Summary of the meeting of the Scientific Committee for the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods), April 2008
The Scientific Committee met in Ottawa on 24–25 April 2008.
Long-term future of the BSC
Mr. Roger Baird, Director, Collection Services, Canadian Museum of Nature explained that the Museum would need to alter the manner in which they would be able to support the operations of the Biological Survey after the current fiscal year. For the fiscal year beginning 1 April 2009 the CMN’s support to the BSC will be reduced to approximately one-quarter of its current support with the understanding that the Survey will have in place partnership arrangements with other member institutions or other parties willing to contribute to the administrative and operating costs of the BSC. There is no financial commitment beyond March 2010. Dr. Smith’s term of employment will finish in March 2009. The CMN remains committed to in-kind support with such things as office space. Much of the Committee meeting was therefore devoted to discussing the direction and actions that the BSC needs to take to sustain the organization.
The Committee engaged in some discussion as to whether as a long-term strategy the Biological Survey should have a broader taxonomic focus. However, groups from other disciplines have been approached with the idea of forming additional modules, especially earlier in the Survey’s history, but the need for additional funding has always prevented such an expansion. The Entomological Society of Canada and many other taxonomically disciplined based societies have concerns about long-term sustainability and it was suggested that the BSC could be the organization to begin encompassing them. A Biological Survey of Canada without the terrestrial arthropod focus would have a broader appeal especially when fund raising. As well, it might also be beneficial to involve like-minded people in some projects.
In terms of broader partnerships, the Federal Biodiversity Information Partnership (FBIP) is preparing a Memorandum to Cabinet to request funding to set up an ongoing agency. The BSC, especially with a broader mandate, has the potential to form some sort of partnership with FBIP and take advantage of this funding. Dr. Shorthouse and Dr. Scudder met with Dr. Geoff Munro, Chair of the Federal Biodiversity Information Partnership, on the last day of the Committee meeting to discuss this idea.
The Committee concluded that the other main direction for the BSC should be to look for funding for the northern insect project. Other things to be pursued include funding for other projects and investigating other potential partnerships.
It may take some time and experimentation to determine a final alternative model. Given the immediate constraint the Committee also discussed some short-term strategies for ensuring the continuity of operations.
Given the limited funding available next year it seems unlikely that the current practice of two scientific committee meetings per year will be possible. Some possibilities were considered including limiting the meeting to a subcommittee meeting, hosting a symposium in the same time frame, holding a workshop to plan the northern insect survey, and limiting meetings to being held in conjunction with the annual ESC meeting or another society meeting.
In terms of immediate priorities, it was thought that some of the core functions that should be maintained include at least one Committee meeting, the web site, the newsletter, and a focused number of key projects such as the northern insects survey (with a climate change connection), the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification, and invasive alien insects; all of which encompass specimen-based research and/or databasing. Some ideas to temporarily fill the role of the Head were discussed. If necessary, certain members of the Scientific Committee agreed to consider doing this on a part-time temporary basis.
Scientific Projects
1. Grasslands
All chapters for the first grasslands volume, Arthropods of Canadian grasslands: ecology and interactions in grassland habitats, have been revised and the volume should be ready to go to press in the near future. Chapters for the second volume dealing with altered or changing grasslands are in process. The goal is to have the book ready to send to the publisher by 30 April 2009 with a publish date by the summer or fall 2009. Planning for volume 3, the focus of which is to be native landscapes and species diversities for grassland habitats, is set to begin. An editor is required. The issue of the relationship between volume 3 and the EMAN prairie ecozone species assessment publication needs to be determined.
2. Insects of the arctic
The plan for the large collaborative project is to recreate the last northern insect survey done more than 50 years ago. How the project will unfold will rely initially on the future of the BSC and success in finding supporting partners. Funding will first be sought from industry. Another option would be to try for NSERC funding.
There is an International Polar Year project called Arctic WOLVES (Arctic wildlife observations linking vulnerable ecosystems) whose objective is to look at the importance of bottom-up (resources) and top-down (predators) forces in structuring these arctic food webs, and how climate affects these trophic linkages. Dr. Chris Buddle offered to coordinate requests for taxa that have been sorted and are available to interested parties.
The Biological Survey has submitted its name as a collaborator with the Polar Barcode of Life Initiative (PolarBOLI). Dr. Doug Currie is the liaison.
3. Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification
Three new issues have been published: CJAI 04 – Photographic Key to the Adult Female Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) of Canada, CJAI05 – Identification Atlas of the Vespidae (Hymenoptera, Aculeata) of the Northeastern Nearctic Region, and CJAI06 – The Bee Flies (Diptera: Bombyliidae) of Ontario, with a Key to the Species of Eastern Canada. Dr. Marshall has received positive feedback on the quality of the CJAI issues published. A wide range of submissions will be considered. The Committee supported the step to make the journal compliant with the standards for the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and accept descriptions of new taxa. There was some discussion about page charges for issues that were code compliant to help defray the cost of printing but it was decided that this need not be done yet.
Mr. Dave Cheung presented a template and simple instructions for making an interactive key using PowerPoint that he developed. This useful tool is now available online as part of the instructions to authors.
Discussions have been ongoing with John Pickering concerning possible synergies between the CJAI and the “Discover Life” and “Global Mapper” initiatives that he has been developing over the last decade. These discussions will continue.
4. Terrestrial arthropods of Newfoundland and Labrador
Much collecting is being done with many specimens being sent to Dr. Langor’s laboratory. The most progress has been made with the beetles. There is strong interest in the Lepidoptera with some collecting and work in the collections planned this summer. The aim is to produce a checklist and eventually keys to the Lepidoptera of Newfoundland and Labrador. Dr. Jose Fernandez Triana has started some work on the Microgastrinae. Some smaller publications are planned for the near future. Dr. Langor and Mr. Greg Pohl will conduct a survey conducted in Labrador including the Torngat mountains, funded by the Newfoundland Department of Environment and Conservation. Next year will be the 60th anniversary of the Fenno-Scandinavian expeditions that went through Newfoundland in 1949 and 1951. Dr. Langor is exploring the possibility of obtaining some funding from the Swedish Academy to repeat the collecting from that expedition.
5. Forest arthropods
Volume 4 of the Arthropods of Canadian Forests Newsletter should be issued in the spring. This may be the last issue of this newsletter. The project database which resides on the BSC web site continues to be updated. The 2005 symposium proceedings are due to be published in the July issue of The Canadian Entomologist. Work on the Cerambycidae of Canada and Alaska has been an ongoing collaboration between Dr. McCorquodale, Dr. Yves Bousquet, Serge Laplante, and Jim Hammond. This is progressing well with the keys essentially finished. Distribution maps should be finished this year and most of the collections in Canada have been databased. Colour photographs of all the species have been taken by Mr. Klaus Bolte.
6. Invasions and reductions
The final package of peer-reviewed, revised manuscripts from the proceedings of the symposium on Ecological Impacts of Non-Native Insects and Fungi on Terrestrial Ecosystems held at the 2006 Joint Annual Meeting was submitted to the journal Biological Invasions in March 2008.
There has been some significant progress on the coccinellid project. Most of the Ontario and Quebec material in the CNC has been databased. A student will be looking at material from across Canada to quantify data on some of the changes of introductions and range contractions of native species. Data from other researchers is becoming available.
At the Canadian Forest Service there has been much cataloguing of non-native species of terrestrial arthropods in Canada. So far they have catalogued over 1900 species in Canada. A paper on species on woody plants is in press. Similar papers on the other non-native fauna are anticipated. Other products include a web site (http://www.exoticpests.gc.ca/) on Forest Invasive Alien Species in Canada which will have more content added in the near future, a poster featuring some of the tree species across Canada, and synthesis papers. Funding has been received to database some university collections including the University of Guelph, McGill University, and perhaps the University of British Columbia. A new initiative dealing with introduced Coleoptera in eastern Canada including Quebec and the Maritime provinces has begun. At Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada initiatives include a list of invasive alien species that are relevant to agriculture, keys and revisions of pests and biocontrol agents and 12 projects that deal with invasive alien species.
7. BioBlitzes
The 2008 BioBlitz at Bruce Peninsula National Park (19–23 June) was promoted in the BSC Newsletter and on the BSC web site. Mr. Scott Parker at Bruce Peninsula National Park has been very accommodating. (See also p. 48). This BioBlitz will be an opportunity to add to the existing species list compiled over many years by Dr. Marshall.
Some of the previous BioBlitzes, such as Waterton Lakes, have continued to yield data, researchers have continued to do work there and therefore have become more of an ongoing survey rather than a one time event. The collecting permits for Waterton Lakes National Park and Gros Morne National Park have been renewed. Further information is available from Dr. Langor. The BSC plans to continue to pursue work with national parks. Some thought will be put into pursing a more formal partnership with Parks Canada.
The BSC would like to continue to have BioBlitzes but given the amount of follow-up work required in processing and identifying material it was recognized that it need not be an annual event. Given the uncertain future of the BSC, any decision about future BioBlitzes will be deferred.
8. Curation Blitz
A curation blitz in association with the ESC/ESO meeting in Ottawa in October 2008 is being planned. On of the possibilities being discussed is to visit the collections at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Another possibility is to have people bring material to Ottawa and set up an event to have experts to help with identifications such as is done at the annual meeting of the North American Benthological Society.
9. Faunal analysis
There has been little progress on this project. A new subcommittee has agreed to review this project and report at the fall meeting.
10. Arthropods of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Islands
This project has been broadened to include the maritime islands. There is ongoing but limited work and will be removed from the regular agenda for now.
20. Collecting locality database
The first version of the database of common and historical collecting localities within Canada is now done and has been posted on the BSC web site in the format of an Excel spreadsheet. Users of this database are invited to submit corrections, additions, notations, or alterations.
21. Endangered species
The purpose of this agenda item had been to consider a long-standing proposal for a publication dealing with endangered species in Canada. Dr. Marshall argued that the Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification is critical to considering arthropods under species at risk legislation because the first prerequisite to a species being considered a candidate should be that it is covered by a decent accessible review. Therefore the goal of this topic would be better served to continue to add reviews to CJAI in a proper context.
Dr. Sperling and Dr. DeClerck-Floate had reviewed the Canadian Monarch Butterfly Conservation Plan as well as a COSEWIC report.
Dr. Giberson and Dr. McCorquodale are members of the COSEWIC Species Specialist Subcommittee for arthropods. Suggestions for candidate species may be addressed to them. What species goes on the list to be put forward to COSEWIC is greatly influenced by the amount of data available. Species that might be data deficient will not go forward.
22. Biodiversity sampling brief
Because of the availability of good reference material it was decided that it was unnecessary to prepare a revision of the Survey’s 1994 biodiversity brief on planning a study and recommended sampling techniques. However, a reference list giving the various new sources for techniques is in process and will be posted on the BSC web site.
23. Brief on the importance of insect collecting
Mr. Greg Pohl is working on a BSC brief on the importance of insect collecting. This brief had its genesis when, as president of the Alberta Lepidopterists’ Guild, Mr. Pohl was asked to respond to a local naturalists group trying to mount a campaign against insect collecting of all kinds. Mr. Pohl did respond with a lengthy letter which was also published in some newsletters. A proposal to expand the letter into a brief for wider distribution was approved by the Scientific Committee in the fall of 2007.
Liaison and exchange of information
1. Canadian Museum of Nature
Mr. Roger Baird, Director, Collection Services reported that work continues and is on schedule for the rehabilitation of the Victoria Memorial Museum Building which is on track for a May 2010 reopening with new gallery spaces. The CMN and its colleagues in the Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada continue to work on a collections development strategy and communications initiatives. The Alliance is also seeking to broaden its membership. The Council of Canadian Academies has agreed to investigate the “State and Trends in Biodiversity Science in Canada: Are we Equipped to Understand the Challenges of our Biodiversity Resources?” The results could have major implications for the science conducted in natural history museums and in the academic community in the future. This assessment will help museums, universities, governments, and industry plan strategically to train experts, fund research, house collections, and make data and information accessible to enhance Canada’s scientific readiness and meet its international obligations.
The CMN was one of 17 federal organizations directed to undertake a strategic review of its programs and spending in 2007. This was part of a new four-year cycle introduced by the Government of Canada to review spending across all departments, agencies and crown corporations. The 2008 budget reduced the CMN’s appropriations and in addition it appears that 5% of the Museum’s total expenditures will have to be reallocated to the cluster of national museums as a result of the program review.
2. Entomological Society of Canada
Dr. Terry Shore, President of the Entomological Society of Canada reported that the current focus for the Society has been its financial situation, and in particular to develop a strategy to stop the financial losses from The Canadian Entomologist. The Society is searching for a new secretary to replace Dr. Rick West. [After the meeting it was learned that Dr. Annabelle Firlej will assume this role.] Dr. West will be replacing Dr. Barry Lyons as the ESC Webmaster.
3. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Dr. Jean-François Landry reported that Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will be starting a strategic review in 2008. The Invertebrate Biodiversity Team, which essentially encompasses all systematic entomologists at the CNC, just entered the second year of a 4-year project funded by AAFC.
Dr. Ales Smetana, retired coleopterist and honorary research associate at the CNC, received a medal for outstanding achievement at the 20th Symposium Internationale Entomofaunisticum Europeae Centralis in Cluj, Romania for editing the 8-volume Catalogue of Palaearctic Coleoptera (co-edited with Ivan Löbl from Geneva). Dr Eduard Jendek, an Agrilus expert, will be working with Dr Vasily Grebennikov (Entomology – Ontario Plant Laboratories, C.F.I.A.) for the next three years. Dr. Andy Hamilton is preparing an ecological checklist of Homoptera-Auchenorrhyncha to supplement the Checklist of the Hemiptera of Canada and Alaska published in 2000.
The first AAFC web site on an insect (cicadas) has been completed and updated; it just awaits posting. Dr. Gary Gibson completed a list of the families, genera and species of Chalcidoidea present in the CNC is now accessible to anyone at http://www.canacoll.org/Hym/Staff/Gibson/CNCList/CNC_List.html. Dr. Henri Goulet is working on a revision of the Western Hemisphere Siricidae (Horntail wasps) in collaboration with USDA-SEL and N. Schiff from Europe. There will be 6 summer students working in the CNC this summer, to do a general inventory of the CNC. The last (and only) time the CNC holdings were assessed in a comprehensive manner was in the late 1970s and the results were compiled in the now widely cited and used Canada and its Insect Fauna. The main goal for the summer 2008 is to tally the number of genera and species represented. The collection survey will continue over the next two to three years and will eventually add more detailed information such as geographic representation, estimated or actual specimen counts, etc. A comprehensive Collections Policy was developed to ensure the long-term preservation and value of the CNC holdings and to address a requirement of the 2003 Auditor General’s report on National Collections. Also being developed are additional policy components on Electronic Data Entry and Destructive Sampling to embrace new uses for the collections.
Dr. Donald Bright and Dr. Pat Bouchard have published Coleoptera Curculionidae Entiminae, Weevils of Canada and Alaska – volume 2 as part of the handbook series. Dr. Yves Bousquet and Mr. Serge Laplante have published the Coleoptera Histeridae identification guide.
4. Federal Biodiversity Information Partnership
Mr. Geoff Munro, Chair of the Board of the Federal Biodiversity Information Partnership (FBIP) provided an overview of that organization and their attempt to position the FBIP initiative as a deliverable under the federal Science and Technology Strategy. The intent is to go forward to cabinet this fall. If they get approval in principal that this is an appropriate initiative, the process of seeking money from Cabinet and Treasury Board will proceed with the goal of funding for a new agency included in the 2009 federal budget. One of their goals will be to coordinate biodiversity work in the federal government, which is currently fragmented across several departments. The BSC will enter into discussions in how it could become part of the FBIP network.
5. Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute
Dr. Tyler Cobb, Curator of Invertebrates Zoology at the Royal Alberta Museum and project manager for the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring project provided an overview of the Alberta Biodiversity Monitoring Institute and its relationship with the Royal Alberta Museum.
The aim of the project is to sample all 1655 sites in the province every five years. At full capacity the project should be sampling 331 sites every year. Further details can be found on their web site (www.abmi.ca). In general the goal is to look at the spatial and temporal variation in the abundance and diversity of a range of focal taxa in order to inform policy decision making surrounding natural resource and land use management. The focal taxa include mammals, songbirds, vascular and non-vascular plants including bryophytes and lichens, fungi, phytoplankton, and zooplankton. The invertebrates being considered are springtails, oribatid mites, and aquatic macroinvertebrates. Dr. Cobb provided an overview of what was sampled in 2007 and the plan for 2008. Residuals are available and interested people should contact Dr. Cobb although everything, including by-catch, must be retained at the Royal Alberta Museum for two years. Producing taxonomic keys are also a goal of the project and Dr. Cobb sees the potential of submitting material to the CJAI. Mr. David Walter gave on overview of the oribatid mite component of the project.
Othermatters
The Committee briefly discussed other matters such as the Canadian University Biodiversity Consortium, the BSC web site, the BSC newsletter, general developments in databasing, the BSC scholarship, a BSC symposium, BSC publicity, some regional developments, and general operations of the Survey secretariat. The annual meeting of the Biological Survey Foundation was also held.