Stoneflies (Insecta; Plecoptera) in small upland streams in the Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia:

Diversity and responses to forest harvest practises

Jeffrey B. Ogden, MSc candidateMount Allison University

Project Objectives

1. Baseline information:

Boreal highland stonefly biodiversity.

2. Relate to forest practice & stream characteristics.

Hypothes

• Expect new species records for Nova Scotia.

• Stream systems most recently affected by forestry will have the lowest diversity of stonefly species.

Cape Breton highlands

Cape Breton highlands

• upland boreal forest region

• climax balsam fir forest

• harsh climate

Forestry and the highlands

• Pre 1900s

• 1920s - pulp and paper• 1970s – spruce

budworm infestation

• Present activity

Previous studies in highlands

• Limited …due to accessibility

• Primarily in lower elevations

• 1st aquatic study in boreal region

Physical Habitat Characterization

Stonefly sampling

• Sampling was conducted along a 15-20 m study reach

• Emergence traps

• Benthic sampling

• Spring, summer

and fall

Stonefly sampling

• Sampling was conducted along a 15-20 m study reach

• Emergence traps

• Benthic sampling

• Spring, summer

and fall

Stonefly sampling

• Sampling was conducted along a 15-20 m study reach

• Emergence traps

• Benthic sampling

• Light traps

• Foliage sweeps

Statistical analysis

• Only the benthic data used for analysis of forestry patterns

• ANOVA after transforming as necessary

• Exploratory multivariate statistics

- cluster analysis and PCA

• No pattern with measured variables

Results

• Physical characteristics of the streams

Results

• Stonefly diversity:

3300 stoneflies collected

2750 nymphs and 550 adults

31 stonefly species from eight families

8 new records for NS

Stonefly diversity in the boreal streams

• Low stonefly diversity is natural in small cold-water springs

• Shredder dominated

Winter stoneflies

Conclusions

• Impact of forestry activities on stoneflies?

• No significant differences

• Stonefly abundance

• Buffers

Conclusions

•Stonefly diversity naturally low

•Forestry impact “buffered”

•More fun work to be done

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

• Mount Allison University

• University of Prince Edward Island

• NSERC /NSDNR

• Stora Enso/NewPage

• My supervisors and committee members Dr. Ron Aiken (MTA), Dr. Dave McCorquodale (CBU), and Barry Taylor (StFX) my external examiner

QUESTIONS??

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Linkage D istance

Leuctra

Amphinemura

A llocapnia

Sweltsa

Isoperla

Taeniopteryx

Pteronarcys

Agentina

Paragnetina

M alirekus

Isogenoides

Z apada

Nemoura

50 100 150 200 250 300 350

Linkage D istance

R3

L2

M 1

L1

L3

M 3

M 4

M 2

L3

R2

R4

R1