Kootenay Region Research Articles

Varroa destructor economic injury levels and pathogens associated with colony losses in Western Canada

IntroductionThe honey bee parasitic mite, Varroa destructor, is considered the main factor associated with winter colony losses. To control this mite, beekeepers must implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies. An effective IPM strategy is based on timely monitoring of mite levels to treat the colonies when the mites reach an economic threshold and before they grow to damaging levels (economic injury level). Additionally, concerns have been raised about the possible interaction between V. destructor and other stressors; stressors acting additively or synergistically may lead to high colony mortality.MethodologyVarroa destructor levels were recorded in colonies from five regions of British Columbia, Canada: Lower Mainland, Kootenay, Okanagan, Cariboo, and Peace. Mite levels were analyzed for associations with colony strength and mortality, as well as with other pathogens that were identified using total RNA sequencing.ResultsThe Kootenay and Lower Mainland regions had the highest V. destructor levels in the fall (3.38±0.65 and 2.51±0.57, respectively) followed by the Okanagan (1.54±0.36), Cariboo (1.31±0.39), and Peace (0.66±0.25) regions. The Peace region had a significantly lower proportion of dead colonies than the other regions. Varroa destructor levels in the fall significantly predicted odds of colony mortality in the spring. Colonies with ≥ 1% mite infestation in the fall (August) had a significantly higher mortality rate (p=0.005) compared to colonies with <1% mite levels. Therefore, treatment is recommended above that threshold. Also, deformed wing virus-B levels were 8.4 times higher than those of deformed wing virus-A variant in all the regions and were highest in the Kootenay region, which also had the highest rate of colony losses. Lastly, Malpighamoeba mellificae and Nosema (Vairimorpha) apis transcripts were identified along with other pathogens that deserve further investigation, including Apis mellifera filamentous virus, Apis rhabdovirus, Lake Sinai virus, Varroa tymo-like, and Apis mellifera solinvivirus 1.DiscussionThe dynamic nature of host-pathogen interactions requires frequent pathogen surveillance to determine the prevalence and levels of parasitic mites and associated infectious diseases, and their impact on honey bee health, not only in the regions of this study, but globally. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to determine the nature of the type of interaction between the identified pathogens and V. destructor. Also, more research is needed to evaluate their potential impact on colony survival, to provide accurate mite and disease control recommendations to beekeepers.

Feasibility of patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for rural and remote transfers.

In rural Canada, the majority of prehospital care is provided by basic life support paramedics, who cannot administer opioids or parenteral analgesics. Patients requiring transfer to a higher level of care have limited options for pain control. We aim to determine if ambulance-based patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is feasible during inter-facility transfers. This is a prospective non-consecutive cohort feasibility study conducted in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia from 2016 to 2020. Patients in acute pain from an illness or injury requiring an opioid and transfer to a higher level of care were offered PCA. The study used respiratory depression as a marker of safety, assessed if PCA during transport provided efficacious analgesia, measured satisfaction scores from patients and paramedics, and tracked adverse events. 84 patients received PCA. The majority had orthopaedic trauma and the average transfer time was 3h 22min. The average pain score at the start and end of the transfer was unchanged, at 4 out of 10. Patient and paramedic satisfaction scores at the end of the transfer were 4.6 and 4.7 out of 5, respectively. Three out of the 84 patients (3.6%) had desaturation episodes below or equal to 90% oxygen saturation; however, all resolved with supplemental oxygen. Ambulance-based PCA is feasible and has a high level of satisfaction among paramedics and patients. It has significant potential for inter-facility transport in rural regions in Canada where ambulances are staffed with paramedics who cannot administer opioids or other parenteral analgesics.

Breaking Down Barriers

In the Kootenay region of British Columbia (BC), mining has historically been a male dominated sector. Natural resource dependent communities, such as those found in the Kootenay region, have traditionally lacked employment opportunities for women. In addition, women choosing to pursue careers in the mining sector can face numerous challenges. As part of the larger Regional Workforce Development in Rural BC project, this research focuses on ways to build a more gender diverse mining workforce in the Kootenay region. Building connections to planning theory and practice in the region, the paper investigates the opportunities available to women in rural resource communities, and the challenges they face regarding employment in the mining sector. Results show that in the Kootenay region there may be a shift occurring in mining company culture. More progressive policies and respectful workplace culture, combined with gender-oriented planning initiatives, appear to create a more gender inclusive mining sector. The results also show significant challenges associated with social infrastructure and supports, specifically a lack of child care spots, high rental and real estate prices, and the lack of opportunities for further education for women who want to enter the Kootenay mining workforce.

Connecting people, plants and place: A native plant society's journey towards a community of practice

Abstract Native plants are often promoted for gardening, biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration. Native plant gardening can contribute to environmental sustainability by conserving water and creating biologically diverse habitat. Despite the many virtues of native plants, there are challenges to building relationships between people and plants, including limited plant availability and low level of general plant appreciation and literacy. Activities that foster people–plant connections can help to alleviate Plant Awareness Disparity, foster plant conservation and produce more native plants. We describe how our environmental non‐profit organization, the Kootenay Native Plant Society, has worked to encourage people–plant connections in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada, over a 10‐year period. We borrowed from different disciplines, practices and theories to inform our work—from organic gardening and ecological restoration to sustainable development. Our programmes developed from outreach and educational activities to more place‐based and interactive initiatives. Initial activities, including wildflower walks and school programmes, offered plant information but more meaningful plant engagement was needed. We provided deeper knowledge through a flagship species approach showcasing a native plant, camas Camassia quamash, itxwa, resulting in greater appreciation for camas, although this strategy rarely translated to broader plant conservation by residents. We developed more specialized programmes that trained participants in native plant propagation and gardening, where they gained competence and contributed to a social group linked by community‐based conservation efforts and a passion for native plants. We learned our journey to connect more people with native species and get plants into gardens was a pathway towards a community of practice. Building lasting people–plant connections is not straightforward; it is an adaptive integrative process requiring delivery of dynamic and complementary activities developed over time from cumulative insights and organizational reflection. What we thought was simply an unavailability of native plants paired with people's lack of native plant appreciation was more complex, requiring a shift in social understanding of people's relationships with plants. The cultivation of a community of practice is an act of socio‐ecological restoration, a shared pathway that supports a self‐sustaining community practicing good stewardship and empowered to grow native plants. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Wetland Hydroperiod Change Along the Upper Columbia River Floodplain, Canada, 1984 to 2019

Increasing air temperatures and changing hydrological conditions in the mountainous Kootenay Region of British Columbia, Canada are expected to affect floodplain wetland extent and function along the Columbia River. The objective of this study was to determine the seasonally inundated hydroperiod for a floodplain section (28.66 km2) of the Upper Columbia River wetlands complex using time series satellite image observations and binary open water mask extraction. A mid pixel resolution (30 m) optical satellite image time series of 61 clear sky scenes from the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Operational Land Imager (OLI) sensors were used to map temporal variations in floodplain open water wetland extent during the April to October hydrologically active season from 1984 to 2019 (35 years). The hydroperiod from the first 31 scenes (T1: 18 years) was compared to the second 30 (T2: 16 years) to identify changes in the permanent and seasonal open water bodies. The seasonal variation in open water extent and duration was similar across the two time periods but the permanent water body extent diminished by ~16% (or ~3.5% of the floodplain). A simple linear model (r2 = 0.87) was established to predict floodplain open water extent as a function of river discharge downstream of the case study area. Four years of Landsat Multi-Spectral Scanner (MSS) data from 1992 to 1995 (12 scenes) were examined to evaluate the feasibility of extending the hydroperiod record back to 1972 using lower resolution (60 m) archive data. While the MSS hydroperiod produced a similar pattern of open water area to duration to the TM/OLI hydroperiod, small open water features were omitted or expanded due to the lower resolution. While MSS could potentially extend the TM/OLI hydroperiod record, this was not performed as the loss of features like the river channel diminished its value for change detection purposes. Radarsat 2 scenes from 2015 to 2019 were examined to evaluate the feasibility of continued mountain valley hydroperiod monitoring using higher spatial and temporal resolution sensors like the Radarsat Constellation Mission (RCM). From the available horizontal transmit/receive (HH) single polarization sample set (8 scenes), the hydroperiod pattern of open water extent to duration was similar to the longer Landsat time series and possessed greater feature detail, but it was significantly reduced in seasonal inundation area due to the systematic omission of open water areas containing emergent vegetation. However, accepting that differences exist in sensor-based hydroperiod attributes, the higher temporal resolution of RCM will be suited to mountain floodplain inundation monitoring and open water hydroperiod analysis.

Commodification of Rural Spaces owing to the Development of Organic Farming in the Kootenay Region, British Columbia, Canada

Commodification of Rural Spaces owing to the Development of Organic Farming in the Kootenay Region, British Columbia, Canada

Surveys for terrestrial gastropods in the Kootenay region of British Columbia, with new records and range extensions

The northern Columbia River basin, extending from the Kootenay region in British Columbia southward to the Idaho panhandle and northwestern Montana, contains a unique terrestrial gastropod fauna, but in Canada few surveys have specifically targetted this group. Here we report on terrestrial gastropods detected during surveys of 314 sites distributed in five biogeoclimatic zones across the Kootenay region. The surveys occurred on 65 days over seven years from 2007 to 2015, usually in September–October. We detected 45 taxa identified to species, belonging to 33 genera; micro-snails of the genus Vertigo (apart from Vertigo ovata) were combined into a single category, and snails belonging to Succineidae were not identified further. Regionally endemic species previously reported from the region included Western Banded Tigersnail (Anguispira kochi occidentalis), Coeur d’Alene Oregonian (Cryptomastix mullani), Rocky Mountainsnail (Oreohelix strigosa), Subalpine Mountainsnail (Oreohelix subrudis), and Pale Jumping-slug (Hemphillia camelus), which was widespread across the region. Magnum Mantleslug (Magnipelta mycophaga), the distribution of which extends beyond the Kootenay region, was detected at several widely spaced sites. Two species new to Canada were detected, Pygmy Slug (Kootenaia burkei) and Sheathed Slug (Zacoleus idahoensis), both of which were subsequently assessed to be of conservation concern both provincially and nationally. Other notable observations included the detection of Fir Pinwheel (Radiodiscus abietum), a regional endemic, which has been previously reported only once, and three species common in coastal forests but not previously reported from the region: Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus), Robust Lancetooth (Haplotrema vancouverense), and Northwest Hesperian (Vespericola columbianus). Further surveys, especially at higher elevations, may reveal other additional or unusual species.

Comparative health assessment of urban and non-urban free-ranging mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in southeastern British Columbia, Canada.

BackgroundThe provincial wildlife management agency, British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, performed a translocation to control the urban mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; uMD) overpopulation and supplement the declining non-urban mule deer (nuMD) population in the Kootenay region, British Columbia, Canada. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to evaluate the health of the urban and nuMD populations by comparing pathogen exposure, body condition scores (BCS) and pregnancy rates, to characterize the health risks associated with the translocation and to investigate the role of infectious diseases in the decline of the nuMD deer population.MethodsTwo hundred free-ranging mule deer were captured in urban and non-urban environments in the Kootenay region from 2014 to 2017. BCS and morphometric examinations were performed for each deer. Blood samples collected from each deer were tested for exposure to selected pathogens and pregnancy status.ResultsBody condition scores averaged 3.4 on a five-point scale, was greater in nuMD, and significantly differed between years. Antibodies were detected for adenovirus hemorrhagic disease virus (38.4% (uMD 43.7%, nuMD 33.3%)), bluetongue virus (0.6% (uMD 1.2%, nuMD 0%)), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (8.4% (uMD 4.6%, nuMD 12.1%)), bovine viral diarrhea virus (1.1% (uMD 0%, nuMD 2.2%)), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (27.0% (uMD 27.6%, nuMD 26.4%)), Neospora caninum (22.1% (uMD 24.4%, nuMD 19.7%)) and Toxoplasma gondii (8.2% (uMD 12.3%, nuMD 3.9%)). No antibodies against epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus were detected. Pregnancy rates did not differ between the two deer populations (90.7% (uMD 90.6%, nuMD 90.9%)). Exposure to N. caninum was associated with a reduced probability of being pregnant. uMD were more likely to be exposed to T. gondii than nuMD.DiscussionComparison of BCS, pregnancy rates and pathogen exposure of uMD and nuMD showed that the health of the two populations did not significantly differ, suggesting uMD translocations do not pose a severe risk of pathogen transmission between mule deer populations and that these selected pathogens do not factor in the decline of the nuMD population. However, inclusion of additional health indicators and creation of a robust predictive disease model are warranted to further characterize the health of mule deer and the health risks associated with uMD translocations. These results should be considered as part of a formal risk assessment for future uMD translocations in southeastern British Columbia.

Collaborative Rural Community Energy Planning: The Health and Economic Benefits of Walking the Talk ( breakout presentation )

Background British Columbia legislation requires Local Governments to make efforts to reduce community greenhouse gas emissions. This powerful provincial statement provides the impetus and Carbon Tax funding to create collaborations, develop opportunities to increase energy efficiency, provide community financial savings and develop infrastructure to encourage and promote healthy lifestyles. In the primarily rural southeastern Kootenay Region, all small and mid-size communities are taking action to improve their energy resilience, and have found the economic and health implications of plan implementation to be astounding. Description of Program Community Energy Plans in rural communities provide direction to develop active transportation plans, improve walking infrastructure and promote a healthy lifestyle. All while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. With appealing walking infrastructure, in theory, most people will walk short distances. The plans support this theory and all the associated health benefits. Policy Community Energy Plans adopted to address reductions in community Greenhouse Gas Emissions have become the framework to apply for “Plan H” funding for sidewalk infrastructure, Active Transportation plans, walking school bus programs, etc., within the BC Interior Health region. Outcomes Community Energy Plans engage the community, support healthy transportation choices and develop a collaborative inclusive community resilience. What began as a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, through community involvement, innovation and resolution, develops into an age-friendly, walkable rural community. Lessons Learned Reframe the message of Greenhouse Gas Reductions and Carbon Tax to “build community”. The result is the co-benefits of active transportation and a healthy population. Implications Communities are working to meet their reduction targets and our population is more active. An active person reduces their chance of chronic disease (i.e., diabetes and cardiovascular disease). Community planning and design can influence the health of the population. One in three British Columbians is living with chronic disease. 50% of adults and 91% of children/youth do not have recommended levels of physical activity. Recommendations Community collaboration is key. Partnerships with the province and utilities to support development of Community Energy Plans unique to each place. The plans are the impetus for developing infrastructure to “walk the talk”. An active and engaged community results.

Assessing the workflow for regional-scale 3D geologic modeling: An example from the Sullivan time horizon, Purcell Anticlinorium East Kootenay region, southeastern British Columbia

We have developed a regional-scale 3D geologic model, highlighting the Mesoproterozoic Sullivan time horizon (approximately 1470 Ma) throughout the Purcell Anticlinorium in the East Kootenay region. This 3D geospatial model of the region is constrained with an extensive surface and subsurface database of stratigraphic, structural, and geophysical observations distributed throughout the study area. This modeling exercise was conducted over a four-year period from 2011 to 2015 in which several iterations of the model were produced. The final model includes what is locally referred to as the Lower-Middle Aldridge stratigraphic contact (LMC), a map unit at the very top of the lower Aldridge Formation where the Sullivan world-class Pb-Zn-Ag deposit is located. Local mineral exploration initiatives focus on this key exploration target horizon, which is now modeled in 3D. The regional LMC model provides a much needed geospatial reference used to characterize and understand sedimentary exhalative, a type of ore deposit (SEDEX) ore systems as well as a key 3D exploration target. Developing regional 3D geologic models for orogenic interiors such as the Purcell region, and older shield regions is a challenge. This is largely due to data sparsity at depth, lack of standards for 3D data collection, storage, integration, and interpretation practice. Current algorithms use only a partial set of available observational or knowledge constraints and exist in workflows that do not allow for complicated geologic event histories. We have mitigated some of these challenges with a new implicit algorithm (SURFE), applied in this Purcell case study, to estimate major regional faults and horizons through variably distributed and clustered data. These modeled geologic elements are then fed into the SKUA structural and stratigraphic workflow to produce the volumetric model. Reflection on the general 3D modeling workflow for these regional situations highlights the need for embedding more knowledge constraints into the process.

Assessing the Potential for Pocket Agriculture in Mountainous Regions: A Case Study in West Kootenay, British Columbia, Canada

Food security is a growing concern for rural communities that rely on imported food. Increasing a region's food self-reliance is a strategy to address this concern, but is a challenge in regions with limited arable lands as a result of topographically diverse, mountain-dominated landscapes. Mechanized, large-scale agriculture relies on contiguous areas of arable land, rather than small parcels of dispersed arable soils and suitable climates. The Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada, serves as an example of the opportunities for mountainous, rural communities to increase their food self-sufficiency by considering the potential for agriculture on small parcels of land. Soil capability survey maps that provide a biophysical assessment of arable lands were used as a basis for determining (a) the potential land base available for small-scale agriculture, and (b) the potential for niche crops that may be grown on poorer capability lands in the Kootenay region. The soil capability criteria, coupled with farm survey data, were used to measure and quantify the distribution of underutilized farmland in the region. Results indicate that up to 90 percent of land capable of agriculture and 69 percent of high quality farm land protected under the Agricultural Land Reserve is not under production for crops or pasture. Global Climate Model scenarios for 2050 indicate that the region will have a longer growing season, hotter summers, and more frost-free days, which could increase the region's capacity to grow food but might require additional water for irrigation. The assessment suggests that soil surveys based on biophysical attributes can assist mountainous regions in assessing their potential for agriculture.

Using Field Data and GIS-Derived Variables to Model Occurrence of Williamson's Sapsucker Nesting Habitat at Multiple Spatial Scales.

Williamson's sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) is a migratory woodpecker that breeds in mixed coniferous forests in western North America. In Canada, the range of this woodpecker is restricted to three small populations in southern British Columbia, precipitating a national listing as ‘Endangered’ in 2005, and the need to characterize critical habitat for its survival and recovery. We compared habitat attributes between Williamson’s sapsucker nest territories and random points without nests or detections of this sapsucker as part of a resource selection analysis to identify the habitat features that best explain the probability of nest occurrence in two separate geographic regions in British Columbia. We compared the relative explanatory power of generalized linear models based on field-derived and Geographic Information System (GIS) data within both a 225 m and 800 m radius of a nest or random point. The model based on field-derived variables explained the most variation in nest occurrence in the Okanagan-East Kootenay Region, whereas nest occurrence was best explained by GIS information at the 800 m scale in the Western Region. Probability of nest occurrence was strongly tied to densities of potential nest trees, which included open forests with very large (diameter at breast height, DBH, ≥57.5 cm) western larch (Larix occidentalis) trees in the Okanagan-East Kootenay Region, and very large ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and large (DBH 17.5–57.5 cm) trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides) trees in the Western Region. Our results have the potential to guide identification and protection of critical habitat as required by the Species at Risk Act in Canada, and to better manage Williamson’s sapsucker habitat overall in North America. In particular, management should focus on the maintenance and recruitment of very large western larch and ponderosa pine trees.

A local initiative for mobile monitoring to measure residential wood smoke concentration and distribution

Health concerns about air quality by community members led to this collaborative study to determine the magnitude and distribution of wood smoke in the Cranbrook–Kimberley area of the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada. The concentration of microscopic particles, 2.5 μm or less in diameter (PM2.5), has a strong association with mortality, hospitalizations and pulmonary symptoms. This was measured by mobile nephelometer, along with GPS readings, temperature, humidity and wind velocity, during 18 consecutive evening drives along a predetermined route in the winter of 2011. Mean temperature and wind velocity ranged from −21 to +6 °C and 0 to 12.6 km/h, respectively. Average nephelometer readings for the 18 evenings ranged from 2 to 9 μg/m3, correlating inversely with mean temperature, but because of varying amounts of wood stove emissions, the relationship was not apparent at any one location during any individual drive. The mean deviation between the mean measured PM2.5 for each evening and that predicted from the average temperature and wind velocity was 1.1 μg/m3. Some 13,000 nephelometer readings (each 15 s average) were plotted within 500 and 250 m square grid cells encompassing the route. The mean and maximum values obtained within the larger cells ranged from 1 to 11 and 6 to 90 μg/m3, respectively. Four specific locations of high average mean and maximum values were identified, with four additional hotspots noted with the smaller cells. This project demonstrates what can be accomplished with cooperation among inspired individuals and citizen groups. The pinpointed hotspots can focus additional surveys of wood stove use and provide baseline data to gauge effects of airshed management strategies, provide information for land use planning and review of bylaws specific to air quality. The project partners hope these results will aid local governments to increase public awareness of health implications of wood burning emissions, implement future monitoring and provide education for the proper use of wood as a heating fuel.

Direct and indirect impacts of climate change on forests: three case studies from British Columbia†

Climate is an important driver of forest dynamics. In this paper, we present three case studies from the forests of British Columbia to illustrate the direct and indirect effects of climatic variation and global warming on forest composition and function. (1) Tree mortality rates in old forests of western North America have doubled in recent decades. Regional warming and water deficits directly affected tree death rates or indirectly increased insect and pathogen activity and wind storms causing tree deaths. Concurrently, tree density and basal area declined significantly, indicating lagged growth responses of surviving trees or long-term decline of these forests. (2) Yellow-cedar decline along coastal British Columbia and Alaska shows that small changes in average climatic conditions, coupled with extreme weather events, can have large ecological effects. A small persistent increase in mean temperatures has reduced snow-cover depth and duration. Coupled with extreme cold events which damage unprotected tree roots, these climatic changes are considered the primary cause of widespread yellow-cedar mortality. (3) Interactions between climate and disturbance are complex in the mountain forests of the East Kootenay region. Understanding historic climate–fire interactions is key to anticipating future frequent and severe fires. Here, climate change effects may be exacerbated by the cumulative effects of human land use, fire exclusion and mountain pine beetle outbreaks. We conclude that understanding past climate variation and its effects on forests help us to anticipate the potential effects of global warming.

Changes in riparian area structure, channel hydraulics, and sediment yield following loss of beaver dams

Channel structure, riparian zone structure, and sediment transport capacity were investigated for Sandown Creek, a stream in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia where beaver dams were removed in the late 1980s to “improve” fish passage and flood conveyance. A series of historical aerial photographs taken over a 36-year period between 1968 and 2004 recorded the physical changes to a 3-km section of the stream valley following removal of 18 beaver dams. In the 16 years following beaver dam removal, channel pattern changed from a multi-thread to single-thread form. The riparian area structure also changed from 69% open areas and 9% beaver ponds to 90% closed vegetation. The change in channel structure in Sandown Creek resulted in an estimated 5-times increase in the mean flow velocity and an additional 648 m3 of sediment available for transport. These findings provide the empirical data needed to verify long-standing assumptions about the ability of beaver ponds to effectively trap sediment and reduce bankfull flow velocity. The results of this study also underscore the speed and magnitude of alterations in the channel and riparian area structure in response to beaver loss in British Columbia�s mountain valleys. While the physical removal of beavers and beaver dams may be a practice of the past, wildland managers may still be inadvertently compromising the sustainability of beavers and associated wetlands in many areas of British Columbia by failing to adequately manage riparian areas to maintain beaver habitat.

Pine mushroom habitat characteristics and management strategies in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia

This study was initiated by BC Timber Sales (BCTS), in the B.C. Ministry of Forests and Range, to guide its forest management planning for popular pine mushroom (Tricholoma magnivelare [Peck] Redhead) harvesting areas near the town of Nakusp in the West Kootenay region of the southern Interior. Pine mushroom habitat was located and mapped in the study areas using information gathered from local harvesters and from ground surveys conducted over a 5-year period. Habitat characteristics were described for 25 plots centred on pine mushroom patches across the study areas. Recommendations were provided to bcts to incorporate into their forest management plans for the study areas. The study demonstrated how new information on managing for non-timber resources can, when integrated into forest management plans, support pine mushroom harvesting opportunities in conjunction with timber harvesting.

First Report of Blueberry scorch virus in Black Huckleberry in British Columbia.

Blueberry scorch virus (BlScV), an aphid-borne carlavirus, causes a serious disease of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in North America and Europe. Symptoms of BlScV infection on highbush blueberry include necrosis of flower blossoms and young leaves, shoot blight, and chlorosis. Currently, cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon L.) is the only other natural host of BlScV. In July 2004, wild black huckleberry (Vaccinium membranaceumL.) was sampled in the Kootenay Region of southeastern British Columbia. Foliar tissues were sampled during 2004 from 11 bushes from a clearing on the side of a mountain near Crawford Bay, BC, Canada and tested by double-antibody sandwich-ELISA using polyclonal antiserum (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). BlScV was detected in 6 of the 11 bushes sampled and in the positive control (BlScV-infected blueberry leaf tissue) and was not detected in the negative control (healthy blueberry leaf tissue). To confirm the presence of the virus, total nucleic acid was extracted from ELISA-positive huckleberry samples according to an established protocol (A. Rowhani et al. Proc. Int. Counc. Stud. Viruses Virus-Like Dis. Grapevine, Extended Abstr. 13:148, 2000). Reverse transcription-PCR was performed using pd(T)12-18 random primer (Amersham Biosciences, Piscataway, NJ) for reverse transcription and BlScV-specific primers developed against the published NJ-2 sequence of BlScV (GenBank Accession No. NC_003499). Using the forward primer, BS708F, (5'-TCAATCCGTGGTGCTACGAG-3'), and the reverse primer, BS1188R, (5'-ACAGTGCGCAATGTTCCAGT-3'), a 480-bp amplicon was obtained from each of the ELISA-positive samples, while no ampli-cons were observed for the negative control (ELISA-negative huckleberry tissue). Direct sequencing of one selected amplicon revealed 90, 84, and 77% nucleotide sequence identity and 97, 96, and 88% amino acid sequence identity with strains NJ-2, BC-1 (GenBank Accession No. AY941198) and BC-2 (GenBank Accession Nos. AY941199), respectively. BlScV-infected huckleberries were asymptomatic. The presence of BlScV in alternate hosts has implications for disease epidemiology. Testing for BlScV in Vaccinium species in and around commercial highbush blueberry plantings, as well as lowbush blueberry (V. angustifolium Aiton), rabbiteye blueberry (V. ashei Reade), other native Pacific Northwest species (V. ovatum Pursh and V. parvifolium Smith), and ornamental Vaccinium species is warranted. To our knowledge, this is the first report of BlScV infecting black huckleberry.

Understorey responses to mechanical restoration and drought within montane forests of British Columbia

Pre- and post-thinning relationships between forest overstorey and understorey characteristics at sites in both the Interior Douglas-fir (IDF) and Ponderosa Pine (PP) biogeoclimatic zones in the East Kootenay region of southeast British Columbia were investigated to quantify understorey responses to dry forest restoration thinning. Pre-thinning data consistently indicated that understorey shrub and herb abundance were positively associated with light intensity and inversely with tree density (i.e., ingrowth) at both locations. Immediately after thinning, greater reductions in tree density or increases in understorey light were generally associated with greater reductions in understorey species richness, diversity, and shrub and herb cover; however, the presence of drought conditions complicated this effect. Overall, the results indicate that while the effects of ingrowth appear detrimental to understorey vegetation, the disturbance caused by mechanical thinning, particularly when accompanied by drought, can reduce the abundance of many important understorey characteristics in the short term. These results have management implications for areas where forest restoration using commercial thinning is being considered.

High Sequence Variability Among Little cherry virus Isolates Occurring in British Columbia.

The LC5 isolate of Little cherry virus (LChV-LC5) is one of at least two distinct viruses contributing to a severe disease of cherry (Little cherry disease [LChD]) in British Columbia. A near-complete nucleotide sequence of LChV-LC5 is available as well as polyclonal antibodies against LChV-LC5 coat protein produced in bacterial cells. A survey for LChV-LC5-infected trees in the Okanagan Valley and Kootenay region of British Columbia was carried out using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and LChV-LC5 antibodies. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and sequence analysis of four different regions of the genomes of 31 of these isolates have been conducted. A high level of sequence variability was found: nucleotide sequence divergence between LChV-LC5 and the other sequenced isolates ranged from 0 to 19.7%, and amino acid sequence divergence ranged from 0 to 9.1%. Further examination of RT-PCR and sequence data identified six discrete groups of isolates, including a group identical to LChV-LC5. The high level of divergence in LChV-LC5 isolates occurring in British Columbia suggests that caution should be used in the selection of methods used for diagnosis during surveys for this virus.

Bark beetle (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) diversity in spaced and unmanaged mature lodgepole pine (Pinaceae) in southeastern British Columbia

Variation in the number and diversity of bark beetles in spaced mature lodgepole pine stands in the East Kootenay region of British Columbia was analyzed in relation to location (site), spacing treatment and years following treatment. We analyzed the number of bark beetles and the number of bark beetle species that emerged from stumps or were captured in flight traps in the first five years following spacing. We also investigated the incidence of bark beetle attacks on the remaining trees and the mean dates of emergence from stumps and of capture in flight traps for the common species. Observations were made on three sites, each having three treatments: 4 m × 4 m spacing, 5 m × 5 m spacing, and an untreated control. The mean density of bark beetles emerged from stumps was different among sites and years but not between spacing treatments. There was no statistically significant variation in the number of bark beetle species captured in flight traps by site, spacing treatment, years, or spacing treatment and years. Significantly more bark beetles were captured in the 4 m × 4 m spacing treatment than in the control. The number of bark beetles captured was the highest in the first 2 years following treatment. Up to 26 species of bark beetles, excluding ambrosia beetles, were captured in flight barrier traps. There was no difference in species diversity by site or treatment indicating that species diversity in mature lodgepole pine is relatively stable over large areas. Of the 213 trees that sustained at least 10 attacks by bark beetles on the lower 2 m of the bole, 59.1% occurred in the spaced plots but only 18.2% of those were successful, versus 74.7% success in the infested trees in the control plots. The majority of infested trees contained Ips sp., Dendroctonus valens and D. murrayanae. Of the seven trees attacked by mountain pine beetle ( D. ponderosae) only one tree was located in a spaced plot.