Pelee Island Research Articles

Pelee Island and Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario: A Climatic Analysis of Canada's Warmest Wine Region

Pelee Island and Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario: A Climatic Analysis of Canada's Warmest Wine Region

Pelee Island and Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario: A Climatic Analysis of Canada's Warmest Wine Region

The longest growing season and the highest number of heat units are the two primary characteristics distinguishing Pelee Island and Lake Erie North Shore from the other wine regions of Canada. Nonetheless, frequent damaging temperatures in winter are still the chief limitation to the production of Vitis vinifera varieties. So far, scrupulous site and cultivar selection has enabled growers to reduce the possibility of major freeze damage, enabling the production of wines of quality and distinction. This, together with the willingness of the growers and wine makers to adopt new vineyard and winery technology, makes the future of wine production in these areas highly promising.

Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Biota from the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PCBs in zebra mussels were elevated to concentrations greater than 5,000 ng/g lipid and 15,000 ng/g lipid, respectively, at the Ambassador Bridge in the Detroit River and concentrations gradually declined at downstream locations, which included three stations in the western basin of Lake Erie (Middle Sister Island, East Sister Island, Pelee Island). PCB concentrations in zebra mussels collected at the stations in western Lake Erie were elevated relative to the concentrations in mussels at the upstream end of the Detroit River (Stoney Point). There is no evidence that PAH contamination in the Detroit River elevated PAH concentrations in zebra mussels in western Lake Erie relative to mussels at Stoney Point. Fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) representing metabolites of PAHs were analyzed in the bile of gizzard shad ( Dorosoma cepedianum) and freshwater drum ( Aplodinotus grunniens) collected from several sites in the Detroit River and western Lake Erie. Mean FAC concentrations were >l,000 ng BaP equivalents per mL of bile in fish from the Trenton Channel and Boblo Island in the Detroit River, but FAC data provided no evidence that fish captured at two sites in western Lake Erie (East Sister Island, Pelee Island) were exposed to elevated concentrations of PAHs through ingestion of contaminated biota or exposure to contaminated sediments.

Courtship Behavior of Ambystoma texanum on Pelee Island, Ontario

GORIS, R. C, AND M. NOMOTO. 1967. Infrared reception in oriental crotaline snakes. Comp. Biochem. Physiol. 23:879-892. HARTLINE, P. H. 1974. Thermoreception in snakes. In A. Fessard (ed.), Handbook of sensory physiology, Vol. 3, pp. 297-312. Springer-Verlag, New York. NOBLE, G. K., AND A SCHMIDT. 1937. Structure and function of the facial and labial pits of snakes. Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc. 77(3):263-288. Ros, M. 1935. Die Lippengruben der Pythonen als Temperaturorgane. Jena Z. Naturw. (n.f.) 63:1-32.

Geographical distribution of contaminants and productivity measures of herring gulls in the great lakes: Lake Erie and connecting channels 1978/1979

The distribution and size of colonies, residue levels of DDE, DDT, HCB, dieldrin, mirex and PCBs in eggs, productivity and eggshell thickness were determined for herring gulls at 14 sites in Lake Erie and connecting channels. The centre of distribution for breeding herring gulls was the Western Basin where approximately 90% of the 6200 nests in the study area were located. Seven of 22 colonies showed an average annual population increase of 48.3%. Most of the increase in breeding herring gulls on Lake Erie is directly associated with sites that have undergone habitat modification by man. Levels of PCBs and DDE ranged from 35 to 140 ppm (wet weight) and from 2.8 to 9.4 ppm, respectively; all other residues were < 0.49 ppm. Most organochlorine residue levels were highest in eggs from colonies in or near the Niagara or Detroit Rivers. Mirex residues were greatest in the Niagara River and decreased significantly to the west. PCB residues were greatest in the Detroit River and decreased significantly to the east. The lowest levels generally came from colonies in the Sandusky Basin and near Pelee Island in western Lake Erie. Discriminant function analysis of six organochlorine contaminants correctly classified 90% or more of the eggs from up to four colonies in one or more years. Levels of PCBs and HCB appeared to have the greatest discriminating power. Herring gull productivity at all colonies (1–1.7 young gulls/pair) was normal and showed no significant geographical variation. Eggshell thickness was greatest in colonies in the Sandusky Basin and least in colonies in the Detroit River and extreme west end of the lake; mean eggshell thickness was 0.350 ± 0.02 mm (6.7% thinning), which was weakly, but significantly correlated to DDE concentration. The variation in contaminants in herring gull eggs on a Basin basis (i.e., Western, Eastern, Sandusky, etc.) paralleled those known for sediments, water and fish. Thus, we suggest that in addition to its role as an indicator of lake-wide contamination of the Great Lakes, the herring gull, under some circumstances, may function as an indicator of “regional” contamination. This is an important distinction as it improves the geographical specificity of the herring gull as an indicator species on the Great Lakes, where it is a non-migratory species.

Comparative rates of oxygen consumption and water loss in diploid and polyploid salamanders (genus ambystoma)

1. 1. The mole salamanders Ambystoma laterale and Ambystoma texanum coexist with their fertile diploid and polyploid hybrids on Pelee Island, Ontario. 2. 2. Rates of oxygen consumption and water loss of diploid A. laterale do not diner from those of diploid, triploid or tetraploid hybrids. 3. 3. Potential benefits of polyploidy may be from indirect effects of adult body size on rates of metabolism and water loss.

Growth and sexual maturation in diploid and polyploid salamanders (genus Ambystoma)

On Pelee Island, Ontario, mole salamanders, Ambystoma laterale and Ambystoma texanum, coexist with their diploid, triploid, and tetraploid hybrids. In an initial study, A. laterale and hybrid larvae were raised in groups, but from metamorphosis to 5 months postmetamorphosis, individuals were raised in isolation. In a second study, A. texanum and hybrids were raised as isolated individuals under uniform feeding and laboratory conditions from the egg stage to 22 months postmetamorphosis. The total length of larvae at 14 days posthatching was correlated with size of eggs. Tetraploids originated from larger eggs, were larger at 2 weeks posthatching, and maintained their larger size throughout larval development. Tetraploids metamorphosed later and were heavier than all other genotypes. The heavier mass at metamorphosis was maintained and relatively increased so that by 22 months postmetamorphosis, when compared with other groups, tetraploids were heavier in mass, but not larger in snout–vent length. Bodies of tetraploids were more robust and tails, although not longer, were thicker. In contrast to A. texanum and diploid and triploid hybrids, among which 50% of individuals developed fully pigmented, yolk-filled ova by 22 months, no tetraploids showed such signs of sexual maturity. The growth and reproductive patterns of diploids and polyploids are discussed.

Reproduction and the origin of polyploids in hybrid salamanders of the genus Ambystoma

Eggs and larvae produced by diploid, triploid, and tetraploid females collected from breeding ponds on Pelee Island in Lake Erie were studied to examine the reproductive mechanism. No instance of parthenogenesis was found as all examined females required sperm to produce viable progeny. Diploid females produced diploid and triploid larvae, triploid females produced triploid and tetraploid larvae, and tetraploid females produced triploid and tetraploid larvae. The majority of the eggs produced by hybrid females do not develop or do not complete embryogenesis. Electrophoretic examination of females and their offspring demonstrate that the male genome is being incorporated in reduced as well as unreduced eggs produced by all three ploidy classes of females. The elevation of ploidy among Pelee Island Ambystoma is attributed to sperm incorporation in unreduced eggs. Triploid as well as tetraploid individuals are constantly being produced. A critical examination of the literature on parthenogenetic or gynogenetic modes of reproduction in North America Ambystoma hybrids shows no conclusive evidence supporting these modes and it is suggested that the reproductive mechanism found among Pelee Island female hybrids may be more generally applied to other hybrid Ambystoma populations.

Electrophoretic identification of Ambystoma laterale and Ambystoma texanum as well as their diploid and triploid interspecific hybrids (Amphibia: Caudata) on Pelee Island, Ontario

Ambystoma salamanders from Pelee Island, Ontario, were compared with mainland populations of A. jeffersonianum, A. laterale, and A. texanum using erythrocyte area measurements, chromosome counts, and electrophoretic analysis of proteins coded by 32 loci. The mainland species are characterized by relatively low heterozygosity (H = 0.053–0.11) and high Nei's genetic distances (D = 0.896–1.067). Nine diagnostic loci were found in A. jeffersonianum and five in each of A. laterale and A. texanum. Two loci (SOD-1 and GOT-1) diagnose all three mainland species and provide gene dosage for assessing genome contributions of A. laterale and A. texanum in Pelee Island salamanders. Diploid and triploid female A. texanum × A. laterale hybrids as well as A. laterale and A. texanum occur on Pelee Island.

Experimental Lead Poisoning in Willow Ptarmigan

DALKE, P. L. 1935. Food of young pheasants in Michigan. Am. Game 24:36, 43-46. FEHRENBACHER, J. B., G. O. WALKER, AND H. L. WASCHER. 1967. Soils of Illinois. Ill. Agric. Exp. Stn., Soil Conserv. Serv., U.S. Dep. Agric. Bull. 725. 47pp. GLASS, G. V., AND J. C. STANLEY. 1970. Statistical methods in education and psychology. PrenticeHall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs, N.J. 596pp. HILL, H. 1976. Feeding habits of the ring-necked pheasant chick, Phasianus colchicus, and the evaluation of available foods. Ph.D. Thesis, Michigan State Univ., East Lansing. 70pp. JOSELYN, G. B., J. E. WARNOCK, AND S. L. ETTER. 1968. Manipulation of roadside cover for nesting pheasants-a preliminary report. J. Wildl. Manage. 32:217-233. LABISKY, R. F. 1968. Ecology of pheasant populations in Illinois. Ph.D. Thesis, Univ. Wisconsin, Madison. 511pp. LOUGHREY, A. G., AND R. H. STINSON. 1955. Feeding habits of juvenile ring-necked pheasants on Pelee Island, Ontario. Can. Field-Nat. 69:59-65. MESSICK, J. P., E. G. BIZEAU, W. W. BENSON, AND W. H. MULLINS. 1974. Aerial pesticide applications and ring-necked pheasants. J. Wildl. Manage. 38:679-685. ROBERTSON, W. B., JR. 1958. Investigations of ringnecked pheasants in Illinois. Ill. Dep. Conserv. Tech. Bull. 1. 137pp. WARNER, R. E. 1975. Cover utilization by pheasant broods in east-central Illinois, 1972-1973. M.S. Thesis, Univ. Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. 39pp. . 1979. Use of cover by pheasant broods in east-central Illinois. J. Wildl. Manage. 43:334346.

A Simple Dispersion Model of the Mean Concentration Field in the Western and Central Basins of Lake Erie

A method of determining horizontal eddy diffusivities appropriate to scales of motion lying at the upper limit of those present in large lakes is based on the comparison of a set of simple solutions of the advection diffusion equation to the mean concentration field of a soluble material. Two features of the annually averaged distribution of the chloride ion in the western and central basins of Lake Erie, namely the sharp gradient of concentration in the vicinity of Pelee Island and the broad plume in the eastern half of the central basin, are best accounted for by a horizontal eddy diffusivity of 3.0 × 10 6 cm 2/s. The influence on the dispersal of a dissolved substance by a two-dimensional obstacle placed up-stream from a steady source is described and used to account for the concentration gradient occurring between the central and the eastern basins.

Cardiofilaria inornata (Anderson, 1956) from Woodcock with a Review of Cardiofilaria and Related Genera (Nematoda: Filarioidea)

Cardiofilaria inornata (Anderson, 1956) from Woodcock with a Review of Cardiofilaria and Related Genera (Nematoda: Filarioidea)

Additional Specimens of the Small-mouthed Salamander from Pelee Island, Ontario

Additional Specimens of the Small-mouthed Salamander from Pelee Island, Ontario

Weights and Measurements of Wood Warblers at Pelee Island

Weights and Measurements of Wood Warblers at Pelee Island

Feeding habits of juvenile Ring-necked Pheasants on Pelee Island, Ontario

Feeding habits of juvenile Ring-necked Pheasants on Pelee Island, Ontario

A New Locality Record for the Termite in Ontario

In my paper “The Introduction of the Termite into Ontario” (Can. Ent., No. 8, 1953) I stated that “insofar as records based on collected specimens are concerned, the termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, is to be found in no other part of eastern Canada, with the exception of Pelee Island (where this particular species has been present for many years).” I further stated that “it is forecast that it will continue to spread over the entire area of eastern Toronto including greater Toronto” and further that “its appearance in other parts of the Province is to be expected, and it will no doubt occur in isolated populations similar in pattern, but on a larger scale, to what has been witnessed in Toronto during the past fourteen years.”

Rotational water movements in western Lake Erie

SummaryPrevious studies of the currents in western Lake Erie have been based on one method of investigation, drift bottles or drift cards. The studies revealed a gyral around Pelee Island. However, later evidence indicated that a much larger area was involved. The hypothesis of a net rotary movement of water in the western basin was confirmed. The force which is believed to produce the rotation is the primary longitudinal seiche which becomes a derived wave in the western basin. The island region acts as a spill-way for the overflowing seiche. The present study employed five different simple techniques to establish the pattern of water movements. 1. Lake level records at three strategic locations in western Lake Erie showed a rise and fall of water level, progressing in a clockwise direction around the basin.2. Wind generated surface currents move to the northeast under the prevailing southwest winds. This was shown by the movement of drift cards. The prevailing southwest winds contribute to the rotation of water in the western basin.3. Isotherms are distorted by the seiche action and the distortion showed a definite movement of water westward through the South Channels, and a northward movement through the island region. Net outflow occurred only through the Pelee Passage.4. Light transmission data, used as a measure of turbidity, showed the deflection of turbid water toward the north and an ingress of clear water from the east. Extremely turbid water was shown to enter the western basin from the Maumee River. The pattern of turbidity in western Lake Erie corresponds closely to the current pattern indicated by the distortion of isotherms.5. The net flow of water into and out of the western basin has been determined using direct current measurements. The net inflow through the South Channels was 57,600 cfs. The inflow plus the average river discharge into the western basin of 184,000 cfs was moved out of the western basin through the Pelee Passage. The net outflow through the Pelee Passage was 209,300 cfs.

Photosynthesis and Growth Rates of Two Diatom Communities in Western Lake Erie

During 1949 a year-round study weas made of the photosynthetic activity exhibited by phytoplankton communities inhabiting the waters of the western Lake Erie island region. One conclusion from that study (Verduin 1951b) was that the different species which have become adapted to a particular aquatic habitat show remarkable similarity in photosynthetic rates. In the spring months of 1950 an Asterionella-Cyclotella community was observed in the. waters around Pelee Island and at the same time a Stephanodiscus community was found about 20 mi. east of Pelee Island. The presence of these distinctly different communities afforded. an excellent opportunity to study them simultaneously, using samples collected from each community on the same dates. Their photosynthetic rates, growth rates, and related characteristics are described and discussed below.

Nesting of the ring-necked pheasant on Pelee Island, Ontario

Nesting of the ring-necked pheasant on Pelee Island, Ontario

Notes on the food and reproduction of the Pelee Island water snake, Natrix sipedon insularum Conant and Clay

Notes on the food and reproduction of the Pelee Island water snake, Natrix sipedon insularum Conant and Clay