An snapshot of a few arthropod conservation projects in British Columbia, Canada

Sunday, November 16, 2014: 9:02 AM
A106 (Oregon Convention Center)
Jennifer Heron , Conservation Science Section, British Columbia Ministry of Environment, Vancouver, BC, Canada
British Columbia is one of the most biologically diverse provinces in Canada, with habitats that include oak savannah, grassland, desert, and coastal and interior rainforests. An estimated 40,000 - 50,000 arthropods occur within these habitats, and the large diversity and lack of information on most of these species make arthropod conservation particularly challenging. This talk will give a snapshot of a few arthropod conservation projects within these habitats, successes and ongoing challenges, and how conservation work for one species will ideally benefit many. Projects include ongoing habitat enhancement work for Taylor's Checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori) in the Garry Oak (Quercus garryana) savannah. Understanding habitat use for Behr's Hairstreak (Satyrium behri columbia) within the Antelope-brush (Purshia tridentata) grassland ecosystems of the Okanagan Valley; and recent work to assess the conservation status on the Audouin's Night-stalking Tiger Beetle (Omus audouini) in the lower mainland and southern Vancouver Island regions.