Committee On The Status Of Endangered Wildlife In Canada Research Articles

A validated targeted assay for environmental DNA detections of the Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus)

The Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) was assessed as a species of Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) under the Canadian Species-At-Risk Act (SARA) in 2001, and by the National Marine Fisheries Service in USA in 2004. Monitoring of marine Species-At-Risk would rely ideally on non-destructive methods. However, most monitoring of marine fish at-risk rely on trawl surveys that are potentially destructive of the environment. Inferring a species presence using environmental DNA (eDNA) detections offers an attractive alternative for Species-At-Risk monitoring, because it is non-destructive, specific, and sensitive. We developed and optimized a real-time quantitative PCR probe-based (qPCR) detection protocol that targets the eDNA of Atlantic wolffish, A. lupus. The qPCR protocol was validated in silico, in vitro, and in situ. Species-specificity was assessed in vitro by testing against the two other species of Anarhichas present in the northwest Atlantic. We did not observe DNA amplification for either of these two species. The assay was highly sensitive, with a limit of detection (95% confidence level) of 1.5 DNA copies per qPCR reaction. In situ tests showed that A. lupus eDNA is detected from expected depth strata in areas of known wolffish abundance. This study provides a proof-of-concept experiment that offers a robust, targeted, and non destructive protocol for detection eDNA of the Atlantic wolffish.

Foraging Paths of Breeding Leach’s Storm-Petrels in Relation to Offshore Oil Platforms, Breeding Stage, and Year

The global population of Leach’s Storm-Petrels (Hydrobates leucorhous), the smallest and most abundant breeding seabird species in eastern Canada, has declined substantially in recent decades. The species is listed as “Threatened” by the Committee On the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Fatal attraction to anthropogenic light is a major risk for Leach’s Storm-Petrels and many other nocturnal seabirds. From May to September each year, Leach’s Storm-Petrels in eastern Canada breed in island colonies and travel many hundreds of kilometers to obtain prey for themselves and their chick. At the species’ largest colonies in eastern Newfoundland, brightly illuminated oil production platforms intersect breeding storm-petrels’ foraging paths. The level of risk posed by these platforms is poorly understood. GPS tracking from 2016 to 2021 at one of the world’s largest colonies revealed considerable similarity in foraging trip distance, location, and behavior (inferred from Hidden Markov Models) among years, and a decrease in trip distance and duration between incubation and chick-rearing. Leach’s Storm-Petrels flew within the light catch-basin of an oil platform in 17.5% of trips, and the birds tended to transit rapidly past platforms during the day when light attraction is minimal. Exposure to oil platforms at night occurred in only 1.1% of trips. Despite our findings, Leach’s Storm-Petrels are known to strand on oil platforms in large numbers, especially during the fledging period. In addition, storm-petrels migrate over great distances and are likely exposed to brightly illuminated oceanic oil platforms outside the breeding season. Our results emphasize the need to focus conservation research on risks during migration and winter, and on juveniles and immature birds.

Distribution, status, and habitat characteristics of Columbia Quillwort (<i>Isoetes minima</i>, Isoetaceae) in Canada

In Canada, the globally rare lycophyte, Columbia Quillwort (Isoetes minima), is currently known from four subpopulations, all within a 25-km radius of Castlegar in the Selkirk and Monashee Mountain ranges of southern British Columbia. These constitute just over a quarter of all known subpopulations in Canada and the United States. The species is found in Canada in sloping pocket meadows that are naturally fragmented within a larger forested matrix. The plants grow in spring seepage areas in thin soils that discourage the establishment of larger, more vigorous vascular plant competitors. Long combined within Isoetes howellii (sensu lato), I. minima has only recently been confirmed to be a distinct species, and, in 2019, it was assessed as Endangered by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). We build on information in the COSEWIC status report by describing the species’ morphology and ecology in greater detail and provide a comparison of critical identification features of closely related species as well as a dichotomous key for Isoetes species in British Columbia.

Assessing biodiversity hotspots below the species-level in Canada using designatable units

The biodiversity hotspot approach is commonly used to identify key regions of conservation priority based on species richness and uniqueness. Like other countries, Canada uses below species-level conservation units, called Designatable Units (DUs), for assessing extinction risk on a case-by-case basis. Researchers have yet to investigate conservation unit hotspots below the species level, despite the potential benefits to optimize the impact of conservation strategies. Across taxa, we: (i) identified at-risk DU hotspots, eco-geographic regions in Canada with a disproportionate number of at-risk DUs relative to species richness; and (ii) compared at-risk DU hotspots using two sets of eco-geographic maps adopted by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). DU richness counts were based on COSEWIC assessed species and hence biased towards at-risk DUs; species richness values were obtained from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. At-risk DU hotspots were consistently found in the Pacific and Great Lakes regions. A positive correlation was observed between at-risk DUs and species richness using both eco-geographic maps, but important regional nuances were also detected, i.e., hotspots were not always found in regions of high species richness. Moreover, there were 3.45 at-risk DUs for every at-risk species across all taxa, providing greater resolution for refining conservation prioritization across regions. For Canada, the at-risk DU hotspot approach permits the identification of regions with a high number of at-risk DUs relative to species richness, enabling the targeting of multiple DUs and taxa in one management plan. More generally, these results emphasize the importance of incorporating below species-level metrics into conservation decisions to better account for different components of biodiversity and extinction risk.

Which Caribou? Misnaming Caribou Population Units Leads to Conservation Errors

In reviewing the genetic, morphological, behavioural, and ecological distinctiveness of caribou throughout Canada, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) (2011) divided “Southern Mountain caribou” (c.f. COSEWIC 2002) into three designatable units (DU) for conservation purposes: Northern Mountain (DU7), Central Mountain (DU8), and Southern Mountain (DU9) populations of woodland caribou. These new designations mean that each is considered a “wildlife species” according to the Species at Risk Act. Recent federal and provincial government reports refer to “Southern Mountain caribou,” conflating Southern Mountain, Central Mountain, and nine of the 45 subpopulations of Northern Mountain caribou into one pseudo-population, with clear conservation consequences. For example, in 2018, a federal decision on an emergency order required the Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) to ascertain whether there were immediate threats to the survival or recovery of the Southern Mountain population of woodland caribou. By conflating two ecotypes and part of another into “Southern Mountain caribou”—an obsolete, geographical grouping not used since2002—ECCC’s assessment falsely informed the Minister that there were 3,764 “Southern Mountain caribou,” when in fact there were only 1,240 in the Southern Mountain (DU9)mpopulation. Other errors arising from the first distorted the number and trajectories of extant subpopulations. Instead of issuing the emergency order, the Minister entered into protracted negotiations with the province on recovery planning that continue at this writing. The nomenclatural ambiguity can be resolved by 1) using the currently accepted taxonomy naming Osborn’s caribou a valid subspecies, R. t. osborni, instead of Northern Mountain population of woodland caribou, 2) using original English names for Mountain caribou and Rocky Mountain caribou, and 3) basing conservation actions on these distinct phylogenetic units as per COSEWIC (2011, 2014).

Increasing importance of climate change and other threats to at-risk species in Canada

In a previous analysis, six major threats to at-risk species in Canada were quantified: habitat loss, introduced species, over-exploitation, pollution, native species interactions, and natural causes (O. Venter et al. 2006. Bioscience, 56(11): 903–910). Because of rapid environmental change in Canada and an enhanced understanding of the drivers of species endangerment, we updated the 2005 analysis and tested for changes in threats up until the end of 2018. We also expanded the scope to acknowledge climate change as a seventh major threat to species, given its increasing importance for reshaping biological communities. Using information on the COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) website, we scored the threats for each of 814 species. Habitat loss remained the most important anthropogenic threat to Canada’s at-risk species, affecting 82% of species, followed by over-exploitation (47%), introduced species (46%), and pollution (35%). Climate change was the least important threat, affecting only 13% of species. However, report writers used less certain language when talking about climate change compared with other threats, so when we included cases where climate change was listed as a probable or future cause, climate change was the fourth most important anthropogenic threat, affecting some 38% of species. The prevalence of threat categories was broadly similar to those for the United States and IUCN listed species. The taxa most affected by climate change included lichens (77%), birds (63%), marine mammals (60%), and Arctic species of all taxa (79%), whereas vascular plants (23%), marine fishes (24%), arthropods (27%), and non-Arctic species (35%) were least affected. A paired analysis of the 188 species with two or more reports indicated that any mention of climate change as a threat increased from 12% to 50% in 10 years. Other anthropogenic threats that have increased significantly over time in the paired analysis included introduced species, over-exploitation, and pollution. Our analysis suggests that threats are changing rapidly over time, emphasizing the need to monitor future trends of all threats, including climate change.

Evolution and diversity of two cisco forms in an outlet of glacial Lake Algonquin.

The diversity of Laurentian Great Lakes ciscoes (Coregonus artedi, sensu lato) arose via repeated local adaptive divergence including deepwater ciscoes that are now extirpated or threatened. The nigripinnis form, or Blackfin Cisco, is extirpated from the Great Lakes and remains only in Lake Nipigon. Putative nigripinnis populations were recently discovered in sympatry with artedi in a historical drainage system of glacial Lake Algonquin, the precursor of lakes Michigan and Huron. Given the apparent convergence on Great Lakes form, we labeled this form blackfin. Here, we test the hypothesis that nigripinnis may have colonized this area from the Great Lakes as a distinct lineage. It would then represent a relict occurrence of the historical diversity of Great Lakes ciscoes. Alternatively, blackfin could have evolved in situ in several lakes. We captured more than 600 individuals in the benthic or pelagic habitat in 14 lakes in or near Algonquin Provincial Park (Ontario, Canada). Fish were compared based on habitat, morphology, and genetic variation at 6,676 SNPs. Contrary to our expectations, both cisco and blackfin belonged to an Atlantic lineage that colonized the area from the east, not from the Great Lakes. Sympatric cisco and blackfin were closely related while fish from different lakes were genetically differentiated, strongly suggesting the repeated in situ origin of each form. Across lakes, there was a continuum of ecological, morphological, and genetic differentiation that could be associated with alternative resources and lake characteristics. This study uncovers a new component of cisco diversity in inland lakes of Canada that evolved independently from ciscoes of the Laurentian Great lakes. The diversity of cisco revealed in this study and across their Canadian range presents a challenge for designating conservation units at the intraspecific level within the framework of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC).

Are we accurately estimating the potential role of pollution in the decline of species at risk in Canada?

Pollution is a pervasive, albeit often invisible, threat to biodiversity in Canada. Currently, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) relies on expert opinion to assess the scope (i.e., the proportion of a species’ population that may be affected) of pollution to species at risk. Here, we describe a spatially explicit, quantitative method for assessing the scope of pollution as a threat to species at risk in Canada. Using this method, we quantified the geographic co-occurrence of 488 terrestrial and freshwater species and pollution sources and determined that, on average, 57% of the mapped occurrences of each species at risk co-occurred with at least one pollution source. Furthermore, we found a weak correlation between the scope of the threat of pollution as assessed by COSEWIC expert panels and the geographic overlap of species occurrences and pollution sources that we determined with our quantitative method. Experts frequently identified scope of pollution as absent or negligible even for species with extensive co-occurrence with pollution sources, especially vascular plants. Clearly, a quantitative approach is needed to make accurate estimates of the scope of pollution as a threat to species at risk in Canada.

Incorporating citizen science, museum specimens, and field work into the assessment of extinction risk of the American Bumble bee (Bombus pensylvanicus De Geer 1773) in Canada

Many Bumble bee (Bombus) species are in decline and conservation efforts must be undertaken now to lessen or reverse the trend. For effective efforts to occur, the first step must be an accurate assessment of extinction risk. Yet only four of over forty Canadian Bombus species have been assessed by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), despite evidence of decline for numerous species in this genus. Here, we evaluated the status of the American Bumble bee, Bombus pensylvanicus De Geer 1773 in Canada. A challenge with species assessments is obtaining adequate occurrence data temporally and spatially. Citizen science is a field where volunteers can collect data similar to that of experts over a broader coverage than researchers could often cover alone. We used data from the Bumble Bee Watch citizen science program, a database of North American Bombus records representing field survey and collection records from the late-1800s, and our own field surveys to evaluate the status of B. pensylvanicus in Canada using the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List assessment criteria. We found that B. pensylvanicus’ Area of Occurrence has decreased by about 70%, its Extent of Occurrence by 37%, and its relative abundance by 89%, from 2007 to 2016 as compared to 1907–2006. These findings warrant an assessment of Critically Endangered using IUCN Red List criteria for B. pensylvanicus in Canada. Our findings will help inform management of B. pensylvanicus and exemplify the importance of citizen science programs for wildlife conservation.

Looking for Striped Bass in Atlantic Canada: The Reconciliation of Local, Scientific, and Historical Knowledge

Morone saxatilis (Striped Bass) occurs throughout the provinces of Atlantic Canada, but its full distribution in the region is undescribed. Canadian Striped Bass populations are grouped by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) into 3 geographically distinct Designatable Units: Saint Lawrence River, Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Bay of Fundy. Striped Bass also occurs in many other unclassified Canadian regions, and growing evidence suggests that some of these locations may support distinct, uncharacterized populations. The recreational fisheries for Striped Bass are rapidly increasing in popularity in Canada, and thus, it has become of great importance to both recognize the species' full distribution and manage the fisheries therein. We compiled recent research, certified angling catches, historic accounts, grey literature, and anecdotal reports to identify coastal sites and rivers where Striped Bass have been reported. Our findings will help managers and researchers target rivers and coastal areas for assessment and study to encompass the entirety of the species' range in Canadian waters. Our report suggests that a fourth Designatable Unit for Eastern Cape Breton Island and Northeastern Nova Scotia is needed to both monitor and manage assemblages of Canadian Striped Bass.

Diet characterization and a preliminary investigation into trophic niche placement for an endangered lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) population in the Saskatchewan River, SK, Canada.

All Canadian lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) populations are listed under the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) due to their complex life history, loss of habitat and negative interactions with anthropomorphic activities. Lake sturgeon diets vary considerably across their range and depend on the local benthic invertebrate fauna, substrata, and competition with congener species. Hence, determining population-specific prey assemblages is a vital contribution to effective conservation efforts. We used carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes to identify lake sturgeon prey preferences for juvenile (<100 cm) and adult (>100 cm) age classes and their trophic niche in the Saskatchewan River, SK, Canada. In this system, lake sturgeon were the top predator within the benthic food web with no direct competition for preferred prey items from congener species. Their diet was dominated by crayfish (49.1± 6.4%) and snails (36.3 ± 5.5%), with no significant differences between age classes. Furthermore, lake sturgeon favoured deep rocky pools throughout the river; a habitat where crayfish and snails are typically found. Therefore, conservation efforts should be directed at preserving these habitats for the residing benthic invertebrate community, and the lake sturgeon’s ability to access them.

Searching for Black Swift (&lt;i&gt;Cypseloides niger&lt;/i&gt;) Nests in Southern British Columbia

Black Swifts (Cypseloides niger) are thought to breed throughout southern British Columbia, however few nests have been described in the region. Population trend estimates from British Columbia show significant declines, prompting the Committee on the Status of endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) to assess Black Swift as endangered in Canada. We identified potential nesting locations and searched for nests at 16 sites in southern British Columbia between 2001 and 2015. two active Black Swift nests were discovered during surveys: Brandywine Falls south of Whistler, and highfalls Creek Falls northwest of Squamish. The Brandywine Falls nest was revisited annually from 2009 to 2015, and the nest was active during at least five of the seven years of monitoring. Evening surveys were not effective for detecting Black Swift nest attendance.

Living on the edge: Traits of freshwater fish species at risk in Canada

Abstract The native ranges of many species in North America reach their northern extent in southern Canada, which results in several aquatic species with core populations found farther south being assessed as at risk by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) and receiving protection under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). To determine traits that predict at‐risk status for freshwater fishes in Canada a classification and regression tree analysis was performed using a suite of ecological and life‐history traits, and the species’ distributions in Canada. Range‐edge distribution in Canada was a significant predictor of a species assessed as at risk by COSEWIC and to be listed as at risk under SARA. Other predictive traits included Balon reproductive guild, reproductive age/maximum age ratio, and lifespan. Species with economic value were also not likely to be assessed as at risk by COSEWIC. Analyses showed greater inconsistency in listing status under SARA than COSEWIC assessment, and a bias toward not listing species, despite predicted at‐risk status, was evident. The predictive models may prove useful in making future conservation decisions and highlight species that should have their status (re)assessed.

Leptogium rivulare(Ach.) Mont. New to Minnesota, from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness

Abstract. Leptogium rivulare is a rarely reported boreal-temperate cyanolichen widely distributed in glaciated portions of Asia, eastern North America, and eastern, central, and western Europe, between the 44°N and 60°N parallels. In the USA, its historical range extended as far south as Illinois and Vermont (possibly in glacial refugia) but records from the last 100 years are only from central Wisconsin. Here, we report the first records of L. rivulare in Minnesota from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, and from novel habitat in Ontario, periodically flooded bedrock shoreline of alkaline lakes. In Canada, it is federally listed as Special Concern by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), and globally as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Genetic resistance to white pine blister rust in limber pine (Pinus flexilis): major gene resistance in a northern population

Limber pine, Pinus flexilis E. James, a wide-ranging tree species in western North America, is highly susceptible to white pine blister rust (WPBR), caused by the non-native fungal pathogen Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. The Canadian populations in particular have been heavily impacted, and in 2014, limber pine was designated endangered in Canada by the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). Little is known about genetic resistance to WPBR in limber pine, but major gene resistance (MGR) has been characterized in some populations in the United States. This study examines resistance in seedling families from 13 parent trees from British Columbia, Alberta, and Oregon, representing the northern- and northwestern-most populations. Most families were susceptible, with 100% of the seedlings cankered, but one family from Alberta segregated 1:1 for cankered and canker free. This is the first report of (a) MGR in Canada of any of the four species of five-needle pines native to Canada and (b) any resistance in limber pine in Canadian populations and is the northernmost known incidence of putative R-gene resistance in a natural stand of any five-needle pine species. Many of the Canadian selections were from stands with high incidence of WPBR infection, and their high susceptibility in this trial suggests that further infection and mortality is likely in the Canadian populations.

Conservation status of caribou in the western mountains of Canada: Protections under the species at risk act, 2002-2014

In April 2014, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) reviewed the status of caribou in the western mountains of Canada, in keeping with the ten-year reassessment mandate under the Species at Risk Act. Assessed as two ‘nationally significant’ populations in 2002, COSEWIC revised the conservation units for all caribou in Canada, recognising eleven extant Designatable Units (DUs), three of which -- Northern Mountain, Central Mountain, and Southern Mountain -- are found only in western Canada. The 2014 assessment concluded that the condition of many subpopulations in all three DUs had deteriorated. As a result of small and declining population sizes, the Central Mountain and Southern Mountain DUs are now recognised as endangered. Recent declines in a number of Northern Mountain DU subpopulations did not meet thresholds for endangered or threatened, and were assessed as of special concern. Since the passage of the federal Species at Risk Act in 2002, considerable areas of habitat were managed or conserved for caribou, although disturbance from cumulative human development activities has increased during the same period. Government agencies and local First Nations are attempting to arrest the steep decline of some subpopulations by using predator control, maternal penning, population augmentation, and captive breeding. Based on declines, future developments and current recovery effects, we offer the following recommendations: 1) where recovery actions are necessary, commit to simultaneously reducing human intrusion into caribou ranges, restoring habitat over the long term, and conducting short-term predator control, 2) carefully consider COSEWIC’s new DU structure for management and recovery actions, especially regarding translocations, 3) carry out regular surveys to monitor the condition of Northern Mountain caribou subpopulations and immediately implement preventative measures where necessary, and 4) undertake a proactive, planned approach coordinated across jurisdictions to conserve landscape processes important to caribou conservation.

Missing the safety net: evidence for inconsistent and insufficient management of at-risk marine fishes in Canada

Marine conservation is often perceived as being in conflict with fisheries management. In Canada, at-risk marine fishes denied listing under the Species at Risk Act (SARA) are meant to receive comparable measures under the Fisheries Act. We assess the effectiveness of these Acts by examining (i) how long it takes a marine fish assessed as being at risk to move through the process and receive conservation measures, (ii) whether there are biases against marine fishes in the SARA process additional to the known listing bias, and (iii) when denied listing, to what extent these species are protected by the Fisheries Act. Overall, at-risk marine fishes typically spend 3.25 years under consideration for SARA, during which time they receive no additional protection. Endangered and Threatened marine fishes (i.e., those most at risk) face the greatest bias and receive the least protection; their SARA decisions are typically delayed, with almost 5 years usually passing between their COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) assessment and listing decision; most (70.6%) are then denied listing, after which the Fisheries Act provides few of the SARA-required measures. For SARA-listed marine fishes, recovery strategies are usually late and to date no action plans have been produced. Marine fish conservation is hindered by SARA’s slow pace, incomplete recovery measures, and inadequate implementation of the Fisheries Act. We provide recommendations for improving conservation of at-risk marine fishes in Canada.

Trends in extinction risk for imperiled species in Canada.

Protecting and promoting recovery of species at risk of extinction is a critical component of biodiversity conservation. In Canada, the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) determines whether species are at risk of extinction or extirpation, and has conducted these assessments since 1977. We examined trends in COSEWIC assessments to identify whether at-risk species that have been assessed more than once tended to improve, remain constant, or deteriorate in status, as a way of assessing the effectiveness of biodiversity conservation in Canada. Of 369 species that met our criteria for examination, 115 deteriorated, 202 remained unchanged, and 52 improved in status. Only 20 species (5.4%) improved to the point where they were ‘not at risk’, and five of those were due to increased sampling efforts rather than an increase in population size. Species outcomes were also dependent on the severity of their initial assessment; for example, 47% of species that were initially listed as special concern deteriorated between assessments. After receiving an at-risk assessment by COSEWIC, a species is considered for listing under the federal Species at Risk Act (SARA), which is the primary national tool that mandates protection for at-risk species. We examined whether SARA-listing was associated with improved COSEWIC assessment outcomes relative to unlisted species. Of 305 species that had multiple assessments and were SARA-listed, 221 were listed at a level that required identification and protection of critical habitat; however, critical habitat was fully identified for only 56 of these species. We suggest that the Canadian government should formally identify and protect critical habitat, as is required by existing legislation. In addition, our finding that at-risk species in Canada rarely recover leads us to recommend that every effort be made to actively prevent species from becoming at-risk in the first place.

Evaluation of IUCN spatial distribution metrics for a migratory species, Fraser River Sockeye salmon

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has developed criteria to assess extinction risk; the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) is an independent agency that assesses the vulnerability of Canadian species using IUCN criteria. Criterion B uses extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, and number of locations to evaluate risks associated with restricted spatial distribution in conjunction with several subcriteria. Concerns have been expressed about the use of these distribution metrics for migratory aquatic species as they often have naturally restricted distributions that change at different life stages. The conservation status of Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) of the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada is currently being assessed and distribution metrics have been estimated. We compared metrics for Sockeye salmon to similar values for 57 assessments of vertebrate, invertebrate and plant species conducted by COSEWIC. Relationships among the metrics were generally similar between Fraser River Sockeye salmon and COSEWIC assessments, suggesting that despite concerns about the applicability of occurrence and abundance metrics and corresponding methodologies to highly migratory and aquatic taxa, Fraser River Sockeye salmon do not demonstrate large departures compared to other species assessed in Canada. The majority of Fraser River Sockeye salmon distribution metrics fell below thresholds for endangered or threatened statuses. However, we also observed that reported values for species assessed by COSEWIC had little relationship to the status that was ultimately assigned. Thus, based on results of this study, the ultimate role of the distribution metrics in COSEWIC status assessment is uncertain.

Towards the conservation of parasitoid wasp species in Canada: Preliminary assessment of Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae)

This paper is the first to consider braconid parasitoid wasps in conservation efforts in Canada. Out of the 28 genera of the subfamily Microgastrinae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) present in the country, 13 genera were studied and 16 species were identified as potential candidates to be included in the Species Candidate Lists of COSEWIC (The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada). For every selected species a brief summary of its broad geographical distribution is provided, with detailed and in many cases new information of its distribution and collecting dates in Canada, hosts (Lepidoptera) if known, and color pictures of all wasp species. A preliminary assessment is made using Prioritization Criteria developed by COSEWIC, and some general recommendations are made based in those analyses.