biological inventory of mclellan forest · biological inventory of mclellan forest nwd plan 1560...
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Biological Inventory of McLellan ForestNWD Plan 1560 – Township of Langley
Prepared by: Curtis Abney
TWU Environmental Studies Student
With the aid of Dr. D. Clements & Janelle Lowen
Originally prepared August 17th, 2013 & Updated: September 25th, 2013
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Introduction
Out of all of the provinces and territories in Canada, British Columbia possesses the highest
biological diversity (Cox 2010). The Fraser Valley is especially rich in flora fauna, and is recognized as one
of the top five biodiversity hotspots within B.C. (Cox 2010). Unfortunately, due to extensive habitat loss
and degradation, as well as the introduction of harmful invasive species, many of B.C’s native dwellers –
whether they be snails, frogs, bats, or owls – are becoming threatened with extinction or local
extirpation. It is estimated that as many as 1900 species in B.C. alone are currently at risk, making B.C.
the province with the most endangered species in Canada; a rather undesirable title (Anonymous 2008).
However, attempts to salvage the biodiversity of B.C. can still be made and has become more of a
priority among agencies and communities in recent years. It Is critical to preserve remnant high quality
habitat in areas experiencing high pressures for development, such as the rapidly growing Fraser Valley.
Objectives
Beginning June of 2013 and continuing on until April of 2014, I am undertaking a biological
inventory of the McLellan Forest and surrounding property as my undergrad thesis study. Some of the
very species which are provincially recognized as at risk species call this mature forest stand in Glen
Valley their home. It has been my task to find such species, and any others that share this precious patch
of forest, and document their presence within the property. The objective of my study is to accurately
document as many species (both plant and animal) as possible throughout my year of research, and
establish a comprehensive bio-inventory of the property which accurately represents the local flora and
fauna of the region. With the help of local experts and fellow researchers, it is my hope to establish a
robust documentation of the species which use this beautiful piece of property and thus prove that it
possesses irreplaceable ecological value.
Methodology
Since the beginning of June I have personally spent over 30 hours on the property documenting
species and observing the natural dramas which play out within it. I aim to visit the property about twice
a week, and spend a minimum of two hours during each visit. I enter the trail head equipped with my
binoculars, camera, a butterfly net, and a plethora of identification manuals (for plants, amphibians,
reptiles, birds, etc.). I try to cover all regions of the property regularly but keep to the existing trails as to
minimize my impact on the local ecology. Several times I have been accompanied by fellow researchers
and I have even consulted confirmation from local specialists for the identification of the more
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ambiguous species which have been difficult to I.D. During every visit, I immediately write down every
new species that I encounter on the property in my field notebook, and include the date, time, and
weather conditions of each visit along with any other pertinent information which is worthy of being
noted. If possible and if necessary, pictures are taken to further aid in the identification process of
species if on-site identification proves too difficult.
Meet the Team!
From left to right: Curtis Abney (executive researcher/thesis student), ChrisHall (Ecosystem Manager from TWU), and Ted Goshulak (local bird expert)
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Dr. D. Clements (thesis coordinator/ Janelle Lowen (research student with local plant knowledge)advisor)
Additional thanks to: Phil Henderson (local naturalist who completed previous study on property in2012) and Denis Knopp (frog expert)
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Results/Species Lists:
Birds
Cedar Waxwing (Poecile atricapillus)
Song Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)
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*Species are species which have been identified by their vocalizations or lost feathers
COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEAmerican Goldfinch Corvus brachyrhynchos
American Robin Corvus coraxAnna's Hummingbird Calypte anna
Barred Owl Carpodacus mexicanusBlack-capped Chickadee Troglodytes pacificusBlack-headed Grosbeak Catharus ustulatus
Black-throated Gray Warbler Pheucticus melanocephalusBrown Creeper Spinus tristisCedar Waxwing Poecile atricapillus
Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bombycilla cedrorumCommon Raven Empidonax traillii
Common Yellowthroat Selasphorus rufusDark-eyed Junco Wilsonia pusilla
Downy Woodpecker Melospiza melodiaFox Sparrow Colaptes auratus
Great Blue Heron Anas platyrhynchosHairy Woodpecker* Picoides villosus
House Finch* Certhia americanaLincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
Mallard Empidonax difficilisMerlin Cyanocitta stelleri
Common Nighthawk* Dendroica nigrescensNorthern Flicker Carduelis pinus
Northern Waterthrush Contopus sordidulusNorthwestern Crow Corvus caurinus
Pacific-slope Flycatcher Spizella arboreaPacific Wren Geothlypis trichas
Pileated Woodpecker Ardea herodiasPine Siskin* Cathartes aura
Rufous Hummingbird Stellula calliopeSong Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Spotted Towhee Strix variaSteller's Jay Parkesia noveboracensis
Swainson's Thrush Passerella iliacaTurkey Vulture Junco hyemalis
Western Tanager Falco columbarius
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Western Wood Peewee Piranga ludovicianaWhite-Crowned Sparrow Chordeiles minor
Willow Flycatcher Dryocopus pileatusWilson's Warbler* Picoides pubescens
Mammals
Black-tailed Deer tracks (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)
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Coyote (Canis latrans)
*Species are species which have been identified by their scat, tracks, or other visible clues
COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEBlack-tailed Deer* Odocoileus hemionus columbianus
Bobcat* Lynx rufusCoyote Canis latrans
Douglas Squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasiiEastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus
Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensisRaccoon* Procyon lotor
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Reptiles
Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. pickeringii) – Photocredit: Dr. D. Clements
COMMON NAME LATIN NAME
Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. pickeringii
Northwestern Garter Snake Thamnophis ordinoides
Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans vagrans
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Amphibians
Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla)
Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile)
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COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEAmerican Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana
Green Frog Rana clamitansNorthern Red-Legged Frog Rana auroraNorthwestern Salamander Ambystoma gracile
Pacific Tree Frog Pseudacris regilla
Insects
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)
Four-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)
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COMMON NAME LATIN NAMECabbage White Butterfly Pieris rapae
California Darner Dragonfly Rhionaeschna californicaCanada Darner Dragonfly Aeshna canadensis
Cardinal Meadowhawk Dragonfly Sympetrum illotumCommon Whitetail Dragonfly Plathemis lydia
Four-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly Libellula quadrimaculataHarvestmen Opiliones ssp.
Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly Aglais milbertiMourning Cloak Butterfly Nymphalis antiopa
Northern Bluet Enallagma annexumPacific Forktail Damselfly Ischnura cervula
Striped Meadowhawk Dragonfly Sympetrum pallipesTwo-striped Grasshopper Melanoplus bivittatus
Western Forktail Damselfly Ischnura perparvaWestern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio rutulus
Gastropods
Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus)
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Grove Snail (Cepaea nemoralis)
COMMON NAME LATIN NAME
Pacific Banana Slug Ariolimax columbianusBlack Arion Arion aterDusky Arion Arion subfuscus
Garden Banded Snail Cepaea hortensisGrove Snail Cepaea nemoralis
Pacific Sideband Snail Monadenia fidelisNew Zealand Mud Snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum
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Other
Six-Spotted Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton)
Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)
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Vascular Plants
Oval-leaved Blueberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium)
Salal (Gaultheria shallon)
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COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEGRASSES
Common Bentgrass Agrostis capillarisCreeping Bentgrass Agrostis stoloniferaReed Canary Grass Phalaris arundinacea
Sweet Grass Hierochloe odorataHERBS
American Water Plantain Alisma trivialArrowleaf Groundsel Senecio triangularis
Baneberry Actaea rubraBracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum
Broad-leaved Starflower Trientalis borealis ssp latifoliaCommon Burdock Arctium minus
Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinaleCommon Foxglove Digitalis purpurea
Cow Parsnip Heracleum lanatumCow's Clover Trifolium wormskioldii
Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repensDeer Fern Blechnum spicant
Dune Tansy Tanacetum bipinnatum ssp huronenseEnglish Ivy Hedera helix
False Lily of the Valley Maianthemum dilatatumField Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis
Fireweed Epilobium angustifoliumIndian Thistle Cirsium edule
Lady Fern Athyrium filix-feminaLarge-leaved Avens Geum macrophyllum
Licorice Fern Polypodium glycyrrhizeManna Grass Glyceria sp.Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare
Pacific Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosaPacific Water Parsley Oenanthe sarmentosa
Piggy-back Plant Tolmiea menziesiiPoliceman's Helmet Impatiens glanduliferaRobert's Geranium Geranium robertianum
Scotch Broom Cytisus scopariusShepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastorisSkunk Cabbage Lysichiton americanum
Small-flowered Forget-me-not Myosotis laxaStarry Solomon's Plume Smilacina stellata
Stinging Nettle Urtica dioicaSweet Scented Bedstraw Galium triflorum
Sword Fern Polystichum munitumThree-leaved Foam Flower Tiarella trifoliata
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Tufted Vetch Vicia craccaVanilla Leaf Achlys triphyllaWall Lettuce Lactuca muralis
Western Trillium Trillium ovatumWhite Clover Trifolium repensWild Carrot Daucus carota
Woodland Ragwort Senecio sylvaticusSHRUBS
Baldhip Rose Rosa gymnocarpaBlack Gooseberry Ribes lacustreBlack Huckleberry Vaccinium membranaceumBlack Raspberry Rubus leucodermis
Cascara Rhamnus purshianaCutleaf Evergreen Blackberry Rubus laciniatus
Devil`s Club Oplopanax horridusDouglas Maple Acer glabrum
Dull Oregon Grape Mahonia nervosaEnglish Holly Llex aquilifolium
Himalayan Blackberry Rubus armeniacusIndian Plum Oemleria cerasiformis
Mountain Ash Sorbus sp.Oval-leaved Blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium
Red Elderberry Sambucus racemosa ssp pubensRed Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium
Salal Gaultheria shallonSalmonberry Rubus spectabilis
Trailing Black Currant Ribes laxiflorumTrailing Blackberry Rubus ursinus
Vine Maple Acer circinatumWestern Trumpet Lonicera ciliosa
TREESBigleaf Maple Acer macrophyllum
Black Cottonwood Populus trichocarpaCoast Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesiiPacific Crab Apple Malus fusca
Red Alder Alnus rubraWestern Hemlock Tsuga heterophylla
Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata
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Nonvascular Plants
Shield lichen (Parmelia sulcata)
True MossesDichodontium pellucidum
Hookeria lucensBuckiella undulata
Claopodium crispifoliumLichen
Parmelia sulcata
It is important to note that the included species lists are not exhaustive. Many species were also
documented on the property in a previous report completed in 2012 (Henderson & Ryder). In addition,
it is likely that there are still many species which have not yet been documented on the property.
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Species of Concern
Northern Red-Legged Frog (Rana aurora) – A blue-listed species meaning that they are vulnerable andthreatened with extinction due to extensive environmental pressures. Two of these beautiful specimenswere found on July 26th, 2013 near a large uprooted tree well which holds a small amount of water – justa few meters from the main trail. Suitable habitat for these frogs is of the utmost concern to conserve.
Pacific Sideband Snail (Monadenia fidelis) – A blue-listed species meaning that they are vulnerable andthreatened with extinction, primarily due to habitat fragmentation. Several of these specimens havebeen spotted throughout the duration of the study usually on, or in close proximity to the main trails.
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Future Research
In the coming months, I plan to incorporate small mammal trapping into my research. It can be
very difficult to spot elusive small mammal species by simply strolling through the trails, so small
mammal traps will be an effective way of determining some mammalian residents of the property. Also
included in the scope of my research for the near future is some GIS mapping of the property. I plan to
map out all the main trails of the property and possibly sensitive areas of the forest as well which may
be advisable for keeping undisturbed from humans. Beyond my research, one important step will be to
establish a conservation management plan for the property. Aspects of this conservation plan might
include park trail maintenance, the removal of invasive species, waste removal and prevention, posted
signs of sensitive areas, and other elements. There have been several instances of misuse of the
property that I have witnessed, especially in the gravel pit area. Animal carcasses, landscape debris, and
even a boat have been seen dumped onto the property, so a conservation management plan for the
property would be greatly encouraged to minimize such disturbances. Other research which may also
complement the research that I am currently working on are studies such as completing an inventory of
all the bird species which are nesting on the property, and documenting where the nests are within the
forest. This is important information to know when considering the conservation of the property’s
native species. Taking an inventory of the bat species utilizing the property may also be of critical
importance as many of the bat species native to the Fraser Valley are now provincially recognized as
vulnerable or endangered species. These suggestions for future research are just a small representation
of the great variety of potential research and restoration activities on this valuable site.
Acknowledgeable Resources
Anonymous. 2008. British Columbia: The Last Place on Earth. David Suzuki Foundation. Accessible from:<http://www.lastplaceonearth.ca>
BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. 2013. Ministry of Environment – Government of British Columbia.Accessible from: <http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/search.do>
Cox, N. 2010. Guide to Land Protection Tools. Fraser Valley Conservancy. Accessible from:<http://fraservalleyconservancy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Land-Protection-Tools-booklet-Final.pdf>
Henderson, P. and G. Ryder. 2012. Existing Ecological Conditions: Lots 12-16, DL 320 GP2 NWD Plan1560, Township of Langley, British Columbia