Summary of the Meeting of the Scientific Committee

1. Grasslands
Dr. Kevin Floate provided background about the reorganization at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Agricultural Policy Framework (APF) and the Biodiversity theme, and possible avenues for funding grasslands work within these frameworks. The Survey agreed to encourage contacts with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada about such matters. Dr. Wheeler thought that the funding issue seems to be the most serious obstacle to the grasslands project. He would like to see new interest in doing grassland work. Dr. Danks pointed out that even if the project could not obtain large funding, it could proceed in the same way as the Yukon book and other Survey projects, whereby individuals apply for their own funding for subprojects.

Dr. Wheeler reported that the symposium on “Arthropods of grasslands: ecology and interactions” was held at the annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Canada. The symposium was attended by up to 50 people and the good talks helped to increase the profile of the project. Letters of invitation to potential authors for the first grasslands volume (with a title similar to that of the symposium) would soon be sent out. More potential authors would also be contacted to confirm their availability and interest.

Dr. Roughley explained that the planned grasslands field trip to the tall grass prairie reserve in July 2002 had been rained out. A trip might be feasible to the same area another year, but it might be better to cover new territory such as the Peace River or palouse grasslands in southern British Columbia. Other details would be discussed further at a meeting of the Grasslands subcommittee after the current meeting.

2. Family keys
A project to produce keys for all the insect families of British Columbia, which had earlier been stopped when funding was withdrawn, has now received another year’s funding from FII (Forestry Innovation Investment Program). Apterygote and exopterygote keys should be finished soon, allowing production of the Canadian key by adding to the provincial data.

3. Arctic invertebrate biology
Dr. Ring drew the Committee’s attention to the article he had written for the Arctic Corner of the Survey newsletter (see Newletter 21(2): 64–66). This had coincided with a letter-writing campaign by the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies. Both of these activities addressed the imminent collapse of Canadian polar science. Despite that view, Dr. Ring noted that some arctic-related work is going on. At the January 2003 annual meeting for the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology there will be a CSZ symposium on biology in the Canadian arctic [see Arctic Corner]. Dr. Ring circulated a book on Natural History of the Western Arctic now published, which includes a chapter on insects of the western Arctic. Dr. Ring noted that the Canadian Navy is sending two ships to the Arctic to establish sovereignty. He pointed out that the government is missing an opportunity to establish sovereignty – at the same time as supporting research in the Arctic – through researchers in the field.

4. Insects of Keewatin and Mackenzie
Dr. Currie reported that the third installment of this project took the form of a canoe trip along 300 km of the Thelon River by five cooperators. This area is an arctic oasis containing trees and other organisms well north of their typical range. A preliminary report of the Thelon River trip was published in the Survey newsletter. An expedition next year is likely to be farther east. Dr. Currie welcomed participants for future expeditions (see Project Update).

5. Seasonal adaptations
Dr. Danks reported that this project continues with the recent publication of papers on the range of insect dormancy responses and on the modification of adverse conditions by insects. A paper on insect photoperiodism and rhythmicity (from a 2002 International Japanese-Czech meeting) is in press. He had also accepted an invitation to present a paper (the only one on insects, considering the seasonal adaptations of arctic insects) at the symposium on Biology of the Arctic to be held in Toronto in January at the meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology.

Other scientific priorities

1. Invasions and reductions
The Committee reviewed a number of relevant projects including information about alien Hemiptera, and introduced crayfish, gall wasps, and other organisms. Several members of the Committee are cooperating to evaluate how to use coccinellids as a model to investigate invasive species. Data from the CNC have been received and protocols to get all the specimen data in a similar format are being discussed. Broader issues will be addressed as part of the future planning for this project. The theme of the Entomological Society of Ontario meeting in October 2002 is invasive species and insect biodiversity.

2. Survey web site
Dr. Danks reported that major updates include a section on ‘Specific sources of funding’ added to the ‘Biodiversity Funding’ brief, the Spring and Fall BSC newsletters including additional photographs for the article on the Thelon River expedition, and the 2002 Grasslands newsletter. A number of minor corrections and edits were also made. The site meter, started about two years ago, has logged about 8400 hits. The online database of workers has been upgraded and the Survey has been soliciting updates. Despite some difficulties caused by an overall redesign (unknown to the Survey) that took place soon after an extensive mail-out to solicit entries, numerous updates have been received.

Members of the Committee commented that the website is an amazing resource, for example for reference to briefs and for educational use. The Insect Dormancy book, which is now out of print, can be downloaded. Colleagues have congratulated the Survey on its excellent and generous site.

3. Arthropods and fire
Current and earlier studies of arthropods and fire, for example in Manitoba and British Columbia, were described. Several themes or hypotheses that could be used to focus a symposium or synthetic document were noted. Dr. Roughley agreed to lead such an initiative when he finishes his sabbatical next year.

4. Voucher specimens
Information and examples were provided about the deposition policies of museums, good and bad voucher policies (including historical examples) and journal policies about voucher statements in published papers.

A complete draft of the Survey brief on voucher specimens had now been prepared by Dr. Wheeler, and would soon be available for final review by the Committee. The Committee also noted the absence of voucher requirements at any stage in the process of consultant work. There is no requirement for vouchers, no requirement for independent confirmation of identifications, and no requirement to verify consultant qualifications. Unfortunately too, many studies are not generated by the desire to gain knowledge but by some other requirement, which is not conducive to good science.

5. Monitoring of continuing priorities
Information on earlier or currently less active Survey projects was reviewed, including arthropod ectoparasites of vertebrates, arthropods of the Yukon, arthropods of the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii) (including an international symposium on introduced species), arthropods of special habitats, climatic change, and agroecosystems.

Under arthropod ectoparasites, it was noted that considerable funds are being directed to monitoring of the West Nile Virus and its potential mosquito vectors in Ontario, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Manitoba and elsewhere. A cause for concern is that the Ontario government is now considering spraying, which is likely to be ineffectual because these mosquitoes are container-breeding. The organism responsible for Lyme disease, transmitted by ticks, has been found in Nova Scotia.

Under arthropods of the Yukon, mention was made of an unusual web site at http://www.ec.gc.ca/Bisy, comprising a compilation of the aquatic insects collected in the Yukon as a result of the request by Environment Canada to companies for environmental assessment and collections for baseline evaluation and impact assessment (but excluding data from books, museums or journals). Most of the identifications were made by a consultant. The site has limited context and the species lists appear to be very incomplete.

Under agroecosystems, mention was made of a Quebec guide to cranberry pests (now available in English) and a website on the bees of Maritime Canada [http://res2.agr.ca/kentville/pubs/bees-abeilles_e.htm]. Talks at the Entomological Society of Canada annual meeting showed clearly the importance of biodiversity and taxonomy in identifying potential biocontrol agents for pest species.

6. Other priorities
The Committee also discussed actions and information about old-growth forests, endangered species, damaged ecosystems, faunal analysis, Survey publicity and other subjects.

Liaison and exchange of information

1. Canadian Museum of Nature
Dr. Mark Graham, Director, Research Services, reported on activities from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Canada is a member of GBIF [www.gbif.org]. The organization has a staff of 14 and there are 21 member countries. It is working collaboratively with other international entities. The aim is to co-ordinate information on biodiversity so that member countries can share and access it in a format that everyone can use. The budget for staff and operations is $3 million but this is not enough money to assist all countries in establishing an information node or electronic portal to distribute a country’s biodiversity information. One work program aims to digitize information on the natural history specimens on earth. Another program aims for a complete list of all species names. GBIF will have programs to grant seed money. Canada hopes to be in a position to apply for some of that money. In response to questions, Dr. Graham stated that GBIF will primarily be funding research on how to make information available, i.e informatics. It is proposing to have funds available to obtain content but will only fund up to 20% of a total project up to $50,000 (U.S.).

The Museum is starting a new 5-year planning focus targeted to better address issues of relevance to Canadians. A cross-Canada survey was undertaken by an outside company. The main natural history topic that people are concerned about is environmental change and what impacts the environment, which therefore will be a key issue for the CMN for the next 5 years. Dr. Graham reported that the CMN is helping to organize a consortium of natural history museums. Members of the Committee expressed their hope for the success of the natural history consortium and encouraged the Museum to continue to take the lead on this initiative. However they also pointed out that GBIF parallels a similar pattern over previous years with NBII, CANBII, CBIN, BCIN and BKIN where substantial funds were used to hold meetings and build frameworks but no money ever filtered down to doing real science on specimens where the money is really needed. Therefore, scientists not directly involved in these projects are starting to view them with cynicism and ultimately these initiatives will lose the support that they need from grass-roots scientists. It was also pointed out that although known data can be entered there may well be hundreds of undescribed or poorly known species too. It will take a lot of time and money to get the data on these other species to a stage where they can be put into informatics schemes, which otherwise will always be seriously incomplete resources. Moreover, people must get credit for the work of providing information for these databases. However, organizations such as the Integrated Taxonomic Information System do not give such acknowledgements on their sites.

2. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Gary Gibson reminded the Committee that the research branch of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, including the group formerly known as ECORC, is undergoing a reorganization. All research personnel now work under one of the national programs. Within each program there are themes and studies. All the systematists in Ottawa (as well as some professionals from elsewhere) have been assigned to the Biodiversity theme within the program of Environmental Health.
A systematic entomology position is currently being staffed at the Canadian National Collection, the first new one in 12 years. Three positions have been approved but funding is available for only one. Dr. Gibson explained that visiting scientists, students, etc. working unattended after hours at the Centre must now receive security clearance and therefore at least 2 weeks notice is required to complete the paperwork.

All documents including scientific ones on federal government websites must now be available in both official languages, a requirement that has had repercussions on projects such as the in-progress Ticks of Canada publication (intended for publication on the web). Even information that is available must be translated, resulting in delays as well as difficulties because of the technical nature of the material. Members of the Committee noted other consequences of the requirement for French and English versions. For example, at Environment Canada many primary publications have been removed from the web because they were not available in both languages. Scientists are also forbidden from even listing the titles of their publications unless they are available in both languages.

3. Entomological Society of Canada
Dr. Gibson reported on behalf of Society President Dr. Sandy Smith about the recent annual general meeting held in Winnipeg. He also outlined the changes that have been made at the Canadian Entomologist. Effective 2003, the journal will be available online, to members only, through NRC Press. Members will first have the option of receiving it electronically or in hard copy or both for the usual membership fee. In subsequent years members will have to pay a surcharge to receive the journal in both formats. Institutions will not receive the electronic format until 2004. Effective immediately there is a new editorial structure for the journal. Formerly there was an Editor and associate editors. The editor will continue to receive papers initially but will then forward papers to the appropriate division editor. There will now be four divisions, each with its own editor who is responsible for the acceptance of papers in his/her division. Hence each division is headed by a specialist in the area. It is hoped that this new structure will reduce the load on the volunteer editor. The Committee contributed comments about the format of the journal. Dr. Gibson reported that foreign but not Canadian membership continues to decline.

4. Canadian Forest Service
Dr. John Huber was representing the Canadian Forest Service because most staff had been called to a meeting to discuss new priorities. The CFS continues to reorganize and examine its directions. A science branch meeting was called to discuss the alignment of the branch’s roles, responsibilities and reporting relationships to reflect the need for a stronger role in planning and communication of the science and technology program while recognizing the possibility of new delivery models for forest science. Dr. Huber explained that budgets have been put on hold and will be reallocated for the remainder of the fiscal year. Ideas being considered are how national priorities relate to the biodiversity theme and how to identify scientific work that will address critical national needs and offer opportunities for products that result in high impact and visibility. Dr. Huber outlined part of the new vision under discussion. Later, he reported on the Science Branch meeting. At Forestry there will be 40% turnover of scientific staff over the next 5 years. The Director General wants the Science Branch to show increased relevance to clients as well as to balance regional needs with national objectives. There are plans to have a stronger integration of science and policy (especially dealing with the key issues of climate change, biodiversity, pesticides, and certain pest groups), a call for stronger top-down management, and a focus on important issues. The number of listed projects will be reduced. Thematic network teams would include one on forestry stewardship, addressing such issues as invasive species and biodiversity. These proposals will lead to further exercises and discussions.

5. Environment Canada
A new Water Quality Directorate at Environment Canada combines the various aspects of water quality such as contaminants and pathogens that currently are under different directorates. The Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network is now part of a new directorate established within Environment Canada, the Knowledge Integration Directorate, which includes EMAN, the Canadian Information System for the Environment (CISE ), Outreach Programs, Information Technology, and Human Resources and Innovation Services.

Dr. Danks had been in communication with Ms. Lisa Twolan, Scientific Project Officer for the General Status of Species program at the Canadian Wildlife Service. The General Status Working Group is gearing up to produce the second reporting document on wild species in Canada, entitled “Wild Species 2005”. The proposed plan is to include national ranks for a range of taxonomic groups including butterflies, dragonflies/damselflies and tiger beetles.

6. Parasitology module, Canadian Society of Zoologists
Dr. Marcogliese reported that work continues on the protocols for EMAN. The stickleback project also continues, including a workshop at the International Congress of Parasitology held August 2002 in Vancouver. Most of the presentations from the Biodiversity symposium at the International Congress will be published in a special issue of the Journal of Parasitology in 2003.

Dr. Marcogliese circulated a number of articles on issues such as online taxonomy, the All Species Foundation and challenges for taxonomy as well as relevant items from the President’s symposium of the Helminthological Society of Washington on parasitology and its future.

7. Parks Canada
Dr. Danks reminded the Committee that Mr. Alvo, Parks Canada, attended the April meeting. Dr. Danks had sent him extensive information about the Survey. Its receipt had been acknowledged. No Parks representative was able to come to this meeting.

Prompted by the recent announcement of 10 new national parks and 5 new national marine conservation areas over the next 5 years, the Committee noted that despite the mandate of ecological integrity and recognition of the need to study the parks and gather baseline data, there is no additional funding. Therefore, the Committee drafted a letter (subsequently refined and sent) to relevant decision makers, pointing out the need for adequate resources and for the use of existing outside expertise for inventory and monitoring of Parks biota. In due course, the letter would be sent to professional societies urging them to send similar letters to decision makers. It was noted too that although it is unlikely that significant financial support for arthropod studies will come from Parks, the issue of access to some national parks and concern about differences in the ability to secure permits is also important.

8. Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
Dr. Shorthouse reported that the NSERC reallocation process has been completed. He reminded the Committee of its input in this area. Unfortunately, the funding through the Grant Selection Committee handling systematics and other topics was cut by $1 million; other life sciences committees likewise had funding reduced, to the benefit of chemistry, physics, computers and informatics. It was noted that some of the problems with the relevant GSC stem from its diversity and the divergence between historical ecology, evolution and systematics.

Other items

1. Reports on regional development of potential interest
Information of interest to the Survey from various parts of the country was outlined, including the following subjects.

In British Columbia, an attractive field handbook on the dragonflies of British Columbia and the Yukon has been published. The very successful pest management program at Simon Fraser University is still in limbo. The term of the Director has finished and no new students are being registered at least until January. Work in the south Okanagan valley has led to the conclusion that 50% of the valley needs to be protected as habitat to conserve a range of organisms. Dr. Wayne Maddison, a student of spiders, has been appointed at the University of British Columbia effective January 1.

In the prairies, the 50th annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Alberta (October 24–26) included a keynote address by Dr. George Ball summarizing 50 years of entomology in Alberta. Some outbreaks of carabid and scarabaeid beetles were reported this year in Alberta. Activities in various prairie laboratories were reviewed.

In Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum is continuing with its major upgrade, “Rennaissance ROM”. Ground will be broken in May 2003 for the first phase. Projects and personnel changes across Ontario were reviewed. Dr. Glenn Wiggins has completed a popular book on Trichoptera which will be a joint University of Toronto/NRC Press publication.

In Quebec, the pest diagnostic clinic was very busy this past summer: a record number of samples was received including some new records for North America and other interesting material. The joint meeting of the Conférence Internationale Francophone d’Entomologie and the Societé d’Entomologie du Québec was held in July. Dr. Paul Bouchard died recently. His collection will be donated to the province. Dr. Chris Buddle, a student of spiders, has joined the Department of Natural Resources, Macdonald Campus of McGill University. At the Lyman Museum there was major curatorial effort in the Orthopteroid collection, and work to secure the Henry Lyman Library. The Université de Montréal is currently recruiting for a position in insect systematics and conservation. This position is a replacement for Dr. Peter Harper. A new network, le Reseau Québecois de la Biodiversité, has been formed. Opposition to cosmetic pesticide use continues to grow in Quebec, especially in the Montreal area. There have even been campaigns to encourage the acceptance of weeds. Other projects and changes in personnel were reviewed.

In the Maritimes and Newfoundland, Mr. Chris Majka at the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History is making an effort to get many Coleoptera identified and build a reference collection, and has produced some interesting web pages. A workshop organized by the Biodiversity Convention Office and the Federal-Provincial Territorial Working Group took place in July. The workshop brought university researchers in biodiversity and others from Atlantic Canada together to draft an outline of a research agenda for biodiversity. The intention was to find areas of collaboration, encourage interdisciplinary work, increase publicity, and influence funding. A faculty position in biodiversity is being advertised at the University College of Cape Breton. Other activities across the Maritimes were reviewed.

For the arctic, the fact that the Polar Continental Shelf Project’s budget was cut by 20% last year (so that some arctic researchers did not receive any logistic support) had led to an active letter-writing campaign to members of parliament and other agencies. The consequences of that campaign would be discussed at the annual general meeting of the Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies in October. The Canadian Polar Commission has compiled a publication on indicators of Canadian polar knowledge using two years’ data. The 14 indicators include such things as studies of polar subjects supported by granting agencies, university courses in polar-related subjects, newspaper articles relevant to Canadian polar matters, and fiction publications by northern Canadian authors. The European Union Framework Program 6 is meeting in Brussels in November. This program has $27 billion Canadian going into research and development. There is much competition for partnerships with countries outside Europe.

2. Other matters
The Committee also considered information about other relevant subjects, including international liaison, membership of the Scientific Committee, operations of the Biological Survey Secretariat, and additional information about publications and conferences.

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Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)

Volume 22 No. 1, Spring 2003

Summary of the Meeting of the Scientific Committee for the Biological Survey of Canada, October 2002