bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Home Ranges of Raccoons, Procyon lotor, Using a Common Feeding Site in Rural Eastern Ontario: Rabies Management Implications
Authors: Totton Sarah C. , Rosatte Richard C. , Tinline Rowland R. , Bigler Laura L.
Published: January 2017

Thirteen adult Raccoons (Procyon lotor) (six females, seven males) that fed at a garbage dump north of Kingston, Ontario were radio-tracked from 21 June to 16 October 1995 to assess their seasonal home ranges and movements. Average Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) summer and fall home ranges for the collared Raccoons were 78.4 ha (SD=46.2 ha) and 45.6 ha (SD=29.7 ha), respectively. Average grid cell summer and fall home ranges for the collared Raccoons were 143.3 ha (SD=40.0 ha) and 116.9 ha (SD=24.9 ha), respectively. Summer ranges of the Raccoons were significantly larger than fall ranges using both the MCP method (P=0.05) and the grid cell method (P=0.073). Yearling Raccoons travelled an average summer maximum distance from the dump of 2608 m (SD=1964, n=3), more than double the distance of adults (≥2 yr) at 1239 m (SD=547, n=10). The population density for the study area in late August 1995 was estimated at 1 Raccoon/12 ha based on an effective area surrounding the dump of 234 ha. Home range and movement data may be useful to design a strategy to control Raccoon rabies in Ontario.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris, Entanglements in Burdock, Arctium spp., at Delta Marsh, Manitoba
Authors: Hinam Heather L. , Sealy Spencer G. , Underwood Todd J.
Published: January 2017

Exotic burdock (Arctium spp.) pose a risk of mortality for small native birds, such as the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris), which may become entangled in its burrs. At Delta Marsh, Manitoba, we found 11 hummingbirds and five individuals of four species of songbirds entangled on burdock in the dune-ridge forest over a 20-year period. Entangled birds were mostly migrants. Most hummingbirds caught were juvenile males, whereas the few songbirds were mostly adult males. We suspect that hummingbird entanglements resulted from an attraction to the purple flowers of burdock, but aggressive interactions with conspecifics and other factors may have been involved. Birds may be at a higher risk of entanglement at important migratory stopover sites, such as Delta Marsh, where both burdock and large numbers of birds are concentrated in a small area.
Multiple Mating Results in Multiple Paternity in Richardson's Ground Squirrels, Spermophilus richardsonii
Authors: Hare James F. , Todd Glenda , Untereiner Wendy A.
Published: January 2017

Microsatellite DNA primers developed from Columbian Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus columbianus) were used to establish paternity in a Manitoba population of Richardson’s Ground Squirrels (Spermophilus richardsonii). Primers resolving variation at six microsatellite loci allowed ascription of paternity to 32 of 85 offspring born among litters of 15 breeding females sampled. While the failure to unambiguously document paternity for all juveniles precludes the use of these data to address questions of sperm competition and male mating success, the results do provide direct evidence that multiple mating by female Richardson’s Ground Squirrels results in multiple paternity within litters.
Occurrence of Parasitoid Wasps, Baeus sp. and Gelis sp., in the Egg Sacs of the Wolf Spiders Pardosa moesta and Pardosa sternalis (Araneae, Lycosidae) in Southeastern Idaho
Authors: Cobb Lisa M. , Cobb Vincent A.
Published: January 2017

Egg sacs of the wolf spiders Pardosa moesta and Pardosa sternalis were sampled for two years during June to September in southeastern Idaho. Parasitoid wasps, Baeus sp. (Sceleonidae) and Gelis sp. (Ichneumonidae), were observed in the egg sacs of both Pardosa species. Of 322 egg sacs examined, 14.6% were parasitized. Parasitism of egg sacs occurred throughout most of the Pardosa egg sac-carrying season.
Erratum: Field Identification of the Mice Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis and P. maniculatus gracilis in Central New York. (2003) 117(2): 184-189.
Authors: Lindquist Erin Stewart , Aquadro Charles F. , McClearn Deedra , McGowan Kevin J.
Published: January 2017

On page 4, Figure 1, 1A was repeated for 1B. The correct 1B is shown below with 1A.
Effect of Fire Intensity and Depth of Burn on Lowbush Blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Velvet Leaf Blueberry, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Production in Eastern Ontario
Authors: Duchesne Luc C. , Wetzel Suzanne
Published: January 2017

The effects of prescribed fire intensity and depth of burn were investigated on Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) and Velvet Leaf Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) stem density, blueberry production and the number of blueberries/stem in a clear-cut Jack Pine, Pinus banksiana, ecosystem of eastern Ontario. Blueberry production and stem density were significantly (P < 0.001) increased by low intensity prescribed fires of 597 and 1268 kW/m. In contrast, prescribed fires of medium and high intensities did not affect blueberry production and stem density. The number of blueberries/stem was not affected (P = 0.056) by prescribed burning, two years after treatment. Pearson's multiple correlation analysis showed that blueberry production (R: -0.683, P < 0.01), stem density (R: 0.733, P < 0.01) and the number of blueberries/stem (R: 0.803, P < 0.01) correlated with depth of burn. As well, blueberry production (R: 0.507, P < 0.05) and stem density (R: -0.504, P < 0.05) correlated with fire intensity. Depth of burn was a better predictor of berry production and stem density than fire intensity. These results suggest that only low intensity fires with little penetrating effect in the ground should be used to manage blueberry crops.
Summer Diet of Two White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, Populations Living at Low and High Density in Southern Québec
Authors: Daigle Claude , Crête Michel , Lesage Louis , Ouellet Jean-Pierre , Huot Jean
Published: January 2017

We investigated summer diets of two White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations through rumen content analyses. Samples from 93 deer were collected in a low density, LD (1 deer/km2) and a high density, HD (14 deer/km2) area of southern Québec during the growing seasons of 1997 and 1998. Availability of preferred forage in forests was greater in LD than in HD, whereas agriculture covered a larger proportion of the area in HD than LD. Rumen composition differed between the two populations. Deer from HD consumed less forbs and leaves of shrubs and trees than did LD deer, whereas they consumed more fruits, grasses and farm crops. The rarity in HD rumens of food items common in LD, as well as in many parts of the White-tailed Deer range (i.e., Lilliacae), indicated that deer could not compensate for the rarity of preferred forest forage by increasing foraging time and had to feed on cultivated crops. Rumen contents of LD deer had a higher level of cell solubles and lignin, which reflected their greater reliance on quality forage growing in forests. Feeding habits and forage quality can explain why deer body size decreased in HD between the 1970s and 1990s whereas LD deer remained large.Nous avons examiné le régime alimentaire estival de deux populations de cerf de Virginie (Odocoileus virginianus) par l’analyse du contenu des rumens. Des échantillons ont été prélevés sur 93 cerfs provenant d’un secteur à faible densité de cerfs, LD, (1 cerf/km2) et d’un secteur à haute densité, HD, (14 cerfs/km2) du sud du Québec durant la saison de croissance des végétaux de 1997 et 1998. La disponibilité des aliments forestiers préférés des cerfs était plus grande dans LD que dans HD alors que la proportion du territoire agricole était supérieure dans HD. La composition des rumens des cerfs de chacune des régions différait. Les cerfs de HD ont consommé de moins grandes proportions de plantes herbacées et de feuilles d’arbustes et d’arbres que ceux du secteur LD, mais de plus grandes proportions de fruits, de graminées et de plantes agricoles. La rareté dans les rumens du secteur HD d’aliments communs dans ceux du secteur LD et dans plusieurs autres régions de l’aire de répartition du cerf (e.g., Lilliacae), indique que les cerfs du secteur HD ne pouvaient compenser pour la rareté de leurs aliments préférés par un accroissement de la durée de la quête alimentaire, et qu’ils devaient consommer des plantes agricoles. Les cerfs de LD ont mangé des aliments contenant plus de solubles cellulaires et de lignine que ceux de HD, ce qui reflète une consommation de plantes forestières de bonne qualité. Le régime alimentaire et la qualité de la nourriture peuvent expliquer pourquoi la taille des cerfs de HD a diminué entre les années 1970 et 1990 alors que celle des cerfs de LD est demeurée grande.
Predaceous Water Beetles (Coleoptera: Adephaga: Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae) Collected Along the Horton and Thelon Rivers in the Arctic Central Barrens of Canada
Authors: Shaverdo Helena V. , Giberson Donna J.
Published: January 2017

Predaceous water beetles were collected during expeditions along two northern Canadian rivers during 2000 and 2002. Twelve species of Dytiscidae (including 11 named species and one additional genus identified from a larva) and one species of Gyrinidae are recorded from 20 sites along the Horton and Thelon rivers in the Central Barrens area of the Canadian Arctic. These records represent an extension of the distributions of four species to the northeast in the Northwest Territories (NWT), and two species to the northwest in Nunavut (NU). Oreodytes sanmarkii is reported for NWT and for the mainland of NU for the first time. Ilybius erichsoni, Hydroporus geniculatus, and Gyrinus opacus are reported for NU for the first time. Five species were recorded for the first time from the Southern Arctic ecozone, and one from the Taiga Shield ecozone. The majority of specimens were collected in habitats that were consistent with those previously known for each species.
Piping Plover, Charadrius melodus, egg viability after seawater immersion
Authors: McKnight Julie , Thomas Linda , Amirault Diane L.
Published: January 2017

Four observed nest histories indicate Piping Plover eggs are able to survive immersion in seawater, but little is known regarding their hardiness. As Piping Plover nests are often exposed to tidal flooding, their eggs may be relatively resistant to inundation by seawater. Therefore, we suggest that replacing eggs recently flooded or washed out of nests is a viable option for the recovery of individual nests.
Moths and Butterflies (Lepidoptera) of the Boreal Mixedwood Forest near Lac La Biche, Alberta, Including New Provincial Records
Authors: Pohl Greg R. , Langor David W. , Landry Jean-François , Spence John R.
Published: January 2017

Lepidoptera were collected, primarily via UV light trap, for three seasons in the boreal mixedwood forest near Lac La Biche, Alberta. A total of 11,111 specimens were collected, representing 41 families and 438 species. A species list with flight times is presented. The total Lepidoptera community was estimated to be 546 ± 23.34 species. Abundance and species richness peaked in late July. Thirty-five species constitute new records for Alberta, while one species, Acanthopteroctetes bimaculata, is a new record for Canada, and the first record of the family Acanthopteroctetidae in Canada.
First Record of Mountain Lions, Puma concolor, in Elk Island National Park, Alberta
Authors: Hood Glynnis A. , Neufeld Tim
Published: January 2017

Several sightings of Mountain Lions (Puma concolor) and wildlife mortalities consistent with predation by Mountain Lion have occurred in and adjacent to Elk Island National Park from February 2003 to present. These are the first recorded Mountain Lions (locally called Cougar) sightings since the area encompassing the park was protected in 1906.
Chronology of Range Expansion of the Coyote, Canis latrans, in New York
Authors: Fener Heather M. , Ginsberg Joshua R. , Sanderson Eric W. , Gompper Matthew E.
Published: January 2017

Coyotes (Canis latrans) were historically restricted to central North America. In less than two centuries, however, Coyotes have colonized most of the continent, including much of northeastern North America. Better understanding causes and proximate mechanisms of this expansion requires a detailed understanding of how Coyotes colonized areas on a fine scale. We examined the establishment of Coyotes in the State of New York by collecting and analyzing reports of their first occurrence throughout the state over the past century, and creating a detailed map of range expansion. Coyotes first entered New York from the north, circled the Adirondack region prior to colonizing it, and then expanded southward and westward at ca. 78-90 km/decade. The revealed pattern lends little support to the hypotheses that the range expansion is attributable to translocations and releases, or that Coyotes were historically present in the region and only recently expanded in numbers. Rather, the data suggest a correlative relationship between anthropogenic land use and Coyote range expansion.
The Effect of Human Activity on Ant Species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) Richness at the Mont St. Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, Québec
Authors: Shik Jonathan Z. , Francoeur André , Buddle Christopher M.
Published: January 2017

The ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) fauna of the Mont St. Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, Québec, was surveyed in 2002 and 2003. Although overall species richness was high, 10 of 40 total ant species collected were limited to anthropogenically disturbed habitats within the reserve. While only 2 of these 10 species (Tetramorium caespitum (L.) and Lasius niger (L.)) can definitively be considered introduced, areas altered by human activity (representing a small fraction of the reserve’s total area) possess nearly as many unique species as the reserve’s old-growth forest. Although further research will be necessary to determine the consequences of such changes in community structure, this study shows the importance of specifying the extent of biodiversity surveys within protected habitats to more accurately monitor the effectiveness of conservation efforts.
Productivity of Osprey, Pandion haliaetus, Nesting on Natural and Artificial Structures in the Kawartha Lakes, Ontario, 1991-2001
Authors: Martin Pamela A. , De Solla Shane R. , Ewins Peter J. , Barker Michael E.
Published: January 2017

Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) declined throughout the Great Lakes basin during the 1950s to 1970s due to usage of organochlorine pesticides. Following the banning of DDT in 1972, artificial elevated nest structures were erected in the Kawartha Lakes region of south-central Ontario to aid in their recovery. As the population grew, large stumps of flooded trees, < 1 m above the surface of the water became important nesting sites, despite their propensity to flood in turbulent weather conditions. We compared the productivity of Ospreys among nest substrates and longevity of the nests in this area from 1991 to 2001. Of 260 individual nesting attempts made over the 11 years, 57% used man-made structures, primarily either quadrupod nesting platforms or utility poles. Of nests on natural substrates, stump nests accounted for 37% of total nesting attempts; elevated tree nests were relatively uncommon (6%). Productivity of stump nests was significantly greater than that of artificial or tree nests (1.48 versus 1.16 and 0.73 chicks produced per occupied nest, respectively). Nevertheless, survivorship of stump nests was less than that of platform nests after 3 years of age, as high water levels, storms or winter ice activity destroyed some of these low nests between breeding seasons. Ospreys were able to attain greater productivity in these stump nests than on man-made nesting substrates.
New Distribution Records and Biogeography of Calligrapha Species (Leaf Beetles), in North America (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae, Chrysomelinae)
Authors: Gómez-Zurita Jesús
Published: January 2017

The study of a large number of collection specimens from the US National Museum of Natural History belonging to the genus Calligrapha Chevrolat (Chrysomelidae) from the Nearctic region has provided with one new province record and one new species record for Canada and 63 new US State records for a total of 20 taxa. These new records usually correspond to adjacent areas to already identified ranges of distribution, expanding considerably the known geographical boundaries of the species studied. The zoogeography of the genus Calligrapha in North America is discussed based on the updated information on the distribution of the genus.
Use of a Bridge for Day Roosting by the Hoary Bat, Lasiurus cinereus
Authors: Hendricks Paul , Johnson Joseph , Lenard Susan , Currier Coburn
Published: January 2017

The Hoary Bat (Lasiurus cinereus) is a migratory species with the widest distribution of all New World bats. It is a solitary species that roosts during the day and night primarily among tree foliage. During a survey of 130 highway structures (bridges and culverts) in south central Montana for evidence of use by bats, we discovered a female Hoary Bat with young in mid July 2003 using a wooden bridge as a day roost. This is the first report of Hoary Bats using a bridge as roosting habitat.
Winter Habitat Use by Moose, Alces alces, in Central Interior British Columbia
Authors: Proulx Gilbert , Kariz Rhonda M.
Published: January 2017

In central British Columbia, recent epidemics of Mountain Pine Beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) have resulted in the use of expansive clearcut areas to remove infested mature and old Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) stands. This study aimed to determine if Moose (Alces alces) use late-successional Lodgepole Pine stands in mid- to late-winter. Moose activity and habitat use was determined during February-March track surveys in 2000 (60 km) and 2001 (55.7 km). In 2000 (69 tracks) and 2001 (313 tracks), Moose track distribution differed significantly (P < 0.05) from random. They were significantly more abundant than predicted in young stands (dominated by Picea spp.), or early seral stages; they were less abundant than predicted in mature and old Lodgepole Pine stands. It is unlikely that harvesting late-successional Lodgepole Pine stands would affect Moose winter habitat supply.
Novel Surface Feeding Tactics of Minke Whales, Balaenoptera acutorostrata, in the Saguenay-St. Lawrence National Marine Park
Authors: Kuker Katie J. , Thomson Jordan A. , Tscherter Ursula
Published: January 2017

Surface feeding behaviours of Minke Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) in the mouth and fjord of the Saguenay River, Québec, were documented between June and October 2003. Several novel behaviours associated with gathering prey into dense, nearsurface aggregations prior to a feeding strike were observed. To our knowledge, these behaviours have not been described in detail and may be exclusive to this area or to these individuals. A small number of known Minke Whales show strong site fidelity to the Saguenay region, providing an ideal opportunity for the study of foraging behaviour at the individual level.
Reconstructing Changes in Abundance of White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, Moose, Alces alces, and Beaver, Castor canadensis, in Algonquin Park, Ontario, 1860-2004
Authors: Quinn Norman W. S.
Published: January 2017

The history of White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, Moose, Alces alces, and Beaver, Castor canadensis, in Algonquin Park since the 1860s is reviewed and placed in the context of changes to the forest, weather, and parasitic disease. Deer seem to have been abundant in the late 1800s and early 1900s whereas Moose were also common but less so than deer. Deer declined through the 1920s as Moose probably increased. Deer had recovered by the 1940s when Moose seem to have been scarce. The deer population declined again in the 1960s, suffered major mortality in the early 1970s, and has never recovered; deer are essentially absent from the present day Algonquin landscape in winter. Moose increased steadily following the decline of deer and have numbered around 3500 since the mid-1980s. Beaver were scarce in the Park in the late 1800s but recovered by 1910 and appear to have been abundant through the early 1900s and at high numbers through mid-century. The Beaver population has, however, declined sharply since the mid-1970s. These changes can best be explained by the history of change to the structure and composition of the Park's forests. After extensive fire and logging in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the forest is now in an essentially mature state. Weather and parasitic disease, however, have also played a role. These three species form the prey base of Algonquin's Wolves, Canis lycaon, and the net decline of prey, especially deer, has important implications for the future of wolves in the Park.
Consequences of Beaver, Castor canadensis, Flooding on a Small Shore Fen in Southwestern Quebec
Authors: Reddoch Joyce M. , Reddoch Allan H.
Published: January 2017

We describe the changes in a small peatland in Gatineau Park, Quebec, between 1878 and 2004. We correlate these changes with water levels and Beaver activity during this period. A shore fen persisted until 1980 under a regime of relatively stable water levels interspersed with episodes of somewhat higher water that killed encroaching trees. Significantly higher water levels in the early 1980s transformed the fen into a shallow water wetland containing a few partially-floating fragments of the fen. In 2003 a beaver dam collapse lowered the water level dramatically, exposing the peat surface and making it available for colonization by existing aquatic and shoreline communities. If maintaining the fen had been part of the Park’s beaver control program, water levels should have been allowed to fluctuate in order to control tree growth but not permitted to rise high enough or for long enough to drown the fen.
Common Loon, Gavia immer, Nest Attendance Patterns Recorded by Remote Video Camera
Authors: Goodale Wing , Attix Lee , Evers David
Published: January 2017

We recorded the complete day/night nesting attendance of a Common Loon (Gavia immer) pair using a remote video camera. We found that the male and female share incubation duty equally, but that the female incubates primarily at night (95.8%) when the male defends the territory.
"Prairie Grouse", Tympanuchus cupido × phasianellus, Hybridization on Manitoulin Island, Ontario
Authors: Lumsden H. G.
Published: January 2017

Greater Prairie Chickens started their range expansion from Wisconsin about 1900. They reached Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, by 1925 and completed colonization of Manitoulin Island by 1945. In the fall of 1932, an irruption of Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse from the Hudson Bay Lowlands occurred. Residents of Manitoulin distinguished the two species and reported the presence of “square-tails” and “sharp-tails” in the winter of 1932-1933. There is no specimen evidence or verbal reports that Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse reached Michigan during that irruption. Prairie Sharp-tailed Grouse were in the northern peninsula of Michigan by 1930. In 1941, Michigan Department of Natural Resources made a planting of 37 Prairie Sharptailed Grouse on Drummond Island. Thence they spread east and the first lek was found at the west end of Manitoulin Island in 1952. By 1960, these birds had virtually colonized the whole island. Development of a hybrid index from the morphology of specimens of skins and skeletons from Manitoulin indicated that more than 50% of all birds in the 1960s were hybrids. In Michigan, less than 1% of the birds necropsied or checked in hunters’ bags were hybrid. It seems likely that ethological isolation broke down on Manitoulin Island. The booming display of the Prairie Chicken and the tail rattling display of the Sharp-tailed Grouse can be broken down into their component parts. They appear to be homologous to five discrete displays of the Spruce Grouse, grouped in different patterns in each of the two lek species. There was little hybridization between Prairie Sharptailed Grouse and Prairie Chickens that had lived sympatrically for thousands of years. Northern Sharp-tailed Grouse had probably never lived sympatrically with Prairie Chickens and the evolution of the perception of species distinctions may not have evolved to the point where hybridization was restricted to a rare event.
Food Habits of Dabbling Ducks During Fall Migration in a Prairie Pothole System, Heron Lake, Minnesota
Authors: Wersal Ryan M. , McMillan Brock R. , Madsen John D.
Published: January 2017

We conducted an analysis of dabbling duck food habits in the fall of 2002 and 2003 in the Heron Lake system. Gizzard contents of hunter-harvested birds were analyzed using the percent aggregate volume method to determine what food items were consumed and in what quantity. Curltop Ladysthumb (Polygonum lapathifolium) was the food item consumed most often (82.2%) and in the greatest volume (34.2 ml). Sago Pondweed (Stuckenia pectinata) was the only food item of which multiple plant parts were consumed. However, the seeds and tubers only comprised 1.27 and 0.07 of the total aggregate percent.
First Confirmation of Cougar, Puma concolor, in the Yukon
Authors: Jung Thomas S. , Merchant Philip J.
Published: January 2017

Cougar (Puma concolor) have been reported from the Yukon as early as 1944. Despite many sightings, no indisputable, physical evidence of Cougar being present in the Yukon had been obtained. Here, we report on the first. In November 2000, a specimen was secured from near Watson Lake, in southeastern Yukon. Whether this specimen, and the numerous sighting records, are indicative of a low-density breeding population in the Yukon, or represent transients, is unknown.
Beavers, Castor canadensis, Feeding on Salmon Carcasses: Opportunistic Use of a Seasonally Superabundant Food Source
Authors: Gleason Jeffrey S. , Hoffman Ryan A. , Wendland James M.
Published: January 2017

We report observations of Beavers (Castor canadensis) foraging and feeding on discarded Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) carcasses within the confines of the Susitna River drainage in southcentral Alaska on three separate occasions between 1999 and 2004. In all three instances, Beavers were observed actively seeking out freshly discarded carcasses or transporting “fresh” salmon carcasses in their mouths. In one instance, Beavers were seen using their dextrous forefeet to “handle” chunks of salmon while hunched over carcasses and in this case we actually witnessed Beavers “chewing” and ingestion was assumed. In the other two instances, Beavers were observed swimming with salmon carcasses in their mouths. Though unique within the framework of Beaver foraging ecology, we suggest this behavior may be a fairly common strategy employed by Beavers in Alaskan streams and rivers to take advantage of a seasonally superabundant source of protein.
Responses of Syrphids, Elaterids and Bees to Single-tree Selection Harvesting in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario
Authors: Nol Erica , Douglas Hume , Crins William J.
Published: January 2017

The species composition of hoverflies (Syrphidae), click beetles (Elateridae), and bees (Apoidea) was studied to determine whether there was a positive response in these flower-seeking insect groups to gaps in the canopy created through single-tree selection harvesting of Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) and Yellow Birch (Betula alleghaniensis) in hardwood forests of the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence forest region of Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario. There were significantly more hoverflies and bees collected in forest stands harvested within the previous five years than in wilderness zone (unharvested at least for 40 years) stands or stands harvested 15-20 years previously (old logged stands). Click beetles, especially Selatosomus pulcher (LeConte), were collected most often in old logged stands. Bees and click beetles were collected significantly later in the season in logged than in wilderness zone stands. Malaise traps resulted in higher capture rates for syrphids than pan traps, and only with these higher capture rates did we detect a significant increase in species richness in recently logged stands over that in wilderness stands. Changes in the numbers and phenology of flower-visiting insects may impact on reproductive success of flowering plants of the forest understory and deserves further study.
New Nesting Records of the Le Conte's Sparrow, Ammospiza leconteii, from Northeastern Ontario, with Some Notes on Nesting Behaviour
Authors: Patrikeev Michael
Published: January 2017

Le Conte’s Sparrow is sparsely distributed through northeastern Ontario with no confirmed records from Algoma District and eastern Lake Superior. Two nests were found in open poor fen between Wawa and Hawk Junction in central Algoma District in 1999. Notes on behaviour, nests, nestling development and feeding effort were taken during 9 hours and 38 minutes at one nest over three days.
Early Ontogenetic Diet in Gray Wolves, Canis lupus, of Coastal British Columbia
Authors: Bryan Heather M. , Darimont Chris T. , Reimchen Thomas E. , Paquet Paul C.
Published: January 2017

Within populations, different age classes often consume dissimilar resources, and provisioning of juveniles by adults is one mechanism by which this can occur. Although the diet of Gray Wolves (Canis lupus) has been studied extensively, the diet of pups is largely unknown. We examined faeces deposited by altricial pups and adult providers during the first two months following birth at two den sites over two years on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. Pups and adult wolves consumed similar species, and Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) constituted most of the diet for both age groups. Pup and adult diet, however, diverged. Specifically, adult deer occurred significantly less frequently in the diet of pups than in the diet of adult wolves, which suggests that adults selectively provisioned pups. We speculate that this may relate to adaptive strategies of adult wolves to provide their offspring with food of optimal nutritional value or reduced parasitic burden, and/or logistic factors associated with provisioning such as prey transportability and availability.
Temporal Variability of Cetaceans near Halifax, Nova Scotia
Authors: Simard Peter , Lawlor Jennifer L. , Gowans Shannon
Published: January 2017

Annual and seasonal trends in sightings of coastal cetaceans near Halifax, Nova Scotia, were studied using observations from whale watching and dedicated research vessels from late spring to early fall of 1996 to 2005. Four species of cetaceans routinely used the area during the summer: White-beaked and Atlantic White-sided dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris and L. acutus), Harbour Porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), and Minke Whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). The dolphin species were temporally separated, with White-beaked Dolphins being common earlier in the summer than White-sided Dolphins. White-sided Dolphins were unusually abundant in 1997, and were found in larger groups (mean = 46.5 ± 46.19 sd) than Whitebeaked Dolphins (mean = 9.1 ± 5.19 SD). The area also appears to be an important habitat for dolphin calves and juveniles of both species. Fin Whales (B. physalus) were commonly observed in relatively large groups in 1997, but were uncommon or absent in other years. Humpback Whales (Megaptera novaeangliae), Blue Whales (B. musculus) and North Atlantic Right Whales (Eubalaena glacialis) were uncommon in the area, although Humpback Whales were sighted frequently in 1997. Increased numbers of White-sided Dolphins, Fin and Humpback whales in 1997 may be explained by increased prey abundance and decreased sea-surface temperatures.
Lady Crabs, Ovalipes ocellatus, in the Gulf of Maine
Authors: Burchsted J. C. A. , Burchsted Fred
Published: January 2017

The Lady Crab (Ovalipes ocellatus), mainly found south of Cape Cod and in the southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, is reported from an ocean beach on the north shore of Massachusetts Bay (42°28'60"N, 70°46'20"W) in the Gulf of Maine. All previously known Gulf of Maine populations north of Cape Cod Bay are estuarine and thought to be relicts of a continuous range during the Hypsithermal. The population reported here is likely a recent local habitat expansion.
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawerensis, Food Piracy on Diving Ducks
Authors: Walley William J.
Published: January 2017

One of four Ring-billed Gulls observed 26 April 2002 at Dauphin Lake, Manitoba attacked a group of diving ducks and took abandoned food items.
Pack Size of Wolves, Canis lupus, on Caribou, Rangifer tarandus, Winter Ranges in Westcentral Alberta
Authors: Kuzyk Gerald W. , Kneteman Jeff , Schmiegelow Fiona K. A.
Published: January 2017

We studied pack size of Wolves (Canis lupus) on Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) winter ranges in westcentral Alberta. These Caribou winter ranges are experiencing increasing pressure from resource extraction industries (forestry, energy sector) and concerns have been raised regarding increased Wolf predation pressure on Caribou in conjunction with landscape change. Thirty-one Wolves, from eight Wolf packs, were fitted with radiocollars on two Caribou winter ranges in the Rocky Mountain foothills, near Grande Cache, Alberta (2000-2001). There was a mean of 8.2 Wolves/pack and between 30 and 39 Wolves on each of the RedRock/Prairie Creek and Little Smoky Caribou ranges. The average pack size of Wolves in this region does not appear to have increased over that recorded historically, but the range (5-18) in the number of Wolves per pack varied considerably over our study area. Wolves preyed predominately on Moose (Alces alces), averaging one Moose kill every three to five days. There was some indication that pack size was related to prey size, with the smallest pack preying on Deer (Odocoileus spp.). It was clear that Caribou could not be the primary prey for Wolves, due to their low numbers, and relative to the pack size and Wolf kills we observed.
The Leech Haemopis lateromaculata (Hirudinea: Haemopidae): Its North America Distribution and Additional Notes on Species Description
Authors: Hovingh Peter
Published: January 2017

The geographic range of Haemopis lateromaculata Mathers 1963 (Hirudinea: Haemopidae) is extended across North America. Its distribution in the coastal region of Alaska and British Columbia suggests a coastal Pleistocene refugia separate from the populations in the lower United States and suggests that H. lateromaculata and the Eurasian H. sanguisuga Linnaeus 1758 are sister taxa. Support of the identification and geography is based on the anatomical positions of the reproductive organs in H. lateromaculata and H. marmorata Say 1824. The variations within these species are described, noting that no specific variation was confined to a geographical region.
Use of "Micro"-Corridors by Eastern Coyotes, Canis latrans, in a Heavily Urbanized Area: Implications for Ecosystem Management
Authors: Way Jonathan G. , Eatough David L.
Published: January 2017

We document the use of very narrow, linear corridors (termed “micro-corridors”) that facilitated movements by both a transient and a resident group of eastern Coyotes (Canis latrans) in a heavily urbanized area in north Boston, Massachusetts. Two corridors are discussed: one, a railroad line through downtown Boston; and two, a hole in a cemetery fence giving access to two separated cemeteries in a region of intense human development. Coyotes can be good subjects to illustrate the use of fragmented landscapes because they are common and thus are abundant enough to study yet are wary and avoid novel things and generally avoid people.
Post-Emergence Movements and Overwintering of Snapping Turtle, Chelydra serpentina, Hatchlings in New York and New Hampshire
Authors: Ultsch Gordon R. , Draud Matt , Wicklow Barry
Published: January 2017

Hatchling Common Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) were captured within, or as they emerged from, their nest cavities in Long Island, New York, and in southeastern New Hampshire. They were fitted with radiotransmitters and released at their nest sites. Their movements were monitored for as long as possible, which for some included tracking them to their overwintering sites and relocating them the following spring. On Long Island, all hatchlings initially moved to water. Later movements were both aquatic and terrestrial, and those that could be located while overwintering had left the water and hibernated in spring seeps, where they were recovered alive the following April. In New Hampshire, hatchlings moved directly to nearby aquatic habitats after emergence, where they spent the winter submerged in shallow water in root masses near banks.
Management Implications of Molt Migration by the Atlantic Flyway Resident Population of Canada Geese, Branta canadensis
Authors: Sheaffer Susan E. , Malecki Richard A. , Swift Bryan L. , Dunn John , Scribner Kim
Published: January 2017

We used satellite-tracked transmitters in 2001 and 2003 to document the timing, location, and extent of molt migrations by female Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) affiliated with the Atlantic Flyway Resident Population (AFRP) of Canada Geese that breed in the temperate region of eastern North America. Twenty-seven adult females were captured during the nesting period in late May and fitted with a satellite transmitter mounted either on a plastic neck collar or backpack harness. Nests of 24 birds were destroyed late in incubation to prevent renesting and ensure nest failure; three females did not have nests. Twelve of the 27 birds (44%) made a northward migration to molt in northern Quebec, Canada: seven to the eastern coast of Hudson Bay (58°12'N, 76°60'W), three to lowland areas east of James Bay (53°30'N, 79°02'W), and two to interior locations south of Ungava Bay (55°54'N, 68°24'W). Molt migrants were present in northern Quebec from June to September, a period that coincides with breeding ground aerial surveys and banding operations conducted for Atlantic Population (AP) Canada Geese that breed in this same region of northern Quebec. With >1 million AFRP geese estimated in the Atlantic Flyway, the potential exists for substantial numbers of yearling, sub-adult, and nest-failed or non-breeding adults to molt migrate to northern breeding areas and bias efforts to survey and mark AP geese. Within AFRP breeding areas, many local flocks have reached nuisance levels. We hypothesized that by inducing molt migration in breeding adults, through destruction of nests late in incubation, we would lessen recruitment, reduce numbers of summer resident adults with young, and increase adult mortality from hunting. However, molt migration behavior was not uniform throughout our study area. Molt migrants were from rural areas in New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont, whereas marked birds that did not make molt migrations were from more coastal regions of the flyway. The 14 birds that did not make a molt migration remained within 60 km of their banding site. A genetic comparison of these two groups revealed no detectable differences. We conclude that failure to undergo a molt migration is likely attributed to the historical origin of captive-reared birds of mixed subspecies that comprise AFRP flocks in the eastern regions of the flyway and the availability of quality local habitat, distinct from brood-rearing areas, for molting.
Cowbane, Oxypolis occidentalis, A New Native Vascular Plant Species for the Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia
Authors: Cheney Michael , Marr Kendrick L.
Published: January 2017

We report the recent discovery of Oxypolis occidentalis, a species that is new to both British Columbia and Canada, disjunct on the Queen Charlotte Islands.
Details of Eastern Coyote, Canis latrans, Predation on Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus, Eggs on Boot Island National Wildlife Area, Nova Scotia
Authors: MacKinnon Colin M. , Kennedy Andrew C. , Colpitts Donald W.
Published: January 2017

We detail field observations of Eastern Coyote eating Great Black-backed Gull eggs for the first time in the literature. Photographic evidence of the remaining egg shells allowed us to identify the Coyote as the predator.
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis, Dies Stuck in Resin at Entrance to a Nest-box
Authors: Strauss Clive F.
Published: January 2017

I document a female Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) found dead and stuck to resin in the opening of a nest-box in an urban setting. This is the second reported occurrence of such mortality and the first involving a nest-box. This species applies resin to its nest openings to deter predators and reduce competition or parasitism from other species. Red-breasted Nuthatches infrequently utilize nest-boxes. At necropsy this female nuthatch was found to be carrying a fully-formed egg with shell and this increase in abdominal girth may have contributed to her demise.
Repeatability of Foraging Tactics in Young Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis
Authors: Biro Peter A. , Ridgway Mark S.
Published: January 2017

In this study, we repeatedly observed individually marked Brook Trout in a field setting to determine if the bimodal variation in foraging tactics previously observed in young salmonid populations (without distinct morphological differences) is generated by individuals specializing at different foraging tactics. We found significant but low repeatability in several foraging movement parameters. This indicated that while individuals did have tendencies to be sedentary versus highly active, there was considerable variation in foraging activity within individuals. These results suggest that relatively consistent differences among individuals may facilitate selection for specialized morphology and that there may be a heritable component to activity. Erratum included.
Use of Winter Dens by Porcupines, Erethizon dorsatum, in Wisconsin
Authors: Somers Michelle , Thiel Richard P.
Published: January 2017

Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) dens were monitored in Sandhill Wildlife Area in central Wisconsin between 1996-1997 and 2002-2003 to determine whether they displayed fidelity. Fidelity declined between years, with a higher proportion of Porcupines displaying fidelity to a specific den within a single winter than between winters. Yearlings displayed higher fidelity to den sites than adults. Fidelity was stronger among Porcupines occupying rock vs. tree dens. Familiarity with home spaces and onset of snowfall and snowfall depth also probably influence selection of dens.
Evidence for Higher Soil Temperature and Potassium Promoting Invasion of the Common Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, in Denali National Park and Preserve, Alaska
Authors: Densmore Roseann V.
Published: January 2017

Common Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (dandelion) is expanding its range in Alaska and is of particular concern in National Park Service units. This study investigated the influence of estimated soil temperature, available potassium (K), available phosphorous (P), and total nitrogen (N) on dandelion cover and density on a site near the elevational limit of dandelion. The study site in Denali National Park had been disturbed by construction and was revegetated with native plants 12 years before the study. Seed input to the study site was abundant. In a multiple regression analysis, higher levels of estimated soil temperature and available K accounted for 79% and 73% of the variation in dandelion cover and density, respectively. Practical control methods include not fertilizing disturbed areas with K, and countering continued expansion of dandelion by monitoring human use areas and undisturbed habitats where soil temperatures are likely to be relatively warm.
Swimming Eastern Chipmunks, Tamias striatus, and Hairy-tailed Mole, Parascalops breweri, in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park, Ontario
Authors: Gorelick Root , Bertram Susan M.
Published: January 2017

We report swimming Eastern Chipmunks, Tamias striatus, and a swimming Hairy-tailed Mole, Parascalops breweri, in southern Ontario in Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. Although naturally swimming Eastern Chipmunks have been seen before, they have never been previously documented in the literature. Ours appears to be the first photograph of a swimming Hairy-tailed Mole and the first report of one successfully and apparently voluntarily swimming.
Gray Wolves, Canis lupus, Killed by Cougars, Puma concolor, and a Grizzly Bear, Ursus arctos, in Montana, Alberta, and Wyoming
Authors: Jimenez Michael D. , Asher Valpa J. , Bergman Carita , Bangs Edward E. , Woodruff Susannah P.
Published: January 2017

Four cases where large predators caused Grey Wolf (Canis lupus) mortality are recorded. We describe two incidents of Cougars (Puma concolar) killing Wolves in Montana and one incident of a Cougar killing a Wolf in Alberta. We report the first recorded incident of a Grizzly Bear (Ursus arctos) killing a Wolf in the western United States.
Bullsnake, Pituophis catenifer sayi, Nesting Biology in Alberta
Authors: Wright Jonathan D.
Published: January 2017

Bullsnakes were opportunistically observed at a site on Alberta’s Red Deer River at the northern extreme of their range near the town of Drumheller. This site is significant for its importance to the local nesting ecology of this snake. Data were collected from captured snakes, and individuals were marked and photographed to enable identification upon subsequent recapture. A minimum of 39 adult Bullsnakes were known to utilize a single bluff over a period spanning five years from 1998 to 2002. Fifteen gravid females were found over this span nesting in a single burrow complex. Bullsnakes were found to excavate their own nesting burrows at the site, and to show nest site fidelity. The congregation of numbers of these snakes at localized sites of importance to nesting biology renders them potentially vulnerable, and may present conservation challenges.
Characteristics of Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, Winter Den-sites in Living Trees in Wisconsin
Authors: Natzke Lori L. , Thiel Richard P.
Published: January 2017

Although Porcupines (Erethizon dorsatum) denned in a variety of structures in Sandhill Wildlife Area, Wood County, Wisconsin, hollow living trees predominated (67 percent). Diameter at breast height of den trees was significantly greater than that of trees in the surrounding forest, and den openings in living hollow trees were nearly twice the circumference of Porcupines. Porcupines probably do not prefer certain tree species over others; rather, they select species more prone to heart rot with cavities large enough to house a Porcupine.
Precision of Descriptors for Percent Marrow Fat Content for White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus viriginianus
Authors: Mech L. David
Published: January 2017

Based on 168 records of both verbal descriptors of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) femur-marrow fat and percentage of fat measured later, “gelatinous” served well to distinguish fat < 46% from higher percentages. “Waxy” distinguished fat > 56%.
Phenology, Population Dynamics, and Flowering Dynamics of Case's Ladies'-tresses, Spiranthes casei var. casei (Orchidaceae), in Ottawa, Ontario
Authors: Reddoch Joyce M. , Reddoch Allan H.
Published: January 2017

We describe a seven-year study (2002–2008) of a population of Case’s Ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes casei var. casei) in the western Greenbelt in Ottawa, Ontario, that had been extant since at least 1972. We also record a temporary colonization in the eastern Greenbelt for 11 years (1998–2008). The seven life history stages identified were seed, juvenile, immature, flowering, vegetative, offshoot (ramet), and non-emergent. Mature plants present in the first two years of the study had mean half lives of 9.4 years. Flowering and seed production were limited by damp, cloudy weather when fall rosettes develop, by gastropod herbivory in early summer, by drought in mid-summer, and by deer herbivory in late summer. Given the resulting wide fluctuations in the fractions of plants flowering, as well as the lack of visibility of vegetative plants, this study demonstrates the limitations of annual censuses of flowering stems for determining the actual sizes of populations and for detecting long-term population trends.