Wildlife Conservation Society Canada

Bats play a crucial role in the ecosystem. However, North American bat populations have experienced a dramatic decline since 2006 due to white-nose syndrome, a disease caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd). This fungus can invade and damage the skin on bat wings and muzzles during hibernation. Since 2021, Pd has been reported at selected sites in western Canada, the region with the highest bat diversity in Canada, eliciting urgent calls for action among diverse stakeholders. Here we analyze nine metagenomes of bat guanos and wing swabs and the genomes of five Pd strains from western Canada to investigate the distribution and diversity of Pd in this region. Pd was found in all nine metagenomic samples and the metagenome sequences enabled us to identify the associated bat species. Divergence time estimates of Pd based on whole-genome sequences suggest that Pd likely entered Alberta two to five years before its first official report. Furthermore, we found evidence of abundant gene copy number variations in this species. Together, our metagenomic and genomic analyses indicate that Pd is more prevalent than currently recognized and is evolving and diversifying. Continued surveillance with more comprehensive methods is needed to accurately track its spread and facilitate timely management of white-nose syndrome in North America.

Abstract Stemming biodiversity loss requires greater investment in conservation and more efficient use of available resources. Prioritizing conservation actions that yield the most biodiversity benefit for the least cost can help maximize return on investment. Actions that have co‐benefits for other objectives, such as climate change mitigation, can also help mobilize additional funds for conservation. We used Priority Threat Management to identify actions to secure the greatest number of species groups of conservation concern for the least cost in the Lake Simcoe‐Rideau ecoregion, Ontario—one of Canada's biodiversity crisis ecoregions. We also estimated the carbon sequestration benefits of actions related to land protection and restoration. We found that without additional investment in conservation, 13 of 16 species groups were expected to have <50% probability of persistence in this ecoregion by 2050. Implementing all proposed strategies would yield the greatest biodiversity benefits and secure 12 of the 16 species groups with ≥60% probability of persistence, at a cost of CA$113 million per year over 27 years. In comparison, investing CA$97 million per year in landowner stewardship, habitat protection and restoration and regeneration strategies could secure 10 species groups and improve the probability of persistence of one additional group from 39% to 55%. The habitat protection and restoration strategies also deliver direct carbon benefits of around 11.2 Mt in total avoided CO 2 emissions and 137.6 Mt CO 2 in total potential sequestration, respectively, over the long‐term, thus supporting alignment with climate change mitigation targets and delivering co‐benefits that may further justify investment. Practical implication. By estimating the costs and demonstrating the expected benefits and potential carbon co‐benefits of conservation actions, Priority Threat Management can help maximize return on investment and identify actions that address multiple environmental crises.

Abstract With rates of biodiversity loss accelerating globally, debate exists regarding the most efficient ways of allocating resources to conserve species. Woodland caribou ( Rangifer tarandus caribou , hereafter “caribou”) are the focus of many Canadian conservation strategies. Here we examine the extent caribou‐focused conservation can benefit wolverine ( Gulo gulo ), a Species at Risk that overlaps with caribou in distribution and ecological aspects. We conducted a systematic review of Canadian conservation documentation (51 caribou, 14 wolverine documents) and North American scientific literature (550 caribou, 167 wolverine papers) to quantify for wolverine and caribou: (i) variation in conservation documentation availability and age, (ii) overlap in commonly listed threats and recovery actions, and (iii) the extent threats have been researched across Canada. While we found differences in conservation and research focus, both key threats (including habitat loss, hunting and trapping, sensory disturbance, and linear features) and recovery actions (including management of important habitat, partnerships, and population monitoring) were listed in >50% of conservation documentation for both wolverine and caribou. We identify caribou‐focused conservation actions that may support wolverine, and where gaps and uncertainties in wolverine management remain. Actions that effectively protect caribou critical habitat implicitly manage multiple threats relevant to wolverine.

ABSTRACTAs essential pollinators to native plant species, Bombus (Latreille) are integral components of terrestrial ecosystems. Canada is home to approximately 41 native bumblebee species, 24.4% of which are threatened with extinction globally. In cases of extreme population decline, ex situ conservation, including conservation breeding and reintroduction, has been recommended and is being implemented to assist in species recovery. To date, Bombus breeding efforts have low mating success. Adapting assisted reproduction techniques from apiculture could increase mating success in captive breeding programmes and support controlled breeding to enhance genetic diversity. To this end, we investigated a new dissection technique for male Bombus species, in which reproductive organs are removed from the abdomen through the cloaca. We found that the pull dissection methodology was more effective at reliable sample collection than dissections performed via the classic methodology (probability of finding sperm in accessory ducts for the classic method = 2.5%, [CI = 0.23%, 14%]; probability of finding sperm in accessory ducts for the pull method = 58%, [CI = 43%, 73%]). By circumventing the need to manipulate the digestive system, this method simplifies the dissection process, increasing the chances of success for novices.

Many species of fish produce sounds that can be used to monitor them non-intrusively and could complement traditional monitoring techniques. However, the manual annotation of fish sounds in acoustic recordings remains time-intensive, limiting the use of passive acoustics as a viable monitoring tool. This study compares two automated approaches for detecting fish sounds: Random Forest (RF) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). Both algorithms were trained on 21,950 manually labeled fish and non-fish sounds recorded between 2014 and 2019 in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada. Performance calculated on data from the Strait of Georgia, Barkley Sound, and the Port of Miami showed that the CNN performed up to 1.9 times better than the RF (F-score: 0.82 versus 0.43) and was in some cases able to find more faint fish sounds than the analyst. Noise analysis in the 20–1000 Hz frequency band shows that the CNN is still reliable in noise levels greater than 130 dB re 1 μPa in the Port of Miami but becomes less reliable in Barkley Sound past 100 dB re 1 μPa due to mooring noise. We show that the proposed approach can make passive acoustics viable for monitoring fish in a variety of environments.

We consider what we and others have learned and the mistakes that we have made in the last 60 years of research on small mammal population dynamics. We consider all mammals <5 kg as small mammals, covering more than 3200 species including among others, mice, voles, lemmings, gerbils, guinea pigs, muskrats, shrews, squirrels, and hares, but not bats, in ecosystems globally. We start by emphasizing the necessity of posing a good question and what that means scientifically on one or more species or populations of small mammals. We consider the study design, the choice of the study area, the methods of population estimation, the necessity of measuring demographic parameters on births, deaths, and movements, the limitations of enclosure experiments, the problems faced by field experiments to test specific hypotheses, and the need to acquire social licence. By being self-critical we hope to encourage a new round of studies of small mammal populations that will avoid pitfalls, illuminate hypotheses not yet tested properly, and forge new directions.

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is a disease of bats caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), affecting bats while they hibernate in winter in conditions conducive to fungal growth.Because the locations of winter bat roosts in western North America are poorly known, our goal was to develop a prophylaxis that could be applied during summer to reduce fungal activity on bats wings in winter and ultimately prevent or reduce the likelihood of disease development.The project originated in 2017 as a collaboration among Thompson Rivers University (

Like many forage fish species, Pacific sand lance (Ammodytes personatus) play a key role in nearshore marine ecosystems as an important prey source for a diverse array of predators in the northeastern Pacific. However, the primary threats to Pacific sand lance and their habitat are poorly defined due to a lack of systematic data. Crucial information needed to assess their population status is also lacking including basic knowledge of their local and regional abundance and distribution. Sand lance are currently listed as ‘not evaluated’ under the IUCN red list and they have not been assessed by US and Canadian agencies. This hampers management and policy efforts focused on their conservation. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a three-part, structured expert elicitation to assess the vulnerability of Salish Sea sand lance populations. Experts were asked to list and rank key threats to Salish Sea sand lance and/or their habitat, to further quantify the vulnerability of sand lance to identified threats using a vulnerability matrix, and to predict the population trajectory in 25 years from today. Impacts associated with climate change (e.g. sea level rise, sea temperature rise, ocean acidification, and extreme weather) consistently ranked high as threats of concern in the ranking exercise and quantified vulnerability scores. Nearly every expert predicted the population will have declined from current levels in 25 years. These results suggest sand lance face numerous threats and may be in decline under current conditions. This research provides vital information about which threats pose the greatest risk to the long-term health of sand lance populations and their habitat. Managers can use this information to prioritize which threats to address. Future research to reliably quantify population size, better understand the roles of natural and anthropogenic impacts, and to identify the most cost-effective actions to mitigate multiple threats, is recommended.

Abstract A growing and increasingly globalised human population, requiring the movement of goods and commodities, is placing increasing demands on the maritime industry, resulting in a concurrent increase in global shipping activities. This has consequences for the marine environment, particularly for species vulnerable to the impacts of vessel traffic. For example, vessel collisions can result in sub‐lethal or fatal injuries for marine mammals, whilst vessel noise can cause acoustic masking that effectively reduces an animal's listening space, potentially impacting their communication, navigation and foraging capacity. While a number of parallel approaches to mapping collision risk to large whales have arisen, these methods vary in their focus, usually on either co‐occurrence, collision probability, or probability of mortality. However, little attention has been given to the implications of methodological choice and data selection on subsequent risk predictions. To assess differences between these approaches, we used a standardised input dataset comprised of telemetry‐point data from tagged bowhead whales, and satellite‐based Automated Identification System (AIS) data of spatial vessel movements covering the Davis‐Baffin Arctic Marine Area. We applied this data to eight different, previously published analyses for deriving areas of vessel risk. We found that the choice of risk mapping approach affected the location, and total area, identified as ‘high risk’, and that more computationally complex approaches did not necessarily equate to different predictions. There was considerable variation in the total area of ‘high risk’ predicted within each map (range = 20–42,246 km2). Synthesis and Applications. The results underscore the importance of methodological transparency, informed data selection and careful interpretation when predicting collision risk. We provide practical recommendations for enhancing transparency when predicting risk, and discuss choice of approach suitable for different situations or management applications. It is critical that managers and policy makers are aware of the implications of applying different approaches when interpreting risk evaluation outputs.

The role of the skin microbiome in resistance and susceptibility of wildlife to fungal pathogens has been examined from a taxonomic perspective but skin microbial function, in the context of fungal infection, has yet to be studied. Our objective was to understand effects of a bat fungal pathogen site infection status and course of invasion on skin microbial function. We sampled seven hibernating colonies of Myotis lucifugus covering three-time points over the course of Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) invasion and white nose syndrome (pre-invasion, epidemic, and established). Our results support three new hypotheses about Pd and skin functional microbiome: (1) there is an important effect of Pd invasion stage, especially at the epidemic stage; (2) disruption by the fungus at the epidemic stage could decrease anti-fungal functions with potential negative effects on the microbiome and bat health; (3) the collection site might have a larger influence on microbiomes at the pre-invasion stage rather than at epidemic and established stages. Future studies with larger sample sizes and using meta-omics approaches will help confirm these hypotheses, and determine the influence of the microbiome on wildlife survival to fungal disease.