IRF 168. Dan Johnson et al. Assessment of Grassland Management and Restoration Practices on the Availability and Quality of Insects as Food for Grassland Species at Risk; photos 1

Rapid insect collection for analysis (normally, sweepnet
sampling was conducted by hand, typically 100 sweeps per plot)

Placement of pitfall traps at Grasslands National Park, Swift Current and Onefour

Example of the contents of one sample (in practice, samples were collected wet,
in propylene glycol and ethanol). Carrion beetles are commonly found in
Burrowing Owl pellets, and are known to be eaten by mammals.

Pan trap. Flying insects are captured in the solution of salt and soap in water.

Pinning voucher specimens (45 species that day, unusually high; D. Johnson)

Training in pinning and identifying grasshoppers for vouchers
in support of comparisons among locations (Al and Dan)

Photos of examples methods in chemical analysis

Preparing to grind frozen grasshoppers and beetles, to assess composition and relative dietary value

Gas Chromatograph used for fatty acid analysis (with P. Mir and B. Linderman, above.

Bomb calorimeter being set up for grasshopper and beetle samples (Alastair Furtado)

2004 Progress report in preparation.


Assessment of Grassland Management and Restoration Practices on the Availability and Quality of Insects as Food for Grassland Species at Risk General objective: identify the species and detailed characteristics of insect groups mentioned in the recovery plans as being important, mainly "grasshoppers", assess their nutritional value to species at risk, and determine to what extent management of vegetation cover affects abundance, quality and timing.		Species of relevance to the project: Burrowing Owl, Loggerhead Shrike excubitorides subspecies, Greater Sage-Grouse Urophasianus Subpopulation, Swift Fox Principal participating agencies: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada; University of Lethbridge; Parks Canada, DND. Research results will be presented jointly at an international conference in Canmore; publications will be available in 2005-2006. All photos are by Dan Johnson. Permission for use by IRF, Environment Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the National Burrowing Owl Recovery Team, Ducks Unlimited Canada (related project near Kimball, AB), and collaborating institutions is granted. Collaboration: Dan Johnson, Pat Fargey, Rob Sissons, Alan Iwaasa, Brent Smith, Priya Mir; lab and field support on the IRF project in 2003: Brad Linderman, Craig Andrews, Ian Kehler, Shane Clark; part time from Ginny Goulet (2004). Special thanks to the National Burrowing Owl Recovery Team, for discussion and future collaboration.

Photos Part 1: land, insects and methods Part 2: examples of method used in the project Part 3: general interest photos of insect prey being consumed

Photos below: examples of sampling methods employed in the project


Rapid insect collection for analysis (normally, sweepnet sampling was conducted by hand, typically 100 sweeps per plot)


Placement of pitfall traps at Grasslands National Park, Swift Current and Onefour


Example of the contents of one sample (in practice, samples were collected wet, in propylene glycol and ethanol). Carrion beetles are commonly found in Burrowing Owl pellets, and are known to be eaten by mammals.


Pan trap. Flying insects are captured in the solution of salt and soap in water.


Pinning voucher specimens (45 species that day, unusually high; D. Johnson)


Training in pinning and identifying grasshoppers for vouchers in support of comparisons among locations (Al and Dan)

Photos of examples methods in chemical analysis

Preparing to grind frozen grasshoppers and beetles, to assess composition and relative dietary value


Gas Chromatograph used for fatty acid analysis (with P. Mir and B. Linderman, above.
Estimates of caloric content and total protein were also conducted (emphasis was on the fat analysis). Lipids detected in significant amounts and measured quantitatively included fatty acids in the following range: C16:0 C16:1 (cis-9) C18:0 C18:1(cis-9) C18:1(cis-11) C18:2 (c-9,c-12) C18:3 (c-9,c-12,c-15)		The total list analyzed: lauric C12:0 tridecanoic C13:0 myristic C14:0 myriselaidic C14:1 (trans-9) myristoleic C14:1 (cis-9) pentadecanoic C15:0 palmitic C16:0 palmitelaidic C16:1 (trans-9) palmitoleic C16:1 (cis-9) heptadecanoic C17:0 cis-11-heptadecanoic C17:1(cis-10) stearic C18:0 elaidic C18:1(trans-9) trans-vaccenic C18:1(trans-11) oleic C18:1(cis-9) cis-vaccenic C18:1(cis-11) linolelaidic C18:2 (t-9,t-12) linoleic C18:2 (c-9,c-12) nonadecanoic C19:0 gamma-linolenic C18:3 (c-6,c-9,c-12) linolenic C18:3 (c-9,c-12,c-15) conjugated linoleic acid CLA (c9-t11) arachidic C20:0 cis-11-eicosenoic C20:1(cis-11) arachidonic C20:4 (c-5,c-8,c-11,c-14) eicosapentaenoic C20:5(c5,c8,c11,c14,c17)


Bomb calorimeter being set up for grasshopper and beetle samples (Alastair Furtado)

2004 Progress report in preparation.
Photos Part 1: land, insects and methods Part 2: examples of method used in the project Part 3: general interest photos of insect prey being consumed (All photos on this website by D. Johnson)
Link to a summary paper aimed at convincing pest managers to consider the value of insects as food for wildlife:
	15th Annual H. R. MacCarthy Pest Management Lecture: "The need for longitudinal study of the dual roles of insects as pests and food resources in agroecosystems" (D.Johnson)