A huge group of scientists and local citizens will aim to answer that very question on September 14 and 15 at the annual Ontario BioBlitz.  The Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO) at the University of Guelph has teamed up with the Royal Ontario Museum, the Toronto Zoo, Parks Canada, Ontario Nature, Rouge Park, the Toronto & Region Conservation Authority and the Rouge Valley Conservation Centre to organize this exciting public event. Continue reading “How many species live in Rouge Park?” →

After two months on the road in the BIObus, we’ve collected specimens from seven of Canada’s gorgeous national parks along the east coast. This was my first time going further east than Montreal, so this trip immediately was a series of first experience after first experience for me, which is something that I will appreciate for a long time. We worked hard and for long hours on the RV and accomplished a lot. Continue reading “A Goodbye to the East” →

Today we went for a beautiful canoe trip to a sandy island at the mouth of Kouchibouguacis River. All along the way playful terns were diving in and out of the water, and chasing away the bald eagles that frequently raided their nests. Continue reading “Life on the Coast” →

Another week has passed and with it the BIObus crew says goodbye to another of Canada’s national parks. Prince Edward Island National Park, while relatively small compared to the other parks, was not lacking in unique ecosystems to explore and research. From dunes of the extensive beaches, to sandy swamps, to mixed forests, there was no lack of things to do in P.E.I.. Continue reading “A Whirlwind Of Beetles” →

This has been my second time in Prince Edward Island National Park, and although the national park is small (only 20km²) it has some of the most beautiful salt-water beaches I have ever seen. Being an avid traveler I have been to many beaches, ranging from working on isolated beaches in Costa Rica to living in Surfers Paradise where there are upwards of two million visitors a year. Continue reading “PEI and some of the Original Metal-Heads” →

Another quick week has gone by and we’re on the road again from Kejimkujik to Prince Edward Island. Famed for its mosquitos, clear night skies and Mi’kmaq origins, Kejimkujik National Park did not fail to impress. In an act of sublime timing and luck we were able to arrive in one of Canada’s most ideal spots for night sky viewing during the incredible Perseid meteor shower. Continue reading “Black & Yellow” →

Val (our crew chief) recently tweeted about the huge variety of fungi in Cape Breton Highland, and Kejimikujik was not different! Everywhere we went we saw a variety of different types of fungi. It was only then that I realized that fungi are undervalued by most passerbys. Continue reading “Relationships with Fungi” →

Our week in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park was excellent. Waterfalls, blueberries, mountains, beaches, bogs and the massive Atlantic Ocean were all welcome sights during our time collecting. There were no moose this time around, though I was equally gratified seeing an abundance of amphibians; particularly frogs and salamanders. Continue reading “Green Frogs Along the Bog” →

Over this past week we’ve had a lot of run-ins with fellow insect collector from the amphibian world. The typical adult Redback salamander has a grey body with a redish brown stripe down its back and appeared under most rotting logs and rocks at Cape Breton Highlands National Park. Continue reading “The Redback Salamander” →