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Did you miss our recent 2021 Ontario Biodiversity Session on Restoring Aquatic Biodiversity? Or are you looking to find out more about research mentioned during one of the panels? Don’t worry! We’ve collected all of the session resources for you!
General References |
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Title: Bending the Curve of Global Freshwater Biodiversity Loss: An Emergency Recovery Plan. Bioscience, March 2021 |
Authors: DAVID TICKNER, JEFFREY J. OPPERMAN, ROBIN ABELL, MIKE ACREMAN, ANGELA H. ARTHINGTON, STUART E. BUNN, STEVEN J. COOKE, JAMES DALTON, WILL DARWALL, GAVIN EDWARDS, IAN HARRISON, KATHY HUGHES, TIM JONES, DAVID LECLÈRE, ABIGAIL J. LYNCH, PHILIP LEONARD, MICHAEL E. MCCLAIN, DEAN MURUVEN, JULIAN D. OLDEN, STEVE J. ORMEROD, JAMES ROBINSON, REBECCA E. THARME, MICHELE THIEME, KLEMENT TOCKNER, MARK WRIGHT, AND LUCY YOUNG |
Abstract: Despite their limited spatial extent, freshwater ecosystems host remarkable biodiversity, including one-third of all vertebrate species. This biodiversity is declining dramatically: Globally, wetlands are vanishing three times faster than forests, and freshwater vertebrate populations have fallen more than twice as steeply as terrestrial or marine populations. Threats to freshwater biodiversity are well documented but coordinated action to reverse the decline is lacking. We present an Emergency Recovery Plan to bend the curve of freshwater biodiversity loss. Priority actions include accelerating implementation of environmental flows; improving water quality; protecting and restoring critical habitats; managing the exploitation of freshwater ecosystem resources, especially species and riverine aggregates; preventing and controlling nonnative species invasions; and safeguarding and restoring river connectivity. We recommend adjustments to targets and indicators for the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals and roles for national and international state and nonstate actors. |
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Title: On the alarming state of freshwater biodiversity in Canada. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences. Accepted, June 2021 |
Authors: Jessica E. Desforges, Julia Clarke, Evaline J. Harmsen, Alex M. Jardine, Jessica A. Robichaud, Serina Serré, Prosanta Chakrabarty, Joseph R Bennett, Dalal E. L. Hanna, John P. Smol, Trina Rytwinski, Jessica J. Taylor, André L Martel, Amanda K. Winegardner, Jerome Marty, Mark K. Taylor, Constance M. O’Connor, Stacey A. Robinson, Andrea J. Reid, Irena F. Creed, Irene Gregory-Eaves, Nicolas W.R. Lapointe and Steven J. Cooke |
Abstract: Little is known about the current state of freshwater biodiversity in Canada, one of the countries with the greatest amount of surface waters in the world. To address this knowledge gap, we compiled a list of all available assessments of conservation status for freshwater species (over 3,000 taxa) and further evaluated the overall status of six distinct taxonomic groups, focusing on organisms reliant on freshwaters [i.e., aquatic plants, invertebrates (with a focus on freshwater mussels), fishes, herpetofauna (reptiles and amphibians), birds, and mammals]. Overall, 11.7% of all freshwater species of plants and animals assessed were found to be ‘at risk’ (i.e., listed as ‘Threatened’, ‘Endangered’, or ‘Extirpated’) and 17.9% identified as ‘Special Concern’. We found that 37.9% of species lacked sufficient data to enable their status to be assessed. Data gaps in Canada’s assessment of its freshwater species were most prevalent in invertebrates (excluding freshwater mussels). Given the alarming state of freshwater biodiversity in Canada, we conclude by providing recommendations that focus on evaluating temporal trends and informing conservation actions. |
| Aquatic Habitat Canada | https://aquatichabitat.ca/ | |
Panel 1: Balancing protection, restoration and offsetting |
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https://trca.ca/conservation/restoration/ https://caes-scae.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Session3_Poulton.pdf Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVC). (2020). Ecosystem Offsetting Guidelines. Retrieved from https://cvc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/rpt_CVCEcoOffset_FINAL_20200313.pdf https://www.lsrca.on.ca/Shared%20Documents/Ecological-Offsetting-Plan-2019.pdf DFO. 2021. Proceedings of the Regional Science Peer Review of the Habitat Ecosystem Assessment Tool (HEAT) Software Development and Evaluation; January 27–29, 2016. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceed. Ser. 2020/028. Rubec, C.D.A., Hanson, A.R. Wetland mitigation and compensation: Canadian experience. Wetlands Ecol Manage 17, 3–14 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-008-9078-6 Wetland Conservation Strategy Advisory Panel (WCSAP). (2019). Considerations for the Development of a Wetland Offsetting Policy for Ontario: A report of the Wetland Conservation Strategy Advisory Panel, Submitted to the Honourable Nathalie des Rosiers, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, May 2019. Williams, M. (2020). Habitat restoration and compensation: A science-based approach to establishing and managing wildlife habitats. Ducks Unlimited Canada. Retrieved from https://www.ducks.ca/stories/science/building-nature-habitat-restoration-and-compensation/ |
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Panel 2: Tracking meaningful indicators of aquatic diversity: genetic, species and community |
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Convention on Biological Diversity Proposed Headline Indicators Genetic Indicatorshttp://www.glfc.org/science-transfer-toolkit.php https://gen-fish.ca/uses-and-limitations-of-environmental-dna-edna-in-fisheries-management/ Chris Wilson (2017) Genetic Aspects of Climate Change Influences on Inland Fishes and Fisheries, Fisheries, 42:2, 125-126, DOI: 10.1080/03632415.2017.1259946 To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03632415.2017.1259946 Wilson, Chris and Nicholas Mandrake. 2003. History and evolution of lake trout in Shield lakes: past and future challenges. DOI: 10.1201/9780203495087.ch2. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/266461822 Chris C. Wilson and Nicholas E. Mandrak. 2021. Paleoecology. In A. M. Muir et al. (eds.), The Lake Charr Salvelinus namaycush: Biology, Ecology, Distribution, and Management, Fish & Fisheries Series 39, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-62259-6_3 Wilson, C. and E. Wright. 2013. Using Environment DNA (eDNA) as a Tool in Risk-Based Decision-Making. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Aquatic Research and Development Section, Aquatic Research Series 201301. Community and habitat indicatorshttps://www.invasivespeciescentre.ca/invasive-species/meet-the-species/invasive-aquatic-plants/ DFO. 2021. Proceedings of the Regional Science Peer Review of the Habitat Ecosystem Assessment Tool (HEAT) Software Development and Evaluation; January 27–29, 2016. DFO Can. Sci. Advis. Sec. Proceed. Ser. 2020/028. Clayton J., Edwards T. (2006) Aquatic plants as environmental indicators of ecological condition in New Zealand lakes. In: Caffrey J.M., Dutartre A., Haury J., Murphy K.J., Wade P.M. (eds) Macrophytes in Aquatic Ecosystems: From Biology to Management. Developments in Hydrobiology, vol 190. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5390-0_21 Borrowman, K.R., E. Sager and R. Thum. 2014. Distribution of biotypes and hybrids of Myriophyllum spicatum and associated Euhrychiopsis lecontei in lakes of Central Ontario, Canada. Lake and Reservoir Management 30(1). DOI:10.1080/10402381.2013.876469 www.svca.on.ca › downloads › benthos Susan E. Doka, M. Munawar, Jonathan Midwood, and Mathew G Wells
Nicholas E. Mandrak and Becky Cudmore. 2015. Risk assessment: Cornerstone of an aquatic invasive species program. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 18 (3): 312–320. https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2015.1046357 Nicholas E. Mandrak and B. Cudmore. 2010. The fall of Native Fishes and the rise of Non-native Fishes in the Great Lakes Basin Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 13 (3): 255–268. https://doi.org/10.1080/14634988.2010.507150 |
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Panel 3: Translating Global in to local – International agreements relating to freshwater |
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http://www.glfc.org/pubs/misc/StrategicVision2021.pdf http://www.glfc.org/joint-strategic-plan-committees.php http://www.glfc.org/for-our-partners.php
https://www.ijc.org/en/what/glwq https://www.ijc.org/en/who/mission/glwqa/annex7
https://kwic.info/sites/default/files/2021-05/SDGForumPrioritySummary-Ptbo%202019.pdf http://www.kwic.info/sites/default/files/2021-05/SDGProject_FinalReport_2021_CompleteVersion.pdf |
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Panel 4: Bottom-up engagement on aquatic biodiversity |
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Free, Canada-wide Native Plant Database (https://naturaledge.watersheds.ca/plant-database/), and Natural Edge Resources page which includes free guides for planting native species, a wildflower garden guide, and the shoreline habitat creation manuals (https://naturaledge.watersheds.ca/resources/). Watersheds Canada’s YouTube channel is a great resource as it includes testimonials and NE informational videos such as how the program works, and what happens on a site visit (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB7DOdTPcstp1spoC0Zv1yw/videos). The Lake Links Committee’s Lake Protection Workbook can be downloaded here: https://watersheds.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Lake-Protection-Workbook.pdf Finally we encourage people to sign up for our free Freshwater Stewardship Community (https://watersheds.ca/freshwater-stewardship/). This virtual community is a centralized place for lake and river associations, individuals, and other organizations to connect and work together to protect your local freshwater and shoreline areas. Launched in January 2021, the Freshwater Stewardship Community already has over 900 Canadians who attend monthly webinars.
A few FOCA resources we’re happy to share as part of this “activation” discussion – meant to be shared! https://foca.on.ca/shoreline-owners-guide-to-healthy-waterfronts/ https://foca.on.ca/2020-lake-stewards-newsletter/ https://foca.on.ca/invasive-species-guide/ (Video) https://foca.on.ca/lake-associations-in-action-a-video/ https://foca.on.ca/managing-your-waterfront-property-in-a-changing-climate/ https://foca.on.ca/lake-partner-program-overview/
https://www.trentu.ca/indigenousstudies/experience/water-walks http://greatlakeswaterwalk.ca/our-mission/ https://ammsa.com/publications/ontario-birchbark/grandmother-walks-protect-water |
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