Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary Atlas

Acknowledgements

The Ontario Herpetofaunal Summary (OHS) program could not have achieved success without the contribution of records from literally thousands of Ontario biologists and naturalists.  The number of contributors of records to the database exceeds 5,000 (see contributors page) and we thank each and every one.

Funding support for the project came from a variety of sources, primary among these was the Richard Ivey Foundation, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, World Wildlife Fund, Essex Region Conservation Authority, and Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Society.  Over the 16 years of the project a large number of volunteers, summer students, contract staff, and others assisted with data verification, entry, checking, and other aspects of data preparation.  We are undoubtedly missing names, but some of those involved were Madeline Austen, Cheryl Goodchild, Shannon Managhan, Rebecca Martin, Tanya Pulfer, Raymond Saumure, Christy Slasor.

Ontario is blessed with a large number of competent and enthusiastic biologists and naturalists and many of them have gone out of their way to gather and contribute large volumes of quality data on the distribution of Ontario's amphibians and reptiles.  Some of  largest contributors (most contributed well over 1,000 records) of records include Daryl Coulson, Steve Darbyshire, Mary Gartshore, Tim Haxton, Steve Hecnar, Rose van der Ham, Jim Jones,  James Kamstra, Bill Lamond, John McLaughlin, Chris Motherwell, Doug McRae, Chris Parent, Bill Ramshaw, Raymond Saumure, Fred Schueler, Don Sutherland, Art Timmerman, and Adolf Vogg.

For varying times during the 16-year project, several people were closely involved with preparing earlier reports on the OHS or general project management and direction.  These individuals contributed considerable personal time and effort to the OHS and we are most grateful for their assistance.  The following individuals played a key role in organizing and implementing the OHS: Gary Allen, Peter Carson, Mary Gartshore, James Kamstra, Ross MacCulloch, Martyn Obbard, Fred Schueler, Carolyn Seburn, David Seburn, Don Sutherland, and Phil Taylor.  Other individuals provided assistance with obtaining project funding and support, access to data in their care or otherwise helped in a major way with the project: Christine Bishop, Jim Bogart, Francis Cook, George Francis, Brad Graham, Ian Kirkham, Ross MacCulloch, Dan McKenney, Marg McLaren, Paul Prevett, Mike Rankin, John Riley, Leslie Rye, Fred Schueler.  Assistance with computer programming, database management, and web page design were capably provided by Pete Sorrill and Kara Brodribb.  Apologies to those individuals we have inadvertently overlooked.

Our wives and families, Mireille Delisle-Oldham, Veronique and Robert Oldham, Alessandra Weller and Alison R. Weller, have for many years endured our absences to conduct field work and our inattention when writing reports and maintaining the database, and we sincerely thank them for their understanding and support.

Michael J. Oldham and Wayne F. Weller