Algonquin Park Research Articles

Not just any old pile of dirt: evaluating the use of artificial nesting mounds as conservation tools for freshwater turtles

AbstractThe viability of freshwater turtle populations is largely dependent on the survivorship of reproducing females but females are frequently killed on roads as they move to nesting sites. Installing artificial nesting mounds may increase recruitment and decrease the risk of mortality for gravid females by enticing them to nest closer to aquatic habitats. We evaluated the effectiveness of artificial nesting mounds installed in Algonquin Park, Canada. Artificial mounds were monitored for 2 years to determine if turtles would select them for nest sites. We also simulated turtle paths from wetlands to nests to determine the probability that females would encounter the new habitat. A transplant experiment with clutches ofChrysemys pictaandChelydra serpentinaeggs compared nest success and incubation conditions in the absence of predation between artificial mounds and natural sites. More turtles than expected used the artificial mounds, although mounds comprised a small proportion of the available nesting habitat and the simulations predicted that the probability of females encountering mounds was low. Hatching success was higher in nests transplanted to artificial mounds (93%) than in natural nests (56%), despite no differences in heat units. Greater use than expected, high hatching success, and healthy hatchlings emerging from nests in artificial mounds suggest promise for their use as conservation tools.

Reducing accidental shrew mortality associated with small-mammal livetrapping I: an inter- and intrastudy analysis

Shrews (Soricomorpha: Soricidae) are particularly vulnerable to mortality associated with small-mammal livetrapping. We compiled data on mortality rates and protocols from 16 different small-mammal studies and analyzed 16 years of livetrapping data from a single study in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario to assess factors affecting shrew mortality. In the comparison across studies, accidental mortality ranged from 10% to 93%. Mortality was lower in studies conducted in locations and at times of year with warmer average temperatures. We found no differences in mortality among bait and trap types across these 16 studies. In our intrastudy analysis from Algonquin Park, Sorex spp. experienced high mortality (81%) regardless of environmental conditions. In contrast, northern short-tailed shrews had low overall mortality (13%), but mortality increased on rainy nights and on colder nights when overnight temperatures dropped below 10°C. Comparisons between 2 trapping protocols within Algonquin Park suggested that both Blarina brevicauda and Sorex sp. experienced higher mortality in Sherman compared with Longworth traps, but these effects were confounded by other differences in methodology between studies. Although we found evidence consistent with some shrew mortality being caused by caloric constraints, experimental studies on bait supplements are necessary to test whether providing high-calorie baits is an efficient method to reduce the widespread shrew mortality that occurs in small-mammal livetrapping studies.

Application of hierarchical biphasic growth models to long-term data for snapping turtles

Somatic growth rates are critical to the population dynamics of long-lived ectotherms. While the von Bertalanffy (VB) growth curve has been used extensively to model growth of such animals, the conventional form of the model fails to account for individual variation or for changes in resource allocation after sexual maturation. Bayesian modelling has recently been used in fisheries research to fit a modification of the VB model that is both hierarchical (allowing individual variation in growth parameters) and biphasic (allowing an age-specific change in growth rate). We extend this approach by developing a range of hierarchical biphasic models allowing a size- rather than age-dependent change of one or more growth parameters in one or both sexes. We applied the approach to a long-term data set of growth measurements for snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina), as data on nesting status show females begin nesting predictably at about 24cm carapace length. The data consisted of 1996 carapace-length measurements taken from 1972 to 2005 in Algonquin Park, Canada, from 317 individual turtles. These included 24 turtles of known age, most of which were juveniles of unknown sex, and 293 turtles of unknown age, most of which were adults of known sex. The modelling revealed substantial individual variation in both the asymptotic size (a) and growth rate (k) parameter, and clear evidence of biphasic growth. The model that best explained the data (based on DIC) was that males and females grow similarly until they reach 24cm, after which females shift trajectory towards a reduced asymptotic size target. The number of years taken to reach 24cm was estimated to range from 11 to 44 years in 95% of individuals, with asymptotic size ranging from 38.2 to 40.9 in males and 31.0 to 33.6 in females. Our approach is applicable to a range of long-lived ectotherms likely to have size-dependent biphasic growth, and provides essential information for modelling the long-term dynamics of populations under threat.

"Birds of Algonquin Park" by Ron Tozer. 2012. [book review

"Birds of Algonquin Park" by Ron Tozer. 2012. [book review

Nd isotope mapping of the Lac Dumoine thrust sheet: implications for large‐scale crustal structure in the SW Grenville Province

Terra Nova, 24, 363–372, 2012AbstractOver 100 new Nd model ages are presented for orthogneisses from the Lac Dumoine region, western Quebec, interpreted as a thrust sheet of the Grenvillian Allochthonous Polycyclic Belt. The thrust sheet has an isotope signature consistent with other terranes of the allochthonous belt, with TDM ages <1.8 Ga in the main allochthon, but ages of 1.8–2.0 Ga in an underlying tectonic unit, itself thrust over parautochthonous Archean crust. However, the new data also reveal a half‐window of Palaeoproterozoic crust that divides the allochthon into two lobes, showing them to be relatively thin‐skinned nappes originating from the Baskatong crustal‐scale ramp. When combined with new Nd isotope mapping for Algonquin Park, Ontario, these results suggest that the main ramp of the Allochthon Boundary Thrust is located further to the SE than previously thought, with a strong SW‐NE linear trend that coincides with dipping reflectors imaged on Lithoprobe seismic line 32 south of Algonquin Park.

16. The Impact of an Outdoor Orientation Program on First-Year Student Perceptions of Life Effectiveness and Campus Integration

Although outdoor orientation programs, as a special type of orientation designed to enhance student retention, are relatively commonplace in the United States – we are not aware of any such campus-wide initiatives in Canada. Research indicates that outdoor orientation programs impact students in a positive way, enhancing academic success, personal development, and integration into campus life. This exploratory, mixed methods pilot study reports on the results of an investigation that administered three pre and post surveys that measured indicators of “Life Effectiveness,” “Sense of Community,” and “Sense of Place” on a group of seven, first-year students who participated on a five-day canoeing trip in the wilderness of Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. The program, entitled “Brock BaseCamp,” exposed students to a curriculum that included networking with student facilitators about campus life, in addition to acquiring technical skills of canoeing and outdoor living. Results indicated that students were positively influenced in all three measures and that the Brock BaseCamp experience enhanced their social integration into campus life.

Development of an Arcellacea (testate lobose amoebae) based transfer function for sedimentary Phosphorus in lakes

Arcellacea (testate lobose amoebae) communities were assessed from 73 sediment-water interface samples collected from 33 lakes in urban and rural settings within the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ontario, Canada, as well as from forested control areas in the Lake Simcoe area, Algonquin Park and eastern Ontario. The results were used to: (1) develop a statistically rigorous arcellacean-based training set for sedimentary phosphorus (Olsen P (OP)) loading; and (2) derive a transfer function to reconstruct OP levels during the post-European settlement era (AD1870s onward) using a chronologically well-constrained core from Haynes Lake on the environmentally sensitive Oak Ridges Moraine, within the GTA. Ordination analysis indicated that OP most influenced arcellacean assemblages, explaining 6.5% (p<0.005) of total variance. An improved training set where the influence of other important environmental variables (e.g. total organic carbon, total nitrogen, Mg) was reduced, comprised 40 samples from 31 lakes, and was used to construct a transfer function for lacustrine arcellaceans for sedimentary phosphorus (Olsen P) using tolerance downweighted weighted averaging (WA-Tol) with inverse deshrinking (RMSEPjack-77pp; r2jack=0.68). The inferred reconstruction indicates that OP levels remained near pre-settlement background levels from settlement in the late AD 1970s through to the early AD 1970s. Since OP runoff from both forests and pasture is minimal, early agricultural land use within the lake catchment was as most likely pasture and/or was used to grow perennial crops such as Timothy-grass for hay. A significant increase in inferred OP concentration beginning ~AD 1972 may have been related to a change in crops (e.g. corn production) in the catchment resulting in more runoff, and the introduction of chemical fertilizers. A dramatic decline in OP after ~AD 1985 probably corresponds to a reduction in chemical fertilizer use related to advances in agronomy, which permitted a more precise control over required fertilizer application. Another significant increase in OP levels after ~AD 1995 may have been related to the construction of a large golf course upslope and immediately to the north of Haynes Lake in AD 1993, where significant fertilizer use is required to maintain the fairways. These results demonstrate that arcellaceans have great potential for reconstructing lake water geochemistry and will complement other proxies (e.g. diatoms) in paleolimnological research.

Prevalence of the Bacterium Coxiella burnetii in Wild Rodents from a Canadian Natural Environment Park

Zoonotic diseases impact both wild and domestic animal populations and can be transmitted to humans through close contact with animal species. Reservoir species acting as vectors are major traffickers of disease. Rodents contribute to the transmission of Coxiella burnetii although little is known about its prevalence in wild animal populations. DNA was extracted from genital swabs collected from woodland jumping mice, deer mice, Southern red-backed voles, Eastern chipmunks, North American red squirrels, as well as Southern and Northern flying squirrels collected from Algonquin Park, Canada. The presence of C. burnetii was determined through real-time PCR. All species sampled had some prevalence of infection, except Eastern chipmunks, indicating wild rodents in Algonquin Park are reservoirs for C. burnetii. Emerging zoonotic diseases are linked to increasing globalization. Contact amongst individuals increases as crowding, habitat loss and fragmentation increase within wild spaces. Parks often act as a last refuge for wildlife but may also be an important transmission zone of wildlife disease to humans. Investigations that attempt to discover wild reservoir species of zoonotic disease are critically important to understanding the risk of pathogen exchange between wild and human populations.

Macroparasitism influences reproductive success in red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)

Life-history theory predicts that all organisms have finite energy reserves. In order to optimize fitness, individuals must make trade-offs in allocating energy among survival, growth, and reproduction. Parasites have the ability to negatively impact host fitness and shift the balance of energy trade-offs. The aim of our study was to determine the relationships among parasite load and reproductive success in a free-living population of North American red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in Algonquin Park, Ontario. We hypothesized that heavily parasitized individuals must allocate more energy toward immune function. As energy storage is finite, this will inevitably reduce the resources available for reproduction. Here, we show that parasite richness can compromise fitness through decreasing reproductive success. However, ectoparasite intensity increased with increasing reproductive success in males but not females, suggesting a possible trade-offs between secondary sexual characteristics in males and immunosuppressive qualities of testosterone. Our study provides unique evidence of the costs parasites exact on their hosts. It is among the relatively few studies conducted within an ecological context incorporating host fitness in relation to multiple parasite infections.

Experimental evidence for a novel mechanism driving variation in habitat quality in a food-caching bird

Variation in habitat quality can have important consequences for fitness and population dynamics. For food-caching species, a critical determinant of habitat quality is normally the density of storable food, but it is also possible that quality is driven by the ability of habitats to preserve food items. The food-caching gray jay (Perisoreus canadensis) occupies year-round territories in the coniferous boreal and subalpine forests of North America, but does not use conifer seed crops as a source of food. Over the last 33 years, we found that the occupancy rate of territories in Algonquin Park (ON, Canada) has declined at a higher rate in territories with a lower proportion of conifers compared to those with a higher proportion. Individuals occupying territories with a low proportion of conifers were also less likely to successfully fledge young. Using chambers to simulate food caches, we conducted an experiment to examine the hypothesis that coniferous trees are better able to preserve the perishable food items stored in summer and fall than deciduous trees due to their antibacterial and antifungal properties. Over a 1-4 month exposure period, we found that mealworms, blueberries, and raisins all lost less weight when stored on spruce and pine trees compared to deciduous and other coniferous trees. Our results indicate a novel mechanism to explain how habitat quality may influence the fitness and population dynamics of food-caching animals, and has important implications for understanding range limits for boreal breeding animals.

Minnesota Wolf Ear Lengths as Possible Indicators of Taxonomic Differences

Genetic findings suggest that 2 types of wolves, Canis lupus (Gray Wolf) and C. lycaon (Eastern Wolf), and/or their hybrids occupy Minnesota (MN), and this study examines adult wolf ear lengths as a possible distinguisher between these two. Photographic evidence suggested that the Eastern Wolf possesses proportionately longer ears than Gray Wolves. Ear lengths from 22 northwestern MN wolves from the early 1970s and 22 Alaskan wolves were used to represent Gray Wolves, and the greatest length of the sample (12.8 cm) was used as the least length to demarcate Eastern Wolf from Gray Wolf influence in the samples. Twenty-three percent of 112 adult wolves from Algonquin Park in eastern Ontario and 30% of 106 recent adult wolves in northeastern MN possessed ears >12.8 cm. The northeastern MN sample differed significantly from that of current and past northwestern MN wolves. Ear-lengths of wolves in the eastern half of the northeastern MN wolf population were significantly longer than those in the western half of that study area, even though the mean distance between the 2 areas was only 40 km, and the mean length of my 2004–2009 sample was significantly longer than that of 1999–2003. These findings support the hypothesis that Eastern Wolves tend to possess longer ears than do Gray Wolves and suggest a dynamic hybridization process is still underway in MN.

Distribution of Phoxinus eos, Phoxinus neogaeus, and Their Asexually-Reproducing Hybrids (Pisces: Cyprinidae) in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario

Hybrid Phoxinus are one of the few asexually reproducing vertebrates species. The distribution of hybrid Phoxinus among lakes in Algonquin Park, Ontario, was evaluated relative to the distribution of parental species and relative to physiochemical lake characteristics. No association between the distribution of hybrids and the distribution of parental species was found, suggesting that the hybrids can successfully coexist with either parental species. In addition, we found no association between hybrid distribution and the physiochemical characteristics of lakes, suggesting that the hybrids are generalists with respect to the ecological niches available in Algonquin Park. There was a difference between the physiochemical characteristics of lakes with and without the parental species P. neogaeus. The lakes containing P. neogaeus were lower elevation than the lakes containing the other parental species, P. eos. The difference in distribution between the parental species may therefore be due to different dispersal abilities, to later arrival following post-glacial dispersal, or to differences in ecology. These results suggest that asexual reproduction is a successful strategy for hybrid Phoxinus in Algonquin Park because these sperm-dependent asexual hybrids are able to survive and persist regardless of which parental species is present, and regardless of the physiochemical characteristics of their habitat.

Habitat selection by Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in a relatively pristine landscape

Identifying habitats in which a species is likely to be found is extremely important for understanding the life history and general ecology of the species. Studies of habitat selection by species at risk provide information for management and recovery programs on critical habitat and are essential for conservation programs to be effective. Many studies on species at risk are conducted in highly altered or degraded habitats because few areas have not experienced human impacts. We investigated habitat selection by Blanding's turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) in a large protected area, Algonquin Park. Specifically, we evaluated macrohabitat selection at 2 spatial scales (home range and individual location) and microhabitat selection at one scale. Macrohabitat selection was significant at the home range scale but not at the scale of individual location, and no shift in habitat selection was detected among different seasons. Habitat ranks were ambiguous because all wetland types were preferred over lotic and upland habitats. The microhabitat selection data showed no preference for habitat features or shifts among different seasons. These data combined with those from other studies suggest that large study sites in relatively pristine areas may include a large amount of suitable high-quality habitats such that habitat selection at a fine scale may not be detected or multiple habitat types may provide the resources necessary to support populations.

Genetic differentiation of eastern wolves in Algonquin Park despite bridging gene flow between coyotes and grey wolves

Distinguishing genetically differentiated populations within hybrid zones and determining the mechanisms by which introgression occurs are crucial for setting effective conservation policy. Extensive hybridization among grey wolves (Canis lupus), eastern wolves (C. lycaon) and coyotes (C. latrans) in eastern North America has blurred species distinctions, creating a Canis hybrid swarm. Using complementary genetic markers, we tested the hypotheses that eastern wolves have acted as a conduit of sex-biased gene flow between grey wolves and coyotes, and that eastern wolves in Algonquin Provincial Park (APP) have differentiated following a history of introgression. Mitochondrial, Y chromosome and autosomal microsatellite genetic data provided genotypes for 217 canids from three geographic regions in Ontario, Canada: northeastern Ontario, APP and southern Ontario. Coyote mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplotypes were common across regions but coyote-specific Y chromosome haplotypes were absent; grey wolf mtDNA was absent from southern regions, whereas grey wolf Y chromosome haplotypes were present in all three regions. Genetic structuring analyses revealed three distinct clusters within a genetic cline, suggesting some gene flow among species. In APP, however, 78.4% of all breeders and 11 of 15 known breeding pairs had assignment probability of Q0.8 to the Algonquin cluster, and the proportion of eastern wolf Y chromosome haplotypes in APP breeding males was higher than expected from random mating within the park (P<0.02). The data indicate that Algonquin wolves remain genetically distinct despite providing a sex-biased genetic bridge between coyotes and grey wolves. We speculate that ongoing hybridization within the park is limited by pre-mating reproductive barriers.

Taxonomy of Myxobolus ridouti N. Sp. and M. ridgwayi N. Sp. (Myxozoa) from Pimephales notatus and Semotilus atromaculatus (Cypriniformes) in Ontario

Myxobolus ridouti n. sp. and M. ridgwayi n. sp. are described, respectively, from Pimephales notatus (Rafinesque) and Semotilus atromaculatus (Mitchill) in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. Both are intracellular in striated muscles of the body flank. Spores of M. ridouti n. sp. are subcircular (9.5-10.5 μm long by 9.4-10.9 μm wide); those of M. ridgwayi n. sp. are oval (10.0-12.1 μm long by 9.5-10.5 μm). Both species have spores with a small, distinct swelling (1 μm) on the spore valve near the posterior sutural ridge, similar to that described for Myxobolus insignis Eiras, Malta, Varella, and Pavanelli, 2005. It looks to be non-nuclear in origin, apparently part of the internal face of a spore valve, and could be taxonomically useful. Partial sequence data of the 18S rDNA from both species are unique among those species in the genus that have been sequenced. The sequences have the greatest overall identity with various species of Myxobolus from cyprinids in North America, Europe, and Asia, with a constructed molecular phylogeny having the 2 new species forming a separate clade.

Protection from harvesting restores the natural social structure of eastern wolf packs

Legal and illegal killing of animals near park borders can significantly increase the threat of extirpation for populations living within ecological reserves, especially for wide-ranging large carnivores that regularly travel into unprotected areas. While the consequences of human-caused mortality near protected areas generally focus on numerical responses, little attention has been given to impacts on social dynamics. For wolves, pack structure typically constitutes an unrelated breeding pair, their offspring, and close relatives, but intense harvest may increase adoption of unrelated individuals into packs. Concerns that high human-caused mortality outside Algonquin Park, Canada threatened the persistence of eastern wolves, led to implementation of a harvest ban in surrounding townships. We combined ecological and genetic data to show that reducing anthropogenic causes of mortality can restore the natural social structure of kin-based groups despite the absence of a marked change in density. Since implementation of the harvest ban, human-caused mortality has decreased ( P = 0.000006) but been largely offset by natural mortality, such that wolf density has remained relatively constant at approximately three wolves/100 km 2. However, the number of wolf packs with unrelated adopted animals has decreased from 80% to 6% ( P = 0.00003). Despite the high kinship within packs, incestuous matings were rare. Our results indicate that even in a relatively large protected area, human harvesting outside park boundaries can affect evolutionarily important social patterns within protected areas. This research demonstrates the need for conservation policy to consider effects of harvesting beyond influences on population size.

Occurrence of Glugea pimephales in Planktonic Larvae of Fathead Minnow in Algonquin Park, Ontario

The microsporidian Glugea pimephales was found parasitizing larval fathead minnow Pimephales promelas in Scott Lake, Algonquin Park, Ontario. These fish were estimated to be 2-3 weeks posthatch and, given the development time of the parasite, must have acquired infection soon after commencement of exogenous feeding. Histological sections revealed that the parasite typically developed in loose connective tissue between the peritoneum and the dermis of the abdominal cavity, with protruding xenomas of up to 2.6 mm in diameter forming near the vent. Prevalence was estimated at 1% by divers performing snorkel surveys along the lake shoreline. Divers following schools of fathead minnow consistently reported that larvae with the obvious cysts wobbled during swimming and that infected fish were typically located at the back of the dispersing school. This case history joins a growing list of studies suggesting that fish can become infected with parasites soon after hatch, the potential importance of which has not been critically studied.

Temperature and site selection by Blanding’s Turtles (Emydoidea blandingii) during hibernation near the species’ northern range limit

Many animals that live in northern climates enter a state of prolonged dormancy during winter. These animals possess a suite of physiological and behavioural adaptations that minimize threats to survival while overwintering. There are three major threats to overwintering survival: metabolic and respiratory acidosis, freezing, and predation. Selection of hibernation sites should minimize these threats. We monitored dissolved oxygen, water depth, and temperature at overwintering locations of Blanding’s Turtles ( Emydoidea blandingii (Holbrook, 1838)) and at stations located haphazardly in six different habitat types over two winters in Algonquin Park, Ontario, Canada. Water depth and dissolved oxygen in overwintering sites used by turtles were similar to those measured at haphazard stations. In contrast, estimated turtle body temperatures (~0 °C) were significantly lower and less variable than water temperatures measured at haphazard stations. These data and those reported elsewhere suggest that there are two alternatives for selection of suitable hibernacula by anoxia tolerant turtles. In areas where there is periodic access to aerial oxygen, turtles select sites where ice cover may not be present for the entire winter, but in areas where ice cover restricts access to air, turtles select sites where water temperatures are close to 0 °C.

Genetic Characterization of Hybrid Wolves across Ontario

Four ‘‘races’’ of wolves have been described in Ontario as follows: 1) Canis lupus hudsonicus inhabiting the subarctic tundra, 2) A race (Ontario type) of the eastern timber wolf (Canis lupus lycaon) that inhabits the boreal forests, 3) A second race (Algonquin type) of C. l. lycaon that inhabit the deciduous forests of the upper Great Lakes, and 4) A small wolf (Tweed type) in central Ontario that has been proposed to be a hybrid between the Algonquin type wolf and expanding coyotes, Canis latrans. Using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region sequences and 8 microsatellite loci, we developed DNA profiles for 269 wolves from across Ontario. The distribution of mtDNA was predominantly coyote and the eastern wolf, Canis lycaon, in Algonquin Park and the southern Frontenac Axis with a combination of these mtDNA and gray wolf mtDNA in northern Ontario. Bayesian clustering grouped northern Ontario wolves independent of mtDNA with a second grouping of eastern and Tweed wolves from Algonquin. Individual clustering identified 3 groups represented by 1) northern Ontario wolves, 2) eastern wolves, and 3) Tweed wolves from the Frontenac Axis. Genomic representation analyses indicate that the Tweed wolves are hybrids between the coyote and the eastern wolf and represent the Ontario distribution of the eastern coyote, whereas the wolves in the upper Great Lakes region represent products of historic and/or continuing hybridization between C. lycaon and C. lupus. There was low structuring among wolves in these regions, and Algonquin suggesting a larger northern connected metapopulation with gene flow between the Ontario and Algonquin types.

Infections of Dactylogyrus pectenatus (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) on Larvae of Pimephales promelas (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) in Scott Lake, Ontario, Canada

Abstract Larval Pimephales promelas Rafinesque individuals, estimated to be 2 wk posthatch, from a small temperate lake in Algonquin Park, Ontario, were examined for parasites. The monogene Dactylogyrus pectenatus Mayes, 1977 was the only parasite found. Prevalence was 71.4%; mean intensity was 2.3 ± 1.7 (range 1–9). The presence of gravid parasites on fish measuring 12 mm in length suggests that the larvae became infected shortly after hatching, and because P. promelas is a fractional spawner, the larvae appear to represent a significant host resource for D. pectenatus during the summer months. The infection of this parasite on these larvae is discussed within the context of assembly of parasite infracommunities of fish.