COSEWIC Annual Report for 2010-2011

• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary
• Item I - COSEWIC Activities
• Item II - COSEWIC Membership
• Item III - COSEWIC Operations and Procedures
• Item IV - COSEWIC Communication Plan
• Item V - Wildlife Species Status Assignments
• Appendix I: COSEWIC Wildlife Species Assessments (detailed version), November 2010 and May 2011
• Appendix II: Press Releases, November 2010 and May 2011
• Appendix III: Biosketches of Proposed New / Renewed Members

September 9, 2011

The Honourable Peter Kent
Minister of the Environment
Les Terrasses de la Chaudière
10 Wellington Street
28th Floor
Gatineau, Québec
K1A 0H3

Dear Minister Kent,

Please find enclosed the 2010-2011 Annual Report of the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC), which I respectfully submit to you and to the Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council (CESCC). The submission of this report fulfills COSEWIC’s obligations under Section 26 of Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA). The Annual Report will also be available online through the SARA public registry at http://www.sararegistry.gc.ca/gen_info/cosewic_annual_e.cfm.

As you know, COSEWIC’s role is to assess the conservation status of wildlife species in Canada. To date, COSEWIC has assessed 635 wildlife species in various risk categories, including 278 Endangered, 158 Threatened, 176 Special Concern and 23 Extirpated. The Committee has also assessed 14 wildlife species as Extinct, 50 as Data Deficient and 170 as Not at Risk.

The Annual Report identifies wildlife species to be considered for addition to Schedule 1 of SARA and confirms the status of species currently listed on Schedule 1. Under Item V, Wildlife Species Status Assignments, you will find the status assigned to each of these species, the reasons for designation, and the COSEWIC criteria applied with alphanumeric codes.

The submission of this information fulfils COSEWIC’s obligations under Section 25 of SARA, which requires that COSEWIC provide the Minister of the Environment and CESCC with a copy of species status assessments and the reasons for the assessments. It also fulfils our obligations under Section 24, which requires COSEWIC review the classification of species at risk at least once every 10 years.

COSEWIC’s ability to meet its legislated mandate relies on the time and expertise provided by its members and the members of its Species Specialist Subcommittees and Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge (ATK) Subcommittee. I note with some concern that the workload for these members will increase as COSEWIC faces the 10-year review of classification required for species placed on Schedule 1 when SARA was proclaimed in 2003 and those assessed in subsequent years. I have struck a Strategic Planning Working Group to provide recommendations on how best to address the looming workload issues. Nonetheless, I anticipate that the Committee could face significant challenges in this regard over the next few years and we will rely on strong and continued administrative support from the COSEWIC Secretariat and your department to ensure we meet our obligations.

COSEWIC also faces challenges associated with gathering ATK, as required under Section 15(2) of SARA. As you know, in April 2010, COSEWIC approved the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Process and Protocol Guidelines, which provide clear and agreed principles for gathering ATK. Since that time, COSEWIC’s ATK Subcommittee has prioritized species for ATK gathering, initiated the process of identifying sources of ATK and gathered publicly available ATK for upcoming species assessments. For many species, however, ATK must be gathered directly from community sources. ATK gathering projects require significant effort by our ATK Subcommittee and significant resources. Unfortunately, the funds currently available to COSEWIC do not allow us to conduct these important projects.

Finally, I draw your attention to my letters of 31 May and 30 August 2011 regarding candidates for appointment to COSEWIC. As I mentioned, the Committee conducted a careful and transparent review of all applicants and the nominees provided to you on 31 May represent an extremely well qualified group of individuals. You will find short summaries describing their expertise on page 63 (Appendix III) of the report. I hope you will consider appointing these nominees without delay, and before the terms of incumbent members expire.

In closing, I wish to express my sincere appreciation for the support of your Ministry and its commitment to the conservation and protection of wildlife species at risk in Canada.

Yours sincerely,

Marty L. Leonard
Chair, COSEWIC

Under Canada’s Species at Risk Act (SARA), the foremost function of COSEWIC is to “assess the status of each wildlife species considered by COSEWIC to be at risk and, as part of the assessment, identify existing and potential threats to the species”.

COSEWIC held two Wildlife Species Assessment Meetings during the past year assessing the status or reviewing the classification of a total of 92 wildlife species.

The wildlife species assessment results for the 2010-2011 reporting period include the following:

Of the 92 wildlife species examined, COSEWIC reviewed the classification of 41 species as required under Section 24 of SARA. The review of classification for 30 of those species already listed on Schedule 1 of SARA resulted in a confirmation of the same status as the previous assessment. Additionally, this report transmits to the Minister the status of 51 species newly classified as Extirpated (no longer found in the wild in Canada but occurring elsewhere), Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern, fulfilling COSEWIC’s obligations under SARA, Section 25. A full detailed summary of the assessment for each species and the reasons for the designation can be found in Appendix I of the attached report.

In addition to the above-mentioned species assessments, COSEWIC undertook a number of activities this year in support of its wildlife assessment mandate. COSEWIC’s Arthropods Specialist Subcommittee prepared reports on possible Coccinellidae (lady-bug) and Crustacean candidates for COSEWIC assessment. The Species Specialist Subcommittee is currently evaluating available options to address the lack of crustacean experts within the subcommittee needed to provide advice on status recommendations for these species.

A Threats Calculator, which weights the identified threats for each wildlife species, was tested by COSEWIC members with the intention of it becoming a standard in the assessment of all species at risk. A Threats Classification System has been used by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with benefits to assessment and post-assessment activities, such as species recovery planning.

In response to direction from the Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee, COSEWIC struck a new working group to look at whether species co-occurring in the same ecosystem or those with the same or similar threats might have their status classifications reviewed at the same time. The working group provided a power point presentation to the members at the Spring 2011 COSEWIC Species Assessment Meeting and following much discussion, it was agreed that COSEWIC would initiate a “species bundling” pilot project looking at vascular plant species in the Athabasca ecosystem.

Since its inception, COSEWIC has assessed 635 wildlife species in various risk categories, including 278 Endangered, 158 Threatened, 176 Special Concern and 23 Extirpated. In addition, 14 wildlife species have been assessed as Extinct. Also, to date, 50 wildlife species have been identified by COSEWIC as Data Deficient and 170 wildlife species were assessed as Not at Risk.

COSEWIC would be unable to accomplish the work detailed in this annual report without the dedication of the members of COSEWIC, the Species Specialist Subcommittees and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee, all of whom provide their time and expertise to ensure COSEWIC species assessments are of the highest standard.

• 1. Wildlife Species Assessment Meetings
• 2. Summary Results of the Wildlife Species Assessment Meetings
• 3. Important Note Regarding Status Assessments
• 4. Emergency Assessments
• 5. Wildlife Species Assessments Returned by the Governor in Council (GiC) to COSEWIC for Further Information or Consideration
• 6. Wildlife Species Selected for Status Report Preparation
• 7. Annual Subcommittee Meetings
• 8. Update on Progress of Working Groups within COSEWIC

Date: November 22-26, 2010

Location: Ottawa, Ontario

Members – 42

Secretariat Staff –10

Observers – 43 (7 COSEWIC nominees for appointment as Co-chairs/NG Science Member, 4 Canadian Wildlife Service, 13 Fisheries & Oceans Canada, 2 Parks Canada, 2 Canadian Museum of Nature, 1 Ministère des Resources naturelles et de la Faune, Québec, 1 NWT Department of the Environment and Natural Resources, 1 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 1 Nunavut Department of Environment, 1 Torngat Wildlife & Plants Co-Management Board, 2 WWF Canada, 1 Nature Canada, 2 Canadian Wildlife Federation, 1 Nature Serve Canada/member, Vascular Plants Specialist Subcommittee, 1 member, Marine Fishes Specialist Subcommittee, 1 member, Arthropods Specialist Subcommittee, 1 student, McGill University, 1 David Suzuki Foundation).

Invited Presenter - Susan Pinkus, Ecojustice Canada (“Species at Risk Act, COSEWIC and the Meaning of Recovery”)

Date: May 1-6, 2011
Location: Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Hosted by the Province of Prince Edward Island.

Members - 40

Secretariat Staff – 8

Observers – 33 (7 Canadian Wildlife Service, 6 Fisheries & Oceans Canada, 2 Parks Canada, 1 Newfoundland Department of Fisheries & Aquaculture, 1 Nova Scotia Department of Natural Resources, 1 Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, 3 PEI. Department of Environment, Energy & Forestry, 1 Yukon Department of Environment, 1 WWF Canada, 1 Canadian Nature Federation, 1 member, Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittee, 1 member, Molluscs Specialist Subcommittee, 1 member, National Aboriginal Council on Species at Risk (NACOSAR), 2 IKANAWTIKET, 3 Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre,1 West River Watershed Group).

Invited Presenter – Dr. Doug Swain, Fisheries & Oceans Canada (“Continued Decline of Large Demersal Fishes in the Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence Despite Little Fishing: Possible Causes and their Consequences”)

Following each of the above-noted COSEWIC Species Assessment Meetings, the Chair of COSEWIC communicated with the Canadian Wildlife Directors Committee via teleconference, as well as with representatives of the Wildlife Management Boards and members of NACOSAR.

In November 2010, COSEWIC assessed or reviewed the classification of the status of 52 wildlife species (species, subspecies and populations) based on 39 Status Reports, 1 of which was an unsolicited report.

The wildlife species assessment results include the following:

In addition, 1 wildlife species was assessed as Extinct, 6 were assessed as Not at Risk and 3 were assessed as Data Deficient.

Classification was reviewed by COSEWIC and the status was confirmed to be in the same category for 14 wildlife species classified as Extirpated (no longer found in the wild in Canada but occurring elsewhere), Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern on Schedule 1 of SARA:

Atlantic Salmon (Inner Bay of Fundy population), Atlantic Whitefish, Barn Owl (Eastern population), Columbia Sculpin, Eastern Mole, Nodding Pogonia, Pallid Bat, Sage Thrasher, Seaside Birds–foot Lotus, Skinner's Agalinis, Timber Rattlesnake, White Prairie Gentian, White–headed Woodpecker, Woodland Vole.

Classification was reviewed by COSEWIC for 2 wildlife species previously classified as of Special Concern on Schedule 3 of SARA, resulting in a change of status category. COSEWIC considered both the Chestnut Lamprey (Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence populations) and the Chestnut Lamprey (Saskatchewan – Nelson River populations) and placed them in the Data Deficient category.

With the transmission of this report, COSEWIC provides our assessments of 28 wildlife species newly classified as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern to the Minister of Environment so that he can consider whether to recommend to the Governor in Council (GiC) that they be added to Schedule 1 of SARA:

Atlantic Salmon (Anticosti Island population), Atlantic Salmon (Eastern Cape Breton population), Atlantic Salmon (Nova Scotia Southern Upland population), Atlantic Salmon (Outer Bay of Fundy population), Atlantic Salmon (Quebec Eastern North Shore population), Atlantic Salmon (Quebec Western North Shore population), Atlantic Salmon (Inner St. Lawrence population), Atlantic Salmon (Gaspe–Southern Gulf of St. Lawrence population), Atlantic Salmon (South Newfoundland population), Barn Owl (Western population), Blue Felt Lichen, Butler's Gartersnake, Cerulean Warbler, Crumpled Tarpaper Lichen, Dolly Varden (Western Arctic populations), Dwarf Lake Iris, Jefferson Salamander, Mountain Sucker (Pacific populations), Mountain Sucker (Milk River populations), Northern Fur Seal, Pitcher's Thistle, Purple Twayblade, Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel, Roell's Brotherella Moss, Shorthead Sculpin, Showy Goldenrod (Great Lakes Plains population), Showy Goldenrod (Boreal population), Skillet Clubtail.

In May, 2011, COSEWIC assessed or reviewed the classification of the status of 40 wildlife species (species, subspecies and populations) based on 38 Status Reports, none of which were unsolicited reports.

The wildlife species assessment results include the following:

In addition, 1 wildlife species was examined and found to be Data Deficient.

Classification was reviewed by COSEWIC and the status was confirmed to be in the same category for 16 wildlife species classified as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened or Special Concern on Schedule 1 of SARA:

Barrow's Goldeneye, Blanchard's Cricket Frog, Desert Nightsnake, Furbish's Lousewort, Henslow's Sparrow, King Rail, Long–billed Curlew, Long's Braya, Northern Bottlenose Whale (Scotian Shelf population), Olympia Oyster, Oregon Spotted Frog, Poor Pocket Moss, Salamander Mussel, Small Whorled Pogonia, Southern Maidenhair Fern, Taylor's Checkerspot.

COSEWIC completed a review of classification for the Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus). Based on this review, COSEWIC decided that a fully updated status report is required to assess the status of this wildlife species. The requirement for COSEWIC to review the classification of this species at risk at least once every 10 years, as per SARA s. 24, has thereby been fulfilled.

Classification was reviewed by COSEWIC for 1 wildlife species previously classified as of Special Concern on Schedule 3 of SARA, resulting in a change of status category. COSEWIC assessed the Silver Shiner as Threatened.

COSEWIC hereby forwards the COSEWIC assessments for 23 wildlife species newly classified as Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened and Special Concern to the Minister of Environment so that he can consider whether to recommend to the GiC that they be added to Schedule 1 of SARA:

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, Atlantic Sturgeon (St. Lawrence populations), Atlantic Sturgeon (Maritimes populations), Barn Swallow, Batwing Vinyl Lichen, Dune Tachinid Fly, Eastern Meadowlark, Eulachon (Nass / Skeena Rivers population), Eulachon (Central Pacific Coast population), Eulachon (Fraser River population), Hickorynut, Hine's Emerald, Humpback Whale (North Pacific population), Hungerford's Crawling Water Beetle, Lyall's Mariposa Lily, Macropis Cuckoo Bee, Northern Bottlenose Whale (Davis Strait–Baffin Bay–Labrador Sea population), Olive Clubtail, Peacock Vinyl Lichen, Silver Lamprey (Saskatchewan – Nelson Rivers populations), Silver Lamprey (Great Lakes – Upper St. Lawrence populations), Spring Salamander (Adirondack / Appalachian population), Spring Salamander (Carolinian population).

Appendix I provides the results of COSEWIC’s assessment of the status of each species including the reasons for each designation

As of May 2011, the COSEWIC assessment results include 635 wildlife species at risk in various categories, including 278 Endangered wildlife species, 158 Threatened wildlife species, 176 Special Concern wildlife species and 23 Extirpated wildlife species. In addition, COSEWIC has designated 14 wildlife species as Extinct.

As of May 2011, a total of 50 wildlife species have also been designated as Data Deficient and 170 have been assessed and assigned Not at Risk status.

Aurora Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis):

COSEWIC agreed that the Aurora Trout is ineligible for assessment and recommends that it be deactivated/removed from Schedule 1 of SARA. The decision was based on the recommendation of the Freshwater Fishes Specialist Subcommittee and the review of an updated status report (10-year update as required under SARA) which indicated that the Aurora Trout does not meet the combined “discrete” and “significant” criteria necessary for recognition as a designatable unit under COSEWIC’s revised guidelines.

See Appendix II for the COSEWIC Press Releases from the November 2010 and May 2011 Wildlife Species Assessment Meetings.

Two applications were received for emergency assessments, one was for the Cowichan-Koksilah Conservation Unit of Chinook Salmon and the other for the Spiked Saxifrage. Both requests were reviewed by the Chair, the relevant Co-chairs of the Species Specialist Subcommittees, members with expertise on each taxon and federal and provincial/territorial members. In both cases it was decided that an emergency assessment was not warranted.

In response to the GiC's Spring 2009 decision to refer back to COSEWIC the assessment of the Northern Fur Seal (Callorhinus ursinus), the Marine Mammals Specialist Subcommittee initiated a reassessment of that species. During the COSEWIC Species Assessment Meeting November 2010, the species was re-assessed and the status was confirmed as Threatened. Further details are provided in Appendix I.

Following COSEWIC's process for determining those wildlife species for which status reports will be commissioned, the following wildlife species from COSEWIC's Species Specialist Subcommittees’ candidate lists were chosen by the Committee for status report commissioning. None of these species have been assessed by COSEWIC to date.

Species for which Status Reports will be commissioned in autumn 2012:

A workshop (Workshop on the Collection of ATK for Wildlife Species Assessments and SARA) was held from October 2-3, 2010 attended by the members of the ATK Subcommittee, the Chair of COSEWIC, several COSEWIC Species Specialist Subcommittee Co-chairs and representatives from Environment Canada, Fisheries & Oceans Canada, Parks Canada, NACOSAR and the COSEWIC Secretariat. The purpose of the workshop was to clarify and coordinate protocols and processes for the collection of ATK in support of wildlife status assessments and other needs under SARA.

Subsequent to the workshop, a meeting was held with the ATK Subcommittee and Species Specialist Subcommittee Co-chairs to discuss the gathering of ATK and the ATK Review Report Production Process. The group also identified potential species to be included in the ATK reviewing process over the next four years. The ATK Subcommittee also held other meetings over the past year.

Species Specialist Subcommittee meetings take place annually in different locations in Canada or by teleconference held once or twice a year. The primary goals of these meetings are to discuss and make recommendations on species status, review potential candidate species and identify priority species for assessment. During the face-to-face meetings, observers are invited to attend and sometimes a public information session will take place.

In addition, Species Specialist Subcommittees may discuss the results of recent COSEWIC Species Assessment Meetings, results of public calls for bids for the preparation of COSEWIC status reports, and results of public calls for membership. The subcommittees will also provide orientation to their new members, discuss special projects and plans, and receive an update on COSEWIC Operations and Procedures.

Currently, COSEWIC has 10 Species Specialist Subcommittees each led by two expert Co-chairs.

In addition to their regular business, a number of subcommittees have undertaken some special projects in order to better serve COSEWIC’s core mandate of assessing the status of wildife species in Canada.

The following are the names of each Species Specialist Subcommittee and any special projects planned or undertaken if applicable.

There are no special projects to report.

Reports prepared in the last year on candidate Coccinellidae and Crustacean species are being reviewed by the Species Specialist Subcommittee. The Coccinellidae report identified several candidate species that may be proposed for the 2012 COSEWIC priority ranking exercise. The Crustaceans report resulted in a substantial list of crustacean species that may be candidates for COSEWIC assessment. However, the Subcommittee is uncertain about whether the expertise to formulate status recommendations to COSEWIC on crustaceans resides within the current Arthropods subcommittee. Methods for addressing this issue are being discussed.

No special projects were carried out by the Species Specialist Subcommittee. However, the COSEWIC member from Parks Canada, Patrick Nantel, undertook a preliminary analysis of Breeding Bird Survey trend data to estimate probability of future decline using the Eastern Meadowlark as a case-study. His statistical approaches look very promising, at least for some species, and merit further examination by the Species Specialist Subcommittee.

There are no special projects to report.

There are no special projects to report.

The Species Specialist Subcommittee proposed a special project that would examine marine mammals that were previously assessed by COSEWIC as Data Deficient or Not at Risk in order to determine whether they are, in fact, eligible for re-assessment and to ensure they were given the appropriate designation at the time of assessment. However, the project will not proceed at this time due to a lack of funding.

Some members of the Species Specialist Subcommittee are currently looking into the production of a Freshwater Mussels of Canada Field Guide.

A project on microsatellites of selected Canadian physids did not proceed due to a lack of funding.

There are no special projects to report.

A report on designatable units (DUs) for all caribou populations in Canada is in progress. COSEWIC will receive a provisional report prior to its November 2011 meeting where the proposed DUs will be voted on. A Population Viability Analysis (PVA) stand-alone COSEWIC document was prepared for input in the preparation of the Prairie Dog status report.

There are no special projects to report.

COSEWIC is extremely grateful for the important work of the Species Specialist Subcommittee members who provide their time and expertise on a volunteer basis.

A working group was established to consider the following issues with respect to the position of Chair of COSEWIC –

• Duties of the Chair.
• Should the Chair be a stand-alone member?
• Improving access to the position by others (jurisdictional members, etc.)
• Administrative/business side (monetary agreements etc.).

Findings and recommendations were outlined in a report which was provided to members and discussed during the May, 2011 Species Assessment Meeting. In addition, a worksheet setting out the time spent on different aspects of work of the Chair was prepared by Jeff Hutchings, past Chair.

Following discussion, it was decided not to proceed with the recommendations in the report but that the Working Group will, instead, flesh out more options and look at different models over the next year or two.

A Criteria Training Session for new members and a refresher for current members was held immediately prior to the November 2010 Species Assessment Meeting. The session was organized and led by Dave Fraser, Chair of the Criteria Working Group, and approximately 40 people attended.

A Threats Calculator was tested by COSEWIC members with the intention of it becoming a standard in the assessment of all species at risk. A Threats Classification System has been used by IUCN with benefits to assessment and post-assessment activities such as Recovery planning. A training session was given by Dave Fraser at the Spring 2011 COSEWIC Species Assessment Meeting to assist members with the use of the threats calculator.

A new working group was struck tasked to propose for review and approval an improved scheme for the ranking of a prioritized list of candidate species.

A permanent Press Release Working Group is tasked at each Wildlife Species Assessment Meeting with coordinating and preparing the Press Releases issued by COSEWIC as found in Appendix II of this report.

The working group was reactivated to work on some minor improvements to the Instructions to Report Writers with regard to Index of Area of Occupancy, Extent of Occurrence and Locations.

A new working group was struck to look at whether species co-occurring in the same ecosystem or those with the same or similar threats or are inter-dependent etc. might have their status classifications reviewed at the same time.

The working group provided a power point presentation to the members at the Spring 2011 COSEWIC Species Assessment Meeting and following much discussion, it was agreed to initiate a pilot project (vascular plant species - Athabasca ecosystem).

As per COSEWIC Operations and Procedures Manual, nominations for incoming members from jurisdictions are submitted directly to the Minister of the Environment with a copy provided to the Chair of COSEWIC.

Between January 19 and February 19, 2011 calls for six co-chair positions and one non-government science member position on COSEWIC were posted on the COSEWIC public website with notifications of those calls being widely distributed. Selection committees were struck and applications were scrutinized following procedures for member selection as set out in the Operations & Procedures Manual of COSEWIC. Elections took place and as a result, COSEWIC recommended the following for membership on the Committee in the positions and for the terms indicated.

There was one candidate for the position of Co-chair, Amphibians & Reptiles Specialist Subcommittee who, upon evaluation, was considered unsuitable due to a lack of necessary expertise and experience. As a result, the incumbent, Dr. Ronald Brooks, has agreed to continue as Co-chair for another year. This extension will ensure that the work of the Amphibians & Reptiles Specialist Subcommittee continues without disruption and it will also allow Dr. Brooks to mentor the new Co-chair, whose term began in January, 2011.

The call for the position of Co-chair of the Marine Mammals Specialist Subcommittee failed to attract any applications. Dr. Jane Watson, the incumbent, agreed to stay on for one further year. A one-year extension for Dr. Watson will ensure that the work of the Marine Mammals Specialist Subcommittee proceeds without disruption.

The call for the position of Co-chair of the Vascular Plants Specialist Subcommittee attracted one application, which was subsequently withdrawn. Bruce Bennett, the incumbent, agreed to stay on for a further year to assist with the large volume of work facing this subcommittee.

The above three positions will be re-advertised in the 2012 call for membership.

See Appendix III for the biosketches of the nominees for appointment on COSEWIC.

For a current list of members on COSEWIC, please see the COSEWIC website. http://www.cosewic.gc.ca/eng/sct6/sct6_4_e.cfm

COSEWIC bases the conduct of its activities on a thorough COSEWIC Operations and Procedures Manual that is reviewed between each Species Assessment Meeting by COSEWIC’s Operations and Procedures Subcommittee. Any necessary changes are identified and provided to the Committee for their approval. During this reporting period, the COSEWIC Operations and Procedures Manual was updated to reflect some changes in COSEWIC’s procedures. Most notable are:

The process with regard to Status Appraisal Summaries was developed and approved by COSEWIC. The Status Appraisal procedure is used as a means to efficiently review the classification of a wildlife species for which status is unlikely to change, in order to assist COSEWIC in meeting its requirement under SARA to review the classification of each species at least every 10 years. The procedure involves preparation of a Status Appraisal Summary, which is a brief document that provides information relevant to status that has been gathered since the last assessment. The Status Appraisal Summary along with the technical summary, accompanies the existing status report and is reviewed by the Species Specialist Subcommittee, the ATK Subcommittee, relevant jurisdictions, Wildlife Management Boards and Recovery Teams and, if required, external experts. Status Appraisal Summaries along with relevant existing status reports are circulated to COSEWIC at least two months prior to a Wildlife Species Assessment Meeting.

COSEWIC has been encouraged to develop an outreach strategy to explain COSEWIC to Canadians.

During the period encompassed by this Report (September 1, 2010 – August 31, 2011). Dr. Marty Leonard attended meetings/gave the following talks and presentations on the work of the Committee:

• September 9, 2010, attended meeting in Truro, Nova Scotia, with Joshua McNeely and Roger Hunka of IKANAWTIKET, a Maritime Aboriginal Environmental Group.
• December, 2010, met with Jeff Stevens, a new member of NACOSAR.
• October, 2010 & May, 2011, made presentations at the Canadian Wildlife Directors Meetings.

Also, June 11-12, 2011 Dr. Justina Ray and Dr. Graham Forbes, Co-chairs of the Terrestrial Mammals Specialist Subcommittee, Dr. Andrew Trites, member, Marine Mammals Specialist Subcommittee and Dr. Donna Hurlburt, Co-chair of the ATK Subcommittee met with the Nunavut Wildlife Management Board. They gave presentations on and discussed the role and responsibilities of COSEWIC, the new processes and protocols for including ATK in status assessments and highlighted some upcoming species assessments of particular relevance to Board members.

In December 2010 in Montreal, Quebec, Dr. Hurlburt also gave a similar presentation to the Nunavik Marine Region Wildlife Management Board.

Wildlife Species assessed since the last reporting indicating status assigned, reasons for designation (including uncertainties if applicable) and COSEWIC criteria with alphanumeric codes is provided in Appendix I.

Status reports which contain the information on which COSEWIC’s assessment of the status of the wildlife species is based will be available on SARA Public Registry.

Results are grouped by taxon and then by status category. The range of occurrence in Canada (by province, territory or ocean) and history of status designation are provided for each wildlife species. Assessment criteria and reason for designation are shown, where applicable.*

* Assessment criteria and reasons for designation are included as needed when a review of classification is conducted by means of status appraisal. The status appraisal process is used when a review of classification is required and it is reasonably certain that the wildlife species' status has not changed from the previous assessment.

* The assessment of Rocky Mountain Tailed Frog (Ascaphus montanus) was deferred.

26/11/2010

Results are grouped by taxon and then by status category. The range of occurrence in Canada (by province, territory or ocean) and history of status designation are provided for each wildlife species.

* Aurora Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis timagamiensis) was determined to be ineligible for assessment. Gattinger’s Agalinis (Agalinis gattingeri) and Buffalograss (Buchloë dactyloides) were withdrawn. The review of classification of the Coastal Giant Salamander (Dicamptodon tenebrosus) was completed. COSEWIC decided that a fully updated status report is required to assess the status of this wildlife species.

08/12/2011

Two birds considered extremely rare to Canada were both re-assessed as Endangered despite recovery initiatives. The White-headed Woodpecker and Sage Thrasher are just two of the 52 Canadian wildlife species that were assessed for risk of extinction or extirpation by COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) when it met in Ottawa, November 22-26, 2010. Of the thirty-two species that were re-assessed after 10 years, as required by the Species at Risk Act, only four were found to be less at risk.

Fewer than 100 of the spectacular White-headed Woodpecker nest in southeastern British Columbia. This bird depends on mature Ponderosa Pine forests which continue to decline due to severe fires and Mountain Pine Beetle infestations. Even rarer is the Sage Thrasher. Although never common in BC, Alberta or Saskatchewan, the total population of this small brown songbird in Canada ranges from only seven to 36 individuals. Loss of sagebrush habitat, used for nesting, is undoubtedly responsible for declines of this bird in Canada.

Although increased efforts to survey rare plants in Ontario resulted in larger population estimates for the Dwarf Lake Iris; habitat degradation still plagues species with extremely limited ranges in the Great Lakes region of Ontario and Québec. Two small orchids, the Nodding Pogonia which was assessed as Endangered and the Purple Twayblade, a Threatened species, are highly vulnerable to ongoing habitat alterations associated with invasive plants, introduced earthworms, and land development. The Endangered White Prairie Gentian, a large showy perennial known for its traditional medicinal uses, now exists as only a single small population in southern Ontario where its savannah habitat is protected from degradation by the Walpole Island First Nation.

The Atlantic Salmon, one of the world’s most commonly farmed marine fishes, has suffered declines in the wild, particularly in southern parts of its Canadian range. Regardless of ongoing activities to rebuild stocks, one population in southern Newfoundland was designated as Threatened, and five populations in the Bay of Fundy, outer coast of Nova Scotia and Anticosti Island were assessed as Endangered. The unique Lake Ontario population was considered Extinct. To the north, the situation is not as dire. Populations in the Gulf of St. Lawrence were assessed as Special Concern and three of the most northern populations in Canada were considered Not at Risk; relatively pristine rivers and improved fisheries management likely explain the stable to increasing abundance of these northern populations.

Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge contributed significantly to understanding the biology and threats for Dolly Varden, a trout-like fish of great significance to the people of the western Arctic. Despite the relative health of these populations, climate change poses a significant risk. This factor, in addition to the sensitivity of this fish to habitat impacts and fishing pressure, resulted in a designation of Special Concern.

The Rocky Mountain Ridged Mussel is a large conspicuous freshwater mussel residing in the Okanagan Lake basin. Its restricted range coupled with the threat of the invasive Zebra Mussel and burgeoning lakeshore development elevated the risks to this species which led to an assessment of Endangered from a previous assessment of Special Concern.

The case of the Barndoor Skate does give cause for some optimism. This large, distinctive marine fish experienced severe population declines and was virtually undetectable in Canadian waters for two decades. Reduced fishing pressure has contributed to significant increases in the Barndoor Skate since the 1990s. While this skate has not fully recovered to historical levels, the fish was assessed as Not at Risk.

COSEWIC’s next scheduled wildlife species assessment meeting will be held in Charlottetown, PEI, May 1-6, 2011.

COSEWIC assesses the status of wild species, subspecies, varieties, or other important units of biological diversity, considered to be at risk in Canada. To do so, COSEWIC uses scientific, Aboriginal traditional and community knowledge provided by experts from governments, academia and other organizations. Summaries of assessments are currently available to the public on the COSEWIC website and will be submitted to the Federal Minister of the Environment in late summer 2011 for listing consideration under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). At that time, the full status reports and status appraisal summaries will be publicly available on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

There are now 617 wildlife species in various COSEWIC risk categories, including 270 Endangered, 153 Threatened, 172 Special Concern, and 22 Extirpated (i.e. no longer found in the wild in Canada). In addition to these wildlife species that are in COSEWIC risk categories, there are 14 wildlife species that are Extinct.

COSEWIC comprises members from each provincial and territorial government wildlife agency, four federal entities (Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Federal Biodiversity Information Partnership, chaired by the Canadian Museum of Nature), three Non-government Science Members, and the Co-chairs of the Species Specialist and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittees.

* denotes a COSEWIC risk category

Further details on all wildlife species assessed, and the reasons for designations, can be found on the COSEWIC website.

In 2010, the United Nations International Year of Biodiversity, people around the world will step up efforts to slow down the widespread rapid rate of biodiversity loss. As well, throughout the year, communities will celebrate the amazing diversity of life on the planet.

Wildlife species found in marine and freshwater habitats were prominent when COSEWIC (Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada) met in Charlottetown, PEI, May 1-6, 2011, to assess the conservation status of 40 Canadian wildlife species. Aquatic species considered at risk included several fishes, molluscs, insects, whales and amphibians, underscoring the continuing vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems to habitat degradation and overexploitation.

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna is one of the most highly sought-after fish species in the world with some market prices exceeding $1000 per kilogram. Unfortunately, its value has driven the species into a steep decline since the 1970s with recent abundance reaching an all-time low. Overfishing remains the single largest threat, and international attempts to improve management have yet to see populations increase. The species is highly migratory, and the fish caught in Canadian waters actually spawn in the Gulf of Mexico. Thus, they are exposed to commercial fisheries not only in Canada but all along the east coast of North America during migration. Atlantic Bluefin Tuna was assessed by COSEWIC as Endangered.

The Eulachon or ‘candlefish’, so-called because of its exceptionally high oil content and historical use as a candle, was assessed for the first time at this meeting. This small fish was once a cultural mainstay of many First Nations groups of coastal BC and the origin of the famous ‘grease trails’ that linked coastal and inland communities. Since the early 1990s, many traditional fisheries for this species have seen catastrophic declines of 90% or more, and the species is facing extirpation in many rivers. The cause is unclear but may be related to reductions in marine survival associated with shifting environmental conditions, by-catch, directed fishing and predation. Only the Nass River still supports a fishery but even here numbers have declined. The Nass / Skeena Rivers population of Eulachon was assessed as Threatened. Further south, the Central Pacific Coast and the Fraser River populations have experienced even greater declines resulting in an Endangered designation for both populations.

Sporadic episodes of intense fisheries followed by population crashes characterize the history of Atlantic Sturgeon in Canada. This large fish has experienced significant habitat degradation associated with pollution and hydro-electric dams and is known to spawn in two Canadian rivers where some harvest continues. Considerable uncertainty exists regarding how much harvest this species can withstand given its late maturity and slow reproductive rate. Consequently, populations in both of the Great Lakes / St. Lawrence and the Maritimes regions were designated as Threatened. This is the last of Canada’s five sturgeon species to be assessed by COSEWIC; all are now considered to be at some risk of extinction.

Agricultural and urban run-off into streams pose key threats for at least two species at risk in Ontario. The Salamander Mussel has only ever been documented in two rivers in Canada, and its continued existence in one watershed, the Thames River, is in question. Similarly, the globally rare Hungerford’s Crawling Water Beetle is known from only three Lake Huron streams. Observed declines coupled with habitat degradation and restricted range led to a designation of Endangered for both species.

The Barn Swallow is easily identified by its deeply forked tail and swooping flight as it hunts for insects over lakes and fields. This bird, the most widespread swallow species in the world, is following the pattern of declining trends seen in many migratory birds across North America that eat flying insects. The reasons for declines of up to 76% in the past 40 years continue to baffle bird experts but changes in habitats, insect communities and climate have all been implicated. The Barn Swallow was assessed as Threatened.

Two wildlife species have not been seen despite ongoing searches since they were last assessed by COSEWIC over 10 years ago. The Small Whorled Pogonia, a woodland orchid known from only one locality in south western Ontario, was last observed in 1998. Similarly, the Blanchard’s Cricket Frog has not been seen at any of its Lake Erie locations since 1970. Habitat degradation in this heavily developed region is the main concern for both species. They retain a status of Endangered awaiting further evidence that they no longer exist in Canada.

Reaching up to 45 tons at maturity, humpback whales are the most acrobatic of all baleen whales. When originally assessed by COSEWIC in 1985, the North Pacific population of Humpback Whale was designated as Threatened due to dramatic declines in the early 1900s and continued commercial whaling up until 1967. Recent studies indicate, however, that the population off the Pacific coast is increasing steadily, despite continuing threats including collisions with ships, entanglement with fishing gear and underwater noise. The North Pacific population of Humpback Whales was re-assessed as Special Concern.

COSEWIC’s next scheduled wildlife species assessment meeting will be held in Ottawa, ON, in November 2011.

COSEWIC assesses the status of wild species, subspecies, varieties, or other important units of biological diversity, considered to be at risk in Canada. To do so, COSEWIC uses scientific, Aboriginal traditional and community knowledge provided by experts from governments, academia and other organizations. Summaries of assessments are currently available to the public on the COSEWIC website and will be submitted to the Federal Minister of the Environment in late summer 2011 for listing consideration under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). At that time, the full status reports and status appraisal summaries will be publicly available on the Species at Risk Public Registry.

There are now 635 wildlife species in various COSEWIC risk categories, including 278 Endangered, 158 Threatened, 176 Special Concern, and 23 Extirpated (i.e. no longer found in the wild in Canada). In addition to these wildlife species that are in COSEWIC risk categories, there are 14 wildlife species that are Extinct.

COSEWIC comprises members from each provincial and territorial government wildlife agency, four federal entities (Canadian Wildlife Service, Parks Canada Agency, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and the Federal Biodiversity Information Partnership, chaired by the Canadian Museum of Nature), three Non-government Science Members, and the Co-chairs of the Species Specialist and the Aboriginal Traditional Knowledge Subcommittees.

* denotes a COSEWIC risk category

Further details on all wildlife species assessed, and the reasons for designations, can be found on the COSEWIC website.

Dr. Ronald J. Brooks is the current co-chair the Amphibians & Reptiles Specialist Subcommittee of COSEWIC and is a Professor Emeritus of Integrative Biology at the University of Guelph. Dr. Brooks has held the Amphibians & Reptiles Specialist Subcommittee co-chair position on COSEWIC since 1995 and has also been a member of a plethora of working groups on COSEWIC. He was the president of the Canadian Association of Herpetologists from 1996 to 2002 and has served as a member of the Board of Directors, Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network since 1997. He has also been a member of the IUCN Species Survival Commission – Tortoises and Turtles since 1996. From 2008-2011, he has been also a member of COSSARO (Committee on the Status of Species at Risk in Ontario). Dr. Brooks was a member from 2004-2006 of the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Endangered Species Recovery Team of World Wildlife Canada and serves on the recovery teams for Blue Racer, Wood Turtle, Eastern Foxsnake, Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, and Queensnake and currently (2007-2011) is co-chair of OMSTARRT (Ontario Multispecies Turtles at Risk Recovery Team).

Dr. Brooks has published about 120 articles in peer-reviewed scientific journals. His research on reptiles covers all eight of Canada’s extant freshwater turtles with some projects extending back to the 1970s. In addition, Dr. Brooks’ students have worked on several species of snakes, including the Blue Racer, Eastern Foxsnake, DeKay’s Brownsnake, Lake Erie Watersnake and Eastern Hog-nosed Snake. These studies have focused on life history, ecology, demography, conservation, embryonic development, sex determination and hatching success. Dr. Brooks has also published papers on leeches, earthworms, fish, mites, dipteran flies, lemmings, voles, deer mice, wolves, caribou and beaver, and was, until 2009, director of the longest-running (59 years to date) monitoring study of small mammals in North America or perhaps the world.

Dr. Brooks recently received the Blue Racer Conservation Award from the Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Network.

Dr. Laurence Packer is a full professor in the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, at York University in Toronto. He has been at York since 1988. Prior to that, he was a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary (1987-88) and an Assistant Professor of Biology at the University College of Cape Breton (1986-87). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Toronto in 1986.

Dr. Packer is a prolific researcher with over 100 primary publications, many of them in high impact journals, on the biology, systematics, behaviour, conservation genetics and biodiversity of insects, mainly bees. He is a recognized expert on bees who has obtained numerous research grants. He is a member of the editorial board for the Canadian Journal of Zoology and Insect Conservation and Diversity. He has supervised over 20 Masters and Ph.D students. He has taught undergraduate courses in entomology, biodiversity, systematics and evolution and graduate courses in ecology, entomology, phylogenetics and the biology of bees. Dr. Packer has been a member of COSEWIC and Co-chair of the Arthropods Subcommittee for 5 years. He has worked on the insects of oak savanna and tallgrass prairie habitats in Ontario, wrote the COSEWIC status report on the Frosted Elfin butterfly and a status report on the Karner Blue butterfly for the World Wildlife Fund and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and is a member of the Karner Blue recovery team. His book - "Keeping the Bees" deals with the importance and conservation of bees and was published in May 2010.

Dr. Packer has extensive experience serving on major committees both within and outside the University, including search committees for new faculty members, the departmental chair and NSERC review panels. He has chaired the tenure and promotion committee for the Biology Department at York University. He is described as fair, organized and hardworking, and as someone with good interpersonal skills who is articulate, listens well and “gets the job done.”

Dr. Taylor received a Ph.D. from the University of British Columbia (UBC) in 1989 and is currently a full Professor at UBC in Vancouver where he is Curator of the UBC Fish Museum and Associate Director of the Biodiversity Research Centre. His research has focused on the conservation and genetics of western North American freshwater and marine fishes. Dr. Taylor has published over 100 papers in the primary literature including several papers on listed Canadian fishes.

Dr. Taylor has considerable knowledge and experience with respect to the biology and conservation of Canadian marine, anadromous and freshwater fishes. He is most knowledgeable regarding western and northwestern Canadian marine and freshwater environments. Dr. Taylor has been a member of the COSEWIC Freshwater Fishes Specialist Subcommittee since 2001. This has given him a good background in the COSEWIC species assessment process and in formulating recommendations with respect to biological status. Dr. Taylor also authored the original COSEWIC status report on Lake Utopia smelt populations and prepared the Designatable Unit Key that has been considered by COSEWIC. He is also a member of the American Fisheries Society’s Endangered Species Committee and is an Associate Editor or on the Editorial Review Board of several journals.

Dr. Watson has a B.Sc. from the University of British Columbia and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She is currently a Professor of the Department of Biology at Vancouver Island University. Over the last 24 years, Dr. Watson has conducted research on the community ecology and population biology of sea otters. She has also been involved in population assessments of a variety of Pacific marine mammal species. Dr. Watson has a broad knowledge of the natural history and biology of the marine mammals of the Pacific coast of North America and has a strong background in the biology and taxonomy of marine macro-invertebrates, fish, birds and vegetation of the same region.

Dr. Watson has experience in assessment techniques and in formulating status recommendations. She has been a member of the COSEWIC Marine Mammal Specialist Subcommittee for 11 years, where she is a diligent and well-respected member. She has also served on the sea otter recovery team and a variety of local non-government organizations to assess the status of marine species in the Strait of Georgia and coastal BC. Dr. Watson is also well versed in the concepts and techniques related to the assessment and conservation of species at risk through her own research on marine mammals.

Dr. Watson has extensive reviewing experience, including reviews of COSEWIC status reports for the Marine Mammal Specialist Subcommittee, articles for peer-reviewed journals, grant and scholarship applications and graduate student theses.

Dr. Belland is Associate Director of the Devonian Botanic Garden with the University of Alberta in Edmonton, Alberta. He received his M.Sc. (1981) and Ph.D. (1985) in Biology from Memorial University where he studied the distribution, ecology and phytogeography of the mosses of the Gulf of St. Lawrence Region. He then spent 2 years as a post-doctoral fellow and a further 5 years as a research scientist in the Department of Botany at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver where he studied the distribution of British Columbia mosses and continued to work on the bryophyte flora of Atlantic Canada. He became a research associate in the Department of Botany at the University of Alberta in Edmonton in 1993 and has been in his current position of Associate Director of the Devonian Botanic Garden since 1996.

Dr. Belland has over 35 years of experience as a bryologist, with expertise in the mosses of Atlantic Canada, British Columbia, Alberta and the Arctic. His research focuses on the distribution, ecology and phytogeography of bryophytes, with a particular interest in rare species. He has experience in teaching and research and is an active field botanist. He has taught courses on bryology, plant biology, and general biology, and conservation of endangered species, has co-supervised two Ph.D. students, and has been on the supervisory committee for ten other graduate students. His research on the distribution and ecology of the mosses and liverworts in Canada has resulted in 34 peer-reviewed articles, one book chapter and 27 reports. He is without a doubt a recognized authority on the bryophyte flora of Canada. His membership on several World Conservation Union (IUCN) committees is evidence of his influence at the international level.

Dr. Belland has extensive experience in the assessment and conservation of species at risk at the federal, provincial and international levels. He is currently Co-Chair of the Mosses and Lichens Specialist Subcommittee of COSEWIC and chairs the Endangered Species Assessment Subcommittee for the Province of Alberta. He is a member of two IUCN committees (one dealing with bryophytes and the other with Arctic plants), and has been involved in recovery activities for Haller’s Apple Moss in British Columbia and Alberta and Porsild’s bryum in Newfoundland and Alberta. He has also worked extensively with provincial heritage programs and authored the status lists for NT, YT, BC, NL, AB and well as provided advice to SK and MB. Dr Belland recently coordinated the general status of mosses for the 2010 General Status of Wildlife in Canada.

Mr. Bennett is a biologist based in the Yukon with more than 20 years of professional experience as a field botanist. He is currently employed as a wildlife biologist with the Yukon Department of Environment. His formal academic training includes a B.Sc. in Biology (University of Victoria, 1991), and two technical diplomas including one in fish, wildlife and recreation (British Columbia Institute of Technology, 1989).

His experience with vascular plants is primarily with the flora of the Yukon Territory, as reflected in his publications. Of 16 publications listed as peer-reviewed (since 2000), eight are new plant records for Yukon, and two others are updates for Yukon species. Most of these publications are in Canadian Field Naturalist (8) or Botanical Electronic News (4).

He also has a strong knowledge of vascular plants in British Columbia having worked as a naturalist in Manning Park, as the collection manager for the Royal British Columbia Museum, and worked on Southern Vancouver Island and the South Okanagan with the Canadian Wildlife Service before moving to Yukon in 1995.

His field experience is extensive, and his knowledge of the Yukon flora is well established. In addition, he has experience with rare plants, including assessing conservation status, having served as the NatureServe Botanist for the Yukon, in addition to conducting inventory work in Yukon, northern British Columbia and western Northwest Territories.

He has served as a member of the COSEWIC Vascular Plants Specialist Subcommittee since 2005, and is a member of a number of other committees, including the Yukon Invasive Species Council, and the Wildlife Viewing Technical Committee.

Dr. Mooers was educated at McGill University (BSC, magna summe laude, 1989) and at the University of Oxford UK (DPhil, 1994), and had research appointments at the University of British Columbia (1995-1997) and the Zoological Museum of Amsterdam (NL; 1997-2000). He was appointed to the faculty at Simon Fraser University in the area of Biodiversity in 2000 and was appointed full professor in 2010.

His research centers on how species diversify, how they are related to each other, and how this information might be used for species conservation and management. His most relevant contributions in the field of endangered species conservation include Charrette et al., 2006 (Ecology), Mooers et al., 2007 and 2009, Magnuson-Ford et al. 2009, Meuser et al., 2009 (all in Conservation Biology) and Mooers et al., 2010 (Bioscience).

Dr. Mooers has served as an Associate Editor for the international learned journals Journal of Evolutionary Biology, Evolution, and, currently, Ecology Letters. He is the Chair of the Biodiversity and Conservation Committee of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution (www.ecoevo.ca), as well as a member of its Executive Committee (2010-2013). Finally, Dr. Mooers maintains a small ad hoc organization dedicated to improving independent scientific input into biodiversity conservation policy (www.scientists-for-species.org).