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  • OPEN ACCESS
    Wet–dry cycles influence methylmercury concentrations in water in seasonal prairie wetland ponds
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 14
    Methylmercury concentrations [MeHg] in whole water were measured in 28 prairie wetland ponds in central Saskatchewan between 2006 and 2012. Ponds fell into four land use categories (established grass, recent grass, traditional cultivated, and certified organic cultivated) and two water level patterns (“Mainly Wet” ponds stayed wet at least until October and “Mainly Dry” ponds dried up each summer). Despite similar atmospheric Hg deposition, average [MeHg] and proportion of total Hg that was MeHg (%MeHg) were higher in water from ponds surrounded with established grass or organic farming; this trend may be driven by high [MeHg] at one Organic site. A stronger relationship was observed with water level patterns. Average [MeHg] and %MeHg were significantly higher in Mainly Wet ponds compared to Mainly Dry ponds. Higher [MeHg] in Mainly Wet ponds were correlated with much higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and sulfate (SO4−2) concentrations and higher specific UV absorbance of DOC. We suggest that prairie wetland ponds may not fit the accepted paradigm that wetlands with high [SO4−2] show inhibition of Hg methylation. Our work suggests controls such as the chemical nature of DOC or redox fluctuations in hydrologically dynamic systems may be important in determining net [MeHg] in these sites.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Structuring forces of intertidal infaunal communities on the northern coast of British Columbia, Canada: assessing the relative importance of top-down, bottom-up, middle-out, and abiotic variables
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 14
    While trophic and habitat-related abiotic variables (predation, competition, tolerance, etc.) are known to influence community structure in many ecosystems, some systems appear to be only minimally influenced by these variables. Sampling multiple tidal flat communities in northern BC, Canada, we investigated the relative importance of top-down and middle-out (mesopredators) variables, competition for resources (bottom up), and abiotic variables in structuring an infaunal community (invertebrates living in sediment). Similar to previous studies on mudflats in the Bay of Fundy (also at a north temperate latitude), we determined that these variables accounted for a minor (0%–9%) proportion of the observed variation in this infaunal community, suggesting that these variables play a small role in structuring this community. Based on the results of our study and in combination with previous experiments on infaunal recovery patterns post disturbance, we posit that the main factors influencing these infaunal communities likely operate at a scale of sites (kilometres) and(or) plot (metres or less) but not transects (10–100 m within site). Candidate forces structuring these intertidal communities that need future examination include regional species pools and the variables that affect these pools, sediment biogeochemistry, and disturbance/recovery history of a site. The similarity of our Pacific coast findings to those from the north temperate Atlantic coast suggests some similarity in the processes structuring these distinct infaunal communities.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    A decision framework for the management of established biological invasions
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 10
    In some cases, managing an established invasive species may do more harm to an ecosystem than allowing the invader to persist. Given limited resources available to land managers and the realities of conservation triage, we recognized the need for systematic guidance for management decisions made at the “late end” of the invasion curve. We gathered an interdisciplinary group of experts and practitioners to address the question of “under what circumstances is the active management of an established aquatic invasive species warranted?” Our working group identified three key dimensions to this question: (1) the efficacy of available management options; (2) the net benefits of management actions weighed against the null scenario of no control; and (3) the socio-ecological context that defines management goals, a manager’s ability to achieve said goals, and perceptions of management outcomes. These considerations were used to structure a consensus decision tree that supports a multi-criteria approach to decision-making. Our approach promotes interdisciplinarity and systems thinking and emphasizes the need to consider costs and benefits comprehensively, for example by considering the persistence or reversibility of impacts from both the invasive species and from efforts to suppress or eradicate it.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    What is habitat sensitivity? A quantitative definition relating resistance, resilience, and recoverability to environmental impacts
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 9
    Habitat sensitivity is a consideration for decision-making under environmental laws in many jurisdictions. However, habitat sensitivity has been variously defined and there is no consistent approach to its quantification, which limits our understanding of how habitat sensitivity varies among systems and in response to different pressures. We review various definitions offered in the scientific literature and policy documents before suggesting a universal framework for habitat sensitivity as (i) a habitat trait that defines the ecological impacts from a given pressure, (ii) which is composed of three components (habitat resistance, resilience, and recoverability), and (iii) which is quantified by measuring the change and recovery in the state of key habitat attributes in response to pressures. In addition, we provide guidance toward a consistent approach to assessing habitat sensitivity, which includes the use of pressure benchmarks and standardized metrics of change in key habitat attributes to create a common scale for comparison among habitat attributes and pressures. Our framework and recommendations should help to standardize the way in which habitat sensitivity is defined and assessed, and could be integrated into decision-making processes to improve ecosystem management in different jurisdictions.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    One informs the other: Unionid species at risk and benthic macroinvertebrate community monitoring data are complementary
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 13
    Benthic macroinvertebrate communities, which include unionid freshwater mussels, enhance the health of river ecosystems. Human impacts have driven declines within freshwater mussel communities and due to their complex life cycles, mussel recovery efforts are complex. In Canada, conservation of imperiled species has focused on biodiversity hotspots such as the Sydenham River in the Laurentian Great Lakes Basin. In practice, species conservation and habitat monitoring are siloed between federal agencies and local conservation authorities, limiting the potential for alignment of conservation policy and practice. Here we bring together federal, local, and our own survey data to explore patterns of co-occurrences between mussel species and other macroinvertebrate taxa to explore the extent to which knowledge of one benthic community informs the other. Mussel communities (species richness, community composition) differed between sites where imperiled mussel species were present and/or absent. Benthic macroinvertebrate metrics (e.g., family richness, percent Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera taxa) and specific indicator taxa were correlated with mussel species richness and the presence of imperiled mussel species. We show that benthic macroinvertebrate diversity indicators provided insight into imperiled species occurrences that warrant further investigation. These findings underscore support for coordinated watershed monitoring efforts and could be crucial for more successful freshwater mussel conservation.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Community-led non-invasive polar bear monitoring in the Eeyou Marine Region of James Bay, Canada: insights on distribution and body condition during the ice-free season
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 12
    Wildlife conservation is informed by detailed understanding of species demographics, habitat use, and interactions with environmental drivers. Challenges to collecting this information, particularly in remote places and on widely ranging species, can contribute to data deficiencies that detract from conservation status assessment and the effectiveness of management actions. Polar bears in James Bay face rapidly changing environmental conditions at the southern edge of their global range, but studying their ecology has been limited by community concerns about the methods typically used in polar bear research. Using a community-led and non-invasive approach, we deployed hair snare and camera trap sampling stations across 400 km of the Eeyou Marine Region in eastern James Bay. Stations collected >100 hair samples and thousands of photographs in one eight-week period that allowed for a novel investigation of this population’s distribution and body condition during the ice-free season. Polar bears were in average to above average body condition, and model selection of detections at stations revealed distance to mainland as a significant predictor of polar bear presence. Given its high potential, we suggest community-based monitoring using this method become a standard protocol to expand the scope and local leadership of polar bear research across the North.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Shorebirds exhibit niche partitioning on multiple dimensions at a small staging site on the Northumberland Strait, New Brunswick, Canada
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 12
    Animal populations take advantage of environmental heterogeneity to partition themselves into microhabitat niches. Such partitioning plays an important role in regulating interspecific competition and community structure by allowing multiple species to coexist. Atlantic Canada has many small coastal staging sites that host southbound migrant shorebirds. However, most shorebird studies in the region have been focused on larger sites in the Bay of Fundy, resulting in limited knowledge about staging ecology at these small sites, which often host more diverse shorebird assemblages. We examined niche partitioning by shorebirds on the Northumberland Strait, New Brunswick, Canada, to better understand how small coastal staging sites support diverse shorebird populations. We found evidence of partitioning on three niche dimensions: space, foraging behaviour, and diet. Most species specialized in at least one dimension, with foraging constraints based on bill morphology and habitat access based on species size likely driving segregation. Environmental heterogeneity at sites on the Northumberland Strait created multiple dimensions for segregation and fulfilled the niche requirements of diverse shorebird species during migratory staging. These findings broaden our understanding of staging ecology of multispecies flocks and suggest that conservation of small coastal sites is important for success of migratory shorebirds in Atlantic Canada.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Dynamic vegetation cover and decline in common eider breeding numbers in Nova Scotia, Canada
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 12
    The American common eider (Somateria mollissima dresseri) is a colonially nesting sea duck breeding on islands in the coastal regions of Atlantic Canada. Declines in colony size have been pronounced in some parts of its range, notably in Nova Scotia, and may be attributable to a variety of interconnected factors including changes in habitat conditions. Using surveys collected two decades apart, we compared nesting habitat types, availability, and use by breeding eiders on 16 islands that supported >1600 eider nests in 1992–1993, but 830 nests in 2013. While general patterns of eider nesting habitat use remained consistent (e.g., nesting preferences exhibited for Low Shrubland and Grassland habitats, and avoidance of forest or beach habitats), overall vegetation cover declined, but relative habitat changes were inconsistent across islands. Three of the islands with the greatest change in vegetation had cormorant (Phalacrocorax spp.) colonies in 2013 that were not there in the earlier years. We suggest that changes in vegetation, in some cases facilitated by cormorant colony formation, influenced susceptibility of nesting females to predators, and these interconnected factors may be contributing to local population declines.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Multiple impacts of invasive species on species at risk: a case study in British Columbia, Canada
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 13
    Invasive species are a leading cause of biodiversity loss and species extinctions across ecosystems on a global scale. The historical and ongoing focus on single-species management of invasive species and species at risk contributes to inefficiencies in management strategies that present an obstacle to achieving desired outcomes. A holistic approach that consolidates and maps linkages between the broader collective of invasive species and species at risk in an area provides a more appropriate entry point for issue-based, rather than species-based, management planning. We present a case study of this approach from British Columbia, Canada, which synthesized the identity, mechanisms of impact, mechanisms of spread, and magnitude of impacts across 782 unique pairs of invasive species and federally listed species at risk, based on a literature review of species at risk documentation. The resulting dataset was used to summarize the nature of interactions across species pairs and taxonomic groups to help guide the development of invasive species response strategies that make the best use of limited management resources. As species invasions and extinctions become increasingly interconnected, holistic approaches rooted in cumulative effects assessment and ecosystem-based management can provide a stronger foundation for reducing or mitigating this growing threat.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Niche partitioning of bobcat and Canada lynx near their distribution contact zone
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 11
    Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) are keystone predators. However, contact with congenerics, like the bobcat (Lynx rufus), could alter lynx trophic ecology and destabilize boreal food webs. We set out to describe the trophic niches of these species in allopatry and sympatry to assess how resources are partitioned among them and project whether the northward expansion of the bobcats’ range will lead to the displacement of lynx. To quantify the trophic niche, we measured stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen in muscle and liver samples of bobcat and lynx. Our results indicate that both bobcat and lynx consumed snowshoe hare as their primary prey. However, lynx specialized on hare throughout our study, whereas bobcats foraged as generalists in sympatry with lynx and hare-specialists in allopatry. Our results highlight the contrasting ecological strategies of two congeneric felids and underscore the potential relevance of foraging efficiency in shaping the trophic niche of consumers in competitive environments.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Conducting community-led research using trail cameras to develop baseline wandering domestic cat local abundance estimates
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 14
    Assessing cat local abundance provides information on where wandering cat numbers are highest and what habitats or factors are associated with wandering cats. A variety of stakeholders can lead this research and then use the findings to make scientifically informed decisions to guide the physical locations of cat management actions. Here, we document a framework that engages community members, uses minimal equipment (six trail cameras), and provides scientifically derived information for interested parties to inform, direct, or test the effectiveness of cat management practices. Using these methods in Gatineau, Quebec, Canada, we demonstrate how we estimated cat population size and cat local abundances across a variety of co-variates while accounting for non-perfect detection by using 55 trail camera sites and N-mixture models. Urban areas had three-fold higher local wandering cat abundances than parkland areas, and neighbourhoods below the median income had the highest local abundances of wandering cats. We estimated there are between 8905 and 48,419 (mean 21,298) wandering cats in Gatineau, with 18%–73% of those cats being unowned. These findings can be used to identify locations for future cat management. If estimates of cat abundance are repeated, they can assess the effectiveness of management actions.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Graduate student experiences and perspectives related to conducting thesis research within long-term ecological projects
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 12
    Long-term ecological research (LTER) projects are considered valuable training grounds for graduate student researchers, yet student voices are largely absent from discussions of LTER merits in the literature. We aimed to identify benefits and challenges encountered by current and former graduate students in conducting graduate research within LTER projects. To explore graduate student experiences and perspectives, we conducted a survey comprising both closed-ended questions (i.e., multiple choice and Likert scale) and open-ended questions. From the responses, we identified emergent categories related to positive and negative experiences using sentiment analysis. We found agreement with purported benefits in areas including networking and access to established field sites and protocols. However, participants also identified data accessibility, authorship decisions, communication, and interpersonal conflicts as significant sources of challenges. We synthesized survey results with existing literature to provide actionable recommendations for principal investigators in four main areas (data, authorship, communication, and management) through an LTER lens. In addition to providing longitudinal data, LTER projects offer graduate students both physical and methodological infrastructure that can serve as the scaffold for new research questions to be developed. However, the likelihood of success of student research, as well as the success of the students themselves, can be improved when the needs of graduate students are prioritized.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Social media-based community science for turtle nest monitoring and conservation
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 7
    In late 2020, a private volunteer group operating through a Facebook group approached Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) with an interest in participating in the Citizen Science Nest Protection and Monitoring Volunteer Program. During the 2021 season, TRCA staff virtually trained volunteers in turtle nest detection, protection, and monitoring due to COVID-19 social constraints, and provided necessary supplies and equipment. In 2021 volunteers and staff detected 181 turtle nests and were able to protect 75 nests with simple predator-exclusion devices, while in 2022, 165 nests were detected, and 155 were protected. The volunteers also collected data, including nesting location, date, and species in addition to the number of successful hatchlings (2021 only). In 2021, the 75 protected nests yielded 81 Midland Painted Turtle and 665 Snapping Turtle hatchlings. Five Midland Painted Turtle’s eggs were also recovered from an injured turtle, and 44 Snapping Turtle eggs were recovered from a partially predated nest, transported to the Ontario Turtle Conservation Centre, incubated, hatched, and overwintered, and then released back into the local wetlands. The partnership with a local community group proved effective, and we would recommend this practice to other conservation organizations interested in turtle nest protection.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Characterizing contemporary evolutionary change in a recently isolated population of threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus L.)
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 16
    The parallel evolution of lateral plates and body shape in the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) is an iconic example of adaptation. We test a case of contemporary evolutionary transition in a recently isolated population of marine G. aculeatus in British Columbia, Canada. We investigate Ectodysplasin (Eda) genotypes, plate counts, neutral genetic divergence, and whole-body phenotypes to determine the genetic and phenotypic distance between this population and nearby comparative populations. Our focal population is in the process of adapting both genetically and phenotypically to a freshwater environment, and we provide an example of the genetic basis for parallel evolution on a contemporary timescale. The frequency of Eda genotypes and lateral plate phenotypes in our focal population is not consistent with those of marine or fully freshwater populations. Although our focal population is genetically distinct from nearby marine populations, these fish still more closely resemble marine populations in overall body shape while demonstrating an intriguing intermediate phenotype. Eda frequency and lateral plate phenotype change faster than body shape in response to freshwater conditions, suggesting that the pace of adaptation differs across traits in response to the same environmental conditions. Our results further bolster the case for G. aculeatus as a key model of contemporary evolution.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Management practices benefit endangered Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek) in Manitoba tall grass prairie
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 12
    Poweshiek skipperling (Oarisma poweshiek Parker, 1870) populations have declined precipitously in the past few decades, and their global range is now restricted to two isolated regions, one of which is the managed Manitoba tall grass prairie in Canada. In this paper, we used a decade of survey data from 2010 to 2019 to understand how habitat features, management practices, and extreme weather impact Poweshiek skipperling abundance in Manitoba. The strongest predictor of abundance was the density of black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta L.), a primary nectar plant for adults. Poweshiek skipperling abundance also had a negative relationship with both the number of years since a burn occurred and the number of years since grazing occurred. Cumulative precipitation during their active period (May–June) had a negative relationship with skipperling abundance, whereas warm early springs and cool temperatures during the active period had positive relationships. These results suggest that management actions that maintain tall grass prairie habitat in an early successional stage (burning and grazing) and maintain important nectar sources benefit this population. In contrast, extreme weather events had varying effects on Poweshiek skipperling abundance. Results from this study inform ongoing management practices in the Manitoba tall grass prairie to support this endangered population.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Spatial and seasonal determinants of arthropod community composition across an agro-ecosystem landscape
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 15
    We used Malaise traps to sample arthropod community composition at biweekly intervals across an agroecosystem landscape in southern Ontario, Canada, to evaluate the relative impact of site spacing, seasonal timing, weather conditions, local plant community attributes, and agricultural extent across the local landscape on spatial and temporal variation in arthropod community composition. The 15 field sites sampled spanned a wide gradient of agricultural extent that in isolation had a strong impact on spatial variation in arthropod community composition. DNA metabarcoding of the samples identified >10 000 different arthropod biodiversity index numbers. Local variation in plant community composition and canopy cover best explained variation in arthropod community dissimilarity. Weather variables followed closely in explanatory power, driven primarily by seasonal variation in temperature. Significant effects of time remained after accounting for environmental variables, with little independent effect of spatial distance. The proportion of agricultural land at the landscape scale had little detectable effect after controlling for the influence of the other environmental variables. Our results suggest that plant community composition, cover, weather conditions, and seasonality structured the arthropod community to considerable degree.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    A comparison of approaches to quantify carbon for ecosystem service assessments through time
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 13
    Monitoring of global climate regulation ecosystem services is needed to inform national accounts, meet emission targets, and evaluate nature-based climate solutions. As carbon monitoring is context-dependent, the most useful methodological approach will depend on the spatial extent and resolution, temporal frequency, baseline, available data, funding, and dominant drivers of change, all of which will impact results and interpretation. Here, focusing on above and belowground carbon storage and sequestration, we review four groups of methods for estimating trends in carbon over time: (1) field-based measurements, (2) land cover maps with reference carbon values by land cover type, (3) statistical and machine learning models linking field measurements to remotely sensed data, and (4) mass balance models representing key carbon pools and flows between them. We discuss strengths, limitations, and best practices for each method to assist researchers in implementing an approach or critically evaluating whether an existing carbon dataset can be used for a different project. The best methods often account for spatial variability of carbon, ecosystem interconnections, and temporal stability of carbon stocks against future environmental changes. Effective carbon monitoring can help determine optimal conservation, restoration, and/or land management interventions with win-win outcomes for both conservation and nature-based climate solutions.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Survey of rice (Oryza sativa L.) production ecosystems in northern Ghana confirms low risk of exposure to potential toxic elements from local grain consumption
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 7
    Expanding local rice production to meet consumer demand is a priority action under the Government of Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs initiative. While studies on yield-enhancing interventions abound, fewer studies focus on food safety issues (e.g., the potential toxic element status of the production ecosystems). This study was, therefore, conducted to bridge the knowledge gap. Chemical analyses were conducted on water, soil, and rice grain samples from different production ecosystems in the Northern and Upper East regions of Ghana. Statistical analysis of the data showed that soil and rice grain arsenic concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in the Upper East region. In the Northern region, mean cadmium concentration in rice grains from the irrigated lowland fields (0.023±0.003 mg/kg) was significantly higher than in grains from the rainfed fields. All recorded concentrations of rice grain arsenic, cadmium, and lead were, however, within permissible limits, indicating a low risk of dietary exposure. The observed differences in concentrations within and between regions suggest that soil texture and other geogenic factors could influence the potential toxic element status of the rice production ecosystems. Regular monitoring is, therefore, recommended to maintain the safety of Ghana’s locally produced rice for human consumption.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    A toolkit for greater equity, diversity, and inclusion in early-career ecology funding
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 9
    Funding is critical in ecology and related fields, as it enables research and sustains livelihoods. However, early-career researchers (ECRs) from diverse backgrounds are disproportionately underrepresented as funding recipients. To help funding programs self-evaluate progress towards increasing equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) in their funding opportunities, we introduce the Stage-based Assessments of Grants for EDI (SAGE) Toolkit. Developed using existing literature, semi-structured interviews, and coauthors’ experiences, the toolkit considers how each funding stage (Advertisement, Application, Review, Awarding) interacts with applicants from racialized and other underrepresented backgrounds. The toolkit offers specific criteria and recommendations, with explanations and examples from funding agencies, to support applicants who have been historically marginalized in ecology and are often left out of equitable funding consideration. Changes in funding mechanisms alone will not reverse the marginalization of communities and peoples in the field of ecology, but advancing EDI must include action throughout the grant process. Efforts to increase EDI must be sustained, and the toolkit allows for additional considerations and evolving best practices. With the SAGE Toolkit, efforts to increase EDI can help to transition away from a transactional dynamic between funder and applicant to instead supportive community and collaboration. The SAGE Toolkit is available online at bit.ly/ediSAGEtoolkit.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Now is the time for academics to think and act beyond academia
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 3
    Despite the challenges posed by climate change and the biodiversity crisis, most academic research continues to stay within academia and the gaps between conservation science, policy, and practice remain intact. We need to improve the exchange of evidence between researchers and conservation practitioners and focus on solutions-oriented, interdisciplinary science and co-developed research. As we continue to break climate records and lose record numbers of species every year, now is the time for academics to think and act beyond their institutions.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Heliocaminiform structures: plant organs that function as microgreenhouses
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 20
    Plant structures that enclose trapped air are morphologically and taxonomically diverse. They range from pubescence (trichomes) on various parts of plants to flowers, inflorescences, stems, culms (above-ground jointed stems of grasses), petioles, peduncles, scapes, fruits, bracts, leaves, galls, algal pneumatocysts, moss sporophytes, lichen podetia, and fungal fruiting bodies. Despite being familiar, such structures have not been studied systematically until recently when their complex thermodynamic functionality as microgreenhouses has been recognized. We propose the term “heliocaminiform” (Greco-Latin origin for “sun-room”) provides an umbrella term that describes form and function. Almost all the hollow structures we have examined have elevated internal temperatures of several degrees C above the surrounding air in sunshine, but those are abolished under cloud or at night. The potential importance for the additional heat is presumed to be in growth, maturation, reproduction, sexual function, and overall fitness of the plants. There seem to be no experimental studies on those effects even though they may help explain aspects of plants’ responses to climate change and to phenological mismatches with symbionts (mutualists and herbivores) as ecologically co-dependent partners. Our review and observations opens a remarkably new and hitherto surprisingly neglected avenue in botany which we hope others will explore.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Integrative adaptive management to address interactions between biological invasions and protected area connectivity: a Canadian perspective
    FACETS • Vol. 8 • pp. 1 - 12
    Expanding and creating protected area networks has become a central pillar of global conservation planning. In the management and design of protected area networks, we must consider not only the positive aspects of landscape connectivity but also how that connectivity may facilitate the spread of invasive species, a challenge that has become known as the connectivity conundrum. Here, we review key considerations for landscape connectivity planning for protected area networks, focusing on interactions between network connectivity and the management of invasive species. We propose an integrative adaptive management framework for protected area network planning with five main elements, including monitoring, budgeting considerations, risk assessment, inter-organizational coordination, and local engagement. Protected area planners can address the dynamic aspects of the connectivity conundrum through collaborative and integrative adaptive management planning.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Ideal free distributions form across a regulatory boundary in the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization (NAFO) Division 4X and 5Z groundfish fisheries
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 9
    We used isodars, developed from the ideal free distribution (IFD), to predict the distribution of fishing effort across regulatory boundaries in the south-western Scotian Shelf’s haddock fishery. Our analysis was focused around the boundary between Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization’s Divisions 4X and 5Z. While effort within 4X was related to the standardized catch value and effort experienced along the 4X–5Z boundary, most effort predictions across the boundary were also accurate. Accuracy of these cross-boundary isodars suggests that a high degree of movement across the boundary meets the IFD assumption of free movement and thus, effort on one side of the boundary is related to fishing success on the other side of the boundary. Fisheries management strategies should adopt a broad view that encompasses adjacent regulatory regions to understand where vessels may choose to fish when multiple regulatory regions are accessible. In fisheries where isodars describe effort distributions across a regulatory boundary, the relative abundance of the underlying fish population could be better indicated by effort distribution among regulatory regions than by catch rates.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Evaluating the design of the first marine protected area network in Pacific Canada under a changing climate
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 18
    Marine protected area (MPAs) networks can buffer marine ecosystems from the impacts of climate change by allowing species to redistribute as conditions change and by reducing other stressors. There are, however, few examples where climate change has been considered in MPA network design. In this paper, we assess how climate change considerations were integrated into the design of a newly released MPA network in the Northern Shelf Bioregion in British Columbia, Canada, and then evaluate the resulting network against projected physical and biogeochemical changes and biological responses. We found that representation, replication, and size and spacing recommendations integrated into the design phase were met in most cases. Furthermore, despite varying degrees of projected changes in temperature, dissolved oxygen, and aragonite saturation across the MPA network, suitable habitat for demersal fish species is projected to remain in the network despite some redistribution among sites. We also found that mid-depth MPAs are particularly important for persistence, as fish are projected to move deeper to avoid warming in shallower areas. Our results highlight that a representative MPA network with adequate replication, that incorporates areas of varying climate change trajectory, should buffer against the impacts of climate change.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Estimating size-at-harvest from Indigenous archaeological clamshell assemblages in Coastal British Columbia
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 15
    Shellfish have supported Indigenous lifeways on the Pacific Coast of North America for millennia. Despite the ubiquity of clamshells in archaeological sites, shell size measurements are rarely reported due to a lack of applicable basis for generating size estimates from fragmentary remains. We present a linear regression-based method for determining shell length from hinge and umbo measurements of littleneck (Leukoma staminea; n = 239), butter (Saxidomus gigantea; n = 274), and horse (Tresus nuttallii; n = 92) clams using both contemporary and archaeological shells collected from three regions in coastal British Columbia, Canada. We examine the accuracy of these size estimations, which indicate that 83%–97% of the variability in dorsal shell length is predicted by umbo thickness and hinge length. Hinge length generated higher R2 values yet exhibited greater intra- and inter-observer error. While the predicted dorsal length for each species differed by region, this size difference was smaller than intra- and inter-observer error, suggesting broad applicability for these simple measurements. We applied these formulae to a Tseshaht First Nation archaeological clamshell assemblage (n = 488) on western Vancouver Island spanning 3000 years and observed profiles that resemble contemporary legal size limits, which suggests the sustained use and maintenance of local shellfisheries. The accuracy of these regression models for determining shell length from fragments highlights the utility of this approach as a basis for assessing past shellfish management practices.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Burrow nests fall below critical temperatures of threatened seabirds but offer thermal refuge during extreme cold events
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 11
    Climate change is altering the severity and intensity of extreme weather events. Occupying microhabitats that buffer extreme weather may help species avoid harsh environmental conditions. We describe the thermal microclimate of Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica) and Leach’s Storm-petrel (Hydrobates leucorhous) burrows and quantify whether burrows are thermal refuges during extreme cold weather events. We further test for the effect of weather conditions and burrow characteristics on nest microclimate and buffering capacity during extreme cold weather. We find that both species actively breed in burrow microclimates that are below their lower critical temperatures, which may impose significant thermoregulatory costs. However, burrows do act as thermal refuges because nests are kept 7.4–8.0 °C warmer than ambient temperatures during extreme cold weather events. Overall, external temperature and wind speed were strong drivers of burrow temperature, but burrow and habitat characteristics did not explain the variability in burrow buffering capacity during extreme cold weather. Our results suggest that burrows may provide a direct line of defence for seabird chicks against cold events. Given the complex responses of burrow microclimates to extreme events, quantifying how changes in environmental conditions will impact burrow-nesting seabirds in the future is key.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    The long-term effects of water resource development on blood mercury levels and the trophic ecology of Namew (lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens)
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 13
    Water resource development can alter the movement and ecology of sturgeons. We studied total (THg) and methylmercury concentrations in whole blood sampled non-lethally from namew (Moose Cree L-dialect, lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens), an endangered and culturally important subsistence fish. Namew were sampled from two tributaries within the Moose Cree Homeland: the Lower Mattagami River (an impacted system with four hydroelectric generating stations) and the North French River (a reference system that is free-flowing system with no development). Results indicated namew from the North French River had higher blood [THg] than those from the Mattagami River. Further modeling showed that trophic position was the primary driver of these differences, with North French namew having the highest nitrogen isotope ratios. Based on further isotope modeling, crayfish were major components of namew diet at all sites, while other prey items differed between sites. Specifically, namew with unobstructed access to the lower watershed had notably more enriched isotope values when compared to the freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates sampled, implying that other prey not captured herein may contribute to their diets and [THg]. Overall, we found differences in namew’s trophic ecology but no elevation in blood mercury levels at a site impacted by hydroelectric operations 60+ years post-impoundment.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    A pilot bioavailable strontium isotope baseline map of Southern British Columbia, Canada
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 11
    Strontium isotopes are used for provenience and mobility studies in archaeology, ecology, and forensic studies, and rely on accurate baseline maps that are used to compare and interpret human and animal strontium ratios. Here, we present a bioavailable 87Sr/86Sr map, also called an isoscape, for southern British Columbia derived from modern plant samples’ 87Sr/86Sr ratios. We sampled 67 medium root depth plants over a 900 km transect from the southern BC coast to inland BC to capture the natural 87Sr/86Sr ratios of plants along the four major geological belts in British Columbia. Non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis and pairwise Wilcox tests were used to examine whether the geological belts had statistically significant mean differences. It was found that the province could be effectively divided into east and west, with the Coastal–Intermontane and Omineca–Foreland regions having statistically different means from each other. 87Sr/86Sr ratios had statistically significant relationships with salt deposition, volcanic deposition, and mean age of the underlying lithology. Generally, 87Sr/86Sr ratios increased with distance from the coast as the atmospheric input of radiogenic strontium from marine-derived rainwater decreased and the input of radiogenic strontium isotopes from the underlying geology of the Rockies in the far east of the province increased.
  • OPEN ACCESS
    Julie Morand-Ferron retrospective (1977–2022) for FACETS
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 4
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    Winter diet of five sympatric ungulates in west-central Alberta, Canada—inference from DNA metabarcoding of fecal pellets
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 13
    Diet is one of the determinants of ungulate ecology. However, there have been few studies of the diet of sympatric ungulates in western Canada. We used DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples to evaluate the winter diet of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), mule deer (O. hemionus), moose (Alces americanus), elk (Cervus canadensis), and caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in west-central Alberta. We found that forbs comprised 53%–82% of the reads from plant DNA, while mosses, sedges, grasses, and shrubs made up relatively little of each ungulate’s diet. There was considerable overlap in the winter diet of the five ungulates (Horn-Morisita index = 42%–64% overlap; Bray-Curtis index = 20%–45% overlap). Moose had the most distinct diet, while elk and caribou had the least distinct. However, our analysis was restricted to a coarse taxonomic resolution (family). Lichen species were not identifiable, beyond their fungal component and a number of taxonomic assignments were difficult to rationalise given our knowledge of the diet of the five ungulate species and the ecology of west-central Alberta, Canada. DNA metabarcoding of fecal samples is efficient, but apparent limitations with the technique restrict the description and quantification of diet of the five species of ungulate that we studied.
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    The effect of riffle restoration on the recovery of endangered Nooksack Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae sp. cataractae)
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 15
    The Nooksack Dace (Rhinichthys cataractae sp. cataractae) is a federally endangered riffle specialist endemic to the lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia, Canada, with historic population declines associated with riffle loss from stream dredging, channelization, and excessive sediment inputs. To assess the effectiveness of riffle restoration as a recovery strategy, gravel and cobble riffles were constructed in two replicate tributaries of the Nooksack River as a before-after-control-impact experiment, measuring dace abundance, substrate composition, and invertebrate biomass before and one year after restoration. Nooksack Dace density increased significantly in cobble (but not gravel) treatments relative to control riffles. Dace abundance was strongly associated with increased availability of interstitial refuges rather than substrate effects on invertebrate prey abundance, suggesting that interstitial space limits adult dace abundance. Young-of-the-year dace were not observed in one of the two restored streams despite riffle restoration, indicating increased dace density due to aggregation in higher-quality restored riffles. This recruitment limitation indicates persistence of a population bottleneck at an early life history stage that is not addressed by successful restoration of adult riffle habitat.
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    Seasonal movement and habitat use of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) near the northern geographic range extent
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 15
    The movement ecology of Bull Trout (Salvelinus confluentus) in watersheds at the northern geographic range extent is not well understood. We implanted 54 Bull Trout with acoustic transmitters in the Prairie Creek watershed, Northwest Territories, Canada and tracked fish from July 2011 to October 2012 using 19 stationary hydrophones. Bull Trout movement patterns generally corresponded to two groups, as a result of individual variation within and across seasons. The first group exhibited seasonal variations in movement and habitat use, moving most (range 11.7–115.9 km) and occupying the largest home ranges in summer and autumn, while exhibiting little movement during winter and spring. The second group made negligible movements within seasons and resided in localized areas. Restricted movement in winter resulted in a severe range contraction. The average distance moved within a season was 11.5 km (range 0.3–64.9 km per fish). The unusually high prevalence of stationarity in this watershed suggest fish can complete all life processes (spawning, feeding, and rearing) in short reaches (<10 km) of Prairie Creek and tributaries. We encourage researchers to replicate our work in other northern watersheds to determine if the life history we describe represents a regional divergence from more southerly populations.
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    Effects of acute suspended sediment exposure on the swimming and schooling performance of imperilled Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus)
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 10
    Urbanization is a widespread threat to freshwater ecosystems. After rainfall, urban streams often experience unnaturally fast water flows and acute increases in suspended sediment due to the high degree of adjacent impervious land surface. Suspended sediments may negatively affect fishes by impairing respiration, and reduced water clarity may also affect social behaviours such as schooling that are dependent on visual cues. Given these two mechanisms of harm, suspended sediments may therefore exacerbate the difficulty of swimming at high water velocities. We tested this idea using imperilled Redside Dace (Clinostomus elongatus) to examine the consequences of suspended sediment on swimming performance and schooling behaviour. Using individual fish, we assayed swimming performance (standard critical swim speed test) and tail beat frequency and amplitude under a range of ecologically relevant sediment concentrations. Next, we measured the impact of sediment on the cohesion and polarization of schools. Swimming performance of individual fish was not affected by suspended sediment levels we examined. School polarization was positively correlated with water flow overall and at the fastest flows we tested; schools were more polarized when exposed to sediment. School cohesion decreased with increasing flows and was unaffected by the suspended sediment levels we examined. Our results collectively suggest that swimming performance of Redside Dace may be resilient to ecologically relevant acute suspended sediment exposure.
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    Bull kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) growth rates as climate stress indicators for Canada’s Pacific coast
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 19
    Primary producers’ growth rates are ideal bioindicators of changing climate due to their sensitivity to environmental conditions. On the Central Coast of British Columbia, we assessed growth rates of Nereocystis luetkeana, a canopy-forming annual kelp, by assessing baseline variability in growth rates and their response to environmental conditions of over 600 individuals and across three sites (2016–2019). Optimal growth rates for blades and stipes (∼13–14 cm/day) occurred within a narrow range of local environmental conditions. Growth decreased at temperatures > 10 °C, below 1 µm/L nitrate concentration, and surface light availability reduced blade growth at low and high levels (daily light integral or DLI <20 and >40 mol/m2/day). Spatiotemporal variability in these environmental drivers co-occurred with differences in growth rates, suggesting that local conditions strongly influenced growth. In particular, temperature and nutrients were un-coupled seasonally in this region, with more variable responses in growth over the primary growing season (May to September). Overall, the sensitivity of the growth rates of this annual kelp to changing climatic conditions suggests that it is a useful bioindicator for management and marine planning efforts (e.g., restoration and aquaculture) across its species range and provides a feasible metric for monitoring.
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    Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) migratory behaviour and seasonal home range overlap are functions of geographic space in a fragmented riverscape
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 17
    In temperate rivers, where environmental conditions vary seasonally, many fishes migrate among summer, spawning, and winter habitats. Dams disrupt these migrations, limiting access to habitat and potentially affecting populations. Bigmouth Buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) is a species of fish with at-risk populations in central Canada. The impact of dams on the extent of Bigmouth Buffalo migration and the overlap between summer and winter home ranges is unknown. Here, we assessed the migratory history of 80 Bigmouth Buffalo tagged with acoustic transmitters in the Red River (USA and Canada), a large binational waterway regulated by semi-passable dams. We sought to understand when and why Bigmouth Buffalo migrate, and how river use varies seasonally. Following more than 6 years of data collection, we found that the degree and probability of overlap between winter and summer home ranges varied by river section between barriers. Importantly, overlap was lowest in the longest continuous river section where well-defined migratory behaviours were observed. The results of this study reveal previously unknown details about Bigmouth Buffalo migration, demonstrate the consequences of river fragmentation on geographic space use, and highlight the importance of river connectivity to fish migration.
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    The effect of nutrient transport downstream on food web stability in an experimental freshwater meta-ecosystem
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 15
    Recent spatial nutrient transport theory suggests that accumulation of nutrients downstream in riverine systems can amplify the magnitude of phytoplankton and zooplankton blooms and/or lead to competitive replacement of phytoplankton by less edible species, such as cyanobacteria. We used an experimentally controlled three-node network of freshwater mesocosms with green algae, cyanobacteria, and Daphnia magna to test these hypotheses. Nutrients and detritus accumulated significantly downstream, reaching maximum values in the terminal nodes, resulting in small increases in abundance for green algae and D. magna populations. Stability analysis from the Lotka–Volterra competition model for green algae and cyanobacteria did not provide evidence of complete competitive exclusion, but cyanobacteria projected to equilibrate at densities 50% higher than those of green algae in all nodes. Our results support the theoretical prediction that unidirectional flow in riverine systems contributes to accumulation of nutrients downstream and increased heterotrophic bacterial activity, but these changes were of insufficient magnitude to produce variance- or mean-driven destabilization of food web relationships downstream in our experimental system.
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    The changing agricultural landscape in Canada’s Mixedwood Plains Ecozone (2011–2022) and the implications for biodiversity
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 11
    The prairies and savannahs historically found in the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone have been largely converted into farmland, the dominant present-day land cover. Consequently, many species native to these grasslands have shifted to inhabiting suitable agricultural lands. More recently, agricultural intensification has led to the conversion of pastures and hay fields to annual crops, further removing habitat suitable for the persistence of grassland species. We quantified the shift from pasture and forage to annual crops as well as the dynamics among agricultural lands and other land covers in the Mixedwood Plains Ecozone, predicting biodiversity implications by providing a case study on Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna (Linnaeus, 1758)). The total agricultural land area changed little over the study period, but area of pasture and forage decreased while row crop area increased. The loss of agricultural lands to urbanization was partly offset by the conversion of forests and wetlands; however, the farmland gained was of lesser agricultural quality than the farmland lost. Declines in Eastern Meadowlark abundance correlated significantly with carrying capacity loss, suggesting that habitat availability is a limiting factor for this species. We highlight the importance of land management policies to minimize the impacts of land conversion on biodiversity and agricultural production.
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    Weaving ways of knowing in practice: a collaborative approach to prioritizing community knowledge and values in wildlife camera monitoring with Magnetawan First Nation
    FACETS • Vol. 9 • pp. 1 - 17
    There is not one singular way to weave together Indigenous and Western knowledges; creating meaningful cross-cultural collaborations requires a foundation of relationships rooted in the context of specific people and place. As interest in working across knowledge systems increases, our goal is to provide an example of respectful and appropriate cross-cultural collaboration within environmental practice. We demonstrate our collaborative, mixed-methods approach to developing a community-based wildlife monitoring program with Magnetawan First Nation that prioritizes community knowledge and values. Through community interviews and a youth sharing circle, participants highlighted values (respect, interconnection, reciprocity, collaboration, and relationship) as well as research priorities, providing examples of what each may look like in practice, to inform our monitoring approach. These examples, paired with reflections from the research team, are shared to explore the process of weaving together knowledge and values to co-create a community-based wildlife monitoring program, applying wildlife cameras as much more than simply a tool for data collection. This research provides tangible examples of weaving together knowledges and values in the context of environmental monitoring, helping guide future cross-cultural collaboration to ensure this work is being done in a good way.
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    No evidence of migration in a 4-year study of an at-risk migratory fish—the centenarian bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus) of Saskatchewan
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 10
    The bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus, Valenciennes 1844) is a long-lived freshwater fish native to North America that is listed as a species of special concern in its Saskatchewan-Nelson range. Little is known about their ecology and behavior, especially in the Saskatchewan Qu'Appelle River system where it faces multiple threats such as habitat fragmentation and competition with invasive species. In this study, we used acoustic telemetry to track the movements of 44 bigmouth buffalo throughout the Qu'Appelle River system in 2017–2019, and 2021, to monitor migration patterns from spring to fall and investigate if any of the five dams were impeding their ability to access either breeding or overwintering grounds. We found that bigmouth buffalo demonstrated minimal use of the river during this 4-year study, instead staying within the confines of a single lake year-round. Our results suggest that bigmouth buffalo in the Qu'Appelle River do not exhibit migratory behavior during nonflooding years. Considering their extended lifespan (>125 years), this could be attributed to their potential bet-hedging strategy for spawning primarily during flood years. The results indicate that bigmouth buffalo voluntarily remained within Buffalo Pound Lake throughout the study period. Whether this behavior was natural or was influenced by modifications to the system’s hydrology requires further investigation.
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    The many pathways of climate change affecting coastal ecosystems: a case study of western Vancouver Island, Canada
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 18
    Climate change threatens marine ecosystems with known effects on marine life, including changes in metabolic rates, survival, and community structure. Based on a structured literature review, we developed a conceptual “pathways of effects” model that summarizes how three stressors associated with climate change (warming, acidification, and storms) affect functional species groups on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. We identified 155 distinct pathways from the three stressors through 12 categories of biological effects ranging from changes in the biochemistry of individual organisms to effects on community composition. Most species groups were affected by several climate stressors and via many pathways, although individual studies generally considered only a small fraction of relevant pathways. These effects depended on the species of interest and geographical location, highlighting the importance of local research. Climate change stressors exert complex, sometimes contradictory effects that vary across ecological scales. For example, some stressors that adversely affected a species in laboratory studies appeared beneficial in community-scale field studies. Pathways of effects models are helpful tools to summarize scientific studies across ecological scales. Compiling them in standardized databases would allow researchers and practitioners to search across species and regions to better support ecosystem-based management and environmental impact assessment.
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    Does selenium offset methylmercury toxicity across trophic levels in a primary producer, Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa, and a detritovore, Aeolosoma variegatum?
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 13
    Methylmercury ([CH3Hg]+ or MeHg) is a potent neurotoxin that impairs functioning of the nervous system, and selenium (Se) is known to provide a protective effect against MeHg. Experiments were run to investigate the expected offsetting of MeHg toxicity by Se across trophic levels at the base of the aquatic food chain. An algal primary producer, Auxenochlorella pyrenoidosa, was exposed to MeHg (2 µg L−1) in the presence or absence of varying levels of Se (0 µg L−1, 2 µg L−1, and 5 µg L−1). Results showed that MeHg decreased the maximum density of Auxenochlorella, which Se did not offset. Equal amounts (8 mg) of the algal biomass produced under exposure conditions were subsequently fed to a detritovore, Aeolosoma variegatum (a small freshwater annelid worm). When consuming dietary Se in MeHg contaminated water, or when consuming dietary Se with dietary MeHg, Aeolosoma populations experienced a rescue effect against MeHg, i.e., they achieved greater final population density. Understanding safe levels of dietary Se that provide population level protection against MeHg is a critical step towards managing mercury in contaminated ecosystems.
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    Evaluation of a decade of management of a North American aquatic invasive species (Nitellopsis obtusa) highlights scale-dependent effectiveness and monitoring gaps
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 14
    Nitellopsis obtusa (starry stonewort) is an invasive macroalga subject to substantial control efforts in the Midwestern United States; however, there has not been systematic evaluation of treatment effectiveness. We synthesized management approaches and outcomes using monitoring performed over a decade-long period across 38 lakes in Indiana, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Copper-based algaecide treatments were the primary means of control, followed by physical removal methods or combination treatments. Control efforts and associated monitoring data varied by spatial scale, as did surveyors’ N. obtusa sampling methods. At the largest (whole-lake) scale, we found no evidence that algaecide treatments were slowing expansion or reducing abundance of N. obtusa within infested lakes. At smaller, within-lake scales, we found that algaecide and physical treatments could reduce N. obtusa frequency and biomass, but outcomes were highly variable. At the smallest scales, hand pulling was an effective containment strategy for small, localized populations that were detected early. These results highlight the need to set realistic goals for N. obtusa control and develop improved management techniques. There were also critical gaps in monitoring that limited our ability to evaluate treatment effectiveness. In particular, increased monitoring of unmanaged reference lakes and untreated areas within managed lakes is needed.
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    Investigating the potential uptake of microplastic-derived carbon into a boreal lake food web using carbon-13 labelled plastic
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 9
    Microplastics degrade slowly over time, leaching carbon (C) that could be subsequently incorporated into aquatic food webs. Current estimates of microplastic degradation vary, and little is known about microplastic-derived C fate under natural environmental conditions. To investigate whether microplastics leach C that is subsequently incorporated into aquatic food webs, we added isotopically enriched microplastics to Lake 378 at the Experimental Lakes Area in Ontario, Canada. In an ∼1100 L limnocorral (in situ open-bottom enclosure), we added 99% 13C-labelled polystyrene (8–216 µm in longest dimension) at a nominal concentration of 3268 particles/L. A second limnocorral without microplastics served as a negative control. Monthly measurements of δ13C-DIC and δ13C-DOC in filtered water revealed no detectable leaching of 13C from the plastic. Compound-specific isotope analysis of δ13C in amino acids of bulk plankton and periphyton revealed a slight (0.5‰) enrichment in 13C, within the range of natural variability for these organisms. Under the natural conditions of temperate oligotrophic lakes, degradation of microplastics is likely a very slow process that was not possible to detect in this 4-month experiment. Future studies should focus on assessing degradation of microplastics under realistic field scenarios to improve estimates of degradation pathways and associated time scales.
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    Data and knowledge needs for improving science and policy for peatlands in Canada in a changing world: insights from Global Peatlands Initiative Workshop, June 2023
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 19
    Knowledge and data on the current function, future threats, and benefits of peatlands in Canada are required to support evidence-based decision-making to ensure they continue to provide critical ecosystem services. This is particularly relevant for Canada, given the large expanse of relatively intact peatland area. There is a need, not only to standardize protocols, but also to prioritize types of information and knowledge that can best meet conservation and management goals. This was the challenge posed to the participants of the Global Peatlands Initiative workshop in June 2023 in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Participants were composed of researchers using primarily Western science approaches that use peatland data for carbon accounting, policy or sustainable land use, reclamation/restoration, conservation, wildlife, and water resources applications. For seven peatland data categories (hydrometeorological and environmental sensing; peat coring and depth; greenhouse gas monitoring; biodiversity; vegetation, woody debris, and litter; Traditional Knowledge; water quality), three priority measurements were identified and recommendations for their collection were discussed. The key recommendations from the workshop were to (1) create standardized, yet flexible protocols; (2) coordinate field data collection where possible; (3) weave more Traditional Knowledge into understanding of peatlands; (4) create an atlas of existing peatland information; (5) scope opportunities to create a network of peatland “super sites”.
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    Anthropogenic impacts on seagrass habitat connectivity: a model to explore potential links between human activity and marine invertebrate metapopulation persistence
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 15
    Coastal ecosystems face numerous stressors from anthropogenic activities. Furthermore, local stressors that directly impact ecological processes in one location can scale up to have indirect regional consequences. In the case of dispersing marine invertebrates, human activity may impact dispersal and survival rates, which can then alter connectivity patterns and metapopulation dynamics across the seascape. Here, we developed a framework to model metapopulation persistence of seagrass-associated invertebrates in the Salish Sea, focusing primarily on British Columbia, Canada. We combined a biophysical model of dispersal with metrics of habitat naturalness to model how local human activities that may impact dispersal can alter habitat connectivity patterns and potentially impact regional metapopulation persistence. We found that human activities that potentially impact dispersal can reduce population persistence across a region, although the effect varied based on location, population dynamics, and severity of the impacts modeled. The majority of populations, however, remained persistent, suggesting that there are robust and redundant pathways of dispersal that can maintain population connectivity in the face of local disturbances. This study highlights the importance of understanding human impacts and connectivity together in a regional context which could have implications for future marine spatial planning and the effective management of biodiversity.
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    Correction: Spatial and seasonal determinants of arthropod community composition across an agro-ecosystem landscape
    FACETS • Vol. 10 • pp. 1 - 7