Back
to top of pageThe Survey’s major book on “Insects of the Yukon” is scheduled to appear in October. A notice and order form (also distributed more widely) can be found on this web site.
The Scientific Committee met in Ottawa on 17-18 April 1997.
Scientific projects
The various scientific projects of the Survey were discussed, including the following progress.
1. Arthropods of the Yukon
Dr. L.M. Dosdall reported on the initiatives undertaken to raise funds for the Insects of the Yukon book. He had contacted entomological societies, various private businesses and towns in the Yukon, environmental groups, and government departments especially in and adjacent to the Yukon. Responses to these many contacts were limited but nonetheless useful funding had been received including from entomological societies and via the Wildlife Management Advisory Council (North Slope). Other possible donations were pending.
Dr. H.V. Danks reviewed the status of the publication, reporting that all manuscripts are essentially in final form after earlier and later rounds of review and editing. The book had also been reviewed as a whole by Dr. G.E. Ball on behalf of the Biological Survey Foundation. Bids for printing had been obtained and ranked. Given donations and page charges, and the seed funding provided by the Biological Survey Foundation, funding to produce the book is available. Much of the book is now in press with the successful bidder, and the rest will follow soon. Although considerable work such as proofreading and indexing remains, the book is on schedule to appear in 1997. Advertising materials and avenues are being developed.
2. Arthropods of Canadian grasslands
Dr. A.T. Finnamore reported that the grassland project is progressing well. Ten million specimens were collected from Grasslands National Park last year, comparing management regimes of exotic grasses and grazing. Results included a new Canadian record for a large cerambycid beetle which is an external feeder on grasses. Much of the material has now been sorted and requires identification. The third year of the project will focus on riparian habitats. A partnership with the Smithsonian Institution is being developed for a study in a bamboo forest in Peru. A publication on the grasslands similar to the Yukon book is envisaged eventually. Some related work, including projects in Ontario on oak savannahs, was also mentioned.
3. Arctic Invertebrate Biology
Dr. R.A. Ring reported that Arctic Insect News continues to be published and recognized internationally. It is one of the few vehicles available to keep the small body of arctic entomologists informed. In Canada, Dr. Olga Kukal and Dr. Ring continue to be the only Canadian entomologists active in the arctic. A new Danish station is being opened in Zackenberg, in northeastern Greenland, where some insect studies will be initiated this summer. Dr. M. Graham, CMN, reported that the CMN s activities with the Nunavut Research Institute include a summer natural history field school for high school students and teachers. Perhaps student activities could involve sampling insects if relevant information can be built into the curriculum.
Other scientific priorities
1. Arthropod fauna of soils
Dr. V.M. Behan-Pelletier reported that a U.K./U.S. collaborative project on biodiversity and ecosystem function hopes to identify ecosystem controls on soil biodiversity and grasslands. Systematists are working with ecologists to address this aspect of ecosystem function and biodiversity at the Konza tall grass prairie Long-term Ecological Research site in Kansas. The U.K. participants have already received substantial funding. Following the same protocols as for this proposal, which is now under review by the U.S. National Science Foundation, the Australians have substantially funded similar work. Therefore, a growing body of research in this area is being successfully funded in Britain, Australia and the Netherlands. Dr. Behan-Pelletier hopes to try something similar in Canada if the NSF-funded proposal is successful.
The theme of cross-linking soils, freshwater and marine sediments was the basis for a Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) workshop recently held in Holland. The workshop brought together 40 participants from 14 countries and included systematists and ecologists representing almost all of the groups that occur in soils, freshwater and marine sediments. A series of articles summarizing the findings, recommendations, key publications and databases from the workshop will be published in Ambio, and geared towards a general scientific audience.
Dr. Behan-Pelletier reported that she has been attempting to update the Survey s brief on soil arthropod research in Canada, but it proved difficult to say anything different from the original brief published 15 years ago. Therefore she has taken a different approach. Dr. Behan-Pelletier and a colleague will develop a database to record information on ecological research projects: the first module will be a soil ecology research network. This web-based initiative will develop a database recording information on ongoing research projects throughout the world. The proposed structure should be on the web soon. Dr. Behan-Pelletier reported that Dr. V. Marshall, who recently retired from the Pacific Forest Centre, is now at Royal Rhodes University and remains active. Dr. J. Addisson is working with him and together they comprise the largest soil zoology group in Canada.
2. Arthropods of old-growth forests
Biological Survey Newsletter. Since then further information has been received. Dr. S.A. Marshall noted that two columns of information were omitted from the original table he circulated at the last Committee meeting, namely disposition of residues (most are being discarded) and budget information (most funds are for studying carabid beetles)
Dr. Ring reported that the Carmanah old-growth forest project continues with a study of riparian habitat. The study has a canopy component studying the changes that take place from the body of water through the riparian habitat into the forest. No more collecting is being done as part of the original Carmanah canopy project; 1.8 million specimens were collected. Several other projects in British Columbia and Newfoundland were noted.
3. Invasions and reductions in the Canadian insect fauna
A draft proposal made earlier to look for taxa which were common prior to 1950 and have since disappeared was hindered by inadequate curation of many potentially useful groups in the regional collections. Dr. Marshall provided a detailed example of the kind of results such a project could achieve based on recent work on cerambycid beetles. Work on some other taxa is proceeding. The subcommittee agreed to focus on producing a product such as a workshop and/or publication, including both invasions and reductions, that will answer some of the questions, develop some principles, show the value of regional collections and other scientific information, and set the scene for future work.
4. Survey funding
Given overall deficiencies of funding, as emphasized by the CMN (though the Museum has been providing the core support needed to run the Survey), the Survey considered how additional resources both for expanding to other modules and for the terrestrial arthropod module itself might be secured, although the core public good work of the Survey is a federal infrastructure responsibility. A subcommittee agreed to look at the feasibility of ideas to generate additional revenue. The Committee concluded that it would be important to ensure that revenues would not be used to reduce funding from appropriations rather than going back to enhance the Survey s budget, and that the Survey does not expend all its energy on fundraising and then not be able to do the work it should. For example, the now defunct Biting Fly Institute failed precisely because so much effort was spent pursuing funds that the institute was unable to do the job it was set-up to do. It was also pointed out that the Museum employs only two people to run the Secretariat but that the Survey actually benefits from a great deal of high-powered expertise from people who donate their time. Moreover, in addition to the cooperating individuals, the Survey and the Museum are recognized for work coordinated by the Survey.
5. Survey publicity
Dr. J.D. Shorthouse asserted that few people in the scientific community across the country are aware of the Biological Survey. He proposed that a subcommittee prepare a display that could be used to advertise the endeavours of the Survey at EMAN and other conferences. Also a slide presentation could be put together so that anyone could present a talk about the role and purpose of the Survey. Making available a background document on the Survey that Committee members could use if giving talks related to the Survey would also be useful. Dr. Shorthouse also suggested inviting a reporter to a Committee meeting so that the Survey s views and issues could be publicized. Several specific items related to these themes were discussed, including publicizing the Insects of the Yukon book. Dr. Roberts-Pichette suggested that a document on the Survey s goals, objectives and deliverables could be posted onto the EMAN web site. Dr. Shorthouse would develop the ideas further with one or two volunteers.
6. Continuing interests
The Committee reviewed a large number of completed or inactive projects that have reached a staging point (and so are no longer fully active) but that remain of interest to the Survey. Among many other matters noted were a forthcoming chapter by Drs. Marshall and Finnamore on peatland arthropods, and other publications on relevant topics, a major proposal for a field school of ecology on Moresby Island, Queen Charlotte Islands, and recent losses in biosystematics expertise (and proposed responses by the Survey).
7. Other priorities
The Committee reviewed updated information about other priorities such as faunal analysis, support for the EMAN proposals concerning the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, infrastructure support for collections, endangered species, arthropods of damaged ecosystems, the availability of collecting-locality information, and the value of insects for wildlife management.
Liaison and exchange of information with other organizations
1. Canadian Museum of Nature
Dr. P. Colgan, Executive Vice-President, announced the appointment of a new President at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Ms. Joanne DiCosimo, who is currently the Director of the Manitoba Museum, will assume the position as of July 1. She has a strong background in education, is a supporter of science and has a strong track record in fundraising. The management audit at the Museum has been ongoing and has brought about changes in processes in the Museum. The major activity in public programming has been the preparation of the Arctic Odyssey exhibit.
The move to consolidate all of the CMN scientific and administrative staff and the collections has now been completed. The new building is officially named the Canadian Museum of Nature Natural Heritage Building / I Edifice du Patrimoine naturel du MCN and will be inaugurated on May 9. Appropriations for all federal museums continue to decrease and in the CMN s case there has not been a compensatory increase in non-appropriation revenues.
In the research area the three main research projects have been developing and proposals for individual research have now been adjudicated by the Research Advisory Committee and recommendations made to management and the Board of Trustees. Additionally, networking ties in the research projects with individuals and organizations outside the museum, e.g. research associates. The Board of Trustees is very interested in and supportive of the Museum s research. The database of systematists which has been in preparation for some time will soon be posted on the Museum s new web site (http://www.nature.ca).
In the collections area, the main activity for the staff has been the move of the collections including upgrading the standard of care of the collections and making those collections again accessible to users. In this fiscal year a collections management information system to make data on the collections available electronically will be developed. The other collections priority is the national collections consortium between the CMN and other major collection-holding institutions and Digital Equipment Corporation (for their technology expertise). The Museum continues to publish Global biodiversity, and participation continues with EMAN and its national meetings and research networks. This summer the Museum will again offer a summer school on biodiversity and systematics in conjunction with Queen s University.
In response to questions about voucher specimens, Dr. Colgan noted that details of the Museum s collection policy, how the collections are being developed, and information about access, are available. He explained that while the CMN may not necessarily be a home for all material, the national museum has a responsibility to ensure that nationally important material is being preserved in an appropriate location.
2. Biological Resources Program, ECORC, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. J.S. McKenzie, Program Manager, reported that the program name has been changed from Crop Protection Program to Biological Resources Program, reflecting the services provided to the agriculture community. Dr. J. Surprenant is now the Deputy Director of Research. Sadly, Dr. J.R. Barron, Agriculture s ichneumonid specialist, recently passed away suddenly. Plans to fill Dr. Barron s position are uncertain. Dr. H. Goulet will be taking over the braconid area, vacated by Dr. Sharkey. A major review of the entomology program is ongoing. Among the principles involved in this review are that the systematic study of groups important to agriculture will be a priority, and that systematic methods used should be those best able to solve and resolve the problems and issues within systematics (e.g. molecular methods). Collaboration internally and externally is a major focus within the department and there is a need to have client-driven products. Dr. McKenzie sees developing this area as his primary challenge and also to stop the erosion of systematic effort within Agriculture and Agri- Food Canada. However, priorities in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada are established through agricultural clients. Dr. McKenzie believes that those clients have to be helped to appreciate the value and importance of systematics. A large number of scientists in his program are comfortable talking to other scientists but not as comfortable talking to the agricultural community, for example. Some additional resources have to be focused on explaining what they do, not only among the agricultural community but among the systematic community and the senior managers at Agriculture.
Members of the Committee pointed out the critical need, despite current requirements for cooperative “client-driven” projects, to have taxonomists describing Canada s fauna, interpreting biodiversity patterns and continuing to develop their expertise in recognizing species and their classification. Dr. McKenzie expressed his agreement with these sentiments, but pointed out the reality that someone has to pay the bills. Government wants the economy driven by science and technology. Public good research must be driven by the agencies who state the need for particular information and thereby ensure support for the research. He emphasized that the problem is finding the resources for the work that the scientists they would like to do (cf. the Matching Investment Initiatives program).
The Committee supposed that public issues such as the United Nations position on the demise of animal-plant diversity, global warming, the work of EMAN, etc., would be one of the major driving factors for illustrating the importance of the Biological Resources Program. Dr. McKenzie pointed out that biodiversity is a public good research area where the Department of Environment has some responsibility, Agriculture and Agri-Food has some responsibility, and capability has to be matched with funding.
3. Entomological Society of Canada
Dr. Marshall, President of the Entomological Society, reported that the Society is in the process of implementing the recommendations from its strategic review. One of the most important recommendations was a change in publication procedures to save a substantial amount of money; a final decision on those matters will soon be made. Another significant change later this year will be a change of scientific editor for The Canadian Entomologist. The Society now has developed a good web page (http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/esc.hp/homepage.htm). The 1997 annual meeting will be held in Edmonton on October 4-8. Plans are in progress too for the joint meeting of the ESC, Societé d entomologie du Québec and Entomological Society of America in the year 2000. There is a possibility of including Mexico in that meeting as well.
4. Canadian Forest Service
Dr. J. Huber reported that two CFS entomologist positions in systematics in regional laboratories will be staffed this year by biologists at Ste.-Foy, Québec and at Edmonton, Alberta. The positions are intended to provide basic diagnostic work and routine identifications and to manage the collections. Recently a Forest Service position paper on biosystematics was produced, which urged the revitalization of biosystematics, the support of national collections and the preparation of computerized catalogues. He hoped that the paper will lead to further funding in support of biosystematics.
Dr. Huber also reported that he had been trying to get post-doctoral support from Forestry to work on a project on coneworms. Unfortunately, Forestry lacks funds for this, and other attempts are being made to secure funding. Although this is an important project to the forestry industry, funding is still difficult to get.
Dr. Ian Smith added that this example reflects a problem everywhere across the country. Scientists can come up with excellent ideas and approach clients, but in line departments that insist on a high level of bureaucracy when decisions are made, it is difficult to work with partners. No agency in Canada speaks for biodiversity and can take the biodiversity agenda to a client base and lobby effectively to get things done. Because everyone works through sectoral and often inappropriate channels there are many frustrations and few results. He would like to see some sort of consortium put together that can work together to reach the client base and not have to compete with totally different kinds of scientific activities in order to get funding. This idea was discussed further by the Committee.
5. Geological Survey of Canada
Ms. A. Telka, Terrain Sciences Division, noted that she is representing the Geological Survey in place of Dr. J.V. Matthews. Dr. Matthews has retired but remains active. The Geological Survey, which has undergone severe budget cuts over the last few years, recently initiated an industrial partners program in which funds for research are matched to industry funds. She noted that taking advantage of this program requires that scientists become good at such things as market analysis and media publicity, which of course increases the demand on scientists time. In addition, not all scientists are personally suited for these responsibilities. She hopes that the work of doing real science will not suffer because of such pressures.
Ms. Telka announced that a GSC internal publication on multidisciplinary research on the climate change program at the High Arctic Global Change Observatory of the Geological Survey (Hot Weather Creek, Fosheim Peninsula) is due out this year. Ms. Telka also reported on the Polar Continental Shelf Project which had been in danger of collapse. The program is still viable, although now working largely on a cost-recovery basis.
Dr. Bob Vance has joined the GSC as permanent staff member working on plant macrofossils. Ms. Telka continues her work on insect fossils and plant macrofossils. In the prairies, Dr. Vance continues work on the Palliser Triangle. A CD-ROM of this project is being produced, as is one on natural geological hazards (such as earthquakes and landslides) in Canada. These CD s are largely aimed at educating the public and making them aware of what the GSC does.
6. Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network, Environment Canada
Dr. P. Roberts-Pichette, formerly Senior Scientific Advisor, EMAN, currently Executive Secretary, Canada/MAB, reported that a paper discussing EMAN s contribution to the implementation of the Canadian Biodiversity Strategy, which was discussed at EMAN s national meeting, has been completed, and endorsed by the Biodiversity Convention Office and the Canadian Museum of Nature. Various activities are going on in an effort to raise this issue into a memorandum of understanding among the major federal resource departments in Canada. The EMAN Biodiversity Board had its first meeting at the end of October 1996. Dr. Roberts-Pichette reminded the Committee that the origins of that Board stemmed from a meeting of the Scientific Committee for the Biological Survey of Canada three years ago, leading to SAGE (the Sustainable Arid Grassland Ecosystems Project) and other activities. She noted, for example, that Dr. Finnamore is the chair of the EMAN Biodiversity Science Board, has met with the Smithsonian Institution, will be going to Peru to do arthropod monitoring, and is lecturing at the Front Royal International Course. The next national EMAN meeting will be held in the Saguenay area in January 1998 and there will be a focus on the boreal shield, including boreal shield biodiversity. There will also be an emphasis on what biosphere reserves can do. A Boreal Forest Workshop is to be held June 12-14, at the University of Laval, Ste.-Foy and will deal with biodiversity issues in the boreal forest.
The executive summary for the Mixed-Wood Plains species assessment is currently being printed. Plans are under way to implement species assessments for each ecozone systematically. The next species assessment will be the Montane Cordillera.
Dr. Roberts-Pichette introduced documents of interest, such as the ecological framework map for North America (done in conjunction with the Council for Environmental Cooperation of NAFTA and a useful tool for ecological monitoring, research and assessment as well as a tool for integration), the 1996 Directory of EMAN sites, and EMAN s 1996 goals, objectives and deliverables. Such documents are also available on EMAN s web site [http://www.cciw.ca/eman/intro.html]. Several other issues were discussed, related to Geographic Information Systems and mapping, databases, the Biodiversity Convention Office and Canadian biodiversity and IUCN - the World Conservation Union.
7. Canadian Society of Zoologists - Parasitology
Dr. D. Marcogliese, Parasitology Section, Canadian Society of Zoologists, reported that the Parasitology Module continues to produce products and maintain momentum. The perch project (led by Dr. David Cone) continues and hopefully a report will be written this year. The parasitology directory has now been posted on the Parasitology Section Web site (http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/parasites/home.html) and is cross referenced at the EMAN site. The parasitology survey of taxonomic expertise or gap analysis has been completed and will be presented to the Canadian Society of Zoologists in May. It includes a list of taxonomic expertise in Canada and a survey of those interested in participating in national projects and will be posted on the parasitology web site after the CSZ meeting. Dr. Marcogliese summarized some of the conclusions. There are few broad-based experts in Canada and most of them are retired or close to retiring. The remaining expertise is concentrated on smaller groups of taxa. There is very little training in parasite systematics in Canada, and the only training is individual on-the-job training with experts. This situation is a serious concern because those expert generalist parasitologists are retiring. There are gaps of expertise in all groups. There is high interest in participation in large-scale national projects although there are few ideas for projects or people willing to actually lead the projects.
A national stickleback parasitology project has been initiated. Response so far is limited but encouraging and includes non-parasitologists and non-professionals. Dr. Marcogliese reviewed several other related initiatives and news items, and circulated articles of interest.
Other items
1. Regional developments
Members of the Committee summarized relevant information from different regions of the country. For example, in British Columbia the Forest Renewal British Columbia (FRBC) inventory program has been suspended, and the status of other grants is also currently uncertain. Work continues in old-growth forests and elsewhere in various locations in British Columbia. The Royal British Columbia Museum and the Provincial Parks branch are publishing a book on the fauna and flora of the Brooks Peninsula, which appears to be a glacial refugium. The Museum, through other government agencies, has proposed a voucher collection protocol, such that any government inventory or research that results in voucher specimens will be required to budget funding to deposit those collections in museums.
Several initiatives about work in grasslands and on data management continue in the prairies. Broad surveys of certain pest or potential pest species are planned. A letter was sent on behalf of the Survey to support the preservation of the Criddle homestead in Manitoba. Subsequently information was received that the sale of the site had been stopped, and apparently the various letters of support were significant in helping to persuade decision makers not to sell the site.
In Ontario, the new chair of the Department of Environmental Biology at the University of Guelph is the entomologist Dr. Mark Sears. Current studies at the University of Guelph, the Royal Ontario Museum, Laurentian University and elsewhere were outlined. In the absence of the Committee s regional representative from Quebec, little information was reported from the province.
In Newfoundland, continuing efforts to establish a Newfoundland insectarium, hindrances to the establishment of national parks or the preservation of natural habitats of great interest, and the possibility of ensuring the future of the various Newfoundland collections through collaborative effort were discussed.
The limited entomological activities in the Canadian arctic were reviewed, and information provided about the International Tundra Experiment. Recent developments, information documents and scheduled symposia and conferences were also noted.
2. Other matters
The Survey also considered the Biological Survey Foundation (the Annual General Meeting of Foundation members took place), the Survey s annual report to the Canadian Museum of Nature, operations of the Survey Secretariat, Survey Internet connections, and liaisons with other organizations and agencies.