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INVERTEBRATES
Conservation/Education
BUTTERFLY INVENTORY.
Since 1993, the Zoo has participated in an annual butterfly survey conducted across North America, from Canada to Mexico. The survey is conducted for, and in association with, the North American Butterfly Association (NABA) and the Toronto Entomologist's Association (TEA). The survey takes place every year around July 4th, and examines the cycling of butterflies in North America. The Eastern Toronto count covers a 15-mile diameter, including the Rouge Valley, the eastern portion of the Don Valley and Petticoat Creek.
Every year, for the past 13 years, the Zoo has conducted a survey of the butterflies in the Rouge Valley. The total inventory takes place in the months of May through September.
VIETNAM - Biodiversity Study.
In 2001, fieldwork was conducted by the Curatorial keeper of Invertebrates, Lydia Attard. Lydia travelled to Vietnam to study Weaver ants in the wild. Several new facts were discovered and five new colonies were brought to the Toronto Zoo. Dr. Chris Purlong of the Royal Ontario Museum is bringing specimens of weaver ant from Vietnam for Zoo husbandry.
Nutritional Research
NEW GUINEA WALKING STICKS - Nutrient Composition and Calcium Supplementation of the New Guinea Walking Stick (Eurycantha calcarata)
Adequate nutrition is an important aspect for the health of captive insectivores. There is a great need to determine the nutrient composition of suitable feed insects, particularly in terms of calcium content. Low levels of dietary calcium can lead to calcium deficiency, metabolic bone disease, rickets and other calcium-related problems in captive insectivores. While various attempts have been made to make feed insects, such as crickets, mealworms, and waxworms more nutritious, researchers are still unable to obtain the required phosphorus to calcium ratio. The New Guinea walking stick (Eurycantha calcarata) has been previously studied at the Toronto Zoo and was found to have a higher calcium level than the domestic cricket. It may be possible to increase the calcium content of these insects even further by feeding them their natural diet of fig and raspberry foliage that has been sprayed with a calcium supplement. This study is designed to compare the effectiveness of applying a calcium supplement to three different typical diets and examine their effects on the growth and body development of the New Guinea Walking Stick.
Breeding, Recovery And Re-Introduction
KARNER BLUE BUTTERFLY - captive breeding.
In 1991, the last Karner blue (Lycaeides melissa samuelis) was observed in Ontario. In 1992, the Toronto Zoo joined the Karner Blue Recovery Team to actively pursue the re-introduction of this species into Ontario. For five years a protocol was developed and produced to rear this species in captivity. Since recovery efforts of the release sites were lagging behind captive breeding efforts, Toronto Zoo stopped working on the captive breeding and put more emphasis into the study of the microhabitats of the restored release sites. During 2002, Gary Lee will compile and finish the reports, and act as a co-ordinator for the Recovery Team. Tom Mason and Gary Lee also participated in a Karner Blue workshop in Toledo, Ohio. These efforts constitute one more step to returning the Karner Blue to Ontario.
TARANTULA - Theraphosid Breeding Program.
Brachypelma: Spiders of the family Theraphosidae (the "Tarantulas") bird eating and tree spiders, are under extreme pressure worldwide. Habitat destruction, fear of size and appearance has lead to their persecution. Over collection by the Pet Trade has also caused local extirpation of many species. This group of spiders is considered of little economic importance, so as a result, few studies have been conducted. However, CITES (Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species) is currently striving to protect one genus (Brachypelma), native to Mexico and Central America.
The Toronto Zoo has successfully bred the red-kneed tarantula (Brachypelma smithi) for the past few years. Although Europe has been breeding this species for years, the first successful attempt in a North American Zoo occurred only recently, in 1994, at the Toronto Zoo. European red-kneed tarantulas have been sent to zoos in the United States to be paired up with the 300+ spiders that were sent there from the Toronto Zoo.
The Toronto Zoo bred a second species of Brachypelma, B. albipilosa, for the first time in 2000. Offspring will be dispersed to zoos in the U.S. and Canada. Breeding B. pallideum and B. baumgartner is also being investigated.
The Toronto Zoo is helping to develop a plan to work with other North American zoos and concentrate conservation efforts for the Theraphosidae. The conservation efforts are being carried out through the ASG (Arachnid Specialist Group), which is trying to obtain information on groups of spiders worldwide, especially in Mexico, and is associated with work on the Brachypelma sp. Knowledge of this spider in the wild is required before conservation efforts for other species of Brachypelma can take place. The Toronto Zoo is also looking at the phylogeny of this genus in association with Trent University Forensic Wild Life Centre.
The question of handling tarantulas for educational purposes has arisen. Thoughts differ on how these animals should be handled for the public. Tom Mason is working on a position statement for the Toronto Zoo and other zoos, which should be finished by the year 2002. |
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CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Conservation/Education
