Many thanks to Greg Pohl for his useful comments on the BSC. With the Canadian Museum of Nature removing their funding support for the BSC, it is evident that we need to do many things differently in the future. I agree with Greg that we could start by examining our name. Seeing we have restricted ourselves to studying the arthropods of Canada for over 35 years, why not consider something like “Arthropods Survey of Canada”? Furthermore, it is time that we start considering the aquatic arthropods of equal importance. Greg is also right that we need to start collecting information on the arthropods of various regions of Canada. Canada is comprised of 15 Ecozones and 194 Ecoregions, none of which were considered by Danks in his 1979 book. Imagine if we had a list of the arthropods in each of these Ecoregions. I would love to join forces with the Sault Ste. Marie Forestry Laboratory, for example, and begin making a list of the insects in Algonquin-Lake Nipissing of the Boreal Shield Ecozone. Or, imagine a list of arthropods of the Eureka Hills Ecoregion of northern Ellesmere Island which is in the Northern Arctic Ecozone. A worth while start could be to describe some of the characteristic species of each Ecoregion. David Larson has retired in the Cypress Uplands Ecoregion of the Prairies Ecozone and has already amassed an amazing collection of insects found on his ranch and in the adjoining Cypress Hills. Imagine if he had a place to display the results of his efforts. Thanks again. Greg.
Cheers
Joe Shorthouse
The Biological Survey of Canada 