The CVN Shoreline Group had a productive field trip to the Willow Point reef in Campbell River this year on July 5. As on trips to this location in previous years, the group enjoyed the excellent leadership of Campbell River’s Sandra Milligan.
This reef is rich in intertidal life, and Sandra has been accumulating a list of the species she’s seen there for many years. To provide context for this trip, Sandra made these comments about her cumulative list:
The reef species composition does change, so some species haven’t been seen recently, but I leave them on the list in hopes they will reappear. The reef is still changing because of the sea star die-off 10 years ago and subsequent increase in urchin and mussel abundance.
Following the trip, Sandra updated her list. You can download the full species list here. Check marks indicate the species that were observed on this occasion.
Thanks to CVN members Stuart and Véronique for the photo above and those below. Click a photo to enlarge it.
Title: Observations on the fish and aquatic ecology of Buttle Lake Speaker: Paige Stuart Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024
If you missed this event or would like to see it again, CSEB has made the recording available here. To access it you will need to provide your name and email address.
For more information about this talk, see the announcement in our earlier post.
In the last couple of decades you might have seen reports of some hybrid swans (Mute Swan x Trumpter Swan) in our region. In her latest long-form article, CVN member Véronique McIntyre collects those reports and delves into the behaviour and biology of swans to shed light on this phenomenon. In her inimitable style, Véronique presents the story of the swans as a conversation between a hybrid swan and a Trumpeter Swan. Be sure to check out the article here: Hybrid Swans: Mixed-up and Proud of It.
You can always find this and other long-form articles via the Articles category in the sidebar.
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The always fascinating Paradise Meadows in Strathcona Provincial Park was the destination for the Botany Group’s field trip on August 6.
The focus species for this outing are all found only at elevations above 300 metres: Sitka alder, yellow-cedar, green false-hellebore, kneeling angelica, white mountain-heather, pink mountain-heather, crowberry, bog blueberry, common butterwort, and king gentian. Various other species were also observed.
The group’s co-leader Véronique has created another great photographic identification guide for many of the species observed on this walk using her own photos and additional research. Below is a selection of images from the guide. Download the full guide here (PDF, 7.4 MB, 28 pages). [Click a thumbnail photo to see the full photo.]
CVN member Véronique M. explains in her latest long-form article what the gametophyte and sporophyte forms of a moss are and the roles they play in the sexual reproduction of mosses. As always, she provides her own field photos to illustrate the concepts. If you’ve ever wondered what the term “alternation of generations” means, learn all about it in the article Life Cycle of Mosses.
You can always find this and other long-form articles via the Articles category in the sidebar.
Title: Observations on the fish and aquatic ecology of Buttle Lake Speaker: Paige Stuart Date: Tuesday, August 27, 2024 Time: 7:00 p.m. PT
See the registration link below.
Situated at the heart of Strathcona Provincial Park, Buttle Lake, which was once home to large trout populations, has never recovered from the twin impacts of the building of the Upper Campbell Dam (1958) and the mining impacts of the Westmin Mine at Myra Falls. The impacts have drawn attention to short studies, notably by Dr. Tom Northcote from 1962 to 2000. Paige Stuart has reviewed the literature to date and carried out a series of preliminary observations to determine knowledge gaps and understand the situation limiting recovery.
About the speaker
Paige Stuart is a Research Student at SWI during the 2024 season.
CVN members and others are invited to participate in the following two-day workshop organized by the Strathcona Wilderness Institute as part of its “Discovering our Biodiversity” series exploring the natural history of Strathcona Provincial Park.
Title: Subalpine Mycology Workshop (Sep 21) with Mycology Hike to Divers Lake (Sep 22) Presenters: Andy MacKinnon, Thom O’Dell, Erin Feldman and Bryce Kendrick Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024 and Sunday, September 22, 2024 Time: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, and starting at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, PT Location: Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre, Paradise Meadows. Cost: $70.00 (students: $25.00) Maximum number of participants: 15
See below for registration instructions.
The 6th annual SWI Subalpine Mycology Workshop will take place on September 21 in the Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre, Paradise Meadows, followed on September 22 by a hike to Divers Lake. This year the team of talented experts includes Andy MacKinnon, Thom O’Dell, Erin Feldman and Bryce Kendrick, all eminent mycologists with extensive experience in both instruction and guiding field forays.
On Saturday they will have in-class slide presentations and ID sessions, combined with forays out into the Meadows, in both the morning and afternoon, separated by a lunch featuring wild mushroom soup.
On Sunday, SWI Director Loys Maingon will lead a hike through the fungus-rich forested slopes on the trail to Divers Lake, which lies in the valley below and to the west of Paradise Meadows.
About the workshop leaders
Andy MacKinnon is a forest ecologist with research interests in plant-fungal partnerships. He is Past-President of SVIMS, and is a co-author of RBCM’s “Mushrooms of British Columbia”.
Thom O’Dell, Ph.D. has over 35 years experience studying and teaching about mushrooms.
Erin Feldman, MSc, is a research scientist turned mushroom cultivator and educator with more than 10 years sharing fungal facts through classes, forest walks and biodiversity surveys.
Bryce Kendrick, Ph.D, D.Sc., F.R.S.C. has been working with fungi for more than 70 years and has published more than 300 papers and books over that period.
The Botany/Mycology Group’s July field trip was popular with members. On July 2, the group observed a variety of plants and fungi in the lower part of Rosewall Creek Provincial Park, with a particular eye out for these species: eyelash cup fungus, oak fern, spiny wood fern, devil’s club, black gooseberry, clasping twistedstalk, goatsbeard, and enchanter’s nightshade.
Also, co-leader Karen C., who recently completed a course on grasses, helped the group identify a few grasses and sedges along the way. Karen recommends the following field guides for grasses and sedges, both published by Oregon State University Press:
Another highlight was examining an amazing nurse stump with several trees of different species growing from it.
The group’s other co-leader Véronique has created another great photographic identification guide for many of the species observed on this walk using her own photos and additional research. Below is a selection of images from the guide. Download the full guide here (PDF, 6.8 MB).
A small contingent of Botany/Mycology Group members enjoyed the group’s June field trip to the Comox Lake Bluffs Ecological Reserve on June 4. They explored both the forested area adjacent to the reserve and trails inside the reserve leading to the bluffs with their uncommon dry-site plant communities, including some plants rare in this region.
Seaside juniper
The group’s co-leader Véronique has created another very useful photographic identification guide to many of the species observed on this walk using her own photos and additional research. Below is a selection of images from the guide. Download the guide here (PDF, 16.1 MB).
The Strathcona Wilderness Institute is offering a workshop this summer on identifying lichens in Strathcona Provincial Park:
Title: Field Identification of Basic Lichens in Strathcona Provincial Park Date: July 27, 2024 Time: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Location: Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre, Paradise Meadows Cost: $65 – includes a copy of Field Guide to Basic Lichens of Strathcona Provincial Park Registration: Email Limit: 15 participants Instructor: Loys Maingon
Here is SWI’s description of the workshop:
This event is one in a series of “Discovering our Biodiversity” Workshops held each summer to promote the amazing wealth of flora and fauna in Strathcona Provincial Park. This specific workshop, led by lichen expert Loys Maingon (RPBio), provides an introduction to field identification of lichens found in Strathcona Provincial Park . There will be an in-class slide presentation and discussion in the morning in the Ruth Masters Nature Hall (lower floor of the Strathcona Park Wilderness Centre). After lunch the group will go out into the Meadows for on-site observation of lichens in the Paradise Meadows area.
Preregistration is required, with acceptance on a first paid, first served basis.
Please email for further information.
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September 30th is National Day for Truth & Reconciliation. Comox Valley MIKI'SIW Métis Association and Indigenous Women's Sharing Society are hosting the Comox Valley Spirit Walk. It is a meaningful way to get involved and to show your commitment to a better way forward.Check in anytime between 11am-5pm at the Florence Filberg Centre (411 Anderton Avenue). For more information, call 250-871-7353.#nationaldayfortruthandreconciliation#spiritwalker#comoxvalley #MIKI'SIW #metis#komoksfirstnation... See MoreSee Less
Today is Family Watershed Day ! Be sure to visit our booth to learn about invasive species and conservation in your Watershed. We'll be there from 10 until 3, with our partners @projectwatershed in Courtenay Riverway Heritage Park ... See MoreSee Less
Join GOERT and guest speaker Dr Jennifer Grenz for a weekend of learning and connection:🌿 **Save the Date: October 5th!** 🌿Join us at the annual Garry Oak Ecosystems Conference held on the traditional territories of the Lək̓ʷəŋən speaking peoples at the University of Victoria. This event brings together researchers, practitioners, governments, community members, and students passionate about the restoration and preservation of Garry Oak ecosystems. This year GOERT is working towards better representation of Indigenous voices in the wider understanding of Garry Oak ecosystems. This is vital to the future of caring for these ecosystems and we are humbly learning to walk this path. We are thrilled to be hosting Dr. Jennifer Grenz as our keynote speaker and will be announcing a full list of speakers soon.Free admission for Indigenous attendees. 🎟️ Tickets are available now. www.eventbrite.ca/e/16th-annual-garry-oak-ecosystems-conference-tickets-1009411776797?utm-campaig...#GarryOakEcosystem #Conservation #Restoration #Community #UVic #GOERT #GarryOak ... See MoreSee Less
