<Emphasis Type="Italic">Codium fragile</Emphasis>: rhizomatous growth in the<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Zostera</Emphasis> thief of eastern Canada

A rhizomatous growth form of Codium fragile is described for the first time. Plants were collected in the Gulf of St. Lawrence in estuaries dominated by Zostera marina. Rhizomatous plants developed from propagules of whole plants that settled horizontally. Horizontal axes of C. fragile were up to 1 m long in plants collected in situ. Plants developed several to dozens of erect axes at right angle to the base. Horizontal growth of up to 0.2 m was found in field experiments where fragments were tied to plastic mesh and left in situ for 4 months. The unconsolidated filaments at the base of C. fragile often wrapped around the rhizomes of Z. marina and up to five separate attachment sites to eelgrass were found in single plants of C. fragile. In four estuaries, 57–100% of Codium plants with identifiable substratum were attached to shoots and rhizomes of Z. marina. The rhizomatous growth form was found in plants identified as C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides (Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island) and C. fragile ssp. atlanticum (Prince Edward Island), suggesting that this is a phenotypic response to growth in soft bottom environments.Communicated by K Lüning     

First detection of Nosema ceranae, a microsporidian parasite of European honey bees (Apis mellifera), in Canada and central USA

Nosema ceranae is an emerging microsporidian parasite of European honey bees, Apis mellifera, but its distribution is not well known. Six Nosema-positive samples (determined from light microscopy of spores) of adult worker bees from Canada (two each from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island) and two from USA (Minnesota) were tested to determine Nosema species using previously-developed PCR primers of the 16S rRNA gene. We detected for the first time N. ceranae in Canada and central USA. One haplotype of N. ceranae was identified; its virulence may differ from that of other haplotypes.     

Irish moss—from an art to an industry

This red alga, harvested commercially along the shores of Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New England, is today processed by five American companies into an extractive that finds a major market as a stabilizer in dairy products and enters also into the manufacture of a variety of other products ranging from beer to toothpaste.     

New Coleoptera records from New Brunswick, Canada: Anthribidae, Brentidae, Dryophthoridae, Brachyceridae, and Curculionidae, with additions to the fauna of Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island

We report 63 species of Curculionoidea that are new to New Brunswick (three species of Anthribidae, four species of Brentidae, three species of Dryophthoridae, three species of Brachyceridae, 50 species of Curculionidae). Among these are 27 species (two Anthribidae, two Brenthidae, one Brachyceridae, 22 Curculionidae) that are also newly recorded for the Maritime provinces, and one species, Plesiobaris disjuncta Casey (Curculionidae) that is newly recorded for Canada from New Brunswick and Quebec. Bagous planatus LeConte is reinstated to the faunal list of New Brunswick. Two species of Curculionidae are newly recorded from Nova Scotia and the Maritime provinces, and two others are reported for the first time for Prince Edward Island.     

OCCURRENCE OF CODIUM FRAGILE SUBSP. TOMENTOSOIDES (CHLOROPHYTA: BRYOPSIDALES) IN MARINE EMBAYMENTS OF SOUTHEASTERN AUSTRALIA

Codium fragile (Sur.) Hariot subsp. tomentosoides (van Goor) Silva, a widespread weedy species, is reported from Australia for the first time. Specimens were initially found in June 1996 in Corner Inlet, Victoria, where the species fouled fishing nets. This invasive chlorophycean alga was subsequently found in large numbers on 30 January 1997 in Port Phillip Bay and on 9 March 1998 in Western Port, Victoria. Presumably the species is native to Japan. The alga formed dense stands on rocky substrata in intertidal or in subtidal regions. In Port Phillip Bay, the species was also found attached to the common blue mussel Mytilus edulis planulatus Lamarck, and in Western Port it was found attached to the mud oyster Ostrea angasi Sowerby. Results of this study suggest that recruitment of juvenile germlings and growth of C. fragile subsp. tomentosoides differs between populations in Port Phillip Bay and those in Western Port.     

SEXUAL REPRODUCTIO IN CODIUM FRAGILE SSP. TOMENTOSOIDES (CHLOROPHYCEAE) FROM THE NORTHEAST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA1

Male and female gametes were formed within the same gametangiurn on reproductive plants of Codium fragile (Sur.) Hariot ssp. tomentosoides (Van Goor) Silva growing off Appledore Island in the Gulf of Maine, USA. The female gametes were approximately twice the diameter of male gametes and outnumbered male gametes in the same gametangium by approximately six times. Fusion appears to require gametes from different gametangia if not different plants.     

Potential distribution and relative abundance of swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii, an invasive pest in Canada

The swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), is a pest of most cultivated Brassicaceae such as broccoli, canola, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. The species primarily has a Palaearctic distribution and occurs throughout Europe and southwestern Asia to the Caucasus. Between 1996 and 1999, producers of cruciferous vegetables in Ontario, Canada, reported crop damage that was consistent with damage symptoms characteristic of C. nasturtii feeding and in 2000, field studies confirmed that this damage was caused by C. nasturtii . A bioclimatic model was developed to predict potential range and relative abundance of C. nasturtii in Canada in order to determine the impact of the establishment and spread of C. nasturtii populations. Model output indicated that C. nasturtii could potentially become established in all provinces of Canada, with the risk being greatest in southwestern British Columbia, southern Ontario and Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Results indicated that C. nasturtii population growth in the Prairie Ecozone of western Canada would be greatest in years with above average precipitation.     

Molecular Characterization of Divergent Strawberry Mild Yellow Edge Virus Isolates from Eastern Canada

The complete genome sequences of four new isolates of strawberry mild yellow edge virus (SMYEV) were determined and analysed. The isolates, designated as AB41‐01, AB41‐02, NB1165 and NS26, were found from strawberry fields showing strawberry decline symptoms in eastern Canada. AB41‐01 and AB41‐02 were from a single‐plant sample originating from Prince Edward Island, while NB1165 came from New Brunswick and NS26 from Nova Scotia. Nucleotide sequence identities are 95.8% between AB41‐01 and NB1165, 99.6% between AB41‐02 and NS26, and 84% between AB41‐01/NB1165 and AB41‐02/NS26. The four isolates share nucleotide sequence identities of 83.5–89.9% to two previously identified SMYEV isolates, namely MY18 and D7. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the four Canadian isolates represented two new SMYEV strain types and the strain divergences were not likely from recombination events among all presently known SMYEV isolates.     

Q Fever in Canada

A Canada-wide survey of Q fever was begun in 1958 in co-operation with public health and veterinary laboratories to determine the presence and prevalence of the disease so that medical practitioners might be alerted to the potential dangers existing. Serologic evidence obtained indicated that the Q fever rickettsia now exists in cattle in all provinces of Canada except New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Isolations of the rickettsia were obtained from bovine milk samples from Ontario and Quebec. The data suggest that the etiologic agent was not present in the western provinces during the early 1950''s but since having been introduced into that area it has established itself successfully, particularly in Alberta. The ease with which the disease in man may be missed is illustrated by a previously unreported case which occurred in 1960 in the Eastern Townships of Quebec.     

Deformed wing virus in western honey bees (Apis mellifera) from Atlantic Canada and the first description of an overtly-infected emerging queen

Deformed wing virus (DWV) in western honey bees (Apis mellifera) often remains asymptomatic in workers and drones, and symptoms have never been described from queens. However, intense infections linked to parasitism by the mite Varroa destructor can cause worker wing deformity and death within 67 h of emergence. Ten workers (eight with deformed wings and two with normal wings) and three drones (two with deformed wings and one with normal wings) from two colonies infected with V. destructor from Nova Scotia, Canada, and two newly-emerged queens (one with deformed wings and one with normal wings) from two colonies infected with V. destructor from Prince Edward Island, Canada, were genetically analyzed for DWV. We detected DWV in all workers and drones, regardless of wing morphology, but only in the deformed-winged queen. This is the first report of DWV from Atlantic Canada and the first detection of a symptomatic queen with DWV from anywhere.     

96 Recognizing cryptic species: investigations into the molecular relatedness and morphological diversity of the species of the red algal genus plocamium (plocamiales, florideophyceae)

Specimens of Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot ssp. tomentosoides were collected from 9 sites in New England, and Long Island, New York at intervals throughout the years 1999-2003. Segments were removed from the thalli and chopped into fine fragments, mostly individual utricles and medullary filaments. Fragments were incubated in enriched seawater in dim light at 15C, 12:12 LD. Within 2–3 days, in almost all cases (more than 300) motile cells formed in many of the utricles and filaments. These were 10–15 micrometer elongated biflagellate heterokont cells. They appeared to consume the chloroplasts, and within 24 hours were reduced to colorless cells, about 5 micrometers long. These cells are unable to grow in Codium chloroplast suspensions. They appear to be always associated with Codium thalli, despite attempts to clean the thalli, and were never seen in utricles or filaments of intact plants. Their ultrastructure is under investigation and will be reported on here.     

Habitat use and home range size of red foxes in Prince Edward Island (Canada) based on snow-tracking and radio-telemetry data

There is a lack of information regarding the ecology and behaviour of red foxes that can be used to elaborate effective management programs for this species on Prince Edward Island (Canada). The main goal of this study was to provide baseline information on habitat selection and home range size of red foxes on Prince Edward Island. Data were collected from snow-tracking and radio-telemetry sessions conducted in two study sites (including one site within Prince Edward Island National Park). Our results indicated that red foxes selected for roads and human-use areas during both the breeding and the kit-rearing seasons in the park. Outside the park, however, the data failed to conclusively show that foxes have a unique preference for human-use habitats or roads. Forests were selected against in both study sites. Although roads are frequently visited by foxes during the kit-rearing season in the park, each individual fox typically stays in this habitat only for short periods of time (< 15 min). This finding suggests that foraging efficiency along the roads is very high possibly reflecting the abundance of anthropogenic food sources. Overall, we present the largest amount of data on habitat selection ever collected for red foxes in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Our results show that food sources in human-use areas and roads are altering the selection and/or use of habitats of red foxes in some areas of Prince Edward Island.     

Growth of a dissociated, filamentous stage of Codium species in laboratory culture

Unialgal cultures were established from isolated utricles for all five Codium species occurring in the British Isles and growth studies performed under different conditions of temperature (10-30 °C), photon irradiance (0-175 μmol m-2 s-1) and salinity (0-100% seawater growth medium). The species studied were C. fragile ssp. tomentosoides, C. fragile ssp. atlanticum, C. adhaerens, C. bursa, C. tomentosum and C. vermilara. All cultures developed into growth forms comprised of branched, dissociated, coenocytic filaments. All grew rapidly in culture, although the conditions for optimum growth sometimes differed for the individual entities. The development of typical Codium plants, with utricles, similar to the parental material, occurred only occasionally. The rapid growth of the dissociated, filamentous forms in laboratory culture led to the provision of sufficient quantities of plant material to enable detailed studies to be made of the lectins present in several of the species. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Climate change and the short-term impact of feral house mice at the sub-Antarctic Prince Edward Islands

At the Prince Edward Islands, temperatures have increased by approximately 1°C over the past 40 years, accompanied by a decline in precipitation. This has led to a reduction in the peat moisture content of mires and higher growing season warmth. The temperature-and moisture-sensitive sedge, Uncinia compacta R. Br. (Cyperaceae), has consequently increased its aerial cover on Prince Edward Island, but harvesting of seeds by feral house mice (up to 100% removed) has prevented this from happening on Marion Island. Such extensive use of resources suggests that prey switching may be taking place at Marion Island. Scat analyses revealed that mice are·not only eating ectemnorhinine weevils to a greater extent than found in previous studies of populations at Marion Island, but that they also prefer larger weevils (±6 mm). A decrease in body size of preferred weevil prey species [Bothrometopus randi Jeannel and Ectemnorhinus similis C.O. Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)] has taken place on Marion Island (1986–1992), but not on Prince Edward Island. This appears to be a result of increased predation on weevils. In addition, adults of the prey species, E. similis are relatively more abundant on Prince Edward Island than adults of the smaller congener E. marioni Jeannel, and could not be found on Marion Island in the late austral summer of 1991. These results not only provide support for previous hypotheses of the effect of global warming on mouse-plant-invertebrate interactions on the Prince Edward Islands, but also provide limited evidence for the first recorded case of predator-mediated speciation. They also show that the interaction of human-induced changes operating at different scales may have profound consequences for local systems.     

Mutant allele frequencies among domestic cats in some eastern areas of Canada: regional homogeneity of factors in Canadian Atlantic Provinces and the French colony of Saint Pierre.

Surveys to determine mutant allele frequencies in domestic cats of the Canadian Atlantic Provinces (Halifax, Nova Scotia; Fredericton, New Brunswick; Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; St. John's Newfoundland) and the French colony of Saint Pierre, Saint Pierre et Miquelon, reveal a general regional homogeneity for most factors. Despite diverse historical patterns of settlement, a strong common component of origin is indicated. This is tentatively identified as late 18th and early 19th century British. One mutant, polydactyly, which is of New England origin appears to have been distributed largely by loyalist refugees from New England at the time of the American Rebellion. No elements of a specific Acadian (French) character have yet been identified. Siamese cats have been "introduced" to the region in recent years and are now so abundant that they will undoubtedly cause a significant change in some mutant allele frequencies over the next few decades. Interregional exchanges of cats no doubt are contributing to homogenizing the populations of the area, but the practice of sterilization of pets offsets this to some degree.     

Migratory movements and wintering areas of Leach's Storm‐Petrels tracked using geolocators

Accumulating evidence suggests that Atlantic populations of Leach's Storm‐Petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) are experiencing significant declines. To better understand possible causes of these declines, we used geolocators to document movements of these small (～50‐g) pelagic seabirds during migration and the non‐breeding period. During 2012 and 2013, movement tracks were obtained from two birds that traveled in a clock‐wise direction from two breeding colonies in eastern Canada (Bon Portage Island, Nova Scotia, and Gull Island, Newfoundland) to winter in tropical waters. The bird from Bon Portage Island started its migration towards Cape Verde in October, arrived at its wintering area off the coast of eastern Brazil in January, and started migration back to Nova Scotia in April. The bird from Gull Island staged off Newfoundland in November and then again off Cape Verde in January before its geolocator stopped working. Movements of Leach's Storm‐Petrels in our study and those of several other procellariiforms during the non‐breeding period are likely facilitated by the prevailing easterly trade winds and the Antilles and Gulf Stream currents. Although staging and wintering areas used by Leach's Storm‐Petrels in our study were characterized by low productivity, the West Africa and northeastern Brazilian waters are actively used by fisheries and discards can attract Leach's Storm‐Petrels. Our results provide an initial step towards understanding movements of Leach's Storm‐Petrels during the non‐breeding period, but further tracking is required to confirm generality of their migratory routes, staging areas, and wintering ranges.     

Multispecies resource management of economically important marine plant communites of eastern Canada

The annual 45,000 t harvest of six marine plant taxa, consisting principally of the algaChondrus crispus, is worth $ 5 million annually to maritime fishermen. The harvesting techniques enable capture of associated biota and alter the abiotic structure of the habitat. Methods developed to assess ecological impact include permanent transects which are sampled for vegetation composition and dry biomass.C. crispus represents 80% of the plant biomass in commercial beds; 27 other genera comprise the remainder. Thirty-five associated invertebrate species include only one of direct economic importance, the lobster,Homarus americanus. On commercialChondrus beds off western Prince Edward Island, lobsters were captured in basket dragrakes up to 5.4 h⁻¹ during 1975 and 1976. Of the total lobster catch, the percentage injured byChondrus dragrakes was 2.7% in 1975 and 1.3% in 1976.Chondrus dragrakes, as used in southwestern Nova Scotia, disrupt the drumlin substrate. Controlled dragraking for 2-h periods disrupted 0.25% to 1.5% of the bottom area. One month of normal harvest activity displaced 0.5% to 2.9% of the bottom of surveyed sites. A harvest of 1000 t ofLaminaria spp. is projected for 1979. Dragrakes harvest entire plants averaging 5.0 ± 2.3 m in length. The residual population averaged 2.3 ± 1.9 m. Indirect effects of kelp harvesting on the benthic community are the subject of ongoing research.     

FULMAR DISTRIBUTION: A CANADIAN PERSPECTIVE

The pelagic distribution of the Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis off eastern Canada has been used to test Fisher's (1952, 1966) hypothesis that Fulmar numbers are controlled by the availability of offal from the fishing industry. Fulmars are abundant on the fishing Banks off Newfoundland but not on those off Nova Scotia; by contrast, they are fairly common in the unfished waters south of Greenland. The Newfoundland and Greenland waters are colder than those off Nova Scotia, and it seems likely that temperature and other oceanographic factors, not fish offal, control Fulmar distribution in the western Atlantic. Since the ringing returns show that many of these Canadian birds are from British colonies, it is possible that fish offal may not be the key factor in the eastern Atlantic either.
Since there are no reliable quantitative data on the Fulmar's diet, it is difficult to suggest a specific alternative. However, the Fulmar is, over much of its range, a cold-water species; it may eventually be possible to interpret Fulmar distribution in oceanographic terms, the key factor being its macroplanktonic food. However, the Fulmar population in the warmer waters of the eastern Atlantic remains an anomaly; it is not yet possible to explain the differences in ecology between the eastern and western Atlantic birds, either in oceanographic terms, or by the availability of fish offal.     

Regional differences in foraging behaviour of invasive green crab (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Carcinus maenas</Emphasis>) populations in Atlantic Canada

Invasive green crab populations initially established in Canada within the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick in the 1950s and were present in all five Atlantic provinces by 2007. Genetic evidence suggests that the Atlantic Canadian populations originated from two separate introductions with differences in time of establishment among regions and possible population-level behavioural differences. In this study, we examine intraspecific foraging behaviour among crabs from different populations, and interspecific foraging behaviour between genetically similar crabs and juvenile lobsters. Both sets of foraging experiments involved competition for a limited food source over a 1-h period. In intraspecific match-ups, recent invaders from Newfoundland (NL) were significantly superior foragers than long-established invaders from Nova Scotia (NS) and New Brunswick (NB) populations; however, we found no differences between NL and Prince Edward Island (PE) invaders. Crabs from PE were better competitors than those from NS and NB, but these differences were not significant. Interspecific competition experiments indicated that the feeding behaviour of recent invaders (NL) and genetically similar, but long-established invaders (NS), differed in the presence of juvenile lobsters. Our study documents striking behavioural differences among populations of green crab from a small geographic region, which may reflect a combination of both genetic differences and time since establishment. These differences may result in varying impacts on newly invaded habitats.     

Effects of boron and limestone on cereal yields and on B and N concentration of plant tissue

Summary Rates of added B up to 1.8 kg/ha had no effect on grain yield, but at rates of 2.24 kg/ha and higher it decreased yield of both barley and wheat. Lime-stone applications up to 4000 kg/ha did not induce B deficiency at low levels of B or alleviate B toxicity at high B levels in the two crops. Liming increased barley yields where soil pH was less than 5.8 but gave no yield response when soil pH exceeded 5.8. In general, liming did not decrease the B concentration of boot stage tissue (b.s.t.) except in barley at 1.8 kg B/ha on Location 1, where liming to pH 6.3 and 6.6 decreased B in b.s.t. from 16.4 to 12.2 and 11.4 ppm. The applications of B generally increased the N concentration of wheat grain where yields decreased due to B toxicity. Contribution no. 360, Research Branch, Research Station, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, C1A 7M8. Contribution no. 360, Research Branch, Research Station, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada, C1A 7M8.