The Canadian Field-Naturalist (E-Journal)
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"The Cougar Conundrum: Sharing the World with a Successful Predator" by Mark Elbroch, 2020. [book review]
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Harpalejeunea molleri subsp. integra (R.M. Schuster) Damsholt new to Atlantic Canada
Get PDFHarpalejeunea molleri subsp. integra (R.M. Schuster) Damsholt is reported for the first time in Atlantic Canada. It was found on the base of a large Eastern White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) in a swamp in Nova Scotia. The specimen was examined using light microscopy, diagnosed using standard keys, and compared with reference specimens, including two European collections from the New Brunswick Museum, two North American collections annotated by R.M. Schuster, and the only material that may have been previously collected in Canada, by T. Drummond. We speculate on the original location of Drummond’s collection, and the implications of this finding for conservation
Variable habitat selection and movement patterns among Bullsnake (Pituophis catenifer sayi) populations in Saskatchewan
Get PDFPituophis catenifer sayi (Bullsnake) is a sparsely studied subspecies of conservation concern in Canada. Basic ecological information is lacking for P. c. sayi, which reaches its northern range limit in western Canada. To address this gap, we used radio-telemetry to examine space use and habitat selection in three populations of Bullsnakes in disjunct river valley systems (Frenchman, Big Muddy, and South Saskatchewan River Valleys) across their Saskatchewan range. Bullsnakes in two valleys used up to three times more space, travelled 2.5-times farther from overwintering sites, and had lower home range overlap than the third population. Landscape-level habitat selection was flexible, with snakes in all populations using both natural and human-modified habitats most frequently. Fine-scale habitat selection was also similar among populations, with Bullsnakes selecting sites within 1 m of refuges, regardless of whether they were natural or anthropogenic. Based on these results, Bullsnakes are flexible in their broad scale habitat use, as long as they are provided with fine scale refuge sites. The distribution of key seasonal resources appears to ultimately determine space use and habitat selection by Bullsnakes, regardless of the geographic location of the population
Desiccation of herpetofauna on roadway exclusion fencing
Get PDFSignificant advances have been made to minimize the detrimental effects of roads on wildlife, but little is known about unintended negative consequences of mitigation strategies. Here, we present observations of adverse effects on herpetofauna of exclusion fencing at Presqu’ile Provincial Park, Ontario. A total of 15 individuals (one salamander, nine anurans, and five snakes) were found dead on unburied fencing, apparent victims of desiccation and/or heat exposure. Air temperatures did not differ between days when dead herpetofauna were and were not found on the fence; however, the fence surface was significantly warmer than the air. Our study shows that fence temperature and design may hinder animals escaping from the road to cooler refugia, and we discuss possible solutions
"Sedges and Rushes of Minnesota: The Complete Guide to Species Identification" by Welby R. Smith, 2018. [book review]
No full text"Best Places to Bird in Ontario" by Kenneth Burrell and Michael Burrell, 2019. [book review]
No full textEarly and late births in high-latitude populations of free-ranging Bison (Bison bison)
Get PDFThe timing of parturition in high-latitude populations of Bison (Bison bison) is not well documented, but previous observations have indicated that births do not start until mid-May and largely end in late June or early July, similar to those of other northern ungulates. In three high-latitude Bison populations in northwestern Canada, the onset of parturition occurred as early as late March and early April—5–6 weeks earlier than previously observed—and two isolated cases of late births occurred in mid-November and mid-December. Our observations suggest that the onset of parturition in high-latitude Bison can be earlier than previously known, and late births, while apparently rare, may occur. Determining whether our observations signal a substantial, lasting shift in the timing and, possibly, synchrony of parturition in high-latitude populations of Bison will require further monitoring for early-born calves
More Mountain Chickadees (Poecile gambeli) sing atypical songs in urban than in rural areas
Get PDFUrbanization results in novel ecosystems with unique challenges. These may lead to problems during song learning or development and could result in the singing of atypical songs. During studies of Mountain Chickadees (Poecile gambeli) and urbanization in British Columbia, Canada, we observed males singing atypical songs along an urbanization gradient. We found that eight of 78 males consistently sang atypical songs and the odds of singing atypical songs increased with urbanization. We explored several explanations including habitat quality, population density, and bioacoustics. Future studies investigating causes and consequences of atypical singing will clarify effects of urbanization on Mountain Chickadees