The Canadian Field-Naturalist (E-Journal)
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Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus bifrons) in eastern Canada: a timely discovery
Full text linkCurrently, the invasive Himalayan Blackberry (Rubus bifrons Vest) is sparsely distributed in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States, documented in Ontario, Quebec, and New England. In summer 2022, patches of this plant were found in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, at the shrubby edges of gravel parking lots and in the town maintenance area. Of most concern is its occurrence along a former railway line that is now a trail system connecting many communities. In the fall and winter of 2022 established populations were noticed at three locations in Digby County, Nova Scotia, between 80 km and 100 km northeast of Yarmouth, where the evergreen thickets were noticeable from a distance. Climate warming and a variety of dispersal agents have likely contributed to the recent spread. Control is recommended to protect native biodiversity from this highly competitive invasive shrub
"Hymenoptera: the Natural History and Diversity of Wasps, Bees & Ants" by Stephen A. Marshall, 2023 [book review]
No full textEvidence of River Otter (Lontra canadensis) recolonization of Prince Edward Island, Canada
Full text linkRiver Otter (Lontra canadensis) was extirpated from Prince Edward Island (PEI) in the early 1900s as a result of habitat loss and overexploitation. Although there were isolated and sporadic occurrences in PEI coastal and inland waters pre-1975, only anecdotal reports of tracks or sightings of the species had been documented in the 21st century, until an adult male otter was captured in a beaver trap in 2016. Since then, seven additional individuals have been collected opportunistically or as by-catch of beaver trapping, including an adult female and a kit (juvenile). Camera traps have also revealed what appears to be a family group in central PEI. A growing body of evidence strongly suggests a resident River Otter population on PEI. The island is separated from the mainland by the Northumberland Strait, which has a minimum width of 13 km of salt water. River Otters have naturally recolonized PEI by dispersing across the Northumberland Strait
Deutonymphs of Neottialges caparti Fain (Astigmata: Hypoderatidae) from North American Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
Full text linkDeutonymphs of the mite family Hypoderatidae are subdermal parasites of vertebrates, primarily birds. Here we report the presence of deutonymphs of Neottialges caparti Fain (no common name) in the subcutis of Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus (L.)) from Atlantic Canadian waters. We observed mites in 39% of 90 birds whose skin samples were examined microscopically. Our observations represent both the first record of N. caparti in Northern Gannet from the western North Atlantic and the second report of N. caparti since its initial description in 1967 from two Northern Gannets in Belgium.Les deutonymphes de la famille de mites Hypoderatidae sont des parasites sous-dermiques des vertébrés, surtout des oiseaux. Nous décrivons ici la présence de deutonymphes de Neottialges caparti Fain dans le tissue sous-cutané de Fous de Bassan (Morus bassanus [Linnaeus]) des eaux atlantiques canadiennes. Nous avons observé des mites dans 39% de 90 oiseaux dont des échantillons de peau furent examinés microscopiquement. Nos observations représentent le premier rapport de N. caparti chez les Fous de Bassan de l’Atlantique nord-ouest et le second rapport de N. caparti depuis sa description originale en 1967 chez deux Fous de Bassan de la Belgique
Evolutionary isolation of Canadian terrestrial vertebrate species
No full textConservation prioritization has become increasingly important as a practical response to ongoing biodiversity loss and limited resources. One tool, evolutionary distinctiveness (ED) is based on a measure of evolutionary isolation and has merit for identifying taxa with few close relatives. Here we present the first ever national-level ED scores for any jurisdiction, applying the measures to all Canadian tetrapods. We updated and pruned global dated phylogenies of all terrestrial vertebrates (amphibians, squamates, turtles, mammals, and birds) down to native Canadian species and calculated Canadian ED scores and rankings for each and compared them to their global ED ranks. Canada’s terrestrial ectotherm vertebrates (amphibians and reptiles) include most of Canada’s most evolutionarily isolated species and many score and rank higher nationally than globally in their ED scores. These taxa are also the most imperilled in Canada and so species with populations assessed as at-risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) represent, on average, more than expected national evolutionary history. Interestingly, several exotic species also have very high national ED scores. To the extent that evolutionary isolation captures aspects of local and national biodiversity worth preserving, our lists may provide useful input to conservation agencies engaging in conservation prioritization exercises.
Recent records of telamonioid species of Cortinarius (Agaricales: Cortinariaceae) in New Brunswick, Canada
Full text linkEight species of Cortinarius (webcaps) subgenus Telamonia and two other telamonioid Cortinarius species are reported from New Brunswick, Canada. Internal transcribed spacer sequences of these were used to build a phylogenetic tree confirming species identifications and relationships to relevant material, especially types and other Canadian collections. Descriptions and photographs of fresh material and microscopic features are provided. Habitat details, particularly potential mycorrhizal partners and dominant bryophytes, were recorded for each collection and compared with published records. Seven species, Cortinarius caninoides, Cortinarius cicindela, Cortinarius fulvescens, Cortinarius harvardensis, Cortinarius plumulosus, Cortinarius pseudobiformis, and Cortinarius valgus are new distribution records for New Brunswick, and C. plumulosus is apparently a first record for North America. Because these species have rarely been reported, they have yet to be given common names