PROJECTS
Projects of the Bishops Mills Natural History Centre and associates![[Frederick W. Schueler
in the field]](fwazola.jpg)
We are so busy gathering data on such a wide range of things that we haven't had time to publish what we ought to have in a formal sense,
but we are now presenting some of our work on this website in order to inform and engage colleagues and students in dialogue and partnership.
There are more than ninety projects listed here, so use your browser's search function to find keywords that are of interest to you.
This page was written in 2003, and has only been sparingly updated, so the status of many projects has changed. We'll try to get it up-to-date soon. fws - 18 July 2009.
Karstad & Schueler
PROJECTS
PROJECTS
![[Hyla
versicolor watercolour]](versidet.jpg) |
30 Main St., Bishops Mills
RR#2
Oxford Station, Ont. K0G 1T0
Canada
(613)258-3107
Frederick W. Schueler
bckcdb@istar.ca
CONTENTS
30 Years Later Projectdata assembly
data exchange
publications
resurvey
Auditory Monitoring
Books
ecology
essays
booklets for children
guides
poetry
religion/science
paintings
Curation
Database
Distribution/monitoring surveys
Ecology
unionids (freshwater clams)
household
cattail
frogs
winter
autumn
forest
education
events
introduced & invasive species
Rusty Crayfish
Orconectes obscurus (crayfish)
Orconectes immunis (crayfish)
Cepaea (land snail)
aquatic snails
Zebra Mussels
aquatic plants
Phragmites reed
Garlic Mustard
Manitoba Maple
Organizations
conservation
Museum
Taxonomy
LIST of PROJECTS
30 Years Later Project
Databasing & georeferencing British Columbia records - biota: $4 K payment for data aready in FWSOBS 30 yrs later data assembly AREA: British Columbia 1973, 1976-77, 1985-89
PROGRESS: sent data aready in FWSOBS, BC herps added fr CMN, other records on hand
NEEDED: integration of non-herp CMN records & text journal, transcription of hand notes
Bind & copy all journals - biota: archival perfect binding by Smiths Falls Bookbinders 30 yrs later data assembly AREA: Canada, USA, etc 1969-present
PROGRESS: FWS 1969-17, 73-75, 80-82, 85-89, 91-2002 bound
NEEDED: remaining FWS years, catalogue, AKS journals, arrangements with CMN library for duplicate copies
Data exchange with Canadian Museum of Nature - biota: ongoing exchange of data & resolution of problems 30 yrs later data exchange AREA: Canada, etc. 1972-present
PROGRESS: sent data aready in FWSOBS, agreement signed, received 10 K records fr CMN
NEEDED: integration of CMN & FWSOBS records & with text journal, transcription of hand notes & catalogue
Data exchange with other museums - biota: on the model of agreement with CMN 30 yrs later data exchange AREA: Canada, etc. 1969-present
PROGRESS: none
NEEDED: contact Cornell, MCZ, ROM, Tyrell Museum, RBCM
revisits of Chorus Frog surveys - Anura: manuscript w Gibbs for phenology revision 30 yrs later publication AREA: New York 1972-1980/2001-2002
PROGRESS: data entry, resurveys, first paper in draft
NEEDED: Gibbs revision, FWS 2 nd paper on Chorus Frog range
Rana pipiens DNA phylogeography & revisits - Rana pipiens: publication plan modified by Hoffman thesis defense 30 yrs later publication AREA: Ontario & New York 1971-1980/2001
PROGRESS: sampling, data entry, resurveys, first paper in draft
NEEDED: Hoffman revision, FWS Fairmile population size
review of observations along the Jock River - biota: 1 st report in FJR newsletter & T & L mispublished 30 yrs later publication AREA: Ontario, eastern 1975-present
PROGRESS: field work, first paper published
NEEDED: Crayfish, Unionids, and maybe snails, data from Bill Perry
Resurveying range limits found for Grey Treefrogs - Hyla versicolor: co-operation for western routes would help 30 yrs later resurvey AREA: Canada 1975-1983/2003-present
PROGRESS: 1986 ms, 2003 re-survey of the Outaouais route
NEEDED: other routes, georeferencing of odometer localities, climate change data
Auditory Monitoring
Lake Ontario auditory monitoring transect - Anura: same methods used in eastern Ontario transect auditory monitoring AREA: Ontario, Lake Ontario 1994/
PROGRESS: listened at 57 stations in 1994
NEEDED: replication, environmental data, analysis, publication
experimental Eastern Ontario auditory transect - Anura: inspired by DAPCAN I, also includes Birds & Mammals auditory monitoring AREA: Ontario, eastern 1992-present
PROGRESS: 12 years of listening at 42 stations
NEEDED: environmental data, analysis, publication
Books
Fragile Inheritance - biota: co-operation for western routes would help book, ecology AREA: Canada & northern USA 1984-1989/2004-present
PROGRESS: 1989 ms, computer for Sara, agreement w CMN
NEEDED: html for chapters, illustrations scanned, html field notes & CMN specimens
Non-Fibre Values: essays on forest biodiversity in Ontario - biota: assembled from NFV column & Nature News book, essays AREA: Ontario 1989-present
PROGRESS: many essays
NEEDED: illustrations, updates, organization, publisher
A species hitherto unrecorded here: essays on rural life in eastern Ontario - biota: assembled from NFV column & Nature News book, essays AREA: Ontario 1989-present
PROGRESS: many essays
NEEDED: illustrations, updates, organization, publisher
Nature News in Kemptville Advance - biota: monthly publication semi-formalized w Advance education AREA: Ontario, eastern 1998-2000/2002-present
PROGRESS: ca 35 columns provided to Advance
NEEDED: continued columns, assembly into books
Aleta's little booklets - biota: fold-up life-history accounts on letter-size sheet education AREA: Ontario 1999-present
PROGRESS: ca 12 booklets
NEEDED: more booklets, EOBM/BMNHC partnership agreement, publication as a pad, distribution
The Crayfish that Ate Wisconsin: essays on aquatic biodiversity in Ontario - biota: assembled from NFV column & Nature News book, essays AREA: Ontario 1989-present
PROGRESS: many essays
NEEDED: illustrations, updates, organization, publisher
Non-fibre Values in S & W Report - biota: quarterly publication education AREA: Ontario 2001-present
PROGRESS: 10 columns
NEEDED: continued columns, assembly into books
Freshwater Lobsters, Mudbugs, and Crabs - Cambariidae: bait-book for which the paintings were done is stalled book, field guide AREA: Canada 1970-present
PROGRESS: data, Premeks WWF document, paintings of Ontario species
NEEDED: text, sponsor, paintings of non Ontario species
naturalists field notes binder and guide - biota: suggested for sale at Little Ray's book, field notes AREA: global 2003-present
PROGRESS: field and data-sheet format, many essays
NEEDED: binders, printing, assembly of introductory writings
Eastern Ontario Wild Foods Daybook - Plantae: big market, need to focus book, foraging AREA: Ontario, eastern 1990-present
PROGRESS: some leafprints watercolours & journal
NEEDED: data extraction, new painting, leaf prints, & some journal, publisher
Landscape: Twelve Documents Relevant to Planning... North Grenville - Homo sapiens/biota: should accompany launch of North Grenville 'Green Caucus' book, land-use guide AREA: Ontario, North Genville 1989-present
PROGRESS: 1999 draft, revisions of individual documents since then
NEEDED: updated introduction, updated species lists & accounts, botany & Entomology
Fragile Inheritance verses - biota: a 'Life, The Universe, and Everything' book book, poetry AREA: global 1973-present
PROGRESS: many poems, introductory essay
NEEDED: illustrations, editing, & organization
Hypothetical Science, Hypothetical Church - Home sapiens: a 'Life, The Universe, and Everything' book book, religion/science AREA: global 1973-present
PROGRESS: many essays
NEEDED: organization & writing
Drifted paintings & book - biota: commissions sought to lead to paintings for book book, watercolour AREA: global 1985-present
PROGRESS: preliminary paintings, website
NEEDED: commissions
Curation
EOBM/BCKCDB Unionids - Unionoidea: immediate focus on getting material shelved curation, EOBM Unionids AREA: Canada & USA 1993-present
PROGRESS: many collections, mostly data-based, sorting & cataloguing procedures established, some shelves & boxes
NEEDED: continued collecting, labelling, shelving
Canadian Library of Drifted Material - biota: immediate focus on Gastropod shells curation, bulk collections AREA: Canada & USA 1993-present
PROGRESS: collecting, drying, sorting, procedures established, many collections
NEEDED: continued collecting in spate tears, labelling, cataloguing
EOBM/Carleton fluid-preserved collections - Animalia: began with rescue of Carleton University collections curation, fluid-preserved AREA: global 1997-present
PROGRESS: rescue, re-rescue, extensive topping up, some cataloguing
NEEDED: EOBM/BMNHC partnership agreement, finish topping up, more cataloguing, shelving, new labels
Bone Stripping - Vertebrata: high-humidity & articulated preparations curation, preparation AREA: Canada 1971-present
PROGRESS: methods, carcasses
NEEDED: data entry, strong colony, preparation, marketing
Database
EOBase - biota: founding project of EOBM, abandoned in 2003 database, natural history AREA: eastern Ontario, global 1984-present
PROGRESS: format established, 60 K records entered
NEEDED: EOBM/BMNHC partnership agreement, data entry, backup systems, more programming
Distribution Limerick Forest Fairy Shrimp survey - Branchipoda: Fairy Shrimp found in many ponds in Limerick distribution survey AREA: Ontario, Limerick Forest 1997-present
PROGRESS: preliminary surveys
NEEDED: one season of extensive collecting, identification, publication
Isolated Two-lined Salamander populations - Eurycea bislineata: centred on rediscovery of Moose Creek population distribution survey AREA: Ontario, Limerick Forest 1997-present
PROGRESS: preliminary surveys
NEEDED: visit to Moose Creek, OHS records, CMN specimens, ms
non-fish that indicate pristine water quality in Eastern Ontario - Eurycea, Cambarus, Corydalus, etc: FAC project for 2004 distribution survey AREA: Ontario, South Nation 2003-present
PROGRESS: preliminary surveys, preliminary ms
NEEDED: finished pamphlet, promotion, surveys
Mudpuppy distribution & activity in Eastern Ontario - Necturus maculosus: long-term survey, includes Kemptville Creek distribution survey AREA: Ontario, eastern 1975-present
PROGRESS: journal data, CMN specimens
NEEDED: some data entry, measurements of specimens, concerted year in Kemptville Crk
Grenville Ravens - Corvus corax: range expansion, nesting in wetlands distribution, range expansion AREA: Ontario, Grenville Co 1979-present
PROGRESS: 24 yrs observations, observations by Stew Hamill & others
NEEDED: nesting observations, some data entry, ms
bridge-embankment nesting by Turtles - Testudinata: uniform nesting habitat@bridges as index of abundance distribution/monitoring survey AREA: Ontario, eastern 1993-present
PROGRESS: journal data
NEEDED: some data entry, GIS, mapping & analysis
Refinding Eastern Ontario Pickerel Frogs - Rana palustris: many old localities, but no modern off-Shield records distribution/monitoring survey AREA: Ontario, eastern 1975-present
PROGRESS: hypothesis formed
NEEDED: field work.publicity
Ecology
Unionid habitat use at Blakeney - Unionidae: samples from above & below rapids ecology, habitat use AREA: Ontario, Mississippi R 1998/2000/2003-present
PROGRESS: collections made & counted
NEEDED: analysis, completion of ms
Unionid habitat use at lake outlet - Unionidae: samples from lake & acr stream ecology, habitat use AREA: Ontario, Obabika R 1999-present
PROGRESS: collections made & counted
NEEDED: analysis, completion of ms
Andrewsville Unionids - Unionidae, Dreissena: in rocky Rideau R lock-bypass rapids & flats ecology, natural history AREA: Ontario, Andrewsville 1995-present
PROGRESS: 8 yrs of monitoring, preliminary movement monitoring, found winter access to flats
NEEDED: continue monitoring, detailed map, winter monitoring
optimal household ecology - Homo sapiens: process de-optimized by move to General Store ecology, household AREA: Ontario, Bishops Mills 1978-present
PROGRESS: theory, practice
NEEDED: more time for symbiosis
change in Narrow-leaf Cattail morphology - Typha angustifolia: roadside samples of gross morphology ecology, hybridization AREA: Manitoba 1985-1986/
PROGRESS: first-visit morphometric data, odometer data
NEEDED: geo-reference odomenter data, revisits to 1985-1986 morphometric sample sites, analysis
hydroperiod in Wood Frog breeding ponds - Rana sylvatica: real question is when or if the ponds fill in the fall ecology, hydroperiod AREA: Ontario, Limerick Forest 1999-present
PROGRESS: procedures established, data being gathered
NEEDED: continued observations, analysis, completion of ms
Non-breeding Spring Migration of Leopard Frogs - Rana pipiens: movements on roads & to Elsa's Pond ecology, movement AREA: Ontario, eastern Ontario 1987-present
PROGRESS: data, CARCNet paper
NEEDED: climate data, data entry & analysis of sizes, final ms
Anuran annual growth and colour patterns - Anura: 2 km transect alg Long Lake, S of Cochrane ecology, natural history AREA: Ontario, Cochrane area 1972-present
PROGRESS: procedures established, data gathered
NEEDED: continued observations, measurements entered, analysis, completion of ms
Anuran summer & fall growth and colour patterns - Anura: 3 km transect on Limerick Road & spurs ecology, natural history AREA: Ontario, Limerick Forest 1979-present
PROGRESS: procedures established, data gathered
NEEDED: continued observations, measurements entered, analysis, completion of ms
mid-dorsal stripe frequency after icestorm - Rana sylvatica: other studies haven't found canopy was opened ecological genetics AREA: Ontario, Limerick Forest 1997-2003
PROGRESS: procedures established, data gathered
NEEDED: measurements entered, analysis, ms
Limerick/Cochrane Amphibian comparison - Amphibia: seeking student to take this on for a Masters ecology, natural history AREA: Ontario, eastern & NE 1972/1979-present
PROGRESS: procedures established, data gathered
NEEDED: continued observations, measurements entered, analysis, completion of ms
land snail over-wintering - Cepaea nemoralis: excavating over-wintering snails to assess habitat ecology, overwintering AREA: Ontario, Bishops Mills 2003-present
PROGRESS: sites selected, preliminary excavation(2003)
NEEDED: observations
Vitrina over-wintering - Vitrina 'limpida': excavating over-wintering snails to assess habitat ecology, overwintering AREA: Ontario, Bishops Mills 2003-present
PROGRESS: preliminary observations in 2000
NEEDED: good luck in late fall
Mudpuppy Night in Oxford Mills - Necturus maculosus: weekly nocturno-hibernal public programme ecology, overwintering AREA: Ontario, Kemptville Creek 1998-present
PROGRESS: journal data, most flow data
NEEDED: some data entry, final flow data, climate data, ms preparation
effects of winter anoxia in Kemptville Creek - Teleostoma/Anura: oxygen readings from 1983 ecology, overwintering AREA: Ontario, Kemptville Creek 1979-present
PROGRESS: journal data, most flow data
NEEDED: more oxygen readings, some data entry, climate data, ms preparation
small remote aquatic hibernacula - Rana: small excavated holes & natural hibernacula ecology, overwintering AREA: Ontario, Limerick Forest 1993-present
PROGRESS: procedures established, data gathered, 1 st paper begun
NEEDED: continued observations, analysis, completion of ms
December Blooms on the Nature List - Magnoliophyta: as an indication of mild autumns ecology, phenoloy AREA: Ontario, eastern 1999-present
PROGRESS: 4+ years
NEEDED: continue
the Blue Pee Puzzle - Leporidae: solution to anomalous urine colour seen in 1991 ecology, biochemical AREA: Ontario, eastern 1991-present
PROGRESS: field observations, Nature List survey, in vitro & in vivo experiments
NEEDED: experiments on leaves & fruit, preparation of ms
1998 ice lens in eastern Ontario - biota: solution to anomalous urine colour seen in 1991 ecology/meteorology AREA: Ontario, eastern 1998
PROGRESS: field observations, report to OMNR
NEEDED: nested ANOVA, preparation of ms, new maps
Fall Calling - Pseudacris, Rana: search for phenological/climatic model ecology, phenology AREA: Ontario 1990-present
PROGRESS: 13+ years of data
NEEDED: continued auditions, OHS data, analysis
autumnal on-road monitoring of Amphibians - Amphibia: 3 km transect on Limerick Road & spurs ecology, phenology AREA: Ontario, Limerick Forest 1979-present
PROGRESS: procedures established, data gathered, 1 st paper begun
NEEDED: continued observations, measurements entered, analysis, completion of ms
Instant Oldgrowth - biota: providing oldgrowth forest features of before the treees ecology, restoration AREA: Ontario 2003-present
PROGRESS: plan developed for Fletcher Wildlife Garden
NEEDED: site, implementation, monitoring
Non-fibre Values in S & W Report - biota: quarterly publication education AREA: Ontario 2001-present
PROGRESS: 10 columns
NEEDED: continued columns, assembly into books
Education
BMNHC Reading Fellows - biota: visiting scholars programme education AREA: Ontario, eastern 2003-present
PROGRESS: website posted
NEEDED: shelves for the book, participants
BMNHC Courses - biota: participants unwilling to come to Bishops Mills education AREA: Ontario, eastern 2003-present
PROGRESS: website posted, Introductory Botanical Illustration given twice
NEEDED: publicity, organization as workshops
Grenville Otter - biota: kids newsletter started by JHS, lapsed in 1998 education AREA: Ontario, eastern 2003-present
PROGRESS: 2 yrs of issues, organization, masthead
NEEDED: resumption, publicity
Regional "Top 10" lists of Herpetofaunal Decline - Amphibia, 'reptilia': proposed in 1999 at CARCNet meeting education AREA: global
PROGRESS: document
NEEDED: website
Mudpuppy Night in Oxford Mills - Necturus maculosus: weekly nocturno-hibernal public programme education, natural history AREA: Ontario, Kemptville Creek 1998-present
PROGRESS: 5+ years
NEEDED: EOBM/BMNHC partnership agreement, publicity, Brigadoon ecotourism plan
Eastern Ontario Natural History List Serve - biota: list-serve archived as EOBase records education, natural history AREA: Ontario, eastern 1998-present
PROGRESS: 4+ years
NEEDED: EOBM/BMNHC partnership agreement, archivist, publicity
Museum Methods Monday - biota: weekly museum work programme education/curation AREA: Ontario, eastern 2002-present
PROGRESS: abortive start, spring 2003, restarted fall 2003
NEEDED: continue, publicize
Events
Rushing the Woodcock (April) - Scolopax minor: festival AREA: North America 1968-present
PROGRESS: 30+ years
NEEDED: continue
Burn Henry Ford in Effigy Night (October) - Rana pipiens: night of main fall movement across roads festival AREA: Ontario, eastern 2000-present
PROGRESS: 3+ years
NEEDED: continue
Eat Wild Herbs Day in Bishops Mills (May) - Plantae: sacramental meal of diverse young growth festival AREA: Onttario, Bishops Mills 1992-present
PROGRESS: 10+yrs, booklet
NEEDED: continue
Darwin's Day Phylum Feast - Homo sapiens: meal containing as many taxa as possible festival AREA: global 1989-present
PROGRESS: 15+ years, publicity on As It Happens, EOBM potluck
NEEDED: continue
Winter Solstice bonfire - Homo sapiens: indoors gathering w rich foods & bonfire festival AREA: northern Hemisphere 1982-present
PROGRESS: 20+ years
NEEDED: continue
Summer Solstice vigil - Homo sapiens: all night vifgal recording frog calling & dawn chorus festival AREA: northern Hemisphere 1990-present
PROGRESS: 12+ years
NEEDED: continue
Introduced & Invasive Species
Orconectes rusticus range expansion - Orconectes rusticus: surveys & monitoring at some sites invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario, Quebec, New York 1975-present
PROGRESS: journal data, specimens, Bill Perry DNA from Jock & Rideau in 1997
NEEDED: continue monitoring, ms about status in Ontario
Orconectes rusticus limitation by Otters - Orconectes rusticus/Lontra canadensis: hypothesis is that O.rusticus is rare where Otters abound invasive species ecology AREA: Ontario, eastern 1995-present
PROGRESS: prelimiary observations, speculation
NEEDED: surveys of streams where rusticus is rare
Orconectes obscurus occurrences - Orconectes obscurus: surveys & monitoring at some sites invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario, Quebec 1997-present
PROGRESS: journal data, specimens
NEEDED: continue monitoring, ms about status in Ontario
Orconectes immunis northern populations - Orconectes immunis: surveys & monitoring at some sites invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec 1976-present
PROGRESS: journal data, specimens
NEEDED: continue monitoring, resurvey Crab Lake, test northern populations for burrowing
ecology of an introduced C. nemoralis population - Cepaea nemoralis: monitoring spread & change in frequency of colour genes invasive species monitoring AREA: Ontario, Bishops Mills 1981-present
PROGRESS: initial introduction, collections of shells, periferal monitoring of spread
NEEDED: concerted effort to capture & measure, habitat variables, preparation of ms
Cepaea nemoralis distribution - Cepaea nemoralis: noted as seen, monitoring at some sites invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario & New York 1975-present
PROGRESS: journal data, specimens, data sent to Bill Mc Illwain (no response since 1996)
NEEDED: continue monitoring, counts of banding frequencies, ms about status in Ontario
Southern Ontario aquatic invasive snails - Cipangopaludina & Radix auricularia: noted as seen, monitoring at some sites invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario & New York 1994-present
PROGRESS: journal data, specimens
NEEDED: continue monitoring, ms about status in Ontario
inland Zebra Mussels - Dreissena polymorpha: noted as seen, monitoring at some sites invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario & New York 1991-present
PROGRESS: journal data, specimens
NEEDED: continue monitoring, ms about status in South Nation & Mississippi
Eastern Ontario aquatic invasive plants - Hydrocharis morsus-ranae & Butomus umbellus: Rana clamitans & Elliptio complanata controls for absence invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario, eastern 1991-present
PROGRESS: journal data
NEEDED: continue
Narrow-leaf Cattail distribution & persistance - Typha angustifolia: morphometrics & distribution really 2 separate projects invasive species surveys AREA: Canada 1972-present
PROGRESS: morphometric data, odometer data, GPS data
NEEDED: databasing, geo-ref. odomenter data, analysis, revisits to 1985-1986 morphometric sample sites
Phragmites surveys - Phragmites australis: morphometrics needs to get underway invasive species surveys AREA: Canada & northern USA 1995-present
PROGRESS: common garden, GPS data, write-up & division into routes for 2001 conference
NEEDED: label specimens.databasing routes for 2002-2003, GIS analysis
Garlic Mustard occurrence & spread - Allaria petiolaris: noted as seen, monitoring at some sites invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario & New York 1994-present
PROGRESS: journal data
NEEDED: continue
Manitoba Maple status & regeneration - Acer negundo: noted as seen, monitoring at some sites invasive species surveys AREA: Ontario & New York 1994-present
PROGRESS: journal data
NEEDED: continue
Organizations
Limerick Forest Advisory Committee - biota: bumbling efforts as Education sub-chair organization (conservation) AREA: Ontario, Limerick Forest 2001-present
PROGRESS: LFAC established & running, Long-range Plan
NEEDED: functional education programme, ATBI
Turtle SHELL Tortue - Testudinata: organization (conservation) AREA: Ontario, eastern 2002-present
PROGRESS: 2002/2003 sparse attendance at meetings
NEEDED: continued attendance, mapping of records, marking scheme
Fragile Inheritance Natural History - biota: organization (natural history archives, research, publication,ngo) AREA: global-future
PROGRESS: Board of Directors chosen, goals & activities identified
NEEDED: incorporation, charitable application, fund raising
Taxonomy
species limits in Lampsilis - Lampsilis: may need computer-imaging equipment systematics, alpha taxonomy AREA: Ontario, eastern 1995-present
PROGRESS: many collections
NEEDED: sorting, qualitative/quantitative morphometric imaging, analysis
patterns of hybridization & ecotypic variation - Unionidae: need to obtain computer-imaging equipment systematics, hybrid/eco-phenotype AREA: Ontario, eastern 1995-present
PROGRESS: many large syntopic collections
NEEDED: quantitative morphometric imaging, analysis
about us
Fragile Inheritance
Bishops Mills Natural History Centre
some
of our
projects
Thirty Years Later Project
Ontario Limax Project
Ontario Japanese Knotweed Project
Clams of Drought
Mudpuppy Night in Oxford Mills
books
Drifted Series
of watercolors
nature journals
Outings