The Canadian Field-Naturalist (E-Journal)
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Video-documentation of American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) foraging on algae in livestock tanks on a conservation property in western Montana, USA: Algae foraging by black bears
No full textAlgae is an important food for many wildlife species. For ursids, marine algae is documented in Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) diets, but freshwater algae has not been reported in American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) diets. We installed remote cameras at livestock tanks, in which freshwater algal blooms grew, to document Black Bear foraging behaviour. We video-documented algae foraging by four unique bears of both sexes and of different age classes. Algae foraging by two cubs and one adult female likely represented exploratory sampling because these three bears minimally foraged and did not subsequently return to the livestock tanks to forage on algae again. One adult male foraged on algae during three separate occasions, indicating his algae foraging was non-exploratory. We discuss possible hypotheses to explain freshwater algae consumption by Black Bear, including nutritional benefit, physiological relief, and parasite expulsion. Our study is the first to report algae foraging by American Black Bear, and our findings suggest that the benefits of Cladophora species for wild animals may be greater than is currently understood
"Hairy-foot, Long-tongue: Solitary Bees, Biodiversity & Evolution in Your Backyard" by David J. Perkins, 2024 [book review]
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A new species of testate amoeba, Arcella prismatica sp. nov. (Amoebozoa: Arcellinida), from peatlands in Ontario and Quebec, Canada
Full text linkArcella is a genus of testate amoebae with a radially symmetrical shell composed of secreted material arranged in hexagonal units. Within the genus, species are distinguished by the morphology and dimensions of the shell. We describe a new species, Arcella prismatica sp. nov., discovered in a brown-water lake in the Mer Bleue Bog Conservation Area, a protected wetland in the city of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Specimens of the same morphotype have also been found in a subarctic peatland on the James Bay coast, near the village of Chisasibi, Quebec, Canada. The species has a polyhedral shell with a relatively flat dorsal surface and an irregularly crenulated aperture, a combination of characters not found in other members of the genus. The discovery of a novel and evidently widely distributed Arcella within the limits of a populous North American city is a reminder that the diversity of microbial eukaryotes is still poorly understood. Further exploration of undersampled peatland habitats can be expected to reveal new organisms and new relationships among known species
Distribution and breeding potential of the exotic False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) in Canada
No full textFalse Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica) is widespread in the central United States, and its native range extends close to the Canadian border. It is common in the pet trade and has been released into the wild outside its native range. We examined observations of False Map Turtle from iNaturalist Canada, an online platform to document native and non-native species, and confirmed 20 observations in Canada from eight cities in three provinces. The earliest observation was in April 2014 from Victoria, British Columbia. Fourteen of the 20 observations (70%) were from 2020 to February 2024. All the turtles were either large juveniles or adults. Climate data from the northern part of the False Map Turtle’s native range and from Canadian cities suggest that individuals could survive the winter in parts of southern Canada and successfully breed in parts of southern Ontario during the warmest years
The occurrence of introduced rosy red minnows (Pimephales promelas) in Alberta, Canada
No full textRosy red minnows are a golden morph of Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) commonly sold in pet shops and used, in some jurisdictions, as baitfish. They have formed several naturalized populations in British Columbia, where they are considered a priority conservation concern. The Government of Alberta had noted two occurrences of rosy red minnows in 2016 and 2017, but their identification could not be independently confirmed without photographic or physical vouchers. Based on our own collections, Royal Alberta Museum specimens, community science initiatives, and enquiries to other field researchers, we report that rosy red minnows have been present in Alberta earlier than previously thought, are likely breeding in Alberta, and have a widespread distribution from Fort McMurray to Lethbridge. Given that Alberta has native populations of wild-type Fathead Minnow, the impacts of rosy red minnows on native populations requires immediate attention
"Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration" by Rebecca Heisman, 2023 [book review]
Full text linkNorthern Pintail (Anas acuta) hens exhibit irrational behaviour, returning to their nests after apparent loss of their broods
No full textTwo Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) hens were observed returning alone to their upland nest sites after hatching their broods and taking them to water. Both instances were the result of apparent loss of their broods shortly after reaching water. The hens’ behaviour was irrational and demonstrates that there is an attachment to nest sites that does not immediately cease after hatch and taking their broods to water
