including cycling nutrients, pollinating plants, acting as a food source for other taxa, and many
more. However, regarding non-environmental applications, insects play important roles in
forensic entomology. Although well-studied in urban regions, there is a lack of biodiversity
information on blowfly species in rural habitats. Therefore, this study aimed to determine
blowfly species composition in Haliburton, Ontario. Four bottle traps were set up across three
different types of forests in Glebe Park between July 1st to September 2nd, 2022. In the family
Calliphoridae, we report 11 species: Lucilia illustris, Phormia regina, Calliphora livida, Lucilia
silvarum, Lucilia coeruleiviridis, Calliphora vicina, Lucilia sericata, Calliphora vomitoria,
Cynomya cadaverina, Calliphora terraenovae, and Protophormia terraenovae. We examined if
several environmental variables affected species abundance and composition. We found
accumulated degree days above 0°C, numeric date, total precipitation (14 days), and humidity
affect species abundance. However, none of the variables examined (forest type, elevation, and
distance from the water) seemed to affect species composition. Our results align with previous
research in which accumulated degree days affected Calliphoridae abundance. The results of this
study can help answer questions in forensic entomology, such as calculating post-mortem
intervals, stages of decomposition, and determining if a body has been moved from its original
location.]]> Leblond, Emily Lemon, Megan MacPherson, Emilia Violin, & Taylor Howe
]]> difficulties related to the use of building plasters with natural bases. Plasters made of clay, lime,
gypsum, and natural fibres are only a few examples of natural-based materials that are contrasted
with synthetic counterparts. The review examines the thermal resistance, mould resistance, VOC
retention, physical strength, and characteristics of various plasters while also examining the
importance of indoor air quality and any potential health advantages of utilising construction
materials with natural bases. The study also outlines the difficulties and impediments to the use
of building plasters with natural bases, such as financial viability, building norms and
regulations, and the requirement for case studies of successful implementation.To encourage the
broad use of building plasters made from natural materials, this literature study concludes with
recommendations for industry experts and politicians.]]> Since 2020, U-Links has partnered with Upper Stoney Lake Association (USLA), Trent University, and Fleming College to monitor and report on the lake’s benthic macroinvertebrate populations. This study is currently in year three of a proposed total of five years, after which a baseline knowledge will be reached regarding the lake’s macroinvertebrate species richness and diversity. Research spanning five years is considered long-term, and the data in such studies has a high level of validity. Macroinvertebrates serve as excellent bioindicators of overall littoral ecosystem health. With five years' worth of macroinvertebrate data, trends may be recognized and recommendations for the future can be made.
Several areas of concern make Stoney Lake a good candidate for continued research. According to E. Paleczny (personal communication, December 5, 2022), the stressors to aquatic ecosystem integrity of Stoney Lake include climate change, invasive species (e.g., Nitellopsis obtusa (starry stonewort (SSW))), decline in water quality (e.g., nutrient input, blue-green algal blooms, chemical contaminants), water level fluctuation, and development pressures (e.g., marina's, golf courses, proposed condo and tiny home developments, shoreline development, watershed scale impacts from forestry, mining and agriculture). E. Paleczny (personal communication, December 5, 2022) further stated that the synergistic effects of these stressors are resulting in rapid decline in healthy populations of aquatic species (e.g., walleye), increases in the number of species at risk (e.g., wood turtle), and increased eutrophication leading to increased occurrence and abundance of algal blooms. There are also many unseen effects including increased toxic effects on aquatic life.
Excess algae growth may be fueled by phosphorus and nutrient runoff from the golf course and cottage lawns. If algae growth increases dramatically, lake eutrophication may occur, which would have detrimental effects on animal populations. Algae blooms increase the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) level by encouraging the growth of specific bacteria (Encyclopedia.com, 2019). A greater BOD rapidly reduces oxygen levels, which can cause fish and other aquatic animals to lose their oxygen supply.
In 2022, there were no observable impacts or changes in macroinvertebrate species presence at a lake scale, however, this study does not address localized impacts from stressors or other shifts or changes in aquatic ecosystem function. It also does not address any changes to baseline conditions prior to 2020. Increasing sampling sites where there are concerns about localized stressors such as development impacts would help to assess if there are localized impacts to macroinvertebrate populations.
]]> an important role in the physical decomposition of organic matter and thus can play an important
role in forensic investigations. We conducted a survey of Silphidae in Glebe Park, Haliburton,
from June 2022 to September 2022. The area of Glebe Park is located Ontario Shield ecozone
and Georgian Bay ecoregion and is located in a mixed forest habitat. We set four bottle traps in
Glebe Park in an effort to update the known distributions of Silphids, determine environmental
factors and their effects on abundance, and if any present species have implications for species at
risk in the Haliburton region of Ontario. A total of 1,308 Silphidae beetles were collected and
consisted of five species: Nicrophorus tomentosus, Nicrophorus pustulatus, Nicrophorus sayi,
Nicrophorus defodiens, and Oiceoptoma noveboracense. Nicrophorus tomentosus was the most
abundant species found consisting of 991 specimens in total. Nicrophorus pustulatus, N. sayi, N.
defodiens, and O. noveboracense were found in totals of 131, 116, 64 and 6 respectively. Out of
the environmental factors that were analyzed, it appears that mean wind speed and mean dew
point are the greatest factors in Silphidae abundance. When wind speed is higher, there is a
decrease in the abundance of Silphidae, but when there is an increase in dew point, there is also
an increase of Silphidae.]]>
The Haliburton County Gardeners initiated a project to assess and catalogue the presence of insects and flora, in order to further understand the biodiversity present along the Riverwalk but also to look at the range of pollinators that were aiding in pollination, as well as other insect and plant interaction that were occurring along the Riverwalk. This information would be compiled for a self-guided audio tour, which would be made public online for the town and any visitors curious about the ecology of the Riverwalk.]]> ]]> approximately 62 acres of wetland. It was donated to HHLT in 2012 by Dennis Barry.
The property is located at the southern end of South Lake, in the Township of Minden
Hills, Haliburton. The area is located at the headwaters of the provincially significant
wetland, the Kendrick Creek Wetland Complex, which feeds into the Irondale and Burnt
Rivers. In 2021, in cooperation with Glenside Ecological Services LTD this wetland
reserve was designated within a large wildlife corridor, The Highlands Corridor, and was
recognized to have features that are resilient to the effects of climate change. The
wetland reserve’s land was donated in 2012 by Dennis Barry through the Government
of Canada’s Ecological gifts program (HHLT, 2023). Unfortunately, due to the relative
sensitivity of the wetland and the mixed terrain that can pose safety risks to humans, it
is not available to the public]]> Association. We completed a benthic macroinvertebrate assessment of the lake
following Ontario Benthic Biomonitoring Network (OBBN) protocol using samples
collected in the fall of 2022. The goal of this assessment is to contribute to a 5-year
study establishing the baseline conditions of Bob Lake and the benthic invertebrate
communities that inhabit it. Only one year has been completed prior to the submission
of this report, which accounts for the second year. The results of this research will
contribute to lake monitoring data and advise the Bob Lake Association on future lake
management decisions. Using the random teaspoon sampling method, we identified
100 invertebrates from each replicate of the three sites sampled. We then evaluated the
results of each site using several indices of species diversity and richness. Our
evaluation shows that the lake conditions are within a normal range for the Haliburton
area, but the remaining three years of this study must be completed to effectively
confirm these results.]]> ]]> ]]> ]]> Ontario: A Baseline Study Utilizing
Benthic Macroinvertebrates]]>