Postbreeding movement patterns and habitat use of adult Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) at urban wetlands

Habitat loss and degradation linked to urbanization threaten amphibian populations globally, yet studies examining amphibian behaviour and habitat use in cities are rare. Through the use of radiotelemetry, we examined the postbreeding (May–October) movement behaviour and habitat use of adult Wood Frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus (LeConte, 1825)) at natural and constructed urban wetlands in Edmonton, Alberta, located in the semiarid, aspen parkland of Canada. Movement from breeding wetlands was limited, with most tracked individuals remaining within 25 m of ponds in grassy riparian areas. Long-distance migratory movements were rare and only occurred at natural sites with relatively high proportions of forested land surrounding wetlands. In general, tracked frogs showed a preference for habitat close to water that provided shelter from desiccation and predation (e.g., unmowed grass and stands of shrubs). Our findings have implications for the management of wetlands and conservation of amphibian populations in urban environments.

Flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) species in canola (Brassicaceae) on the northern Great Plains of North America

Flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) species and numbers were determined from yellow sticky traps (n=11 180) set out in canola (Brassica Linnaeus, Brassicaceae) fields at 300 site years and 15 ecoregions across the Canadian Prairie provinces in each spring of 2007–2011 and in North Dakota, United States of America in 2010–2011. Peak numbers and relative species abundance varied with year, site, and ecoregion. Phyllotreta striolata (Fabricius) was most common in northern ecoregions, whereas Phyllotreta cruciferae (Goeze) dominated nearer the 49th parallel. The proportion of P. striolata in northern areas increased dramatically compared with surveys in the 1970s. Phyllotreta striolata displaced Psylliodes punctulata Melsheimer as the most common flea beetle in the Peace River Lowlands, displaced P. cruciferae as the most common flea beetle in the Aspen Parkland of central Alberta, Canada, and increased in proportion in central Saskatchewan and much of Manitoba, Canada. Once rare in southern ecoregions, P. striolata was found there in increasing numbers. Temperature was the most consistent weather parameter to predict occurrence of both P. cruciferae and P. striolata. Although P. striolata became more numerous over years in four of seven principal ecoregions, P. cruciferae remained the predominant species on traps with the highest numbers of flea beetles.

Aspen parkland pasture altered by Richardson’s Ground Squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii Sabine) activity: the good, the bad, and the not so ugly?

Although Richardson’s Ground Squirrels (Urocitellus richardsonii) are considered pests throughout their North American range, their impact on forage in Canadian aspen parkland has not been explored. We investigated the effect of Richardson’s Ground Squirrel density on forage quality and plant community composition in an intensely grazed cattle pasture in the aspen parkland region of Manitoba, Canada. We detected no significant differences in forage protein content or legume, grass, and litter biomass among ground squirrel density levels. However, ground squirrel density did influence the abundance of invasive and forage plant species; greater squirrel density reduced the prevalence of Smooth Brome (Bromus inermis Leysser) and Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and increased the abundance of Quackgrass (Elymus repens (L.) Gould) and Black medick (Medicago lupulina L.). Plant community diversity also increased with ground squirrel density. There were no differences in soil bulk density or ammonia content among squirrel density levels; however, soil nitrate content was highest at low ground squirrel density. Changes in available soil nitrogen and relative abundances of forage species on this pasture may affect cattle diet by altering both the availability and quality of forage. Our findings highlight the need for further investigation of the role of Richardson’s Ground Squirrel on rangeland in the aspen parkland region to ascertain the generality of the effects documented in our study. Until such effects and their implications for cattle production are understood, land managers should refrain from exterminating colonies of Richardson’s Ground Squirrel.

Short Communication: Aspen forest overstory relations to understory production

LaRade, S. E. and Bork, E. W. 2011. Short Communication: Aspen forest overstory relations to understory production. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 847–851. We examined the relationship between aspen cover and understory production across two topographic positions and two management systems within the Aspen Parkland of eastern Alberta. Understory biomass typically declined with increasing overstory, with greater yield losses on north-facing forests than bottomlands. Browse often compensated for herbage loss, and limited evidence of facilitative growth was observed.