Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)

News and Notes

The Scientific Committee met in Ottawa on April 22-23, 2004, including new members Dr. Owen Olfert and Dr. Jon Sweeney.

The 2004 grasslands focus trip is at Aweme, MB June 4–6. The event is a "bioblitz", including scientists from various disciplines.

2. Terrestrial Arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador
The project continues to be active mainly due to the efforts of Dr. David Larson. Work on keys continues mainly for the Coleoptera although other orders have been done. Work is in process to make colour photographs of all taxa. A database of entomological literature dealing with NF/LB is being built. There is a Biota database of NF/LB taxa and general collection localities. Dr. Larson is retiring from Memorial University and there are no plans to replace him with another entomologist. There is great concern about the future of the insect collection there and after some discussion with others in Newfoundland it was determined that for the time being the entire MUN collection should be relocated to the Northern Forestry Centre, CFS, Edmonton on a long-term loan, although it is imperative that the collection move back to Newfoundland in the future. There has been little progress with plans for publications, but this issue will be pursued because the first fascicle will establish the format for the series.

An article was published in the BSC Newsletter to describe the project and encourage participation. The BSC website was also updated with a separate page describing the project and including a list of families of NF/LB insects, number of taxa per family and availability of keys. Other terrestrial arthropod groups will be added to this list soon. The involvement of others is required for building, testing and refining keys.

3. Forest arthropods
A forest arthropod project inventory done in the 1990’s and published in the BSC newsletter to help facilitate communication had been updated recently and is accessible on the BSC website. The list shows 65 projects to date. One objective of the Forest Arthropod Project will to be to update this database regularly.

The content of the BSC website has been enlarged to provide a better description of the project. Publication of a Forest Arthropods Newsletter through the Canadian Forest Service, Northern Forestry Centre is planned, and after discussion the Committee agreed that a bilingual electronic version would be the preferred format, given the funds available.

Dr. Langor reminded the Committee that at the last meeting there was discussion about organizing a symposium for the 2005 Joint Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society, which could focus either on a taxon approach with a synthetic paper on each of several groups, or on procedures, interpretation, and prognosis. These ideas will be developed further.

Work continues on the sucking insects of jack pine and lodgepole pine. A new project to prepare a handbook on the Cerambycidae of Canada and Alaska has been started. It was also suggested that the forest arthropods project explore the possibility of inventory work in National Parks, for example Waterton Lakes National Park, even including a field trip. These ideas will be followed up.

4. Insects of the arctic
All of the black fly records from the 2003 expedition to Rankin Inlet, Arviat and Baker Lake had been incorporated into the new black fly book, which has set the stage for a major paper synthesizing the biogeography and composition of the black flies of the Northwest Territories and mainland Nunavut. In 2004 the last remaining area will be explored, the Seward Peninsula of Alaska, setting the stage for an expedition in 2005 to Anadyr and environs.

Other 2004 arctic work will be carried out near Rankin Inlet. An arctic symposium at the 2004 ESC annual meeting, a Biological Survey of Canada symposium, will focus on results from the arctic project. The Arctic and Boreal Entomology course will be taught at Churchill again from July 31 to August 14, 2004. About 15 people are registered so far.

5. Seasonal adaptations
Papers on "Seasonal adaptations of arctic insects" and "The roles of insect cocoons in cold conditions" are in press. A paper on "Insect adaptations to cold and changing environments" was submitted to the symposium editor. A symposium paper on "How similar are daily and seasonal biological clocks?" will be presented at the International Congress of Entomology. Some other papers on insect life cycles are in progress. Research is envisaged in Japan in 2004-2005. The Encyclopedia of the Arctic, including short entries on Insects, Insect larvae, and Mosquitoes is also in press for October 2004.

A subproject on coccinellid beetles continues to focus on the introduced species of coccinellids and the potential effect on native species, looking at historical changes and developing a baseline for future comparisons. Coverage for most provinces is in place. Discussions continue on what the final products will be. Discussions have also begun about a possible more public component with the CMN.

2. Endangered species
Issues related to endangered species were discussed, including the possibility of writing a status report for a whole group rather than a species. A list of potentially rare or endangered insects, as for British Columbia, is useful to leverage money for other inventories, but there may be danger in the potential use of the information to initiate COSEWIC status reports which might unnecessarily restrict or stop collecting in those areas. Wider arthropod data are necessary, but not in species-by-species status reports. The Committee also discussed criteria used to determine what is listed, because some attempts to list have been based on very limited information or very small numbers of collected specimens. COSEWIC has approval to appoint two arthropod co-chairs in 2004, and a decision will be made soon. Some smaller initiatives would be undertaken by the BSC before any decision is made about a national project on endangered species.

3. Arthropods of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Islands
A document introducing a BSC project for these unique and interesting habitats was circulated. Area and distance from source lead to some interesting questions. Several co-operators will each conduct their own sampling but others will be engaged for help with identifications and sampling techniques. One or more synthetic publications will be produced considering elements such as biogeography, glacial history, size, and distance from potential sources of colonists, as well as graduate theses and undergraduate projects as part of the ongoing program.

4. Survey website
The BSC website has about 20,000 visits per year, and is well received. In addition to ongoing updates, a number of particular updates were made recently including revised Committee details, announcements about the Grasslands project and new sections for the Forest arthropod project, the Terrestrial arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador project, and results of the Survey review. New publications posted include recent newsletters as well as the French translation of the voucher brief. Minor corrections for French web pages were received and will soon be made. New sections and therefore more menu items continue to be added to the home page, so that the look and content will be reviewed in case changes are necessary. The possibility of links from societies and other institutions to the Survey website is being followed up, in order to make the BSC resource more widely accessible.

5. Survey poster
A poster outlining the work of the Survey has been completed and is available to Committee members for download, for use at conferences or in departments.

6. Databasing
A proposal to GBIF to digitize odonate collections was turned down. Two other major proposals for Canada Foundation for Innovation grants for collaborative information facilities were also turned down. Some members emphasized the fact that proper maintenance and handling of specimens, especially identification, is far more important than what most people perceive as the task of databasing a collection.

Noting that one of the problems with databasing is that each researcher seems to be independently georeferencing individual sites, resulting in a duplication of effort, the Committee agreed to explore the development of a database of the most common collecting locations, especially cryptic localities with little known or historical names.

7. Monitoring of continuing priorities
Some other Survey interests were reviewed, including arthropods of aquatic habitats, arthropods of the Queen Charlotte Islands (Haida Gwaii), arthropod ectoparasites of vertebrates (including extensive collections of ectoparasites of birds and mammals in Manitoba by Dr. Galloway, largely in cooperation with the Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization and Manitoba Conservation, and a paper from Sweden describing the sequencing of black fly blood meals to provide data on parasite-host associations), arthropods of special habitats, and agroecosystems (including a review of long-term interdisciplinary cropping system studies on the Prairies, with some arthropod components).

8. Other priorities
The Committee also considered actions and information about the project on keys to the families of terrestrial arthropods in Canada, wider distribution of French translations of the briefs on voucher specimens and on label data, arthropods and fire, naturalists publications, the faunal analysis project, the idea of a Canadian Encyclopaedia of Life, liaison with other organizations, advice for a list of insect common names, and other topics.

The Federal Biodiversity Information Partnership (FBIP) is continuing with its collaborative work with the various federal science departments, working on proofs of concept on how to share and exchange data or provide interoperability of data from the different departments. Some conversions of existing information and gathering of new information have been completed. Ownership of the data will continue to reside with each institution.

Significant developments in the U.S. include funding for the Barcode of Life project, and FBIP will monitor these developments.

The CMN received the succession plan report for the Head of the Secretariat and continues to look at options. The work of the BSC, the way information is shared and exchanged and the Museum’s role in facilitating that work is an important part of the Museum’s strategic direction. The Museum believes that it gains high value in its relationship with the scientific community through the BSC model, and wants to continue to build on that model with the broader scientific community. Further steps in that direction will be taken, including discussions with the Canadian Society of Zoologists and the Canadian Botanical Association and with other government departments. A general forum for a broad range of external stakeholders is anticipated later in the year.

2. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Jean-François Landry reported on developments from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. The reorganization that has been occurring over the last two years continues. One good thing for taxonomy and the CNC stemming from the reorganization is re-emphasis on biodiversity in research. The Agriculture Policy Framework now guides all research. Research groups are aligned across the country rather than locally, and the Biodiversity Theme leader is now Dr. Lianne Dwyer, the current Director of ECORC. All the insect taxonomists fall under the arthropod biodiversity group. Budget uncertainties have made long-term planning difficult. However, research has continued with sufficient resources. The Biodiversity Theme scientists and managers recently met. The biological collections and their importance were emphasized in a significant way at this meeting.

Two committees are especially active within the taxonomist group at ECORC. The curatorial committee has been revitalized and new members appointed. The committee is hoping to promote the establishment of a collection manager position for the CNC to oversee the day to day operations of the collections. Talks about renovations and/or building new facilities are ongoing, although no firm details have been announced.

A handbook committee has been reborn to deal with the Insects and Arachnids of Canada Handbook series, now revived by NRC Press and with the complete agreement and collaboration of the Press. The short-term goals of the committee are to establish new guidelines as well as to discuss priorities for continuing and updating the series. Its long-term goal is to serve as scientific advisor for the handbook series, discuss and recommend new proposals, and select qualified revisers, while NRC Press retains its full role as publisher. A number of handbooks are in progress. Members of the Committee commented that the handbook series has had a tremendous impact on entomology in Canada, as the first source of information for many groups. The handbooks are very significant products. Other members emphasized that the handbooks package taxonomic expertise in a usable manner, allowing people to identify the organisms, and contrasted barcoding products (the subject of recent attention) in asking "have they facilitated identifications?"

3. Entomological Society of Canada
Dr. Charles Vincent, President, Entomological Society of Canada remarked that the Past-president, Dr. Sandy Smith, had spoken highly of the Biological Survey and he was pleased to be able to attend this meeting. He announced that the new BSC scholarship will be in place by the time of the annual meeting in Charlottetown. Two other new ESC scholarships are also being implemented. The Society’s strategy is to try to increase membership by attracting more young people. Overall membership numbers are more-or-less stable. The new editor of The Canadian Entomologist, Dr. Richard Ring, is becoming familiar with production of the journal. The Publications Committee and Dr. Ring are developing a proposal for various changes to the journal, though there are economic, image and technical considerations. Dr. Giberson noted that planning for the joint ESC/AES meeting is progressing well. The meeting will be held October 15-18 and will run over a weekend as an experiment to draw in more university personnel. No formal collecting sessions for the meeting have yet been arranged but collecting without permits is allowed in most areas.

4. Canadian Forest Service
Dr. Brenda McAfee introduced herself as the CFS Science Advisor for Biodiversity. The Canadian Forest Service is also undergoing a reorganization and changes in senior personnel. A new national forest strategy is being implemented. Actions and priorities are still being determined and therefore the department is currently in a transition year. Dr. McAfee is confident that biodiversity will be one of the science priorities. Some of the issues under consideration include growing links between environment and trade, management and sustainability of the diversity of the forest landscape, increasing frequency and impact of forest disturbance (fires and insects), the growing threat from non-native invasive pests, and a better need for understanding the role of forests in global cycles.

There is some opportunity for focus on work relevant to the Biological Survey. There will be a marriage between forest science and policy, a coordinated approach to invasive pests and a new approach to natural disasters, liability and risk management. Beyond the issues and opportunities is the need for increased federal engagement. Innovative solutions are required to address increasing threats to public forests, such as invasive pests, which seem likely to be a priority. Indeed, a biodiversity working group of several departments has put forward a draft national strategy for addressing the threat of alien invasive species. In addition, a Memorandum to Cabinet is being drafted to address forest pests. The focus will be on protection, prediction, detection, mitigation and control. Taxonomy is essential for detection. Regional consultations are currently being held for the Invasive Alien Species strategy and Dr. McAfee suggested that members of the Survey attempt to comment on the strategy. Another activity within the CFS and with the Canadian Council of Forest Ministers is reporting on criteria and indicators. A report will be tabled in 2005.

It was noted that CFS is a science-based policy organization, not a science organization. In other words science has to be done that can be translated into policy. This will include biodiversity work. Examining the Aquatic invasives network as a possible model for terrestrial invasive species, including a possible submission of a proposal for a full NSERC Networks of Excellence for invasive species, was mentioned as the sort of suggestion that might be brought forward at the regional consultations.

5. Biodiversity Convention Office
Dr. Ole Hendrickson noted that the BCO is the focal point for the Convention on Biological Diversity. The Parties to the Convention meet every two years and at the last meeting in February 2004 a major issue was a new work program on protected areas. More significantly, at the meeting next year of the Conference of the Parties and the 2 science bodies, the Global Taxonomy Initiative will undergo a major review. There has been little progress with the GTI although there have been some informal discussions about funding stand-alone taxonomic capacity-building in developing countries. There is a realization that taxonomy can not be viewed just as an add-on to a forestry or fisheries program. The process of reviewing the global taxonomy initiative will bring more attention to taxonomy at the international level in the coming 2 years. Dr. Mark Graham, Canadian Museum of Nature will be coordinating Canada’s participation in the upcoming international meetings.

At the national level the BCO tries to help stimulate the implementation of work done under the Convention on Biological Diversity. A federal-provincial-territorial process identified priorities including invasive species. Other initiatives involve stewardship, science and information, and monitoring of status and trends. A meeting was held with the provinces last month. The ESC and others had pointed out the need for a science advisory body for biodiversity but support has not been forthcoming for such an initiative within Environment Canada. It is difficult to push the biodiversity science agenda because of various interests of the provinces, which manage crown lands and forests. It will also be a challenge to get this agenda elevated to a status that will attract new funding. Dr. John Herity, the former Director of BCO, has left the department. Mr. David Brackett is currently Acting Director.

At the federal-provincial meeting in April the province of Alberta tabled a proposal for an Alberta biodiversity monitoring program. There is interest in determining whether this could be adopted nationally. Dr. Hendrickson distributed a concept paper to the Committee and welcomed comments on whether the federal government should try to promote this sort of program nationally. After prolonged discussion by the Committee about the history of the program and potential weaknesses or alternatives the Committee agreed to prepare a brief point-of-view about the Canadian Biodiversity Monitoring Program concept paper, and transmit it to Dr. Hendrickson.

6. Parasitology module, Canadian Society of Zoologists
Dr. David Marcogliese reminded the Committee that the parasitology module is based on the concept of the terrestrial arthropod module but operates without any official recognition or support. The parasitologists have produced such products as a directory, a list of systematic expertise, EMAN protocols for monitoring biodiversity, a national perch project and a national stickleback project. He added that there have been some recent hirings in the parasitology field – Dr. Carl Lowenberger at Simon Fraser University and Dr. Todd Smith at Acadia University. Dr. Marcogliese noted that the Canadian Society of Zoologists passed a resolution at its annual meeting last year that stated: "The Canadian Society of Zoologists urges the government of Canada to establish a national science council on biodiversity, a "think tank" of our best scientists in evolution, ecology and systematics, that would help set the research agenda for biodiversity science and advise on its application to policy". Dr. Marcogliese observed that there seems to be a partitioning of issues in the realm of the national biodiversity agenda. Economic or political issues such as alien species are being dealt with individually in various departments without support for a cohesive package. He provided information about some other networks and projects, and circulated a number of articles pertaining to biodiversity initiatives.

2. Regional developments
Information of potential interest from different parts of the country was reported. In British Columbia, initiatives to undertake a biodiversity strategy include an examination of richness and rarity areas and threats such as roads, alien species, pollution, disruption of habitat, and logging. Protected areas in B.C. do not coincide with the richness/rarity hotpots. Funding for several other projects has been turned down by various agencies. A wide range of other projects in B.C was reviewed. At the University of Victoria Dr. Richard Ring retires on June 30, 2004 and will not be replaced by an entomologist. Papers from the Richard Ring symposium in Kelowna last November are in process for The Canadian Entomologist. A new entomology collections manager has been hired at the Royal BC Museum. At that museum there was a display on giant robotic insects as well as a display highlighting entomological work in B.C., and the entomological work received much more positive public appreciation than the robotic display.

In the Prairies, a national project is looking at the interface between agriculture and forestry. Other projects were noted, including a list of the spiders of Manitoba and many projects on Lepidoptera and on forest insects in Alberta. Efforts are underway to restore the Criddle laboratory in Aweme, and a historical record database on the insects of Aweme is being built. EMEND (Ecological Management Emulating Natural Disturbance) sites in northwestern Alberta recently received funds to establish permanent facilities.

In Ontario, the Royal Ontario Museum is approaching its fundraising goal for the renovation of the museum and new galleries, and work is proceeding on the new addition. Projects especially in southern Ontario and other developments were reviewed including publication of The Black Flies (Simuliidae) of North America, and new insect records from several parks and protected areas. The CNC website has been updated and moved to the CanaColl Foundation’s site. The annual meeting of the Entomological Society of Ontario will be in St. Catharines in the fall.

In Quebec, entomological projects were reviewed, including a study of the Swede Midge supported by the provincial government, and taxonomic and faunistic studies especially at McGill University. The Association des entomologistes amateurs du Québec is involved with producing an updated checklist of the beetles of Quebec, including extensive new surveying and collecting in southern Quebec.

In Newfoundland and the Maritimes the 2004 ESC annual meeting will be held in Charlottetown. The University of Prince Edward Island is undergoing extensive renovations, and the biology building is being gutted and rebuilt although personnel are not being relocated in the interim. Various projects and publications from across the Maritimes were reviewed. The Acadian Entomological Society is starting an online regional peer-reviewed journal.

For the arctic, the only entomological work taking place in 2004 likely will be work at Rankin Inlet and the Arctic and Boreal Entomology course at Churchill. However, NSERC has re-implemented its northern supplement.

3. Other matters
The Survey also considered the draft Annual Report to the CMN, further use of Survey review documents, and recent Survey publications. The Annual General Meeting of the Biological Survey Foundation was held.