INFORMATION REPORT NO. 60c BIODIVERSITY AND YOUR EASTERN ONTARIO WOODLOT Contributions from Dave Bland, Peter Neave, Stewart Hamill, Olesia VanDyke and Cathy Nielsen Prepared for Eastern Ontario Model Forest P.O. Bag 2111, 10 Campus Drive Kemptville, Ontario K0G 1J0 www.eomf.on.ca ISBN 1-897262-12-4 February 2006 forests for seven generations TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................... iv 1. INTRODUCTION...............................................................................................................1 Definition of biodiversity.........................................................................................................2 Why is biodiversity important?................................................................................................2 Introduction to biodiversity conservation ................................................................................3 Levels of biodiversity ..............................................................................................................3 Composition, structure, and function.......................................................................................4 Concepts related to the species level .......................................................................................4 Concepts related to the community level.................................................................................5 Concepts related to the landscape level ...................................................................................8 Managing to conserve biodiversity........................................................................................11 Landowner’s Role..............................................................................................................11 Using indicators .................................................................................................................12 Management guidelines .........................................................................................................13 2. TREES ...............................................................................................................................15 Introduction............................................................................................................................15 Common tree species .............................................................................................................15 Forest Cover Types............................................................................................................16 Rare species ...........................................................................................................................21 Values ....................................................................................................................................22 Biodiversity conservation ......................................................................................................24 Major conservation concerns affecting biodiversity..........................................................24 3. UNDERSTORY PLANTS................................................................................................24 Introduction............................................................................................................................24 Some common understory species.........................................................................................24 Some rare/uncommon understory species .............................................................................29 Factors contributing to species richness ................................................................................30 Values ....................................................................................................................................31 Woodland community ecology..........................................................................................31 Biodiversity conservation ......................................................................................................35 Changes/loss of understory plant diversity........................................................................35 Major conservation concerns affecting biodiversity..........................................................35 4. REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS ....................................................................................37 Introduction............................................................................................................................37 Some common reptiles and amphibians of the EOMF ..........................................................37 Uncommon reptiles and amphibians in the EOMF................................................................39 Factors contributing to species richness ................................................................................39 Values ....................................................................................................................................40 Woodland community ecology..........................................................................................41 Biodiversity conservation ......................................................................................................42 Loss of herptile diversity ...................................................................................................42 Major conservation concerns affecting biodiversity..........................................................42 Biodiversity and Your Eastern Ontario Woodlot i 5. BIRDS................................................................................................................................ 44 Some common birds of the EOMF ....................................................................................... 44 Uncommon birds in the EOMF............................................................................................. 44 Factors contributing to species richness................................................................................ 48 Values.................................................................................................................................... 49 Woodland community ecology ......................................................................................... 49 Biodiversity conservation...................................................................................................... 52 Changes in avian diversity ................................................................................................ 52 Major conservation concerns affecting biodiversity ......................................................... 52 6. INSECTS AND OTHER ARTHROPODS .................................................................... 54 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 54 Common Arthropods of Eastern Ontario forests................................................................... 57 Value ..................................................................................................................................... 58 Insects and other arthropods aid in decomposition ........................................................... 58 Insects and other arthropods as herbivores ....................................................................... 58 Insects and Other Arthropods as Predators and Parasites ................................................. 60 Insects as Pollinators ........................................................................................................ 61 Biodiversity conservation...................................................................................................... 61 Species at risk.................................................................................................................... 61 Introduced species............................................................................................................. 62 7. FUNGI ............................................................................................................................... 62 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 62 Common fungi of Eastern Ontario forests ............................................................................ 64 Values.................................................................................................................................... 65 8. MAMMALS...................................................................................................................... 69 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 69 Some common mammals of the EOMF................................................................................ 69 Some rare / uncommon mammals in the EOMF................................................................... 71 Factors contributing to species richness................................................................................ 71 Values.................................................................................................................................... 72 Woodland community ecology ........................................................................................