Snow-surface activity of California Snow Scorpionfly, Boreus californicus (Mecoptera: Boreidae), in western Montana, USA

The flightless California Snow Scorpionfly (Boreus californicus Packard) has rarely been studied, and knowledge of its distribution and activity on snow remains fragmentary. I found it on snow surfaces in western Montana, USA, from valley grasslands to subalpine conifer forests and above the tree line. At lower elevations (991–1500 m), B. californicus was present on snow from early November to early March, at higher elevations (1800–2850 m), from early October to early January as well as late June. The species has now been documented in western Montana over an elevation gradient of nearly 2000 m and is probably active somewhere on snow in most months except in mid- and late summer. When the insect was present on snow, surface temperatures ranged from −5.0°C to 5.5°C. Pairs in copula (n = 26) were found when snow surface temperature was −0.5°C to 5.5°C. Mating occurred on snow at low elevations from November to late February, at high elevations in late June. The mating period in subalpine habitat, and probably above the tree line, includes early summer as well as late autumn to spring because of the colder temperatures and lingering snow in spring and earlier snowfall in autumn. Temperature and snow-cover characteristics affect the snow-surface ecology of B. californicus across its range in western Montana. Mating on a snow cover is likely related to greater mobility (ability to jump) on snow surfaces, aiding the search for mates and contributing to greater dispersal of eggs and reduced inbreeding

Distribution and habitat use of Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) during spring and fall migration along the James Bay east coast

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) is the main waterfowl harvested by Cree hunters in James Bay. Environmental changes that could affect the number, distribution, and migration patterns of geese have occurred along James Bay’s east coast in the last 50 years, including isostatic rebound, climate warming, and hydroelectric development. We determined the spring and fall distribution of Canada Geese along the James Bay east coast in 2018 and identified habitats associated with the greatest goose densities. We conducted four helicopter surveys between Waskaganish and Chisasibi, two each during spring and fall. The main goose concentrations were between Eastmain and Wemindji in both seasons. In spring, goose densities increased with the percentage of salt marshes whereas in fall, the highest densities were in areas with the greatest proportion of tidal flats and turbid water. We did not find any relationships between Common Eelgrass (Zostera marina L.) beds and the distribution of Canada Geese although it was an important habitat for geese in the 1970s. Our observations are consistent with surveys conducted in the 1990s that found limited use of eelgrass beds by migrating geese. This suggests that geese may be using alternative habitats during migration following the decline of eelgrass beds reported by Cree land users and confirmed by ground surveys and remote sensing. Changes in distribution and habitat use of goose flocks along the James Bay east coast are probably a consequence of habitat changes, natural and human disturbances, and the increasing number of moult migrant temperate breeding Canada Goose (Branta canadensis maxima).La bernache du Canada (Brenta canadensis) est la principale espèce de sauvagine récoltée par les chasseurs Cris de la Baie James. Depuis les 50 dernières années, de nombreux changements environnementaux ont affecté la Baie James et possiblement le nombre, la distribution et les modes de migration des bernaches cette région. De précédents inventaires aériens ont été conduits au début des années 1970, avant le développement des projets hydroélectriques dans la région boréale du Québec, sur le territoire Cri de Eeyou Istchee, puis au début des années 1990, une fois les travaux hydroélectriques partiellement achevés. Les objectifs de notre étude étaient de déterminer la distribution actuelle des bernaches du Canada au printemps et en automne le long de la côte est de la Baie James et d’identifier les habitats associés avec les plus grandes densités de bernaches. Nous avons réalisé deux séries d’inventaires en hélicoptère au printemps et en automne 2018, entre Waskaganish et Chisasibi. Au cours des deux saisons, nous avons observé les plus grandes concentrations de bernaches entre Eastmain et Wemindji. Au printemps, la densité de bernache augmentait avec la proportion de marais salés alors qu’en automne, on trouvait les plus grandes densités dans les sections avec les plus grandes proportions de zones intertidales et d’eau turbide. Les herbiers de zostère (Zostera marina) n’expliquaient pas la distribution actuelle des bernaches, ce qui confirme les observations des communautés Cries selon lesquelles la zostère est devenue moins disponible pour les bernaches. La modification des habitats, les perturbations naturelles et d’origine humaine, ainsi que l’augmentation du nombre de bernaches résidentes effectuant des migrations de mue (B. c. maxima) ont probablement conduit à des changements de l’utilisation des habitats de la Baie James par les groupes en migration

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) hens exhibit irrational behaviour, returning to their nests after apparent loss of their broods

Two Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) hens were observed returning alone to their upland nest sites after hatching their broods and taking them to water. Both instances were the result of apparent loss of their broods shortly after reaching water. The hens’ behaviour was irrational and demonstrates that there is an attachment to nest sites that does not immediately cease after hatch and taking their broods to water

Stream restoration: a key to the survival and recovery of the Endangered Western Brook Lamprey (Lampetra richardsoni), Morrison Creek population: Stream remediation - key for the survival and recovery of species at risk

Aquatic ecosystems and species are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities. Stream restoration has thereforebecome a necessary conservation strategy to improve habitat quality and quantity, which are key components of productive, healthy, resilient aquatic ecosystems. The Morrison Creek watershed on Vancouver Island, British Columbia has been impacted by anthropogenic activities resulting in the degradation of aquatic habitat. For an Endangered, range-restricted species like Western Brook Lamprey (Lampetra richardsoni), Morrison Creek population, which only occurs in this one watershed, any habitat-related impacts have the potential to cause population level declines, thereby increasing the risk of extinction. Stream and riparian restoration were therefore undertaken to ameliorate the species’ Critical Habitat, which no longer supported spawning and early rearing. Effectiveness of restoration was determined through the use of restored areas for spawning, increased hydraulic complexity, and reduced sedimentation. Lamprey (adults and larvae) and salmonids (Oncorhynchus spp.) had not been observed in this habitat since 2005; however, following habitat restoration in 2021, 10 different lamprey nests were observed being tended in the restored habitat in 2022. Salmonids were also observed using the newly created habitat for spawning in fall 2021 and fry and smolts used pools and riffles for rearing the following spring and summer. Our work demonstrates specific types of habitat restoration that are effective for lamprey conservation and validates that complex restoration activity can occur when there is effective collaboration

Habitat, dispersal, and distribution of the rare Orange-fruit Horsegentian (Triosteum aurantiacum E.P. Bicknell; Caprifoliaceae) in northern Nova Scotia, Canada

Why some plant species are rare and how rare species persist are foundational questions in community ecology. In 2015 we repeated a 2006 survey of three river valleys in rural Antigonish County, northern Nova Scotia, Canada, which support populations of the rare herb Orange-fruit Horse-gentian (Triosteum aurantiacum E.P. Bicknell) to see how the populations had changed over a decade and to learn more about why the plant remains rare. Our survey confirms previous observations that Orange-fruit Horse-gentian is largely restricted to the understorey of hardwood and mixedwood stands, on bare ground within and near river floodplains, often with White Ash (Fraxinus americana L.). Predictive maps based on geographic information system modelling led to the discovery of new occurrences of the species along the three original rivers and along a fourth river, including a dense cluster in mature hardwood forest, which had not previously been considered habitat. Measurements of photosynthetic capacity using pulse-amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry showed significant stress on horse-gentian plants growing in full sunlight or light shade compared with plants beneath closed canopy confirming this plant is shade-adapted. Late-autumn observations of potential consumers of horse-gentian fruit suggest that White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) may be the primary long-range disperser of seeds. Hence, this species may remain rare in northern Nova Scotia because its optimal habitat (mature, closed-canopy forest with open understorey and calcium-rich soil) is rare and distributed in disjunct patches (mostly along floodplains) and seed dispersal is limited by the range size of the deer.La question de pourquoi quelque d’espèces de plantes reste rares et comment ils survivent en face de la compétition sont primordial en écologie. En 2015, nous avons répétées un levé de 2006 de la population de Triosteum aurantiacum Bicknell, une plante herbacée rare qui pousse dans les vallées de trois rivières dans la Comté d’Antigonish, au nord de Novelle Ecosse, pour vérifier la grandeur de la population après neuf ans et comprendre pourquoi l’espèce reste rare. Notre levé a confirmé que l’habitat de T. aurantiacum est presque limitée au sous-bois des peuplements feuillus et mixtes, sur sol nu, dans ou près des plaines inondables des rivières, et fréquemment associé avec Frêne blanc (Fraxinus americana L.). Des populations de T. aurantiacum dans les vallées de deux rivières s’augmentent, mais une troisième semble d’être en déclin. L’espèce ne se rencontre le long de deux autre rivières. Néanmoins, les cartes prédictives basées sur SDG ont facilitées la découverte des nouveaux sous-populations de T. aurantiacum le long des trois rivières originales et aussi le long d’une quatrième rivière, ça incluant un bouquet dense des plantes dans une forêt des feuillus matures, précédemment négligé. Comme mesurée par fluorimétrie, la capacité du photosynthèse de T. aurantiacum poussant en plein soleil ou sous un ombre légère est réduite considérablement comparé à des plantes sous un ombre lourde. Des observations en automne de consomption des fruits de T. aurantiacum suggèrent que Cerf de Virginie (Odocoileus virginianus) peut être le disperseur des semences primaire à longue distance. Donc, Triosteum aurantiacum peut reste rare parce-que leur habitat optimal (la forêt mature avec l’ombre lourde, sous-étage ouvert et sol riche en calcium) est lui-même rare, et distribué en carrés dissociés (la plupart des plaines inondables des rivières) et le dispersion des semences est limités par le taille de l’aire de répartition de Cerf de Virginie. &nbsp