1 / 36

Jeffrey B. Ogden, MSc candidate Mount Allison University

Stoneflies (Insecta; Plecoptera) in small upland streams in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia: Diversity and responses to forest harvest practises. Jeffrey B. Ogden, MSc candidate Mount Allison University. Project Objectives. Baseline information :

ismail
Download Presentation

Jeffrey B. Ogden, MSc candidate Mount Allison University

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Stoneflies (Insecta; Plecoptera) in small upland streams in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia: Diversity and responses to forest harvest practises Jeffrey B. Ogden, MSc candidate Mount Allison University

  2. Project Objectives • Baseline information: Boreal highland stonefly biodiversity. 2. Relate to forest practice & stream characteristics.

  3. Hypothes • Expect new species records for Nova Scotia. • Stream systems most recently affected by forestry will have the lowest diversity of stonefly species.

  4. Cape Breton highlands

  5. Cape Breton highlands • upland boreal forest region • climax balsam fir forest • harsh climate

  6. Forestry and the highlands • Pre 1900s • 1920s - pulp and paper • 1970s – spruce budworm infestation • Present activity

  7. Previous studies in highlands • Limited …due to accessibility • Primarily in lower elevations • 1st aquatic study in boreal region

  8. Physical Habitat Characterization

  9. Stonefly sampling • Sampling was conducted along a 15-20 m study reach • Emergence traps • Benthic sampling • Spring, summer and fall

  10. Stonefly sampling • Sampling was conducted along a 15-20 m study reach • Emergence traps • Benthic sampling • Spring, summer and fall

  11. Stonefly sampling • Sampling was conducted along a 15-20 m study reach • Emergence traps • Benthic sampling • Light traps • Foliage sweeps

  12. Statistical analysis • Only the benthic data used for analysis of forestry patterns • ANOVA after transforming as necessary • Exploratory multivariate statistics - cluster analysis and PCA • No pattern with measured variables

  13. Results • Physical characteristics of the streams

  14. Results • Stonefly diversity: 3300 stoneflies collected 2750 nymphs and 550 adults 31 stonefly species from eight families 8 new records for NS

  15. Stonefly diversity in the boreal streams • Low stonefly diversity is natural in small cold-water springs • Shredder dominated

  16. Winter stoneflies

  17. Conclusions • Impact of forestry activities on stoneflies? • No significant differences • Stonefly abundance • Buffers

  18. Conclusions • Stonefly diversity naturally low • Forestry impact “buffered” • More fun work to be done

  19. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS • Mount Allison University • University of Prince Edward Island • NSERC /NSDNR • Stora Enso/NewPage • My supervisors and committee members Dr. Ron Aiken (MTA), Dr. Dave McCorquodale (CBU), and Barry Taylor (StFX) my external examiner

  20. QUESTIONS??

More Related