[NatureNS] re dead stuff and blow flies -- was Boreal Birds moving south this

Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 18:22:54 -0400
From: Jim Wolford <jimwolford@eastlink.ca>
To: NatureNS <naturens@chebucto.ns.ca>
Cc: Dick Rogers <drogers@wildwoodlabs.com>,
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Speaking of dead stuff, this past Thursday's Acadia Biology Seminar was
quite fascinating for its somewhat macabre natural history of insects with
forensic importance, particularly blow flies, by Doug Strongman of St.
Mary's Univ.  Doug's students, esp. Chantelle Cormier (did M.Sc. and is
still working with Doug??), have been experimentally putting out pig
carcasses -- pigs are "disconcertingly similar to humans in many ways" --
and then studying the colonization and succession of decomposers on such
carcasses, whether on ground surface or buried, or on open ground vs. in
deciduous woods, or at various times of the year.  The blow-fly season is
surprisingly long, from late April to early December, and the species vary
with different times of year, and one species has maggots which are good
diggers.  Etc. etc.  Lots of interesting stuff, and he spared us the smells
that his researchers have to endure! (and sometimes colleagues and students
that share the same building as the basement where their samples are
stored!).  And sometime bears dig up their carcasses and spoil their work!
Etc.

Canada's long-term expert (since the early 1990s) on such matters is Gail
Anderson at Simon Fraser University in B.C., and some of you may have seen
or heard her on radio or TV or read about her work in newspapers.

Doug also mentioned that their sampling methods, including pitfall traps,
resulted in a large number (90+??) of species of BEETLES collected.  I hope
Doug has been interacting with Chris Majka and Dave McCorquodale et al.?

Lastly, the Halifax Field Naturalists should perhaps consider getting Doug
to repeat this presentation.

Cheers from Jim in Wolfville
----------
From: Randy Lauff <randy.lauff@gmail.com>
Reply-To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:41:48 -0400
To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca
Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Boreal Birds moving south this winter

Ask away...I'm sure others on this list may be interested and wish to
contribute, as well. There are a few of us on this list with some expertise
in dead stuff!

Photos help of course...


On 23/11/2007, Margaret E.Millard <mmillard@eastlink.ca> wrote:
Thank you for the sites. I am exploring them. If you have a bit more time to
share, I have a couple more questions. I could ask them back channel if you
would prefer. It is about remains of creatures on or about our property.
 
Randy
_________________________________
RF Lauff
Way in the boonies of
Antigonish County, NS.



--Boundary_(ID_4HUdyht3unxb9NE/f6G0LA)
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<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>re dead stuff and blow flies -- was Boreal Birds moving south this w=
inter</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
Speaking of dead stuff, this past Thursday's Acadia Biology Seminar was qui=
te fascinating for its somewhat macabre natural history of insects with fore=
nsic importance, particularly blow flies, by Doug Strongman of St. Mary's Un=
iv. &nbsp;Doug's students, esp. Chantelle Cormier (did M.Sc. and is still wo=
rking with Doug??), have been experimentally putting out pig carcasses -- pi=
gs are &quot;disconcertingly similar to humans in many ways&quot; -- and the=
n studying the colonization and succession of decomposers on such carcasses,=
 whether on ground surface or buried, or on open ground vs. in deciduous woo=
ds, or at various times of the year. &nbsp;The blow-fly season is surprising=
ly long, from late April to early December, and the species vary with differ=
ent times of year, and one species has maggots which are good diggers. &nbsp=
;Etc. etc. &nbsp;Lots of interesting stuff, and he spared us the smells that=
 his researchers have to endure! (and sometimes colleagues and students that=
 share the same building as the basement where their samples are stored!). &=
nbsp;And sometime bears dig up their carcasses and spoil their work! &nbsp;E=
tc.<BR>
<BR>
Canada's long-term expert (since the early 1990s) on such matters is Gail A=
nderson at Simon Fraser University in B.C., and some of you may have seen or=
 heard her on radio or TV or read about her work in newspapers.<BR>
<BR>
Doug also mentioned that their sampling methods, including pitfall traps, r=
esulted in a large number (90+??) of species of BEETLES collected. &nbsp;I h=
ope Doug has been interacting with Chris Majka and Dave McCorquodale et al.?=
<BR>
<BR>
Lastly, the Halifax Field Naturalists should perhaps consider getting Doug =
to repeat this presentation.<BR>
<BR>
Cheers from Jim in Wolfville<BR>
----------<BR>
<B>From: </B>Randy Lauff &lt;randy.lauff@gmail.com&gt;<BR>
<B>Reply-To: </B>naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>
<B>Date: </B>Fri, 23 Nov 2007 16:41:48 -0400<BR>
<B>To: </B>naturens@chebucto.ns.ca<BR>
<B>Subject: </B>Re: [NatureNS] Boreal Birds moving south this winter<BR>
<BR>
Ask away...I'm sure others on this list may be interested and wish to contr=
ibute, as well. There are a few of us on this list with some expertise in de=
ad stuff!<BR>
 <BR>
Photos help of course...<BR>
<BR>
 <BR>
On 23/11/2007, <B>Margaret E.Millard</B> &lt;mmillard@eastlink.ca&gt; wrote=
:<BR>
<BLOCKQUOTE>Thank you for the sites. I am exploring them. If you have a bit=
 more time to share, I have a couple more questions. I could ask them back c=
hannel if you would prefer. It is about remains of creatures on or about our=
 property. <BR>
</BLOCKQUOTE> <BR>
Randy<BR>
_________________________________<BR>
RF Lauff<BR>
Way in the boonies of<BR>
Antigonish County, NS. <BR>
<BR>
</BODY>
</HTML>


--Boundary_(ID_4HUdyht3unxb9NE/f6G0LA)--

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