The significance of Canada's Carolinian Life Zone has long been recognized. It is at the northern limit of the Eastern deciduous forest region, and is the southernmost ecological region in Canada. It sustains vegetation and species more typical of the eastern United States south to the Carolinas. It has been described as Canada's most endangered major ecosystem, and many of its flora and fauna are found nowhere else in the nation. This is largely because many southern species reach their northern limits here, and because most of their natural habitat has been lost to human uses over the past three centuries. Almost 7 million people, or 25% of Canada's population, live in the Carolinian Zone or its immediate vicinity, yet it covers only 0.25% of Canada's area. Seventy-three per cent of the region is highly productive agricultural land, and its major urban centres continue to rapidly expand. Nevertheless, the Carolinian Zone contains two UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves (Long Point and the Niagara Escarpment) and many other important natural areas.
The Carolinian Zone, or ecological site region (ecoregion) 7E (Hills 1959; Jalava et al. 1996), covers approximately 22,000 km2, stretching from Toronto to Grand Bend, and south to the U.S. border. Historically, the ecoregion supported vast tracts of Maple - Ash - Elm upland forests on mesic soils, Oak and Oak - Pine forests on drier sandy soils and Elm - Ash swamps on clay plains. Most of these woodlands were in old-growth condition. Nested within these matrix communities were large patches of marsh, savannah and prairie. Dune, alvar and cliff ecosystems occurred as small patches on more exposed substrates. Rarer communities such as bogs, prairie fens and various woodland types also occurred. Today, the largest remnant natural areas are at Long Point, the Haldimand Clay Plain, along the Niagara Escarpment, on the Dundas Valley kame, at Skunks Misery southwest of London, and on the First Nations at Walpole Island and Six Nations First Nations.
The Canadian portion of the Carolinian Life Zone may be the most ecologically-degraded part of the Great Lakes basin. Less than 15% of Ontario's Carolinian landscape is classified as having natural cover on recent satellite imagery. Forest cover has been reduced from 80% to 11%, and wetlands from 28% to 5% of the area (Larson et al. 1999, Snell 1987). Only 0.07% of southern Ontario is now in old growth condition (i.e. over 120 years in age) (Larson et al. 1999). Nearly all of the remaining natural areas in the Carolinian Zone have been logged, irrigated, cleared, grazed, polluted or otherwise disturbed by human activities at one time or another over the past two centuries. Because the most intact natural areas have persisted where feasibility of agricultural and urban development is poor, the proportion of remnant vegetation differ significantly from those found prior to European settlement.
The Carolinian Zone sustains at least 18 globally rare and 42 provincially rare vegetation community types (e.g. Black Gum swamps, Figure 2). Thirty-six of the ecoregion's species are globally rare, 64 are considered nationally endangered or threatened, and 44 are nationally vulnerable. Over 400 of its plant and animal species are provincially rare. At least 39 of the province's extirpated taxa (14 animals and 25 plants) occurred in the Carolinian Zone. One quarter of the ecoregion's 57 native mammal species no longer occur there. Nine of the 18 native mammalian carnivores have not been recorded in the region for over 30 years. Gray Wolf, Eastern Cougar and Black Bear have also disappeared. This high extirpation rate is no doubt linked to the decimation of the region's wilderness and the fragmentation of remaining natural areas. The top carnivore today is the Coyote, a species that naturalized after the forests were cleared.
Many challenges to conservation are faced in the Carolinian Zone. Foremost from the perspective of terrestrial biodiversity protection is the extreme fragmentation of natural areas by agriculture, roads and urbanization. Almost all the land is in private ownership, and property values are high, resulting in major fiscal and public relations challenges for public agencies and non-government organizations interested in land acquisition. Urban sprawl continues, with its associated habitat loss, exotic species invasion, and industrial and recreational pressures (e.g., forestry, off-road vehicles, golf course development) within and adjacent to nearby natural areas. Hydrological impacts are widespread, resulting from extensive tiling of agricultural lands, irrigation, dams, channelization and re-routing of watercourses. Waterbodies also face non-point-source pollution, eutrophication and high sediment loads due to surrounding land uses, resulting in a high number of imperiled freshwater fauna.
Over the past century, one national park (Point Pelee), 4 national wildlife areas, 18 provincial parks and nature reserves, and the municipal/provincial Rouge Park, have been created in the Carolinian Zone. These sites perform various functions, from strict conservation in nature reserves and natural environment parks (covering about 0.68% of the ecoregion) to multiple uses in recreational parks (covering about 0.15%). The Ontario Heritage Foundation and non-government nature reserves protect about 0.11% of the area. Unfortunately, detailed figures on conservation authority (C.A.) holdings were not available to the authors, but these quasi-public lands are managed for watershed management as well as environmental protection and recreation, and are important to conservation. Of the C.A. properties, multiple-use conservation areas cover about 0.38% of the region. Agreement forests, managed primarily for timber harvest, provide some protection to an additional 0.18% of the region. Combined, these public and private managed areas cover only about 1.5% of the Carolinian Zone. Additionally, land trusts and other non-government organizations have negotiated conservation easements on some key private lands.
Other sites of ecological importance have also been recognized and receive limited protection through provincial policy and the land use planning process. Life science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSIs) are identified by OMNR as sites that best represent the characteristic landform-vegetation patterns of each ecodistrict, regardless of land tenure. Although often exemplary in terms of ecological quality and biological diversity, these sites are generally small in the Carolinian Life Zone, averaging less than 300 ha, and occupy only 2.5% of the ecoregion (Jalava 1996). Also, in the early 1980s, thirty-eight of the most significant Carolinian sites on private lands were identified to complement the suite of public protected areas and to provide a focus for conservation action and stewardship. These sites overlap with ANSIs and cover about 2.7% of the ecoregion. Stewardship awards and property tax incentives have been offered to landowners of Carolinian Canada sites and ANSIs to recognize and encourage low-impact uses of their lands. Additionally, most of the ecoregion's wetlands have been evaluated, and provincially significant wetlands receive similar policy protection and tax incentives as ANSIs. They cover about 2.1% of the ecoregion, with a considerable proportion overlapping with ANSIs and Carolinian Canada sites. Endangered species habitat covers another small percentage of the land base; landowners receive legal and property tax incentives to leave the habitat undisturbed.
The need for conservation efforts to expand beyond protecting landscape fragments has been expressed for many years (Ehrlich and Ehrlich 1981; Noss 1983; Margules and Pressey 2000). Studies in Ontario and throughout the world have shown that species requiring interior habitats or large tracts of intact habitat are unable to maintain viable populations in landscapes greatly fragmented by agriculture, roads and urbanization (Wilcox and Murphy 1985; Spellerberg 1998; Burke and Nol 1998ab), and that natural corridors are valuable conservation tools (Beier and Noss 1998). Endangered species recovery plans have been undertaken in the Carolinian Life Zone for some such species. However, the single-species approach to conservation is generally considered too costly, reactive and impractical to be used as the primary method for protecting biodiversity (Scott et al. 1988). Proactive conservation that focuses on landscapes and ecosystems is believed to provide the best long-term results at the lowest cost. Thus, a fundamental objective of The Big Picture project is to expand conservation planning beyond the existing islands of green.
Irreplaceability analysis is one widely used approach to conservation planning (Pressey 2000). This method uses algorithms in a GIS environment to identify a minimum set of sites to be protected in order to preserve the complete range of biodiversity in a region. Ontario's representation-oriented ANSI program was an early manual version of such an approach. The Nature Conservancy's ecoregional planning exercises in North America apply similar techniques to identify critical areas for conservation, with algorithms that allow users to examine portfolios of sites...that attempt to achieve the conservation goals for all targets in the least amount of land (Groves et al. 2000). The Nature Conservancy of Canada plans to apply similar methods to prioritize sites for conservation action in Canada. The results of irreplaceability analysis are normally unequivocal and easily understood, as long as there is agreement that there should be no permanent loss of any native species or natural community in a given region (Pressey 1999).
However, if an ecologically functioning landscape is the goal, Canada's Carolinian Life Zone is long past the point where irreplaceable sites could be identified at the expense of losing replaceable sites to further development or degradation. With so little natural area remaining, and with the quality of the remnants so degraded, much that was irreplaceable (such as an adequate amount of habitat for the native high carnivores) has already been lost. Many of the irreplaceable elements of the ecosystem have been extirpated or occur in such small, isolated populations that their long-term viability requirements cannot be met with the existing extent and configuration of habitats. At the same time, large-scale ecosystems (such as the waters of Lake Erie and the swamps of the clay plain in the Essex County area) have been altered to such an extent that they can almost certainly never be rehabilitated to resemble historic conditions.
Conservation practitioners have a responsibility to respond to this perilous situation with a tangible model and bold action that restores hope for a healthier, greener future in the region. A system of core natural areas functionally united by a network of natural corridors results in a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts (Noss and Cooperider 1994). Species unable to maintain viable populations in isolated habitats may be able to do so in a connected landscape. Although re-colonization by some of the historic taxa may seem highly unlikely, the recent southward reclamation of range in Ontario by species such as Black Bear and River Otter appears to coincide with increases in forest cover and improved water quality in the adjacent ecoregion 6E. A functioning natural landscape in Carolinian Canada would provide multiple benefits to humans as well.
The Big Picture project was designed to effectively work within the context of the remaining natural and quasi-natural cover and with the best available data. The methodology accords with generally accepted primary steps used in systematic conservation planning (Margules and Pressey 2000), namely:
1. clear choices for features to be used as surrogates for overall biodiversity;
2. explicit, quantitative, operational goals and targets;
3. recognition of the extent to which such goals are met in existing protected areas; and
4. simple, explicit methods for designing new reserves to complement the existing system.
A multi-agency Technical Committee (see Acknowledgements, below) was assembled in 1999 to provide expert review throughout the analysis. The following principles guided the development of the project:
1. Use a replicable, transparent methodology applicable in a GIS environment.
2. Favour existing natural cover, protected areas and other recognized areas of ecological importance in the selection of core areas.
3. Favour larger intact natural areas, areas with more extensive interior habitat and regions with high percentage natural cover in the selection of cores.
4. Reduce fragmentation of natural areas by increasing connectivity.
5. Increase extent of natural and rehabilitation areas to a minimum of 30% natural cover per ecodistrict.
6. Identify for protection all viable occurrences of globally rare elements and all significant concentrations of provincially rare elements.
7. Where possible, ensure a minimum core size of 200 ha and a minimum corridor width of at least 200 m.
8. Identify areas that contain soil types not represented or poorly represented in existing natural areas in order to prioritize sites for rehabilitation.
9. Identify areas where restoration and rehabilitation can be accomplished most efficiently and practically by applying an algorithm that includes ecological, social and economic considerations.
10. Modify methodology through consultation with the technical committee as questions and problems arise.
11. Allow for future updates to data and methods as new information becomes available and knowledge improves.
There was considerable discussion among the technical committee members regarding the minimum size for core areas. Scientific opinion differs widely on this question and a complex array of variables must be considered. It was deemed most practical and ecologically sensible to opt for a relatively small minimum size, given the extreme fragmentation of the Carolinian landscape in Ontario and the generally small size of its existing natural areas. The extent of an average disturbance event in the pre-European settlement forest of Southern Ontario was probably 2 ha or less (Larson et al. 1999; Runkle 1985; Runkle 1991; Riley and Mohr 1994). It has been estimated that protected landscapes must be 50 to100 times larger than average disturbance patches in order to maintain a relative equilibrium of habitats (Shugart and West 1981). In such a landscape, the proportions of different seral stages would be relatively constant over time, even though the sites occupied by various seral stages would change (Noss 1993). On this basis, minimum size of cores in the Carolinian Zone should be between 100 and 200 ha. Given recent larger storm disturbances (such as the blowdown at Rondeau in 1998 and the massive Eastern Ontario ice storm in 1998), a conservative strategy would recommend cores of at least 200 ha. However, even 200 ha natural areas are extremely scarce in some parts of the region, so standards for minimum size for significant woodlands developed by the OMNR were used for townships with extremely low percentage forest cover (OMNR 1999).
Digital data sets were assembled to show the locations of natural features. These included: slope and aspect heterogeneity, drainage, life science ANSIs, evaluated wetlands, Carolinian Canada sites, older growth woodlands, forest cover, and element (rare species and significant vegetation) occurrences. Each feature type was assigned a point value, based on its perceived relative ecological (or conservation) value. For example, each pixel within a documented older growth forest received 15 points, whereas all pixels in the path of rivers and streams received 3 points. These values were reviewed by the technical committee until consensus was reached. Data layers were then combined (through addition) to create the core values coverage.
To create core areas, this continuous values coverage needed a minimum point-sum that would result in a suite of cores of reasonable extent and configuration. Two values were considered most closely, 11 and 12. Use of a cut-off of 11 would have resulted in larger core areas, but would include features with low ecological integrity (e.g., drainage ditches). A cut-off value of 12 points resulted in representation of over 30% of the ecoregion in cores, with fewer patches of low integrity.
Clusters of adjacent 25 metre by 25 metre raster values 12 or greater were grouped. Any group larger than 200 ha was automatically considered a core. Cores over 200 ha were concentrated mainly in areas with higher percentage natural cover. Sizable regions of the study area had no cores larger than the 200 ha minimum. In such areas, the OMNR-recommended minimum significant woodland area was used, based on percentage forest cover by township (OMNR 1999). As a result, in some townships cores were as small as 4 ha. The combination of these smaller cores with the 200 ha or greater cores produced the final cores coverage. The 200 ha or greater cores were then buffered out to select any adjacent, 12-value or higher, natural areas. These were added to the original cores to create metacores.
To determine the connections between the cores, the values layer was first augmented to include new layers, some of which either encourage or discourage connection paths between the cores. Recreational Class Provincial Parks, for example, would make good potential additions to the connections network, but connections across divided highways would be discouraged.
A new values layer was formed by addition of the additional features. The sums were then inverted to form a resistance layer to determine the least-cost (i.e. greatest ecological value with fewest practical obstacles) connection between cores. The minimum value of the least-cost connection between the two cores furthest apart was calculated, and this figure was used as the maximum cost to form a path between any two cores. This ensured that all cores were linked to at least one other core, and often to many others where there was a high density of cores and natural values. These connections were widened to incorporate adjacent natural areas having a value 12 or greater in the original core values layer.
Not all connections achieved the targeted minimum width of 200 m. Connections that narrowed to less than 200 m were highlighted as potential restoration/rehabilitation areas. Metacorridors were created by combining the least-cost path, the high-valued natural areas adjacent to the connections, and the lands requiring rehabilitation to achieve 200m-wide connections between the metacores (Figure 1). Under-represented soil types adjacent to the metacores and metacorridors were also highlighted for potential rehabilitation (not shown in Figure 1).
Combined, the metacores and metacorridors form a potential heritage network for the Carolinian Zone. However, the Big Picture would not be complete without considering potential corridors to natural areas in ecoregion 6E to the north. These were visually evaluated, selected manually, and indicated as nodal points on the Big Picture map. Future updates to the Big Picture project should include a buffer of perhaps 20km along the ecoregion boundary so that GIS could be used to identify existing natural corridors and potential linkages to the adjacent ecoregion(s). Plans are currently underway to expand the Big Picture concept to all of southern Ontario. Linkage to ecoregions in the adjacent United States is not as straightforward because of the intervening waterbodies, but should be considered as well.
The Big Picture project provides a coarse scale spatial image that highlights existing natural cores and connections, and preferred areas for restoration and rehabilitation. Maps will be posted on the Carolinian Canada web site (http://www.carolinian.org/), and will be distributed to appropriate venues, as determined by the Big Picture communications committee. Core and connection boundaries are mapped as soft, fuzzy lines, according to criteria agreed upon by technical committee to ensure that private land issues are addressed. The finer-scale digital data set will be made available to conservation practitioners and municipal planners for use within their jurisdictions. The Big Picture vision will undoubtedly be refined as updated and better information becomes available and ecological knowledge improves. The project cannot guarantee a fully functioning ecologically healthy landscape. However, if its vision is adopted there can be little doubt that the imperiled Carolinian ecosystem and many of its elements will stand a much greater chance of long term viability. Most of the species that are currently in decline or on the threshold of extirpation will have more habitat. There will be increased opportunity for genetic exchange and re-colonization into degraded habitats, particularly for sedentary species that now occur only in isolated habitat fragments. It is also conceivable that extirpated taxa, such as some of the carnivores, may re-colonize or be reintroduced. The human population will benefit in many ways, from improved water quality, air quality, aesthetic values, recreational opportunities, psycho-spiritual health, natural heritage education, ecotourism, forest resources and wildlife resources, and the many other social and economic benefits associated with a clean environment.
The following organizations and institutions were represented on the Technical Committee and reviewed the methods of the project: Carolinian Canada, Parks Canada, Wildlife Habitat Canada, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Parks, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, University of Western Ontario, University of Waterloo, Federation of Ontario Naturalists, World Wildlife Fund, Wildlands League, Ontario Power Generation, Conservation Ontario, Bird Studies Canada, Norfolk Field Naturalists, Snell and Cecile Consulting, Ontario Heritage Foundation, Tallgrass Ontario, Society for Ecological Restoration and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Energy. Funding for the GIS Intern position was provided through a grant from Wildlife Habitat Canada to the Carolinian Canada program, and administered by the Association of Ontario Land Surveyors internship program. The Nature Conservancy of Canada also provided funding for the GIS analysis, and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources provided facilities and technical support to the project. The following individuals were particularly helpful on the Technical Committee, reviewed earlier drafts of this report, or assisted the project in other ways: Wasyl Bakowsky, Jane Bowles, Dawn Burke, Mike Cadman, Peter Carson, Andrew Couturier, Bill Crins, Mary Gartshore, Don Gordon, Steve Hounsell, John Riley, Paul Smith and Bill Stephenson. Bill Stephenson is especially thanked for conceiving of and tirelessly promoting the project, and Don Gordon is thanked for his communications finesse and understated understanding of ecological and human dimensions.
Beier, P. and R.F. Noss. 1998. Do Habitat Corridors Provide Connectivity? Conservation Biology 12(6): 1241-1252.
Burke D.M. and E. Nol. 1998a. Influence of food abundance, nest-site habitat, and forest fragmentation on breeding ovenbirds. The Auk 15(1): 96-104.
Burke, D. and E. Nol. 1998b . Edge and fragment size effects on vegetation of Eastern deciduous forests in Ontario. Natural Areas Journal 18: 45-53.
Ehrlich, P. R., and A. H. Ehrlich. 1981. Extinction: The Causes and Consequences of the Disappearance of Species. Random House, New York. 305 pp.
Groves, C., L. Valutis, D. Vosick, B. Neely, K. Wheaton, J. Touval and B. Runnels. 2000. Designing a Geography of Hope: A Practitioner's Handbook for Ecoregional Conservation Planning, Volume I and II. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, Va.
Hills, A. 1959. A Ready Reference to the Description of the Land of Ontario and its Productivity. Ontario Department of Lands and Forests, Research Branch, Maple, Ontario. 141 pp.
Jalava, J.V. 1996. Provincial Life Science Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest in Ecological Site Regions 6 and 7: Summary of Locations, Sizes and Evaluation Reports. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough. Manuscript. 41 pp.
Jalava, J.V., J.L. Riley, D.G. Cuddy and W.J. Crins. 1996. Natural Heritage Resources of Ontario: Revised Site Districts in Ecological Site Regions 6E and 7E, Part I: Rationale & Methodology. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. Manuscript. 18 pp.
Larson, B.M., J.L. Riley, E.A. Snell and H.G. Godschalk. 1999. The Woodland Heritage of Southern Ontario: A Study of Ecological Change, Distribution and Significance. Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Don Mills, Ontario. 262 pp.
Margules, C.R. and R.L. Pressey. 2000. Systematic conservation planning. Nature 405: 243-253.
Noss, R.F. 1983. A regional landscape approach to maintain diversity. Bioscience 33: 700-706.
Noss, R.F. 1993. The Wildlands Project Land Conservation Strategy. The GreenDisk Paperless Environmental Journal,Volume 1, Number 5, February - March 1993.
Noss, R.F. and Cooperrider. 1994. Saving Nature's Legacy: Protecting and Restoring Biodiversity. Island Press, Washington D.C. 417 pp.
OMNR. 1999. Natural Heritage Reference Manual for Policy 2.3 of the Provincial Policy Statement. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough. 126 pp.
Pressey, R.L. 1999. Applications of irreplaceability analysis to planning and management problems. Parks 9(1) 42-51.
Riley, J.L. and P. Mohr. 1994. The Natural Heritage of Southern Ontario's Settled Landscapes: a review of conservation and restoration ecology for land-use and landscape planning. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Aurora, Ontario. 78 pp.
Runkle . 1985. Disturbance regimes in temperate forests. Pp. 17-33, in, S.T. A. Picket and P.S. White (eds.). The Ecology of Natural Disturbances and Patch Dynamics. Academic Press. 472 pp.
Runkle. 1991. Gap dynamics of old-growth eastern forests: management implications. Natural Areas Journal 11:19-25.
Scott, J.M., B. Csuti, K. Smith. J.E. Estes and S. Caicco. 1988. Beyond endangered species: an integrated conservation strategy for the preservation of biological diversity. Endangered Species UPDATE 5(10): 43-38.
Shugart, H.H. and D.C. West. 1981. Long-term dynamics of forest ecosystems. American Scientist 69:647-652.
Snell, E.A. 1987. Wetland Distribution and Conversion in Southern Ontario. Canada Land Use Monitoring Program. Environment Canada.
Spellerberg, I.F. 1998. Ecological effects of roads and traffic: a literature review. Global Ecology and Biogeography Letters 7: 317-333.
Wilcox, B.A. and D.D. Murphy. 1985. Conservation strategy: the effects of fragmentation on extinction. American Naturalist 128: 879-887.
Jarmo V. Jalava
Coastal Marine Beach Ridges (G?S3) and their associated vegetation are rare in Ontario, since they are linear features restricted to local areas along marine shorelines, and the extent of their total area is relatively small.
The vegetation is sparse, with much bare gravel, cobble or sand in evidence. This vegetation type occurs in the Hudson and James Bay lowlands in Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. This community is dominated by grasses, herbs and shrubs, and small stunted trees may occur as scattered individuals or in small clumps.
These shallow beach ridges are formed by coarse gravels and sands which accumulate along the coast of James Bay and Hudson Bay (Figure 1). They may be separated by intervening areas of intertidal or supertidal marsh, mud flats, or tundra. The ridges extend inland in a series for 30 km (Figure 2), since the region continues to uplift through isostatic rebound, causing the shoreline to migrate northward and abandon the former nearshore area (Martini 1981).
Although abandoned ridges tend toward succession by tundra vegetation, numerous processes occur which promote or maintain local areas of exposed substrates. The ridges themselves are subjected to very strong winds during the growing season. Further, the morphology of these ridges can also be greatly influenced by other disturbances such as wildlife activity, especially the digging of cooling pits by polar bears, which leads to the development of numerous blowouts (Martini 1981).
In southwestern James Bay, the youngest ridges closest to the water are sparsely vegetated with American Dune Grass (Leymus mollis), Wormwood (Artemisia tilesii, G5 S2) and Beach Pea (Lathyrus japonicus). Other common species are Seabeach Sandwort (Honkenya peploides, Figure 3), Foxtail Barley (Hordeum jubatum), Chickweed (Stellaria longipes), Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus minor ssp. groenlandicus), Northern Gentian (Gentianella amarella) and Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana). The seaward edge receives more salt spray; consequently species which are tolerant to this may be found, including Fowler's Knotweed (Polygonum fowleri), Bushy Knotweed (P. ramossisum), Alkali Grass (Puccinellia lucida), Seaside Plantain (Plantago maritima), and Spearscale (Atriplex spp.) (Riley and McKay 1980).
Older ridges which are further inland may be open in exposed sites, or shrub-covered in more sheltered areas. Once sufficiently distanced from coastal influences, they become treed. Exposed older ridges may develop a denser cover of American Dune Grass and Wormwood, with associates such as Long-leaved Aster (Aster longifolius), Red Fescue (Festuca rubra), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Beach Pea, Wild Strawberry and Baltic Rush (Juncus balticus) (Riley and McKay 1980).
The more sheltered ridges are dominated by a variety of associations, which include the following species: Soapberry (Shepherdia canadensis), Bristly Wild Gooseberry (Ribes oxyacanthoides), Silverberry (Elaeagnus commutata), Common Juniper (Juniperus communis), Creeping Juniper (J. horizontalis), and small Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera). Herbaceous species of the open sites can be important cover in these communities as well. The less-exposed back ridges support a greater diversity of species, including numerous willow species (Salix brachycarpa, S. candida, S. glauca, S. glaucophylloides), Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera), Dwarf Birch (Betula pumila), Tamarack (Larix laricina) and White Spruce (Picea glauca) (Riley and McKay 1980).
Similar patterns of sparsely vegetated, graminoid and shrub-covered beach ridges also occur along the Hudson Bay shoreline. Near Winisk, the foreslope and crest of the first ridge are unvegetated, and vegetative cover begins along the long backslope, increasing with distance away from the shoreline. On the backslope, the most abundant species is Seabeach Sandwort. Other frequent species include Boreal Wormwood (Artemisia campestris ssp. borealis), American Dune Grass, Red Fescue, and Hedysarum (Hedysarum boreale ssp. mackenzii) (Sims, Wickware and Cowell 1987).
The second ridge has a more irregular surface with numerous hollows and miniature dunes. The dominant species is Hedysarum, which along with Prickly Saxifrage (Saxifraga tricuspidata), American Dune Grass and Seabeach Sandwort, forms a discontinuous cover along the second ridge, especially along the crest and backslope. The third ridge inland is the oldest, and estimated at approximately 150 years for this area along the coast. Cover is greater than 90%, and includes Prickly Saxifrage, Alpine Goldenrod (Solidago multiradiata), American Dune Grass, and Hedysarum (Sims, Wickware and Cowell 1987).
At least 19 tracked species of plants are known to occur in this vegetation type (Table 1) including Thrift (Armeria maritima ssp. labradorica) and Chamomile (Matricaria maritima ssp. phaecocephala, Figure 4).
Wasyl D. Bakowsky
Kor, P. 1997. Personal communication, dune geomorphology.
Martini, I.P. 1981. Coastal dunes of Ontario: Distribution and geomorphology. Geographie physique et Quaternaire 25(2):219-229.
Riley, J.L. and S.M. McKay. 1980. The vegetation and phytogeography of coastal southwestern James Bay. Life Sciences Contributions 124, Royal Ontario Museum.
Sims, R.A., G.M. Wickware, and D.W. Cowell. 1987. A study of coastal vegetation at a site on Hudson Bay near Winisk, Ontario. Canadian Field-Naturalist 101(3):335-345.
On January 5, 2000 the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) announced the addition of the Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea, G5 S1S2B SZN) and the King Rail (Rallus elegans, G4G5 S2B SZN) to Ontario's Endangered Species Act. This legislation prohibits the willful destruction or interference with the habitat of a regulated endangered species.
The Prothonotary Warbler is a cavity-nesting bird that occurs only in southwestern Ontario, in swampy woodlands and lowland forests that are subject to flooding. The number of breeding pairs in Ontario has declined over the last fifteen years. Threats to this species include habitat loss and disturbance, such as the cutting of trees and filling in of swamps. In 2000 it was estimated that there were about 30 pairs of prothonotaries in Ontario. This is an increase over the past two years, believed due in part to the recovery team erecting nest boxes in suitable habitat. There are now 200 boxes up in the province.
The King Rail inhabits cattail, bullrush and sedge marshes along lakes and rivers in southern Ontario. In Ontario the King Rail is at risk due to a loss of suitable wetland habitat, and fluctuating water levels which destroy nests and food sources. The current Ontario population is estimated at less than 50 breeding pairs. In 2000 the NHIC participated in surveys for the King Rail, which led to the discovery of several new sites for this species.
NHIC Zoologist Don Sutherland is among the MNR biologists who are working to implement recovery plans for both species with government partners such as the federal government, the Essex Region Conservation Authority, and non-government agencies such as Bird Studies Canada and Ducks Unlimited.
Kara E. Brodribb
In mid-October Alan Dextrase, Don Sutherland, and Tony Zammit joined Guelph District biologists Daryl Coulson and Melinda Thompson to assist a fish survey of ÔThe Oxbow' section of the Grand River immediately downstream from Brantford, Ontario. The crew was led by Erling Holm, Curator of Ichthyology at the Royal Ontario Museum, and his assistant Wayne King. The main purpose of the survey was to verify the occurrence of the globally rare (G3 S2) Eastern Sand Darter (Ammocrypta pellucida, last confirmed from this site in 1991, and to document its distribution in the oxbow.
The Eastern Sand Darter is a small (46-71 mm total length), slender, and transluscent fish, preferring sandy bottoms of clear lakes and rivers. The species has a discontinuous and diminishing range in Canada and the United States. Many local populations have been extirpated as a result of siltation, impoundments, and pollution, and the species is now listed as Threatened in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Although not officially listed in the U.S. under the federal Endangered Species Act, the species is regarded as Threatened by the American Fisheries Society. Eastern sand darters are found elsewhere in Ontario in Lakes Erie and St. Clair, and in the Sydenham and Thames Rivers.
Portions of the Grand River containing sandy bottom were surveyed with dip nets and bag seines, which were dragged along the river bottom. In addition to the eastern sand darter, Greenside Darters (Etheostoma blennioides; G5S4, Vulnerable in Canada) were found, as were a number of molluscs, including Mucket (Actinonaias ligamentina, G5 S3), Elktoe (Alasmidonta marginata, G4 S3), Black Sandshell (Ligumia recta, G5 S3), Pink Heelsplitter (Potamilus alatus, G5 S3), Deertoe (Truncilla truncata, G5 S3), and Sharp Hornsnail (Pleurocera acuta, G4G5 S2?).
Anthony E. Zammit and Donald A. Sutherland
NHIC staff conducted a number of surveys for dragonflies and damselflies (odonates) in the 2000 field season. Most of these surveys were conducted in southern Ontario and targeted odonates specifically. On other occasions, incidental records were collected while conducting other surveys and inventories across the province.
Some highlights of these surveys were as follows:
Two new populations of the Double-striped Bluet (Enallagma basidens, G5 S2) were discovered in 2000. Colin Jones and Don Sutherland found a population at a restored gravel pit near Birnam, Lambton Co. and Mike Oldham found a second population at a sand pit near Ridgetown, Kent Co. This species has recently extended its range into Ontario and is usually found in human-made ponds such as those in gravel pits and quarries.
Following the discovery of the River Bluet (Enallagma anna; G5 S1) at a new site near Sweaburg, Oxford Co. (Ontario's second location) by Paul Catling and Vivian Brownell , Colin Jones and Don Sutherland conducted a wider search in the area and found this species at an additional three sites. One population was located on a tributary of Cedar Creek south of Woodstock, a second was on Kenny Creek near Oxford Centre, and a third was found on Big Creek near New Durham, in Brant County.
One of the rarest groups of dragonflies in Ontario is the Genus Stylurus (the hanging clubtails). All six species found in Ontario are tracked by the NHIC and in 2000, NHIC staff recorded five of the six species.
* While conducting a survey of the Ganaraska River in Northumberland County, Colin Jones collected an exuviae (shed larval skin) of the Elusive Clubtail (Stylurus notatus, G3 S2). There are no previous records of this species from the Lake Ontario watershed and the only recent (post 1980) records in Ontario are from Essex Co., Prescott-Russell Co. and Rainy River District.
* During a survey on the Grand River for Eastern Sand Darters, Don Sutherland dredged up the larva of an Arrow Clubtail (Stylurus spiniceps, G5 S1S2) - a new record for Brant Co. and one of only five recent records of this species from Ontario. The other recent records are from the Sydenham River (1991 and 1999) in Lambton Co. and the Thames River (1997) in Middlesex Co.
* The Riverine Clubtail (Stylurus amnicola, G3 S1, Figure 1) was discovered new to Ontario in 1999 by Paul Catling and Vivian Brownell. Laura's Clubtail (Stylurus laurae, G4 S1) was discovered new to Canada in 1999 by Paul and Cory Catling. In order to assess the quality of these occurrences for the NHIC element occurrence database, Colin Jones and Don Sutherland, along with Peter Burke and Richard Russell conducted a thorough survey of a section of Big Otter Creek in 2000. Both species were found in significant numbers.
* The Zebra Clubtail (Stylurus scudderi, G4 S3) was found by Mike Oldham and Don Sutherland at Sand Cherry Creek; a new record for the Regional Municipality of Sudbury.
The sixth Ontario species of Stylurus, the Russet-tipped Clubtail (Stylurus plagiatus, G5 SH) is only known from a single historic record; an exuviae was collected on July 19, 1924 at Pelee Island.
During the survey of Big Otter Creek for Riverine and Laura's Clubtails, Peter Burke also found a male Clamp-tipped Emerald (Somatochlora tenebrosa, G5 S2S3). There are very few recent records of this rare species from Ontario and no past records from Elgin Co.
The Riffle Snaketail (Ophiogomphus carolus, G5 S1) was discovered at two new locations, both representing new District records. Mike Oldham found several individuals on Arrow River, new to Thunder Bay District. Mike Oldham and Don Sutherland also found this species at Moncrief Creek, new to Sudbury District. These new occurrences, combined with the existing records may necessitate a rank change for this species in the future.
On a trip to the Hudson Bay Lowlands in August, Don Sutherland and Mike Oldham recorded both the Sedge Darner (Aeshna juncea, G5 S1S3) and the Zigzag Darner (Aeshna sitchensis, G5 S1S3). These two species are both subarctic in distribution and as a result, very little is known about their distribution and abundance in Ontario.
Also in August, Colin Jones targeted a promising boggy sedge meadow in the interior of Algonquin Park for the Incurvate Emerald (Somatochlora incurvata, G4 S1). After nearly an hour of searching, a male and an ovipositing female (Ontario's first female record) were found, Ontario's fourth locality of this species.
Throughout the summer, NHIC staff conducted a life sciences inventory of the Kawartha Highlands signature site (see article on page 16). Among 11 tracked odonates recorded during the inventory, three species were also new to Peterborough Co.: Amber-winged Spreadwing (Lestes eurinus, G4 S2); Cyrano Darner (Nasiaeschna pentacantha, G5 S2); and Beaverpond Clubtail (Gomphus borealis, G4 S2).
The complete results of the NHIC's odonate surveys for 2000 will be pooled with the records from many other odonate enthusiasts and published in the second volume of a new yearly publication entitled Ontario Odonata. A review of Ontario Odonata Volume 1 can be found on page 20 of this newsletter.
Colin D. Jones
Rosita Ben-Oliel, working on contract with Environment Canada and in collaboration with NHIC Botanist Mike Oldham, has been working on a national status assessment of Canadian orchid species. As part of a federal-provincial/territorial project to assess national general status of wild species in Canada (NHIC Newsletter 5(2):16; 1999), Rosita has been compiling data on Canadian orchids assembled by all provinces and territories to come up with a national general status for each of Canada's 78 orchid species. These general status categories are designed in part to help prioritize species for more detailed status assessment, such as that conducted by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and in part to assist with the long-term monitoring of wild species in Canada. The process of assigning species to general status categories will be repeated every five years to monitor changes in status. The year 2000 general status assessment is the first time an evaluation of this type has been done in Canada and will help fulfill Canada's commitment to the international Biodiversity Convention. Because provincial Conservation Data Centres have already assembled a great deal of information relating to species status in each province, there has been close collaboration between data centres and provincial and federal wildlife agencies to come up with accurate status assessments for Canadian species.
Michael J. Oldham
The first year of the new millennium was an exciting one for botanical discoveries and rediscoveries in the province. Since last year's article (NHIC Newsletter 5(2):10-11) we have heard about four native additions to the Ontario flora, one of which was collected in 1999 but conclusively identified too late to be included in the 1999 report. Trailing Bush-clover (Lespedeza procumbens) was found in the Oriskany area of Haldimand-Norfolk Regional Municipality in 1999, by Graham Buck. This area is well-known for a variety of other rare plant species. Trailing Bush-clover is quite similar to several other bush-clover species, so should be looked for elsewhere in southwestern Ontario.
Graham Buck made another exciting botanical discovery in 2000 when he found Dwarf Dandelion (Krigia virginica) at Pinery Provincial Park. Although widespread in southern Michigan this species of dry, sandy soil has not previously been found in Ontario. Its discovery at Pinery, a site with many rare native species, suggests a natural occurrence.
The other two new native species for the province were discovered during NHIC fieldwork. While documenting significant sites for a proposed new National Marine Conservation Area on Lake Superior (see article on page 14), Moss-campion (Silene acaulis) was found on the shore of one small island off the Black Bay Peninsula. This arctic-alpine plant is widespread in the Canadian arctic and in the Rocky Mountains but has not previously been found in Ontario or the Great Lakes Basin. During life science inventory work in Polar Bear Provincial Park (see article on page 16), Rock Sedge (Carex rupestris) was discovered on a gravelly beach ridge near Hudson Bay. Although widespread in the arctic and known from northern Manitoba and Quebec, Rock Sedge had not previously been found in Ontario.
Al Harris continues to make exciting botanical discoveries during fieldwork in northwestern Ontario. This year on Rainy Lake he discovered the third provincial population of Small-flowered Lipocarpha (Lipocarpha micrantha), a nationally and provincially Threatened species. Also on Rainy Lake, Al found several populations of the tiny Water Pigmy-weed (Tillaea aquatica), a species previously known in the province only from a 1961 collection and ranked SH (historic) by the NHIC. Al rediscovered another SH species in Ontario when he found Leadplant (Amorpha canescens) in Rainy River District. A third SH-ranked species, Sheared Gentian (Gentianopsis detonsa), was rediscovered by NHIC biologists during fieldwork in Polar Bear Provincial Park.
Other significant discoveries of rare native plants include the first record of Arrow-arum (Peltandra virginica) in Waterloo Region by Graham Buck. Several new White Wood Aster (Aster divaricatus) subpopulations were found and others verified by Melinda Thompson (MNR Species at Risk Biologist, Guelph) in the Niagara Region. Melinda also discovered a new Ontario population of the nationally and provincially Endangered Hoary Mountain-mint (Pycnanthemum incanum) in Burlington. Tony Reznicek, Jim Goltz, and Mike Oldham verified the presence Pursh's Bulrush (Scirpus purshianus) at 12-mile Bay, Muskoka District, in late 1999 (second Ontario record). A new easternmost Ontario record for Eastern Prairie Fringed-orchid (Platanthera leucophaea) was discovered in Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry United Counties by Bob Graham. Grass-leaved Water-plantain (Alisma gramineum) was found along the Georgian Bay shoreline (Simcoe and Muskoka) by Tony Reznicek, Jim Goltz, Bob Bowles and Allen Sinclair, the first Georgian Bay records. This spring, Ilse Kraemer and Anthony Goodban discovered False Gromwell (Onosmodium molle var. hispidissimum) along the Grand River floodplain in Brantford, the first observation of this species from the area since 1864. A new Ontario station for Compass-plant (Silphium laciniatum) was discovered from a prairie remnant along a railway right-of-way in Kent County (fide Al Woodliffe). Gerry Racey discovered a new population of Drummond's Thistle at a site just west of Thunder Bay. Wasyl Bakowsky and Harold Lee each found new records of Mountain Parsley (Cryptogramma acrostichoides) near Matchett Lake, near Red Lake in northwestern Ontario.
We would like to thank the many Ontario botanists who took the time to fill out NHIC rare species reporting forms (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/nhic/queries/report.html) or submitted significant records to us in other ways.
Michael J. Oldham
Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) numbers have increased dramatically in the province in the past few decades and the impact this increase may have on other biota is not fully understood. Ontario Parks is investigating the impacts of increased numbers of nesting cormorants on the significant features of East Sister Island Provincial Nature Reserve in western Lake Erie. At the request of Parks Canada, parts of this study were extended to include nearby Middle Island, recently purchased by the Nature Conservancy of Canada, which will probably be added to Point Pelee National Park. East Sister Island and Middle Island are home to many species of plants and animals rare in the province, including several known in Ontario only from the islands in western Lake Erie. Nesting cormorant numbers on these islands have increased dramatically (Table 1) and the droppings from nesting cormorants have killed much of the vegetation beneath nest trees. Currently (2000) there are 5,485 nesting cormorant pairs on East Sister Island and 5,202 nesting pairs on Middle Island (D.V. Weseloh, personal communication). Several other colonially nesting bird species (Great Blue Heron, Common Egret, Black-crowned Night-heron) also nest on both islands.
On 15 June 2000, Bill Crins of Ontario Parks and Mike Oldham of NHIC spent a day surveying East Sister Island and Middle Island for rare vascular plants. Chip Weseloh of the Canadian Wildlife Service provided transportation to the islands during his annual census of colonial waterbirds. The purpose of this field survey was to compare the current rare plant populations on East Sister and Middle Islands with previous data. Although historic population counts of rare plants were not available, species lists and some mapping of localities were. Much of the historic information on rare plant presence and distribution on these islands dates from 1988 when a life science inventory was conducted (Kamstra, Oldham and Woodliffe 1995). One previously unrecorded rare plant was found on each island during 2000 fieldwork (Pumpkin Ash on East Sister and Scorpion-grass on Middle Island). Both East Sister and Middle Islands are very significant from a rare plant perspective due to their very southern location (Middle Island is the most southerly piece of land in Canada) and moderating influence of Lake Erie. A combined total of thirty-four NHIC-tracked vascular plants is known from these two islands, a remarkable total given their small size (Middle Island 18.5 ha; East Sister Island 15 ha). One species from each island is not known elsewhere in the province (Virginia Avens on East Sister Island and Clustered Sedge on Middle Island); unfortunately neither species was located in 2000.
Twenty-four provincially rare vascular plant species (i.e. tracked by the NHIC) have been documented from East Sister Island and 25 from Middle Island (Table 2). During fieldwork in June 2000, six provincially rare vascular plants species were located on East Sister Island and eight on Middle Island (a ninth rare plant, Wild Hyacinth, was seen on an earlier visit to Middle Island in 2000 by Ron Tiessen). Although not all rare plant species are identifiable during a mid-June visit (e.g. early spring or late summer blooming species), this apparent decline may be due, at least in part, to increasing cormorant numbers. Plants of rich woods (e.g. Sylvan Bluegrass, Appendaged Waterleaf, Miami Mist, Harbinger-of-Spring) appear to have been most impacted, particularly on East Sister Island, where almost all wooded areas are heavily used by nesting cormorants. Cormorants have not yet spread to all parts of Middle Island and, hence, these areas have retained some of their rare woodland flora. Although the increase in cormorant numbers seems to be the most likely cause of the apparent disappearance of some rare plant species, it is possible that some of the losses are due to other factors or that some species were missed during the survey. Exactly what can or should be done to reduce impacts of nesting cormorants on the significant features of these islands is still under study.
We would like to thank Chip Weseloh of the Canadian Wildlife Service (Environment Canada) for providing transportation to the islands, the nest count data presented in Table 1, and helpful comments on an earlier version of this article.
Kamstra, J., M.J. Oldham, and P.A. Woodliffe. 1995. A Life Science Inventory and Evaluation of Six Natural Areas in the Erie Islands (Ontario). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. 140 pp. + appendices + maps.
Michael J. Oldham and William J. Crins
For the past three years Natural Heritage Information Centre biologists have been assisting with Parks Canada initiated inventories on the north shore of Lake Superior to help document significant features in an area proposed as a National Marine Conservation Area (see article in NHIC Newsletter 4(2):8-9; 1998). In June 2000 Mike Oldham participated in a 6-day boat trip to islands and peninsulas on the north shore of Lake Superior to document the significant botanical features of the area. Due to its remote location this part of the province has not been well-explored.
The north shore of Lake Superior has long been known as a very significant area botanically, in particular due to the many northern plant species which occur here, well-separated from the main part of their range even further north. These plants, known as arctic-alpine disjuncts, are thought to have been able to persist here due to the cold microclimate along the Lake Superior shore. Such plant species typically occur in a rare community type, Great Lakes Arctic-Alpine Basic Bedrock Shoreline, described in an earlier NHIC Newsletter article (4(2):10-12; 1998). Examples of arctic-alpine plant species occurring on the north shore of Lake Superior and documented in 2000 include Crowberry (Empetrum nigrum), Alpine Bistort (Polygonum viviparum), Knotted Pearlwort (Sagina nodosa), Encrusted Saxifrage (Saxifraga paniculata), Three-toothed Saxifrage (Saxifraga tricuspidata), Tiny False Asphodel (Tofieldia pusilla), and Northern Paintbrush (Castilleja septentrionalis). The most exciting find from this summer's fieldwork was the discovery of a new arctic-alpine disjunct plant species for Lake Superior, Moss-campion (Silene acaulis). This small plant, which was found on the shore of only one small island, is not only new to Lake Superior, but is also the first record for the province and the first record for the Great Lakes basin. A report summarizing the results of fieldwork on Lake Superior is in preparation.
Michael J. Oldham
NHIC biologists contributed to a Great Lakes basin-wide project to identify important areas for amphibian and reptile conservation in Ontario. At a March 2000 workshop at the University of Guelph, Mike Oldham presented the results of a GIS analysis of over 130,000 amphibian and reptile records in the Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary (OHS) database. This analysis identified the areas in the province with the highest amphibian and reptile species richness based on records in the OHS database. Information from the GIS analysis was combined with other data provided by workshop participants to prioritize key sites in Ontario for conservation action. Similar workshops were held in other Great Lakes jurisdictions and the results were combined into a single report by The Nature Conservancy's Great Lakes Program office, to help guide future conservation actions.
Michael J. Oldham and Kara E. Brodribb
Distribution maps for all Ontario amphibian and reptile species are now posted on the NHIC web page (http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/mnr/nhic/nhic.html). These maps are a product of the Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary (OHS) project, a provincial amphibian and reptile atlas effort initiated in the mid-1980's. The OHS project assembled over 130,000 geo-referenced records of amphibian and reptile observations in the province. These records include specimen records from museum collections, literature records from both published and unpublished sources, as well as sight and photographic records contributed during the OHS project. The dot distribution maps of each Ontario species show both historic (pre-1984) and recent records and differentiate between specimen and sight records. Future planned updates to the Ontario Herpetofaunal Atlas portion of the NHIC web page include photos and text for each species, the ability to search the OHS database itself for particular records, and a mechanism for submitting additional amphibian and reptile sightings. The NHIC would like to acknowledge the significant contribution to the OHS project by the several hundred volunteer observers who submitted records, to Wayne Weller for overall project co-ordination, and Kara Brodribb for producing the maps.
Michael J. Oldham
The MNR is working with First Nations in the far north to facilitate development of sustainable forestry operations. This effort arises from key government directions outlined in the Aboriginal Policy Framework (1996) and the Ontario Forest Accord (1999).
The Northern Boreal Initiative (NBI) refers to the collective efforts by the MNR and First Nations in planning and environmental assessment, which should lead to orderly development of these regions. The areas under study are called focus areas, and include the following communities:
* Pikangikum (population 2,000)
* Moose Cree (population 2,000)
* Constance Lake (population 1,500)
A number of planning and resource products are required to address NBI objectives, including:
* Environmental Assessment Coverage for Forest Management Activities
* Identification of Parks and Protected Areas to be Regulated
* Land Use Strategies
* Recommendations for Forest Management Units
There are large gaps in the types of information required for these products, including natural heritage information, which is needed for the identification of parks and protected areas, as well as identification of Vulnerable, Threatened and Endangered species.
As a contribution toward this project, the NHIC contributed staff time for field data collection in the Pikangikum study area, located north of Red Lake, Ontario. Almost a week (June 22-27) was spent in the vicinity of Matchett Lake, where a base camp was set up on an island. The field crew was lead by Gerry Racey (Northwest Science and Technology Unit) other members included Peter Uhlig (Provincial Ecological Land Classification Co-ordinator), Lee Gerrish and Claire Mitchell (Red Lake District), Harold Lee (Southcentral Science and Technology), and Wasyl Bakowsky (NHIC).
Field work focussed on a number of tasks, including collection of soils and forest plot data, assessment of caribou breeding habitat, collection of representative vegetation data, and botanical surveys.
A number of habitats were surveyed, including boreal upland and lowland forests, granitic rock barrens, shorelines, bogs, and extensive patterned fens. During the course of fieldwork, two occurrences of the provincially rare Mountain Parsley (Cryptogramma acrostichoides, G5 S2) were discovered.
Wasyl D. Bakowsky
Between June and early October 2000, NHIC staff conducted a reconnaissance life science inventory of the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site (KHSS) on behalf of Ontario Parks. The 35,318 hectare Signature Site, located 50 kilometers north of Peterborough, is recommended to become the largest protected area in Ontario south of Algonquin Provincial Park through the Ontario Living Legacy (OLL) program of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Situated near the southern edge of the Canadian Shield region, the relatively undisturbed site contains a mix of small lakes, wetlands, granitic rock barrens and a variety of forest communities representative of the Great-Lakes St. Lawrence Forest Region. The site is of interest because it exhibits floral and faunal characters associated with both more northerly and southerly regions.
The main objectives of the inventory were to identify and evaluate significant ecological features and sites, and to provide an overview of the flora, fauna and general range of conditions within the study area. The large size of the area and difficulty of access, dictated that only a general reconnaissance inventory could be accomplished in the time available. Field effort was concentrated on gathering information on vascular plants and plant communities, breeding birds, odonates (damselflies and dragonflies) and butterflies. Incidental sightings of amphibians, reptiles, and mammals were recorded, but a comprehensive survey of these groups was beyond the scope of the study.
Analysis of field data and other relevant material concerning the study site is currently ongoing. A detailed report outlining the findings and providing recommendations for protection and management of the KHSS will be completed for submission to Ontario Parks by the winter of 2001. More information on the Kawartha Highlands Signature Site is available at: http://www.ontarioslivinglegacy.com/kawartha.html.
Rosita Ben-Oliel
In late August 2000, Don Sutherland, NHIC Zoologist, and Mike Oldham, NHIC Botanist, had the opportunity to spend a week in Ontario's Hudson Bay Lowlands doing life science inventory work in Polar Bear Provincial Park. This park is Ontario's largest and most northerly park and contains a significant portion of the province's Polar Bear population. The park has never had a detailed life science inventory, so the NHIC undertook basic inventory work to determine species presence, distribution, and status. Access to Polar Bear Provincial Park is difficult and expensive, but in order to cut down on costs NHIC staff were able to accompany MNR bear biologist Martyn Obbard on his annual late summer field trip to study Polar Bear populations. The study team was based at the Polar Bear Provincial Park headquarters in Peawanuck on the Winisk River and explored several different areas of the park by plane, boat, and on foot.
Botanical fieldwork consisted of trying to locate and document populations of provincially rare plants in the park. Ontario's Hudson Bay Lowlands has a large number of plant species found nowhere else in the province, many of which are rare species tracked by the NHIC. Information on rare plant populations in this part of Ontario is sparse and often several decades old. Although all specimens collected during the study have not yet been fully identified or confirmed, preliminary identifications indicate that at least 40 different taxa of NHIC-tracked plants were documented during fieldwork, including several ranked SH (i.e. no Ontario records in at least 20 years). Several species not previously recorded in the Hudson Bay Lowlands were documented, and most exciting was the discovery of Rock Sedge (Carex rupestris), a native species new to the province.
NHIC would like to thank Martyn Obbard for logistical and other support and Barton Fielders of Ontario Parks for helping with travel costs and providing a permit to collect in the Park.
Michael J. Oldham
As part of a new advanced undergraduate biology course at Trent University, Internship in Conservation Biology, the Natural Heritage Information Centre is providing practical experience in conservation biology to two Trent students. Last fall and winter Trent student James Quelch was one of the first students to take this new course. James worked with Mike Oldham to compile national ranks (NRANKs) for Canadian ferns species using subnational ranks (SRANKs) from all Canadian provinces. As part of this course students spend at least 6 hours a week with a practicing conservation biologist outside Trent University and also have a faculty supervisor (in this case Dr. Joe Cebek). James' Internship in Conservation Biology project was highly successful. James also spent the summer with the NHIC as the Centre's Summer Employment Project (SEP) Botany Technician. In this position James was responsible for databasing, mounting, labeling and filing plant specimens in the NHIC herbarium, and a variety of other tasks related to the NHIC botany program.
This fall a new Trent student, Neil Osborne, has started his Internship in Conservation Biology project at the NHIC. Neil will also be co-supervised by Mike Oldham of NHIC and Joe Cebek of Trent University and his project will involve amphibians and reptiles. More information on Neil's project will be presented in a future newsletter.
Michael J. Oldham
In order to uphold its commitment to the protection of species at risk, Ontario has committed over 2 million dollars in Ontario Living Legacy (OLL) funding to enhance the MNR's Species at Risk (SAR) program for 2000-2001. This expansion of the SAR program includes the placement of two contract biologists at NHIC; Tony Zammit and Kara Brodribb.
Tony Zammit completed his undergraduate degree in Zoology at the University of Western Ontario in 1990. From 1991 to 1993, he worked as a Scientific Assistant in the Department of Herpetology at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. In 1993, Tony returned to Canada to begin graduate research at the University of Waterloo, where he completed a thesis on the status and conservation needs of Ontario's herpetofauna. After graduating he relocated to the Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station in Porter, Indiana to help conduct surveys of birds and butterflies, including the federally Endangered (U.S. status) Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis). In 1999, Tony moved to Boston to complete the development of a freshwater species database for the Central Zoology department of the Association for Biodiversity Information and The Nature Conservancy.
At the NHIC Tony is responsible for evaluating the provincial status of several species at risk in Ontario using criteria developed by the Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN) under the direction of Don Sutherland, NHIC zoologist. These species include Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina), Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), and Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii). Tony and Don recently contacted approximately 50 Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centres in Canada and the U.S.A. in order to compile Element Occurrence (EO) Specifications for provincially rare birds and mammals.
Kara Brodribb completed her undergraduate degree in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Western Ontario in 1997. She has been working on her M.Sc. since then in the Watershed Ecosystem Graduate Program at Trent University. Kara's thesis research focuses on the impact of urbanization on sugar maple forests in Southern Ontario, with special emphasis on the application of GIS and remote sensing to evaluate ecosystem structure and health.
Kara has been working at the NHIC since August 1999 when she was hired to manage the centre's databases, perform GIS analysis and mapping, and maintain the centre's web page while Peter Sorrill was on secondment. Kara's current position as Species at Risk Biologist involves designing a GIS-based import of 20,000 rare plant records into NHIC's rare species database. Kara is also working with Michael Oldham on the mapping and web development of the Ontario Herpetofaunal Atlas. Other responsibilities and projects include mapping natural heritage data on the Oak Ridges Moraine, analysis and mapping of prairie and savannah communities, and performing a spatial analysis of natural heritage data within the Great Lakes Eco-regional planning units. This summer Kara also produced maps of rare species in Northern Ontario and within the Kawartha Highlands Ontario Living Legacy Site. This fall Kara was involved with evaluating the provincial status of species at risk in Ontario using criteria developed by COSSARO and IUCN. These species include Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus), Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata), Purple Twayblade (Liparis liliifolia), and Gattinger's Agalinis (Agalinis gattingeri).
Kara E. Brodribb
Biologists at the Natural Heritage Information Centre continue to take an active role in Ontario's Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO) and the national Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). This year NHIC staff authored or co-authored six status reports. Madeline Austen, a former contract biologist with NHIC now working for Environment Canada, completed a COSSARO-funded status report on American Hart's-tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum). This globally rare fern (G4T3) has most of its world populations on Ontario's Niagara Escarpment. Don Sutherland contributed a COSEWIC status report on Horsetail Spike-rush (Eleocharis equisetoides), currently known in Canada only from one small population at Long Point. Mike Oldham, in collaboration with David White, co-authored four COSEWIC status update reports, on Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata), Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioica), Colicroot (Aletris farinosa) and Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum).
Michael J. Oldham
The NHIC web site (www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/nhic/nhic/html) is undergoing a major renovation. Contractor Jamie Pulfer was hired in July 2000 to greatly increase the number of data fields accessible via the web site, to improve querying capabilities, and to expand the capacity for external users to submit data to NHIC.
The new page provides better querying capabilities on specified geographic areas (such as MNR administrative districts, counties and ecoregions). Species, areas and occurrence data are better linked on the new page. Both detailed and general users are able to access a more complete set of data fields on species, communities and areas. And designated data custodians can enter information (on areas within their jurisdictions) directly into the Natural Areas Database on-line.
Other new features include enhanced security that enables detailed access based on smaller geographic regions. For example, if a data sharing agreement is in place, a conservation authority may have detailed access to records within their watershed.
Selected MNR staff are currently testing the enhancements on the Ministry Intranet site, with export to the external site planned for early 2001. If you wish to be contacted when the new page is launched, please notify Pete Sorrill at peter.sorrill@mnr.gov.on.ca . The next NHIC newsletter will contain further detailed information on the new site.
Peter J. Sorrill
Published by: The Friends of Point Pelee
Editor: Alan Wormington
This new publication will focus on the natural history of Point Pelee and immediate area. Contents will include feature articles and notes (with photographs), seasonal summaries of bird observations, an annual summary of butterfly observations, miscellaneous reports (CBC results, etc.), a listing of upcoming natural history events at and near Point Pelee, letters to the editor, and much more.
Four issues will be published per year with the first issue to be mailed in April, 2001. Subscription fees are for a calendar year only, as follows:
Canada: CAN $15 (one year) or $30 (two years)
International: US $15 (one year) or $30 (two years)
Send subscription fees and your e-mail address (optional) to:
The Friends of Point Pelee
1118 Point Pelee Drive
Leamington, Ontario
Canada N8H 3V4
For additional information contact: The Friends of Point Pelee at: fopp@wincom.net
Building on earlier fieldwork in the area (NHIC Newsletter 5(2):3-4; 1999), Wasyl Bakowsky and Mike Oldham spent several days in northwestern Ontario investigating significant vegetation community and rare species occurrences. Fieldwork with Gerry Racey of MNR's Northwestern Science and Technology Transfer Unit at prairie remnants west of Thunder Bay resulted in the discovery of a new population of Rough Fescue (Festuca hallii) and several other rare plant populations.
Darren Elder, John Van den Broeck, and Darryl McLeod of MNR's Fort Frances office assisted with fieldwork at several wetlands in Rainy River District and on islands and shorelines in Rainy Lake resulting in the discovery of new sites for Hill's Oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis), Fragile Prickly-pear (Opuntia fragilis), Wild Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota), Ross's Sedge (Carex rossii), and other rare species. NHIC is continuing collaborative work with the Rainy Lake Conservancy (Dale and Phyllis Callaghan) and Northern Bioscience (Al Harris and Rob Foster) and this year's fieldwork will help identify significant sites for conservation purposes.
One day was spent exploring Kakagi Lake, near Lake of the Woods. Of interest here was the discovery of numerous populations of Groundsel (Senecio eremophilus), and new locations for Prairie Onion (Allium stellatum), Slender Beard-tongue (Penstemon gracilis), Prairie Spikemoss (Selaginella densa), and June Grass (Koeleria macrantha).
Thanks to Scott Lockhart of MNR's Kenora office, NHIC had use of a motor boat to continue exploration of islands and peninsulas on Lake of the Woods. Over eighty occurrences of more than twenty-five rare species were recorded in two days of fieldwork, further documenting the high level of significance of many areas on this large lake. Rare communities were also found during the survey. Botanical highlights included the first Lake of the Woods records of Wild Licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) and Northern Androsace (Androsace septentrionalis), and new localities for provincial rarities such as Dryland Blunt Sedge (Carex obtusata), Mountain Sedge (Carex saximontana), and Prairie Heath Aster (Aster ericoides ssp. pansus).
Michael J. Oldham and Wasyl D. Bakowsky
The Association for Biodiversity Information (ABI) is an international, non-profit organization dedicated to developing and providing knowledge about the world's natural diversity. ABI works in partnership with the Natural Heritage Network to provide scientific information for effective conservation action. The Natural Heritage Network is a group of 85 independent Natural Heritage programs and Conservation Data Centers, including NHIC, that collect data on rare species and ecosystems in the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
This fall ABI, in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network, launched NatureServe on the Internet (http://www.natureserve.org/). This website is a source of authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals, and ecological communities of the United States and Canada. This site can be searched for detailed information on rare and endangered species, as well as common plants and animals. Features of the website include the ability to view a distribution map of a species with subnational conservation status ranks (SRANKs) displayed for each state/province, and comprehensive reports on factors contributing to the global conservation status rank (GRANK) of a species.
Kara E. Brodribb
At its April and November 2000 meetings the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) evaluated or re-evaluated the national status of 28 Ontario species or subspecies (see list below). In evaluating Species at Risk, COSEWIC is now using criteria adopted from The World Conservation Union (IUCN). COSEWIC has also changed its Vulnerable category to Special Concern, though the definition remains the same. Further information can be found on the COSEWIC web page (www.cosewic.gc.ca).
ENDANGERED
American Badger (Taxidea taxus jacksoni) [new listing]
Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) [re-evaluation, same status]
King Rail (Rallus elegans) [re-evaluation, same status]
Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) [re-evaluation, same status]
Eastern Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans) [re-evaluation, same status]
Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) [re-evaluation, same status]
Aurora Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis) [re-evaluation, same status]
Horsetail Spike-rush (Eleocharis equisetoides) [new listing]
Bashful Bulrush or Few-flowered Club-rush (Trichophorum planifolium or Scirpus
verecundus) [re-evaluation, uplisted from Special Concern]
THREATENED
Woodland Caribou (Boreal population) (Rangifer tarandus caribou) [new listing]
Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) [re-evaluation, same status]
Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum) [new listing]
Fowler's Toad (Bufo fowleri) [re-evaluation, same status]
Spotted Gar (Lepisosteus oculatus) [re-evaluation, uplisted from Special Concern]
Eastern Sand Darter (Ammocrypta pellucida) [re-evaluation, same status]
Western Silver-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum sericeum or Virgulus sericeus) [re-evaluation, uplisted from Special Concern]
Colicroot (Aletris farinosa) [re-evaluation, same status]
Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) [re-evaluation, same status]
Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioica) [re-evaluation, same status]
Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum) [re-evaluation, same status]
American Water-willow (Justicia americana) [re-evaluation, same status]
SPECIAL CONCERN
Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus) [re-evaluation, same status]
Eastern Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens virens) [re-evaluation, same status]
Pugnose Minnow (Opsopoeodus emiliae) [re-evaluation, same status]
American Hart's-tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum) [new listing]
Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata) [re-evaluation, downlisted from Threatened]
Riddell's Goldenrod (Solidago riddellii) [new listing]
NOT AT RISK
Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) [new listing] ;
Michael J. Oldham
Anderson, R.C., J.S. Fralish and J.M. Baskin, eds. 1999. Savanna, barrens and rock outcrops plant communities of North America. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 470 pp.
This is a useful compilation of articles written by experts on the vegetation of these open plant communities. It is organized geographically into eastern/southeastern, central/midwest, western/southwestern, and northern regions. Ontario authors have contributed articles for the northern region, including Paul M. Catling and Vivian R. Brownell, who authored articles on alvars and southern Ontario granite barrens. Doug W. Larson, Utta Matthes-Sears and Patrick E. Kelly contributed an article on the cliff ecosystem of the Niagara Escarpment. Information contained in these articles includes ecology, distribution, extent, flora and fauna. Two articles from the midwest/central region also apply to Ontario. An article on dry soil savannas includes Ontario (although the classification does not reflect the provincial situation), another on deep soil savannas also includes information applicable to Ontario, although it does not map or note this community as occurring in the province. The volume is available from large book retailers for approximately $70.00 (Cdn).
Brownell, V.R., and J.L. Riley. 2000. The Alvars of Ontario: Siginificant Alvar Natural Areas in the Ontario Great Lakes Region. Federation of Ontario Naturalists. 269 pp.
One of Ontario's rarest ecosystems, alvars are areas of shallow soil over flat limestone plains, with distinctive flora and fauna. Ontario has a history of research on alvar vegetation dating from the late 1960's. This report, initiated by the Federation of Ontario Naturalists, combined new research, and summarised the existing body of information, to provide an assessment and documentation of the most significant alvars remaining in the province. Background information on alvars is provided, along with a gap analysis which reviews the various alvar types, representation within protected areas, and recommended sites to complete representation targets. An appendix summarizes the most significant alvar sites with maps, information on site details, and special features. Other reported sites which were included in the analysis are also listed. This report presents a tremendous amount of information on alvars, and should find an appreciative audience with anyone interested in this special ecosystem. It is available from the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (1-800-440-2366) for $16.05, tax included).
Catling, P.M., and V.R. Brownell. 2000. Damselflies and Dragonflies (Odonata) of Ontario: Resource Guide and Annotated List. Privately published, Metcalfe, Ontario. 198 pp.
Contains an annotated checklist of Ontario species, county dot mapping of all Ontario species, keys to some genera, an extensive bibliography and lots of other useful information on Ontario dragonflies. Available from the authors (2326 Scrivens Drive, R.R. #3, Metcalfe, Ontario K0A 2P0; brownell@achilles.net) for $28 plus $6 shipping.
Catling, P.M., C. Jones, and P. Pratt (editors and compilers). 2000. Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (Including 1999 observations). Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario. 153 pp.
This 8.5 x 11 publication includes 1999 Odonata observations and 16 articles on the Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) of Ontario. The articles cover topics such as conservation status ranks, natural history, migration, lists and records, and an illustrated key to the mature nymphs and exuviae of eastern Canadian Stylurus. This initiative supports the objectives of the Toronto Entomologists Association: to bring amateurs and professionals together, to educate the public and to produce information on the insects of Ontario. Anyone interested in learning more about this fascinating and increasingly popular group of insects will want to obtain this publication. To order, send a cheque to: Toronto Entomologists' Association, c/o Alan Hanks, 34 Seaton Drive, Aurora, Ontario, Canada L4G 2K1. Cost is $20 Canadian, including taxes and shipping, for T.E.A. members; $25 for non-members in Canada; and $20 U.S. or $30 Canadian, including shipping, for U.S. and overseas addresses. Membership in the T.E.A. is $20 Canadian per year and includes a subscription to the newsjournal Ontario Insects. No credit card orders.
Crow, G.E., and C.B. Hellquist. 2000. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 2 volumes.
Published in two volumes, this long-awaited work completely revises and greatly expands Norman Fassett's 1940 classic A Manual of Aquatic Plants. This manual covers over 1,100 vascular plant species, 90% of which are illustrated, and will be useful to many naturalists and biologists working in wetlands. The two hardcover volumes are available for $90 (U.S.) each from the University of Wisconsin Press (http://www.wisc.edu/wisconsinpress/books/catalog.html) or Chapters (www.chapters.ca).
Dunkle, S.W. 2000. Dragonflies through Binoculars: A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America. Oxford University Press. 266 pp.
This first North America-wide dragonfly field guide covers all 307 species occurring in North America, north of Mexico. Most species are illustrated by colour photographs. This will be an essential reference for anyone interested in Odonata. Available from Oxford University Press (http://www.oupcan.com/index.shtml) or Chapters (www.chapters.ca).
Flora of North America Editorial Committee (editors). 2000. Flora of North America. Volume 22. Magnoliophyta: Alismatidae, Arecidae, Commelinidae (in part), and Zingiberidae. Oxford University Press, New York. 352 pp.
Although this is Volume 22 in the Flora of North America (FNA) series, it is actually the fourth volume to appear, with the first being entirely introductory. This relatively expensive multi-volume series will be of interest primarily to the professional or serious amateur botanist, although there is much useful information for anyone interested in the identification and distribution of North American plants. Volume 22 covers several important plant families in Ontario, such as the pondweed family (Potamogetonaceae), rush family (Juncaceae), water-plantain or arrowhead family (Alismataceae), and bur-reed family (Sparganiaceae). Other families treated which include Ontario species are the Butomaceae, Hydrocharitaceae, Scheuchzeriaceae, Juncaginaceae, Ruppiaceae, Najadaceae, Zannichelliaceae, Zosteraceae, Acoraceae, Araceae, Lemnaceae, Xyridaceae, Commelinaceae, Eriocaulaceae, and Typhaceae. Keys, detailed descriptions, and North American range maps are provided for all species covered. Available from Oxford University Press (http://www.oupcan.com/index.shtml).
Glassberg, J. 1999. Butterflies through Binoculars: the East. Oxford University Press, New York. 242 pp.
Butterfly watching has increased greatly in popularity in recent years, and this book will be an essential reference in the butterfly-watcher's library. Every regularly-occurring eastern North American butterfly is illustrated with colour photos taken in a natural setting showing both the upper and lower surface of the wings. On the page facing each plate is a range map and listing of key identification features. Elsewhere in the book are the species accounts which provide information on each species under the headings: size, similar species, identification, habitat, range, abundance, major foodplant, and comments. A graph accompanying each species account shows the flight period for different latitudes in North America (WI, NY, NC, LA). Butterflies through Binoculars summarises a great deal of information on eastern North American butterflies and will be useful for the casual and serious butterfly-watcher. It retails for $18.95 (U.S.).
Larson, D.W., U. Matthes-Sears and P. E. Kelly. 2000. Cliff Ecology: Pattern and Process in Cliff Ecosystems. Cambridge University Press, 340 pp.
While cliffs are a familiar sight to most people, there is often a lack of information about them. This volume provides a comprehensive overview on cliffs, their ecology, flora, fauna, as well as geological aspects. It draws on the wide range of work conducted on the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario by Dr. Doug Larson and his Cliff Ecology Research Group. Information, photos and examples from cliffs from around the world are also incorporated throughout the text to illustrate the various concepts presented in the review. An essential reference for those interested in cliffs, this text can be purchased from leading book retailers for approximately $100.00 (Cdn.).
Larson, B.M. J.L. Riley, E.A. Snell, H.G. Godschalk. 1999. The Woodland Heritage of Southern Ontario: A Study of Ecological Change, Distribution, and Significance. Federation of Ontario Naturalists. 262 pp.
Although southern Ontario was originally a largely forested landscape, it is disappointing how little remains in near-old growth condition. This report on older woodlands, initiated by the Federation of Ontario Naturalists (FON), documents the best remaining examples in southern Ontario. The report begins with some background information, including the original condition and ecology of woodlands, and documents their decline through the periods of European settlement. The best remaining woodlands in southern Ontario were selected for assessment, based on published information and expert review, with representative sites identified in all ecological site districts and physiographic regions. Each of these sites is summarised with maps, site descriptions, structural and compositional data, and uncommon features. Conclusions and recommendations for the conservation of these sites, and restoration of remaining woodlands are also presented. Appendices include lists of significant flora and fauna found in woodlands, as well as other significant woodlands. Another impressive publication from the FON, it should prove a great resource for a wide variety of people, including naturalists, foresters, land managers and planners. Available from the FON (1-800-440-2366) for $16.05 (Cdn.) including tax.
Morton, J.K., and J.M. Venn. 2000. The Flora of Manitoulin Island, Third edition. University of Waterloo Biology Series Number 40, Waterloo, Ontario. 376 pp.
This excellent regional flora has been revised and is available from the Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1. It contains species accounts, dot distribution maps, keys to some difficult groups, flowering dates, and other information. It is useful throughout a wide area of south-central Ontario.
Needham, J.G., M.J. Westfall, Jr., and M.L. May. 2000. Dragonflies of North America. Revised Edition. Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, Florida. 939 pp.
This long-awaited revision of the 1955 classic will be valuable addition to the bookshelf of anyone with a serious interest in North American Odonata. All 350 species occurring in the United States, Canada, borderingates of Mexico and the Greater Antilles are included. The manual is well-illustrated with photos and colour and black and white drawings and includes detailed descriptions and keys to larvae and adults. Available for $85 (U.S.) from the International Odonata Research Institute, c/o Division of Plant Industry, P.O. Box 147100, Gainesville, Fl 32614-7100 USA, Attn: Bill Mauffray. Email: iori@afn.org
Stein, B.A., L.S. Kutner, and J.S. Adams (editors). 2000. Precious Heritage: the Status of Biodiversity in the United States. Oxford University Press, Oxford. 399 pp.
Precious Heritage summarizes information on the biodiversity of the United States by combining information from conservation data centres and natural heritage programs across the country. This excellent and well-illustrated compilation not only documents the enormous breadth of U.S. biodiversity, but also considers how species and ecosystems are faring, what is threatening them, and what is needed to protect these irreplaceable resources. For a limited time Precious Heritage is on sale for $20 (U.S.) (regularly $45) and can be ordered by calling Oxford University Press at 1-800-230-3242 and referring to promo code K265 (credit card payments only).
The following publications, authored by NHIC staff, have been prepared since the previous listings (NHIC Newsletter 2(1):10, 3(1):9, 4(1):16, 4(2)19-20, 5(1):18-20). NHIC authors are bolded. Note that these publications are not available from the NHIC.
Austen, M.J.W.
2000. Status Report on the American Hart's-tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum (Fern.) Kartesz & Gandhi) in Canada. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 73 pp.Austen, M.J.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for American Hart's-tongue Fern (Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 12 pp. + 5 appendices.Ben-Oliel, R
. and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Few-flowered Club-rush (Scirpus verecundus). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 6 pp. + 5 appendices.Ben-Oliel, R.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Western Silver-leaf Aster (Aster sericeus). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 6 pp. + 5 appendices.Ben-Oliel, R.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Colicroot (Aletris farinosa). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 7 pp. + 5 appendices.Ben-Oliel, R.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. General Status of Canadian Orchids. Unpublished report, Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario.Brodribb, K.E.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 8 pp. + 5 appendices.Brodribb, K.E.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 7 pp. + 5 appendices.Brodribb, K.E.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioica). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 5 pp. + appendices.Brodribb, K.E.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Gattinger's Agalinis (Agalinis gattingeri). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 8 pp. + 5 appendices.Catling, P.M., C. Jones and P. Pratt (editors). 2000. Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (including 1999 observations). Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario. 153 pp.
Catling, P.M., C. Jones and P. Pratt. 2000. Introduction to the 1999 Ontario Odonata Summary records. Pages 54-58, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.
Crins, W.J. and M.J. Oldham. 2000. Survey of Possible Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Impacts on Rare Plant Occurrences on East Sister and Middle Islands, Lake Erie, Ontario, 15 June 2000. Unpublished report, Ontario Parks and Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario.
Francis, C.M, M.J.W. Austen, J.M. Bowles and W.B. Draper. 2000. Assessing floristic quality in southern Ontario woodlands. Natural Areas Journal 20:66-77.
Harris, A., R. Foster, W. Bakowsky and M. Oldham. 2000. Reconnaissance Life Science Inventory of Rainy Lake, Ontario. Northern Bioscience, Thunder Bay, and Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough.
Jalava, J
.V., R. Gray and L. Coristine. 2000. Nottawasaga Lookout Provincial Life Science ANSI Boundary Revision. Site inspection report, August 24, 2000. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario.Jalava, J.V
. and P.J. Sorrill. 1999. (Draft) Methodology for The Big Picture: Cores and Connections in Canada's Carolinian Zone. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 8 pp.Jalava, J.V., P.J. Sorrill, J. Henson
and K. Brodribb. 2000. The Big Picture Project: Developing A Natural Heritage Vision for Canada's Southernmost Ecological Region. Science and Management of Protected Areas Association (SAMPA IV) Conference Proceedings. Manuscript submitted.Jones, C.D.
2000. Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis) preying upon a teneral Black-tipped Darner (Aeshna tuberculifera) at Bat Lake, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. Pages 22-24, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.Jones, C.D.
2000. New odonate records for Timiskaming District, Ontario. Pages 25-27, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.Jones, C.D.
and M.L. Holder. 2000. Additions to (and a deletion from) the Odonata of Algonquin Provincial Park. Pages 13-17, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.Jones, C.D.,
C. Michener, C. Purdon and M.W.P. Runtz. 2000. An annotated checklist of the Odonata of Renfrew County, Ontario. Pages 39-48, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.Larson, B.M., J.L. Riley, E.A. Snell and H.G. Godschalk. 1999. The Woodland Heritage of Southern Ontario: A Study of Ecological Change, Distribution and Significance. Federation of Ontario Naturalists, Don Mills, Ontario. 262 pp.
Oldham, M.J.
2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for American Water-willow (Justicia americana). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 6 pp. + 5 appendices.Oldham, M.J.
2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 7 pp. + 4 appendices.Oldham, M.J
. 2000. General Status of Wild Species in Ontario: Amphibians and Reptiles. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 14 pp. + 6 appendices.Oldham, M.J.
2000. Citrine Forktail (Ishnura hastata) in Ontario. Pages 7-9, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.Oldham, M.J.
2000. Green-faced Clubtail (Gomphus viridifrons) in Ontario. Pages 51-52, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.Oldham, M.J.
2000. Reconnaissance Botanical Inventory of Marcy's Woods, Point Abino, Niagara Regional Municipality, Ontario. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough. 25 pp.Oldham, M.J.
2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Horsetail Spike-rush (Eleocharis equisetoides). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 7pp. + 5 appendices.Oldham, M.J.
2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Eastern Prairie Fringed-orchid (Platanthera leucophaea). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 8 pp. + 5 appendices.Oldham, M.J., M.J. Austen
and P.J. Sorrill. 2000. A review and evaluation of Eastern Massasauga observations in Ontario: applications for conservation and management. Pages 67-76, in: Second International Symposium and Workshop on the Conservation of the Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus: population and habitat management issues in urban, bog, prairie and forested ecosystems (B. Johnson and M. Wright, editors). Toronto Zoo, Toronto, Ontario.Oldham, M.J., M.J. Austen
and A.E. Zammit. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Fowler's Toad (Bufo fowleri). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 9 pp. + 5 appendices.Oldham, M.J
. and R. Ben-Oliel. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 8 pp. + 5 appendices.Oldham, M.J.
and R. Ben-Oliel. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Riddell's Goldenrod (Solidago riddellii). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 8 pp. + 6 appendices.Oldham, M.J.
and K.E. Brodribb. 2000. Using the Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary Database to Identify Areas of High Amphibian and Reptile Species Richness in Ontario. Unpublished report, Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario.Oldham, M.J.
and D.R. Elder. 2000. Noteworthy Odonata records from northwestern Ontario. Pages 28-33, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.Oldham, M.J., D.A. Sutherland
and M.L. Holder. 2000. Conservation status ranks for Ontario Odonata. Pages 1-7, in Ontario Odonata Volume 1 (P.M. Catling, C. Jones and P. Pratt, editors), Toronto Entomologists' Association, Toronto, Ontario.Reznicek, A.A. and M.J. Oldham. 1999. Field Trip Report, Long Point, 22 September 1999. Natural Heritage Information Centre, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 5 pp.
Sutherland, D.A
. 2000. COSEWIC Status Report on Horse-tail Spikerush (Eleocharis equisetoides). Natural Heritage Information Centre, Peterborough, Ontario.White, D.J. and M.J. Oldham. 2000. Update COSEWIC Status Report on Colicroot (Aletris farinosa). Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Ottawa, Ontario. 6 pp.
White, D.J. and M.J. Oldham. 2000. Update COSEWIC Status Report on Deerberry (Vaccinium stamineum). Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Ottawa, Ontario. 6 pp.
White, D.J. and M.J. Oldham. 2000. Update COSEWIC Status Report on Blue Ash (Fraxinus quadrangulata). Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Ottawa, Ontario. 7 pp.
White, D.J. and M.J. Oldham. 2000. Update COSEWIC Status Report on Kentucky Coffee-Tree (Gymnocladus dioica). Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), Ottawa, Ontario. 8 pp.
Zammit, A.E.
and M.J. Oldham. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Jefferson Salamander (Ambystoma jeffersonianum). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO), Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario (October 2000). 8 pp. + 5 appendices.Zammit, A.E.
and D.A. Sutherland. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 8 pp. + 4 appendices.Zammit, A.E.
and D.A. Sutherland. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Henslow's sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 7 pp. + 4 appendices.Zammit, A.E.
and D.A. Sutherland. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 7 pp. + 4 appendices.Zammit, A.E.
and D.A. Sutherland. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for King Rail (Rallus elegans). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 8 pp. + 4 appendices.Zammit, A.E.
and D.A. Sutherland. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus migrans). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 7 pp. + 4 appendices.Zammit, A.E.
and D.A. Sutherland. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Eastern Mole (Scalopus aquaticus). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 6 pp. + 4 appendices.Zammit, A.E.
, D.A. Sutherland and C.D. Jones. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 8 pp. + 4 appendices.Zammit, A.E., D.A. Sutherland
and C.D. Jones. 2000. COSSARO Candidate V, T, E Species Evaluation Form for Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens). Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario (COSSARO). Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Peterborough, Ontario. 7 pp. + 4 appendices.