The Canadian Field-Naturalist (E-Journal)
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Use of stabilized thaw slumps by Arctic birds and mammals: evidence from Herschel Island, Yukon
Get PDFAs evidenced by animal sign (scat, active nests, nesting materials, rodent runways) observed across five stabilized retrogressive thaw slumps and two areas of undisturbed upland tundra, Arctic birds and mammals on Herschel Island, Canada, use stabilized thaw slumps differently than undisturbed tundra. Rodent winter nests and scat were found exclusively in undisturbed tundra and at a 250-year-old stabilized thaw slump site, whereas rodent runways and Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) nests were found exclusively at 10- and 20-year-old stabilized thaw slump sites. Bird scat was found in each tundra type, but was most common in the youngest sites, and the number of observations decreased with increasing site age. Caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) scat was found at all sites, whereas Muskox (Ovibos moschatus) scat was not found at 20-year-old sites and was most common in undisturbed tundra. To our knowledge, these observations are the first examples of birds and mammals using stabilized thaw slump habitat of different ages, and they provide new avenues of research for Arctic wildlife biologists concerned with the adaptation of these animals to permafrost disturbance and the resulting changes in vegetation cover
First records of Finescale Dace (Chrosomus neogaeus) in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Get PDFThe island of Newfoundland has no official record of cyprinid fishes. Here, we report the discovery of a minnow, Finescale Dace (Chromous neogaeus) from four ponds located in a first order tributary of the Exploits River, in central Newfoundland. This finding represents the first record of the species in the province. The location where the species was found is in a localized, central portion of insular Newfoundland, therefore, the most parsimonious explanation for this new record is that it was an illegal, intentional introduction. Such introductions in other provinces have occurred by anglers who felt it would serve as a forage fish for other species. The consequences of this introduction to native species are unknown; however, the dace’s local abundance, foraging behaviour, and reproductive capacity are discussed in terms of the interspecific competition with native species
New size record for Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) in southern Quebec, Canada
Get PDFWe report a new size record for a Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina) in Quebec, Canada. We captured an adult male in good general condition in the Rivière du Sud in the southern Montérégie region. Its straight midline carapace length was 43.2 cm (maximum carapace length 45.1 cm), and it weighed 19.8 kg. This record contributes to our understanding of the maximum size of this species at the northeastern part of its range. More intensive effort will be necessary to document the Snapping Turtle population structure in Quebec to allow for sound comparisons with other populations, as well as a better understanding of the effects of elevation, latitude, and local habitat on Snapping Turtle growth and size
Use of salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) by Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) in an Arctic, interior, montane environment
Get PDFSalmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) is a key dietary item for temperate coastal Brown Bears (Ursus arctos) across much of their circumpolar range. Brown Bears living in Arctic, interior, and montane environments without large annual runs of salmon tend to be smaller bodied and occur at much lower densities than coastal populations. We conducted ground and aerial surveys to assess whether Brown Bears fished for salmon above the Arctic Circle, in and around Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve. Here, we document the use of salmon by interior Brown Bears in the Arctic mountains of the central Brooks Range of Alaska. We believe our findings could be important for understanding the breadth of the species’ diet across major biomes, as well as visitor safety in the park and Brown Bear conservation in the region
"Guide to the Parasites of Fishes of Canada Part V: Nematoda" by Hisao P. Arai and John W. Smith. Edited by Michael D.B. Burt and Donald F. McAlpine, 2016. [book review]
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"The Cooper’s Hawk: Breeding Ecology & Natural History of a Winged Huntsman" by Robert N. Rosenfield, 2018. [book review]
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