Newsletter of the Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods)
Volume 27 No. 2, Fall 2008
Project Update: The Biological Survey of Canada's BioBlitz Program
Andrew Smith
Biological Survey of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods),
Canadian Museum of Nature, P.O. Box 3443, Station D, Ottawa, ON K1P 6P4
asmith@mus-nature.ca
For the past several years, the Biological Survey of Canada has organized annual BioBlitzes to complement ongoing scientific projects and to survey protected areas. Seven BioBlitzes have been held so far, with the majority located in the Prairie Provinces. Participants in these events have collected thousands of specimens, many of which have been studied and authoritatively identified by taxonomic experts. The resulting data records have significantly increased our knowledge of the distribution and natural history of Canadian species. BioBlitzes have also been an excellent opportunity for researchers and entomology students to get together to exchange information and collaborate on research of common interest.
The original purpose of BSC BioBlitzes was to enhance knowledge of the fauna of grasslands habitats in Canada to complement our ongoing research project on grasslands. BioBlitzes from 2001–2005, and then again in 2007 were all in grassland habitats in the Prairie Provinces (a BioBlitz was planned for southern Manitoba in 2002 but cancelled due to widespread flooding in the area). Over the past four years, the focus has shifted to survey and inventory work in national parks. There are many advantages to working in national parks – the habitats within are generally protected from non-natural habitat alteration, the parks are usually located in areas that have exceptional biological and landscape features, parks are more intensely studied so there are possibilities for collaboration and comparisons over long time periods, and park staff are very knowledgeable about the areas and can provide advice and support.
Summary of BSC BioBlitzes:
2001 – Onefour, Alberta
2003 – Peace River grasslands, Alberta
2004 – Aweme, Manitoba
2005 – Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
2006 – Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland
2007 – Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba
2008 – Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario
The BioBlitzes in Waterton Lakes National Park (2005) and Gros Morne National Park (2006) have evolved into ongoing biological surveys with numerous follow-up visits to both parks. Permits are now in place to allow scientists to collect in both parks and contribute to theses ongoing surveys. Contact David Langor <dlangor@nrcan.gc.ca> if you would like more information or are interested in collecting arthropods at either of these parks. Please note that there are rules and restrictions so contact should be made well in advance to ensure that your plans are compatible with the permits issued.
BioBlitz 2008
The 2008 BioBlitz took place in Bruce Peninsula National Park from 19–23 June and was organized by Steve Marshall (University of Guelph). One of the main purposes of this particular BioBlitz was to enhance a longer term Bruce Peninsula Insect Survey Project. See: http://www.uoguelph.ca/debu/brucepeninsula.htm for the project website. The Bruce Peninsula BioBlitz brought in 20 participants from a number of Ontario institutions and even one researcher all the way from the Czech Republic. In the days leading up the BioBlitz, some of us were nervously watching the very cold wet weather forecast for the Bruce Peninsula on the Internet and were worried that the collecting might not be good. Fortune smiled on the event thought with completely unexpected warm and sunny weather throughout the entire BioBlitz.
The BioBlitz participants stayed both at Emmett Lake Cabin in the park and at Steve Marshall’s cottage (located just north of the park on Dunks Bay). The Emmett Lake Cabin was billed as being “very rustic,” which conjured up all sorts of images of beaten-down shacks – however, the cabin was very clean and in excellent condition, had a large common area and kitchen, and even had running water and a generator for electricity. This suited our purposes well and served as centre of operations for the BioBlitz participants. All were very grateful for the hospitality of both the park staff and Steve Marshall, who opened up his own cottage to BioBlitzers.
As in past years, the BioBlitz gave participants the chance to promote entomology, the BioBlitz program, and the Biological Survey of Canada. Participants interacted with park staff and with the public, and I gave a public presentation at the park interpretive center one evening. The presentation was heavily illustrated with Steve Marshall’s insect photography – the vast majority of which was taken right there on the Bruce Peninsula.
On the first full day of the BioBlitz, participants met with Scott Parker, Bruce Peninsula National Park Ecologist and Research Coordinator, to pore over maps of the area and work out logistics. The park staff were extremely supportive and had lots of helpful suggestions for collecting localities. BioBlitz participants were even offered the opportunity to accompany Scott on one of the park boats to some of the islands off the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. An obvious perk to holding a BioBlitz in a national park! Several participants went on the boat tour and collected specimens from a few different islands. On the peninsula, there were lots of forested habitats, sand dunes, ponds, bogs, fields, streams, and other habitats to sample. Participants used insect nets, flight intercept traps, baited pitfall traps, mosquito traps, ultraviolet lights, beating sheets, sand sifters, dip nets, and several other techniques for catching insects. The focal taxa of most participants were flies and beetles, but there was also interest in other groups such as ants, moths, and wasps. François Génier and I were after scarab beetles and caught an impressive 346 specimens representing 17 different species. The specimens collected by the various participants will all be deposited in institutional collections (mainly the University of Guelph and the Canadian Museum of Nature) and specimen data is being added to the Bruce Arthropod Database maintained by Steve Marshall. The overall consensus was that the 2008 BioBlitz was a huge success and the scientific results will greatly enhance the Bruce Peninsula Insect Survey.
Night collecting using ultraviolet lights near the Singing Sands dunes.
(photograph by A.B.T. Smith)
