcomed by the editor. Submission in electronic format by e-mail or CD is preferred. The final copy deadline for the next issue is January 31, 2006. Editor: Copy Editor: Brenda Laishley David W. Langor Design and layout: Sue Mayer Natural Resources Canada Canadian Forest Service 5320-122 Street Edmonton, AB T6H 3S5 780-435-7330 (tel.) 780-435-7359 (fax) [email protected] Articles without other accreditation are prepared by the Editor. Publisher websites: Canadian Forest Service: http://cfs.nrcan.gc.ca Biological Survey of Canada: http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/bschome.htm Canadian Musée Museum of canadien de la Arthropods of Canadian Forests April 2005 1 BSC Project – Forest Arthropods In 2003, the Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) The economic context initiated a new project to focus on arthropod About 45% of Canada’s land area is forest- faunistics and systematics work related to forested ed, and 25% of the land area is represented ecosystems. The primary goal of this project is to by commercial forests. Fifteen terrestrial coordinate research on the diversity, ecology, and ecozones in Canada contain forest types, and impacts of the arthropods of Canadian forests. two-thirds of Canada’s estimated 140 000 Arthropods represent 60–70% of all species species of plants, animals, and microorgan- in Canadian forests but are relatively little known isms live in forests. Clearly, forests dominate despite their great importance (see boxed text at life zones in the country to the extent that right). The current situation in Canada concerning a study of their associated fauna is basic to research on diversity of arthropods in Canadian a full understanding of the arthropod fau- forests can be characterized as follows: na of Canada. Forests also underpin a pil- lar of the Canadian economy, worth about • There is much research activity across $75 billion annually and contributing over the country focusing on a wide variety of 360 000 jobs directly, resulting in increased biodiversity issues, but most work is tightly forest development activity. The search for a focused on restricted faunistic inventories or sustainable balance among ecological, eco- localized testing of specific hypotheses. nomic, and social values of forests drives the • Information exchange is abysmal. Most national forest policy agenda. The ecologi- groups work in relative isolation, and there is cal values and services provided by forests relatively little interchange of results or true are not fully understood or appreciated, a collaboration. critical information gap that impedes opti- • There is little scientific synthesis. mal decision-making. In the absence of de- • Work is often criticized, poorly funded and tailed knowledge of the full range of for- noninfluential because there is no cohesive est ecosystem functions, biological diversity overall plan. represents a generally accepted surrogate of functional ecosystem integration and, The BSC is well placed to offset some of these as such, is increasingly being included in difficulties by serving as a clearing house for the suite of forest management objectives information, a coordinator and catalyst to foster for the Canadian forest industry. However, research and synthesis on arthropod biodiversity, there is the realization that little is known and a unifying voice to express matters of national about the vast majority of species, including concern and need. The BSC has, therefore, arthropods, in forests and that improved initiated efforts to build better communication, knowledge (composition, variation, impacts collaboration, and cohesion among those working of disturbances) of these groups is necessary on forest arthropod biodiversity issues, and to to establish meaningful, operational biodi- build on and integrate existing BSC activities versity objectives as an essential component related to forests. of sustainable forest management. Arthropods of Canadian Forests April 2005 2 To fulfill these general roles the BSC has un- 1. Describe of the diversity (alpha, beta, gamma) dertaken several new activities: of arthropods associated with Canadian forests. • Develop a continuously updated list of on- going forest biodiversity projects in Canada 2. Determine the ecological roles of arthropods (see www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/ in Canadian forests and the drivers that forestprojectssummary.htm). This product determine species distributions and highlights current activity in Canada and assemblage structure. helps facilitate contact between researchers 3. Measure the impacts of natural and anthro- with complementary interests. pogenic disturbances on forest arthropod • Sponsor and organize symposia and communities, and identify mitigation mea- workshops on relevant topics. These events sures to improve conservation. will serve to review progress and highlight To these ends, faunistic and taxonomic important gaps and opportunities. The BSC is research on selected groups of forest arthropods hosting a symposium, Maintaining Arthropods will be pursued. There are two current research in Northern Forest Ecosystems, in Canmore, initiatives: Alberta, in November 2005 (see details in Geoff Scudder and Bob Foottit are assessing News and Events section). the guild of sucking insects on Pinus banksiana (Jack • Development of new communication pine) and P. contorta (Lodgepole pine) by extracting vehicles. The BSC has developed a set of data from collections and by field collecting. web pages (www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ english/forests.htm) to support and advertise David Langor, David McCorquodale, Serge the work on forest arthropods. The Arthropods Laplante, and Jim Hammond are preparing a of Canadian Forests newsletter is also expected handbook to the Cerambycidae (Coleoptera) of to provide an important communication Canada and Alaska. This collaboration includes forum. Canadian Forest Service, USDA Forest Service, Agriculture and Agri-Foods Canada, University In its broader scientific roles, the developing College of Cape Breton, and the BSC. The book is project will involve a large number of specialists expected to be completed in 2007. with expertise on different taxa, from various geographic regions, and with diverse research Stay tuned as this project matures, and consider interests, embracing three general objectives on becoming involved. the nature of arthropods associated with Canadian forests: Database of Forest Arthropod Biodiversity Projects In late 2003, the BSC undertook a survey of on faunal surveys; assessment of natural and active forest arthropod biodiversity projects in anthropogenic impacts on species abundance Canada to update a database compiled in 1997. and genetic diversity; development of ecological The objective was to build a comprehensive and indicators; and conservation of forest arthropods. regularly updated on-line database to improve The database does not include projects on pest awareness of ongoing forest biodiversity management, population ecology, physiology, research/survey projects in Canada. This product behavior, and systematics. was expected to increase opportunities for