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The Hydradephaga (Coleoptera, Haliplidae, Gyrinidae, and Dytiscidae) fauna of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada: new records, distributions, and faunal composition
expand article infoYves Alarie‡
‡ Laurentian University, Sudbury, Canada

Corresponding author: Yves Alarie ( yalarie@laurentian.ca )

Academic editor: Mariano Michat
© 2019 Yves Alarie.
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Citation: Alarie Y (2019) The Hydradephaga (Coleoptera, Haliplidae, Gyrinidae, and Dytiscidae) fauna of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada: new records, distributions, and faunal composition. ZooKeys 897: 49-66. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.897.46344
ZooBank: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:DEA12DCE-1097-4A8C-9510-4F85D3942B10
Open Access

Abstract

The Haliplidae, Gyrinidae, and Dytiscidae (Coleoptera) of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada were surveyed during the years 2006–2007. A total of 2027 individuals from 85 species was collected from 94 different localities, which brings to 87 the number of species recorded for this locality. Among these, Heterosternuta allegheniana (Matta & Wolfe), H. wickhami (Zaitzev), Hydroporus appalachius Sherman, H. gossei Larson & Roughley, H. nigellus Mannerheim, H. puberulus LeConte, Ilybius picipes (Kirby), and I. wasastjernae (C.R. Sahlberg) are reported for the first time in Nova Scotia. The Nearctic component of the fauna is made up of 71 species (81.6%), the Holarctic component of 16 species (18.4%). Most species are characteristic of both the Boreal and Atlantic Maritime Ecozones and have a transcontinental distribution but 19 species (21.8%), which are generally recognized as species with eastern affinities. In an examination of the Hydradephaga of insular portions of Atlantic Canada, it was shown that the island faunas of Cape Breton Island and Prince Edward Island are very similar (87 and 84 species, respectively) despite differences in composition suggesting that more Hydradephaga species have yet to be found on Cape Breton Island.

Keywords

biodiversity, faunistic, Hydradephaga, Maritime Ecozone

Introduction

Cape Breton Island is a large (10,311 km2) rugged and irregularly shaped island, approximately 175 km long by 135 km at is widest, located at 46 degrees latitude, 60 degrees longitude in northern Nova Scotia, Canada at the eastern extremity of the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It lies within the Atlantic Maritime Ecozone along with Québec’s Gaspé Peninsula, Magdalen Islands Archipelago and portions of the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. The climate of this ecozone is strongly influenced by the Atlantic Ocean, which produces cooler summers (average 14 °C) and warmer winters (average -5 °C), with coastal areas having slightly warmer winters and cooler summers than inland. Geologically, this region is a mix of sedimentary and igneous bedrock (Alarie 2016). Cape Breton land mass slopes upward from south to north, culminating in the massive highlands of its northern cape, the highest elevation in the Atlantic region.

Water beetles make up a large part of aquatic invertebrates (Jäch and Balke 2008) and as such they play a vital role in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, and consequently in the stability of ecosystems (Wallace and Webster 1996). Investigating water beetle assemblages may be particularly illuminating considering the potential these groups are demonstrating as bioindicators of aquatic ecosystem viability (Foster et al. 1990; Fairchild et al. 2000; Lundkvist et al. 2001; Arnott et al. 2006). They also allow the diagnosis of alterations causes, the establishment of criteria for protection and restoration of interesting ecosystems and finally the integrated management of watersheds (Abellán et al. 2007). Thus, good knowledge of the species presence and distribution is necessary to protect biodiversity (Millán et al. 2014). Moreover, primary biodiversity data represent the fundamental elements of any study in systematics and evolutionary processes (May 1990; Funk and Richardson 2002; Hortal et al. 2015).

Investigations of the Hydradephaga (Dytiscidae, Haliplidae, Gyrinidae) of the Canadian Maritimes have been sporadic and regionally variable. Recent papers (Majka 2008; Majka and Kenner 2009; Alarie 2009, 2016; Majka et al. 2009; Webster et al. 2016) resulted in a better understanding of the Hydradephaga fauna in some areas. Despite this rapid increase in knowledge of faunal composition, there are still many Hydradephaga species waiting for discovery in eastern Canada. This is amply evidenced by the fact that 30 species were recently added to the list of Prince Edward Island (Alarie 2016).

Little is known about the Hydradephaga fauna of Cape Breton Island. Prior to this study, 51 species were reported as valid records in the faunal list for Cape Breton Island (Alarie 2016), a small proportion of the 118 (43.2%) reported in Nova Scotia (Bousquet et al. 2013). This study was conducted as part of a comprehensive baseline field survey of Hydradephaga biodiversity of Canadian Maritimes Islands (Alarie 2009, 2016). Its main objective is to improve knowledge of the Hydradephaga of Cape Breton Island. Of particular interest was the identification of new species additions to the known fauna of Nova Scotia.

Materials and methods

Study areas

All of Nova Scotia mainland and Cape Breton Island sit within the Acadian Forest region as described by Rowe (1972), which has a mixed-forest species composition consisting predominately of conifers, especially on sites where drainage is impeded. The major conifers include red, white, and black spruce; balsam fir; eastern white and red pine; and eastern hemlock. Common hardwoods include red and sugar maple; white and yellow birch; trembling and largetooth aspen; and beech (Neily et al. 2005).

Although physically separated from the Nova Scotia peninsula by the Strait of Canso, Cape Breton is artificially connected to mainland Nova Scotia by the Canso Causeway. The island is located east-northeast of the mainland with its northern and western coasts fronting on the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; its western coast also forming the eastern limits of the Northumberland Strait. The eastern and southern coasts front the Atlantic Ocean; its eastern coast also forming the western limits of the Cabot Strait. Cape Breton Island is composed mainly of rocky shores, rolling farmland, glacial valleys, barren headlands, mountains, woods and plateaus. The boreal highlands of Cape Breton reach elevations of 300–500 m and represent true boreal forest habitat, which is rare in Nova Scotia (Neily et al. 2005). Geological evidence suggests that at least part of Cape Breton was originally joined with present-day Scotland and Norway (www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cape_Breton_Island).

Cape Breton Island’s hydrological features include the Bras d’Or Lake system, a salt-water fjord at the heart of the island, and freshwater features including Lake Ainslie, the Margaree River system, and the Mira River. Innumerable smaller rivers and streams drain into the Bras d’Or Lake estuary and onto the Gulf of St. Lawrence and Atlantic coasts (www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Cape_Breton_Island).

Geographically, Cape Breton Island is subdivided into four counties: Cape Breton, Inverness, Richmond, and Victoria. More than 70% of the total Cape Breton population live in the industrialized Cape Breton County. The boreal highlands of Cape Breton are located in the northern parts of Victoria and Cape Breton Counties. The climate of this region is influenced by the higher elevations, strong ocean winds and heavy blankets of dense fog that occur during spring and summer. The headwater streams of the highland regions flow over a primarily ancient metamorphic and granitic dominated geologic landscape, originating from cool springs or draining acidic, sphagnum bogs (Ogden et al. 2018). Inverness and Richmond Counties are largely rural and boast Nova Scotia’s most pristine areas. Located within Inverness County, the Margaree River is one of the world’s most famous fishing rivers. There are almost no lakes in this region, but there are many steep-fast flowing rivers and streams. Inverness County includes some of the most interesting old forests and undisturbed areas in Nova Scotia. Richmond County is the least well-known county in all Nova Scotia in terms of its beetle fauna. There are many lakes, marshes, and bogs in this area, which have been very little investigated.

Collecting methods

Collections were conducted over three periods, 05–10 May 2006, 17–22 August 2006, and 14–19 May 2007. Sampling was unstructured and qualitative with the goal of obtaining a strict inventory of Hydradephaga of Cape Breton Island. Beetles were collected using D-net sweeps in a variety of microhabitats including macrophyte beds, rocky shores, organic-rich sediments, and open water. Overall 94 samples were obtained, which are listed in Table 1, along with locality data and habitat information.

Table 1.
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Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (Canada) sampling localities and habitats (2006–2007): letter in sample code refers to the county. Key: C = Cape Breton; I = Inverness; R = Richmond; V = Victoria.

Sample Locality Habitat
C01 Cape Breton Co., Leitches creek Road, 1 km off Hwy 223. 14.v.2007 Bog lake with Carex and Ericaceae along margin
C02 Cape Breton Co., Quarry Road, off Leitches creek Road, ca. 6 km off Hwy 223. 14.v.2007 Shallow creek in spruce forest; bed with big boulders; swift current; littoral zone with alder, beech, yellow birch
V03 Victoria Co., Mackillop Road off Hwy 105 at exit to Cabot trail. 15.v.2007 Bog pool on Sphagnum bed in white spruce forest; dark water; Carex along littoral zone
V04 Victoria Co., St. Ann’s Provincial Park, Mackillop Road off Hwy 105. 15.v.2007 Pothole along shore of stream; mats of Graminea and Scirpus
V05 Victoria Co., Meadow Road, 4 km off Cabot trail N. 15.v.2007 Shallow creek with swift current, ca. 3–4 m wide; cold water
V06 Victoria Co., Meadow Road, 5 km off Cabot trail N. 15.v.2007 Shallow creek
V07 Victoria Co., Oregon Road, 2 km off Cabot trail N. 15.v.2007 Pond covered with dead Scirpus
V08 Victoria Co., Cabot trail N., near junction to Meadow Road. 16.v.2007 Shallow creek on rocky bed, with Sphagnum and bryophytes; spruce forest with Fagus; cold water (6 C)
V09 Victoria Co., West Tarbot Road ca. 1 km off Cabot trail N. 16.v.2007 Ephemeral pot holes on clay bed, in Scirpus and Graminea field; shallow with algae; white spruce forest
V10 Victoria Co., West Tarbot Road ca. 1km off Cabot trail N. 16.v.2007 Ephemeral roadside ditch; very eutrophic, with heavy accumulation of Sphagnum, black sediments; dark water
V11 Victoria Co., West Tarbot Road ca. 6 km off Cabot trail N. 16.v.2007 Roadside ditch, slowly moving water; very shallow potholes (ca. 6 cm) with emerging vegetation
V12 Victoria Co., Cabot trail N., near junction Tarbot Vale Road and Rear Barachois Road. 16.v.2007 Large pools formed by the river; clear water; rocky bed covered with organic matters (dead wood, dead leaves) in white spruce forest
V13 Victoria Co., Cabot trail N., 4 km south of Little River. 16.v.2007 Man-made pond with mats of Scirpus
V14 Victoria Co., Cabot trail N., 4 km S. Little River. 16.v.2007 Fen with Graminea
V15 Victoria Co., Rear Little River Road, off Cabot trail N. 16.v.2007 Brook flowing over rocky bed, ca. 2 m wide; moderately moving water
C16 Cape Breton Co., Morrisson Road, ca. 6 km off Hwy 22 S. 18.v.2007 Sphagnum bog in white spruce forest; with Ericacea, Scirpus and Typha
C17 Cape Breton Co., Morrisson Road, ca. 7 km off Hwy 22 S. 18.v.2007 Sphagnum pool with Ericacea and Scirpus in white spruce forest
C18 Cape Breton Co., Morrisson Road, ca. 8 km off Hwy 22 S. 18.v.2007 Shallow roadside ditch with Graminea and Sphagnum
C19 Cape Breton Co., Broughton Road near junction to Morrisson Rd. 18.v.2007 Shallow eutrophic brook flowing over rocky bed
C20 Cape Breton Co., Broughton Road, 2 km off junction to Morrisson Rd. 18.v.2007 Eutrophic lake
C21 Cape Breton Co., Broughton Road, 3 km off junction to Morrisson Rd. 18.v.2007 Sphagnum bog
C22 Cape Breton Co., Broughton Road, 4 km off junction to Morrisson Rd. 18.v.2007 Road-side ditch
C23 Cape Breton Co., South Head, Sailor Dans Lane. 18.v.2007 Brook with heavy accumulation of bryophytes
C24 Cape Breton Co., South Head, Sailor Dans Lane. 18.v.2007 Cattail pond with bryophytes and Carex
C25 Victoria Co., West Side Baddek Road, junction Hunter Mtn Road. 19.v.2007 Small eutrophic creek; heavy accumulation of organic debris; margin with dense vegetation including dead Graminea
V26 Victoria Co., West Side Baddek Road, junction Hunter Mtn Rd. 19.v.2007 Fen with dark brown water; heavy accumulation of Graminea
V27 Victoria Co., Baddek Forks. 19.v.2007 Ephemeral woodland pool with Scirpus; bed with heavy accumulation of dead leaves
V28 Victoria Co., Baddeck River at Baddek Forks. 19.v.2007 Pools beside river; very eutrophic
R29 Richmond Co., Road off Hwy 104E at exit 44 to Port Malcom. 05.v.2006 Roadside bog with Sphagnum and Typha; in Picea and Larix laricina forest
R30 Richmond Co., Road off Hwy 104E near Port Hawskberry. 05.v.2006 Roadside ditch on rocky bed covered with mud; shore with Typha and Alnus
R31 Richmond Co., Road off Hwy 104E towards Isle Madame. 05.v.2006 Shallow creek on rocky bed, with mats of algae; shoreline with Carex and Graminea
R32 Richmond Co., Road off Hwy 104E towards Isle Madame. 05.v.2006 Large creek flowing over rocky bed, presence of algae; in Picea and Betula allegheniensis forest; shoreline covered with dense bryophytes
R33 Richmond Co., Road off Hwy 104E towards Isle Madame. 05.v.2006 Pond with heavy accumulation of organic debris
R34 Richmond Co., Isle Madame, Lake road off Hwy 206. 06.v.2006 Man-made pond; rocky bed
R35 Richmond Co., Isle Madame, Lake road off Hwy 206. 06.v.2006 Lake on sandy bed
R36 Richmond Co., Isle Madame, Hwy 206 at Anthony road. 06.v.2006 Shallow puddle on muddy bed, in Graminea field
R37 Richmond Co., Isle Madame, Hwy 320 West at bridge, ca. 4 km East of D’Escousses. 06.v.2006 Eutrophic creek
R38 Richmond Co., Isle Madame, Hwy 320 West, ca. 1 km West of D’Escousses. 06.v.2006 Pool with dark brown water, in a vast field of Carex; Larix laricina present
R39 Richmond Co., Isle Madame, Hwy 320 West, ca. 2 km West of D’Escousses. 06.v.2006 Shallow cattail pond in Picea forest
R40 Richmond Co., Sporting Mountain Road, ca. 2 km off Hwy 4 at exit 47. 06.v.2006 Sphagnum bog in Picea forest.
R41 Richmond Co., Sporting Mountain Road, ca. 3 km off Hwy 4 at exit 47. 06.v.2006 Small creek flowing on rocky bed with dense mats of Sphagnum/bryophytes; in Abies balsamifera and Betula allegheniensis forest
R42 Richmond Co., Sporting Mountain Road, dead end of Hwy 4 at exit 47. 06.v.2006 Man-made shallow pond
R43 Richmond Co., Road off Sporting Mountain Road, towards St Peters lake. 06.v.2006 Lake; shoreline with Sphagnum
R44 Richmond Co., Fleur-de-Lis trail, 3 km East of Grand River. 07.v.2006 Road-side bog ditch with slow-moving dark brown water; heavy accumulation of Sphagnum and Scirpus.
R45 Richmond Co., Fleur-de-Lis trail at junction Barren Hill Road, ca. 6 km East Grand River. 07.v.2006 Carex pool with Saricena purpurea
R46 Richmond Co., Fleur-de-Lis trail, ca. 9 km E. Grand River. 07.v.2006 Pond in Picea forest; littoral margin with abundance of Scirpus and Ericacea
R47 Richmond Co., Fleur-de-Lis trail, ca. 6 km East of St. Esprit. 07.v.2006 Inundated Picea forest; dark brown slow-moving water
R48 Richmond Co., North Framboise, 5 km W. off Fleur-de-Lis trail. 07.v.2006 Small roadside ditch with Graminea
C49 Cape Breton Co., East Bay, Morrison Road, off Hwy 4. 08.v.2006 Shallow pond fed with flowing water; rocky bed; clear water; dense Graminea along shoreline
C50 Cape Breton Co., East Bay, Morrison Road, off Hwy 4, past bridge. 08.v.2006 Ephemeral pond with accumulation of dead leaves, in Acer, Fagus, and Abies forest
C51 Cape Breton Co., East Bay, Morrison Road, off Hwy 4, at bridge. 08.v.2006 Discharge of lake; pond-like, very eutrophic; dense Graminea along shoreline
C52 Cape Breton Co., East Bay, Morrison Road, off Hwy 4, at bridge. 08.v.2006 Shallow creek flowing over rocky bed; about 1 m wide
C53 Cape Breton Co., East Bay, Chapei Road, off Meadows Road, about 7 km S. of Hwy 4. 08.v.2006 Ephemeral very humic pond with dead leaves; very dark water; shoreline with dense mats of bryophytes
C54 Cape Breton Co., Rear Big Pond Road, 6 km off junction with Chapei Road. 08.v.2006 Small creek flowing over rocky bed
C55 Cape Breton Co., Rear Big Pond Road, 5 km off junction with Chapei Road at Big Pond. 08.v.2006 Muddy creek with cold water; shoreline with Graminea and Sphagnum; in Picea and Abies balsamea forest
C56 Cape Breton Co., Rear Big Pond Road, 1 km off junction with Chapei Road. 08.v.2006 Man-made pond; full of organic debris
C57 Cape Breton Co., Frank Macdonald Road, 9 km off junction with Soldier Cave Road, off Hwy 4. 09.v.2006 Sphagnum bog
C58 Cape Breton Co., Frank Macdonald Road, 9 km off junction with Soldier Cave Road, off Hwy 4. 09.v.2006 Roadside Typha pond
C59 Cape Breton Co., Frank Macdonald Road, 8 km off junction with Soldier Cave Road, off Hwy 4. 09.v.2006 Typha pond
C60 Cape Breton Co., Frank Macdonald Road, 5 km off junction with Soldier Cave Road, off Hwy 4. 09.v.2006 Shallow narrow creek with bryophytes.
C61 Cape Breton Co., Frank Macdonald Road, 4 km off junction with Soldier Cave Road, off Hwy 4. 09.v.2006 Shallow Carex puddles
R62 Richmond Co., Loch Lamond West Road, 11 km of Grand River. 09.v.2006 Emissary of Loch Lamond lake; collecting along river arms; shoreline covered with vegetation
R63 Richmond Co., Loch Lamond Road, 14 km of Grand River. 09.v.2006 Pools covered with bryophytes; dark brown and cold water
R64 Richmond Co., Loch Lamond Road, 14 km of Grand River. 09.v.2006 Small creek flowing over rocky bed
R65 Richmond Co., Loch Lamond Road, 16 km of Grand River. 09.v.2006 Fen; dense accumulation of Graminea and bryophytes; very dark water
I66 Inverness Co., Greignish Mtns Road, 1 Km off junction Hwy 4B. 10.v.2006 Pond
I67 Inverness Co., Road 104E, 2 km off junction to Greignish Mtns Road, off Hwy 19 at Greignish. 10.v.2006 Fen with Scirpus and mats of bryophytes; dark brown water
I68 Inverness Co., Road 104E, 5 km off junction to Greignish Mtns Road, off Hwy 19 at Greignish. 10.v.2006 Small brook in Sphagnum bog
I69 Inverness Co., Road 104E, 12 km off junction to Greignish Mtns Road, off Hwy 19 at Greignish. 10.v.2006 Shallow pools with mats of Graminea and heavy accumulation of dead maple leaves; higher elevation
I70 Inverness Co., Road 104E, 4 km off junction to Greignish Mtns Road, off Hwy 19 at Greignish. 10.v.2006 Bog with Carex and Saracenia purpurea
I71 Inverness Co., Road 104E, off junction to Greignish Mtns Road, off Hwy 19 at Greignish. 10.v.2006 Bog with Carex
I72 Inverness Co., Graham River, at J. D. MacDonald Road near Judique South Hwy 19. 10.v.2006 Stream flowing over rocky bed
I73 Inverness Co., Margaree River North East, off Cabot Trail. 17.viii.2006 Larger river flowing over rocky bed
I74 Inverness Co., Ingram Charlie Brook, East Big Interval Road at bridge, 7 km of East Margaree Valley. 17.viii.2006 Brook flowing over big boulders covered with bryophytes
I75 Inverness Co., East Big Interval Road, 12 km of East Margaree Valley. 17.viii.2006 Small brook; beetles collected underneath the banks
I76 Inverness Co., East Big Interval Road, ca. 12 km of East Margaree Valley. 18.viii.2006 Beaver dam ditch; dense mats of Carex along shoreline
I77 Inverness Co., East Big Interval Road, ca. 21 km of East Margaree Valley. 18.viii.2006 Small creek with very slow-moving water (almost still); muddy bed, dark brown to black sediment
I78 Inverness Co., Kingross Crossing Road, ca. 1 km off East Big Interval Road, ca. 20 km of East Margaree Valley. 18.viii.2006 Small pool with crystal clear water; pool likely formed from a brook
I79 Inverness Co., East Big Interval Road, ca. 2 km off Kingross Crossing Road. 18.viii.2006 Small beaver dam pool, almost still water, fed from a small creek; muddy bottom, dark brown to black sediment
I80 Inverness Co., North of St. Joseph du Moine, Bazile Road, off Cabot trail at bridge. 21.viii.2006 Small eutrophic creek; flowing water at the middle over rocky bed; shoreline with dense vegetation (Eupatorium maculatum; Equisetum sp.; muddy shoreline; beetles collected along shoreline in shallow water
I81 Inverness Co., North of Saint Joseph du Moine, Bazile Road, ca. 8 km off Cabot trail. 21.viii.2006 Small creek with big boulders; swift currents
I82 Inverness Co., North of Saint Joseph du Moine, Bazile Road, off Cabot trail. 21.viii.2006 Lake; littoral zone with Typha; muddy
I83 Inverness Co., North of Gold Brook, Cabot trail. 21.viii.2006 Roadside ditch; shoreline with Spirea, Alnus, and Carex; heavy accumulation of dead leaves
V84 Victoria Co., Middle River, at Cabot trail. 21.viii.2006 Roadside ditch with slow moving water; shoreline with Alnus and Carex
V85 Victoria Co., Egypt Road, at Cabot trail. 21.viii.2006 Eutrophic brook with swift current; rocky bed; presence of algae
I86 Inverness Co., Cranton Cross Road, off Margaree Centre. 21.viii.2006 Brook with crystal clear water; almost still water
I87 Inverness Co., Southwest Margaree Road, ca. 4 km south of Cabot trail. 22.viii.2006 Roadside ditch in spruce forest
I88 Inverness Co., Southwest Margaree Road, ca. 8 km south of Cabot trail. 22.viii.2006 Small eutrophic creek with dense vegetation along shoreline; deep, with slow moving water; rocky bed covered with sediments
I89 Inverness Co., Hwy 395 off Hwy 19. 22.viii.2006 Small creek with swift current; cold water, large boulders; abundance of Mentha along shoreline
I90 Inverness Co., south west Margaree River at Bridge, Hwy 395 at junction to Kiltarlity Road. 22.viii.2006 Arm of the river looking like a large ditch; shallow with clear water; dense vegetation (Carex, Scirpus, Myositis) along shoreline; accumulation of algae in the middle; extremely beetle rich
I91 Inverness Co., south west Margaree River at Bridge, Hwy 395 at junction to Kiltarlity Road. 22.viii.2006 I have sampled into algae along shoreline of the river
I92 Inverness Co., Kiltarlity Road. 22.viii.2006 Lake with clear water; Typha and nenuphar along shoreline
I93 Inverness Co., Scotsville, junction Hwy 395 and Scotsville Road at bridge. 22.viii.2006 Emissary of lake Ainslie
I94 Inverness Co., near junction to Mountain Road and Scotsville Road. 22.viii.2006 Shallow pond in open prairie overlooking lake Ainslie; main vegetation: Equisetum, Typha and Carex

Nomenclature

Nomenclature is based on the classification in Oygur and Wolfe (1991) (Gyrinidae: Gyrinus Müller), Vondel (2005) (Haliplidae), Nilsson and Hájek (2019) (Dytiscidae) and Gustafson and Miller (2015) (Gyrinidae: Dineutus MacLeay).

Depositories

Voucher specimens are deposited in the author’s research collection (Department of Biology, Laurentian University, Sudbury, Ontario).

Results

In total, 2027 specimens representing 85 species of Hydradephaga were collected in this study (Table 2). Among these, eleven species are reported for the first time for Nova Scotia. Details of species added to the Nova Scotia’s fauna follow.

Table 2.
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Species of Hydradephaga (Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Haliplidae) collected in Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada in 2006 and 2007 with sample numbers (as in Table 1), absolute (AF) and relative frequencies (%), and relative frequency of occurrence (RFO). Species in bold denote new records from Nova Scotia given in the present account.

Taxon Sample numbers AF (%) RFO
Haliplidae
Haliplus canadensis Wallis C25, I78, I88 5 (0.25) 3.19
Haliplus connexus Matheson I79, I80, I93 4 (0.20) 3.19
Haliplus cribarius LeConte R62, I79 3 (0.15) 2.13
Haliplus fulvus (Fabricius) R45, C42, I78, I79, I90 11 (0.54) 5.32
Haliplus immaculicollis Harris V05, V11, V13, C25, V28, R37, R42, R44, C49, C58, R62, I69, I76, I77, I78, I79, I80, V84, I86, I87, I88, I90, I91, I92, I93 112 (5.53) 26.60
Haliplus longulus LeConte R45, I71 2 (0.10) 2.13
Peltodytes edentulus (LeConte) I91, I93 28 (1.38) 2.13
Dytiscidae
Acilius mediatus (Say) V09, I83, I87 5 (0.25) 3.19
Acilius semisulcatus Aubé V04, R34, R39, I67, I92 7 (0.35) 5.32
Agabus ambiguuus (Say) V04, V09, V10, C25, V26, V28, C20, C49, I67, I76, I79, I80, I82, I83, V84, I90 76 (3.75) 17.02
Agabus anthracinus Mannerheim V03, C21, C22, C24, V26, V28, R29, R40, R46, R47, C49, C57, C59, C61, R63, R65, I67, I69, I76, I80 95 (4.69) 21.28
Agabus erythropterus (Say) V09, C25, R46, R48, I76, I77, I78, I79, I86; I90 76 (3.75) 10.64
Agabus leptapsis (LeConte) V12, I75, I76, I79, I80 5 (0.25) 5.32
Agabus phaeopterus (Kirby) V27 1 (0.05) 1.06
Agabus semipunctatus (Kirby) V03, C16, C24, V27, R46, C59 6 (0.30) 6.38
Agabus subfuscatus Sharp R29, R44, C61, R65, I66 13 (0.64) 5.32
Clemnius laccophilinus (LeConte) I92 1 (0.05) 1.06
Colymbetes paykulli Erichson V03, C61 2 (0.10) 2.13
Colymbetes sculptilis Harris I76, I80 2 (0.10) 2.13
Copelatus glyphicus (Say) V03, V04, V07, V27, C17, C18, C19, C24, R31, R44 64 (3.16) 10.64
Coptotomus longulus LeConte C21, R33 2 (0.10) 2.13
Desmopachria convexa (Aubé) C21, C24, R40, R45, R46, C57, C58, C59, I69, I70, I71, I94 70 (3.45) 12.77
Dytiscus fasciventris Say V84, I88, I92 4 (0.20) 3.19
Dytiscus verticalis Say R46, I69 2 (0.10) 2.13
Heterosternuta allegheniana (Matta & Wolfe) R31, R32, R64, I72 39 (1.92) 4.26
Heterosternuta pulchra (LeConte) R32, I73, V85, I88, I89 28 (1.38) 5.32
Heterosternuta wickhami (Zaitzev) I78, I79, V85 9 (0.44) 3.19
Hydaticus aruspex Clark C24, V26, C51, R65, I67, I70, I71, I94 9 (0.44) 8.51
Hydrocolus paugus (Fall) V03, C17, V27, R40, I67, I75, I80, V84 12 (0.59) 8.51
Hydrocolus stagnalis (G. & H.) V08, C18, C19, R46, C50, I90 7 (0.35) 6.38
Hydroporus appalachius Sherman I79, I86 33 (1.63) 2.13
Hydroporus badiellus Fall R40, C57, I70 13 (0.64) 3.19
Hydroporus dentellus Fall V09, V28, R40, R45, R46, R47, R65, I92, I93 24 (1.18) 9.58
Hydroporus gossei Larson & Roughley V12, V26, V27, C53, C59, I88, I90 11 (0.54) 7.45
Hydroporus nigellus Mannerheim C21, V28 2 (0.10) 2.13
Hydroporus niger Say C49, C59, I67, I88 7 (0.35) 4.26
Hydroporus notabilis LeConte V04, C18, C21, C24, V26, V27, V28, R42, C49, C61, I69, I76, I78, I80, I81, I83, V84, I87, I88, I90, I93, I94 52 (2.57) 23.40
Hydroporus obscurus Sturm I70 1 (0.05) 1.06
Hydroporus puberulus LeConte C53, I71 9 (0.44) 2.13
Hydroporus rufinasus Mannerheim R29, R45, R65 4 (0.20) 3.19
Hydroporus signatus Mannerheim V07, V10, C18, C17, C21, C24, V28, R29, R42, R46, R47, C49, C59, C61 34 (1.68) 14.89
Hydroporus striola (Gyllenhal) V03, V07, V26, V28, C20, R30, R32, R36, R38, R45, R46, C49, C53, C59, C61, I80, I83, V84, I88, I90 56 (2.76) 21.28
Hydroporus tenebrosus LeConte C18, C53, I93 4 (0.20) 3.19
Hydroporus tristis (Paykull) V07, V09, V14, C17, C18, C21, C24, V27, C50, C53, C59, C61, I77, I80, I83 44 (2.17) 15.96
Hygrotus impressopunctatus (Schaller) R35 1 (0.05) 1.06
Hygrotus picatus (Kirby) V04, C20, R46, R47, I76, I94 8 (0.40) 6.38
Hygrotus sayi Balfour-Browne V14, C25, V26, V28, R45, R47, C58, I80, I87, I88, I94 25 (1.23) 11.70
Hygrotus turbidus (LeConte) R39; I66 11 (0.54) 2.13
Ilybiosoma seriatum (Say) C02, V05, V08, C19, C23, C25, R31, C50, C52, C54, C60, R64, I67, I68, I74, I75, V85 76 (3.75) 18.09
Ilybius angustior (Gyllenhal) R39, R46, I83, 6 (0.30) 3.19
Ilybius biguttulus (Germar) V03, V04, C21, C24, V28, R34, C49, C59, R64, I75, I76, I77, I80, I87, I88, I90, I92, I93, I94 106 (5.23) 20.21
Ilybius confusus Aubé I80 1 (0.05) 1.06
Ilybius discedens Sharp V27, R29, R46, C49, C57, I71, I92 11 (0.54) 7.45
Ilybius erichsoni G. & H. V07, C53 7 (0.35) 2.13
Ilybius ignarus (LeConte) V03, C21, V27 R45 6 (0.30) 4.26
Ilybius larsoni (Fery & Nilsson) V04, V06, V09, C18, C21, V27, R40, R48, C50, C61, I74 22 (1.09) 11.7
Ilybius picipes (Kirby) V26, I76 6 (0.30) 2.13
Ilybius pleuriticus (LeConte) C56, C59, I76, I87, I92 15 (0.74) 5.32
Ilybius wasastjernae (C.R. Sahlberg) V27 1 (0.05) 1.06
Laccophilus m. maculosus Say V13, C20, C22, C24, V28, R33, R34, R35, R42, C49, I66, I69, I80, I87 32 (1.58) 14.89
Laccornis latens (Fall) R29 6 (0.29) 1.06
Liodessus affinis (Say) V04, V26, V28, R34, R35, R42, C49, C59, R62, I90, I93 55 (2.71) 11.70
Meridiorhantus sinuatus (LeConte) R38, C52 3 (0.15) 2.13
Nebrioporus rotundatus (LeConte) C25, R32, I73, I88 35 (1.73) 4.26
Neoporus carolinus (Fall) V09, V12, V13, V15, V28, R40, R41, C49, C50, C52, C55, C57, I68, I75, I76, I77, I78, I79, I80, I86, I88 97 (4.79) 22.34
Neoporus clypealis (Sharp) R32, R62, I80, I88, I93 14 (0.69) 5.32
Neoporus dimidiatus (G. & H.) V28, I77, I78, I79, V84, I86, I88, I90, I91 44 (2.17) 9.58
Neoporus spurius (LeConte) I80, V85, I91 15 (0.74) 3.19
Neoporus sulcipennis (Fall) R64, 172, I80, I88, I89 28 (1.38) 5.32
Neoporus undulatus (Fall) C25, V28, R35, R43, R45, R47, I80, I87, I90, I92, I93 84 (4.14) 11.70
Oreodytes s. scitulus (LeConte) I72, I73 8 (0.40) 2.13
Platambus obtusatus (Say) V26, R38, R40, C50, C61, R64, I83 9 (0.44) 7.45
Rhantus binotatus (Harris) V04, V07, V26, R34, I67, I80, I83, V84, I94 15 (0.74) 9.58
Rhantus suturellus (Harris) V28, R46, R65 4 (0.20) 3.19
Rhantus wallisi (Harris) C24, R45, C59, C56, I66 11 (0.54) 5.32
Gyrinidae
Dineutus hornii Roberts CO1, R35, I93 17 (0.84) 3.19
Dineutus nigrior Roberts R34, R35, C56 6 (0.30) 3.19
Gyrinus affinis Aubé R40, C53, C56, I76, 32 (1.58) 4.26
Gyrinus aquiris LeConte C01, R45, R46; I90 9 (0.44) 4.26
Gyrinus confinis Fall R45 1 (0.05) 1.06
Gyrinus fraternus Couper R45; R62 16 (0.79) 2.13
Gyrinus gehringi Chamberlain V07, V13, R46, C53, I66, I76, V84, V85 48 (2.37) 8.51
Gyrinus latilimbus Fall V13, R45, C56, R62, I66, I76, I79 44 (2.17) 7.45
Gyrinus pugionis Fall C01, V14, R45, I92, I93 69 (3.40) 5.32
Gyrinus sayi Aubé V13, C21, R34, R35, R40, R45, R46, R47, C53, R62, I67, I76 29 (1.43) 12.77
Total 2027

Heterosternuta allegheniana (Matta & Wolfe)

Notes

This species is reported from 39 specimens collected in Richmond County and Inverness County (samples R31, R32, R64, I72).

Habitat

All specimens were collected on pebble substrate or in leaf litter along the margin of cold creek and streams in accordance with Matta and Wolfe (1981).

Distribution in the Maritime Ecozone

Prior to this study, Heterosternuta allegheniana had only been reported from New Brunswick and southern Québec (Bousquet et al. 2013). Its presence in Nova Scotia therefore represents its easternmost distribution in Canada.

Heterosternuta wickhami (Zaitzev)

Notes

This species is reported from nine specimens collected in Victoria County and Inverness County (samples I78, I79, V85).

Habitat

Like the previous species all specimens were collected in gravel along the margins of streams. Matta and Wolfe (1981) state this species is most common at the margin of medium to small streams.

Distribution in the Maritime Ecozone

This is the first record of H. wickhami in the Maritimes. Prior to this study it had only been reported from Ontario and Québec. Its presence on Cape Breton Island represents a significant extension of this species to eastern Canada (Bousquet et al. 2013).

Hydroporus appalachius Sherman

Notes

Several specimens of this distinctive species were collected at two different sites in Inverness County (samples I79, I86).

Habitat

Hydroporus appalachius is usually found in habitats where there are some water movements either along the margins of small lakes or in small streams and springs (Larson et al. 2000), which describe exactly the habitats where these beetles were found in Cape Breton Island.

Distribution in the Maritime Ecozone

This species has a wide range in North America east of the Rocky Mountains. It occurs from Labrador and New Hampshire west to the northern Great Plains and north into the boreal zone and southern limits of the low artic (Larson et al. 2000). Its presence in Cape Breton Island represents the first mention of the species in the Canadian Maritimes (Bousquet et al. 2013).

Hydroporus gossei Larson & Roughley

Notes

This species is reported for the first time in Nova Scotia from eleven specimens collected in Cape Breton County, Inverness County and Victoria County (samples V12, V26, V27, C53, C59, I88, I90).

Habitat

In Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island, this species has been collected from among flooded grasses and emergent Carex along the margins of beaver ponds and roadside ponds, which is similar to the habitats where these beetles were collected in Cape Breton Island which include also eutrophic creeks.

Distribution in the Maritime Ecozone

This large, distinctive Hydroporus species has generally been confused with Hydroporus rectus Fall. In the Maritime ecozone, H. gossei is also reported from the neighboring province New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island (Larson et al. 2000; Bousquet et al. 2013; Alarie 2016).

Hydroporus nigellus Mannerheim

Notes

This species is reported from only two specimens collected in Cape Breton County and Victoria County (samples C21, V28).

Habitat

These beetles are common in small pools with dense emergent vegetation. The two specimens collected in Cape Breton Island were from a sphagnum bog and a eutrophic pool besides a river.

Distribution in the Maritime Ecozone

Prior to this study, this species had only been reported from the neighboring province New Brunswick (Larson et al. 2000; Bousquet et al. 2013). The North American range of this Holarctic species includes most of the boreal zone and extends north to the southern arctic (Larson et al. 2000).

Hydroporus puberulus LeConte

Notes

Hydroporus puberulus is reported from nine specimens form two localities in Cape Breton County and Inverness County (samples C53, I71).

Habitat

These beetles were generally collected from small pools where the water is cool, such as small pools in bogs or habitats where the water is densely shaded by Carex (Larson et al. 2000), which is similar to the habitats where these beetles were collected in Cape Breton Island.

Distribution in the Maritime Ecozone

In North America this Holarctic species occurs in the boreal zone from western Newfoundland to Alaska (Larson et al. 2000). Prior to this study, this species had only been reported from the neighboring province New Brunswick in the Maritime Ecozone (Larson et al. 2000; Bousquet et al. 2013).

Ilybius picipes (Kirby)

Notes

Ilybius picipes is closely similar to I. angustior (Gyllehal) from which it can be differentiated by the relative expansion of the protarsal claw (Larson et al. 2000). In Cape Breton Island this species is reported from six specimens from two localities in Victoria County and Inverness County (samples V26, I76).

Habitat

These beetles are generally collected from peatland pools (Larson et al. 2000), which is similar to the habitats where these beetles were collected in Cape Breton Island.

Distribution in the Maritime Ecozone

This species has a Holarctic distribution. In North America it is transcontinental in the boreal region (Larson et al. 2000). Its presence in Cape Breton Island represents the first mention in the Canadian Maritimes (Bousquet et al. 2013).

Ilybius wasastjernae (C.R. Sahlberg)

Notes

Ilybius wasastjernae is reported in Cape Breton Island from only one specimen collected in Victoria County (sample V27).

Habitat

These beetles are generally collected from sphagnum pools, usually in, or adjacent to forest (Larson et al. 2000). In Cape Breton Island it was collected in an ephemeral woodland pool covered with Scirpus.

Distribution in the Maritime Ecozone

This species has a Holarctic distribution more or less throughout the boreal zone. In North America it is transcontinental in the boreal region (Larson et al. 2000). Prior to this study, this species had only been reported from the neighboring province New Brunswick in the Maritime Ecozone (Larson et al. 2000; Bousquet et al. 2013).

Discussion

A total of 85 Hydradephaga species was recovered from 94 samples during a survey conducted on Cape Breton Island, Canada, between 2006–2007. According to this study and literature (Majka and Kenner 2009) 87 species of Hydradephaga are currently known from Cape Breton Island (Table 3). There are records of 48 species from Cape Breton County, 68 from Inverness County, 56 from Richmond County and 50 from Victoria County. The significantly larger number of species from both Inverness and Richmond Counties is noteworthy knowing that this region includes some of the most undisturbed areas in Nova Scotia.

Table 3.
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Checklist of species of Hydradephaga recorded from Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, Canada, and their provincial and territorial distribution within northeastern North America (NA). Key: asterisk (*), Holarctic species; cross (†), species not collected in this survey but recorded in Majka (2009); C, Cape Breton County; I, Inverness County; R, Richmond County; V, Victoria County; species in bold correspond to strict eastern Canada elements; i.e., never recorded west of the province of Ontario.

Taxon Counties Distribution in northeastern North America
C I R V
GYRINIDAE
Gyrininae
Enhydrini
Dineutus hornii Roberts 1 1 1 CT, MA, ME, MI, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Dineutus nigrior Roberts 1 1 CT, MA, ME, MI, NB, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Gyrinini
Gyrinus affinis Aubé 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI, VT
Gyrinis aquiris LeConte 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Gyrinus cavatus Atton† 1 LB, MA, ME, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, QC, RI
Gyrinus confinis Fall 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, SM, VT
Gyrinus fraternus Couper 1 MA, ME, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, VT
Gyrinus gehringi Chamberlain 1 1 1 1 NB, NS, NF, NH, ON, PE, QC
Gyrinus impressicollis Kirby† 1 NS, ON, QC
Gyrinus latilimbus Fall 1 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, SE
Gyrinus pugionis Fall 1 1 1 MA, ME, MI, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC. VT
Gyrinus sayi Aubé 1 1 1 1 CT, MI, LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM
HALIPLIDAE
Haliplus canadensis Wallis 1 1 MA, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC
Haliplus connexus Matheson 1 CT, MA, ME, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, VT
Haliplus cribarius LeConte 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, SM
Haliplus fulvus (Fabricius)* 1 1 1 ON, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, QC
Haliplus immaculicollis Harris 1 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, QC, PE, RI, SM, VT
Haliplus longulus LeConte 1 1 MA, ME, NB, NH, NB, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Peltodytes edentulus (LeConte) 1 MA, NB, NH, NS, ON, QC, PE, RI
DYTISCIDAE
Agabinae
Agabini
Agabus ambiguus (Say) 1 1 1 LB, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM
Agabus anthracinus Mannerheim 1 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, SM, VT
Agabus erythropterus (Say) 1 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Agabus leptapsis (LeConte) 1 1 LB, ME, NB, NF, NS, NY, ON, QC, VT
Agabus phaeopterus (Kirby) 1 LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC
Agabus semipunctatus (Kirby) 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, QC, RI
Agabus subfuscatus Sharp 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, VT
Ilybiosoma seriatum (Say) 1 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, SM
Ilybius angustior (Gyllenhal)* 1 1 LB, MI, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, SM, VT
Ilybius biguttulus (Germar) 1 1 1 1 MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM, VT
Ilybius confusus Aubé 1 CT, MA, ME, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, RI. VT
Ilybius discedens Sharp* 1 1 1 1 LB, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, SM
Ilybius erichsoni G. & H.* 1 1 LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC
Ilybius ignarus (LeConte) 1 1 1 CT, MA, ME, NH, NS, NY, ON, QC, RI
Ilybius larsoni (Fery & Nilsson) 1 1 1 1 NB, NS, ON, PE, QC
Ilybius picipes (Kirby)* 1 1 LB, NF, NS, ON, QC
Ilybius pleuriticus (Leconte) 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM, VT
Ilybius wasastjernae (C. R. Sahlberg)* 1 ME, LB, NB, NF, NS, ON, QC
Platambus obtusatus (Say) 1 1 1 1 CT, MA, ME, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, QC, VT
Colymbetinae
Colymbetini
Colymbetes paykulli Erichson* 1 1 LB, ME, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC
Colymbetes sculptilis Harris 1 CT, LB, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Meridiorhantus sinuatus (LeConte) 1 1 LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC
Rhantus binotatus (Harris) 1 1 1 CT, LB, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM
Rhantus suturellus (Harris)* 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, SM
Rhantus wallisi Hatch 1 1 1 LB, MA, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, SM
Copelatinae
Copelatini
Copelatus glyphicus (Say) 1 1 1 CT, ME, NF, NH, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Coptotominae
Coptotomini
Coptotomus longulus LeConte 1 1 MA, ME, MI, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, QC, NB, PE, RI
Dytiscinae
Aciliini
Acilius mediatus (Say) 1 1 CT, MA, NB, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Acilius semisulcatus Aubé 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM
Dytiscini
Dytiscus fasciventris Say 1 1 CT, LB, ME, NB, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Dytiscus verticalis Say 1 1 CT, MA, ME, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Hydaticini
Hydaticus aruspex Clark* 1 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC
Hydroporinae
Bidessini
Liodessus affinis (Say) 1 1 1 1 CT, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Hydroporini
Heterosternuta allegheniana (Matta & Wolfe) 1 1 NB, NS, QC
Heterosternuta pulchra (LeConte) 1 1 1 CT, ME, LB, NB, NF, NS, ON, QC, SM
Heterosternuta wickhami (Zaitzev) 1 1 NS, ON, QC
Hydrocolus paugus (Fall) 1 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, SM
Hydrocolus stagnalis (G. & H.) 1 1 1 1 CT, MA, ME, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC
Hydroporus appalachius Sherman 1 LB, MA, ME, NH, NS, ON, QC
Hydroporus badiellus Fall 1 1 1 LB, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, QC
Hydroporus dentellus Fall 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC
Hydroporus gossei Larson & Roughley 1 1 1 ME, NB, NF, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC
Hydroporus nigellus Mannerheim* 1 1 LB, NB, NS, ON, QC
Hydroporus niger Say 1 1 CT, MA, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Hydroporus notabilis LeConte* 1 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, SM
Hydroporus obscurus Sturm* 1 LB, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, SM
Hydroporus puberulus LeConte* 1 1 LB, ME, NB, NF, NS, ON, QC
Hydroporus rufinasus Mannerheim 1 ME, NB, NS, ON, QC
Hydroporus signatus Mannerheim 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM
Hydroporus striola (Gyllenhal)* 1 1 1 1 LB, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Hydroporus tenebrosus LeConte 1 1 MA, ME, MI, NB, NH, NS, NF, ON, PE, QC,
Hydroporus tristis (Paykull)* 1 1 1 LB, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM
Nebrioporus rotundatus (LeConte) 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Neoporus carolinus (Fall) 1 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, SM
Neoporus clypealis (Sharp) 1 1 ME, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC
Neoporus dimidiatus (G. & H.) 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Neoporus spurius (LeConte) 1 1 NB, NS, ON, QC
Neoporus sulcipennis (Fall) 1 1 NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC,
Neoporus undulatus (Say) 1 1 1 1 CT, LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM
Oreodytes s. scitulus (LeConte) 1 ME, LB, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, QC, SM
Hygrotini
Clemnius laccophilinus (LeConte) 1 ME, NB, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC
Hygrotus impressopunctatus (Schaller)* 1 LB, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC
Hygrotus picatus (Kirby) 1 1 1 1 LB, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Hygrotus sayi Balfour-Browne 1 1 1 1 LB, MA, ME, MI, NB, NF, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI, SM, VT
Hygrotus turbidus (LeConte) 1 1 MA, MI, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC, RI
Hyphydrini
Desmopachria convexa (Aubé) 1 1 1 ME, MI, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Laccornini
Laccornis latens (Fall) 1 MA, NB, NH, NS, NY, ON, PE, QC,
Laccophilinae
Laccophilini
Laccophilus m. maculosus Say 1 1 1 1 CT, MA, ME, MI, NB, NH, NS, ON, PE, QC, RI
Total 48 68 56 50

Notes: Regional Distribution information derived from Downie and Arnett (1996), Larson et al. (2000), Majka (2008), Alarie (2009, 2016), Majka et al. (2011), Elder and Abraham (2012), Bousquet et al. (2013), and Webster (2016). Key: CT, Connecticut; LB, Labrador; MA, Massachusetts; ME, Maine; MI, Magdalen Island Archipelago, NB, New Brunswick; NF, insular Newfoundland; NH, New Hampshire; NS, Nova Scotia; NY, New York; ON, Ontario; PE, Prince Edward Island; QC, Québec; RI, Rhode Island; SM, Saint-Pierre et Miquelon; VT, Vermont.

Included among the species surveyed were eight new Nova Scotia records consisting of the dytiscid species Heterosternuta allegheniana (Matta & Wolfe), H. wickhami (Zaitzev), Hydroporus appalachius Sherman, H. gossei Larson & Roughley, H. nigellus Mannerheim, H. puberulus LeConte, Ilybius picipes (Kirby), and I. wasastjernae (C.R. Sahlberg) (Table 2). Among these, Heterosternuta allegheniana and H. wickhami stand out as representing the easternmost reports of these species in Canada.

The Nearctic component of the fauna is made up of 71 species (81.6%), the Holarctic component of 16 species (17.4%). Most species are characteristic of both the Boreal and Atlantic Maritime Ecozones and have a transcontinental distribution except for Agabus erythropterus (Say), Copelatus glyphicus (Say), Coptotomus longulus LeConte, Heterosternuta allegheniana, H. pulchra (LeConte), H. wickhami, Hydroporus gossei, H. niger Say, Ilybius confusus Aubé, Ilybius ignarus (LeConte), I. larsoni (Fery & Nilsson), Laccornis latens (Fall), Liodessus affinis (Say), Nebrioporus rotundatus (LeConte), Neoporus carolinus (Fall), Neoporus clypealis (Sharp), N. spurius (LeConte), N. sulcipennis (Fall), and Platambus obtusatus (Say), which are generally recognized as species with eastern affinities (Larson et al. 2000; Bousquet et al. 2013) (Table 3).

The 87 Hydradephaga species known from Cape Breton Island represent approximately 74% of the fauna known for all Nova Scotia (Bousquet et al. 2013). As is typical of Hydradephaga, the Dytiscidae accounts for the largest share (78.2%) of the fauna, while Gyrinidae (13.8%) and Haliplidae (8.1%) are represented in lesser proportions. Forty-five species were observed at more than 5% of the sites (Table 2). The most common ones (RFO > 15 %) included the haliplid species Haliplus immaculicollis Harris and the dytiscid species Agabus ambiguus (Say), A. anthracinus Mannerheim, Hydroporus notabilis LeConte, H. signatus Mannerheim, H. striola (Gyllenhal), H. tristis (Paykull), Ilybiosoma seriatum (Say), Ilybius biguttulus (Germar), Laccophilus m. maculosus Say, and Neoporus carolinus (Fall) (Table 2). Considering the relatively large number of species recorded in such a short time, confirm that this region is very important for wetland beetle biodiversity, and its continued conservation.

This research considerably extends the list of reported species in Richmond and Inverness counties both of which were considered the least well-known counties in all Nova Scotia in terms of its beetle fauna prior to this study. Many species recorded in this region are interesting in zoogeographic terms as representing new records for Nova Scotia (see above). The extraordinary species richness of rheophilic species (e.g., Agabus leptapsis (LeConte), A. erythropterus (Say), Heterosternuta allegheniana, H. pulchra, H. wickhami, Hydroporus appalachius, Neoporus clypealis (Sharp), Neoporus dimidiatus (G. & H.), N. spurius, N. sulcipennis (Fall), and Oreodytes s. scitulus (LeConte)) are worth emphasizing in that they illustrate the high abundance of lotic habitats in this portion of Cape Breton Island. In general, coexisting species may be more closely related than expected by chance if environmental features of a given habitat select for certain traits that are shared by closely related species (Vamosi and Vamosi 2007), which may explain particularly the highest diversity of Neoporus Guignot and Heterosternuta Strand in that region.

The 87 species of Hydradephaga reported in this study represent an important richness, proportionally comparable to the number of species found in Prince Edward Island with similar environmental conditions (Alarie 2016). It is worth mentioning, however, that several species (Agabus leptapsis, Dineutus hornii Roberts, Dytiscus fasciventris Say, Gyrinus cavatus Atton, G. fraternus Couper, G. gehringi Chamberlain, G. impressicollis Kirby, Haliplus fulvus (Fabricius), Heterosternuta allegheniana, H. pulchra, H. wickhami, Hydroporus appalachius, H. badiellus Fall, H. nigellus, H. puberulus, H. rufinasus Mannerheim, Ilybius ignarus, I. picipes, I. wasastjernae, Neoporus spurius, Oreodytes s. scitulus, and Platambus obtusatus) collected in Cape Breton Island have yet to be discovered in Prince Edward Island. The absence in Cape Breton Island of 12 species listed in the latter province (Acilius sylvanus Hilsenhoff, Agabus punctulatus Aubé, Boreonectes griseostriatus (DeGeer), Dytiscus dauricus Gebler, D. harrisii Kirby, Graphoderus liberus (Say), G. perplexus Sharp, Gyrinus bifarius Fall, G. lecontei (Hope), Hygrotus compar Fall, Peltodytes tortulosus Roberts, and Sanfilippodytes planiusculus (Fall)) is worth mentioning as it suggests that the number of Hydradephaga species on Cape Breton island may be even greater than suggested by this study.

Conclusions

Our study adds considerably to the previous knowledge about Hydradephaga in the Canadian Maritimes, with eight new records for the province of Nova Scotia. The composition of the Cape Breton fauna reflects that of the Maritime Provinces as a whole. Whereas all the species found on Cape Breton Island have also been recorded in New Brunswick (Webster 2016) (except Gyrinus cavatus Atton, Heterosternuta wickhami, Hydroporus appalachius, and Ilybius picipes) the presence on Prince Edward Island (Alarie 2016) of 12 species not reported on Cape Breton Island suggests that additional species could potentially still be found.

Acknowledgements

Financial support was provided by a Discovery grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

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