Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)

News and Notes

In addition to its major current scientific projects — highlighted in earlier newsletters — including arthropods of grasslands, of Newfoundland and Labrador, of forests and of the arctic, keys to families, and seasonal adaptations, the Biological Survey of Canada (BSC) promotes a number of other scientific interests of different scale or orientation.

Developing scientific projects
Two projects involving active scientific research are in the relatively early stages of development. A project on Invasions and reductions in the Canadian insect fauna recognizes the long-standing impact and current interest of introduced species and consists of both general themes and specific research elements. The general synthesis of relevant information is being addressed primarily by planning for a symposium or workshop within a couple of years. Unlike many other current discussions, this would have a focus on a credible scientific synthesis about invasive species, rather than on the feasibility or political implications of particular policies [contact: David Langor].

An active specific component on invasions and reductions has begun with the verification of coccinellid distributions as shown by specimens in collections across the country. This work serves not only to establish a baseline of information for the future, but also supports the analysis of ongoing changes in the coccinellid fauna that might be attributable to the impact of introduced species. A more public component in this project is also being considered [contact: David McCorquodale].

A second developing project of active research deals with the Arthropods of the Gulf of St Lawrence. Study of the faunas of these offshore habitats will allow many interesting biogeographical questions to be addressed [contact: Donna Giberson].

Ongoing projects
The BSC continues to organize several projects that currently have no active field component. A long-standing project on faunal analysis aims to document the state of knowledge and the availability of expertise for the various taxa of arthropods in Canada, thus supporting attempts to strengthen resources in several areas. Extensive information is already available on the BSC website at http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/faunalanalysis.htm. [contact: Rob Roughley]

A project on Arthropods and fire has engendered planning for a symposium on the subject to be held at the joint entomological societies meeting in 2006. [contact: Rob Roughley]

The BSC also keeps aware of developments pertaining to endangered species and of the possibility of publications of particular interest to naturalists, and expects to launch more specific projects in these areas within a few years.

General interests
The BSC has long been interested in the topics of systematics, collections, faunal information and so on. For example, it has published briefs about the importance of research collections, data labels, and voucher specimens. Many copies of the recent briefs about label data and about voucher specimens have been disseminated in recent months, including wide distribution of the French-language versions of these briefs (see also http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/briefs.htm).

The BSC now actively monitors developments with respect to databasing, given the recent proliferation of organizations offering web-based dissemination of taxonomic data. The BSC has pointed out that support is needed for the core work of systematics to provide the verified information on which these web products depend, and not just for the web interfaces which have attracted so much interest and funding.

Outreach and information
The BSC makes information widely available through this newsletter, on its web site, and in other ways. The web site is deliberately extensive, providing access to electronic publications and other resources. It receives many visits and is widely appreciated.
 [http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/bschome.htm]

A poster documenting the BSC’s work is available in electronic form, primarily to permit members of the advisory committee to promote the BSC regionally or at scientific meetings. Photographs of entomologists have also been assembled.

Recently, a BSC student award was established through the Entomological Society of Canada (and funded as a result of BSC efforts) in order to promote faunistic studies on Canadian arthropods.
 [http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/english/scholarship.htm]