COlt. CR. J. CRobe/ttsollvUol\ogeh : g/lO"te CPheQolI

CO{~ecton

1990I

1

The Biological station continues to be an important facilityfor a variety of field trips, especially those associated withfall and winter term field courses. In many cases, this exposureto field work is a key element in stimulating interest in fieldbiology. A tabular summary of conference, meeting and field tripuse of QUBS in 1990 appears later in this report.

On June 25,1990, the newly acquired Wright Tract was dedi­cated. The tract was named the cape-Sauriol Environmental Stud­ies Area, honouring two of the major players in the purchase.Later in this report, there are full details of the acquisitionand the dedication of this important area.

Through the Principal's Development Fund, a new microloggerfor the weather station was purchased. The micrologger (CampbellScientific Model 21XL) has 20 sensory channels, as opposed to 9channels in the old micrologger. In addition, weather data aretransferred to computer via modem link rather than the cumbersometape recorder transfer necessitated by the old system. Lastspring, the addition of a wind direction sensor to the weatherstation funded by Smol Enterprises ($1100 in total) surpassed,thecapacity of our old system, and resulted in elimination of one ofour old sensors. Clearly, greater capacity was needed in thesystem. The new micrologger can be upgraded to 192 channels.The award through the Principal's Development Fund ($4425 in

In teaching activities, QUBS hosted eight modules (sevenfull-time, one, Bats and Caves - Fenton, part-time) in the Ontar­io Universities Program in Field Biology. Titles and enrolmentsfor modules held at QUBS and for the OUPFB program in general arefound in Tables 1 through 3. In addition, Dr. Ed Kott (WilfridLaurier University) brought his field course for senior under­graduates to QUBS for two weeks in late summer. The twelfthedition of the Naturalist's Workshop was held in May (more onthis later).

On average, 36 researchers (professors, graduate students,honours st'udentsand assistants) were in residence throughout thesummer (down from 43 in 1990, but roughly equal to the 37 record­ed in 1988). Abstracts of research projects and personnel in­volved are contained in the following pages.

Nineteen ninety saw a somewhat welcome decline in the numberof user-days recorded at QUBS. This drop was equal to the abruptrise in user-day figures from 1988 to 1989. Between 1988 and1989, there was a 19% increase in user-days, while between 1989and 1990, there was a 20% drop in user-days. Thus, 1990 was areturn to more normal levels of use, 1989 being an anomalous yearof very high levels of use. The large number of research usersin 1989 put a severe strain on the faoilities and staff at thestation. The level of use in 1990 is considered to be close tothe optimum for QUBS. User-day data are displayed in tabularform later in this report.

nrrRODU<:TION

2

The health and safety of QUBS users has always been foremostin the minds of staff. Coupled with the increasing complexity oflife at QUBS and amenities available to users, a new User Guidewas introduced in 1990. This guide outlines all policy mattersand procedures, and presents guidelines for use ot station facil­ities. The guide will be amended as changes are made and updated

total) also allowed the replacement of all sensors. The oldthermistor sensors will now be thermocouples - faster and moreaccurate. The old system can now be used as a portable fieldweather station. In addition, through the QUBS Infrastructuregrant, a modem link for the micrologger end of the system, asolar panel to charge the micrologger battery (dependance on ACwiring in the past has meant huge problems with voltage surgescaused by lightning) and micrologger data support software werepurchased ($985 in total). In fall, the cable link between themicro logger and the computer in the Brown Lab was put in placeand buried. A new base for the weather station was installed.The new system should be fully functional in spring. This newsystem should provide detailed weather data for all QUBS userswithout the time-consuming data transfer steps necessitated bythe old setup. In conjunction with the new oomputing equipment(see below), extensive data collection and analysis will bepossible.

In the course of raising moneys for the purchase of theCape-Sauriol Tract, an approach was made to Hewlett-Packard. Therequest for donations for a capital purchase was unsuccessful,but HP indicated they would be willing to consider a request forcomputer equipment. Floyd put together a proposal which wassubmitted to HP via Mr. Michael van Dusen, Executive Director ofPublic Relations. The proposal was for a 3-computer network,which would (a) provide the basis for collecting, processing,analysing and relaying meteorological data, (b) develop a biolog­ical inventory system with links to GIS (geographical informationsystem) and (c) provide long-term monitoring of chemical andphysical properties of water in and over (precipitation) LakeOpinicon. The proposal was submitted in late fall 1989. Earlyin 1990, we received word that HP had decided to fund theproject. A complete shopping list of items requested was filledout and sent off to HP via Judy Dorak, of the Office of PublicRelations. The equipment arrived at QUBS in fall, with a totalvalue of $49,356! We are beginning to set up the system and thelink to the weather station. We plan to have the system inoperation come spring. A public announcement and dedication ofthe equipment will be forthcoming in May of 1991. The heart ofthe system is the Vectra RS/25C, a 386 computer with 155 Mb harddrive, 8 Mb memory expansion, 120 Mb internal tape backup, 20"colour monitor and two internal modems. The other two computersare vectra £S/12 Model 46 units, 286 level with 42 Mb hard drivesand 14" colour monitor.. All units have math coprocessors, miceand high density 5.25" and 3.5" drives. The system is completedby a SketchPro graphios tablet and a La.erjet III printer. Thisgenerous gift by Hewlett-Packard will oontribute to research andteaching programs at QUBS for many years to oome.

3

During 1990, a number of changes and improvements were madeto QUBS facilities. In no particular order, they were: (1) A newhigh-temperature dishwasher was purchased and installed in therear hallway of the lodge. This addition ensures sanitary dish­washing and makes the dishwashing task much less onerous. (2) Acoin-operated washing machine was installed in the rear laundryarea/storeroom. Finally, fully automatic laundry equipment onsite! (3) In spring, a recycling depot was constructed. Thisdepot, located at the foot of the White House driveway, noar thewoodshed, allows us to recycle newspapers, glass, cans and plas­tic pop bottles. In combination with fine paper collections inthe oomputer room and library, and compost collection in thekitchen, our preliminary recycling initiative has reduced ourlandfill use by over 50\. In 1991, more ambitious programs willbe started to cut down our waste even further. (4) We began toreplace our docks with a new design made of cedar and able tohinge up out of the water for the winter. The prototype workswell, so we will continue with conversion to this new type overthe next couple of years. The removal and installation of dockshas always been a hated task. Once all projecting docks areconverted to the hinge type, spring and fall dock work will bemuch easier. (5) The remodeling of boat 13 was completed. Thisold runabout style boat (large front deck, steering wheel andmotor controls) has been converted to a standard open workboat -much more versatile than the runabout style. (6) A microwaveoven was purchased for use in the kitchen. It has been especial­ly handy for early risers and latecomers to meals. (7) In fall,construction began on a new house for the Assistant Manager.Located along the road to Earl Cottage, it nears completion asthis report is written. The house is small, but fully serviced(electric heat, well, septic system) and at the same time, com­fortable and attractive. Hopefully, Floyd will move in at thefirst of April. Not only does this move provide Floyd withimproved year-round housing, but it frees up cabin 112 for gradu­ate student use, desk space in the upper Brown Lab for a varietyof use. and the White House apartment for off-season use. (8) Toenable the construction of the Assistant Manager's House, we hadto upgrade the Hydro service to Earl Cottage and install centralmetering. This was done in fall. Inside Earl cottage, we re­moved the old 60 amp farm service and installed a circuit-breaker100 amp panel. This serve. to improve the power capacity in Earland paves the way for auxiliary heating in Earl Cottage. (9) Ametal-cutting bandsaw was purohaaed for the workshop in fall.Thia piece of equipment was pressed into immediate servioe in theconstruction of a heavy-duty trailer for the new barge. (10) Toenable the careening of the new barge, the Rappinicon (seebelow), we constructed a ma••ive tandem-wheel trailer. Thismonater amazed everyone by actually doing its job and transport­ing the brobdinqnagian barge into the dooryard at QUBSI (11) Inmid-summer, we removed the old shingles from the lodge and re­roofed the entire building. It seems that we have stopped the

with access maps for the various properties owned by QUBS.Different versions for different types of user will also beforthcoming in 1991.

4

The annual Open House was held on sunday, July 15. Stationregulars hosted over 250 visitors who toured the displays ofresearch projects and species. In late June, the tenth editionof our community Newsletter was delivered to some 700 householdsand cottages in the area. These two public relations efforts areimportant in maintaining contact with the neighbouring community.Many thanks to the regUlars for making these efforts so success­ful. QUBS is now recognized as an asset to the local community.

This year, the Biology Department Picnic was again separatefrom the activities of the Open House. The picnic was held onsaturday, August 18. Despite the early morning threat of rain,

Thanks once again to parks Canada, specifically Mr. JohnBonser, superintendent of the Rideau Canal, QUBS was again pro­vided a courtesy pass for transit of the Rideau Canal locks bythe barge (H.M. Dinah). This pass was most useful for interlakecomparison trips with groups. One hopes that this generositywill extend to both our barges in future.

Bruce Cameron finished work on the new barge, the Rappini­can. This 32-foot steel pontoon boat is hand-built by Bruce anda team of volunteer helpers. Powered by a 256 cu. in. Buickinboard/outboard with Volvo outdrive, the Rappinicon can handletwenty students or a load of sampling gear. Dr. Adele Crowdermade extensive use of the boat in the Bay of Quinte in summer.In late summer and fall, it was extremely useful for the largeteaching groups brought to QUBS for General Ecology and Limnologyfield trips. Especially welcome was the full canvas cover duringdirty weather. Equipped for all types of water, the Rappiniconhas marine radio, lights and radar reflector. This year was oneof shakedown for the vessel. Frank and Bruce are making someminor modifications preparatory to the 1991 season. Bruce Camer­on deserves a huge vote of thanks from QUBS users. The Rappini­can is a fine addition to the fleet!

dozen overhead leaks for the tilDebeing. The reroofing was a bitof a facelift for the old lodge. Now, it doesn't look quite soold and tired as it has for the last few years. (12) In latesummer, the exteriors of the Boathouse and Trilab were painted.Thank you Jens and Rainer for your efforts in this undertaking.From the water, the lakeside buildings look pretty smart. (13)The spreading crack in the concrete sidewall of the Aquarium wasrepaired. A little hydrocement and ingenuity enabled us to fixthis worrysome fault. (14) In spring, a new boat trailer, withvariable-position rollers, was purchased to enable easy transportof boats from site to site. In view of the range of water bodiesaccessed by QUBS researchers, this purchase will greatly improveease of access. (15) In aumme'r, we finished the trim and paint­ing on the workshop. (16) To help with working space in thekitchen, a preparation table with ceramic tile top, fold-downleaves and fitted with casters for mobility, was fabricated.(17) Several of the beds in the small cabins were removed andrebuilt. This should provide a greater degree of comfort forcabin-dwellers.

5

Many thanks to Floyd connor, Assistant Manager at QUBS, forhis many contributions to maintenance, research and teachingprograms at the field station.

Our kitchen staff this year, Sue Graham, Angela Walzl, MargPhelan and Sarah Kalff kept our small army of reeearchers well­fed. Thank you all for a job well done I

Tho now fee schedule for 1991 appears on the last page ofthis report. Current increases reflect inflationary increasesonly (5%). The new Goods and Services Tax will have minimaleffect on cha"rgesfor teaching/research use. However, G.S.T. isapplicable to charges for boat rental, direct sales and all roomand board charges for casual users (not engaged in an approvedcourse of study, fully accredited courses or legitimate researchactivities). Provincial Sales Tax is also applicable to oil usedin boats and to photocopying.

We are attempting to keep a current list of theses andpublications emanating from research carried out at QUBS. Thisis especially important for 1991 since we will have to reapplyfor NSERC Infrastrusture funding this year. Please forwardcopies of theses (we will have them bound) and articles (or atleast the citation of same) as they become available. It is hopedthat principal investigators will update their publications listthis year preparatory to submitting the new NSERC grant applica­tion.

Dr. Raleigh Robertson once again organized the seminarseries at QUBS. The visiting scientist seminars are a highlightof this series. In general, the seminars are a most interestingfacet of life at the field station, providing a forum for theexpression of ideas and allowing interchange between all re­searchers on an array of biological topics. The list of speakersand topics appears in tabular form later in this report.

In 1990, Or. David Ankney (Department of Biology, Universityof Western Ontario) was invited to come to QUBS as a "visitingfield scientist". Through the generosity of Or. Tony Eastham(Vice-Principal of Graduate studies and Research), we were ableto host Dave and sandy for the week of July 1 through 8. Duringthis time, Dave presented two seminars on his current researchand interacted vigorously, as he is wont to do, with stationregulars. It was most enjoyable for QUBS regulars, and for Daveand Sandy too, we hope. To hear an applied approach to biologi­cal research was of great interest to many involved in theoreti­cal research. Many of Dave's interests are with management­oriented topics. Congratulations, Dave, on your recent electionto the presidency of the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunt­ers. Conservation and education are two of your pet topics andwe hope that your term of office will allow furtherance of thesethemes with sportsmen, researchers and game managers alike.

the afternoon was pleasant. Some 42 staff and students turnedout for the event.

6

In keeping with environmental awareness, this report isprinted on recycled paper.

The cover design is the T-shirt contest winning design for1990, created by Karen Metz.

Sadly, one of our long-time regulars, Dr. Richard S. Miller,died on october 12, 1990. Rick had been engaged in research onhummingbirds at QUBS over the past several years. Rick had beenthe supervisor of Dr. Raleigh Robertson's thesis work at Yale andof Floyd Connor's thesis work at University of Saskatoon. Hiswit and wisdom will be much missed at QUBS. Many of us at QUBShave fond memories of visits to QUBS by Rick and Jane, and weexpress our sincere condolences to Jane, Jim, Rick Jr. and theirfamilies.

Thanks also to Dave Fleming for his assistance with opera­tions. Dave's talents have been in large part responsible forthe good state of repair and appearance of QUBS facilities:

Two of our long-time station regulars, Dr. Pat Weatherheadand Karen Metz, were married on August 4, 1990, in Kitchener­Waterloo. Many QUBS regulars, past and present were in attend­ance to offer best wishes. Congratulations from all at QUBS!

7

The importance of having ownership and hence control overthis extensive shoreline area i. enormous. For those of us whostudy ecology, or behavioural ecology, or population biology, or

The tract of land that we dedicate encompasses approximatelyBOO acres with more than seven miles of shoreline on Opinicon,Hart, and Pothole Lakes. Although the land has many featureswhich make it interesting to biologists, such as varied topogra­phy and several habitat types, its outstanding feature is clearlyits extensive and diverse shoreline. On Opinicon, it includesthe steep, rocky shoreline of Joe's point, the gentle, slopingshore near Pothole Lake, the shallOW areas of Deadlock Bay, andthe deep bays and islands at the south end of the property whereit joins the Hughson Tract. On Pothole Lake, there are theshallow waters Which are important habitat to a variety of spe­cies of aquatic plants, as well as many birds and mammals, andthe stream habitat which connects opinicon to Lower Rock Lake.On Hart Lake, there is a magnificent rocky point, with precipi­tous shorelines, as well as the extensive marshes and wetlandsalong the LOughborough Lake Creek.

"The purpose of this ceremony is to formally dedicate, toconservation, education, and research, a large tract of landwhich Queen's University has just acquired to become part of theQueen's University Biological station. In addition to dedicat­ing the land, we want to acknowledge the financial and othercontributions which have made this acquisition possible.

This is a very exciting event for those of us involved inteaching and research at the Queen's University Biological sta­tion, and for all of us who are concerned about conservation andthe preservation of natural habitats. I believe this event marksa very significant example of how the university, with its rolein both education and the development of new knowledge, canteam-up with people and agencies committed to conservation andeducation, and accomplish goals that will have far-reachingeffects in fostering programmes that will lead to a better under­standing of our natural environment and its resources.

The official dedication of the John M. Cape -Charles SauriolEnvironmental Studies Area was held at the Queen's UniversityBiological Station on 25 June 1990. The ceremony was held on thefront lawn, in among the cherry trees. An attempt was made toinvite all those who had a hand in the acquisition - from thosewho wrote letters of support to various funding agencies to thoseactively involved in fund-raising and negotiations. It was anenjoyable day, with pleasant sunshine and a tremendous turnoutfor the dedication ceremony. Following is the text of the ad­dress given by Raleigh J. Robertson, Director, QUBS, on theoccasion of the dedication.

JOD M. CAPB - CHARLES SAORIOL ZNVIRONKEllTAL STUDIES AREA

Mr. Charles Sauriol

Left:

Dr. David Dennis,Mr. John Heney,Mr. Doug Thomes,Dr. Rod Frasor,Mr. David Cape,Ms. Val Nogas,Mr. Charles Sauriol,Dr. Raleigh Robertson,Mr. Frank Phelan.

Top, Left to Right:

B

9

First, Henry Wright and his brother Sherwood, along withthree other shareholders of this property, recognized that thisarea would be of great value to the field station. They setaside their own plans for developing this area, and generouslymade it available to the university at a very reaaonable price.They also were very patient and considerate in dealing with theuniversity in what was at times a rather drawn-out land transac­tion. This property was originally purohased by their fatherfollowing World War I, for the purposea of improving the qualityof quarter horses by this energetic and idealistic cavalryman.Henry and Sherwood spent many of their younger years on thisland, and still have a strong emotional attaohment to the area.To aoknowledge and commemorate their oontribution, we plan toestablish a permanent photographic display here at the Station

It is a great pleasure to acknowledge the help of a largenumber of individuals and organizations who made it possible forQueen's to acquire this property. I would like to mention thesein the approximate order of their involvement.

My experience over the last nearly 20 years at QUBS has madeit obvious that with preSGures of population continuing to grow,and an increasing affluence and emphasis on recreation, it wouldbecome increasingly difficult to find undisturbed areas in thevicinity of the Biological Station to conduct field studies.Five years ago, Hart Lake was remote and undeveloped, with nocottages and little activity. Now there is a cottage there andlikely to be several more. Last year we worked in the NortheastSanctuary without any evidence of human activity. This yearthere is a house being built that overlooks the entire area. Twoyears ago, the area where Mark Forbes worked on Boundary Pond wasremote from any human influence. This year there is a housebeing built on the edge of that study site. These pressures ofdevelopment will continue to grow. During the past 15 years, wehave been fortunate to have the support of the University inacquiring the Hughson and Bonwill Tracts, which greatly expandedour potential for terrestrial studies on areas where we couldcontrol the fate of the habitat. Now, with the acquisition ofthe wright Property, we have a long stretch of shoreline thatwill guarantee students and researchers in the near and distantfuture that the habitats needed for inshore aquatic studies willbe available without the threat of disturbance.

community ecology, or evolutionary ecology, the field is ourlaboratory. Unlike many other approaches to biology, such asphysiology, or molecular biology, or cellular biology, where thescientists bring their organisms of interest into the laboratory,the field biologist seeks to understand how the organism, orpopulation, or community functions and interacts in its naturalenvironment. Only in this way can we learn how human impacts onnatural environments will influence these biological systems, andhow we can minimize those detrimental influences. To do thesekinds of studies, we must have natural habitats where we can makeobservations, or do controlled experimental manipulations, with­out the threat of having the study disrupted.

10

Fourth, Mrs. John B. Pangman, Mrs. Dorothy Bullen, and Mrs.Betty Burton, made important financial contributions that wereboth vital in helping us reach the goal of $300,000. needed topurchase this property, but also in providing matching fundsrequired to obtain money from foundations. I want to sincerelythank Mrs. pangman, Mrs. Bullen, and Mrs. Burton for their com­mitment to conservation and education, and for their confidencein this project.

Finally, two organizations have made large financial contri­butions that were essential to our being able to purchase thisproperty. The Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows has awarded us$50,000. toward this purchase. This contribution demonstratesthe strong commitment of the Sportsmen's Shows to conservationeducation, and I want to acknowledge the important part theircontribution made in helping us achieve our goal. I hope thatour programme at the station will help them achieve their goal ofimproving understanding of the natural environment. (Mrs. ValerieNogas, Administrator - Philanthropic Division of Canadian Nation-

Third, Mr. Charles sauriol, who is an extremely dedicated,enthusiastic, energetic, and effective conservationist, as wellas an outstanding individual, played a very large role in helpingto raise additional funds for this project. Mr. Sauriol has beena source of great inspiration to me. Back in 1984, when he wasSpecial Advisor to the Nature Conse.rvancyof Canada, Mr. Sauriolnot only helped us raise money for the acquisition of the BonwillTract, but he provided an important example of what could beaccomplished through a strong commitment to conservation. Mr.Sauriol was responsible for obtaining three important financialcontributions for the acquisition of the wright Property. I wantto thank him for his efforts on our behalf, and it gives me greatpleasure to be able to acknowledge his help by having his namealso a part of this new Environmental Studies Area. (Mr. Sauriolwas introduced).

Second, Brigadier General John M. cape, who made a largefinancial contribution to Queen's, for use in studies and pro­grams dealing with the environment, very kindly and generouslyagreed that his contribution should be used to help with thisacquisition. Mr. Cape has a very deep concern about man's impacton the environment. His financial contribution is evidence of astrong commitment to helping solve some of these environmentalproblems. I believe Mr. Cape's contribution was pivotal to ourefforts to raise money for this acquisition in that it made itclear to other individuals and agencies that this project wasgoing to succeed. His contribution gave us a great deal ofleverage needed to obtain other funds that would not have come toQueen's in the absence of this project. For this reason, we arepleased and proud to have Mr. Cape's name be part of this newEnvironmental Studies Area. (Mr. David Cape, who attended thededication on behalf of his father John M. Cape, was introduced).

depicting some of the early days on this property. (Henry a.ndAnne Wright were introduoed).

11

A plaque, naming the John M. Cape - Charles Sauriol Environ­mental Studies Area was unveiled.

Patrick Colgan, Acting Head, Department of Biology, Queen'sUniversity

Mr. Charles Sauriol

Rod Fraser, Vice Principal Resources, Queen's University

Val Nogas, Administrator - Philanthropic, Canadian NationalSportsmen's Shows

Doug Thomas, Board Member, ontario Heritage Foundation

And lastly, there are several people at Queen's that I wantto acknowledge. Frank Phelan, QUBS Manager, provided lots ofhelp in developing proposals, and making contact with people andagencies that was instrumental in gaining the support necessaryto raise the money necessary for this project. Without Frank'shelp, this job would have been much more difficult. I also wantto thank those who wrote letters of support, including DavePhilipp, Pat Weatherhead, Allen Keast, Bruce Smith, Mart Gross,Roger Lupton, Don Cuddy, the cataraqui Conservation Authority,and Parks Canada. This strong show of support was critical toour obtaining the financial support we required. John Heney, theDirector of Development at Queen's, deserves special credit, be­cause he recognized the importance of obtaining the initialfunding that would make this project succeed. Mr. Heney and RodFraser, vice-Principal of Resources at Queen's, willingly cooper­ated in the decision that the contribution from Mr. Cape shouldbe used for this purpose. I want to thank both Mr. Heney and Mr.Fraser for their help. David Dennis, Head of the Department ofBiology, also deserves a great deal of credit for his willing andenthusiastic support of this project. And finally, I want toacknowledge the help of Dee Wilson, Assistant to VP Fraser, forher efficient handling of a large number of proposals, negotia­tions, phone calls, etc. I'm sure that she will breathe a largesigh of relief now that this project is completed."

After these remarks, the following special guests wereintroduced and addressed the audience of some 200 students,researchers, representatives from Queen's, friends and neighboursof the Station.

The Ontario Heritage Foundation also awarded us $50,000.under its Natural Heritage Challenge Grant Programme. Thisprogramme, which is designed to help organizations acquire areaswhich will help conserve Ontario's natural heritage, promises tomake an important contribution to conservation and protection ofthe natural environment in this province. We are very gratefulto OHF for this contribution. (Mr. Doug Thomas, representing theontario Heritage Foundation, was introduced).

al Sportsmen's Shows was introduced).

12

(1) Four days after the dedication, it was confirmed thatthe McLean Foundation, through the efforts of Mr. Sauriol, hadcontr ibuted $25,000. to Queen I s for the purchase of t.heWrightProperty. This contribution brought the total funds raised to$300,000., the full purchase price of the property.

(2) On September 12, 1990, Mr. Cape, his wife and daughterwere accompanied by Mr. Heney to the field station. It was adelight to meet Mr. cape in person and to show him and his familyaround the station. In late afternoon, we took a barge tour ofthe shoreline from Deadlock Bay to the southernmost part of theCape-Sauriol Environmental Studies Area on Lake Opinicon. Wewere most pleased that Mr. Cape and his family were able to seefirst-hand the beautiful and valuable piece of property that hisgenerous donation enabled QUBS to purchase. Mr. Cape is a vi­sionary where conservation and education are concerned. FutureQUBS users will share in his vision and benefit greatly from hisgenerosity.

FootDotes:

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Raleigh and Frank tooksome of the dignitaries on a tour of the Opinicon shoreline. Itwas a breezy but pleasant tour, and succeeded in conveying someof the diversity of the shoreline and our enthusiasm for theproject.

13

In 1990, the trend in module themes toward environmentalconsideration continued. Our traditional work with keys andvegetation took on a new twist. The vegetation surveys performedin 1963-64 by Dr. Walter Sheppe (University of Akron) on SheepIsland were re-done. After 25 years, species diversity was

This year's team of instructors was headed by Dr. AdeleCrowder and Dr. Jim Pringle (Queen's - Biology and Royal Botani­cal Gardens, respectively). Thanks to both for their continuinginvolvement. The workshop remains a success because of thedevotion of time and effort of all our instructors: Floyd Connor(QUBS), Dr. Francis cook (National Museum of Natural Sciences),Jennifer Harker (M.M. Dillon Consultants), Dr. Allen Keast(Queen's - Biology), Dr. Sandra McBride (Queen's - Geologicalsciences), Frank Phelan (QUBS), Dr. David Philipp (IllinoisNatural History Survey), Dr. Laurene Ratcliffe (Queen's - Biolo­gy), Dr. Raleigh Robertson (Queen's - Biology) and Dr. BruceSmith (Ithaca College). A special thank you is extended to theBiology Station regulars - workshop participants benefit greatlyfrom experiencing an active biological research station andinteraction with avid researchers.

Two scholarships were awarded to workshop participants. TheKingston Field Naturalists offer a scholarship, the stirrettscholarship, to one applicant who might, because of financialconsiderations, not otherwise be able to attend the workshop.Through the generosity of one of our workshop alumni, ShannonMCCorquodale, the Biological Station is able to offer a scholar­ship to one participant. The McCorquodale scholarship is awardedto a student or senior citizen each year. These scholarshipsprovide an important opportunity for individuals to participatewhen financial considerations alone might dictate otherwise.Many thanks to the continued generosity of our scholarship spon­sors.

The week-long workshop was held from May 19 through May 26in 1990. Despite limiting enrolment to 18, this year, numberscrept up to 22 participants with the last-minute addition of thetwo German forestry students, Jens and Reiner. Participants inthe workshop represented a cross-section of interest groups: twoteachers, three students, nine amateur naturalists, five stafffrom Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, two from conservationauthorities/outdoor education centers and one professional natu­ral history author/photographer.

Naturalist's workshop 1990

In 1990, the twelfth edition of the naturalist's workshopwas held. As usual, the workshop was filled to capacity. Itseems that the demand for such a program continues to rise.Hopefully, this is a reflection of changing values and interests.A new environmental consciousness is stimulating interest innatural history and environmental issues. It was in this spiritthat the naturalist's workshop was established.

14

Plans for 1991 are finalised. The theme of the 1991 versionof the naturalist's workshop involves a comparison of disturbedand undisturbed environ.ments. With each taxon examined, we willattempt a comparison of effects of disturbance (esp. cultural) onlocal species and habitats. Hopefully, a better understanding ofthe effects of disturbance will be gained by workshop partici­pants.

Dr. Laurene Ratcliffe's segment on bird song continues to bea highlight of the workshop. This added dimension to birding -the function of song and its role in communication stimulatesinterest in even the most avid birder. The teohnology of record­ing and analysing sounds is also of great interest and enables anappreciation for the rishness and variety of bird song. We hopethat we can convince Laurene to become a regular at the work­shops.

In keeping with a growing interest in environmental ecology,our day-long field trip on Friday was a traverse of the NapaneeRiver watershed. Starting at the headwaters in the Depot Lakesand following the watershed to its end at the Bay of Quinte,consideration was made of the impacts of human development andenterprise on water quality through the watershed. Dr. SandrsMcBride was invaluable for information on geology of the area.Jenny Harker provided insight into human impacts through herongoing work as an environmental consultant. Thanks also to EdAdams of the Napanee Conservation Authority for sharing hisexperience in the watershed with our workshop participants.

higher, but not vastly different. The distribution of plants andspecies abundances were significantly different, clearly demon­strating the progress of succession on this small island.

Despite horrible weather, an excursion was made to PrinceEdward Point to study spring bird migration. At first, there wasserious doubt that any birds would be seen. However, the harshweather had grounded many migrants in the woodlots on the pointand because of the weather, close approach could be made to manyindividuals. Overall species diversity was down from usual, butclose encounters with deer and birds sheltering from the stormmade for a successful outing.

15

What were some of the Lake Opinicon findings as to how lakecommunities are oomposed and function? Most, of course, agreewith the comprehensive findings being developed over time and awide range of systems. The Opinicon studies are, however, uniquein that they represent a relatively complete data set derivedfrom an individual system. Patterns were determined for thewhole, moreover, we explored aspects (e.g. prey resources, 8ea-

In 1991, it is interesting to look back on the major inputof research at Queen's University Biological Station on LakeOpinicon to understand how aquatic systems function. The fieldstation was ideally positioned for such studies. Founded in 1946as a training base for undergraduates, by the 1960's it was amajor cetrre of research in areas as diverse as the aetiology ofbiting insects, microhabitats and plant distribution, smallmammal ecology and paleolimnology (the history of lakes as deter­mined by profiles punched down through the sediment). The writ­er's studies on fish biology, feeding and habitat use, initiatedin 1961, were a natural extension of such programs. The initialooncept investigated: Why do lakes contain the numbers andeoologioal kinds of fish species that they do? What feeding andhabitat specializations serve to permit many species to ocourtogether? What are their growth rates and to what sizes do theygrow? What are their spawning times? Do differences in bodyform channel the species to different ways of life? What habi­tats and food resouroes are necessary to larval fish, juvenilesand adults of different species? In retrospect, the choice ofsubject was propitious. It is interesting to look back to the1960's and 1970's because many of the aspects of fish biology onwhich data were painstaking gathered in those years are nowcentral to modern conservation philosophy. Further, several ofthe research methods developed or refined, such as the taking ofunderwater fish counts using face mask and snorkel or SCUBA, arenow in wide use in the formulation of environmental impact state­ments.

Today, the quality of our freshwater environment and theconservation of aquatic resources are major issues. Environmen­tal impact studies are a prerequisite to most developmentprojects. Shoreline cottage development and pollution by boatsare regulated. This is absolutely essential. Canada has thegreatest areas of freshwater of any country, a wonderful resourcethat provides us with ample fresh drinking water, electric powerand extensive areas for sport and recreation. Today, it isappreciated that primary research is needed to understand howsystems function and that regulations must be built on thisprecise data base. Significantly, the courts are now demandingthis. The days of the "expert opinion" a~one, in settling courtcases, are gone.

Dr. J. Allen Ke••t

The Role of The Biological Station in Understanding AquaticEnvironments, Thirty Ye.rs ot Research

16

Age classes of fish also differ in habitat use patterns.Larval sunfish and bass, after rising from their shoreline nests,spend two to four weeks in the inshore open waters. Young Blue­gill a.ndPumpkinseed then move to the weedy shallows where theyspend their juvenile period and the next couple of years. Bycontrast, juvenile Largemouth Bass concentrate in the sandy, andto some extent weedy, shallows. As adults, they wander through­out the lake in search of sunfish, Golden Shiners and other prey.Thus, habitat needs differ from species to species and with ageof fish. To maintain a healthy and functioning system, a diver­~ of habitats must be available. Shoreline and cottage devel­opment projects must take this into account. Replacement of weedby open water will disadvantage the young of many speCies, butwould have little influence on adult Largemouth Bass. Siltingand the aggregation of silt in crevices in the rocks is deleteri­ous to young Smallmouth and Rock Bass that require this type ofhabitat, but the same silt could favour weed growth important toyoung sunfish.

One of the more interesting facets of these studies is howfish differ in their seasonal ecology. Lake Opinicon fish, likethose of other water bodies in the Great Lakes region, fall into"warm-water" and "cold-water" species: those of southern origin

What kinds of habitat are necessary to fish? How do thedifferent species and age classes of fish use habitat at anygiven time, by night as compared to day, and seasonally? Toaddress these questions, we developed a direct method of countsof fish in different habitats (e.g. sandy vs. rocky vs. weedyareas), and rela.tive to water depth, by monitoring fish occur­rence along strips of yellow rope anchored on the bottom. swim­mers moved along these transects recording results on underwaterslates, both by day and by night. At night, powerful underwaterflashlights were employed. The field work was carried out byJennifer Harker, Debbie Turnbull and the writer. It was foundthat there was a great degree of spatial separation of fishspecies on the basis of habitat, and that occurrence of fishoften changed markedly between day and night, and with season.The littoral zone (shoreline strip up to a depth of about 2.5m.), with its good development of weed and, associated with waveand current action, excellent oxygenation, has nearly three timesthe number of fish species and five times the biomass of fish asthe midlake open waters. Some species limit themselves to spe­cific habitats, (e.g. the 50-70 mm. long Black-chinned Shinerkeeps to the weedy shallows while the Golden Shiner inhabitsopen, weedy areas in the 2-4 m. depth zone). Both of the above­mentioned species are important prey species of Largemouth Bassand Northern Pike, two important game species. Rock Bass andPumpkinseed Sunfish keep inshore, the former liking rocky andweedy areas, the latter, sandy ones. Alewife occur only in mid­lake. Bluegill Sunfish, habitat generalists, occur in all zones.

sonal variation in prey, and fish responses to these) that otherinvestigators had neglected. A few of the Lake Opinicon findingsmay be briefly summarized and related to a wider perspective.

17

Over the thirty years I have been working on aquatic systemsat Lake Opinicon, we have generated Bome 50 research papers inscientific journals. Chapters have been contributed to books.Results havs been reviewed at international symposia as farafield as Finland, France, New Zealand and South Africa. Ofcourse, we have contributed annually within North America.

Graduate students trained at the station are now dispersedin important positions. To give just a few examples: JohnEadie, Francois Chapleau and Michael Fox are now professors atScarborough College of University of Toronto, University ofOttawa and Trent University, respectivaly. Richard Winterbottom

Possibly the major contribution made, in the 30 years ofresearch on Lake opinicon, is aligning such intricacies within aquantitative framework. Not only do species use 'habitat and fooddifferently, but the fish are arrayed in a seasonal context. Anunexpected finding was that young, as a result of staggeredbreeding times, are produced in sequential fashion (at least inthose years when water temperatures warm gradually). Pike andperch spawn in April. Black Crappie and Largemouth Bass spawn inMay, Rock Bass and Pumpkinseed Sunfish in late May through earlyJune and Bluegill Sunfish in June and July. This proves to beimportant in survival since newly-hatched young of all specieshave small mouths and limited swimming ability and are heavilydependent on a single type of prey, tiny copepods and the small­est cladocerans. By sequencing their appearance in the system,the young of different species minimize competition for foodresources.

that feed and grow only at temperatures of 20 degrees Celcius andabove, and that breed late (end of May into July), are the for­mer. The latter, of northern origin, feed at lower temperatures(Pike and Yellow Perch are the most common species caught throughthe ice) and spawn early (April and May). Since warm-waterspecies feed max,imally in midsummer and cold-water species feedless when temperatures are warm, there is some separation in timeof maximum food consumption, reducing competition for food. Wefound that warm-water species only grow from early June to mid­August.

As part of the seasonality component, the seasonal abundancecycles of all the major benthic (lake bottom) and water-columninvertebrates was documented over several years. Diets of fishwere studied in relation to available prey. Neads of fish areparticularly great in May (after the long winter fast) and June(when they are growing and laying down body fat for the nextwinter). Young fish, in particular, need large amounts of foodfrom May through August. They must be able to reach a size WhiChwill enable their overwinter survival. A healthy ecosystem isnecessary to produce a wide range of food types, each recurringat predictable times. Subtle deleterious effects (e.g. lowlevels of pollution that target sensitive invertebrates) canpotentially lead to food shortages, winter death and populationdeclines.

18

A study planned for Lake opinicon will parallel one carried

Where do we go from here? There is a need, for one thing,to initiate new, expanded studies to produce better quantitativeresults in systems under threat, or that are scheduled for devel­opment. It is an embarrassment to find oneself trying to provideprofessional advice on systems about which one knows little. Tomention but two examples: (1) A couple of years ago, Kingstonwas given a huge breakwater by the Federal Government. It nowencloses a basin designed to house 1200 boats in summer. But,the breakwater has cut off the shoreline currents. The westernwall is penetrated only by one pipe, one meter in diameter,resulting in dead water. What is the effect on water quality andfish populations? (2) Plans are afoot for a new bridge acrossthe cataraqui River, connecting Montreal street with Highway 15.How will this affect the river system?

New studies are proposed for this coming summer to documentthe arrival of Zebra Mussels in the Cataraqui River system. Thismussel rapidly grows to cover exposed substrates and extractshuge quantities of phytoplankton, the food of most zooplankton,from the water column. Poor growth of zooplankton, as a result,implies poor growth of fish and fish populations. The study willmesh with work being carried out by the Ministry of NaturalResources and American agencies studying the huge populations ofZebra Mussels in Lakes Michigan and Erie and the western end ofLake ontario.

The number of such individuals, is, of course, dwarfed bythe hundreds of stUdents who have contributed their services assummer research students, or who have taken field courses in fishecology or limnology. They are now widely dispersed, sharingtheir experiences, especially through the park systems and asteachers. Each May, the station offers a one-week course onfield identification and ecology, covering both aquatic andterrestrial environments. The Naturalists' Workshop is a train­ing program of great value to natural resource agency personneland parks interpreters.

is a senior scientist at the Royal onta.rioMuseum. Karen Brownis Director of Fish Habitat with the Federal Government (Depart­ment of Fisheries and Oceans) in Ottawa. Karen oversees bothmarine and freshwater systems and, earlier, was instru.mental inthe development of marine parks. Jennifer Harker is chief fish­eries biologist and a partner of the firm with M.M. Dillon andAssociates, a large engineering/environmental consulting firm.Jenny assesses the potential impacts of such major developmentsas new bridges, road and rail systems, sewerage and drainageworks on aquatic systems in different parts of Canada. DebbieTurnbull has initiated and supervised million-dollar fish farmingprojects in Thailand through the International Development Agen­cy. Lois Deacon is chief fisheries assessment officer for theOntario Ministry of Natural Resources in the Lindsay area.George Duckworth, also with OMNR, is in charge of fisheries inthe extensive segment of ontario from Cochrane to James Bay.

19

The value of accumulated data from detailed, comparativefield studies cannot be underestimated. If we know so littleabout common fish species, how little do we know about lesscommon species and their roles in the community? How can wemake informed decisions concerning development and culturalimpacts without the knowledge gained from field research?

An important, current study, on the spawning of the commer­cially important Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, is being carriedout by the Manager of the Biological station, Frank Phelan, andby David Philipp from the Illinois Natural History Survey atsites in the St. Lawrence River, Charleston Lake and Lake Opini­con. One of the important components is to relate spawning timesof bass to the opening of the fishing season, which hitherto, hasbeen arbitrarily set. Smallmouth Bass spawn in depressions ingravel and rocks. Largemouth Bass nest in softer bottoms nearunderwater structure (e.g. weeds, logs). Eggs are guarded by themales, who defend them from predators and fan them to provideoxygen and to keep them from being fouled by silt. One canreadily locate nests by seeking out the males. These species,then, readily lend themselves to underwater study using SCUBA andsnorkelling techniques. The first season's results were somewhatunexpected. The breeding season varies considerably from onewater body to the next: In the st. Lawrence, with its cool watertemperatures, it is very late, extending well into the currentfishing season. Males were observed to guard schools of fryafter they rise into the water column considerably longer thanhad been thought. This is a further consideration for regulatingthe open fishing season. What happens to young if the protectiveadult male is hooked and removed before completion of parentalduties ?

out some years ago on the introduced Eurasian water Milfoil,Myriophyllum spicatum, and its impact on fish and their preyresources. Results of this latter study have been drawn upon asfar afield as British Columbia.

[•

{•

i!1':os<··=:

•

~N

N

..

e

o

•

~,

•

..

..a

e

e

..

::~,

20

::

....N

......

....N

e..N

N

--- ---------

l'v

::

e

..

..•

e

..

•

-~p'o a;_ .!.

..

..

..

..a

a

•

..

•

..

..

..~

..

•

I'"

•i=

,

s::'••..;;F•i

r:.-

i5'··0"

~••~•E

~•

Q

..

o

o

;;

~c

D

•

o

.F.-- ,.-" .!

•

•

..

..D

..

..

nf.-:. :•~

='1< "ii~ 'il

t!

•

-=• •ii."~

:;

D

Q

..;;

c

o

o

•;;

D

D

c

2l

o

e

o

o

o

Q

Q

e

•

D

D

=

~~

o

o

N•

Q

D

o

o

~-" .."~ a~:;.-" ..-~l~

..Q

Q

Q

Q

!r

~N

o

o

•

•

o

•

•&'~•

t•[

!

Q

..

e

D

D

c

•

,e

•

..

N ~ i!''"'_ !; .... .. .... " ...... 0-'" 0 0 ~ C C C s•• ~C~ ~ ~ r- ~.... -. .., • '" < C

0 .. ;; < ~ - - E • - '-.... .. .. ~0 .. ;; i c: '" '" '" ... ....e .. ~ ~ c~

" 0- a. c: Sa~" ~ " ~ ....~

Co~!l N~ .. • g " ..." 0

"''' ~ " e <:.. • a. - e r ~ ~ ".. "'- " ;; • • "•• M ~ ~ ~ ~ .... .. .., .. .. " '" '"s ~ s- o· .. l!- e '"a. :; '" '".. " e g-o- " - 0.

'" " '" !i ~.~ !O0>-o " r "e " - ~

" " '" s N ~N " ;;'" N '" '" " c~ a. ". ...

0- "'" " c- e .. ...... " .. '" zr~ "0- .. 0- ~, " " 9 n !?:D~

..... " ., ...."''' N 0- ;; ..mc> co .. N .... '" .... co " .... 0'.. .. .. .. s~ a.

;:~ ~ " so~ .... -~ <.. '" ....'" ~ N - ".. •• s N .. '" ., .,.... ,.. "!; " .... '" ...." ....- .... ;;.~ '" ~ " co

l:! '" '" ., "'" co 0- - - R... .... '" .. '" N .. ~'" ..N co 0

'".... N .,? f e.. $>i •• l> =... ....

S' ~ .... " "S' .," ..,...

~ -c ..'"g: '" .... c,e

0- 0- ., '"0- N ::; t;; s ....N '" 0~ 0-V e 0

'"-e....cf ......

N .. " .. '"l> '" .. :!. '"'" a !"

c....0- ~ ~C) Q .....

....0- N - ~Q C '" ,~

f ....0

~ ....••.. .... ;- '"N .. '" i.. '" '" l~ ....0-at;' ....

0

i ......N 0- 0-

I;; '" ...... :' in'" '" .. 0-.. ....c>......•

22

23

stephen Murphy and Liett. Vasseur - "The Biology of Hepaticaacutiloba DC. and H. all)ericana(DC.) Iter. (Ranunoulaceaa)"

This project is designed to exall)inethe short- and long-termsurvival of Hepatica, a spring ephemeral that is near its north­ern limit within the lands of QUBS. Current experiments aredesigned to test whether the two "species" listed above are moreproperly varieties of one species. This particular controversyhas existed for some 90 years, however, no study has quantita­tively expressed the potential for hybridization. Pollinationexperiments indicate that hybridization may be common between thetwo "species". An electrophoretic study is planned to test thehypothesis that many individuals within the populations at QUBSare truly inter-varietal "hybrids".

Comparisons will be made with populations at other latitudesto assess the response of this genus to conditions at its north­ern limits. Thus far, it has been discovered that the pollinatorassemblage at QUBS is markedly small when compared to pollinatorsavailable at more southerly latitudes. This will have a stronginfluence on the breeding system of Hepatica at QUBS.

stephen Murphy - "The Oocurrenoe and consequenoes of Interspecif­io Pollen Transfer: Allelopathio Pollen in PhleUl!!pratense 1.. andthe BieraciUl!!I.. Aggregate." - Ph.D. Thesis.

contrary to popular belief, pollination in angiosperms isnot always effioient. There are many examples of pollen transferbetween species belonging to different genera. One of the conse­quences of such transfer is the inhibition of reproductive suc­cess in the species that receives the pollen from "allelopathic"species. In vitro evidence suggests that the pollen of Phleumpratense (Poaceae), Hieracium aurantiacum, H. floribundurn and H.pratense (Asteraceae) may contain phytotoxins ("allelochemicals")that reduce pollen germination and seed set in such species asAgropyron repens (Poaceae) and Medicago sativa (Fabaceae).

The field studies at QUBS are designed to test whether thein vitro effect is ecologically relevant. Pollen transfer hasbeen manipulated using isolation bags and individuals have beencensused for the quantity and identity of foreign pollen on theirstigmata. The results from in situ experiments indicate thatallelopathic pollen may be an important means of competing withinthe grass community and possibly within the dicot community aswell. Future experiments will examine the yearly variation inthe response to allelopathic pollen and test for variation in itsimportance between communities.

"Plant populations and Aspeots of Plant Reproduction"

OR. LONNIE AARSSEN

I. RESEARCH BY QUEEN'S UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND STAFF

ABSTRACTS OF RESEARCH CONDUCTED AT QUBS IN 1990

24

Gotceitas, V. 1990. Variation in plant stem density and itseffects on foraging success of juvenile bluegill sunfish. Envi­ronmental Biology of Fishes 27: 63-70

Gotceitas, V. 1990. Foraging and predator avoidance: a testof a patch choice model with juvenile bluegill sunfish. Occologia83: 346-351.

In 1990, Lake Opinicon was the source of bluegill sunfishand largemouth bass for laboratory studies on feeding behavior byJanice Frame and Susan Howard (research assistants), Gita Ramon(Hon. B.Sc. student) and Jim Kieffer (M.Sc. student).

PulIlicational

"Pield Ethology of Fish"

DR. P.W. COLGAN

Taylor, D.W. and L.W. Aarssen. 1990. complex competitiverelationships among genotypes of three perennial grasses: Impli­cations for species coexistence. Am. Nat. 136:

PUblications:

Studies on the compensatory response of plants to herbivoryhave not specifically addressed the effects of apex removalalone. The purpose of this work was to determine whether somelocal herbaceous species have apical dominance, and to examinet.heeffect of apex removal on plant architecture, biomass produc­tion and reproductive potential under field conditions. Shootapices and young expanding leaves were removed from common st.Johnswort and White Sweet Clover in an abandoned quarry, and fromCommon Ragweed growing in an open field. A shaded roadsidepopulation of Common Bedstraw was similarly treated. competitorswere periodically removed when necessary throughout the growingseason, and all plants were harvested by October 1990.

Preliminary analyses suggest that removal of the shoot apexdid not significantly affect reproductive potential and biomassbut largely affected growth form in most species studied. Fur­ther data analyses are currently in progress.

Deborah Irwin - "CoillpensatoryRellpon.e to Simulated Berbivory ofthe Shoot Apez" - M.Sc. Thesis.

For the long-term, demographic studies have been initiatedto compare populations of Hepatica in North America with popula­tions in northern Europe and Japan. As yet, there have been noattempts to examine demographic trends in this perennial, long­lived genus (individuals may live up to 400 years). Despite thepotential length of its life span, it is possible to elucidatemany of the demographic trends in Hepatica and the present studyhas already succeeded in obtaining an age-structure for thepopulations at QUBS.

25

since 1975, we have monitored vegetation in fields of threeages, using twenty-seven large plots. The data base has now beentransferred to the mainframe computer by Catherine Vardy, priorto analysis. Parts of the data set have been previously used forstudies on herbivory.

During the summer, two sets of field data were gathered.Catherine Vardy and Dawn Oswald collected and analysed soilsamples form the three ages of field. The distance-to-parent hasbeen measured for all woody seedlings by Jens Mackensen andRainer Barthel, who are German forestry students. Their findingswill be combined with the long-term records in a paper now inpreparation.

Jens Maoken.en and Rainer Barthel - Forestry Division, Universityof Gottingen, West Germany

"vegetation of Cape-sauriol Znvironaental Studies Area"

"Old Field Sueee.sion"

DR. ADELE CROWDER

Kieffer, J.D. and P.W. Colgan. 1991. Individual variation inlearning by foraging pumpkinseed sunfish, Lepomis gibbosus: theinfluence of habitat. Animal Behaviour, in press.

Publications:

Gotceitas, V. and P. Colgan. 1990. Behavioural response ofjuvenile bluegill sunfish to variation in predation risk and foodlevel. Ethology 85: 247-255.

JillKieffer - "The Influence of Habitat Structure on LearningA})i1ityin sunfish" - M.Sc. Thesis

In 1990, Lake Opinicon was the source of bluegill and pump­kinseed sunfish for my laboratory studies on the feeding beha­viour of fish.

I examined the effect of habitat on the learning ability andoverall foraging efficiency of pumpkinseeds and bluegills. Bothspecies learned to feed on a novel prey item in a structuredhabitat but bluegills learned more quickly. Habitat structureinfluenced the foraging efficiency of both species. However,pumpkinseeds attained a higher level of efficiency than blue­gills.

In another experiment, I tested whether there was individualvariation in the foraging behaviour of pumpkinseed sunfish infeeding arenas containing structured and open-water habitats. Ialso tested whether the order of habitat presentation had aneffect on the overall behaviour of the fish.

Most recently, I have looked at whether young fish possessthe ability to retain learned responses over short periods oftime. This study could lead to some understanding of how fishadapt quickly to different habitats based on previously learnedinformation.

26

David Bell- "Parental Care in the Basswood Lac.bug" - B.Sc.Thesis (Co-advisor Dr. R Harmsen)

The Basswood lace bug, Gargaphia tiliae (Hemiptera: Tingi­dae), spends it's entire life on the bassWOOd tree. Adultlacabugs over-winter in the leaf litter, and emerge in earlyspring when the basswood leaves begin to show. Females mate, andin early June they lay a clutch of eggs on the underside of aleaf. Eggs and nymphs are guarded until they reach maturity.

My research focused on female guarding behaviour and thecosts and benefits of parental care. To quantify female beha­viour, females were presented with model predators. The cost ofparental care is a lowered fecundity, however, the benefit is anincrease in egg and nymphal survival.

DR. ADRIAN FORSYTH

This paper includes investigations of seed set and germina­tion of two species of Drosera at Hebert Bog. Work done on preycaught by the sundews and comparisons with the potential avail­able prey was also incorporated.

Crowder, A.A., M.C. Pearson, P.J. Grubb and P.H. Langlois.1990. Biological flora of the British Isles No. 167. Drosera L.Journal of Ecology. 78:233-267.

Assistant: Hau-Quan Chau (Co-op student from Loyalist Collegiateand Vocational Institute in Kingston)

In the summer of 1990, the Rappinicon was launched, used forsampling in the Bay of Quinte, and taken up the Rideau to carrystudents during fall field trips at QUBS. This big pontoon bargewas designed by Bruce Cameron and built over the last two yearsby Bruce, Frank Phelan, Alison McLaughlin, Nancy Childs, BillDushenko and other helpers. As the crews in the Bay of Quintehave previously used a variety of boats (including an OMNR onewhich sank) and have lost an outboard motor themselves, theRappinicon is a delight. Bruce is to be congratulated andthanked for his design (suitable for a variety of sampling, as adive platform and as a floating classroom), acumen in acquiringparts and long hours of dedication and hard work.

Publications:

In late summer, a preliminary vegetation survey of theCape-Sauriol Environmental Studies Area was conducted. Jens andRainer established transects, analysed dominant vegetation pro­files and assembled species lists. These data are kept on fileat QUBS and are available to all researchers. Over time, com­parisons with future work will allow us to chart the course ofsuccession on the property.

27

Erb, G.E. 1991. Spatial and temporal variation in thediversity of the sub-community of insects associated with thegalls on the common goldenrod, Solidago canadensis (sensa ~)

The.i.:

Co-worker.: Grace Erb, T. Marras, Lorraine Standing.

In nineteen old-field habitats of different ages, 700 gallsof Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis were collected in spring tosample the spring emerging parasites and inquilines, and anotherset of 600 galls was collected in autumn to sample the insectsthat emerge late in the season. The data set consists of numeri­cal data on all species per field. The fields were dated asyoung, medium, old, or very old, using the last date of mowingwhere possible; otherwise the age of the field was estimatedusing the diversity and abundance of a number of key indicatorplant species. The data will be used to test certain theoreticalconstructs that predict a relationship between age, complexityand stability in definable successional stages of developingcommunities.

co-workers: Ann Schindel, R. Huang, R. Mulder

"Complexity and Diversity in the Goidenrod Gall InsectcOllllllunity"

In 1989 a study of host plant specificity indicated that thegoldenrod beetle Trirhabda virgata performed significantly betteron the common goldenrod solidago canadensis which is its normalhost plant, than on Aster lateriflorus or Solidago graminifolia(see 1989 report A. Schindel). In 1990 we continued this work,using the offspring of the surviving individuals of the 1989experimental populations, which were overwintered as dormanteggs. Not all data on performance have been analysed, but themain one, fertility, shows that a major genetic adaptation hasoccurred. Beetles on S. canadensis still outperform those on theother species of host plant, but to a significantly lesser de­gree. This study is considered a model for the phenomenon ofhost plant switching from a rare natural host plant to a commonagricultural one.

"Genetic Adaptation of the Goldenrod Beetle to New HostPlant species"

Within the framework of a long term study of succession in aseries of abandoned fields, two specific studies were undertaken.The basic study sites consist of 27 plots of 100 m2 each, whichhave been monitored for vegetation (see report by A. Crowder),and arthropod populations since 1975. For the current studiesthe same fields were used plus some other similar fields.

"collllllunityStructure and Dynamics in Goldenrod pields"

DR. R. HARMSEN

28

"Biology of PUllpkin••ed Sunfillhin ContralltingECO.Yllt_s"

Stemming from work in Lake Opinicon, the Beverley Lakes(Upper and Lower) and various beaver ponds, including DowsleyPonds, Pumpkinseed Bunfish age distribution, growth rate andfeeding selectivity were monitored in a series of lakes in theKawarthas. Pumpkinseed proved to be highly plastic in theirpatterns ot growth. Rapid growth and short life span (linked toperiodio winter-kill) charaoterize most beaver pond populations.Lake populations have longer-lived fish and slower growth rates.

Publication.:

Morphological data derived from skeletons were related touse of substrate and locomotory feeding movements of these twospecies during northward migration. The Ruby-crowned Kinglet hasa longer, wider and shallower bill, longer rictal bristles and alonger humerus and ulna. When foraging maneuvers were quanti­fied, it was found that this kinglet obtained a high proportionof its food by aerial capture and foliage gleaning. The Golden­crowned Kinglet, with shorter tarsi and longer toes, fed to aconsiderable extent by hanging from or clinging to foliage.

Ora. Allen ~east and Michael Fox (Trent Univ.rsity)

"Comparative Ecology and Morphology of Ruby- and Golden­crowned ~inglets"

Dr. Allen ~east and Sari Saunders

Work continued on bird communities on the field stationproperty and Lindsay Lake Road, documenting bird species abun­dance within a seasonal context, the vertical division of forag­ing space, locomotory movements associated with feeding, andbreeding times. The objective is to document these features in atypical ontario deciduous forest and relate these to seasonalityand distribution of potential prey. In final summary, resultsobtained within this system (in which food is drawn from bothterrestrial and aquatic sources) will be compared quantitativelywith results published for the Hubbard Brook system in New Hamp­shire (part conifer, part deciduous). Seasonal aspects of thesesystems, which are closely linked to temperature-controlledproductivity, will then be compared to Australian eucalypt forestsystems where the main seasonal variable is unpredictable rain­fall.

Work continued on skeletal morphology in various ecomorpho­logical types, eg. flycatchers, thrushes and warblers.

"SeallonalEcology, Habitat Use and Locomotory F.eding Move­.enta of Birda in ontario Deciduous Foresta"

DR. J. ALLEN ~EAST

in eastern ontario. B.Sc. thesis, Biology, Queen's university

29

"ImplicatioDs of Pr••eaSOD Angling for Ba•• Populations"

This project is unique in being the result of the first

FRANK PHELAN (Queen I s University Biological Station) and DR.DAVID PHILI~P (Illinois Natural History survey)

Briskie, J. and Montgomerie, R. 1991. Sperm size, spermstorage and sperm competition in birds. Manuscript submitted toNature.

publications:

In this study we are examining the relation between spermstorage mechanisms (in females) and mating systems in birds.This involves collecting sperm and oviduct samples during theegg-laying period from as many species as possible and determin­ing their mating system and potential for extra-pair copulations.The results to date indicate a previously undocumented level ofcomplexity in both sperm storage and sperm competition in birds.These findings suggest that the mating systems and patterns ofextra-pair matings that we commonly observe may represent asimplistic view of the relationships between male and femalebirds.

In 1990 we continued work begun in the summer of 1989 onmate choice and male parental care in barn swallows. Most of theresearch done in 1990 was focussed on colonies relatively farfrom QUBS where human disturbance was minimal and colonies wererelatively large. Our main goal was to capture males whose tailswere experimentally lengthened or shortened in 1989 to determinethe effects of that manipulation on subsequent tail feathergrowth and symmetry. We found none of the effec~s reporr.edfor asimilar experiment conducted in Denmark ( Moller, 1989, Nature,339:132-135) suggesting that either the intensity of sexualselection or the costs of moult may differ between North Americanand European populations of this species. Baseline data werealso collected on male parental care and paternity for comparisonwith experimental results from 1989.

Assistants: Wally Rendell, Sari Saunders

Drs. Robert Montgomerie , James Briskie - "Sperm competition inPasserine Birds"

..Sexual Selection and parental Care in Barn Swallows"

DR. ROBERT MONTGOMERIE

Keast, A.(Ed.) 1990. Biogeography and ecology of forest birdcommunities. SPB Acad. Publ, The Hague.

Fox, M.G. and A. Keast. Effect of winterkill on populationstructure, body size and prey consumption patterns of pumpkinseedin isolated beaver ponds. Can. J. zoology, in press.

30

Weisman, R. and L. Ratcliffe. 1990. The perception of pitchconstancy in bird songs. In Honig and Fetterman (eds.). Cogni­tive aspects of stimulus control. Erlbaum.

Lempriere, C.S. 1990. Flocks and fat: how black-caps survivewinter. Seasons, 30(3):44-45.

In 1990, I completed an analysis of risk-taking by individu­al chickadees in flocks exposed to predator stimuli. My experi­mental data Showed that overall, subordinates are least risk­averse, and that risk-taking behaviour is also influenoed byflock size and the type of predator threat.

Publications:

Extensive recording of the dawn chorus in 1989 and 1990revealed that individual male chickadees sing "fee bee" songs ata wide range of absolute frequencies. My study examined somepossible causal explanations for this repertoire-like behaviour.In 1990, I used pre-dawn playback experiments to test the hypoth­esis that neighbouring males' song match the absolute pitch ofeach others' "fee bees". I also hand-reared 18 nestling chicka­dees and tutored them with song to evaluate the role of learningin repertoire development.

Liana Zanette - "Anti-predator Behaviour in Winter Flocks ofChickadees" - M.Sc. Thesis

scott Shackleton - "Social Influences on the 'Pe. Bee' Song ofChickadees" - M.Sc. Thesis

In 1990, we continued recording the local population ofmarked chickadees around QUBS, with emphasis on repertoire struc­ture and usage during the dawn chorus.

Assistant: Daphne Syme

"Vocal Behaviour of Chickadees"

DR. LAURENE RATCLIPPE

partnership agreement between the ontario Ministry of NaturalResources, ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Queen'sUniversity and the Illinois Natural History survey. using stu­dent labour, for the most part, we are conducting a study ofthree water bodies, effects of water body type on bass breedingbiology and the impact of preseason angling activity on bassreproduction (see details under Philipp). Results will providemeaningful data for fishery management. It is hoped that thisstudy will be the model for an ongoing program whereby studentresearchers will address applied biological topics under sponsor­ship of agencies such as the OMNR and OFAR, providing detaileddata to these agencies, offering valuable field research experi­ence to students and increasing the contacts between the univer­sity (via QUBS) and various agencies.

31

In collaboration with Drs. Robertson and Lifjeld, I examinedthe effect of demographic and ecological factors on the occur­rence of extra-pair paternity. I manipulated the number anddensity of nest-boxes in two habitats with different levels offood abundance (Hughson Tract and NE Sanctuary). Increasednesting density may increase the opportunity for extra-paircopulations (EPC's), and in habitats with less food, poorerforaging conditions could keep pairs apart longer and favorEPC's. To date, we have only finished paternity analyses (usingDNA fingerprinting) for monogamous males nesting in high-densitygrids on the Hughson Tract. We have found a high degree ofextra-pair paternity. Approximately, sot of broods (N • 16) hadat least one nestling that was unrelated to the putative father.Overall, 39t (31/S0) of nestlings were unrelated to the putativefather. In broods with extra-pair paternity the proportion ofnestlings sired by extra-pair males was high (mean - 67t). Weare presently searching for the males responsible for these caaesof extra-pair paternity. Our DNA fingerprinting analyses wereconduoted in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Boag at Queen's Univer­sity. Dr. Boag's laboratory is supported by an NSERC infrastruo­ture grant.

A••i.tants: Larissa White, Jeremy Mitchell, Linda Panning

Dr. Peter O. Dunn - "Eoological Correlate. of Extra-pair Paterni­ty in Tree Swallow." - Post-Doctoral Research Associate

"Evolution of Br••ding and Lif.-hi.tory strat.gies in Birds"

We continued studies of the breeding and life historystrategies of tree swallows, eastern bluebirds and easternphoebes in 1990. Studies of extra-pair fertilization, paternityprotection, clutch size and infanticide were conducted on treeswallows nesting on the Hughson tract and in the Northeast Sanc­tuary.

My own studies of infanticide focussed on female tactics,such as prolonged copulation, which may prevent infanticide.Male removals and clutch manipulations were made to either pro­long or shorten the time between arrival of a replacement maleand hatch.

DR. RALEIGH J. ROBERTSON

Lempriere, C.S. 1990. Plasticity in the chickadee call ofwintering flocks of Black-capped Chickadees (Parus atricapillus).M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Biology, Queen's University.

Zanette, L. 1991. Risk-taking and anti-predator behaviour ofBlack-capped Chickadees, Parus atricapillus: Effects of rank,flock size and threat level. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Biolo­gy, Queen's University.

Th••••:

32

Earlier work on tree swallows conCluded that males do notguard their mates against insemination by other males. Thesuggested reason for this lack of defense against ouckoldry wasone of oonstant constraint ie. since nest sites are scarce fortree swallows, one member of the pair must always guard tho nestsite. This would preclude the male from remaining in closeproximity to the female at all times since both members of thepair forage for food away from the nest. I hypothesized thatmales might be able to mate guard if suoh guarding were onlypart-time. Since birds are thought to OVUlate in the morning andbe actually fertile for only about an hour, a male might be ableto effectively guard his mate for this limited time. Hence, Iexamined the behaviour of males toward their females over thecourse of the day and with respect to the day of the season. Inaddition, I investigated the effect of appearance of the firstegg laid by the female on the male's behaviour ie. whether he

Andrew Chet - "Patterlls of Mate Guarding illTree Byalloys" -M.Sc. Thesis

Robertson and Rendell (1990) showed that tree swallowsnesting in tree cavities laid smaller clutohes than swallowsnesting in nest-boxes. The volume of natural cavities was abouthalf that of nest-boxes. Tests were made of the hypothesis thatcavity volume was responsible for the difference in clutch size.At randomly-chosen nest-boxes on the Hughson Tract, I inserted awooden frame that reduced the total box volume by about 50%.These inserts were added soon after swallows started to buildtheir nests. Preliminary results indicate a trend toward smallerclutches in the boxes with artificially reduced volume. Similarexperiments will be conduoted in 1991 to increase our samplesize.

I experimentally induced sperm competition by removing maleswallows on the day that the female mate laid her first egg.After the removals, replacement males (often neighbors) copulatedwith the "widowed" females at 11 nests. The paternity of theseexperimental broods was compared with 16 control broods (seeresults under Peter Dunn). My results suggest that female treeswallows can control which male's sperm fertilize her eggs. Inoases where females copulated with a replacement male within aday after he arrived, most of the brood was fertilized by thereplacement male. When females resisted copulating with thereplacement male until 4 days after his arrival (i.e., late inlaying), the original male fathered most of the brood. Theseresults indicate that stored sperm can fertilize eggs, and theysupport the hypothesis that the last male to copulate with afemale will fertilize most of the eggs.

Wallace Rendell - "Influenoe of Cavity Volume on Clutch Bize inTree Byallows" - Research associate

Dr. Jan Lif:jeld - "Ezperi.entally-induced Bpera competition inTree Bwallow." - Norwegian Soience council Post-Doctoral ResearchAssociate

I

31

Dr. P.ter O. Dunn - "Ecological Correlates ot Extra-pair Paterni­ty in Tree Swallow." - Post-Doctoral Research Associate

In collaboration with Drs. Robertson and Lifjeld, I examinedthe effect of demographic and ecological factors on the occUr­rence of extra-pair paternity. I manipulated the number anddensity of nest-boxes in two habitats with different levels offood abundance (Hughson Tract and NE Sanctuary). Increasednesting density may increase the opportunity for extra-pairoopulations (EPe's), and in habitats with less tood, poorerforaging conditions could keep pairs apart longer and favorEPC's. To date, we have only finished paternity analyses (usingDNA fingerprinting) for monogamous males nesting in high-densitygrids on the Hughson Tract. We have found a high degree ofextra-pair paternity. Approximately, sot of broods (N - 16) hadat least one nestling that was unrelated to the putative father.Overall, 39t (31/80) of nestlings were unrelated to the putativefather. In broods with extra-pair paternity the proportion ofnestlings sired by extra-pair males was high (mean - 67%). Weare presently searching for the males responsible for these casesof extra-pair paternity. Our DNA fingerprinting analyses wereconducted in the laboratory of Dr. Peter Boag at Queen's Univer­sity. Dr. Boag's laboratory is supported by an NSERC infrastruc­ture grant.

A••i.tants: Larissa White, Jeremy Mitchell, Linda Panning

"Evolution ot Br••4ing an4 Lit.-hi.tory strat.gi•• in Bir4s"

We continued studies of the breeding and life historystrategies of tree swallows, eastern bluebirds and easternphoebes in 1990. Studies of extra-pair fertilization, paternityprotection, clutch size and infanticide were conducted on treeswallows nesting on the Hughson tract and in the Northeast Sanc­tuary.

My own studies of infanticide focussed on female tactics,such as prolonged copulation, which may prevent infanticide.Male removals and clutch manipulations were made to either pro­long or shorten the time between arrival of a replacement maleand hatch.

DR. RALErGH J. ROBERTSON

Zanette, L. 1991. Risk-taking and anti-predator behaviour ofBlack-capped Chiokadees, Parus atricapillus: Effects of rank,flock size and threat level. M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Biolo­gy, Queen's University.

Lempriere, C.S. 1990. Plasticity in the chickadee call ofwintering flocks of Black-capped Chickadees (Parus atricapillus).M.Sc. Thesis, Department of Biology, Queen's University.

Th••••:

32

Earlier work on tree swallows concluded that males do notguard their mates against insemination by other males. Thesuggested reason for this lack of defense against cuckoldry wasone of constant constraint ie. since nest sites are scarce fortree swallows, one member of the pair must always guard the nestsite. This would preclude the male from remaining in closeproximity to the female at all times since both members of thepair forage for food away from the nest. 1 hypothesized thatmales might be able to mate guard if such guarding were onlypart-time. since birds are thought to ovulate in the morning andbe actually fertile for only about an hour, a male might be ableto effectively guard his mate for this limited time. Hence, Iexamined the behaviour of males toward their females over thecourse of the day and with respect to the day of the season. Inaddition, I investigated the effect of appearance of the firstegg laid by the female on the male's behaviour ie. whether he

Andrew Chek - "Patterns of Mate GUarding in Tree Swallows" -M.Sc. Thesis

Robertson and Rendell (1990) showed that tree swallowsnesting in tree cavities laid smaller clutches than swallowsnesting in nest-boxes. The volume of natural cavities was abouthalf that of nest-boxes. Tests were made of the hypothesis thatcavity volume was responsible for the difference in clutch size.At randomly-chosen nest-boxes on the Hughson Tract, I inserted awooden frame that reduced the total box volume by about 50%.These inserts were added soon after swallows started to buildtheir nests. Preliminary results indicate a trend toward smallerclutches in the boxes with artificially reduced volume. Similarexperiments will be conducted in 1991 to increase our samplesize.

'lfa11aceRendell - "I,nf1uence of cavity Volume on Clutch Size inTree Swallows" - Research associate

I experimentally induced sperm competition by removing maleswallows on the day that the female mate laid her first egg.After the removals, replacement males (often neighbors) copulatedwith the "widowed" females at 11 nests. The paternity of theseexperimental broods was compared with 16 control broods (seeresults under Peter Dunn). My results suggest that female treeswallows can control which male's sperm fertilize her eggs. Incases where females copulated with a replacement male within aday after he arrived, most of the brood was fertilized by thereplacement male. When females resisted copulating with thereplacement male until 4 days after his arrival (i.e., late inlaying), the original male fathered most of the brood. Theseresults indicate that stored sperm can fertilize eggs, and theysupport the hypothesis that the last male to copulate with afemale will fertilize most of the eggs.

Dr. Jan Li~jeld - "Experimentally-induced sperm competition inTre. Swallow." - Norwegian Science Council Post-Doctoral ResearchAssociate

33

Male tree swallows provide about half of all feedings totheir nestlings. It is, therefore, advantageous for males toassure their paternity in the nestlings for whioh they are pro­viding care. Males ot some species guard their mates to protecttheir paternity in their mate's offspring. Tree swallow males

This year I concentrated on the mate-guarding aspect of thisstudy, which I began in 1989. Bluebird pairs were observed duringthe pre-fertile, fertile and post-fertile periods of the femaleto establish the level of mate guarding in this population. Inorder to examine whether males adjust their parental investmentin relation to their confidence of paternity, I manipulated theamount of mate gua.rding in a group of males by temporarily keep­ing them in aviaries for two days during their mates' fertileperiods. These pairs were watched during egg laying and againduring the nestling period. Additionally, I oollected bloodsamples from parents and offspring so that paternity can beassessed using DNA fingerprinting. Preliminary results show noevidence of decreased male care among manipulated males.

Liea Venier - "Copulation Behaviour of Tree Swallows: paternityA••uranoe in the Pre.ence of spera Competition" -M.Sc. Thesis

su.an Meek - "Parental Investment and the Maintenance of Monogamyin Eastern Bluebirds" - PhD Thesis

Assistant: Lorraine Standing

For a second year, manipulations of clutch size were used toalter patterns of effort Phoebes used to raise each of their twoannual broods. Ninety-five nesting attempts were monitored, ofwhich 42 were first attempts. Thirty-three ot these first at­tempts were divided, according to day of clutch completion, into11 triplets. One nest from each triplet received 2 eggs fromanother nest of that triplet, producing increased, decreased andcontrol nests. Phoebes were able to raise increased clutches.Feeding rates increased proportionally to brood size althoughnestlings from decreased broods weighed more than those in theother treatment groups. Seventeen of the parents at manipulatednests had a second brood. As in 1989, manipulations of firstnests did not alter measures of success in second nests, such asnumber of eggs, mass of nestlings and time between nests, butthere was a trend toward parents of increased first broods to endup with smaller second broods. Unlike 1989, the likelihood ofattempting a second nest was not influenced by the treatment.

~elvin F. Conrad - "Allocation oL Reproductive Effort in theEastern Phoebe" - PhD Thesis.

Assistanta: Larissa White, Jeremy Mitchell

might use it as a cue to the fe.male'sfertility status. This wasaccomplished by supplying females who had not yet laid with asingle egg and examining the subsequent behaviour of the male forchanges. Analysis of the data should be finished in early 1991.

34

Rendell, W.B. and R.J. Robertson. Interspecific competitionfor nesting cavities between Common Flickers and Tree Swallows.Can. Field-Nat. IN PRESS.

Rendell, W.B. and R.J. Robertson. 1990. A manual trap forcapturing hole-nesting birds. North American Bird Bander. 14:109-111.

Rendell, W.B. and R.J. Robertson. 1990. Influence of forestedge on nest-site selection by Tree Swallows. Wilson Bull. 102:634-644.

Morrill, S.B. and R.J. Robertson. 1990. Occurrence ofextra-Pair copulation in the tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor).Beh. Ecol. Sociobiol. 26:291-296.

Meek, S.B. and R.J. Robertson. How convincing is the evi­dence for adoption in altricial birds? Behaviour of replacementmale Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sial is) and a review of maleremoval studies. Anim. Behav., IN PRESS.

Hurley, T.A. and R.J. Robertson. 1990. variation in thefood-hoarding behaviour of red squirrels. Beh. Ecol. sociobiol.26:91-97.

Publications:

Jessie Deslauriers - "Phoebe Response to Cowbirds at the Nest"

Since Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism often causes nestingfailure of small passerines, many passerines may have learned torecognize female Cowbirds as a possible threat; and indeed mayhave learned to recognize female Cowbird chatter. To test thedegree of male and female aggression towards female Cowbirds neara nest at the incubation stage, model presentations of femaleCowbirds and song Sparrow controls, accompanied by tape record­ings of typical songs, were made at several Eastern Phoebe nests.

As well, further mist netting of migrants was carried out,to look at differences in temporal movement during spring migra­tion of several passerine groups and Parulid species.

A preliminary check of the number of calls per minute madeby Least Flycatchers and a possible correlation with temperatureand time of day, as an indication of male fitness, was also done.

cannot guard their mates because_ they must guard their nestboxes, therefore I hypothesize that males use frequent and welltimed copula-tions to ehsure their paternity. I examined thecopulation patterns of tree swallows under normal conditions, aswell as under conditions where the male would perceive a highrisk of extra-pair copulations. The results of this study indi­cate that males are attempting to protect their paternity bycopulating frequently with their mates. The results also indi­cate that females dictate to some extent when copulations occursuch that males do not necessarily copulate at optimal times forfertilization.

35

Robertson, R.J. 1990. Infanticide or adoption by replacementmales: the influence of female behaviour. Invited spoken paperin symposium on Parent-Offspring Relations in, InternationalOrnithological congress, Christchurch, New Zealand.

Robertson, R.J. and L. Venier. 1990. Infanticide, prolonged

Dunn, P.O. and R.J. Robertson. 1990. Geographic variation infood abundance and the need for male parental care in Tree Swal­lows. Poster paper presented by Dunn. Third International Con­ference of Behavioural Ecology. Uppsala, Sweden.

Meek, S.B. and R.J. Robertson. 1990. Response of replacementmale Eastern Bluebirds to unrelated young: How convincing is theevidence for adoption in birds? Poster paper presented by Meek.Third International Conference of Behavioural Ecology. Uppsala,Sweden.

Dunn, P.O., J.T. Lifjeld and R.J. Robertson. 1990. Paternityanalysis of Tree Swallows using DNA fingerprinting. Poster paperin International ornithological Congress, Christchurch, New Zea­land.

Conrad, K.F. and R.J. Robertson. 1990. Allocation of repro­ductive effort in a double-brooded bird, the Eastern Phoebe(Sayornis phoebe). Spoken paper presented by Conrad. ThirdInternational Conference of Behavioural Ecology, Uppsala, sweden.

Conference Presentations:

Venier, L.A. and R.J. Robertson. Copulation behaviour ofTree Swallows: Paternity assurance in the presence of spermcompetition. Anim. Behav., IN PRESS.

Rogers, C.A., R.J. Robertson and B.J. Stutchbury. Patternsof parasitism by Protocalliphora sialia on Tree Swallow (Tachyci­~ bicolor) nestlings. In Loye, J.E. and M. Zuk. Bird-ParasiteInteraotions: Ecology, behaviour and evolution. Oxford Universi­ty Press, IN PRESS.

Stutchbury, B.J. and R.J. Robertson. 1990. Do Tree Swallowsuse nest cavities as night roosts during territory establishment?J. Field Ornithol. 61:26-33.

Robertson, R.J. and W.B. Rendell. 1990. A comparison of thebreeding ecology of a secondary cavity nesting bird, the TreeSwallow (Tachycineta bicolor), in nest boxes and natural cavi­ties. Can. J. Zool. 68:1046-1052.

Robertson, R.J. 1990. Tactics and countertactics of sexuallyselected infanticide in Tree Swallows. pp. 381-390. in Popula­tion Biology of Passerine Birds, An Integrated Approach. Blon­del, J., A. Gosler, J. Lebreton and R. Mccleery, Eds. NATO ASIseries, Vol. 624, Springer Verlag, Berlin.

36

Having only recently been appointed to the Biology Depart­ment at Queen's, my first extended stay at the station was in1990. Indeed, much of my academic career has been spent on thecoasts (UBC and Dalhousie) and I have not had much exposure tothe types of environments around QUBS. The purpose of my visitwas to become acquainted with the habitat and the lower verte­brates around the station and conduct preliminary experiments onthe physioloqy Of some of these animals.

I examined the effect of temperature on the aerobic metabo­lism of a number of fish speoies from Lake Opinicon. In addi­tion, telemetry was used to monitor the dynamics of the changesin core body temperature after changes in environmental tempera-

"Pby.ioloqy of Lov.r V.rt.br.t ....

DR. BaOCE TOFTS

Assistants: Members of Smol Lab Inc.

This research, which is a continuation from 1989, is anintensive study to investigate the relative contribution ofautogenic and allogenic factors to phytoplankton succession andspecies composition. The study lakes are Lake Opinicon (an exam­ple of a typical shallow, non-stratifying and a polymictic sys­tem) and Upper Rock Lake (a deep, dimictic system). A combinationof standard protocols (chemical, biological and physical) are em­ployed. sampling is done once every two weeks during ice-freeperiods and once a month during winter.

In addition, traps are deployed in the two lakes to investi­gate the following: a) the long-term and short-term preservationof algae, b) sediment accumulation (production and resuspension) ,0) the cues responsible for formation of chrysophyte stomatocystsand d) the onset of heterocyst formation in blue-green algae(Nostocales).

Christine watters - SSc (Honours) student is analysing the zoo­plankton so as to assess diffrential grazing pressures.

Kicb.al D. Agtl.ti - "Pbytopl.nkton Bucca••ion .nd spaci.s compo­.ition: Autog.nic and Allogenic Factor." - PhD Thesis

"Lilmoloqy"

DRS. JOHN SNOL AND JOHN KINGSTON

Whittingham, L.A., K.F. Conrad and R.J. Robertson. 1990.Cost of bigamy in generally monogamous birds: a simulation model.Poster paper presented by Whittingham. Third InternationalConference of Behavioural Ecology. Uppsala, Sweden.

copulation, adoption and paternal care in Tree Swallows. Spokenpaper. Third International Conference of Behavioural Ecology.Uppsala, Sweden.

37

ture. Finally, the stimuli for air breathing in an air-breathingfish, the Bowfin (AmiA calva), were investigated. This speciesis endemic to a number of lakes in ontario. Moderate exerciseincreased the rate of air breathing in Bowfin.

A •• i.tant: Kim Tufts

38

Water mites (Acari:Parasitengona) are ideal subjects for

aaath.r C. Proctor - "The Evolution of Hating Behaviour in Wat.rKit....- Ph.D. Thesis

DR. R. BAkER and DR. DARRYL GWYIi'Ii'E- Department of Zoology,Erindale College, Mississauga

Forbes, M.R.L. Female morphs of Nehalennia irene (Hagen)(Odonata: Coenagrionidae): Habitat use in relation to distribu­tion of conspecific males. J. Insect. Behav., submitted.

Forbes, M.R.L. On female morphs of Enallagma boreale Selys:A benefit to homeochromes. Can. J. Zool., in press.

Forbes, M.R.L. Attraction of mates and predators: Selectionon bright females of the damselfly, Enallagma boreale Selys.Beh. Eco!' Sociobio!. (submitted).

Forbes, K.R.L. and R.L. Baker. Condition, survival andfecundity of the damselfly, Enallagrnaebrium (Hagen): The impor­tance of ectoparasites. Oecologia, in press.

Forbes, K.R.L. Ectoparasites and mating success of maleEnallagm~ ebrium (Hagen). Oikos, in press.

The main objective of my Ph.D. research is to test competinghypotheses proposed to account for inverse relationships betweendegree of parasitism and reproductive success of hosts. To thisend, I have examined the effects of ectoparasitic mites (Acari:Hydrachnidia) on survival, condition, fecundity, mating successand behaviour of male and female Enallagma ebrium (Hagen) (Odona­tal Coenagrionidae). Other research interests include selectivemaintenance of female polymorph isms in odonates and odonatanecomorphology.

PUblicationa:

A.eiatant.: Anne-Marie Quadir, Andy Snedden

Hark Forb•• - "Eft:.ct.o~ Ectopara.itic Kit•• on Fitn.ss of HostD....lfli....- Ph.D. Thesis

sites around QUBS were used for experimental manipulationsdesigned to test the effects of population density on growth ofodonate larvae.

"A.p.ct. of Hating Behaviour and Succes. in Aquatic Arthro­pods"

DR. ROB BAltER - Dept: o~ Zoology, Erindal. coll.ge o~ universityo~ Toronto, Ki.aiaaauga

II. RESEARClIBY Ii'OIi'-QUEEN'SSTUDENTS AND STAFF

39

Chri.topher Bcltert - "stochastic structure and Mating systemV•.riation in Tri.tylou. populations" - Ph.D. Thesis

It is widely believed that evolution results from the inter­action of selection with genetic drift resulting from founder

This project involves a fine-scale analysis of the pollina­tion process in the tristylous aquatic macrophyte Pontederiacordata (Pontederiaceae). The following questions are beingaddressed using field manipulations of a natural population atHart Lake Channel:

a) How much pollen is removed from the three stamen levelsof E. cordata by different classes of pollinator? (Bombus spp.varying in tongue length and Meljssodes, a specialist solitarybee) .

b) What is the extent of pollen carry-over between differentfloral morph combinations following pollen pick-up from a flower?

c) Are there significant differences in pollen tube growthrate among male parents in the population?

d) What is the dynamics of pollen tube growth followingnatural pollination?

e) Why does E. corQata continue to produce nectar each daylong after all male and female reproQuctive function has beencompleted within flowers?

f) Does asynchrony in anther dehiscence among stamen levelsinfluence the composition of pollen loads and hence fertilizationsuccess of different pollen types?

Laboratory analysis of pollen and pistil samples during thecold winter months at Calgary and Toronto will enable answers tobe obtained to these questions.

Proctor, H.C. 1991. The evolution of copulation in watermites: a comparative test for non-reversing characters. Evolu­tion, in press.

Proctor, H.C. 1991. Courtship in Neumania mater mites: malescapitalize on female adaptations for predation. Anim. Behav., inpress.

DR. SPENCER BARRETT (Dept. of Botany, University of Toronto), DR.LAWRENCE HARDER (Dept. of Botany, University of Calgary) and M.CruEan (Dept. of Botany, University of Toronto)

"Pollination Biology of TristyloulI Ponted.ria cordata"

Publications:

studies of the evolution of mating behaviour because they showall degrees of proximity between mating partners, from completedissociation of male and female to direct sperm transfer byventer-to-venter copulation. QUBS is remarkable for the diversi­ty of mites in its lakes and ponds and is an excellent site tocollect both rare and common species. I have visited the stationon many occasions and will continue collecting mites at QUBS inspring, summer and fall of 1991.

40

In conjunction with Dr. Adrian Forsyth, I am studying alter-

"Parental Care in Lac.bugs"

DR. JOHN lADlE - Division of Life Sciences, Scarborough Collegeof University of Toronto

Ln situ video recordings of fish feeding on benthos inshield lakes showed that feeding rates in open habitats were lessthan 1/6 those in spatially complex habitats associated withmacrophyte beds, rock piles, logs, etc., and that this differencedisappeared in lakes without predatory fish. The possibilityexists, then, that energy flow from benthos to fish might be muchmore inefficient in lakes where complex habitat is rare, than inlakes where it accounts for a large proportion of the littoralzone. We visited QUBS as a part of a preliminary survey of theabundance of complex habitats in a variety of Ontario Lakes. Ina small sample of lakes we found that fish abundance was stronglycorrelated with the percent of the littoral bottom covered withmacrophytes >10 cm high. The survey will be expanded in 1990,and we will use direct video measurements of fish feeding ratesto estimate how much of the between-lake variance in fish exploi­tation rates of the benthos can be explained by differences inthe commonness of maorophyte cover among lakes.

Assistant: Chris Bunt

"Littoral Habitat complexity: Doe. it Limit Energy Plowtrom Bentboa to Fisb in Lakes?"

events, population bottlenecks and small population size. Howev­er, there has been little work to show that drift actually inter­acts with selection in natural populations. Tristylous speciesoffer good opportunities for such investigations. In the ever­popular infinite, panmictic population, frequency-dependentselection among mating types should lead to a global equilibriumwith equal frequencies of the three types. using this determinis­tic expectation as a point of departure, the interaction betweenfrequency-dependent selection and drift will be revealed by acharacteristic distribution of mating types within and amongpopulations. Data from 163 populations of swamp loosestrife(Decodon yerticillatus) and 137 populations of closely relatedpurple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) strongly suggest thatdrift does actually influence the distribution of mating typesunder selection in natural populations. The obvious next questionconcerns whether population differentiation with respect tomating types, resulting from the interplay of selection anddrift, is assocated with significant mating system variationand/or heritable genetic variation at loci controlling floralfeatures. Work to this end involving allozyme analysis of open­pollinated progeny arrays, and quantitative genetic studies iscurrently in progress.

DR. NICK COLLINS - Dept. of Zoology, Erindale College of Univer­sity of Toronto, Mississauga

41

"Determinants of aeproductive Life-History Characteristicsof PUIIpltinseed"

This project is an extension of my QUBS beaver pond work,which showed that pumpkinseed populations mature earlier and at asmaller size following a winterkill event. In the current studyI examined 7 additional populations to determine whether growth,survivorship or size struoture of populations is related to thetiming of maturation and other reproduotive life-history charac­teristics. New population data was collected from the KawarthaLakes, Little Round Lake and the Shawanaga River (a Georgian Baytributary) . prelim.inary analysis suggests there is no relation­ship between fish growth rate and either mean age or mean size atmaturity. This was unexpeoted in light of the importance ofgrowth rate as a parameter in prediotive life-history models.

Next year's work will include experiments to determinewhether maturation is affected by the presence of large conspe­cifics in a population, as well as a stocking experiment to

"Trophic Diversification and the Evolution ofBehavioural/Morphological variation in Bluegill Sunfish"

My research at QUBS is asking to what extent morphological­behavioural variation in Bluegill reflects selection of ~ ophicform (ie. growth/survival) versus sexual form (ie. reproductivesuccess) .

Bluegill from Mosquito and Clear Lakes exhibit large amountsof morphological divergence. Bluegill from Mosquito Lake (shal­low, weedy) possess a plan that is better suited for maneuveringand feeding in vegetation (longer fins and deeper bodies) whereasbluegill from Clear Lake (deep, openwater) have shorter fins andfusiform bodies that are better suited to cruising and feeding inthe open water.

A second facet of this research is examining the reproduc­tive consequences of variation in morphology. How are the pat­terns of morphological variation between the sexes related to theperformance of reproductive tasks (nest site acquisition by malesor sneaking success by cuckolders, for example)? How does thisrelate to trophic divergence (as above)?

DR. MICHAEL POX - Department of Environmental Studies, TrentUniversity, Peterborough, Ontario.

DR. TIM EHLINGER - Department of Biological Sciences, Universityof Wisconsin at Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Assistant: David Bell

native reproductive tactics in the basswood lacebug (Gargaphicatiliae). Like many species of birds, lacebugs frequently act asintraspecific nest parasites, whereby they lay their eggs in theclutches of other females. We are assessing the costs and bene­fits of this behaviour to both hosts and parasites to determinehow parasitic egg-laying is maintained in these populations.

42

"Insect sensory Pbysioloqy and Neuroetboloqy"

I. Neuromuscular Organi.ation of tbe Arctiid TyRbal

This summer was spent investigating the nervous system thatcontrols the sound-producing structure of the Dogbane Tiger Moth,cycnia tenera. This moth fends off the attacks ot bats andattracts mates by means of paired tymbals that emit trains othigh frequency (30-60 kHz) clicks. The nerves that service thesestructures are the modified leg nerves of the metathoracic seg­ment. These nerves were subjected to neural stains to identitythe motor neurons that innervate the muscles of the tymbals. The

DR. J.B. FULLARD - Department of Zoology, Erindale College ofUniversity of Toronto, Mississauga

Keast, A. and M.G. Fox. 1990. Fish community structure,distribution and feeding ecology in a beaver pond. Env. Biol.Fish. 27: 201-214.

FoX, M.G. and D.O. Flowers. 1990. Effect of fish density ongrowth, survival, and food consumption by juvenile walleyes inrearing ponds. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc. 119: 112-121.

Fox, M.G. and A. Keast. Effects of winterkill on populationstructure, body size and prey consumption patterns of pumpkinseedin isolated beaver ponds. Can. J. Zool. (in press).

Fox, M. G. Food consumption and bioenergetics ofyoung-of-the-year walleye: model predictions and populationdensity effects. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. (in press).

Publications:

This study tests the hypothesis that pumpkinseeds fromwinterkill environments have a higher resistance to low O2 stressthan those from environments where winterkill does not occur.pumpkinseeds used for the study were collected in October, 1990from Lake Opinicon (non-winterkill) and Lower Oowsley Pond (2winterkills in 4 years), and maintained in outdoor troughs atTrent University. Pairs of equally-sized fish (one from eachpopulation) were placed in sealed aquaria containing 4 p.p.m.dissolved oxygen. I recorded behavior, vertical movement and0.0. at regular intervals until fish lost buoyancy. This proto­col will be repeated in the field in early 1991, with pairs offish placed in cages suspended under the ice in a low 0.0. pond.

Ricbarc! Bootb- "A comparison of Hypoxia Tolerance of lfinterkillanc!Non-vinterkill populations of pumpkinseed (Lepomie qibbosus)"- B.Sc. Thesis

Assistants: Barbara Teskey, Christine watters

distinguish between genetic and environmental influences onmaturation.

43

This year we focused on documentation of bluegill spawningbouts including dates, colony sites, nest numbers, and malereproductive success to continue on the 1985-89 data set collect-

"&paYl1ingDylI_ic. and CUcltoldryin Bluegill"

DR. M. R. GROSS - Department of Zoology, University of Toronto

"BVolutionary Ecology of Pi.h Reproduction"

My research group continued its long-term studies of repro­ductive strategies in Opinicon fishes. We are investigating theevolution of mating systems, parental care, and life histories.

A••i.tant: Francine Lewis

Inauditive (deaf) moths have been hypothesized to avoidpredation from bats by flying in times or areas where bats do notforage. As a continuation of the study begun last summer, weerected cyclindrical sticky traps at 1, 3 and 6 meter heights inthe leach field to determine whether these moths would be cap­tured more often closer to the ground. Our previous summer'sresults bore this out but there was criticism of the fact that weused ultraviolet collecting lights with the traps. This summerwe ran the traps for twenty nights without lights and the scantsamples we obtained supported our previous results. Moths with­out ears will fly lower to the ground since local bats performmost of their foraging at 10 to 15 meter heights.

II. Plight Height. of Deaf Moths (with scott Morrill, De­partment of Biology, Boston University

A••i.tant: Francine Lewis

ten motor neurons form clusters in the metathoracic ganglionclose to the incoming auditory sensory afferents. The stainedcells are now in storage at Erindale awaiting embedding andsectioning to elucidate their eNS architecture.

This summer saw the first successful in vitro backfillingtrials with isolated ganglia and tymbal nerves giving excellentneural profiles when filled with dilute concentrations of cobal­tous lysine. Part of these fills involved simultaneous sensoryand motor fills with cobalt and nickel chloride to achieve doublefills with different coloured stainin9. Two successful fills mayallow me to verify the polysynap~ic arrangement of theauditory/motor connections in tho dogbane tiger moth.

Extracellular recordings were done of colony-raised ~.tenerA as part of the electrophysiological studies of the centralpattern generator that controls the sound-production behaviour ofthis insect. The spikes associated with the buckling of thetymbal occur in an alternately rhythmical fashion and I am nowcharacterizing the pattern generation of this cyclical motoroutput. These firing sequences will be used to elucidate anexisting model that has been constructed of the interneuronalcircuitry governing the motor output of the tiger moth tymbal.

44

Ae.ietant: James McGuire

Juli. Clauaaen - "Bluegill spawning Dynamics" - M.Sc. Thesis

This long-term research project documents the spawningpatterns of bluegill within the 2 km area bordering QUBS. Areaswore monitored for colony formation, spawning activity, levels ofmating success, and number of males that successfully raise abrood. These data, first oollected in 1985, represent one of thelongest continuous records in spawning dynamics for fish popula­tions. One of the major findings is that nest desertions arequite frequent among nesting bluegill. In the last two years,researoh has focussed on determining the factors that are in­volved in parental investment decisions. To determino if energylimitation is a possible limiting factor for males to provideparental care, an experiment was performed providing nestingmales with food supplements to see how enhanced energy storesaffected male behavior.

Aaaiatant: John Wang

This is the third field season for Isabelle's Ph.D. researcoon colonial breeding in bluegill sunfish. In 1988 and 1989, shefound that male bluegill derive large benefits from nesting incolonies due to not only reduced predation but also to reducedfungal infection of their eggs. A large part of her work in 1990was aimed at understanding how coloniality affords protection toeggs from fungal infection. Using a combination of field andAquarium House experiments, she showed that there is a dilutionof fungal spores over colonies such that the rate of fungalinfection was lower in colonial than solitary experimental nests.In addition, she found that solitary males spent more time chas­ing predators and less time fanning their eggs than colonialmales -- a trade-off which may favour fungal infection. Aquariumexperiments revealed that fungus primarily attacks dead eggs.However, healthy eggs can be suffocated by proximity to dead,diseased eggs. These findings help shed light on the role offungal infection in the evolution of colonial breeding in fishes.

Ieabell. cote - "Evolution of Colonial Breeaing" - Ph.D. Thesis

Aaaiatants: Lucy Dueck, Jason' Justin Kilgore, James McGuire,John Wang

ad by Julie Claussen. James McGuire did most of this observa­tional work. Secondly, Lucy Dueck ran electrophoresis experi­ments to reduce the amount of tissue needed in measuring paterni­ty, and collected live and frozen samples for further analysis inour Toronto lab with James. Finally, we were pleased to takeadvantage of our expanded facilities in the Aquarium House andOutdoor Pool complex to successfully raise, for the first time,bluegill fry!

45

In association with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Re­sources and Queen's University, our group at the Illinois NaturalHistory survey continued and expanded a Largemouth/Smallmouthreproductive success project that was started in 1989. Thisyear, in addition to Lake Opinicon, we included three more studysites to enoompass the variety of spawning habitats that bass usefor reproduction. Data were collected on spawning success, theduration of nesting, and parental care behavior in both specieswithin 2 km study sites at the st. Lawrence River near Mallory­town, Lake Charleston, the Mississippi River, and Lake Opinicon.Angler surveys and observations of the presence of hookwoundswere taken at all sites to assess the effectiveness of the closedbass fishing season on the nesting males. Experimental Floytagging and hand netting of guarding males was also tested toprepare for the catch-and-release portion of our study to beperformed over the next two years.

"Largemouth and sliallmouthBass Reproductive success"

DR. DAVID PHILIPP - Aquatic Biology Section, Illinois NaturalHistory Survey, Champaign, Illinois

A.sistant: Angela Walzl (occasionally).

Burying beetles are malodorous animals that locate and burysmall vertebrate carcasses as food resources for themselves andtheir offspring. Both parents guard and provision their larvae,but males abandon the brood first, and thus determine the dura­tion of biparental care. My study addresses the problem of maleabandonment; what factors influence the decision by males tocurtail their parental role? From mid-June to mid-September, Icollected over 400 Nicrophorus orbicollis and H. tomentosus usinghanging pitfall traps (baited with hamburger) located along theQUBS parking lot and leach field. In each of 24 small wire cagesplaced in the forest between Curran cottage and cabins 1-4, apair of marked beetles were given a dead mouse to bury as foodfor their larvae. Results indicate that brood size and weightincrease with mouse size, mean larval weight is unaffected bymouse size, and the duration of male care increases with broodsize. Also, based on a field study, I found that burying beetleslocate and bury only 40% of available carcasses, the rest aretaken by vertebrates (52%) or remain uncovered (8%). Of thoseburied by beetles, many succumb to predation by vertebrates.During the off-season, I am conducting experiments using a labcolony of KL orbicollis. Additional field and lab stUdies areplanned for 1991.

Ian Robert.on - "Parental Care Deoisions by Hale Burying Beetles(Silphidae:Nicrophorus)" - M.Sc. Thesis

DR. DARRYL GWYJfIlB - Insect Behaviou.rGroup, Department of Zoolo­gy, Erindale college, University of Toronto, Mississauga

"Sexual Seleotion in Insects"

46

"Water Mite Parasitism of Aquatic Insects"

In 1990, I continued research on the influence of differen­tial parasitism by mites on t~o species of water strider. Gerriscomatus carries a nine-fold heavier burden of larval Limnocharesaquatica than does Gerris alacris, both in nature and in labora­tory infestations. The two species of water strider co-occur inshoreline habitats during spring, but G. comatus disappear fromshorelines in early summer, just before the period of intenseparaSitism by ~. aguatica. During summer months, Gerris comatuscan only be found on off-shore mats of floating vegetation.

In June and July, I conducted an experiment to determinewhether parasitism by ~. aquatica and competition with Q. ala­cris affects the success of Q~ comatus. Thirty-two 2 square metercages were constructed in Deadlock Bay, Lake Opinicon; 16 hadbottoms of fine-mesh polyester cloth to exclude larval mites,while 16 had bottoms of fibreglass window screening to excludepredators but allow mites to enter. Four treatments of 8 cageseach were used: Q. comatus with mites excluded, Q. comatus withmites not excluded, Q. comatus and Q. alacris with mites exclud­ed, Q. comatus and Q. alacris with mites not excluded. Fewerjuvenile water striders were produced in cages in which mitescould enter (probably reflecting parasite-induced juvenile mor­tality), compared to cages frOm which mites were excluded.Presence or absence of Q. alacris had no effect on the relativenumber of juvenile ~. comatus that were produced.

Further evidence was gathered suggesting that there may be acorrelation between parasitism and reproductive success. Largenumbers of copulating water striders were collected on threedates, each from one bay of Lake Opinicon. There was a signifi­cant positive correlation in number of mites on males and femalescaught in copulo in each sample, suggesting that there was assor­tative mating correlated with intensity of parasitism. I hope toinvestigate this further in the summer of 1991, to test whetherintensity of parasitism directly influences mate selection, orwhether intensity of parasitism is simply correlated with age and

DR. BRUCE P. SKITH - Dept. of Biology, University of New Bruns­wick (now from Biology Dept., Ithaca College).

During the past four years, I have used both behavioralobservations and genetic analysis to assess not only the extentof hybridization between these sunfish species, but how and whyit occurs in Lake Opinicon. I have determined that hybrids areformed as a result of precocially maturing bluegill males steal­ing fertilizations (cuckolding) from pumpkinseed males. Duringsummer 1990, I used underwater video to further document thesehybridization events. In addition, we continued our lakewidecensus of the sunfish population sampling both before and afterspawning periods using a standardized electrofishing procedure.

Assistants: Mark Kubacki, Davey Philipp, Mike Fuhr

Blake Konkle - "Interspecific Hybridization of Bluegill anC!PumpkinseeC!Sunfish" - PhD. thesis

47

Substantial progress was made on both of the main objec­tives of this long-term study. First, molecular genetic tech­niques were used successfully for paternity analysis and revealedthat approximately one third of all young are sired by malesother than the territory owner. Furthermore, the lack of corre­lation between apparent male reproductive success and realized(i.e. genetically determined) male reproductive success suggeststhat the failure of existing models of mate choice in birds maybe due to our having been measuring the wrong things. In theanalysis of blood parasites, we found that male secondary sexualtraits, particularly aggression toward other males, was a reli­able predictor of whether or not a male was parasitized. Futureresearch will attempt to identify the traits that make some malesvery sUccessful reproductively, and in particular, will determinewhether those traits are related to parasite resistance.

"Xat. Choice and Sezual Selection in Red-winged Blackbirds"

Smith, B.P. and W.J. Cook. 1990. Negative correlation be­tween larval Arreourus sp. and Limnochares americana (Acari:Hydrachnidia) on male Leucorrhinia frigida (Odonata: Libelluli­dae) and its relationship to the host's age. Canadian Journal ofZoology. IN PRESS.

DR. P. WEATHERHEAD - Department of Biology, Carleton University,ottawa.

Smith. B.P. and L.A. Laughland. 1990. Stimuli inducing de­tachment of larval Arrenurus danbyensis Mullen (Hydrachnidia:Arrenuridae) from adult ~illettidia perturbans (Walker) (Dip­tera: culicidae). Experimental and Applied Acarology, 9:51-62.

Smith B.P. 1990. Descriptions of larval Arrenurus bartooen­~, Arrenurus birgei, Arrenurus neobirgei, and Arrenurus rotyn­~ (Acari: Hydrachnidia; Arrenuridae). Canadian Entomologist122:77-91.

Smith, B.P. 1990. Hydrachnidia, Chapter 16, pp. 290-334, inaquatio Macroinvertebrates of Northeastern North America, by B.Peckarsky, P. Fraissinet, M. Penton, D. Conklin. Cornell Univer­sity Press, Ithaca, N.Y.

PUblications:

Aeeietant: Lisa Cheung

therefore with reduced vigour.A survey of the dragonfly fauna was also conducted in 1990.

Forty-two species in 19 genera were recorded. My purpose is todevelop a checklist, key, and reference collection of localspecies, to aid future research on dragonflies and their parasit­ic mites. Thanks to all who helped by collecting specimens,especially to Dave Bell, Floyd Connor, Kelvin Conrad, and MarkForbes.

48

~aren Metz - "Ooloured Bands, Coverable Badge., and Sexual Selec­tion in Red-winged Blackbirds" - M.SO. Thesis

In 1990, I continued to investigate the effeots red bandsand plumage have on male red-winged blackbird behaviour. To testwhether red bands funotion similarly to the males' red epaulettesI presented a model with red, blue or black leg bands to owners.Red bands, like epaulettes, appeared to signal aggression.OWners were more threatened by the model when it was given redbands than when it had blue or black bands. I also performed aolipping experiment to ask what the oosts and/or benefits in­volved in oontinually displaying an aggressive signal are forowners. Owners that had the feathers that oover their epaulettesclipped were restrioted in their ability to trespass on othermales' territories and had to devote more time to chasing intrud­ers from their territories. These results support the hypothesesthat oontinually exposing aggressive badges caused males tosignal aggression during inappropriate situations and males weresignalling at an intensity that they oould not back-up duringoontests with other males.

The data on resightings of banded floaters indicate thatfloaters wander widely, but stay within restricted home ranges.In 1989 and 1990 I explored the cause of song rate variation interritorial males. I tested whether owners sang more often thanfloater replacements, whether males with larger harems sang moreoften, and/or whether males that interacted more with conspeoificcompetitors sang more. Analyses of over 1800 observations indi­cate that basal song rate serves simply to indicate that a terri­tory is ocoupied. During territory takeover attempts, song ratemay be a more honest signal of a male'S fighting ability.

Dave Sbutler - "Floater Red-winged Blackbird." - Ph.D. Thesis

Assi.tants: Franoes Barry, Stephen Scribner

1990 was our tenth summer of study on the local black ratsnake population. The long term goals are to examine basicfeatures of the population such as age and sex structure, mortal­ity patterns, rates of reproduction, etc. This information isrelevant to monitoring this rare species and to understandingbasic ecological principles regarding factors influencing sexualdimorphism and geographical ranges. These goals are being met bymarking and measuring all black rat snakes encountered eaohsummer at the Biological station.

"Ecology and Bebaviour ot BlacltRat Snakes"

Collaborator.: Dr. Lisle Gibbs and Dr. Peter Boag (Queen's)Dr. Gordon Bennett (Memorial)

A••i.tant.: Drew Hoysak, Kit Muma, Peter Hurd

49

Hurd, P.L., P.J. Weatherhead and S.B. McRae. 1991. Parentalconsumption of nestling feces: good food or sound economics?Behavioral Ecology, in press.

Gibbs, H.L., P.J. Weatherhead, P.T. Boag, B.N. White, L.M.Tabak and D.J. Hoysak. 1990. Realized reproductive success ofpolygynous red-winged blackbirds revealed by DNA markers.Science, 250: 1394-1397.

Gibbs, H.L., P.T. Boag, B.N. White, P.J. Weatherhead andL.M. Tabak. 1991. Detection of a hypervariable DNA locus in birdsby hybridization with a mouse MHC probe. Molecular Biology andEvolution, in press.

Publications:

Northern water snakes, common garter snakes, and easternribbon snakes occur throughout the marshes of southeastern Ontar­io, often sympatrically. This study employed a comparativeapproach to investigate the differences in locomotory performanceand its thermal dependence among these species. Performance ofwater snakes was superior, followed by ribbon and then gartersnakes, although garter snake locomotory capability was adaptedto a broad temperature range. Locomotory performance was relatedto antipreda tor behaviour; water snakes had the g.reatest flightdistance, and ribbon snakes and garter snakes used defensivebehaviours most, under different scenarios. In an enclosureconstructed to observe habitat use by snakes, the habitat pre­ferred by each species for foraging, baSking and as refugia wasrelated to its swimming and crawling ability.

Assistants: stephen scribner, Drew Hoysak

Stephen Scribner - "Locomotory Performance, Prellator AvoidanceanllHabitat Selection in Three species of semi-aquatic Snakes" -B.Sc. Thesis

Female northern water snakes attain a larger size than dothe males even though intense male competition would seem tofavour the reverse. Males compete physically for access tofemales in extremely male-biased mating aggregations. I plan touse a combination of field and lab studies to investigate thisapparent paradox. In the 1990 field season, I collected prelimi­nary data from a population of individually marked water snakes.Data collected included sex ratios in the overall population andin the mating aggregations, differential habitat use between thesexes during and after the mating season and movements of indi­viduals. A multiple paternity analysis of broods of water snakesby protein electrophoresis further investigated the intensity ofmale competition. This genetic analysis was done in collabora­tion with Dr. David Philipp. Further field research is plannedfor 1991.

France. Barry - "SeJNal Size Dimorphism in Northern water Snakes"- M.Sc. Thesis

50

Shutler, D. 1991. Dynamics of territory acqUisition by red­winged blackbirds. Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Biology, CarletonUniversity, Ottawa.

Scribner, S. 1991. Locomotory performance, predator avoid­ance, and habitat selection in three species of semi-aquaticsnakes. B.Sc. Thesis, Department of Biology, Carleton University,Ottawa.

Metz, K.J. 1991. Coloured bands, coverable badges, andsexual selection in red-winged blackbirds. M.Sc. Thesis, Depart­ment of Biology, Carleton University, Ottawa.

Theses:

Weatherhead, P.J. and I.C. Robertson. 1990. Homing to foodby black rat snakes (Elaphe obsoleta). copeia, in press.

Weatherhead, P.J. and K.L. Teather. 1991. Are skewed fledg­ling sex ratios in sexually dimorphic birds adaptive? AmericanNaturalist, in press.

Weatherhead, P.J. and S.B. McRae. 1990. Brood care by Ameri­can robins: implications for mixed reproductive strategies byfemales. Animal Behavior 39: 1179-1188.

Weatherhead, P.J. and G.F. Bennett. 1991. Ecology of red­winged blackbird parasitism by haematozoa. Canadian Journal ofZoology, in press.

Weatherhead, P.J. 1990. Secondary sexual traits, parasitesand polygyny in red-winged blackbirds. Behavioral Ecology, inpress.

Weatherhead, P.J. 1990. Nest defence as shareable parentalcare in red-winged blackbirds. Animal Behavior 39: 1173-1178.

Shutler, D. and P.J. weatherhead. 1991. Owner and floaterred-winged blackbirds: determinan'tsof status. Behavioral Ecologyand sociobiology, in press.

Muma, K.E. and P.J. Weatherhead. 1991. Plumage variation anddominance in captive female red-winged blackbirds. CanadianJournal of Zoology, in press.

Metz, K.J. and P.J. Weatherhead. 1991. Color bands functionas secondary sexual traits in red-winged blackbirds. BehavioralEcoLogy and sociobiology, in press.

Metz, K.J. 1990. The enigma of multiple nest building bymale marsh wrens. Auk, in press.

6

29

4

214

258

714

41

88406

43188281116762

1729

15318

147382

11714062

1248366626

51

oo o6

ooo

22oo

95oo119

17928

Trent UniveraityFox

:IthaoaCollegeSmith

University of WisconsinEhlinger 29

Yale UniveraityMiller

Illinois Natural History surveyPhilipp 51 0

272364oCarleton UniversityWeatherhead 78

23ooUniversity of CalgaryHarder 18

714oo

14113113315

oooooooo

8273

3773

158o

306

Toronto9936

101103

141

678636131284

1206

13

ooooooooo

131oo

3

4710

13438o

50143764

2314013

1068

10oo

62o

1957

35420o

oo3o25

1266

EXTERNALUniversity ofBaKerBarrettCollinsEadieFullardGrossGwynneTotal Toronto

Total Internal

INTERNAL (QUEEN' S IAarssenColganCrowderForsythGibbsHarmsenKeastMontgomerieRatcliffeRobertsonSmol/KingstonTufts

Superv~sor Post-Doc Graduate Ass~stant TotalStudentUSER-DAYS

Documentation of Research Use of QUBS in 1990

52

*QUBS staff, family and their visitors are not included

6926 (down 20\ from 1989)TOTAL USER-DAYS 1990

973

416

1780User-Days in Teaching Activities

Conference and Field Trip Use

Other*

61 0 53 56 54, External

39 100 47 44 46, Queen's

726 131 1345 1555 3757GRAND TO'1'AL

284 131 636 678 1729Total Internal

442 a 709 877 2028Total External

SuperVlsor Post-Doc Graduate ASslstant TotalStudentUSn-DAYS

Aug 18

Aug 8-11

June 25

June 12

June 12

June 3

May 31

May 15

May 10

Apr 9-10

53

Kingston Area Artists' 7Association Workshop

Departmental Picnic 42

Rideau valley Field 20Naturalists Field Trip

Rideau Heights School 27Outing

Fire Extinguisher 10Training Course

Dedication of Cape- 50Sauriol EnvironmentalStudies Area

Lasalle High School 13OAC Biology Field Trip

Rideau Heights School 25outing

High School Enrichment 20Course

Departmental Retreat 34

costa Rica Field 15 April 7Course Reunion

Yoga Retreat 6 March 31

Bio 439 (Population 20 Feb 2-4Ecology) Weekend

Bio 439 (Population 20 Jan 26-28Ecoloqy) Weekend

Reunion Weekend 37 Jan 12-14

Dr. David Dennis(Queen's-Biology)

Dr. Bill Rof!(KAAI-Kingston)

Dr. R.J. Robertson(Queen's-Biology)

Mark Millan(RHES-Kingston)

Bob Bell(Queen's-safety)

Dr. Patrick Colgan(Queen's-Biology)

Roger Lupton(LSS-Kingston)

Mark Millan(RHES-Kingston)

Wendy Briggs-Jude(RVFN-Westport)

Dr. Adele Crowder(Queen's-Biology)

Jocelyne Devi-Leyton(Yoga Kingston)

Floyd Connor (QUBS)

Dr. R. Harmsen(Queen's-Biology)

Dr. R. Harmsen(Queen ,s-Bioloqy)

Frances Barry/KarenMetz (Carleton-Bioloqy)

FUnctl.on Number of DurationParticipants

Organl.zer

Summary of Conference, Meeting a.nd Pield Trip Ose of QOBS in 1990

Oct 19-21

Oct 12-14

Sept 28-30

Sept 21-23

Sept 12

Aug 26 toSept 8

54

Canada World Youth 16Workshop

Sheila Cranmer-Byng(CWY)

Bio 202 (General 69Ecology) Field Trip

Bio 202 (General 76Ecology) Field Trip

Dr. Ian Walker(Queen's-Biology)

Adele Mullie(Queen's-Biology)

Adele Mullie(Queen's-Biology)

Lasalle High School 23Environmental BiologyField Trip

Bio 339 (Limnology) 36Field Trip

Rose Jones(LSS-Kingston)

Wilfrid Laurier Senior 12Undergraduate FieldCourse

Dr. Ed Kott(WLU-Biology)

Number of DurationParticipants

Funct~onOrgan~zer

55

Dr. James Fullard, Dept. of Zoology, Erindale Collegeof U of T"Bcholocating sviftlets in the South Pacific"

Frances Barry, Department of Biology, Carleton Univer­sity"Sexual aize dimorphism in Northern water Snakes"

Ian Robertson, Dept. of Zoology, Erindale College of Uof T"Parental care in burying beetles"

Dr. David Enstrom, University of Illinois"The function of delayed plumage maturation in Orchardorioles"

Peter Hurd, Dept. of Biology, carleton University"Quick and dirty jobs: Why parent birds eat theirnestling's feces"

Dr. David Ankney, Dept. of Zoology, University ofWestern ontario"The relation between food habits, nutrient reservesand clutch size of Gadwall and Northern Shoveler"

Dr. David Ankney, Dept. of Zoology, University ofWestern ontario"The American Black Duck: Wildlife manager's nightmare,evolutionary biologist's dream"

Blake Konkle, University of Illinois"Unidirectional hybridization among sunfish species"

Dr. Tim Guilford, Oxford"The psychology and evolution of defensive signals"

Dr. P.G. Bentz, University of Oslo, Norway"Bird hazards to aircraft in scandinavia"

sari Saunders and Wally Rendell,Dept. of Biology,Queen's University"Travels in Africa"

Dr. Bror Jonsson, Norwegian Institute of Nature Re­search"Maladaptation of hatchery-reared fish"

Dr. Jan Lifjeld, University of Oslo, Norway"polyterritoriality in the Pied Plycatcher: Deception

or not '"

QUBS SEMINAR SCHEDULE 1990

Aug 1

July 25

July 23

July 12

July 11

July 6

July 3

June 27

June 20

June 14

May 30

May 23

May 1

56

Provincial Sale. Tax

P.S.T. is applicable to oil used in boats and to photocopies.

Good. AD4 Service. Tax

G.S.T. is applicable to charges for boat rental, direct sales(eg. equipment) and all charges for R&B from casual users.

$4.40/day - non-Queen's staff or major researcher (M.Sc. or Ph.D.candidate, project coordinator or PostDoctoral Fellow)

$1.52/day - each non-Queen's assistant

If sufficient research funds are not available, bench fees may bewaived or reduced upon written application to the Director

Bench Pees

$39/day - includes gas and oil for one day rental

Boat Rental

$185/month, $85/week - includes maintenance from normal use - gasand oil not included

- weekly R&B for field courses-includes lab fee- 24 hr. room and board- breakfast or lunch only- dinner only- overnight accommodation - academic purposes- overnight accommodation- non-academic purposes

$150/person$2l/day/person$4.00$7.50$9.00/person$18.00/person

NOTEFees for groups and conferences are negotiated directly with theManager or the Director

R2Qm and Board Rates for Short-Term Visitors

- Dormitory (White House and Curran cottage)- Small Cabin (cabins 1-7, 10 and shaker)- Medium Cabin (cabins 12,13,14)-Large Cabin(cabins 8,11 and WhiteHouse Apt)- Cottage (Keast, Earl or Sumac)

$15. 75/month/person$31.50/month/person$63/month/person$84/month/person$115.50/month/person

Accommodation charges - Housing only

$410/month/person - no obligation for chores$285/month/person - includes obligation for chores on a rotatingschedule

Board charges - Heals only

Fee Schedule for 1991