A5073528755- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Plant Parasitism and Resistance
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Hymenoptera taxonomy and phylogeny
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Insect-Plant Interactions and Control
- Fern and Epiphyte Biology
- Lepidoptera: Biology and Taxonomy
- Fossil Insects in Amber
- Horticultural and Viticultural Research
- Botany, Ecology, and Taxonomy Studies
- Coleoptera Taxonomy and Distribution
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Collembola Taxonomy and Ecology Studies
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Plant and Fungal Species Descriptions
- Freshwater macroinvertebrate diversity and ecology
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
- Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
Royal Saskatchewan Museum
2015-2024
University of Regina
2023-2024
3v Geomatics (Canada)
2024
Victoria and Albert Museum
2024
Ministry of Environment
2020
The Ohio State University
2020
York University
2009-2012
Keele University
2011
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
2004-2008
University of Guelph
2008
Significance Many of the world’s crops are pollinated by insects, and bees often assumed to be most important pollinators. To our knowledge, study is first quantitative evaluation relative contribution non-bee pollinators global pollinator-dependent crops. Across 39 studies we show that insects other than efficient providing 39% visits crop flowers. A shift in perspective from a bee-only focus needed for assessments pollinator biodiversity economic value pollination. These should also...
A small but vocal community of critics has questioned the epistemological value DNA barcoding by suggesting that either it 'cannot work' for identification or discovery species ignores 'richness' inherent in traditional approaches. We re-examine these arguments through a comparison and morphological taxonomy terms their accuracy diversity characters employed. conclude morphology often does not work is nowhere near as 'rich' been argued. Morphology particularly poor numerous important...
Wolbachia is a genus of bacterial endosymbionts that impacts the breeding systems their hosts. can confuse patterns mitochondrial variation, including DNA barcodes, because it influences pathways through which mitochondria are inherited. We examined extent to these detected in routine barcoding, assessed impact upon insect sequence divergence and identification accuracy, considered variation present COI. Using both standard PCR assays (Wolbachia surface coding protein – wsp), COI fragments...
Abstract DNA barcoding has been evaluated for many animal taxa and is now advocated as a reliable rapid means species‐level identification. The coming‐to‐light of this identification tool timely we are facing perhaps the greatest rate species loss in recent millennia. This study contributes to an ever‐increasing number published accounts successfully accurately distinguishing taxa, instance, bee fauna Nova Scotia, Canada. Most members well‐known were resolved with particular clarity; average...
Bumblebees of the subgenus Bombus s. str. dominate (or used to dominate) many north temperate pollinator assemblages and include most commercial bumblebee species. Several species are now in serious decline, so conservationists need know precisely which ones involved. The problem is that cryptic, identification from morphology may be impossible for some individuals frequently misleading according recent molecular studies. This first review entire to: (1) avoid fixed a priori assumptions...
Epeoloidespilosulus , one of the rarest bees in North America, is a cleptoparasite Macropis which themselves are uncommon oligoleges oil-producing Lysimachia flowers. Only two specimens have been reported from Canada since 1960s, both Nova Scotia. A recently collected specimen Alberta, confirms this species that province and greatly increases its known range western America. This record additional southern Ontario (one 1978) implications for conservation status COSEWIC assessed Canada, discussed.
Thermacarus nevadensis Marshall, 1928 is an uncommonly collected mite associated with hot spring environments in the western United States. Information on its distribution and ecology are incomplete.In this paper, we report from northern British Columbia. These records represent first of Thermacaridae Canada, most species North America, for family globally. We also provide short notes images habitats which specimens have been Canada.
In Canada, the Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens Cresson) is native to southern Ontario and Quebec, but since being developed as a managed commercial pollinator, it has been exported several other provinces for use in greenhouse field crop settings. This enabled this species become established outside its natural range now eastern Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) British Columbia. To date, not detected via capture prairie provinces.Here we report on recent...
The bumblebees of the subgenus Alpinobombus genus Bombus are unusual among bees for specialising in many most northerly vegetated arctic habitats on Earth. Most named taxa this group (37 available names from a total 67 names) were described originally differences colour patterns hair. Previous revisions have shown unusually little agreement, recognising range 6‒9 species, part because pronounced intraspecific variation both skeletal morphology and Here we examine 4622 specimens throughout...
Abstract Climate change is shifting the environmental cues that determine phenology of interacting species. Plant–pollinator systems may be susceptible to temporal mismatch if bees and flowering plants differ in their phenological responses warming temperatures. While trigger are well‐understood, little known about what determines bee phenology. Using generalised additive models, we analyzed time‐series data representing 67 species collected over 9 years Colorado Rocky Mountains perform...
DNA barcoding is used to verify characters morphologically differentiate genetically distinct species of eastern North American small carpenter bees, Ceratina. Here we reveal that the common species, Ceratina dupla s. l., actually three separate based on fixed differences in barcode sequences and morphological characters. This study adds a new C. mikmaqi Rehan & Sheffield, species-group America, raises another form, floridana formerly floridana, full species. Temporal niche partitioning...
Abstract In recent decades, many bumble bee species have declined due to changes in habitat, climate, and pressures from pathogens, pesticides, introduced species. The western ( Bombus occidentalis ), once common throughout North America, is a of concern will be considered for listing by the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service (USFWS) under Endangered Species Act (ESA). We attempt improve alignment data collection research with USFWS needs consider redundancy, resiliency, representation upcoming...
Sweat bees of the genus Agapostemon Guérin-Méneville, 1844 (Hymenoptera: Halictidae) are common and widespread in Americas. Despite distinct morphological characters that were recognised earlier taxonomic treatments, fasciatus Crawford, 1901 has been considered a variety A. melliventris Cresson, 1874 since 1930s later placed into synonymy under early 1970s. A more detailed study morphology (including examination type materials), distribution genetic data (i.e. DNA barcodes) these two taxa...
The two-spotted bumble bee, Bombusbimaculatus Cresson, 1863 (Hymenoptera, Apidae), is a common species in central North America, with few published records of this Canada west Ontario or east Quebec.Based on recently collected specimens from Saskatchewan and confirmed posted to iNaturalist (https://www.inaturalist.org/) the past 10 years (i.e. since 2013), we provide evidence that has only expanded its range Canada, westwards into Prairies Ecozone (Manitoba, Saskatchewan) Maritime Provinces...
Abstract Solitary cavity-nesting bees, especially trap-nesting Megachilidae, have great potential as commercial pollinators. A few species been developed for crop pollination, but the diversity, abundance, and pollination contributions of native bees within agricultural systems seldom assessed. Our objectives were to compare diversity fecundity in Nova Scotia natural ecosystems with those apple orchards under three levels management, using trap nests, determine whether any show promise...
Insect diversity typically declines with increasing latitude, but previous studies have shown conflicting latitude-richness gradients for some hymenopteran parasitoids. However, historical estimates of insect and species richness can be difficult to confirm or compare, because they may based upon dissimilar methods. As a proxy identification, we used DNA barcoding identify molecular operational taxonomic units (MOTUs) 7870 Hymenoptera specimens collected near Churchill, Manitoba, from 2004...
Abstract The bee fauna (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) of the Niagara Peninsula, at eastern end Carolinian Zone in Ontario, Canada, is poorly known. From April to October 2003, we studied abundance and diversity set-aside grasslands Brock University Glenridge Quarry Naturalization Site southern St. Catharines, Ontario. Using three sampling methods (pan traps, sweep nets, aerial nets), collected identified 15 733 specimens 124 species morphospecies representing all families, except Melittidae, found...
The orchard crop pollinator Osmia lignaria (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) was evaluated for apple pollination in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia, Canada during 2000-2001. Resulting levels (measured as pollen grains on floral stigmas), percent fruit set, mature weight and seed yield were against an attempted gradient of bee density. In addition, quality assessed using two symmetry indices, one based diameter, second height. Pollination levels, set much higher than minimums required adequate...
Anthidium manicatum (L.) is an adventive species of European origin first recorded in North America the late 1960's; from that point until 2001 its range on continent was restricted to northeast-central USA and central Canada (Ontario, more recently Québec). In 2005, this reported Nova Scotia, a rapid wide increase distribution. paper, we document similar spread A. into western America, including British Columbia Idaho, discuss potential risks eastern Canada. addition, DNA barcoding as...
Abstract Bees are important within terrestrial ecosystems, providing pollination, which facilitates plant reproduction. Agricultural regions large landscapes containing varying proportions of cropland, natural, and semi-natural habitats. Most bees not restricted to any these move freely throughout, exploiting food nesting resources in favourable locations. Many factors affect bee diversity, knowledge is crucial for promoting healthy communities. The main objectives this study were compare...
Our grasp of biodiversity is fine-tuned through the process revisionary taxonomy. If species do exist in nature and can be discovered with available techniques, then we expect these revisions to converge on broadly shared interpretations species. But for primarily arctic bumblebees subgenus Alpinobombus genus Bombus, by some most experienced specialists are unusual that they have all reached different conclusions number present. Recent based skeletal morphology concluded there from four six...
Abstract Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Apiformes) are taxonomically and ecologically diverse, with a wide range of social complexity, nesting preferences, floral associations, biogeographic restrictions. A Canadian bee checklist, greatly assisted by the gene-assisted approach DNA barcoding, is nearing completion. Previous evaluation diversity in Canada, was restricted to Nova Scotia, which contains about 25% species country. Here, we summarise efforts date build comprehensive barcode library...
Only one species of large carpenter bee, Xylocopa virginica (Linnaeus, 1771), has been recorded from Canada, albeit restricted to southern Ontario and Quebec. However, a single female specimen identified by Hurd in 1954 as X. varipuncta Patton, 1879 British Columbia is the C.A. Triplehorn Insect Collection at The Ohio State University (OSUC), suggesting that this was accidentally introduced into coastal western Canada. As wood-nesters, many bees are likely capable expanding their range great...