Biological Inventory of McLellan ForestNWD Plan 1560 – Township of Langley

Prepared by: Curtis Abney

TWU Environmental Studies Student

With the aid of Dr. D. Clements & Janelle Lowen

Originally prepared August 17th, 2013 & Updated: September 25th, 2013

Introduction

Out of all of the provinces and territories in Canada, British Columbia possesses the highest

biological diversity (Cox 2010). The Fraser Valley is especially rich in flora fauna, and is recognized as one

of the top five biodiversity hotspots within B.C. (Cox 2010). Unfortunately, due to extensive habitat loss

and degradation, as well as the introduction of harmful invasive species, many of B.C’s native dwellers –

whether they be snails, frogs, bats, or owls – are becoming threatened with extinction or local

extirpation. It is estimated that as many as 1900 species in B.C. alone are currently at risk, making B.C.

the province with the most endangered species in Canada; a rather undesirable title (Anonymous 2008).

However, attempts to salvage the biodiversity of B.C. can still be made and has become more of a

priority among agencies and communities in recent years. It Is critical to preserve remnant high quality

habitat in areas experiencing high pressures for development, such as the rapidly growing Fraser Valley.

Objectives

Beginning June of 2013 and continuing on until April of 2014, I am undertaking a biological

inventory of the McLellan Forest and surrounding property as my undergrad thesis study. Some of the

very species which are provincially recognized as at risk species call this mature forest stand in Glen

Valley their home. It has been my task to find such species, and any others that share this precious patch

of forest, and document their presence within the property. The objective of my study is to accurately

document as many species (both plant and animal) as possible throughout my year of research, and

establish a comprehensive bio-inventory of the property which accurately represents the local flora and

fauna of the region. With the help of local experts and fellow researchers, it is my hope to establish a

robust documentation of the species which use this beautiful piece of property and thus prove that it

possesses irreplaceable ecological value.

Methodology

Since the beginning of June I have personally spent over 30 hours on the property documenting

species and observing the natural dramas which play out within it. I aim to visit the property about twice

a week, and spend a minimum of two hours during each visit. I enter the trail head equipped with my

binoculars, camera, a butterfly net, and a plethora of identification manuals (for plants, amphibians,

reptiles, birds, etc.). I try to cover all regions of the property regularly but keep to the existing trails as to

minimize my impact on the local ecology. Several times I have been accompanied by fellow researchers

and I have even consulted confirmation from local specialists for the identification of the more

ambiguous species which have been difficult to I.D. During every visit, I immediately write down every

new species that I encounter on the property in my field notebook, and include the date, time, and

weather conditions of each visit along with any other pertinent information which is worthy of being

noted. If possible and if necessary, pictures are taken to further aid in the identification process of

species if on-site identification proves too difficult.

Meet the Team!

From left to right: Curtis Abney (executive researcher/thesis student), ChrisHall (Ecosystem Manager from TWU), and Ted Goshulak (local bird expert)

Dr. D. Clements (thesis coordinator/ Janelle Lowen (research student with local plant knowledge)advisor)

Additional thanks to: Phil Henderson (local naturalist who completed previous study on property in2012) and Denis Knopp (frog expert)

Results/Species Lists:

Birds

Cedar Waxwing (Poecile atricapillus)

Song Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

*Species are species which have been identified by their vocalizations or lost feathers

COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEAmerican Goldfinch Corvus brachyrhynchos

American Robin Corvus coraxAnna's Hummingbird Calypte anna

Barred Owl Carpodacus mexicanusBlack-capped Chickadee Troglodytes pacificusBlack-headed Grosbeak Catharus ustulatus

Black-throated Gray Warbler Pheucticus melanocephalusBrown Creeper Spinus tristisCedar Waxwing Poecile atricapillus

Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bombycilla cedrorumCommon Raven Empidonax traillii

Common Yellowthroat Selasphorus rufusDark-eyed Junco Wilsonia pusilla

Downy Woodpecker Melospiza melodiaFox Sparrow Colaptes auratus

Great Blue Heron Anas platyrhynchosHairy Woodpecker* Picoides villosus

House Finch* Certhia americanaLincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii

Mallard Empidonax difficilisMerlin Cyanocitta stelleri

Common Nighthawk* Dendroica nigrescensNorthern Flicker Carduelis pinus

Northern Waterthrush Contopus sordidulusNorthwestern Crow Corvus caurinus

Pacific-slope Flycatcher Spizella arboreaPacific Wren Geothlypis trichas

Pileated Woodpecker Ardea herodiasPine Siskin* Cathartes aura

Rufous Hummingbird Stellula calliopeSong Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys

Spotted Towhee Strix variaSteller's Jay Parkesia noveboracensis

Swainson's Thrush Passerella iliacaTurkey Vulture Junco hyemalis

Western Tanager Falco columbarius

Western Wood Peewee Piranga ludovicianaWhite-Crowned Sparrow Chordeiles minor

Willow Flycatcher Dryocopus pileatusWilson's Warbler* Picoides pubescens

Mammals

Black-tailed Deer tracks (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus)

Coyote (Canis latrans)

*Species are species which have been identified by their scat, tracks, or other visible clues

COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEBlack-tailed Deer* Odocoileus hemionus columbianus

Bobcat* Lynx rufusCoyote Canis latrans

Douglas Squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasiiEastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus

Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensisRaccoon* Procyon lotor

Reptiles

Common Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. pickeringii) – Photocredit: Dr. D. Clements

COMMON NAME LATIN NAME

Common Garter Snake Thamnophis sirtalis ssp. pickeringii

Northwestern Garter Snake Thamnophis ordinoides

Western Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans vagrans

Amphibians

Pacific Tree Frog (Pseudacris regilla)

Northwestern Salamander (Ambystoma gracile)

COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEAmerican Bullfrog Rana catesbeiana

Green Frog Rana clamitansNorthern Red-Legged Frog Rana auroraNorthwestern Salamander Ambystoma gracile

Pacific Tree Frog Pseudacris regilla

Insects

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell (Aglais milberti)

Four-Spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)

COMMON NAME LATIN NAMECabbage White Butterfly Pieris rapae

California Darner Dragonfly Rhionaeschna californicaCanada Darner Dragonfly Aeshna canadensis

Cardinal Meadowhawk Dragonfly Sympetrum illotumCommon Whitetail Dragonfly Plathemis lydia

Four-spotted Skimmer Dragonfly Libellula quadrimaculataHarvestmen Opiliones ssp.

Milbert's Tortoiseshell Butterfly Aglais milbertiMourning Cloak Butterfly Nymphalis antiopa

Northern Bluet Enallagma annexumPacific Forktail Damselfly Ischnura cervula

Striped Meadowhawk Dragonfly Sympetrum pallipesTwo-striped Grasshopper Melanoplus bivittatus

Western Forktail Damselfly Ischnura perparvaWestern Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly Papilio rutulus

Gastropods

Pacific Banana Slug (Ariolimax columbianus)

Grove Snail (Cepaea nemoralis)

COMMON NAME LATIN NAME

Pacific Banana Slug Ariolimax columbianusBlack Arion Arion aterDusky Arion Arion subfuscus

Garden Banded Snail Cepaea hortensisGrove Snail Cepaea nemoralis

Pacific Sideband Snail Monadenia fidelisNew Zealand Mud Snail Potamopyrgus antipodarum

Other

Six-Spotted Fishing Spider (Dolomedes triton)

Three-spined Stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Vascular Plants

Oval-leaved Blueberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium)

Salal (Gaultheria shallon)

COMMON NAME LATIN NAMEGRASSES

Common Bentgrass Agrostis capillarisCreeping Bentgrass Agrostis stoloniferaReed Canary Grass Phalaris arundinacea

Sweet Grass Hierochloe odorataHERBS

American Water Plantain Alisma trivialArrowleaf Groundsel Senecio triangularis

Baneberry Actaea rubraBracken Fern Pteridium aquilinum

Broad-leaved Starflower Trientalis borealis ssp latifoliaCommon Burdock Arctium minus

Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinaleCommon Foxglove Digitalis purpurea

Cow Parsnip Heracleum lanatumCow's Clover Trifolium wormskioldii

Creeping Buttercup Ranunculus repensDeer Fern Blechnum spicant

Dune Tansy Tanacetum bipinnatum ssp huronenseEnglish Ivy Hedera helix

False Lily of the Valley Maianthemum dilatatumField Bindweed Convolvulus arvensis

Fireweed Epilobium angustifoliumIndian Thistle Cirsium edule

Lady Fern Athyrium filix-feminaLarge-leaved Avens Geum macrophyllum

Licorice Fern Polypodium glycyrrhizeManna Grass Glyceria sp.Oxeye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare

Pacific Bleeding Heart Dicentra formosaPacific Water Parsley Oenanthe sarmentosa

Piggy-back Plant Tolmiea menziesiiPoliceman's Helmet Impatiens glanduliferaRobert's Geranium Geranium robertianum

Scotch Broom Cytisus scopariusShepherd's Purse Capsella bursa-pastorisSkunk Cabbage Lysichiton americanum

Small-flowered Forget-me-not Myosotis laxaStarry Solomon's Plume Smilacina stellata

Stinging Nettle Urtica dioicaSweet Scented Bedstraw Galium triflorum

Sword Fern Polystichum munitumThree-leaved Foam Flower Tiarella trifoliata

Tufted Vetch Vicia craccaVanilla Leaf Achlys triphyllaWall Lettuce Lactuca muralis

Western Trillium Trillium ovatumWhite Clover Trifolium repensWild Carrot Daucus carota

Woodland Ragwort Senecio sylvaticusSHRUBS

Baldhip Rose Rosa gymnocarpaBlack Gooseberry Ribes lacustreBlack Huckleberry Vaccinium membranaceumBlack Raspberry Rubus leucodermis

Cascara Rhamnus purshianaCutleaf Evergreen Blackberry Rubus laciniatus

Devil`s Club Oplopanax horridusDouglas Maple Acer glabrum

Dull Oregon Grape Mahonia nervosaEnglish Holly Llex aquilifolium

Himalayan Blackberry Rubus armeniacusIndian Plum Oemleria cerasiformis

Mountain Ash Sorbus sp.Oval-leaved Blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium

Red Elderberry Sambucus racemosa ssp pubensRed Huckleberry Vaccinium parvifolium

Salal Gaultheria shallonSalmonberry Rubus spectabilis

Trailing Black Currant Ribes laxiflorumTrailing Blackberry Rubus ursinus

Vine Maple Acer circinatumWestern Trumpet Lonicera ciliosa

TREESBigleaf Maple Acer macrophyllum

Black Cottonwood Populus trichocarpaCoast Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesiiPacific Crab Apple Malus fusca

Red Alder Alnus rubraWestern Hemlock Tsuga heterophylla

Western Red Cedar Thuja plicata

Nonvascular Plants

Shield lichen (Parmelia sulcata)

True MossesDichodontium pellucidum

Hookeria lucensBuckiella undulata

Claopodium crispifoliumLichen

Parmelia sulcata

It is important to note that the included species lists are not exhaustive. Many species were also

documented on the property in a previous report completed in 2012 (Henderson & Ryder). In addition,

it is likely that there are still many species which have not yet been documented on the property.

Species of Concern

Northern Red-Legged Frog (Rana aurora) – A blue-listed species meaning that they are vulnerable andthreatened with extinction due to extensive environmental pressures. Two of these beautiful specimenswere found on July 26th, 2013 near a large uprooted tree well which holds a small amount of water – justa few meters from the main trail. Suitable habitat for these frogs is of the utmost concern to conserve.

Pacific Sideband Snail (Monadenia fidelis) – A blue-listed species meaning that they are vulnerable andthreatened with extinction, primarily due to habitat fragmentation. Several of these specimens havebeen spotted throughout the duration of the study usually on, or in close proximity to the main trails.

Future Research

In the coming months, I plan to incorporate small mammal trapping into my research. It can be

very difficult to spot elusive small mammal species by simply strolling through the trails, so small

mammal traps will be an effective way of determining some mammalian residents of the property. Also

included in the scope of my research for the near future is some GIS mapping of the property. I plan to

map out all the main trails of the property and possibly sensitive areas of the forest as well which may

be advisable for keeping undisturbed from humans. Beyond my research, one important step will be to

establish a conservation management plan for the property. Aspects of this conservation plan might

include park trail maintenance, the removal of invasive species, waste removal and prevention, posted

signs of sensitive areas, and other elements. There have been several instances of misuse of the

property that I have witnessed, especially in the gravel pit area. Animal carcasses, landscape debris, and

even a boat have been seen dumped onto the property, so a conservation management plan for the

property would be greatly encouraged to minimize such disturbances. Other research which may also

complement the research that I am currently working on are studies such as completing an inventory of

all the bird species which are nesting on the property, and documenting where the nests are within the

forest. This is important information to know when considering the conservation of the property’s

native species. Taking an inventory of the bat species utilizing the property may also be of critical

importance as many of the bat species native to the Fraser Valley are now provincially recognized as

vulnerable or endangered species. These suggestions for future research are just a small representation

of the great variety of potential research and restoration activities on this valuable site.

Acknowledgeable Resources

Anonymous. 2008. British Columbia: The Last Place on Earth. David Suzuki Foundation. Accessible from:<http://www.lastplaceonearth.ca>

BC Species and Ecosystems Explorer. 2013. Ministry of Environment – Government of British Columbia.Accessible from: <http://a100.gov.bc.ca/pub/eswp/search.do>

Cox, N. 2010. Guide to Land Protection Tools. Fraser Valley Conservancy. Accessible from:<http://fraservalleyconservancy.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Land-Protection-Tools-booklet-Final.pdf>

Henderson, P. and G. Ryder. 2012. Existing Ecological Conditions: Lots 12-16, DL 320 GP2 NWD Plan1560, Township of Langley, British Columbia