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Scientific
projects: summary
A relatively small number of specific scientific projects of the Survey are carefully
chosen because of their scientific importance in understanding the fauna, as well as their
current feasibility. For more current project updates please refer to the Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods).
Active projects of the Biological Survey of Canada include:
Arthropods of Canadian grasslands
The arthropods of Canadian grasslands are surprisingly inadequately known.
This hinders the understanding of the fauna of the centre of the continent
in general, and in particular an understanding of the origin and setting
of the faunas of present day agricultural lands. Among other elements, the
project aims to identify sites that represent "undisturbed"
grassland habitats, and characterize their faunas (in selected groups) for
comparison with the fauna of modified range and crop habitats. See also
the Grasslands
project page on this website
BioBlitzes
The
annual BSC BioBlitz location is chosen to help increase the
scientific knowledge of the arthropods of an area. Curation Blitzes are also held to encourage members of the entomological community to gather at an under-curated collection and assess and identify the material See the BioBlitz page for more information and reports from past BioBlitzes.
Canadian
Journal of Arthropod Identification
The Biological Survey of Canada has launched a
new e-journal devoted to the publication of works that contribute
significantly to the recognition and documentation of Canada's arthropod
fauna. The Canadian
Journal of Arthropod Identification is a modular, regional, and
fully reviewed e-journal of the Biological Survey of Canada. It is a significant source of expert-authored taxonomic reviews and associated digital identification tools. It is a cost-effective and universally available tool for rapid arthropod identification, meeting user demand while providing authors with a unique opportunity to contribute to a growing body of digital identification tools by sharing their regional taxonomic expertise. We encourage the submission of digital keys and associated products that facilitate the identification of arthropod groups that include Canadian species. The Canadian
Journal of Arthropod Identification is fully reviewed to ensure uniformly high standards.
Forest
arthropods
Forest
habitats, especially northern ones, dominate life zones in the country, and
knowing their associated fauna is basic to understanding the arthropod fauna
of Canada. The primary goal of the Forest Arthropod Project is to coordinate
a wide range of research on the diversity, ecology and impacts of the
arthropods of Canadian forests. Aspects already in place include a database
of projects, a newsletter, and planned field trips and symposia. See also the Forest
arthropods project page on this website.
Insects
of the Arctic
A project on insects
of the arctic has been developed in four main phases:
1. A plan for a large collaborative northern insect survey that will measure changes in biodiversity is being developed now. The one-page vision statement that describes the project is available in pdf format here.
2. An active project on insects of the northern mainland, 1998-present.
For reports on this project see the following (pdf):
From
the canoe to the microscope: New faunal information on mayflies and
stoneflies from Arctic Canada (2007)
Update
on Some Insect Biodiversity Activities in the Arctic during 2006
A
preliminary assessment of Subarctic black fly diversity (Diptera:
Simuliidae) in Norman Wells and environs, Northwest Territories (2006)
Mayflies
and Muscids: Update on the Insects of the Arctic project (2005)
Update
on the "Insects of the Arctic" project: field collecting in 2003
and 2004
Update
on the survey of aquatic insects from Keewatin and Mackenzie project: The
predaceous water beetles (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Dytiscidae and Gyrinidae) (2003)
Project
Update: Insects of Keewatin and Mackenzie (2003)
Insect
biodiversity in the Thelon Wildlife Sanctuary (2002)
Insects
of Keewatin and Mackenzie (2000)
Update
on a survey of the black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Northwest
Territories and Nunavut Project (2000)
3. An attempt to increase work and profile for arctic invertebrate
biology, 1988-2003. (See also Arctic Insect News on this web site.)
4. The production of an arctic review, 1979-1981.
Terrestrial
arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador
The
fauna of Newfoundland is of particular interest in a Canadian context as a
boreal fauna that includes mainly postglacial immigration from the mainland.
A complete treatment of the arthropod fauna is being developed from new collecting and
study of existing collections and literature. See also the Terrestrial
arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador project page on this website.
General
interests of the Survey include:
Several
other projects, for example on aquatic insects of freshwater wetlands, arthropods of
Canadian peatlands, arthropods of springs, seasonal adaptations and insects of the Yukon have evolved to staging points that allow
the Survey to be less actively involved. The results of these projects, as well as work
from continuing projects, are summarized in various scientific
publications by the Survey. |
