Gaps in biodiversity protection occur in Canada due to limited jurisdiction of federal species-at-risk laws and the absence of dedicated legislation in many provinces, including British Columbia (B.C.). While lacking legal protection, B.C. maintains Red, Blue, and Yellow Lists of threatened, special-concern, and secure species, respectively, using a NatureServe ranking system. We compiled historical data on species status between 2008 and 2025 from the B.C. Conservation Data Centre. The province is currently home to 5521 Yellow, 1233 Blue, 493 Red-listed species, with a 25% rise in species at risk (Blue and Red) since 2008 due largely to the addition of species. Changes in status over this time period were reported for 1545 animal and 3775 plant species. While there was an even split in uplistings (more imperilled) and downlistings (less imperilled) for animals, plant species more often shifted to a lower risk category. Analyzing explanations for each change revealed that most were nongenuine (new information or methodology) rather than genuine (true changes in population size or threats), especially among downlistings. Genuine improvements in the status of species in B.C. have been exceedingly rare, indicating that current laws and regulations have been insufficient to recover species at risk within B.C.

Historical gold mine tailings may have elevated total mercury (Hg) and total arsenic (As) concentrations. We collected and analyzed the fruticose lichen genus Usnea and the foliose lichen genus Platismatia for biomonitoring airborne sources of Hg and As at the historical Montague Gold Mine District in Nova Scotia, Canada. We investigated spatial trends of Hg and As measured from 112 Usnea (10 species) and 113 Platismatia (2 species) lichen thalli collected across four sampling grids covering both tailings and nontailings areas. Usnea consistently had higher Hg concentrations, while Platismatia showed higher As concentrations. Areas where there was evidence of known past mining activities (i.e., mine shafts, stamp mills, Hg-amalgamation sites) were found to be hotspots for both Hg and As in the lichen samples collected nearby. These areas likely received greater inputs of these elements from windblown tailings or volatilization processes, or indirectly from the interception of these elements by the forest edge/canopy adjacent to the tailings. A tailing-contaminated wetland at Montague was also identified as a hotspot for Hg, likely facilitating its redistribution into the atmosphere. Co-sampling of a fruticose and a foliose lichen can be an effective method for airborne monitoring of contaminants around historical mine tailing sites.

The conservation of biodiversity is an issue of global significance, with Nations around the world working towards collectively protecting 30% of Lands and Waters by 2030. To reach these goals, there has been particular emphasis on the important role of Indigenous Peoples in caring for the Land—yet the language within these “conservation” frameworks still come from Western ideologies and languages. In this case study with Magnetawan First Nation, we share community perspectives on biodiversity and what it means to care for the Land. Through interviews, participants reframe the term “biodiversity” to include everything— akina gegoo—not just the Land but also values, culture, and identity. This holistic approach to conservation is also explored as participants share how they have observed the Land changing over time, and how our relationships are essential for informing the ways in which we care for the Land. These perspectives from Magnetawan First Nation demonstrate how we may collectively re-frame our understanding of “biodiversity” and “conservation” so that we can all more effectively and respectfully care for akina gegoo in a good way.

Spawning events can provide resource pulses that can fuel food webs when other resources are limited, yet their utilization by fish communities is poorly understood. We combined traditional visual examinations and qPCR analysis of stomach content DNA (scDNA) to evaluate consumption of Striped Bass ( Morone saxatilis) eggs and larvae by 21 fish species collected before and during the Striped Bass spawning period in the Northwest Miramichi River estuary. Striped Bass was present throughout the study, with higher catches coinciding with peak eggs and larvae densities, which was a better predictor of scDNA compared to catches of Striped Bass. Visual inspection revealed eggs in only one American Eel ( Anguilla rostrata), whereas scDNA showed widespread increases in detections during spawning compared to the pre-spawning period, suggesting that Striped Bass reproduction generated a detectable community-level resource pulse. This study reveals hidden pathways of energy flow not detectable through traditional methods, emphasizing the value of molecular tools for resolving cryptic trophic interactions. These findings advance understanding of the ecological role of Striped Bass spawning for the fish community of the lower Northwest Miramichi River and provide novel insights into the detection and understanding of resource pulses associated with spawning events in aquatic ecosystems.

Many of the multi-faceted water resource challenges society faces require new approaches, especially on the Canadian Prairie. Cyclical water availability and competing demands for water put pressure on the region’s water quantity and quality, and on the management systems. This paper synthesizes outputs and outcomes of the Prairie Water project. This user-driven project brought together people with a vision to pursue research, build tools and knowledge to increase community resilience by informing sustainable water management. Prairie Water represents an example of a transdisciplinary project from which lessons can be drawn from for future research opportunities. This paper summarizes key research findings from the three interdisciplinary teams (Water Availability, Aquatic Ecosystem Health, and Water Management Practices and Governance). A new basin classification scheme for the Prairies was a key outcome for the Water Availability team. The Aquatic Ecosystem Health team found there is no threshold below which wetland drainage does not enhance nutrient transport. Wetland drainage is viewed very differently among prairie communities, so the Water Management Practices and Governance team determined that successful wetland governance structure must emphasize building relationships and sharing understanding, and be mindful of existing power dynamics, empowerment, and inclusivity. The remainder of the paper discusses successes and shortcomings of the project, synthesizes themes and provides recommendations for sustainable water management and similar research projects. The aim of this paper is to provide practitioners and researchers insights to consider when undertaking research opportunities meant to achieve improved water management and resilience in this and similarly water-stressed regions.

Across North America, widespread wetland drainage has taken place over the past two centuries, mostly for agricultural conversion. Ashbridge’s Marsh was an extensive freshwater wetland at Waasayishkodenayosh, the mouth of Toronto’s Don River. Large-scale disturbance began during the early European settlement era, eventually resulting in almost complete wetland drainage and the emplacement of many meters of fill by 1900. In 2021, during river channel and wetland restoration, buried wetland soils were uncovered. Here, we present analyses of geochemical properties of these buried soils along with radiocarbon ages, pollen assemblages, and Indigenous knowledge of the pollen taxa recorded to better understand the pre- or early settlement era Ashbridge’s Marsh. Radiocarbon dates on seeds returned ages spanning the 19th century, with one seed dating to the 16th century. Bulk density, carbon and nitrogen analyses are consistent with freshwater marsh habitat. Pollen diversity was high, with ∼35 taxa recorded per sample. Marsh and swamp taxa co-dominate the assemblages, including two endangered and one extirpated tree species; abundances of disturbance indicators including ragweeds ( Ambrosia L.) were low. Taken together, the data indicate that these buried soils represent relatively undisturbed ecosystems and can therefore be used alongside Indigenous knowledge to inform wetland restoration.

Indigenous peoples in Canada historically had nutrient-rich diets from their diverse food systems. Colonization and structural racism marginalized them through the dispossession of their lands and natural resources, leading to an inability to maintain their lifeways. While traditional diets remain highly valued, today’s diet—abundant in ultra-processed foods (UPF)—reflects ongoing colonial impacts and social and economic disparities. The raising intake of UPF, sugary drinks (SD), and carbonated drinks (CD) has raised concerns about their impact on body mass index (BMI). Examining these associations is key to designing effective interventions for First Nations. Data were analyzed from 5791 participants aged 19 years and older. Dietary intake was assessed using 24-h dietary recalls, and BMI was measured or reported. Linear regression analyses examined the associations between UPF, SD, and CD consumption and BMI, with stratification by sex. UPF consumption constituted 55.4% of total energy intake, significantly exceeding recommended limits, and was positively associated with BMI. Although overall SD consumption was high (7.7% of total energy), it did not significantly correlate with BMI. However, CD consumption (4.2% of total energy) was positively associated with BMI, particularly among males. This study underscores the need for targeted interventions to reduce UPF and CD consumption while promoting traditional food practices.

Biodiversity offsetting is a tool to mitigate biodiversity loss by compensating for adverse human impacts on a species or its habitat. However, the effectiveness of offsetting is debated and should be considered a last resort relative to protection or management. We explored the implementation of an offsetting approach in Ontario, Canada, known as the overall benefit permit (OBP). An OBP authorizes an activity that will harm a species at risk of extinction or its habitat, on the condition that actions are taken to achieve an overall benefit (more than no net loss) to the species. We categorized and compared actions across 412 OBPs issued from 2008 to 2023. Of all 264 listed species at risk in Ontario, 22% were represented in OBPs, but 57.4% of permits comprised only 8 species. Actions to achieve overall benefit were primarily targeted to Land/Water Management (48.3%), followed by Species Management (17.8%) and Monitoring (13.8%). Overall benefit criteria were not consistently met across permits, with only half of all permits specifying a timeline for completion. We recommend improving the overall benefit approach by prioritizing actions that can directly increase population resiliency and habitat suitability, inclusion of clear timelines, and compliance monitoring to ensure outcomes are being met.