Biodiversity of the Prince Rupert Forest Region G. Radcliffe, B. Bancroft, G. Porter, and C. Cadrin SEQ 5334 JOB BIODIV-001-019 PAGE-0009 FRONT MATTER REVISED 20JUN00 AT 07:58 BY BC DEPTH: 60 PICAS WIDTH 42.09 PICAS COLOR LEVEL 1 12 RECOMMENDATIONS .............................................................. 38 12.1 Inventory and Research Needs ................................................. 38 12.2 Specific Needs ................................................................ 38 APPENDIX 1 Ecoregion/subzone correlations .............................................. 40 APPENDIX 2 Ecological reserves ......................................................... 41 i Representation of Ecological Reserve cells within the Prince Rupert Forest Region ....... 42 ii Ecological Reserve cells: vegetation communities ..................................... 44 APPENDIX 3 Rare plants ................................................................ 47 i Rare plants of the Prince Rupert Forest Region (Conservation Data Centre listing) ....... 48 ii Rare, endangered, and threatened native vascular plant species and their habitats ....... 51 iii References and herbaria locations .................................................. 63 APPENDIX 4 Terrestrial vertebrates ....................................................... 66 i Full species list (scientific and common names and standard codes) .................... 67 ii References for vertebrate information ................................................ 79 APPENDIX 5 Vertebrate distribution by subzone/variant ..................................... 86 i Summary of vertebrate species recorded by subzone/variant ........................... 87 ii Reptiles and amphibians by subzone/variant ......................................... 87 iii Birds by subzone/variant ........................................................... 88 iv Mammals by subzone/variant ...................................................... 95 v Species considered accidental in region ............................................. 97 APPENDIX 6 Habitat affinities of red-, blue-, and yellow-listed species ........................ 98 APPENDIX 7 Management applications ................................................... 102 i Possible Management Indicator Species (MIS), by category and zone .................. 103 ii Species not considered in MIS assessments ......................................... 106 iii Habitat tables for grouping vertebrates .............................................. 108 iv Examples of species management assemblages derived from habitat tables and expert opinion .................................................................... 112 APPENDIX 8 People contacted and workshop participants .................................. 113 REFERENCES .......................................................................... 115 ix SEQ 5372 JOB BIODIV-007-009 PAGE-0038 CHAPS 10 & 11 REVISED 20JUN00 AT 07:59 BY BC DEPTH: 60 PICAS WIDTH 42.09 PICAS COLOR LEVEL 1 12 RECOMMENDATIONS 12.1 Inventory and Research Needs Analysis of biodiversity over such a large area is highly complex. This study barely scratches the surface of ecosystem and vertebrate species diversity. It is apparent that information on invertebrate and microbial populations, and on fungi and lichens, is almost non-existent. Even for vertebrates, large gaps exist in the knowledge base. Basic distributional information is often incomplete, particularly for groups such as bats, shrews, and amphibians. Our current knowledge and understanding of genetic diversity is still in its infancy. Knowledge of even fairly basic systems for many of the smaller mammals (including shrews) and some birds is also lacking. For example, is the Sitka mouse really a distinct species of Peromyscus? How distinct is the collared pika from the common pika and what are their ranges? Numerous unanswered questions remain. No attempt was made in this study to address these issues, yet they are an integral part of the overall biodiversity of the region. The knowledge deficiency is a general rather than local phenomenon, but is greater in the Prince Rupert Forest Region than in some other parts of the country or the province because of the relative remoteness of the region. We need further surveys to fill in some of the information gaps, with collection of inadequately sampled taxa as a first priority. As well, our understanding of vegetation communities and diversity is incomplete. Although a wealth of information has been amassed through the BEC system, interpreting the information in terms of biodiversity is fraught with difficulties. A matrix combining site association information with seral stage and wildlife habitat classifications for azonal sites may afford the best avenue for examining overall ecosystem diversity. Much of the necessary information exists but is not available in any readily accessible format. Improved access to existing information through upgraded computerized data management is also essential, as otherwise there is no practical way to compile species inventories of existing data for a particular geographical region. Such systems should incorporate a digitized geographical map base of ecological and administrative units. Currently some major collections are not computerized or catalogued, and only the Forest Insect and Disease Survey database permits accessing of data by biogeoclimatic zone or drainage basin. There is a significant backlog of data provincially and nationally among numerous institutions. For greatest utility, a national database like the Forest Insect and Disease Survey system should be the goal. There is also a need for higher-quality data. Collection records should include comprehensive ecologi- cal information. Efforts to identify species at risk should be continued. Given adequate inventory data, biodiversity will need to be studied in terms of ecosystem function. Pest and fire management, timber harvesting practices, and tree species selection have major biodiversity implications that may not be understood because of the lack of basic species inventory data and the correspondingly weak level of understanding of ecosystem relationships and processes. Managing for biodiversity will require comparative studies of ecosystem processes in ecosystems under different man- agement regimes, including one of no management. 12.2 Specific Needs 1. For vegetation communities, and for examining overall diversity, we need to: • develop a matrix of site associations with seral stages and azonal wildlife habitat classification types. 2. For all elements, we need to: • collect taxa that were inadequately sampled in the past to improve the quality of knowledge; 38 SEQ 5373 JOB BIODIV-007-009 PAGE-0039 CHAPS 10 & 11 REVISED 20JUN00 AT 07:59 BY BC DEPTH: 60 PICAS WIDTH 42.09 PICAS COLOR LEVEL 1 • computerize databases for existing collections, to improve access to knowledge, and habitat information. This should be compatible with systems being used by the Conservation Data Centre. 3. For fungi and invertebrate groups, we need particular study on: • lichens, some important as ungulate forage, for which north coastal (hypermaritime) British Columbia may harbour a wealth of taxa new to science; • soil invertebrates, important as decomposers, on which few or no Canadian taxonomists are working; aquatic invertebrates (prey for fish and wildlife); • wood-rot fungi; • mycorrhizal fungi (a functional, not taxonomic, group); • soil microbes, for which information is either scarce or totally nonexistent for the Prince Rupert Forest Region. 4. For vertebrates, we need: • wildlife surveys, particularly of the MH, ESSF, SWB, and BWBS; • surveys of primary cavity nesters in different forest types/different elevations; • surveys specifically for poorly known groups, such as shrews, bats, and amphibians (these surveys could be added to other studies/mapping exercises, such as ungulate habitat or BEC mapping projects); • research on specific habitat requirements and basic ecology for all the poorly known species, in particular: - species on provincial red and blue lists - species provisionally accepted at first cut as MIS (e.g., Brown Creeper, Northern Goshawk, Boreal Owl, Clark's Nutcracker, cavity nesters) - forest-dwelling species that appear to occur in the province only within this region (e.g., American Tree Sparrow, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Common Redpoll) - Rough-skinned newt, northwestern salamander, tailed frog • research into specific habitat components, and their value to wildlife, including coarse woody debris (research into the species using CWD, the characters of quality and quantity of CWD, and the associated uses of CWD [e.g., by amphibians and small mammals in different forested ecosystems] and successional stages following burns and habitat values of burned versus unburned sites; • research on wildlife use of other structural components of different ecosystems (herb layer, shrub layer, etc.); • research comparing overall vertebrate diversity and productivity in different forested habitats, for example, old-growth riparian versus old-growth upslope forest; • literature reviews of potential MIS, as a basis for further studies. 39 SEQ 5379 JOB BIODIV-010-006 PAGE-0040 APPEND 1 REVISED 20JUN00 AT 07:59 BY BC DEPTH: 60 PICAS WIDTH 42.09 PICAS COLOR LEVEL 1 APPENDIX 1. Ecoregion/subzone correlations Biogeoclimatic subzones by ecoregion Ecoregion Ecosection BEC subzone Northern Coastal mountains Boundary Ranges (BOR) AT, BWBSdk1, CWHwm, ESSFwv, ICHvc, ICHwc, MH (undiff), SBS