NWT 2011-2015 - NWT Species at Risk

NWT 

NWT Species 2011-2015 | General Status Ranks of Wild Species in the Northwest Territories 

2011-2015 

General Status Ranks 

of Wild Species in the 

Northwest Territories 

In collaboration with:

Library and Archives Canada Cataloguing in Publication 

Working Group on General Status of NWT Species 

NWT species 2011-2015 : general status ranks of wild species in the Northwest Territories. 

Includes bibliographical references. 

ISBN 978-0-7708-0193-9 

1. Wildlife monitoring-Northwest Territories. 

2. Biodiversity conservation-Northwest Territories. 

3. Endangered species-Northwest Territories. 

4. Animals-Northwest Territories. 

5. Plants-Northwest Territories. 

I. Northwest Territories. Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources 

II. Title. 

III. Title: General status ranks of wild species in the Northwest Territories. 

QH106.2 N67 N87 2010 333.95'22097193 C2010-909899-4 

Suggested citation: 

Working Group on General Status of NWT Species. 2011. NWT Species 2011-2015 – General Status Ranks 

of Wild Species in the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 

Government of the Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT. 172pp. 

Copyright © 2011 by Government of the Northwest Territories, Department of Environment and Natural Resources. 

All rights reserved. Portions of this report may be reproduced for educational purposes, provided credit is given 

to the Government of the Northwest Territories. 

This document is also available at www.enr.gov.nt.ca. Ce document est aussi disponible sur demande en français. 

This document was edited and published by the Working Group on General Status of NWT Species: 

Department of Environment and Natural Resources, GNWT 

in collaboration with 

Government of Canada, Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 

Sahtu Renewable Resources Board, 

Gwich'in Renewable Resources Board, 

Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT), 

Fisheries Joint Management Committee, and 

Wekeezhii Renewable Resources Board 

Design and layout by Inkit Ltd., Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada.

NWT SPECIES 2011-2015 

General Status Ranks of Wild Species 

in the Northwest Territories 


In collaboration with:

4. Data Sources and Methods – How did we rank species? 

Polar Bear 

Photo Credit: 

P Nicklen/National Geographic Stock 

2 

NWT Species 2011-2015

Executive Summary.......................................................................... ii 

Preface – Building on our knowledge of NWT species.............................. 1 

1. Background – Why rank the general status of all wild species? ............ 2 

2. Goals – What are we trying to achieve? ........................................... 3 

3. Scope – What did we look at?......................................................... 4 

4. Data Sources and Methods – How did we rank species? ...................... 6 

5. Results – What did we learn?....................................................... 12 

6. Ranked Species Lists – What are the details?.................................. 17 

6.1 Terrestrial Mammals ............................................................... 18 

6.2 Marine Mammals ................................................................... 24 

6.3 Birds ................................................................................... 26 

6.4 Fishes ................................................................................. 38 

6.5 Freshwater Mussels ................................................................ 44 

6.6 Amphibians and Reptiles......................................................... 46 

6.7 Selected Beetles ................................................................... 48 

6.8 Bumblebees ......................................................................... 62 

6.9 Butterflies ........................................................................... 64 

6.10 Selected Macromoths ............................................................ 70 

6.11 Dragonflies and Damselflies .................................................. 74 

6.12 Selected Biting Insects ........................................................ 78 

6.13 Grasshoppers and Katydid...................................................... 84 

6.14 Spiders .............................................................................. 88 

6.15 Vascular Plants ................................................................... 98 

6.16 Mosses ............................................................................ 136 

6.17 Macro-lichens..................................................................... 152 

7. Challenges and Opportunities – What are the next steps?............... 164 

8. Further Your Knowledge – How to learn more?.............................. 166 

9. Acknowledgments – Who participated in this program?.................. 170 

10. Monitoring Infosheet ............................................................. 171 

General Status Ranks of Wild Species in the Northwest Territories 

i

Executive Summary 

The NWT is home to a diverse group of plants and animals. 

At least 30,000 species are estimated to occur here. An 

important first step in providing effective protection to 

biodiversity is to prevent species from ever becoming at 

risk. Monitoring the status of species is important to detect 

changes before they become critical and to determine which 

species need a more detailed assessment or closer monitoring. 

This report on the general status of wild species in the NWT 

was produced collaboratively with other agencies and wildlife 

co-management boards, and with the input from knowledgeable 

people from the NWT and elsewhere. 

The NWT Species 2011-2015 is the third report of the NWT 

General Status Ranking Program. The reports are issued every 

five years. The present report provides ranks for more than 

3400 species of mammals, fishes, birds, amphibians, reptiles, 

vascular plants, macro-lichens, mosses, spiders and some insect 

groups like butterflies, large moths, bumblebees, dragonflies, 

damselflies, ground beetles, lady beetles, predaceous diving 

beetles, grasshoppers, and biting insects. 

Key findings of the program are provided. Overall, there are few 

changes in ranks of species covered in previous reports. Only 

5% of changes can be attributed to an increase in threats to 

species. These threats are linked to declines in migratory bird 

populations and to a new disease, the white-nose syndrome, 

which can affect our bats in the next few years. 

More species of insects are found in the NWT than recorded 20 

years ago, mostly due to a changing climate. New alien plant 

species, some of which could have negative impacts on native 

species, have been recorded in the NWT in the past five years. 

There is not enough information to rank the general status of 

some insects, spiders and mosses. 

Enthusiasm for biodiversity is great in the North. More people 

are sharing information on species than ever. This is facilitated 

by the increased availability of the internet and high-quality 

digital cameras. The next report in 2016 will include additional 

species groups and will review the ranks of all species included 

in the present report. 

Peregrine Falcon 

Photo Credit: G Court 

ii 


Preface – Building on our knowledge of NWT species 

The NWT Species 2011-2015 report is the third in a series 

of reports to be published every five years. The previous 

reports on the general status ranks of species in the 

Northwest Territories were published in 2000 and 2006. 

The NWT Species 2011-2015 report presents the general 

status ranks of 3,429 species known or expected to be 

present in the Northwest Territories (NWT). 

Since 2000, we have collected information on additional 

species. Monitoring of the general status of species was 

performed every year. We updated, corrected, and added 

new information to our catalogue of referenced information, 

the "NWT Species Monitoring Infobase", searchable on the 

Internet at www.enr.gov.nt.ca. As of 2011, we have updated 

the general status ranks for the 1,700 species ranked in 2006 

and added new ranks for more than 1,700 additional species. 

In 2000, only about 400 species were ranked. 

Number of species ranked in each report 

4,000 

3,500 

3,000 

2,500 

2,000 

1,500 

1,000 

500 

0 

2000 2006 2011 

• Provide a reference tool to be used by wildlife management 

agencies, co-management boards, impact assessment 

agencies, industry, governments, and all northerners 

when making decisions related to wildlife. 

The NWT Species General Status Ranking Program 

continues to be a valuable tool to exchange ideas, reach 

common understandings, and build on our collective 

knowledge to manage human activities in an ecologically 

sustainable manner. 

As of 2010, the program now has an official role as its 

results are providing information to the new Species at 

Risk Committee, formed under the Species At Risk (NWT) Act, 

for their deliberations on which species should be assessed 

in detail to determine if they are endangered, threatened, 

or of special concern in the NWT. 

The ranking system used by the program is shared by all 

jurisdictions in Canada, and is similar to systems used by 

other countries. This tool helps us set conservation priorities 

territorially, nationally, and internationally – especially across 

the circumpolar regions of the world. 

We would like to thank all knowledgeable persons from 

the NWT, or visiting and studying in the North, who have 

contributed a vast amount of information on NWT species. 

General Status Ranks provided in the 

NWT Species 2011-2015 report are valid from 

2011 to 2015 inclusively. 

The report is designed to: 

• Provide priority lists of species that need more detailed 

assessment and may need special protection efforts in 

the future; 

• Raise awareness of the current status of individual species 

that were found to be sensitive to human activities, and 

those for which more information is needed; 

• Stimulate public input into a common knowledge base to 

help in the next general status evaluation; and 


For more information, please contact: 

Director 

Wildlife Division 

Environment and Natural Resources 

Government of the Northwest Territories 

Box 1320 

Yellowknife, NT 

Canada X1A 2L9 

Phone: (867) 920-8064 

Fax: (867) 873-0293 

Refer to the Monitoring Infosheet at the end of this report 

for more contact numbers. 

General Status Ranks of Wild Species in the Northwest Territories 1

1. Background – Why rank the general status of all wild species? 

The Northwest Territories is home to at least 30,000 

species. Some of these have a very important place 

in our economy and our cultures. Some species are facing 

threats due to human activities and other species are simply 

very rare. During the past few decades, we have recognized 

the need to broaden our monitoring efforts. The loss of a 

single species may have negative consequences that ripple 

through an ecosystem, resulting in threats to the survival of 

both game and non-game species. Increasing our knowledge 

of all species is essential to modern wildlife management 

and ecologically sustainable development. We now can 

provide baseline information on a greater number of animals 

and plants, and can report on how each species is doing in 

general. Species that are found to need special attention are 

noted and prioritized for further assessment. 

Our Commitments under the Accord 

for the Protection of Species at Risk 

in Canada 

The Government of the Northwest Territories signed 

the Accord for the Protection of Species at Risk in Canada. 

An important first step in providing effective protection to 

species is to prevent them from ever becoming at risk. 

This is done by monitoring, assessing and reporting 

regularly on the status of all wild species. Environment 

and Natural Resources, working closely with the federal 

government, co-management boards, universities, research 

firms and knowledgeable people, has initiated the NWT 

Species General Status Ranking Program to fulfill its 

commitment to monitor the general status of wild species 

in the Northwest Territories. This document is the 3rd 

report of a continuing program. 

Our Participation in the Assessment of 

Species at Risk in Canada 

The evaluation system described in this report uses 

a standard process that is shared by all Canadian 

jurisdictions. This system is similar to systems used 

in other countries and by NatureServe, the largest 

co-ordinated effort to rank the biological status of species 

in the western hemisphere. Link to www.natureserve.ca. 

As the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, do not have yet 

a fully functioning NatureServe program, the results of the 

General Status Ranking Program can be used as a surrogate. 

The results of the NWT Species General Status Ranking 

Program are combined with the results of similar programs 

in each jurisdiction to develop an overall “Canada-wide 

rank” for each species. Canada-wide ranks for species in 

Canada can be found on the Wild Species – General Status 

of Species in Canada web site. Link to www.wildspecies.ca. 

Canada-wide ranks are used to prioritize species in Canada 

for more detailed assessment by the Committee on the 

Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC). 

Our New Species At Risk (NWT) Act 

In 2010, the Government of the Northwest Territories 

passed its first legislation designed to protect species at 

risk in the NWT, as part of a larger commitment to maintain 

the biodiversity of the NWT. The Species at Risk Committee 

(SARC), established under the Species At Risk (NWT) Act, 

assesses the biological status of species that may be at 

risk in the NWT. SARC uses the results of the NWT General 

Status Ranking Program as a starting point to investigate 

which species may have higher priority for a more detailed 

assessment. The detailed assessment is based on traditional, 

community and scientific knowledge of the biological status 

of the species. 

Our Participation in Monitoring Biodiversity 

Across the Arctic 

This report helps The Arctic Council and its programs 

such as the Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna (CAFF) 

monitor circumpolar biodiversity and to share information 

about Arctic species with other jurisdictions. 

Link to www.arctic-council.org and www.caff.is. 

2 


2. Goals – What are we trying to achieve? 

Prioritize 

• To prioritize species for more detailed status 

assessment within NWT. Species that are ranked as 

“May Be At Risk” are of highest priority for detailed 

assessment in the NWT. 

• To suggest candidate species for detailed assessment by 

the Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in 

Canada (COSEWIC) or by the Committee of Species at Risk 

(SARC) in the NWT. 

Describe 

• To succinctly describe the current state of our knowledge 

about all wild species in the NWT. 

Primary Goal 

To maintain biodiversity by ensuring that no species 

becomes extinct as a consequence of human activity. 

Educate 

• To educate and increase awareness of species needing 

special attention and of possibilities for active involvement 

in monitoring activities throughout the NWT. 

Guide 

• To provide a clear evaluation system and species status 

ranks to guide conservation and impact assessment 

decisions, and to provide a tool for exchanging information 

about the status of wild species. 

Printed Information 

Information from 

knowledgeable persons 

General Status 

Ranking 

(This report) 

NWT Species Monitoring Infobase 

NWT Species General Status Ranks 

Co-management Boards 

and Wildlife Agencies 

Undetermined Secure Sensitive May Be At Risk 

At Risk 

Detailed Status Assessment 

Not Designated Endangered 

or Threatened 

Designated Endangered 

or Threatened 


3. Scope – What did we look at? 

Geographic Scope 

Where and what is the 

Northwest Territories? 

For the purposes of this project, we considered all species 

found on the lands and waters included within the territorial 

boundary within Canada as part of the Northwest Territories 

(NWT). NWT land and waters include the ocean waters or 

sea floors that are part of the Beaufort Sea – Arctic Ocean 

complex, limited in the south by the mainland of the 

Northwest Territories and the off-shore limit of the Yukon, 

in the west by the international boundary with the 

United States, in the east by the boundary with the 

Territory of Nunavut and in the North by the 

90th Parallel. 

NWT Geographical Information 

Land mass 

Area = 1,350,000 km 2 

13% of Canada 

Freshwater ecosystems 

Area of rivers, 

lakes and wetlands = 163,000 km 2 

Source: Natural Resources Canada 

Mackenzie River and Camsell Range Mountains 

Photo Credit: D Downing/GNWT 

4 


Species Scope 

Which species are ranked in this report? 

The NWT Species 2011-2015 report covers 10% of all species 

estimated to be in the NWT (30,000). This is a large increase 

over 2000, when the report covered about 1%, and in 2006, 

about 5% of all species. 

2% 

Species in the 

Infobase but not 

ranked in the report 

10% 

Species ranked 

in report 

88% 

Estimated minimum 

number of species 

occuring in NWT but 

not in the report 

In this report, we have included more groups of insects. 

In addition to dragonflies, damselflies, butterflies, and tiger 

beetles included in 2006, we have ranked the general status 

of some groups of beetles, biting insects, grasshoppers, and 

a subset of moth and bee species. Insects form the largest 

part of our biodiversity, but are still the least studied. For the 

first time, we have ranked all the mosses, macro-lichens, and 

spiders found in the NWT. All species ranked in 2006 have been 

reviewed for 2011 in the following pages. 

The groups of species included in this report were determined 

in collaboration with all jurisdictions in Canada to help us 

share information and rank the general status of these species 

for Canada. To find Canada-wide ranks and more information. 

Link to www.wildspecies.ca. 

Proportion of species ranked compared to all species expected to be in the NWT 

Kingdom or major subdivision 

Total 

expected 

Species list 

available 

Status 

ranked 

for 2011 

Percent 

ranked 

Superkingdom Prokaryota 

Monera (e.g., bacteria, blue-green algae) hundreds 0 0 0% 

Superkingdom Eukaryota 

Algae (e.g., green algae, brown algae, red algae) thousands 0 0 0% 

Fungi (e.g., mushrooms, lichen, molds) thousands 346 346 35% 

Protozoa - Single celled organisms thousands 0 0 0% 

Animalia - “Simple” invertebrates (jellyfishes, corals, sponges, worms) thousands 0 0 0% 

Animalia - Mollusca - Mollusks thousands 164 2 0.1% 

Animalia - Arthropods (e.g., crustaceans, spiders, insects) 9,000 - 22,000 a 1,244 964 9% 

Animalia - Echinoderms (e.g., starfishes, urchins) hundreds 0 0 0% 

Animalia - Chordates - Nonvertebrates hundreds 0 0 0% 

Animalia - Chordates - Vertebrates - Birds 284 284 284 100% 

Animalia - Chordates - Vertebrates - Mammals 78 78 78 100% 

Animalia - Chordates - Vertebrates - Reptiles and Amphibians 8 8 8 100% 

Animalia - Chordates - Vertebrates - Fishes 113 b 113 71 49% 

Plantae - Bryophytes (liverworts, mosses) 510 498 498 98% 

Plantae - Vascular plants (e.g., flowering plants, trees, ferns) 1178 1,178 1,178 100% 

TOTAL 30,000 3,913 3,429 10% c 

Total number of species expected were estimated as number of known species in the world x 2.5%, expected proportion to occur in NWT. 

a Expected number of arthropods in NWT was estimated using two methods. (1) NWT species numbers = C x p , where C is the number of known Canadian 

arthropod species. (37,000) and p is the expected proportion of C found in NWT, based on the proportion of Canadian insect and spider species known to be 

in NWT = 25%. This proportion, based on more information, was revised from 30% published in NWT Species 2000. (2) NWT species numbers = W x q, where 

W is the number of known arthropod species in the world (874 000) and q is the expected proportion of W found in NWT, based on the average proportion of 

known species in the world found in NWT (2.5 %). 

b Includes marine species, of which 2 are assessed. 

c Percent of all taxa for which we have any estimate of how many are expected in the NWT (about 30,000). 



Species Lists and Information 

Updating the Infobase 

The NWT Species Monitoring Infobase stores all the 

information necessary to rank species. This information 

system is available on www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca. Each 

year, the information in the Infobase is updated and new 

references are linked to each piece of new information. 

Sources of information could be a printed publication, 

a database, a web page or a knowledgeable person. 

The type of information added to the NWT Species Monitoring 

Infobase included adding new species, updating all species 

names according to current taxonomic authorities, adding 

new baseline information used to assess status rank of species, 

updating the list of threats, and for some species updating the 

status according to the Committee on the Status of Endangered 

Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC; Link to www.cosewic.gc.ca) 

and the global conservation status according to NatureServe 

(Link to www.natureserve-canada.ca) and the IUCN Red List 

(Link to www.iucnredlist.org). 

In the coming year, the Infobase will be modified to be able 

to keep track of changes in the legal status of species under 

the Species At Risk (NWT) Act. 

Many knowledgeable people added information from their own 

observations, and from their expert opinion. Keeping track of 

new scientific knowledge, in addition to adding newly available 

local knowledge and traditional knowledge, is contributing 

greatly to the information needed to rank species. 

An example of a printout from the NWT Species Monitoring 

Infobase is provided on the following page. › 

Northern Hawk Owl 

Photo Credit: J Brazil 

To obtain a CD copy of the 

NWT Species Monitoring Infobase, 

please contact: 

Director 


Department of Environment and Natural Resources 


Box 1320 

Yellowknife, NT X1A 2L9 

6 


191 ABNKD06075 Bird Falconiformes Falconidae 

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus 

Indicators 

Population: 1A 

More than 1000 known breeders in NWT (R182); Breeding population is highly 

buffered by floater-to-breeder ratios commonly in range of 1:1 to 2:1 (R182) 

SCORES 

Occurrences: 1B 

D 

About 100 nest sites along the Mackenzie River – probably more than 4-300 in NWT (R182) 

Distribution in NWT: 1C 

38% (anatum) + 31% (tundrius) = about 70% (R182) 

NWT Ecozones Habitat: Taiga Cordillera, Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield, Southern Arctic, 

Northern Arctic cliffs for nesting (B126) 

Population trends: 2A 

Increasing from previous population crash, increasing since 1980, stable since 1990 

(A121; R182). Anatum and tundrius sub-species considered indistinguishable. (A153). 

Distribution trends: 2B 

Stable (R182) 

Threats to population: 3A 

Organochloride contamination; human interference (falconry, habitat loss, etc) 

Threats to habitat: 3B 

Limited effects of development and disturbance (H126) but predicted to 

increase with development 

B 

C 

C 

C 

B 

C 

Peregrine Falcon 

Photo Credit: G Court 

NWT GENERAL STATUS RANK 

COSEWIC Special Concern – 2007 

SARA Threatened – 2000 (for anatum) 

Sensitive 

Decision Process: Drafted by S Carriere based on printed references – Reviewed in 2010 no change except 

grouping of anatum and tundrius into one rank. 

Global IUCN Status 

and CDC Rank: G4 (W050) 

Status Rank Comment: Probably recovered with more than 1000 individuals; threats are limited – although increased 

development along Mackenzie River and new contaminants (flame retardants) can be of concern 

NWT G Status Date: 26/10/2010 

References: 

A121 Rowell, P., Holroyd, G.L. and Banash, U. 2003 . The 2000 Canadian Peregrine Falcon Survey. J.Raptor.Res. . 37(2):98-116 

B126 White, C. M., N. J. Clum, T. J. Cade, and W. G. Hunt. 2002 . Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus). The Birds of North America Online. 

(A. Poole, Ed.). Ithaca: Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology. Ithaca http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/account/Peregrine_Falcon/. 

A153 Brown, J. W., P. J. V. de Groot, T. P. Birt, G. Seutin, P. T. Boag, and V. L. Friesen. 2007. Appraisal of the consequences of 

the DDT-induced bottleneck on the level and geographic distribution of neutral genetic variation in Canadian peregrine falcons, 

Falco peregrinus. Molecular Ecology 16:327-343 

R182 COSEWIC . 2007. Update COSEWIC Status Report on Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus. Ottawa 

W050 NatureServe. 2009. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. 

NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available http://www.natureserve.org/explorer. (Accessed: August 27, 2010). 



Evaluation Process 

From Infobase to General Status Ranks 

Guidelines were developed to convert data and information into seven indicators. These indicators were scored to produce a 

status rank for each species. The seven biological indicators used to evaluate the biological status of a species are given below. 

SIZE 

1A Population Size = the current estimate of the total 

number of mature individuals. 

1B Number of Occurrences = the estimated number 

of occurrences where the species currently persists. An 

occurrence is a location or place where a species is found, 

in which a single event may affect all individuals of the 

population. 

1C Distribution = the current range. In this report, 

distribution was calculated as the percentage of total 

NWT land or marine area covered by the range of the 

species. 

TREND 

2A Trend in Population = an estimate of the observed 

change in number of mature individuals over time. 

2B Trend in Distribution = an estimate of the observed 

change in area of range over time. 

THREAT 

3A Threats to Population = observed, inferred, 

or projected factors affecting individuals or populations 

that may result in population declines over the next 

5 years. 

3B Threats to Habitat = observed, inferred, or projected 

habitat alterations that may result in population declines 

over the next 5 years. 

Each indicator was given a score according to the following 

matrix. The scores were then converted into a general status 

by following guidelines shown in the scoring matrix. As a 

guide, the species is assigned the highest general status 

(from May Be At Risk, Sensitive to Secure) reached using 

any indicator. 

8 


Guideline Matrix 

For Scoring Indicators and Assigning 


SCORE 

Indicator 

A B C D 

SIZE 

1A Population 

Size 

Very small 

(< 1,000) 

Small 

(1,000-3,000) 

Medium 

(3,000-10,000) 

Large 

(>10,000) 

1B Number of 

Occurrences 

Very small 

(0-5) 

Small 

(6-20) 

Medium 

(21-100) 

Large 

(>100) 

1C Distribution 

Very Restricted 

(50% of 

jurisdiction) 

TREND 

2A Trend in 

Population 

Rapid Decline 

(>50% in 

10 years) 

Decline 

(>20% in 

10 years) 

Stable 

(incl. natural 

fluctuations) 

Increasing 

(any rate) 

THREAT 

2B Trend in 

Distribution 

3A Threats to 

Population 

3B Threats to 

Habitat 

Rapid Decline Decline Stable Increasing 

Extreme Moderate Limited None 

Extreme Moderate Limited None 

Rule: Assign the highest general status reached using 

any indicator 

May Be At Risk 

Sensitive 

Secure 



Status Rank Categories 

Priorities for Study and Management 

Each species was placed into one of ten standard rank categories: 

1) At Risk = species for which a detailed assessment has 

already been completed (e.g., by COSEWIC or jurisdictional 

status reports) that determined the species to be at risk of 

extirpation or extinction. This is a special category used 

only for species that have been assessed as “Endangered” 

or “Threatened” according to COSEWIC, or according to 

SARC in the NWT. 

Categories determined 

using the scoring matrix 

2) May Be At Risk = species that may be at risk of extinction 

or extirpation, and are therefore candidates for detailed risk 

assessment. This is the highest rank that can be given to a 

species using the General Status Ranking system independent 

of a more detailed assessment as noted in the At Risk category. 

These species are ranked with the highest priority 

for a more detailed assessment by COSEWIC in Canada 

or SARC in the NWT. 

3) Sensitive = species that are not at risk of extinction 

or extirpation but may require special attention or protection 

to prevent them from becoming at risk. 

These species are ranked with a medium priority for 

a detailed assessment. 

4) Secure = species that are not at risk or sensitive. 

These species have the lowest priority for a detailed 

assessment. 

The evaluation process was similar for each group of 

species. The scoring process was performed with the help 

of several experts and knowledgeable persons listed in the 

acknowledgement section at the end of the report. More 

information on guidelines and processes can be found in 

Carrière and Lange (2002). 

Categories determined 

using its definition only 

5) Undetermined = species for which insufficient information, 

knowledge, or data is available to reliably evaluate their 

general status. 

6) Not Assessed = species which have not been examined for this 

report. Due to time constraints, some species have not been 

assessed for the present report. This information provides a list 

of species that should be examined soon. 

7) Alien = species that have been introduced as a result of human 

activities. Most alien species have been introduced to North 

America from Europe and Asia. Changes in the number of alien 

species can be monitored as their presence and abundance may 

affect the status of wild species native to the NWT. Synonymous 

with exotic or introduced. 

8) Extirpated/Extinct = species no longer thought to be present 

in the NWT (extirpated) or are believed no longer present 

anywhere in the world (extinct). 

9) Vagrant = species occurring infrequently and unpredictably 

in the NWT. These species are outside their usual range. 

Synonymous with accidental.These species may be in the 

NWT due to unusual weather occurrences, an accident 

during migration, or unusual behaviour by a small number of 

individuals. If a species appears in the NWT with increasing 

predictability and more frequently, it may eventually be given 

a different rank. Changes in the number of vagrant species may 

be a good indicator of general ecosystem or climatic change. 

10)Presence Expected = species not yet recorded in the NWT, 

but are expected to be present. These species are expected 

in the NWT due to their presence in adjacent jurisdiction(s), 

the presence of appropriate habitat in the NWT, and other 

evidence. The status rank is used to list species for which we 

need firm evidence of their presence in the NWT. They form 

a “Look For” species list. When a new species is found in 

the NWT, the list of “Presence Expected” species is useful to 

differentiate between species that may have been in the NWT 

all along but simply had not been confirmed, and species that 

are truly new to NWT and may indicate that ecosystems are 

changing. This is a new rank category developed in 2005 for 

the NWT; no other jurisdictions in Canada have adopted it yet. 

10 


Changing Ranks 

Keeping Track of Changes in the General 

Status of NWT Species 

With this third report, we can continue to track how the 

general status of NWT species changes. We can detail how 

the rank changed between 2006 and 2011. Changes in the 

rank of a species between 2000 and 2006 were noted in the 

NWT Species 2006-2010 report. 

Changes in the rank of a species may occur for various 

reasons. We coded these reasons to be able to quickly draw up 

lists of species that truly have increasing or decreasing risks 

of becoming in danger of extirpation. These species can be set 

apart from species that have a different rank simply because 

additional information was found, an error was corrected, or 

for other reasons. 

Codes Marking Reasons for Changing 

the General Status Rank of Species 

Increasing Risk: modification of status rank indicating 

an increasing risk of becoming extirpated (e.g., from 

secure to sensitive) as a result of real changes in threats, 

trends, population size or a combination of these factors. 

This code can be used to estimate rate of changes in the 

status ranks of species in the NWT. 

Decreasing Risk: modification of status rank indicating a 

decreasing risk of becoming extirpated (e.g., from sensitive 

to secure) as a result of real changes in threats, trends, 

population size or a combination of these factors. This 

code can be used to estimate rate of change in the status 

ranks of species in the NWT. 

∃ Error Correction: the rank published in a previous report 

was in error or was missing. 

# New: species new to the NWT or newly found since the last 

report, but was probably already present. 

Information: change in rank as more information 

became available. This is similar to an error correction, 

but the rank was changed simply because more research, 

monitoring, or inventories were conducted, or more 

information became available from local or traditional 

sources. There is no evidence that threats to the species 

have changed. This code, in addition to all codes described 

above, can be used to estimate the rate in knowledge gain 

on species in the NWT. 

T Taxonomy: change in rank due to taxonomic 

modifications such the reclassification of two species as 

a single species, or the splitting of a single species into 

two taxonomic entities. 

A Detailed Assessment: change in rank to “At Risk” 

because the species’ biological status was assessed in 

detail during the last five years by COSEWIC or by SARC in 

the NWT and it was determined that the species is at risk 

of extirpation or extinction in the NWT (e.g., “Endangered” 

or “Threatened” according to COSEWIC or SARC). 

These coded reasons for change are similar to those used 

by all other Canadian jurisdictions using the General Status 

Ranking Program, and hence can be used to compare results 

amongst jurisdictions in Canada at www.wildspecies.ca. 


5. Results – What did we learn? 

During this evaluation of the general status of 

NWT species, we learned the following. 

About NWT Species 

A summary of ranks for each species is presented in the 

following tables. 

• Entomologists are intensively studying insects in the 

NWT for the first time in 30 years. Each summer brings 

information on new species that were either overlooked in 

the 1960-70s, or that are new to the NWT. Some species are 

found more than 500 km further north than expected. 

• The NWT has areas that were not glaciated during the last 

Ice Age and harbour species that survived that period in 

the dry and cold Beringia. As noted in 2006 for plants, rare 

insects and spiders are mostly found in or near these areas. 

• Additional alien vascular plants were recorded in the 

NWT during the past five years, but the percentage of 

these plants over the total number of vascular plants 

recorded was similar (10%) to the percentage recorded in 

2006. This percentage is expected based on what is found 

in other northern and western jurisdictions in Canada. 

• So far, no aquatic invasive alien plant is known to occur 

in the NWT. As more areas are disturbed and as more 

people use lakes and rivers without cleaning their boats 

and trailers properly, alien and invasive plants and 

aquatic organisms can arrive in the NWT. 

Number of alien plant species 

1200 

1000 

800 

600 

400 

200 

0 

NU 

PE 

NL 

NB 

NS 

YT 

NT 

East 

R 2 = 0.8 

SK 

MB 

AB 

QC 

ON 

BC 

North-West 

R 2 = 0.9 

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 

Number of native plant species 

Narcissus-flowered Anemone 

Photo Credit: J Nagy 

12 


Summary of 2011 General Status Ranks in species groups for the NWT 

Group Extirpated At Risk May Be 


Sensitive Secure Undetermined Not 

Assessed 

Alien TOTAL 1 Vagrant Presence 

Expected 

Terrestrial Mammals 0 1 6 5 41 13 0 0 66 1 1 

Marine Mammals 0 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 4 6 0 

Birds 0 7 4 40 143 44 0 3 241 42 1 

Fishes 0 1 1 6 26 14 42 2 92 5 16 

Freshwater Mussels 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 

Amphibians 0 0 2 1 2 0 0 0 5 0 1 

Reptiles 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 

Ground Beetles (incl. Tiger Beetles) 0 0 1 2 26 189 0 0 218 0 0 

Lady Beetles 0 0 0 1 10 16 0 0 27 0 0 

Predaceous Diving Beeltes 0 0 0 0 74 48 0 0 122 0 0 

Bumblebees 0 0 0 0 3 18 0 0 21 0 0 

Butterflies 0 0 0 6 69 16 0 1 92 3 1 

Tiger Moths, Silk Moths, Underwing 0 0 0 1 3 26 0 0 30 0 0 

Moths, Sphinx Moths 

Dragonflies and Damselflies 0 0 3 1 31 7 0 0 42 0 0 

Mosquitoes 0 0 0 0 19 15 0 0 34 0 0 

Blackflies, Horseflies, Deerflies 0 0 0 1 68 14 0 0 83 0 0 

Grasshoppers and Katydids 0 0 1 3 13 6 0 0 23 0 0 

Spiders 0 0 0 0 32 236 0 0 268 0 0 

Vascular Plants 0 0 147 186 596 106 0 116 1151 0 27 

Mosses 0 0 39 61 180 218 0 0 498 0 0 

Lichens 0 0 19 71 154 81 0 0 325 0 21 

TOTAL 0 9 224 386 1494 1068 42 122 3345 57 69 

1 Total number of species known to occur regularly in the NWT. Total number of species ranked: TOTAL - Not Assessed + Presence Expected + Vagrant 

Calculations done on entire species only; the ranks for some subspecies, ecotypes or forms are detailed in lists below. 


5. Results – What did we learn? 

Percent 1 for each group of species 

Group Extirpated At Risk May Be 


Sensitive Secure Undetermined Not 

Assessed 

Alien Vagrant 2 Presence 

Expected 2 

Terrestrial Mammals 2% 9% 8% 62% 20% 1% 1% 

Marine Mammals 25% 75% 60% 

Birds 3% 2% 17% 59% 18% 1% 15% 

Fishes 1% 1% 7% 28% 15% 51% 2% 4% 14% 

Freshwater Mussels 50% 50% 

Amphibians 40% 20% 40% 17% 

Reptiles 100% 50% 

Ground Beetles (incl. Tiger Beetles) 1% 12% 87% 

Lady Beetles 4% 37% 59% 

Predaceous Diving Beeltes 61% 39% 

Bumblebees 14% 86% 

Butterflies 7% 75% 17% 1% 3% 1% 

Tiger Moths, Silk Moths, Underwing 

3% 10% 87% 

Moths, Sphinx Moths 

Dragonflies and Damselflies 7% 2% 74% 17% 

Mosquitoes 56% 44% 

Blackflies, Horseflies, Deerflies 1% 82% 17% 

Grasshoppers 4% 13% 57% 26% 0% 0% 

Spiders 12% 88% 

Vascular Plants 13% 16% 52% 9% 10% 2% 

Mosses 8% 12% 36% 44% 

Lichens 6% 22% 47% 25% 6% 

TOTAL 0%

About Changes in Ranks 

between 2006 and 2011 

For species that were ranked in 2006 and reviewed for 2011 and 

for which the rank was modified, we provide the reason for that 

modification in a “Reason for change” column in the following 

lists. See Changing Ranks – Keeping track of changes in the 

status of NWT species for more information. 

• Most changes in rank resulted from a more rigorous assessment 

of the perceived threats to vascular plants. Some vascular plant 

species appear rare because in the NWT they are at the edge 

of their natural distribution. Where potential threats could 

not be determined and where more sites were expected, the 

rank of some vascular plants were corrected to “Undetermined” 

from “May Be At Risk” to reflect a level of uncertainty. 

• New species contributed to 22% of the changes between 2006 

and 2011. This is partly the result of increased monitoring and 

increased sharing of information about species. 

• About 5% of changes in the general status rank of species 

during the last five years can be attributed to a perceived 

higher risk of extirpation. Changes in perceived risk were 

recorded for bats and migratory birds. More detailed 

information is provided in the table below. 

Summary of changes in ranks between 2006 and 2011 

Group UP Risk a DOWN 

Risk a 

Correcting 

Error 

New 

Species 

About Monitoring 

• Enthusiasm for wildlife and biodiversity in general, is great 

in the North. People are always interested in learning more 

about living organisms, and the land is a great teacher. 

Increasing monitoring efforts for the lesser-known groups of 

species, such as insects and plants, are possible as community 

members share information and organize new surveys. 

• The internet is used extensively to exchange information 

on species. In the past, high quality photographs of species 

were rare due to the prohibitive cost of equipment. Today, 

such photographs are essential to exchange information on 

species from all corners of the Northwest Territories. 

• In the section “8. Further Your Knowledge – How to 

learn more?” in this report, we included reputable web 

sites used by experts and biodiversity enthusiasts to 

exchange information on species. Easy-to-remember 

e-mail addresses, such as WILDLIFEOBS@gov.nt.ca, 

NWTBUGS@gov.nt.ca, also facilitate information sharing. 

• All information relevant to the general status ranking 

program is stored in the NWT Species Infobase, the main 

source of information on NWT species. 

• There is not enough information to determine the general 

status of more than 80% of ground beetles, bumblebees, 

large moths, and biting insects. Assessing the general 

status ranks of marine fishes has also proven difficult. 

New inventories of insects and the results of investigations 

in the Beaufort Sea during the International Polar Year will 

provide essential information for assessing the status of 

these groups of species in the future. 

New 

Information 

Taxonomic 

Change 

Changed to 

Presence 

Expected 

TOTAL 

Recent 

Detailed 

Assessment 

Mammals 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 5 0 

Birds 5 0 4 7 3 0 0 19 5 

Fishes 0 0 5 0 12 0 1 18 0 

Freshwater Mussels 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Amphibians 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 

Reptiles 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 

Tiger Beetles 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Butterflies 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 

Dragonflies and 

0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 

Damselflies 

Vascular Plants 0 0 34 18 12 25 0 89 0 

TOTAL 7 0 44 30 29 25 2 137 5 

% 5% 0% 32% 22% 21% 18% 1% 

a Includes changes to subspecies/ecotypes. 


Willow Ptarmigan 

Photo Credit: 

R Kennedy 

16 


6. Ranked Species Lists – What are the details? 

The general status ranking process results in lists of 

species with general status ranks. These are detailed in 

the following pages. 

Common Names and Scientific Species Names 

Each species is listed using the accepted standard 

nomenclature for each group. Synonyms, old names, and 

local names can be found in the NWT Species Monitoring 

Infobase on www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca. For some species 

groups, common names were not available. Common names 

were developed for this report with the help of experts in 

each species group, based on the scientific names and the 

species’ ecology and distribution. 


Each species is given a general status rank according 

to the process described in this report. For some species 

with very high cultural and economic importance, 

(e.g., caribou, inconnu, Arctic char) we also provide a rank 

for each subspecies, population, stock, or ecotype present in 

the NWT. 

Range Notes 

All species marked by an “L” have a limited distribution in 

the NWT as many are at their limit or edge of their natural 

range. Species marked by an “X” are outside their usual range 

in the NWT. Extra information on habitat requirements is also 

provided for fish. 

Reasons for Change 

Reasons for changing the rank of a species between 2006 

and 2011 are noted in the following pages using the codes 

described in Data Sources and Methods. 

Detailed Assessments in Canada and the NWT 

One of the main objectives of the General Status Ranking 

Program is to provide a prioritized list of species that 

“May Be At Risk” and may need to be assessed in a more 

detailed manner. 

The Committee on the Status of Endangered Species in 

Canada (COSEWIC) performs this detailed assessment for 

species in Canada. For your convenience, each table provides 

the COSEWIC status for all species (subspecies or populations) 

that occur in the NWT and have already been assessed in 

a detailed manner by COSEWIC as of 2010. Please consult 

current and additional status assessments on the COSEWIC 

web page. Link to www.cosewic.gc.ca. In Canada, species 

can be legally listed under the Species at Risk Act (SARA). 

Legal listing is based on the detailed assessments performed 

by COSEWIC. NWT species listed in Canada under SARA are not 

noted in this report; please refer to the official SARA registry 

for more information. Link to www.sararegistry.gc.ca. 

In the NWT, the Species at Risk Committee (SARC) 

is tasked under the Species At Risk (NWT) Act to assess 

species in more detail. As of 2010, no species has been 

listed under this Act. In future reports, for your convenience, 

we will add a note on species assessed by SARC. For more 

information on SARC Link to www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca. 

Status Ranking at the Global Level 

Species that are in danger of extirpation in the NWT may be 

quite common in the rest of the world. On the other hand, 

species that are under threats in other countries may be 

secure in the NWT. For your convenience, each table provides 

the Global Rank for species of Global Conservation Concern 

(G1 - G3) according to NatureServe as of 2010. Please consult 

current and additional Global Ranks on the NatureServe web 

page. Link to www.natureserve.org. 



6.1 

Terrestrial 

All mammals have fur or body hair, have warm blood, 

and feed their young with milk. Terrestrial mammals 

are those species that live on land; those that live in the 

ocean are grouped together as marine mammals and are 

ranked in the next list. 

Mammals include some of the species that are most 

important to people in the North for food, for making 

clothing, tents, boats, and tools, and as a source of income 

through the sale of furs, hides, crafts, and meat. Due 

to their importance to people and northern ecosystems, 

mammals are the most studied species group. 

Again in the past five years, some mammal species received 

particular attention because of their importance to people 

in the traditional economy or as a result of their population 

status, or both. For example, caribou continue to be 

considered ‘secure’ within the NWT as a species. However, 

some sub-species of caribou such as Peary caribou and 

boreal woodland caribou remain ranked as “At Risk”. All 

herds of barren-ground caribou present in the NWT were 

significantly declining five years ago. Some herd numbers 

have now stabilised or are showing slow increases, but 

numbers remain low. So, barren-ground caribou (Dolphin- 

Union and all other herds in the NWT) retained their rank 

of ‘sensitive” in this report. Considerable time, effort, and 

money continue to be devoted to the study and management 

of all types of caribou in the NWT. 

In addition to humans, the NWT is currently home to 66 

species of terrestrial mammals. Since 2006, three bat 

species have been added to the list of NWT mammals. The 

northern long-eared myotis was found in Fort Simpson in 

2005. Then the big brown bat and the long-legged myotis 

were found in 2006 in the Nahanni National Park Reserve. 

For the first time, in 2010, a major hibernaculum (where 

bats spend the winter in dormant state) was discovered in 

18 


On the Land 

“Going out on the land for me is like going 

back to when times were simpler, before 

computers, internet, and the cell phone made 

the world smaller. We had to rely on each other 

when there was a lot more people on the land. 

Everything was there if you worked for it, with 

the diminished light during the winter time 

if you weren’t doing something constructive 

during the day you weren’t doing your job. 

It took everyone to make it work.” 

Caribou 

Photo Credit: 

J Nagy/GNWT 

– Danny Allaire, Fort Simpson 

Mammals 

the South Slave Region. The little brown myotis was observed 

in the cave in a dormant state, and both the big brown bat 

and the northern long-eared myotis were seen nearby. 

Since 2006, in addition to three new species of terrestrial 

mammals, two ranks were changed for bat species. Whitenose 

syndrome (WNS) is a fungal disease associated with 

mass die-offs of hibernating bats. It was first observed in 

North America in 2006. WNS is linked to over one million 

bat mortalities at many bat hibernacula (caves) in the 

eastern U.S. and is causing a regional population collapse 

there. It is spreading rapidly. WNS is not yet found in the 

NWT, but we know that WNS is decimating bat populations 

elsewhere and given its current rate of spread, there is a 

good possibility that it will be in the NWT within the next 

five years. Due to this imminent and serious threat, the 

ranks of all species of bats that are known hibernators were 

changed to “May Be At Risk”. 

Scientific studies of terrestrial mammals are notoriously 

expensive, and often limited to a short time span 

coverage. By complementing scientific studies with local 

and traditional knowledge acquired and passed down 

through generations, a deeper and more comprehensive 

understanding of terrestrial mammal ecology can be reached. 

In the NWT, many agencies, boards, community resource 

councils, and knowledgeable hunters, trappers, and 

interested residents are working together to find out more 

about local species of mammals, provide management 

solutions, and share resources to successfully begin and 

complete research projects. 

Joanna Wilson 

Species at Risk Implementation Supervisor 


6.1 Terrestrial Mammals 

List 1. Terrestrial Mammals 

There are 66 species of terrestrial mammals known to occur 

regularly in the NWT. One additional species, the northern 

raccoon, is vagrant to the NWT and one species, the eastern 

red bat, is expected to be present. One terrestrial mammal, 

polar bear, is of global conservation concern (NatureServe 

2010). Species are listed alphabetically according to the 

scientific Order they belong to, then by Family, then by 

scientific species name. Nomenclature follows Wilson and 

Reeder 2005. 

Least Chipmunk 


Common Name Scientific Species Name Status Rank Range Reason COSEWIC Status/ 

for Global Conservation 

Note a 

Change b Concern c 

Artiodactyla – Bovidae 

Even-toed ungulates – Bovids 

Wood Bison Bison bison athabascae d At Risk Threatened - 2000 

Mountain Goat Oreamnos americanus May Be At Risk L 

Muskox Ovibos moschatus Secure 

Dall’s Sheep Ovis dalli Secure 

Artiodactyla – Cervidae 

Even-toed ungulates – Deer-like mammals 

Moose Alces americanus Secure 

Elk Cervus elaphus Undetermined L 

Mule Deer Odocoileus hemionus Undetermined 

White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus Secure 

Boreal Woodland Caribou Rangifer tarandus caribou e Sensitive Threatened - 2002 

Northern Mountain Woodland 

Caribou 

Rangifer tarandus caribou e Secure Special Concern - 2002 

Barrenground Caribou (except 

Dolphin-Union herd) 

Rangifer tarandus groenlandicus e Sensitive 

Rangifer tarandus 

Dolphin Union Barrenground 

groenlandicus x pearyi 

Caribou 

(R. t. pearyi x groenlandicus ) e Sensitive L Special Concern - 2004 

Peary Caribou Rangifer tarandus pearyi e At Risk Endangered - 2004 

Carnivora – Canidae 

Carnivores – Dog-like mammals 

Coyote Canis latrans Secure 

Grey Wolf Canis lupus f Secure 

Arctic Fox Vulpes lagopus Secure 

Red Fox Vulpes vulpes Secure 

C. l. arctos = Data Deficient 

- 1999; C. l. occidentalis = 

Not at Risk - 1999 

20 


Common Name 

Scientific Species Name Status Rank Range 

Note a 

Reason 

for 

Change b 

COSEWIC Status/ 

Global Conservation 

Concern c 

Carnivora – Felidae 

Carnivores – Cat-like mammals 

Canada Lynx Lynx canadensis Secure Not at Risk - 2001 

Mountain Lion Puma concolor Undetermined L 

Carnivora – Mephitidae 

Carnivores – Skunks 

Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis Undetermined 

Carnivora – Mustelidae 

Carnivores – Mustelids 

Wolverine Gulo gulo Sensitive 

Western population = Special 

Concern - 2004 

North American River Otter Lontra canadensis Secure 

Marten Martes americana Secure 

Fisher Martes pennanti Sensitive 

Ermine (Stoat) Mustela erminea Secure 

Least Weasel Mustela nivalis Secure 

American Mink Neovison vison Secure 

Carnivora – Procyonidae 

Carnivores – Raccoons 

Northern Raccoon Procyon lotor Vagrant X 

Carnivora – Ursidae 

Carnivores – Bears 

Black Bear Ursus americanus Secure Not at Risk - 1999 

Grizzly Bear Ursus arctos Sensitive Special Concern - 2008 

Polar Bear Ursus maritimus Sensitive 

Special Concern - 

2008 / G3 - 2008 

Chiroptera – Vespertilionidae 

Hand-winged mammals – Vesper bats 

Big Brown Bat Eptesicus fuscus Undetermined L # 

Eastern Red Bat Lasiurus borealis h Presence Expected 

Hoary Bat Lasiurus cinereus Undetermined L 

Western Long-eared Myotis Myotis evotis May Be At Risk L # 

Little Brown Myotis Myotis lucifugus May Be At Risk L 3 

Northern Long-eared Myotis Myotis septentrionalis May Be At Risk L 5 

Long-legged Myotis Myotis volans May Be At Risk L # 

Lagomorpha – Leporidae 

Hare-like mammals – Hares 

Snowshoe Hare Lepus americanus Secure 

Arctic Hare Lepus arcticus Secure 

Lagomorpha – Ochotonidae 

Collared Pika Ochotona collaris Sensitive 

Hare-like mammals – Pikas 


6.1 Terrestrial Mammals 

Common Name 

Rodentia – Castoridae 


Note a 

Beaver Castor canadensis Secure 

Rodentia – Dipodidae 

Meadow Jumping Mouse Zapus hudsonius Undetermined 

Rodentia – Erethizontidate 

North American Porcupine Erethizon dorsata Secure 

Rodentia – Cricetidae 

Nearctic Collared Lemming Dicrostonyx groenlandicus g Secure 

Richardson’s Collared Lemming Dicrostonyx richardsoni Undetermined 

Neoarctic Brown Lemming Lemmus trimucronatus Secure 

Long-tailed Vole Microtus longicaudus Undetermined 

Singing Vole Microtus miurus Undetermined 

Tundra Vole Microtus oeconomus Secure 

Meadow Vole Microtus pennsylvanicus Secure 

Taiga Vole (Root Vole) Microtus xanthognathus Secure 

Southern Red-backed Vole Myodes gapperi Secure 

Northern Red-backed Vole Myodes rutilus Secure 

Bushy-tailed Woodrat Neotoma cinerea Undetermined 

Common Muskrat Ondatra zibethicus Secure 

North American Deer Mouse Peromyscus maniculatus Secure 

Eastern Heather Vole Phenacomys ungava Secure 

Northern Bog Lemming Synaptomys borealis Secure 

Rodentia – Sciuridae 

Northern Flying Squirrel Glaucomys sabrinus Secure 

Hoary Marmot Marmota caligata Undetermined L 

Woodchuck Marmota monax Secure 

Least Chipmunk Tamias minimus Secure 

Arctic Ground Squirrel Spermophilus parryii Secure 

Red Squirrel Tamiasciurus hudsonicus Secure 

Soricomorpha – Soricidae 

Arctic Shrew Sorex arcticus Secure 

Cinereus Shrew Sorex cinereus Secure 

American Pygmy Shrew Sorex hoyi Secure 

Dusky Shrew Sorex monticolus Secure 

Reason 

for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Rodents – Beavers 

Rodents – Jumping Mice 

Rodents – New World Porcupines 

Rodents – Voles and relatives 

Rodents – Squirrel-like mammals 

Shrew-like mammals – Shrews 

22 


Common Name 


Note a 

American Water Shrew Sorex palustris Secure 

Tundra Shrew Sorex tundrensis Undetermined 

Barren-Ground Shrew Sorex ugyunak Undetermined 

Reason 

for 

Change b 



Concern c 

a 

Range Note: L = Species with limited distribution (less than 5% of NWT), hence small numbers are expected. X = Usual range of species not in NWT. 

b Describes reasons for a change in status rank between 2006 and 2011. : Increasing Risk, : Decreasing Risk, ∃: Error correction, #: Species new to 

the NWT, T: Taxonomic change, : Information added, Π: New rank category, A: Changed due to detailed assessment by COSEWIC since 2006. See Data 

Sources and Methods for more details. 

c For your convenience, the status derived from other processes than the one presented in this report is described in this column. COSEWIC Status: 

Status for a species in Canada if it has already been assessed in a detailed manner by COSEWIC as of 2010. The year of each assessment is given with 

each status. After 2010, please consult current and additional status assessments on the COSEWIC web page (www.cosewic.gc.ca). Global Conservation 

Concern: Rank of a species in the world as assessed by NatureServe. GH: Possibly Extinct, G1: Critically Imperilled, G2: Imperilled, G3: Vulnerable. 

Definitions and more information can be found at www.natureserve.org. 

d General Status Rank is given for wood bison only. The subspecies plains bison (B. b. bison), including suspected hybrids of plains-wood bison 

(B. b. bison x athabascae) are "not assessed". 

e General Status Ranks are given for 4 caribou ecotypes separately. The species caribou (Rangifer tarandus) was recorded as "secure". 

f Species includes two subspecies: arctic grey Wolf (C. l. arctos) ranked as “undetermined” and boreal grey wolf (C. l. occidentalis) ranked as “secure”. 

g Dicrostonyx groenlandicus (nearctic collared lemming) includes the previously recognized taxa D. groenlandicus (Peary Land collared lemming) 

and D. kilangmiutak (Victoria collared lemming). 

h Possible identification of eastern red bat using ecolocation detectors in Nahanni National Park Reserve (2006), no specimen confirmed. 

1 Changed from At Risk 

2 Changed from May Be At Risk 

3 Changed from Sensitive 

4 Changed from Secure 

5 Changed from Undetermined 

6 Changed from Not Assessed 

7 Changed from Alien 

8 Changed from Extirpated 

9 Changed from Vagrant 

Red Fox 

Photo Credit: R Kennedy 



6.2 

Ringed Seal 

Photo Credit: DFO 

Marine Mammals 

Like all mammals, marine mammals are vertebrates, have 

mammary glands to produce milk and feed their young, 

and are warm-blooded (endothermic). Unlike terrestrial 

mammals, marine mammals are adapted for life in water. They 

are streamlined for swimming and can dive for long periods 

of time, although, like other mammals, they breathe air and 

surface from time to time to renew their oxygen supply. 

Two groups of marine mammals occur in the NWT sections of 

the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean. Whales are part of the Order 

Cetacea, and are seasonal migrants to the western Arctic. Seals 

are year-round residents, and are part of the Order Carnivora. 

Our waters harbour fewer species of marine mammals than are 

found in the eastern Arctic: four species are found regularly in 

western Arctic, compared with 10 in the eastern Arctic. 

Two species of whales occur regularly in the waters 

offshore the NWT; the bowhead whale and the beluga whale. 

An additional three species of cetaceans are also known to 

occur in NWT waters. The NWT portion of the Beaufort Sea 

is home to two species of phocids, or true seals: the ringed 

seal and the bearded seal. In addition, the walrus, northern 

fur seal and harbour seal have been recorded in the western 

Arctic, although rarely. The general status ranks did not 

change in 2010. One species, the bowhead whale, 

is ranked as “Sensitive” in the NWT. 

Today, as in the past, marine mammals are an important 

nutritional and cultural resource for Aboriginal harvesters 

and their families. Research and stock assessment programs 

monitor harvests and stocks, to ensure that stocks are stable 

and healthy. Marine mammals are also becoming increasingly 

important for eco-tourism, and monitoring is used to manage 

potential effects of this activity as well. Increasing industrial 

development in the offshore Beaufort Sea may adversely 

affect marine mammals, particularly through ensonification of 

important offshore habitats by industrial underwater noise. The 

potential cumulative impacts of such developments on marine 

mammals are an area of concern and are being monitored. 

Seals and beluga are reasonable indicators of environmental 

quality and change, as they are positioned high in the food 

chain and are known to ingest and accumulate contaminants. 

The levels of contaminants, such as mercury, provide an 

indication of natural and anthropogenic substances found in 

Arctic waters or other parts of their range where they feed. 

Current research on marine mammals in the NWT includes 

harvest monitoring, assessment of effects of industry, and 

documenting habitat use, movements and behaviour with 

satellite tracking. Involvement of northerners in management, 

research and monitoring programs is an important aspect of 

these programs, providing much needed information regarding 

marine mammals in the NWT. 

Lois Harwood 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada 


24 NWT Species 2011-2015

List 2. Marine Mammals 

Four species of marine mammals can be found regularly in 

NWT marine waters – the Beaufort Sea and Arctic Ocean. 

Six additional species are vagrant and seen only rarely. One 

marine mammal in the NWT, the bowhead whale, is of global 

conservation concern. Species are listed alphabetically 

according to the scientific Order they belong to, then by 

Family, then by scientific species name. Nomenclature follows 

Wilson and Reeder 2005. 

Common Name Scientific Species Name Status Rank 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Carnivores - Walrus 

Carnivora – Odobenidae 

Walrus Odobenus rosmarus Vagrant X 

Carnivora – Otariidae 

Carnivores – Eared Seals 

Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus Vagrant X Threatened - 2010 

Carnivora – Phocidae 

Carnivores – True Seals 

Bearded Seal Erignathus barbatus Secure Not at Risk - 1994 

Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina Vagrant X 

Arctic and Atlantic = Data 

Deficient - 1999 

Ringed Seal Pusa hispida Secure Not at Risk - 1989 

Cetacea – Balaenidae 

Whales – Baleen whales 

Bowhead Whale Balaena mysticetus Sensitive 

Bering-Chukchi-Beaufort 

population = Special 

Concern - 2005 /G3 - 2003 

Cetacea – Delphinidae 

Whales – Dolphins and relatives 

Killer Whale Orcinus orca Vagrant X 

Cetacea – Eschrichtiidae 

Whales – Gray whales 

Grey Whale Eschrichtius robustus Vagrant X Special Concern - 2004 

Cetacea – Monodontidae 

Whales – White whales 

White Whale (Beluga) Delphinapterus leucas Secure 

Beaufort = Not at Risk - 

2004 

Narwhal Monodon monoceros Vagrant X Special Concern - 2004 

a Range Note: L = Species with limited distribution (less than 5% of NWT), hence small numbers are expected. X = Usual range of species not in NWT. 




c 

For your convenience, the status derived from other processes than the one presented in this report is described in this column. COSEWIC Status: 















6.3 

Birds 

Bird conservation in the Northwest Territories (NWT) is 

more active than ever. Up-to-date general status ranks 

of bird species in the NWT are important for informing bird 

conservation actions. 

Bird Conservation Region (BCR) Planning 

BCR planning is part of the North American Bird Conservation 

Initiative (NABCI). BCRs are defined by ecological boundaries, 

of which four are represented in the NWT; Arctic Plains and 

Mountains, Boreal Taiga Plains, Taiga Shield and Hudson 

Plains, and to a lesser extent the Northwestern Interior Forest 

(in the Mackenzie Mountains). Each BCR plan will have a set 

of management actions with conservation priorities that range 

from ‘stewardship’ to ‘high priority’. The general status ranks 

of bird species in the NWT are part of the decision process in 

assigning the conservation priorities for these BCR plans. 

For more information on BCRs and region specific plans, 

link to www.nabci-us.org/map.html. 

NWT Protected Areas Strategy (PAS) 

Bird inventories have been completed for all six candidate 

protected areas that Environment Canada is formally 

sponsoring under the NWT PAS. These candidate protected 

areas may eventually provide permanent habitat protection 

for migratory birds under the Canada Wildlife Act as National 

Wildlife Areas. These inventories provided information for 

the latest update of the general status of birds. For more 

information on PAS, link to www.nwtpas.ca. 

Population Declines of Migratory Birds 

Across Canada, common nighthawk has declined by 49%, 

olive-sided flycatcher by 79% over 37 years, and Canada 

warbler by 43% over a ten-year period. All three species 

have been assessed as ‘Threatened’ in Canada and are on 

Schedule 1 of the federal Species At Risk Act. Accordingly, 

these species now have a general status rank of “At Risk” 

in the NWT. 


Snow Bunting 

Photo Credit: 

J Nagy 

General Status Rank Update for Birds 

All bird species found in the NWT were reviewed by local 

experts from the Canadian Wildlife Service of Environment 

Canada, from ENR, GNWT, and from Parks Canada. Species were 

added to the list as vagrant or accidental in the territory. 

Some species changed status from the 2006 review. The 

primary reasons for these changes were COSEWIC assessments 

and new knowledge for some bird populations. 

Over the next five years, we hope to gather more information 

regarding bird population status in the NWT through long-term 

monitoring programs and new initiatives to determine the 

status of species in the NWT. The NWT-Nunavut Bird Checklist 

Survey has become a primary source of information for helping 

update the status of birds in the North. Please consider 

submitting any observations you can, of any species, from any 

season, to the Canadian Wildlife Service in Yellowknife. Forms 

and information about the program are available from the 

Environment Canada web site under Nature/Migratory Birds/ 

Monitoring and Reporting/Surveys. Link to www.ec.gc.ca/ 

reom-mbs/default.asp?lang=Enandn=60E48D07-1. 

Species’ assessments, combined with securing protected areas, 

monitoring, and conservation priorities and actions identified 

by BCR planning, play an important role in the conservation of 

bird populations in the NWT, Canada, and North America. 

Lindsay Armer 

Craig Machtans 

Environment Canada, Yellowknife, NT 


27

6.3 Birds 

List 3. Birds 

A total of 241 species of birds can be observed regularly in 

the NWT; an additional 42 species are vagrant and have been 

observed irregularly, sometimes only once. One additional 

species is expected to be present. Two species are of global 

conservation concern. Species are listed alphabetically 

according to Family organized taxonomically according to 

the updated 7th North American bird list published by the 

American Ornithologist Union (AOU). Nomenclature follows 

AOU (2010). 

Savanah Sparrow 



Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Anseriformes – Anatidae 

Waterfowl – Ducks and Geese 

Northern Pintail Anas acuta Sensitive 

American Wigeon Anas americana Secure 

Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Secure 

Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Secure 

Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Vagrant X # 

Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Secure 

Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Vagrant X 

Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Secure 

American Black Duck Anas rubripes Vagrant X # 

Gadwall Anas strepera Undetermined 

Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Secure 

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Sensitive 

Redhead Aythya americana Secure L 

Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Secure 

Greater Scaup Aythya marila Secure 

Canvasback Aythya valisineria Secure 

Brant Branta bernicla Sensitive 

Canada Goose Branta canadensis Secure 

Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Secure 

Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Secure 

Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Secure 

Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica Secure 

Snow Goose Chen caerulescens Secure 

Ross’s Goose Chen rossii Secure L 

28 



Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis Sensitive 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator Sensitive Not at Risk - 1996 

Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus Secure 

Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus May Be At Risk 

Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus Secure L 

Black Scoter Melanitta americana Sensitive L 

White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca Sensitive 

Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata Sensitive 

Common Merganser Mergus merganser Secure 

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Secure 

Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Secure 

Common Eider Somateria mollissima Sensitive 

King Eider Somateria spectabilis Sensitive 

Galliformes – Phasianidae 

Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus Secure 

Dusky Grouse Dendragapus obscurus Undetermined L 

Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis Secure 

Willow Ptarmigan Lagopus lagopus Secure 

White-tailed Ptarmigan Lagopus leucura Undetermined L 

Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta Secure 

Sharp-tailed Grouse Tympanuchus phasianellus Secure 

Gaviiformes – Gaviidae 

Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii Undetermined 

Common Loon Gavia immer Secure 

Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica Secure 

Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata Secure 

Podicipediformes – Podicipedidae 

Chicken-like birds – Grouse and relatives 

Loons – Loons 

Grebes – Grebes 

Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus Sensitive A, 4 Special Concern - 2009 

Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena Secure 

Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Vagrant X 

Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Sensitive 

Suliformes – Phalacrocoracidae 

Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Undetermined L 

Pelecaniformes – Pelecanidae 

American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos May Be At Risk L 

Pelecaniformes – Ardeidae 

Great Egret Ardea alba Vagrant X 

Booby-like birds – Cormorants 

Pelican- like birds – Pelicans 

Pelican-like birds – Herons 


6.3 Birds 


Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Vagrant X 

American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Sensitive 

Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Vagrant X 

Snowy Egret Egretta thula Vagrant X 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Vagrant X # 

Accipitriformes – Cathartidae 

Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Vagrant X 

Accipitriformes – Pandionidae 

Osprey Pandion haliaetus Secure 

Accipitriformes – Accipitridae 



Concern c 

Hawk-like birds of prey – American Vultures 

Hawk-like birds of prey – Osprey 

Hawk-like birds of prey – Hawks 

Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis Secure Not at Risk - 1995 

Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus Secure Not at Risk - 1997 

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos Secure Not at Risk - 1996 

Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Secure Not at Risk - 1995 

Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus Secure Not at Risk - 1995 

Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus Undetermined L Not at Risk - 1995 

Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni Undetermined L Not at Risk - 1995 

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Secure Not at Risk - 1993 

Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Secure Not at Risk - 1984 

Falconiformes – Falconidae 

Birds of Prey – Falcons 

Merlin Falco columbarius Secure Not at Risk - 1985 

Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Sensitive Special Concern - 2007 

Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus Secure Not at Risk - 1987 

American Kestrel Falco sparverius Secure 

Gruiformes – Rallidae 

Crane-like birds – Rails and relatives 

Yellow Rail Coturnicops noveboracensis May Be At Risk Special Concern - 2009 

American Coot Fulica americana Secure 

Sora Porzana carolina Secure 

Virgina Rail Rallus limicola Vagrant X 

Gruiformes – Gruidae 

Whooping Crane Grus americana At Risk 

Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis Secure 

Charadriiformes – Charadriidae 

Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus Secure 

Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Secure 

American Golden Plover Pluvialis dominica Sensitive 

Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola Sensitive 

Crane-like birds – Cranes 

Endangered – 2010/ 

G1 - 2008 

Shore-dwelling birds – Plovers 

30 



Charadriiformes – Recurvirostridae 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

American Avocet Recurvirosta americana Undetermined L ∃ 6 

Charadriiformes – Scolopacidae 

Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Secure 

Surfbird Aphriza virgata Vagrant X 

Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Sensitive 

Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda Undetermined 

Sanderling Calidris alba Sensitive 

Dunlin Calidris alpina Sensitive L 

Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Secure 



Concern c 

Shore-dwelling birds – Avocets 

Shore-dwelling birds – Waders 

Red Knot Calidris canutus At Risk A, 2 Endangered - 2007 (ssp. 

rufa); Special Concern - 

2007 (ssp. islandica); 

Threatened - 2007 

(ssp. rosellari) 

White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis Secure 

Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus Secure 

Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima Undetermined L 

Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri Vagrant X 

Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos Secure 

Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla Sensitive 

Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla Sensitive 

Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata Secure 

Wandering Tattler Heteroscelus incanus Undetermined L 

Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus Undetermined 

Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Sensitive 

Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa Vagrant X 

Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica Sensitive 

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Vagrant X 

Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus Vagrant X 

Eskimo Curlew Numenius borealis At Risk 

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus Sensitive 

Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria Sensitive 

Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus Sensitive 

Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor Undetermined L 

Ruff Philomachus pugnax Vagrant X 

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Sensitive 

Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca Undetermined 

5 

5 

Endangered - 2009/ 

GH - 2002 


6.3 Birds 


Willet Tringa semipalmata Vagrant X 

Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria Undetermined 

Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis Sensitive 

Charadriiformes – Laridae 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Water-dwelling birds – Gulls 

Black Tern Chlidonias niger Sensitive Not at Risk - 1996 

Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicophalus philadelphia Secure 

Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Sensitive Not at Risk - 1999 

Herring Gull Larus argentatus Secure 

California Gull Larus californicus Secure 

Mew Gull Larus canus Secure 

Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris Vagrant X 

Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis Secure 

Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus Vagrant X # 

Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens Vagrant X 

Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus Secure 

Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistisagus Vagrant X 

Thayer’s Gull Larus thayeri Secure 

Franklin’s Gull Leucophaeus pipixcan Undetermined L ∃ 6 

Ivory Gull Pagophila eburnea At Risk L Endangered - 2006 

Ross’s Gull Rhodostethia rosea Vagrant X Threatened - 2001 

Black-legged Kittiwake 

(Atlantic Kittiwake) 

Rissa tridactyla Undetermined L 

Common Tern Sterna hirundo Secure Not at Risk - 1998 

Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Secure 

Sabine’s Gull Xema sabini Secure 

Charadriiformes – Stercoraiidae 

Water-dwelling birds – Jeagers 

Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus Undetermined 

Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus Undetermined 

Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus Undetermined 

Charadriiformes – Alcidae 

Water-dwelling birds – Auks and relatives 

Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle Undetermined 

Thick-billed Murre (Brünnich’s 

Murre) 

Uria lomvia Sensitive 

Columbiformes – Columbidae 

Dove-like birds – Pigeons and Doves 

Rock Pigeon Columba livia Alien X 

Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Vagrant X 

Strigiformes – Strigidae 

Owl-like birds – Typical Owls 

Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus Secure Not at Risk - 1995 

Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus Sensitive Special Concern - 2008 

32 



Long-eared Owl Asio otus Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Snowy Owl Bubo scandiacus Secure Not at Risk - 1995 

Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus Secure 

Great Grey Owl Strix nebulosa Secure Not at Risk - 1996 

Barred Owl Strix varia Undetermined L 

Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula Secure Not at Risk - 1992 

Caprimulgiformes – Caprimulgidae 

Night birds – Nighthawks 

Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor At Risk A, 4 Threatened - 2007 

Apodiformes – Trochilidae 

Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus Vagrant X 

Calliope Hummingbird Stellula calliope Vagrant X 

Coraciiformes – Alcedinidae 

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon Secure 

Piciformes – Picidae 

Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Secure 

Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus Secure 

Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus Secure 

Swift-like birds – Hummingbirds 

Kingfishers – Kingfishers 

Woodpecker-like birds – Woodpeckers and relatives 

American Three-toed 

Woodpecker 

Picoides dorsalis Secure 

Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Secure 

Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus Secure 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius Secure 

Passeriformes – Tyrannidae 

Perching birds – Tyrant Flycatchers 

Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi At Risk A, 3 Threatened - 2007 

Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus Secure 

Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum Secure 

Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris Secure 

Hammond’s Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii Secure L 

Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus Secure 

Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri Undetermined L 

Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens Vagrant X # 

Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe Secure 

Say’s Phoebe Sayornis saya Undetermined 

Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus Secure 

Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis Vagrant X 

Passeriformes – Laniidae 

Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor Secure 

Perching birds – Shrikes 


6.3 Birds 


Passeriformes – Vireonidae 

Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus Secure 

Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus Secure 

Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus Undetermined L 

Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius Secure 

Passeriformes – Corvidae 

American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Secure 

Common Raven Corvus corax Secure 

Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis Secure 

Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia Secure 

Passeriformes – Alaudidae 

Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris Secure 

Passeriformes – Hirundinidae 

Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Sensitive 

Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon phyrrhonota Secure 

Bank Swallow Riparia riparia Secure 

Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Secure 

Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina Undetermined 

Passeriformes – Paridae 

Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus Secure 

Gray-headed Chickadee Poecile cincta May Be At Risk L 

Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonica Sensitive 

Passeriformes – Sittidae 

Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis Secure 

Passeriformes – Certhidae 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Brown Creeper Certhia americana Undetermined L # 

Passeriformes – Troglodytidae 

Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris Undetermined L 

Winter Wren Troglodytes hiemalis Secure L 

Passeriformes – Cinclidae 

American Dipper Cinclus mexicanus Undetermined 

Passeriformes – Regulidae 

Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula Secure 

Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa Undetermined L 

Passeriformes – Phylloscopidae 

Arctic Warbler Phylloscopus borealis Vagrant X 



Concern c 

Perching birds – Vireos and relatives 

Perching birds – Ravens and relatives 

Perching birds – Larks 

Perching birds – Swallows 

Perching birds – Chickadees and relatives 

Perching birds – Nuthatches 

Perching birds – Creepers 

Perching birds – Wrens 

Perching birds – Dippers 

Perching birds – Kinglets 

Perching birds – Leaf Warblers 

34 



Passeriformes – Turdidae 

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus Secure 

Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus Secure 

Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus Secure 

Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Bluethroat Luscinia svecica Vagrant X # 

Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi Secure 

Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe Undetermined L 

Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides Undetermined 

American Robin Turdus migratorius Secure 

Passeriformes – Mimidae 

Grey Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Vagrant X ∃ 6 

Northern Mockingbird Minus polyglottos Vagrant X 

Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum Vagrant X 

Passeriformes – Sturnidae 

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Alien X 

Passeriformes – Motacillidae 

American Pipit Anthus rubescens Sensitive 

Eastern Yellow Wagtail Motacilla tschtschensis Presence Expected L 

Passeriformes – Bombycillidae 

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum Secure L 

Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus Secure 

Passeriformes – Calcariidae 

Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus Secure 

Smith’s Longspur Calcarius pictus Undetermined 

Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis Secure 

Passeriformes – Parulidae 

Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea Secure 

Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata Secure 

Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia Secure 

Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum Secure 

Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia Secure 

Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata Sensitive 

Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina Secure 

Townsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendi Vagrant X ∃ 5 

Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Secure 

Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia Secure 

5 



Concern c 

Perching birds – Thrushes 

Perching birds – Mockingbirds and relatives 

Perching birds – Starlings 

Perching birds – Pipits and Wagtails 

Perching birds – Waxwings 

Perching birds – Longspurs and relatives 

Perching birds – New World Warblers 


6.3 Birds 


Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis Undetermined L 

Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia Undetermined L 

Orange-crowned Warbler Oreothlypis celata Secure 

Tennessee Warbler Oreothlypis peregrina Secure 

Northern Waterthrush Parkesia noveboracensis Secure 

Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapilla Secure 

American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis At Risk L A, 5 Threatened - 2008 

Wilson’s Warbler Wilsonia pusilla Secure 

Passeriformes – Thraupidae 

Western Tanager Piranga ludovicana Secure 

Passeriformes – Emberizidae 

Le Conte’s Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii Secure 

Nelson’s Sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni Undetermined L 

Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus Vagrant X 

Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Secure 

Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana Secure 

Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii Secure 

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia Undetermined 

Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Secure 

Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca Secure 

Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus Undetermined L 

American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea Sensitive 

Clay-coloured Sparrow Spizella pallida Undetermined 

Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina Secure 

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis Sensitive 

Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla Secure L 

White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Secure 

Harris’s Sparrow Zonotrichia querula Sensitive 

Passeriformes – Cardinalidae 

Lazuli Bunting Passerina amoena Vagrant X 

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea Vagrant X 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus Secure 

Passeriformes – Icteridae 

Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Secure 

Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus Sensitive 

Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Undetermined 

Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula Vagrant X 

Perching birds – Tanagers 

Perching birds – Sparrows and relatives 

Perching birds – Cardinals and relatives 

Perching birds – Blackbirds and relatives 

2 

Special Concern - 2006 

36 



Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Secure 

Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula Secure L 

Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta Vagrant X 

Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus Vagrant X 

Passeriformes – Fringillidae 

Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea Secure 

Hoary Redpoll Acanthis hornemanni Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis Vagrant X # 

House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Vagrant X 

Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus Secure 

Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus Secure L 

Gray-crowned Rosy Finch Leucosticte tephrocotis Undetermined 

Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra Secure 

White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera Secure 

Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator Secure 

Pine Siskin Spinus pinus Secure 

Passeriformes – Passeridae 

House Sparrow Passer domesticus Alien X 



Concern c 

Perching birds – Finches 

Perching birds – Old World Sparrows 





c 
















6.4 

4. Data Sources 

Fishes 

and Methods – How did we rank species? 

Arctic Grayling 

Photo Credit: 

P Vecsei 

Fish are vertebrates, with gills, that live in water. Three 

major groups of fish are recognised: the jawless fishes 

(e.g., lampreys), the cartilaginous fishes (e.g., sharks and 

skates) and all the others, bony fishes (e.g., chars, whitefishes, 

and herring). Fish are excellent indicators of water quality and 

ecosystem health. The presence or absence of certain species 

can provide immediate clues about the conditions within 

a given area. Fish are one of the most important food and 

economic resources in the NWT. We are known for our trophy 

sized fish, for healthy populations, and for delicacies. 

In 2010, we reviewed all ranks for freshwater species and 

updated the list of all marine fishes known to occur in the 

NWT’s section of the Beaufort Sea and western Arctic Ocean. 

Recent work includes the following initiatives. 

Diversity of Ciscoes and Lake Trout 

Shortjaw cisco is thought to occur in Great Slave Lake and 

possibly in Great Bear Lake. Work to confirm this was initiated 

on Great Slave Lake. This work has so far uncovered substantive 

and previously unknown diversity of ciscoes in this large lake. 

Preliminary results suggest that a shortjaw cisco-like form 

occurs, a blackfin cisco-like form and at least three other forms 

of cisco also occur in one bay of this large lake. Other bays 

may hold similar or different forms. Future research is needed 

to determine if these ciscoes are distinct species, if they are in 

fact shortjaw or blackfin ciscoes, and how they are related both 

to each other and to ciscoes found elsewhere. Similar work is 

also being conducted in both lakes on diversity of lake trout, 

which appears to also exhibit different forms. 

Salmon Collection Project 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is collecting samples of 

salmon for research. The study aims to chart the occurrence 

of vagrant salmon and to ultimately relate the movement 

of salmon in the NWT to potential climatic changes in the 

Pacific Ocean and the western Arctic. DFO is working with 

local resources councils throughout the NWT to obtain as 

many samples as possible. Salmon can be turned in for rewards 

to local DFO offices, attention to Fisheries Management 

staff. Documenting any evidence of occurrence and possible 

colonisation of the western Arctic Ocean by vagrant species 

and ultimately relating this to climate change is a key part of 

the study. This will allow for a better understanding of how to 

manage new fisheries if they arise. 

Research on Broad Whitefish 

Broad whitefish is a key food fish of the lower Mackenzie River 

basin. Research includes work to understand the different 

forms present (lake-dwelling, river-dwelling, and sea-run or 

anadromous) and how these mix together when in fresh water. 

This work contributes to better understanding of fisheries and 

improves our management of whitefish. 

Research on Burbot 

Research is being conducted to better understand the ecology of 

this common but poorly understood species, which is important 

in many local fisheries. Focus of this research is on reproduction 

and the importance of sound to their mating behaviour, as well 

as understanding the role of burbot in food webs. 

Research on Chars 

Both bull trout and dolly varden occupy key habitats within 

the Mackenzie River basin, however, their distributions are 

poorly known. This project is mapping the distribution of 

bull trout in the context of other species of char, such as 

dolly varden, and is helping to ensure proper identification 

of this group of fish. Bull trout is presently being assessed 

by COSEWIC. Research on dolly varden in the NWT includes 


studies of genetics, fluctuations in abundance, and habitat 

use. This work is linked to similar studies on this species on 

the North Slope of Yukon. Dolly varden (northern form) was 

recently assessed by COSEWIC as a species of special concern. 

One component of an International Polar Year project examining 

the effects of climate change on chars in the Canadian Arctic 

has focused on responses of lake-dwelling and sea-run chars to 

climate and habitat change in lakes and rivers near Sachs Harbour 

and Ulukhaktok. This work is ongoing, and early results suggest 

both forms of chars respond with greater growth. Additional work 

is being conducted regarding the effects of climate change on 

lake productivity needed to sustain such growth. 

Research on Marine Fishes 

The Northern Coastal Marine Studies program 2003 - 2009 was 

a multidisciplinary study aimed at characterizing the physical 

and biological nature of the Canadian Beaufort Sea Shelf. 

Marine fish surveys were conducted from the CCGS Nahidik 

to study the composition and spatial distribution of fish 

relative to physical and chemical habitat parameters, and to 

contribute to the general biological and ecological information 

on offshore fish populations. Samples are contributing to 

follow up studies of trophic structure and energy transfer 

within the Beaufort Sea ecosystem, and to focused studies 

on the ecology of pivotal marine species such as Arctic Cod 

(Boreogadus saida). Recent research has shifted to areas 

adjacent to the Mackenzie River Delta. Together with a coastal 

fish study conducted on the Yukon North Slope, these studies 

are updating information on marine fish species in the NWT. 

Neil Mochnacz, Andrew Majewski, Chantelle Sawatzky, 

Pete Cott, Jim Reist, Jim Johnson, Holly Cleator and 

Kathleen Martin 

Fisheries and Oceans Canada 

List 4. Fishes 

A total of 92 species of fish can be found regularly in our rivers 

and lakes, and in the NWT’s section of the Beaufort Sea and 

Arctic Ocean. An additional 5 species are vagrant and may be 

seen in the NWT irregularly, and an additional 16 species of 

marine fishes are expected to be present. Two species are of 

global conservation concern. Some species of fish are marine 

(M) and live exclusively in the ocean. Other species live 

exclusively in freshwater (F) or live in freshwater during at least 

one part of their life (A, anadromous). Some species have one 

freshwater form, and one marine or anadromous form. These 

life forms and habitat preferences are described in the Habitat 

Note column. The general status of these marine species will be 

ranked in the future. Species are listed alphabetically according 

to the scientific Order they belong to, then by Family, then by 

scientific species name. Taxonomy follows the standard from the 

American Fisheries Society (Nelson et al. 2004, Nelson 2006) 

and for marine fishes, follows Coad and Reist (2004). 


Clupeiformes – Clupeidae 

Range/ 


Note a 

Pacific Herring Clupea pallasii Not assessed M 

Cypriniformes – Catostomidae 

Longnose Sucker Catostomus catostomus Secure F 

White Sucker Catostomus commersonii Secure F 

Cypriniformes – Cyprinidae 

Reason for 

Change b 

Lake Chub Couesius plumbeus Secure F 5 

Pearl Dace Margariscus margarita Secure L/F 3 

Peamouth Mylocheilus caurinus Undetermined F 6 

Emerald Shiner Notropis atherinoides Secure F 5 

Spottail Shiner Notropis hudsonius Secure F 5 

Northern Redbelly Dace Phoxinus eos Secure L/F 5 



Concern c 

Herring-like fishes – Herring 

Minnow-like fishes – Suckers 

Minnow-like fishes – Minnows and relatives 


6.4 Fishes 


Range/ 


Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Finescale Dace Phoxinus neogaeus Secure F 5 

Fathead Minnow Pimephales promelas Undetermined F 

Flathead Chub Platygobio gracilis Secure F 5 

Longnose Dace Rhinichthys cataractae Secure F 

Esociformes – Esocidae 

Northern Pike Esox lucius Secure F 

Gadiformes – Gadidae 

Polar Cod Arctogadus glacialis Not assessed M 

Arctic Cod Boreogadus saida Not assessed M 

Saffron Cod Eleginus gracilis Not assessed M 

Ogac (Greenland Cod) Gadus ogac Not assessed M 

Burbot (Loche) Lota lota Secure F 

Gasterosteiformes – Gasterosteidae 

Brook Stickleback Culaea inconstans Secure F 3 

Threespine Stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Secure F,A,M ∃ 9 

Ninespine Stickleback Pungitius pungitius Secure F 

Osmeriformes – Osmeridae 

Pond Smelt Hypomesus olidus Undetermined F 

Capelin Mallotus villosus Not assessed M 

Rainbow Smelt Osmerus mordax Undetermined L/ F,A 

Osteoglossiformes – Hiodontidae 

Goldeye Hiodon alosoides Secure F 

Perciformes – Ammodytidae 

Northern Sand Lance Ammodytes dubius Not assessed M 

Pacific Sand Lance Ammodytes hexapterus Not assessed M 

Perciformes – Anarhichadidae 



Concern c 

Pike-like fishes – Pikes 

Cod-like fishes – Cods 

Stickleback-like fishes – Sticklebacks 

Smelt-like fishes – Smelts 

Bony-tongued fishes – Goldeyes 

Perch-like fishes – Sand lances 

Perch-like fishes – Wolffishes 

Northern Wolffish Anarhichas denticulatus Undetermined M Threatened - 2001 

Perciformes – Percidae 

Iowa Darter Etheostoma exile Presence Expected F 

Yellow Perch Perca flavescens Undetermined F 

Walleye (“Pickerel”) Sander vitreus Sensitive F 

Perciformes – Stichaeidae 

Perch-like fishes – Perches and relatives 

Perch-like fishes – Shannies and relatives 

Blackline Prickleback Acantholumpenus mackayi Undetermined M Data Deficient - 2003 

Stout Eelblenny Anisarchus medius Not assessed M 

Fourline Snakeblenny Eumesogrammus praecisus Not assessed M 

Daubed Shanny Leptoclinus maculatus Not assessed M 

Slender Eelblenny Lumpenus fabricii Not assessed M 

Arctic Shanny Stichaeus punctatus Not assessed M 

40 



Perciformes – Zoarcidae 

Range/ 


Note a 

Halfbarred Pout Gymnelus hemifasciatus Not assessed M 

Reason for 

Change b 

Bigeye Unernak Gymnelus knipowitschi Presence Expected M ∃ 6 

Fish Doctor Gymnelus viridis Not assessed M 

Shulupaoluk Lycodes jugoricus Not assessed M 

White Sea Eelpout Lycodes marisalbi Presence Expected M 

Saddled Eelpout Lycodes mucosus Not assessed M 

Wattled Eelpout Lycodes palearis Presence Expected M 

Polar Eelpout Lycodes polaris Not assessed M 

Threespot Eelpout Lycodes rossi Not assessed M 

Archer Eelpout Lycodes sagittarius Presence Expected M 

Longear Eelpout Lycodes seminudus Not assessed M 

Scalebelly Eelpout Lycodes squamiventer Presence Expected M 

Turner Eelpout Lycodes turneri Presence Expected M 

Percopsiformes – Percopsidae 

Trout-Perch Percopsis omiscomaycus Secure F ∃ 5 

Petromyzontiformes – Petromyzontidae 

American Brook Lamprey d Lampetra appendix Undetermined F 

Arctic Lamprey Lampetra camtschaticha Undetermined F 

Pleuronectiformes – Pleuronectidae 

Bering Flounder Hippoglossoides robustus Not assessed M 

Starry Flounder Platichthys stellatus Not assessed M 

Arctic Flounder Pleuronectes glacialis Not assessed M 

Alaska Plaice Pleuronectes quadrituberculatus Presence Expected M 

Greenland Halibut Reinhardtius hippoglossoides Not assessed M 

Rajiformes – Rajidae 

Arctic Skate Amblyraja hyperborea Not assessed M 

Salmoniformes – Salmonidae 

Cisco (Lake Herring, Lake Cisco) Coregonus artedi Secure F,A 

Arctic Cisco Coregonus autumnalis Sensitive F,A 

Lake Whitefish e Coregonus clupeaformis Secure F,A 

Bering Cisco Coregonus laurettae Presence Expected F,A ∃ 6 

Broad Whitefish Coregonus nasus Secure F,A 

Humpback Whitefish e Coregonus pidschian Undetermined F 

Least Cisco Coregonus sardinella Secure F,A 

Shortjaw Cisco Coregonus zenithicus At Risk F 

Pink Salmon Oncorhynchus gorbuscha Vagrant X/A 



Concern c 

Perch-like fishes – Eelpouts and relatives 

Trout-perches – Trout-perches 

Lampreys – Lampreys 

Data Deficient – 1990/ 

G3Q - 2008 

Flatfishes – Flounders and relatives 

Ray-like fishes – Skates 

Salmon-like fishes – Salmons and relatives 

Threatened – 2003/ 

G3 - 2007 


6.4 Fishes 


Range/ 


Note a 

Chum Salmon Oncorhynchus keta Undetermined A 

Coho Salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch Vagrant X/A 

Rainbow Trout Oncorhynchus mykiss Alien X, F 

Sockeye Salmon/ Kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka Vagrant X/F,A 

Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Vagrant X/A 

Pygmy Whitefish Prosopium coulterii Undetermined F 

Round Whitefish Prosopium cylindraceum Secure F,A 

Reason for 

Change b 

Mountain Whitefish Prosopium williamsoni Secure F,A ∃ 6 

Arctic Char h Salvelinus alpinus Secure F,A 

Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis i Alien F ∃ 6 

Bull Trout Salvelinus confluentus May Be At Risk F 



Concern c 

Dolly Varden Salvelinus malma Sensitive L/F,A Special Concern - 2010 

Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush Secure F 

Inconnu (Coney) f Stenodus leucichthys Sensitive F,A 

Arctic Grayling Thymallus arcticus Sensitive F 

Scorpaeniformes – Agonidae 

Atlantic Poacher Leptagonus decagonus Not assessed M 

Veteran Poacher Podothecus veternus Presence Expected M 

Arctic Alligatorfish Ulcina olrikii Not assessed M 

Scorpaeniformes – Cottidae 

Spinyhook Sculpin Artediellus gomojunovi Presence Expected M 

Hamecon Artediellus scaber Not assessed M 

Arctic Hookear Sculpin Artediellus uncinatus Not assessed M 

Slimy Sculpin Cottus cognatus Secure F 5 

Sculpin-like fishes – Alligatorfishes and poachers 

Sculpin-like fishes – Scaleless sculpins 

Spoonhead Sculpin Cottus ricei Secure F 5 Not at Risk - 1989 

Antlered Sculpin Enophrys diceraus Presence Expected M 

Arctic Staghorn Sculpin Gymnocanthus tricuspis Not assessed M 

Twohorn Sculpin Icelus bicornis Not assessed M 

Spatulate Sculpin Icelus spatula Not assessed M 

Belligerent Sculpin Megalocottus platycephalus Presence Expected M 

Plain Sculpin Myoxocephalus jaok Presence Expected M 

Fourhorn Sculpin g Myoxocephalus quadricornis Undetermined F, M 

Arctic Sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpioides Not assessed M 

Shorthorn Sculpin Myoxocephalus scorpius Not assessed M 

Deepwater Sculpin Myoxocephalus thompsonii Sensitive F 

Bigeye Sculpin Triglops nybelini Not assessed M 

Ribbed Sculpin Triglops pingelii Not assessed M 

Landlocked freshwater 

form: Data Deficient - 

2003; Marine form: 

Not at Risk - 2003 

42 



Scorpaeniformes – Cyclopteridae 

Range/ 


Note a 

Pimpled Lumpsucker Eumicrotremus andriashevi Presence Expected M 

Leathernfin Lumpsucker Eumicrotremus derjugini Not assessed M 

Atlantic Spiny Lumpsucker Eumicrotremus spinosus Not assessed M 

Scorpaeniformes – Hexagrammidae 

Whitespotted Greenling Hexagrammos stelleri Presence Expected M 

Scorpaeniformes – Liparidae 

Sea Tadpole Careproctus reinhardti Not assessed M 

Gelatinous Seasnail Liparis fabricii Not assessed M 

Variegate Snailfish Liparis gibbus Not assessed M 

Kelp Snailfish Liparis tunicatus Not assessed M 

Scorpaeniformes – Psychrolutidae 

Sadko Sculpin Cottunculus sadko Presence Expected M 

Squaliformes – Dalatiidae 

Pacific Sleeper Shark Somniosus pacificus Presence Expected M 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Sculpin-like fishes – Lumpsuckers 

Sculpin-like fishes – Greenlings 

Sculpin-like fishes – Snailfishes 

Sculpin-like fishes – Flathead sculpins 

Dogfish sharks – Sleeper sharks 


Habitat Note: F = Species (form) lives exclusively in freshwater. A = Species (form) lives in both marine and freshwater. M = Species (form) lives in 

marine water exclusively. 

b Describes reasons for a change in status rank between 2006 and 2011. : Increasing Risk, : Decreasing Risk, ∃: Error correction, #: Species new to the 

NWT, T: Taxonomic change, : Information added, Π: New rank category, A: Changed due to detailed assessment by COSEWIC since 2006. 

See Data Sources and Methods for more details. 

c 




Concern: Rank of a species in the world as assessed by NatureServe. GH: Possibly Extinct, G1: Critically Imperilled, G2: Imperilled, G3: Vulnerable. Q: 

Taxonomy complex and unresolved. Definitions and more information can be found at www.natureserve.org. 

d The taxon American Brook Lamprey (Lampetra appendix) in the NWT(and Alaska) is considered a species of global concern (G3Q) under the name Alaska 

Brook Lamprey (Lampetra alaskensis). The taxonomy of this taxon is under review. 

e General Status Ranks are given for both Lake and Humpback Whitefish as taxonomically distinct species: Coregonus clupeaformis, C. pidschian. However, 

these species cannot easily be distinguished using standard morphometric methods. The relative distribution of each species in the NWT 

is still unclear. 

f 

General Status Rank is given for the whole species Inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys), but one stock, in the Upper Mackenzie River and Great Slave Lake 

system is given a Rank of “May Be At Risk”. 

g Fourhorn Sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis) is a marine species, but a lake form exists in some Arctic islands of NWT (and Nunavut). 

The Rank is given for the whole species. 

h General Status is given for the whole species Arctic Char (Salvelinus alpinus), but two stocks, in the Hornaday River and the Kuujjua River, 

were given a Rank of “Sensitive”. 

i 

Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalus) was stocked in 3 locations in the NWT prior to the 1970s. It is uncertain if they have formed surviving populations. 










10 Changed from Presence Expected 


6.5 


Freshwater 

Mussels 

Giant Floater shells at Shell Lake 

Photo Credit: M Gravel/GNWT 

Only two species of freshwater mussels are found in the 

NWT: the fat mucket and the giant floater. The status 

ranks of these two species have not changed since 2006. 

Molluscs (Phylum Mollusca) are invertebrates with a soft 

or hard shell, a mantle (fold of skin), and a muscular foot 

that they use to move around. Molluscs are of various 

shapes and include snails, clams, mussels, octopus, and 

squids. Some molluscs are terrestrial but most are aquatic; 

all require a humid environment. 

Mussels are a part of a group of molluscs belonging to the 

Class Bivalvia. Bivalves have two “valves” of similar shape 

facing each other, forming a two-part shell. All bivalves 

are strictly aquatic. The Order Unionoida are bivalves found 

only in freshwater and are often called freshwater mussels. 

Mussels feed by filtering water to find and ingest plankton. 

Mussels use their foot to anchor or half bury themselves 

at the bottom of water bodies. Mussels often live together 

in a group. Because they filter large quantities of water 

and spend a large portion of their life in one area, mussels 

are excellent indicators of aquatic ecosystem quality. 

The sudden disappearance or a decline in growth rate 

of a species of freshwater mussel is regarded as an indication 

of a decreasing aquatic ecosystem health. Mussels are also 

food for muskrats, river otters, and humans among others. 

Mussel eggs develop into larva (called “glochidia”) that grow 

attached to the gills of a female adult mussel. Some species 

of mussels produce parasitic glochidia that attach to the gills 

or fins of fish. The larva of some mussels are species-specific, 

and can live only if they attach to the appropriate host fish 

species. All larva eventually detach themselves and, if they fall 

in suitable habitat, will develop into adult mussels. 

The fat mucket has 14 known host fish species, including 

yellow perch and walleye. It is found in southern NWT where 

it is considered abundant. The giant floater may be found 

across the NWT, but its host fish is unknown and there is no 

information on numbers or population health. The best-known 

and most studied population of giant floater can be found at 

the aptly named Shell Lake, near Inuvik. 

Becky Cudmore 

Department of Fisheries and Oceans 

44 


List 5. Freshwater Mussels 

There are two species of freshwater mussels in the NWT. 

None are of global conservation concern. Species are listed 

according to the scientific Order they belong to, then by 

Family, then by scientific species name. Taxonomy follows 

NatureServe (2010). 

Giant Floater 

Photo Credit: R Stewart/USGS 


Unionoida – Unionidae 

Fat Mucket Lampsilis siliquoidea Secure 

Giant Floater Pyganodon grandis Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

COSEWIC 

Status/Global 

Conservation 

Concern c 

Mussels – Freshwater Mussels 


b Describes reasons for a change in status rank between 2006 and 2011. : Increasing Risk, : Decreasing Risk, ∃: Error correction, #: Species 

new to the NWT, T: Taxonomic change, : Information added, Π: New rank category, A: Changed due to detailed assessment by COSEWIC since 

2006. See Data Sources and Methods for more details. 

c 


Status for a species in Canada if it has already been assessed in a detailed manner by COSEWIC as of 2010. The year of each assessment is given 

with each status. After 2010, please consult current and additional status assessments on the COSEWIC web page (www.cosewic.gc.ca). Global 

Conservation Concern: Rank of a species in the world as assessed by NatureServe. GH: Possibly Extinct, G1: Critically Imperilled, G2: Imperilled, 

G3: Vulnerable. Definitions and more information can be found at www.natureserve.org. 


6.6 

Boreal Chorus Frog 

Amphibians 

and Reptiles 

Photo Credit: A Franklin 

Amphibians and reptiles are mostly found in the 

forested areas of the NWT, although the hardy 

wood frog can be seen just north of the tree line. Most 

amphibians that occur in the NWT, and the Red-sided 

Garter Snake, are at their northern limit in the NWT. 

Globally, amphibians are declining at rates that are 

unparalleled among other vertebrates. The main threats 

to amphibians elsewhere in Canada are habitat loss and 

pollution. Other threats include droughts, increased UV 

exposure due to ozone depletion, and increased frequency 

of diseases. 

Two pathogens that are implicated in amphibian declines 

elsewhere around the world have been detected in 

amphibian populations in the NWT. Batrachochytrium 

dendrobatidis (Bd), a fungus, has been linked to 

population declines and even extinctions of frogs around 

the world. This pathogen was detected in the Dehcho 

during amphibian health studies in 2007 and 2008. Bd was 

detected in wood frogs, boreal toads, and boreal chorus 

frogs near Fort Liard. During these same studies, which 

included sites as far north as the Sahtu, ranaviruses were 

also detected in wood frogs. This viral disease is also 

linked with amphibian declines but its long-term effects 

are not well understood. Ranaviruses also were detected in 

wood frogs in the South Slave in 2009 and 2010. 

None of the diseases detected in amphibians are 

transmittable to humans. Climate change is predicted to 

affect the transmission of many diseases, including those 

which affect amphibians. Amphibian lifecycles are tightly 

linked with temperature and humidity and so too are the 

lifecycles of Bd and ranviruses. Humans may also be part of 

the problem of pathogens being spread from pond to pond 

when people collect frogs and toads or visit ponds without 

first washing boots and other gear. 

During the South Slave, high numbers of malformed frogs, 

such as missing eyes, abnormal legs, and abnormal spines, 

were detected. The causes of these malformations are still 

unclear, but may include predation attempts, pollution, 

genetic diseases, or some other unknown cause. 

Our understanding of amphibian and reptiles is increasing. All 

can help in monitoring amphibians and reptiles by reporting 

observations using a pamphlet available at your nearest ENR 

office or on the www.enr.gov.nt.ca, web site. 

Dr. Danna Schock 

Keyano College, Fort McMurray 

Dr. Suzanne Carrière and Mike Fournier 

Canadian Amphibian and Reptile 

Conservation Network 

Northwest Territories Co-ordinators 


List 6. Amphibians and Reptiles 

Five species of amphibians and one species of reptile are 

confirmed to occur in the NWT. No species of amphibians 

and reptiles are of global conservation concern. Species are 

listed alphabetically according to the scientific Order they 

belong to, then by Family, then by scientific species name. 

Taxonomy follows Crother (2008). 

Common Red-sided Garter Snake 

Photo Credit: M Oldham 


Anura – Bufonidae 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Frog-like amphibians – Toads 

Western Toad Anaxyrus boreas May Be At Risk L Special Concern - 2002 

Canadian Toad Anaxyrus hemiophrys Sensitive L 2 Not at Risk - 2003 

Anura – Hylidae 

Boreal Chorus Frog Pseudacris maculata Secure 

Anura – Ranidae 

Frog-like amphibians – Tree Frogs 

Frog-like amphibians – True Frogs 

Northern Leopard Frog Lithobates pipiens May Be At Risk L 3 Special Concern - 2009 

Wood Frog Lithobates sylvatica Secure 

Caudata – Ambystomidae 

Salamander-like amphibians – Salamanders 

Long-Toed Salamander Ambystoma macrodactylum Presence Expected Not at Risk - 2006 

Serpentes – Colubridae 

Terrestrial Garter Snake Thamnophis elegans Presence Expected 

Common Red-sided 

Garter Snake 

Thamnophis sirtalis May Be At Risk L 

Serpent-like reptiles – Garter Snakes 





c 
















6.7 

Selected 

Beetles 

Transverse Lady Beetle 

Photo Credit: H Goulet 

Ground Beetles 

Ground beetles (Carabidae) sport shiny wing covers, called 

elytra, which can be quite colourful. Most species are 

carnivorous, hunting other invertebrates at night, except for 

tiger beetles (Cicindela sp.), some species of Bembidion and 

Lebia viridis, which are day active. They are all very good 

runners. Their preferred hunting grounds include sand dunes, 

beaches, fields, open soil surfaces, forest litter, marshes or 

bogs, creek and river edges, and some even hunt on snow fields 

at night (some Nebria) or on plants (some Lebia). In daytime, 

adults of most species will rest under tree bark, logs and rocks, 

in sand or under debris around ponds and near rivers. 

Most species winter as adults. Many species can live for two 

or more years. The larvae of spring breeding species develop 

rapidly, in 3 to 4 weeks. Summer breeding species (only found 

in the southern regions in the NWT) winter as larvae. 

There are 218 known species of ground beetles in the NWT, 

including 6 species of tiger beetles, which were ranked in 

2006. None of these ranks have changed for 2011. Little is 

known on the biological status of beetles in the NWT, so most 

species have been ranked as “Undetermined’. The only ground 

beetle species ranked as “May Be At Risk” for the NWT is saltmarch 

elaphrus beetle (Elaphrus lecontei). It is restricted 

48 


in the NWT to salt plains habitat in Wood Buffalo National 

Park. The populations in the Park appear different from all 

southern populations, and need further study to determine if 

these differences are of biodiversity conservation significance. 

Lady Beetles 

The elytra of lady beetles (Coccinellidae), also called 

ladybird or ladybug, may be a colourful yellow, orange, or 

red with black spots, or may be black or grey. The rest of the 

beetle is black. The colourful back is a warning to predators: 

“do not eat me, I taste bad”. Most species overwinter as 

adults, and then lay eggs in spring. Eggs hatch shortly and 

the larvae go through a number of instars, and then pupate. 

The new adults may reproduce right away or overwinter and 

reproduce the next spring. 

Some species of lady beetles are considered pests, but as 

most of them are predatory, they may be useful as control 

agents on garden and flower plants, preying on pests such as 

aphids. Some lady beetles have been successfully introduced 

in North America for pest control purposes, however some 

of these species are now of concern as they are displacing 

native species. None of the introduced lady beetles, such as 

Harmonia axyridis or Coccinella septempunctata, have been 

recorded in the wild in the NWT. 

The NWT is home to 27 known species of lady beetles. 

Very little is known about their distribution, populations or 

potential threats, so most of them are ranked 

as “Undetermined’. 

Predaceous Diving Beetles 

Predaceous diving beetles (Dytiscidae) range in size from 2 to 

30 mm. Their hind legs are superbly adapted for swimming. 

Adults carry air under their wing covers and come to the 

surface to replenish with fresh air. Adults commonly fly from 

wet places to wet places. Flying adults recognize water by the 

polarized light it reflects. Most species are brown or black, 

but some have yellow patterns on their wing covers. Adults 

and larva of most species search, attack and eat other aquatic 

insects (e.g., mosquito larvae) and even tadpoles. Some 

species will also scavenge. Adults and larvae usually live in the 

water. Mature larvae will crawl out of the water and make a 

pupal cell below a firm organic slab, wood or sometimes rock. 

The adults soon emerge. Overwintering occurs as adult and 

larvae. Adults of many species overwinter in drained litter not 

far from wet habitats. Reproduction occurs only once in one 

year (univoltine), or once in a few years (semivoltine). 

So far 122 species of predaceous diving beetles are known to 

occur in the NWT. They may be found in any shallow water with 

some vegetation on the edges, but some of our species are cold 

specialists, living in northern springs, streams, and pools in 

alpine and arctic habitats. Others prefer saline ponds. 

Surveying for Beetles in the NWT 

Beetles are marvellous to study. They are easy to identify. 

They do not sting. They are easy to pick up as few would 

bother to fly away. However, tiger beetles and some 

Bembidion are excellent flyers and catching them without 

a net requires cunning and dexterity. Above all, they are 

amazingly diverse, occurring in the North from tundra to the 

boreal forest. There is an estimated 2,300 species in the NWT. 

Most of our knowledge of beetles is from along the Mackenzie 

River at communities. There is still much to discover and 

people of the NWT are certainly up to the challenge. 

To study beetles one must take pictures or collect specimens. 

Take only a few at each location. Specimens must be labelled 

properly, with lat-long, date, place name and habitat, and 

then they can be sent to the Canadian National Collection 

of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes in Ottawa (K. W. Neatby 

Building, 960 Carling Avenue, Ottawa, ON K1A 0C6). 

Dr. Henri Goulet 

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada 

Western Tiger Beetle 

Photo Credit: P Catling 


49

6.7 Selected Beetles 

List 7. Selected Beetles 

There are 218 species of ground beetles, 27 species 

of lady beetles, and 122 species of predaceous diving 

beetle confirmed present in the NWT. None of the beetle 

species ranked in this report are of global conservation 

concern. Species are listed alphabetically according to 

scientific Order they belong to, then by Family, then by 

scientific species name. Taxonomy follows Goulet and 

Bousquet (2004) for ground beetles, McCorquodale, 

D. (2010. pers comm.) for lady beetles, and Larson 

et al. (2000) for predaceous diving beetles. Common 

names are original for this document and have not been 

approved by the Entomological Society of Canada. 

Common Claybank Tiger Beetle 



Coleoptera – Carabidae 

Svelte Ground Beetle Agonum affine Undetermined 

Beige Ground Beetle Agonum anchomenoides Undetermined 

Two-coloured Ground Beetle Agonum bicolor Undetermined 

Consimile Ground Beetle Agonum consimile Undetermined 

Cypress Ground Beetle Agonum cupreum Undetermined 

Elegant Purple-green Agonum 

Beetle 

Agonum cupripenne 

Undetermined 

Painted Ground Beetle Agonum exaratum Secure 

Gracious Ground Beetle Agonum gratiosum Undetermined 

Brown-prothorax Ground Beetle Agonum lutulentum Undetermined 

Metallic Ground Beetle Agonum metallescens Undetermined 

Variable Ground Beetle Agonum mutatum Undetermined 

Black-shanked Ground Beetle Agonum nigriceps Undetermined 

Close Ground Beetle Agonum propinquum Undetermined 

Five-spotted Ground Beetle Agonum quinquepunctatum Undetermined 

Forest-litter Ground Beetle Agonum retractum Undetermined 

Sordens Ground Beetle Agonum sordens Undetermined 

Superior Ground Beetle Agonum superioris Undetermined 

Thorey’s Ground Beetle Agonum thoreyi Secure 

Aeneopolita Sun Beetle Amara aeneopolita Undetermined 

Alpine Sun Beetle Amara alpina Secure 

Bokor’s Sun Beetle Amara bokori Secure 

Brown’s Sun Beetle Amara browni Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 

Beetles – Ground Beetles 

50 



Copper Sun Beetle Amara brunnea Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 

Daurian Sun Beetle Amara daurica Undetermined 

Erratic Sun Beetle Amara erratica Undetermined 

Gibb Sun Beetle Amara gibba Undetermined 

Glacier Sun Beetle Amara glacialis Undetermined 

Hicks’ Sun Beetle Amara hicksi Undetermined 

Taiga Sun Beetle Amara hyperborea Undetermined 

Idaho Sun Beetle Amara idahoana Undetermined 

Interstitialis Sun Beetle Amara interstitialis Undetermined 

Kumakow’s Sun Beetle Amara kurnakowi Undetermined 

Lake-loving Sun Beetle Amara lacustris Undetermined 

Smooth-winged Sun Beetle Amara laevipennis Undetermined 

Shore-lover Sun Beetle Amara littoralis Undetermined 

Moon-collar Sun Beetle Amara lunicollis Undetermined 

Large Sun Beetle Amara obesa Undetermined 

Pale-footed Sun Beetle Amara pallipes Undetermined 

Neighbouring Sun Beetle Amara patruelis Undetermined 

Brass Ground Beetle Amara pseudobrunnea Undetermined 

Quensel’s Ground Beetle Amara quenseli Undetermined 

Schwarz’s Ground Beetle Amara schwarzi Undetermined 

Marked Ground Beetle Amara sinuosa Undetermined 

Spurred Ground Beetle Amara spuria Undetermined 

Tough Ground Beetle Amara tenax Undetermined 

Torrid Ground Beetle Amara torrida Undetermined 

Beringian Ground Beetle Amara transberingiensis Undetermined 

Alaska Ground Beetle Asaphidion alaskanum Secure 

Red-black Spotted Beetle Badister neopulchellus Undetermined 

Short Spotted Beetle Badister obtusus Undetermined 

Sharp-nosed Bembidion Beetle Bembidion acutifrons Undetermined 

Bimarked Bembidion Beetle Bembidion bimaculatum Undetermined 

Brachythorax Bembidion Beetle Bembidion brachythorax Undetermined 

Canadian Bembidion Beetle Bembidion canadianum Undetermined 

Sand-loving Bembidion Beetle Bembidion carinula Undetermined 

Brass Bembidion Beetle Bembidion chalceum Undetermined 

Colorado Bembidion Beetle Bembidion coloradense Undetermined 

Compressed Bembidion Beetle Bembidion compressum Undetermined 

Two-coloured Bembidion Beetle Bembidion concolor Undetermined 

Concrete Bembidion Beetle Bembidion concretum Undetermined 

Short Bembidion Beetle Bembidion curtulatum Undetermined 




Dauricum Bembidion Beetle Bembidion dauricum Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 

Fortestria Bembidion Beetle Bembidion fortestriatum Undetermined 

Pitted Bembidion Beetle Bembidion foveum Undetermined 

Marked Bembidion Beetle Bembidion graphicum Undetermined 

Grap’s Bembidion Beetle Bembidion grapii Secure 

Hast’s Bembidion Beetle Bembidion hastii Undetermined 

Taiga Bembidion Beetle Bembidion hyperboraeorum Undetermined 

Longer Bembidion Beetle Bembidion incrematum Undetermined 

Salt Bembidion Beetle Bembidion insulatum Undetermined 

Bling Bembidion Beetle Bembidion interventor Undetermined 

Lapland Bembidion Beetle Bembidion lapponicum Undetermined 

Dawson Bembidion Beetle Bembidion lenae Undetermined 

Sandy-beach Bembidion Beetle Bembidion levettei Undetermined 

Manning Bembidion Beetle Bembidion manningense Undetermined 

Mulberry Bembidion Beetle Bembidion morulum Undetermined 

Changing Bembidion Beetle Bembidion mutatum Undetermined 

Black Bembidion Beetle Bembidion nigripes Secure 

Brillant Bembidion Beetle Bembidion nitidum Undetermined 

Dry-field Bembidion Beetle Bembidion obscurellum Undetermined 

Clay-beach Bemdidion Beetle Bembidion patruele Undetermined 

Oily Bembidion Beetle Bembidion petrosum Undetermined 

Flat Bembidion Beetle Bembidion planatum Undetermined 

Pseudocautum Bembidion Beetle Bembidion pseudocautum Undetermined 

Dotted-lined Bembidion Beetle Bembidion punctatostriatum Undetermined 

Graden Bembidion Beetle Bembidion quadrimaculatum Undetermined 

Field Bembidion Beetle Bembidion rupicola Undetermined 

Salebratum Bembidon Beetle Bembidion salebratum Undetermined 

Two-spotted Bembidion Beetle Bembidion scopulinum Undetermined 

Saline Bembidion Beetle Bembidion sejunctum Undetermined 

Semipunctuated Bembidon Beetle Bembidion semipunctatum Undetermined 

Dark Bembidion Beetle Bembidion sordidum Undetermined 

Grooved Bembidion Beetle Bembidion sulcipenne Undetermined 

Timid Bembidion Beetle Bembidion timidum Undetermined 

Transparent Bembidion Beetle Bembidion transparens Undetermined 

Rocky-creek Bembidion Beete Bembidion transversale Undetermined 

Shadow Bembidion Beetle Bembidion umbratum Undetermined 

Multicolour Bembidion Beetle Bembidion versicolor Undetermined 

Viridicolle Bembidion Beetle Bembidion viridicolle Undetermined 

Yukon Bembidion Beetle Bembidion yukonum Undetermined 

52 



Chain-link Blethisa Beetle Blethisa catenaria Undetermined 

Marsh Blethisa Beetle Blethisa hudsonica Undetermined 

Bog Blethisa Beetle Blethisa julii Undetermined 

Many-spotted Blethisa Beetle Blethisa multipunctata Undetermined 

Large Blethisa Beetle Blethisa quadricollis Undetermined L 

Leconte’s Ground Beetle Bradycellus lecontei Undetermined 

Basket Ground Beetle Calathus ingratus Undetermined 

Chamisson Ground Beetle Carabus chamissonis Undetermined 

Meander Ground Beetle Carabus maeander Undetermined 

Gravel Ground Beetle Carabus taedatus Undetermined 

Short-necked Ground Beetle Carabus truncaticollis Undetermined 

Vietinghoff’s Ground Beetle Carabus vietinghoffii Secure 

Dark-copper Stinking Beetle Chlaenius alternatus Undetermined 

Small-green Stinking Beetle Chlaenius lithophilus Undetermined 

Black Stinking Beetle Chlaenius niger Undetermined 

Prairie Stinking Beetle Chlaenius purpuricollis Undetermined 

Twelve-Spotted Tiger Beetle Cicindela duodecimguttata d Secure L 

Common Claybank Tiger Beetle Cicindela limbalis Secure 

Sandy Tiger Beetle Cicindela limbata Sensitive L 

Boreal Long-lipped Tiger Beetle Cicindela longilabris Secure 

Western Tiger Beetle Cicindela oregona d Secure L 

Oblique-lined Tiger Beetle Cicindela tranquebarica Secure L 

Sand Cymindis Beetle Cymindis cribricollis Undetermined 

Flat Cymindis Beetle Cymindis planipennis Undetermined 

Tundra Cymindis Beetle Cymindis unicolor Undetermined 

Richardson Mountain 

Cymindis Beetle 

Cymindis vaporariorum 

Undetermined 

Cold-seep Ground Beetle Diacheila arctica Undetermined 

Moss-loving Ground Beetle Diacheila polita Undetermined 

Range Ground Beetle Dicheirotrichus cognatus Secure 

Mannerheim’s Ground Beetle Dicheirotrichus mannerheimii Undetermined 

Blunt Ground Beetle Diplocheila obtusa Undetermined 

Striped Ground Beetle Diplocheila striatopunctata Undetermined 

Aterrimus Ground Beetle Diplous aterrimus Undetermined 

Golden-green Ground Beetle Dyschirius aeneolus Undetermined 

Dejean’s Ground Beetle Dyschirius dejeanii Undetermined 

Winter Ground Beetle Dyschirius hiemalis Undetermined 

Melancholic Ground Beetle Dyschirius melancholicus Undetermined 

Polite Ground Beetle Dyschirius politus Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 




Subarctic Ground Beetle Dyschirius subarcticus Undetermined 

Truncated Ground Beetle Dyschirius truncatus Undetermined 

Anceps Ground Beetle Elaphropus anceps Undetermined 

Boreal Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus americanus Secure 

Invisible Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus angusticollis Undetermined 

Clay-loving Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus californicus Undetermined 

Cairville’s Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus clairvillei Secure 

Lapland Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus lapponicus Secure 

Salt-marsh Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus lecontei May Be At Risk L 

Olive Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus olivaceus Sensitive L 

Mountain-creek Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus purpurans Undetermined 

Tundra Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus trossulus Undetermined 

Subarctic-river Elaphrus Beetle Elaphrus tuberculatus Secure 

Small Olympic Beetle Gehringia olympica Undetermined 

Blowout Ground Beetle Harpalobrachys leiroides Undetermined 

Lame Harpalus Beetle Harpalus amputatus Undetermined 

Fulvia Harpalus Beetle Harpalus fulvilabris Undetermined 

Brown Harpalus Beetle Harpalus fuscipalpis Undetermined 

Inoffensive Harpalus Beetle Harpalus innocuus Undetermined 

Left-footed Harpalus Beetle Harpalus laevipes Undetermined 

Large-headed Harpalus Beetle Harpalus laticeps Undetermined 

Lewis’ Harpalus Beetle Harpalus lewisii Undetermined 

Black-legged Harpalus Beetle Harpalus nigritarsis Undetermined 

Opaque Harpalus Beetle Harpalus opacipennis Undetermined 

Plenalis Harpalus Beetle Harpalus plenalis Undetermined 

Solitary Harpalus Beetle Harpalus solitaris Undetermined 

Field Harpalus Beetle Harpalus somnulentus Undetermined 

Flower Lebia Beetle Lebia viridis Undetermined 

Litter Loricera Beetle Loricera pilicornis Undetermined 

Arctic Smooth Beetle Miscodera arctica Undetermined 

Northern Nebria Beetle Nebria frigida Undetermined 

Gyllenhal’s Nebria Beetle Nebria gyllenhali Undetermined 

Hudson Nebria Beetle Nebria hudsonica Undetermined 

Snow Nebria Beetle Nebria nivalis Undetermined 

Oblique Nebria Beetle Nebria obliqua Undetermined 

Sahlberg’s Nebria Beetle Nebria sahlbergii Undetermined 

Aquatic Curious Beetle Notiophilus aquaticus Undetermined 

Boreal Curious Beetle Notiophilus borealis Undetermined 

Ocellate Creek Beetle Opisthius richardsoni Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 

54 



Pitted Patrobus Beetle Patrobus foveocollis Undetermined 

Long-horned Patrobus Beetle Patrobus longicornis Undetermined 

Northern Patrobus Beetle Patrobus septentrionis Undetermined 

Marked Patrobus Beetle Patrobus stygicus Undetermined 

Boreal Marsh Beetle Pelophila borealis Secure 

Tussock Marsh Beetle Pelophila rudis Undetermined 

Proper Platynus Beetle Platynus decens Undetermined 

Mannerheim’s Platynus Beetle Platynus mannerheimii Undetermined 

Lake Beaver Beetle Platypatrobus lacustris Undetermined 

Gardener Ground Beetle Poecilus lucublandus Undetermined 

Russian Ground Beetle Poecilus nearcticus Undetermined 

Pitted Ground Beetle Pterostichus adstrictus Secure 

Agonus Ground Beetle Pterostichus agonus Undetermined 

Arctic Ground Bettle Pterostichus arcticola Undetermined 

Barryorum Ground Beetle Pterostichus barryorum Undetermined 

Small-horned Ground Beetle Pterostichus brevicornis Undetermined 

Bryant’s Ground Beetle Pterostichus bryanti Undetermined L 

Caribou Ground Beetle Pterostichus caribou Undetermined 

Wood Ground Beetle Pterostichus caudicalis Undetermined 

Chipewyan Ground Beetle Pterostichus chipewyan Undetermined 

Raven Ground Beetle Pterostichus corvinus Undetermined 

Beaufort Ground Beetle Pterostichus costatus Undetermined 

Female Ground Beetle Pterostichus empetricola Undetermined 

Hudson Ground Beetle Pterostichus hudsonicus Undetermined 

Mandibulate Ground Beetle Pterostichus mandibularoides Secure 

Decideous Ground Beetle Pterostichus pensylvanicus Undetermined 

Pingo Ground Beetle Pterostichus pinguedineus Secure 

Elegant Ground Beetle Pterostichus punctatissimus Undetermined 

Riparian Ground Beetle Pterostichus riparius Undetermined 

Soper’s Ground Beetle Pterostichus soperi Undetermined 

Almost-smooth Ground Beetle Pterostichus sublaevis Undetermined 

Tareumiut Ground Beetle Pterostichus tareumiut Secure 

Belly Ground Beetle Pterostichus ventricosus Secure 

Grub Ground Beetle Pterostichus vermiculosus Secure 

Burning Forest Ground Beetle Sericoda bembidioides Undetermined 

Campfire Ground Beetle Sericoda obsoleta Undetermined 

Burnt-wood Ground Beetle Sericoda quadripunctata Undetermined 

Tundra Ground Beetle Stereocerus haematopus Undetermined 

Sunshine Ground Beetle Syntomus americanus Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 




Apex Ground Beetle Trechus apicalis Undetermined 

Slender-rod Ground Beetle Trechus tenuiscapus Undetermined 

Coleoptera – Coccinellidae 

Two-spot Lady Beetle Adalia bipunctata Secure 

American Eyespot Lady Beetle Anatis mali Undetermined 

Marsh Lady Beetle Anisosticta bitriangularis Secure 

Boreal Lady Beetle Anisosticta borealis Undetermined 

White-fronted Lady Beetle Brachiacantha albifrons Undetermined 

Winter Lady Beetle Brumoides septentrionis Undetermined 

Cream-spotted Lady Beetle Calvia quatuordecimguttata Secure 

Ulke’s Lady Beetle Ceratomegilla ulkei Undetermined 

Nice Lady Beetle Coccidula lepida Undetermined 

Shining Lady Beetle Coccinella fulgida Undetermined 

Hieroglyphic Lady Beetle Coccinella hieroglyphica Undetermined 

Tamarack Lady Beetle Coccinella monticola Undetermined 

Nine-spot Lady Beetle Coccinella novemnotata Sensitive 

Transverse Lady Beetle Coccinella transversoguttata Undetermined 

Three-banded Lady Beetle Coccinella trifasciata Secure 

Twice-stained Lady Beetle Didion punctatum Undetermined 

American Lady Beetle Hippodamia americana Undetermined 

Waterside Lady Beetle Hippodamia falcigera Secure 

Parenthesis Lady Beetle Hippodamia parenthesis Secure 

Five-marked Lady Beetle Hippodamia quinquesignata Secure 

Sinuate Lady Beetle Hippodamia sinuata Secure 

Thirteen-spot Lady Beetle Hippodamia tredecimpunctata Secure 

Poorly-known Lady Beetle Hyperaspis consimilis Undetermined 

Episcopalian Lady Beetle Macronaemia episcopalis Undetermined 

Farmer’s Lady Beetle Nephus georgei Undetermined 

Twenty-spotted Lady Beetle Psyllobora vigintimaculata Secure 

Lacustrine Lady Beetle Scymnus lacustris Undetermined 

Coleoptera – Dytiscidae 

Athabascan Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Range 

Note a 

Acilius athabascae Undetermined L 

Woods Predaceous Diving Beetle Acilius semisulcatus Secure 

Rockshore Agabus Beetle Agabus adpressus Undetermined L 

Ajax Agabus Beetle Agabus ajax Undetermined L 

Ambiguous Agabus Beetle Agabus ambiguus Undetermined L 

Antenna Agabus Beetle Agabus antennatus Secure 

Boreal Lake Agabus Beetle Agabus anthracinus Secure 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 

Beetles – Lady Beetles 

Beetles – Predaceous Diving Beetles 

56 



Arctic Agabus Beetle Agabus arcticus Secure 

Auden’s Agabus Beetle Agabus audeni Secure 

Cordilleran Agabus Beetle Agabus austinii Undetermined L 

Two-colour Agabus Beetle Agabus bicolor Secure 

Twofold Agabus Beetle Agabus bifarius Secure 

Clavicornis Agabus Beetle Agabus clavicornis Secure 

Clypealis Agabus Beetle Agabus clypealis Undetermined L 

Confinis Agabus Beetle Agabus confinis Secure 

Coxalis Agabus Beetle Agabus coxalis Undetermined L 

Discoloured Agabus Beetle Agabus discolor Secure 

Long Agabus Beetle Agabus elongatus Secure 

Erichson’s Agabus Beetle Agabus erichsoni Secure 

Brown-pen Agabus Beetle Agabus fuscipennis Undetermined L 

Brown Agabus Beetle Agabus infuscatus Secure 

Graffiti Agabus Beetle Agabus inscriptus Secure 

Mackenzie Agabus Beetle Agabus mackenziensis Undetermined L 

Northern Agabus Beetle Agabus moestus Secure 

Opaque Agabus Beetle Agabus opacus Undetermined L 

Pale Agabus Beetle Agabus pallens Undetermined L 

Phaeopterus Agabus Beetle Agabus phaeopterus Secure 

Comma Agabus Beetle Agabus semipunctatus Secure 

Dotlined Agabus Beetle Agabus seriatus Undetermined L 

Strigulose Agabus Beetle Agabus strigulosus Undetermined L 

Thomson’s Agabus Beetle Agabus thomsoni Secure 

Drab Agabus Beetle Agabus tristis Undetermined L 

Rapid Agabus Beetle Agabus velox Undetermined L 

Wasa Star Agabus Beetle Agabus wasastjernae Secure 

Zetterstedt’s Agabus Beetle Agabus zetterstedtii Undetermined L 

Thick-footed Diving Beetle Carrhydrus crassipes Undetermined L 

Range 

Note a 

Dahuricus Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Colymbetes dahuricus 

Secure 

Greenland Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Colymbetes dolabratus 

Secure 

Exaratus Predaceous Diving Beetle Colymbetes exaratus Undetermined L 

Bog Predaceous Diving Beetle Colymbetes paykulli Secure 

Forest Predaceous Diving Beetle Colymbetes sculptilis Undetermined L 

Convex Predaceous Diving Beetle Desmopachria convexa Secure 

Ringed Dystiscid Beetle Dystiscus circumcinctus Secure 

Daurian Dystiscid Beetle Dystiscus dauricus Secure 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 




Bigbelly Dystiscid Beetle Dystiscus fasciventris Undetermined L 

Harris’s Dystiscid Beetle Dystiscus harrisii Secure 

Alaska Predaceous Diving Beetle Dytiscus alaskanus Secure 

Liberus Predaceous Diving Beetle Graphoderus liberus Undetermined L 

Occidental Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Range 

Note a 

Graphoderus occidentalis Undetermined L 

Complex Predaceous Diving Beetle Graphoderus perplexus Secure 

Aruspex Predaceous Diving Beetle Hydaticus aruspex Secure 

Paugus Predaceous Diving Beetle Hydrocolus paugus Secure 

Ruby Predaceous Diving Beetle Hydrocolus rubyae Undetermined L 

Stagnalis Predaceous Diving Beetle Hydrocolus stagnalis Undetermined L 

Appalachian Water Beetle Hydroporus appalachis Secure 

Aurora Water Beetle Hydroporus aurora Undetermined L 

Badiellus Water Beetle Hydroporus badiellus Secure 

Taiga Water Beetle Hydroporus boraeorum Undetermined L 

Columbia Water Beetle Hydroporus columbianus Secure 

Lace Water Beetle Hydroporus dentellus Secure 

Despectus Water Beetle Hydroporus despectus Undetermined L 

Brownish Water Beetle Hydroporus fuscipennis Secure 

Mountain Boreal Water Beetle Hydroporus geniculatus Undetermined L 

Lapland Water Beetle Hydroporus lapponum Secure 

Larson’s Water Beetle Hydroporus larsoni Secure 

Mannerheim’s Water Beetle Hydroporus mannerheimi Undetermined L 

Morio Water Beetle Hydroporus morio Secure 

High Boreal Water Beetle Hydroporus nigellus Secure 

Noble Water Beetle Hydroporus notabilis Secure 

Dark Water Beetle Hydroporus obscurus Secure 

Western Water Beetle Hydroporus occidentalis Undetermined L 

Polar Water Beetle Hydroporus polaris Secure 

Hairy Water Beetle Hydroporus puberulus Secure 

Strait Water Beetle Hydroporus rectus Secure 

Reddish Water Beetle Hydroporus rufinasus Secure 

Siberian Water Beetle Hydroporus sibiricus Undetermined L 

Marked Water Beetle Hydroporus signatus Undetermined L 

Common Boreal Water Beetle Hydroporus striola Secure 

Mixed Boreal Water Beetle Hydroporus tartaricus Undetermined L 

Bronzed Water Beetle Hydroporus tenebrorus Secure 

Plain Water Beetle Hydroporus tristis Secure 

Mud Diving Beetle Hygrotus turbidus Secure 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 

58 



Bigdot Diving Beetle Hygrotus impressopunctatus Secure 

Dark-brown Diving Beetle Hygrotus infuscatus Secure 

Laccophilinus Diving Beetle Hygrotus laccophilinus Undetermined L 

Marklin’s Diving Beetle Hygrotus marklini Secure 

Nine-lined Diving Beetle Hygrotus novemlineatus Secure 

Patruelis Diving Beetle Hygrotus patruelis Secure 

Pied Diving Beetle Hygrotus picatus Secure 

Halophilic Diving Beetle Hygrotus salinarius Secure 

Say’s Diving Beetle Hygrotus sayi Secure 

Sellatus Diving Beetle Hygrotus sellatus Undetermined L 

Suturalis Diving Beetle Hygrotus suturalis Secure 

Bulging Diving Beetle Hygrotus tumidiventris Secure 

Nail Diving Beetle Hygrotus unguicularis Secure 

Angus Predaceous Diving Beetle Ilybius angustior Undetermined 

Churchill Predaceous Diving Beetle Ilybius churchillensis Undetermined L 

Common Boreal Predaceous 

Water Beetle 

Ilybius discedens 

Secure 

Prairie Predaceous Diving Beetle Ilybius fraterculus Undetermined L 

Picipes Predaceous Diving Beetle Ilybius picipes Secure 

Pleuriticus Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Subaeneus Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Ilybius pleuriticus 

Ilybius subaeneus 

Secure 

Secure 

Taiga Predaceous Diving Beetle Ilybius vittiger Undetermined L 

Two-spotted Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Laccophilus biguttatus 

Secure 

Horned Predaceous Diving Beetle Laccornis connoideus Secure 

Oblong Predaceous Diving Beetle Laccornis oblongus Undetermined L 

Dark Predaceous Diving Beetle Liodessus obscurellus Secure 

Small Predaceous Diving Beetle Nebrioporus depressus Undetermined 

Lake Superior Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Neoporus superioris 

Secure 

Twist Predaceous Diving Beetle Neoporus undulatus Undetermined L 

Horn’s Predaceous Diving Beetle Neoscutopterus hornii Secure 

Laevis Predaceous Diving Beetle Oreodytes laevis Secure 

Scitulus Predaceous Diving Beetle Oreodytes scitulus Undetermined L 

Seep Swimming Beetle Rhantus binotatus Undetermined L 

Grassland Swimming Beetle Rhantus consimilis Undetermined L 

Parkland Swimming Beetle Rhantus sericanus Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Sign Swimming Beetle Rhantus sinuatus Undetermined L 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 




Suture Swimming Beetle Rhantus suturellus Secure 

Wallis’s Swimming Beetle Rhantus wallisi Secure 

Compertus Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Greystriate Predaceous 

Diving Beetle 

Range 

Note a 

Sanfilippodytes compertus Undetermined L 

Stictotarsus griseostriatus 

Secure 

Striate Predaceous Diving Beetle Strictotarsus striatellus Undetermined L 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 


There is not enouh information available to determine the range of most species ranks as ‘Undetermined”. 




c 






d The hybrid Cicindela duodecimguttata X oregona also occurs in the NWT and can be given a rank of “secure”. 










Elegant Purple-green Agonum Beetle 

Photo Credit: H Goulet 

60 


Ocellate Creek Beetle 

Photo Credit: H Goulet

6.8 

Bumblebees 

Bumble bees (genus Bombus) are common, large and hairy 

bees found in temperate to subarctic regions around the 

world. There are about 250 species of bumble bees globally; 

43 species occur in Canada. Twenty-one species of bumble 

bees occur in the NWT, where they occur from the northernmost 

Arctic island to the southern NWT. 

White-tailed Bumblebee 

Photo Credit: G Watson 

Bumble bees are social, living in colonies with a single, 

dominating queen and many workers (i.e., daughters of the 

queen). However, unlike their close relatives, the honey bees, 

which live in a colony or hive year round, bumble bees live 

in annual colonies. The entire colony, except newly produced 

queens, dies off at the onset of the first frost. The new queens 

mate, and are the only individuals to overwinter. In the spring, 

mated queens emerge from hibernation, begin feeding and 

then search for a suitable nest site. 

Generally, nests are constructed underground in abandoned 

rodent burrows or above ground in old logs, under grass 

mounds, and occasionally under siding, in old mattresses, 

etc. Once a suitable site is found, the queen begins nest 

constructing and egg-laying duties. A few weeks after the 

queen’s initial round of egg-laying, workers emerge and begin 

foraging for the colony to feed the developing worker brood 

(sisters), while the queen stops performing these duties and 

becomes a full-time egg layer. 

As the summer progresses, the colony reaches maximum worker 

production and begins producing males and potential new 

queens. These reproductive individuals leave the nest and mate 

with bees from other nests. After mating, the young queens 

seek out suitable wintering sites, thus completing the annual 

colony cycle. 

Overwintering sites for mated queens consist of burrows in 

loose soil, sand, decomposing vegetation (including mulch) 

and rotting logs, usually within a few inches of the ground 

surface. In some species, young queens overwinter near the 

site of the maternal nest. 

The timing of queen emergence in the spring, and the length 

of the colony cycle, varies widely by species, and probably by 

geography; bees in arctic/subarctic regions typically produce 

much fewer workers than southern species. A notable exception 

to the colony cycle occurs in cuckoo bumble bees. These 

bumble bees do not produce a worker caste, but are social 

parasites in which females usurp colonies of other species and 

propagate using the host species resources. 

62 


Bees, including bumblebees, are extremely important 

pollinators for many native flowering plants, which 

subsequently provide berries and shelter for many animal 

species. Bumblebees, as well as other pollinators, are 

declining in Canada and globally. Scientists are finding 

that many previously common bee species are declining 

across their range, including the western bumblebee, 

present in the NWT. For more information on bumblebee 

conservation you can visit the Xerces Society. 

Link to: http://www.xerces.org/bumblebees/. 

Help monitor bee populations by sending observations, 

questions or pictures of bees to NWTbugs@gov.nt.ca, and 

we'll give you the buzz on bees! 

Dr. Cory S. Sheffield 

York University 

Claudia Haas 

Protected Areas Biologist 

List 8. Bumblebees 

There are 21 species of bumblebees confirmed present in the NWT. Species are listed alphabetically. Taxonomy follows Williams (2010). 


Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Hymenoptera – Apidae (Bombus genus) 

Bee-like insects – Bumblebees 

Ashton’s Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus ashtoni Undetermined 

Baltic Bumblebee Bombus balteatus Undetermined 

Two-ranked Bumblebee Bombus bifarius Secure 

Northern Amber Bumblebee Bombus borealis Undetermined 

Fernald’s Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus fernaldae Secure 

Yellow-faced Bumblebee Bombus flavifrons Undetermined 

Winter Bumblebee Bombus frigidus Undetermined 

Subarctic Bumblebee Bombus hyperboreus Undetermined 

Indiscriminate Bumblebee Bombus insularis Undetermined L 

Small Heath Bumblebee Bombus jonellus Undetermined 

White-tailed Bumblebee Bombus lucorum Undetermined 

Orange-rumped Bumblebee Bombus melanopygus Undetermined 

Brown-tailed Bumblebee Bombus mixtus Undetermined 

Boreal Bumblebee Bombus neoboreus Undetermined 

Western Bumblebee Bombus occidentalis Undetermined 

Confusing Bumblebee Bombus perplexus Undetermined L 

Northern Bumblebee Bombus polaris Undetermined 

Sanderson’s Bumblebee Bombus sandersoni Undetermined 

Suckley’s Cuckoo Bumblebee Bombus suckleyi Undetermined 

Red-tailed Bumblebee Bombus sylvicola Secure 

Yellow-banded Bumblebee Bombus terricola Undetermined 


b For your convenience, the status derived from other processes than the one presented in this report is described in this column. COSEWIC Status: Status 

for a species in Canada if it has already been assessed in a detailed manner by COSEWIC as of 2010. The year of each assessment is given with each status. 

After 2010, please consult current and additional status assessments on the COSEWIC web page (www.cosewic.gc.ca). Global Conservation Concern: Rank 

of a species in the world as assessed by NatureServe. GH: Possibly Extinct, G1: Critically Imperilled, G2: Imperilled, G3: Vulnerable. Definitions and more 

information can be found at www.natureserve.org. 


63

6.9 

Butterflies 

Arctic Blue 


64 


Butterflies are by far the most recognised and loved 

insects. People have used the presence of butterflies to 

predict the timing of other phenomena such as the spawning 

of some fish species and the arrival of warmer weather. 

Butterfly life has four stages: egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, 

and adult butterfly. The adult butterfly lays eggs on the 

plant species on which its young will feed. Under the right 

conditions the caterpillar (larva) will develop inside the egg 

in about a week. When it emerges from the egg, it eats, 

grows, sheds its old skin, then repeats this, through five 

stages, or instars. At maturity, its skin splits revealing a 

chrysalis or pupa. This pupa takes about ten days to transform 

(metamorphose) into an adult butterfly. This metamorphosis 

is one of the most fascinating aspects of observing butterflies. 

Adult butterflies spend much of their time feeding. They drink 

nectar and other liquids, through the tongue or proboscis; 

this is a long thin tube that curls beneath the head like a 

watch spring. Males are always on the lookout for females, and 

mated females search for the larval foodplants, on which to 

lay their eggs. 

Butterflies and moths comprise the Order Lepidoptera, a name 

that refers to their scale-covered wings. All butterflies in the 

NWT were ranked in this report. Some of the moths are ranked 

in the next list, and more will be ranked in the next report. 

NWT butterflies do not migrate but pass the winter here, as 

an egg, larva, pupa or adult, depending on the species. One 

of the first butterflies seen in early spring in the NWT is the 

mourning cloak (Nymphalis antiopa). It spends the winter as 

an adult, hidden from the weather, and then emerges during 

the first warm days of spring, with its wings often looking 

rather damaged and worn. In the south, a few butterflies 

migrate, but only three of these species have ever been 

found in the NWT as vagrants. 

So far, 95 species of butterflies have been observed in 

the NWT. None were ranked as “May Be At Risk”, but four 

are of global conservation concern and considered rare 

in the world. 

Butterfly Studies Update 

Our knowledge of NWT butterflies is increasing most rapidly 

in the Sahtu Region where many butterfly enthusiasts are 

reporting their findings annually and visiting remote parts 

of the region, specially the mountains. 

In 2007 Green Marble was reported for the first time in 

the NWT at Godlin Lake, and then reported again in 2008 

at Katharine Creek in the Sahtu Region. The species was 

probably present in the region before but simply overlooked. 

All new information is being used to help determine the 

general status ranks of butterflies in the NWT. 

If you would like to collect butterflies, contact me 

(NWTbugs@gov.nt.ca) and I will give you tips on how best 

to proceed. Only collect a very small number of individuals in 

each site, making sure that the population remain healthy. 

Ross Layberry 

First Author of “The Butterflies of Canada” 

Ottawa, ON 


65

6.9 Butterflies 

List 9. Butterflies 

There are 92 known species of butterflies in the NWT. 

Three additional species are vagrant to the NWT and occur 

irregularly. One additional species is expected to be present. 

Two species are of global conservation concern. Species are 

listed alphabetically according to scientific Order they belong 

to, then by Family, then by scientific species name. Taxonomy 

follows Pelham (2008). 

Sentinel Arctic 

Photo Credit: S Bryan 


Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Lepidoptera – Hesperiidae 

Scale-winged insects – Skippers 

Common Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes vialis Presence Expected 

Arctic Skipper Carterocephalus palaemon Secure 

Dreamy Duskywing Erynnis icelus Secure 

Persius Duskywing Erynnis persius Secure 

Common Branded Skipper Hesperia comma Secure 

Long Dash Skipper Polites mystic Undetermined L 

Peck’s Skipper Polites peckius Undetermined L 

Grizzled Skipper Pyrgus centaureae Secure 

Northern Cloudywing Thorybes pylades Undetermined L 

Lepidoptera – Lycaenidae 

Scale-winged insects – Delicate-winged butterflies 

Brown Elfin Callophrys augustinus Secure 

Western Pine Elfin Callophrys eryphon Secure 

Eastern Pine Elfin Callophrys niphon Secure 

Hoary Elfin Callophrys polios Secure 

Northern Spring Azure Celastrina lucia Secure 

Western Tailed Blue Cupido amyntula Secure 

Silvery Blue Glaucopsyche lygdamus Secure 

Dorcas Copper Lycaena dorcas Secure 

Bronze Copper Lycaena hyllus Undetermined 

American Copper Lycaena phlaeas Secure 

Arctic Blue Plebejus glandon Secure 

Northern Blue Plebejus idas (anna) Secure 

Greenish Blue Plebejus saepiolus Secure 

Cranberry Blue Plebejus optilete Secure 

66 



Lepidoptera – Nymphalidae 

Milbert’s Tortoiseshell Aglais milberti Secure 

Mountain Fritillary Boloria alaskensis Secure 

Astarte Fritillary Boloria astarte Secure 

Meadow Fritillary Boloria bellona Secure 

Arctic Fritillary Boloria chariclea Secure 

Bog Fritillary Boloria eunomia Secure 

Freija Fritillary Boloria freija Secure 

Frigga Fritillary Boloria frigga Secure 

Dingy Fritillary Boloria improba Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Scale-winged insects – Brush-footed butterflies 

Beringian Fritillary Boloria natazhati Sensitive L G3 - 2007 

Polaris Fritillary Boloria polaris Secure 

Silver-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene Secure 

Common Ringlet Coenonympha tullia Secure 

Monarch Danaus plexippus Vagrant X 

Disa Alpine Erebia disa Secure 

Red-disked Alpine Erebia discoidalis Secure 

Branded Alpine Erebia fasciata Secure 

Reddish Alpine Erebia lafontainei Sensitive 

Mt. Mackinley Alpine Erebia mackinleyensis Secure ∃ 6 

Magdalena Alpine Erebia magdalena Undetermined L 

Taiga Alpine Erebia mancinus Secure 

Scree Alpine Erebia occulta Sensitive L 

Yellow-dotted Alpine Erebia pawlowskii Undetermined L 

Ross’s Alpine Erebia rossii Secure 

Four-dotted Alpine Erebia youngi Sensitive 

Eyed Brown Lethe eurydice Sensitive 

Viceroy Limenitis archippus Undetermined 

White Admiral Limenitis arthemis Secure 

Mourning Cloak Nymphalis antiopa Secure 

Compton Tortoiseshell Nymphalis j-album Secure 

Sentinel Arctic Oeneis alpina Secure G3G4 - 2007 

White-Veined Arctic Oeneis bore Secure 

Chryxus Arctic Oeneis chryxus Secure 

Jutta Arctic Oeneis jutta Secure 

Macoun’s Arctic Oeneis macounii Undetermined 

Melissa Arctic Oeneis melissa Secure 

Philip’s Arctic Oeneis philipi Sensitive L 


6.9 Butterflies 


Polixenes Arctic Oeneis polixenes Secure 

Uhler’s Arctic Oeneis uhleri Secure 

Tawny Crescent Phyciodes batesii Undetermined 

Northern Crescent Phyciodes cocyta Secure 

Field Crescent Phyciodes pulchella Secure 

Green Comma Polygonia faunus Secure 

Hoary Comma Polygonia gracilis Secure 

Grey Comma Polygonia progne Secure 

Satyr Comma Polygonia satyrus Secure 

Atlantis Fritillary Speyeria atlantis Undetermined 

Northwestern Fritillary Speyeria hesperis Secure 

Mormon Fritillary Speyeria mormonia Undetermined L 

Red Admiral Vanessa atalanta Vagrant X 

Painted Lady Vanessa cardui Vagrant X 

Lepidoptera – Papillionidae 

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis Secure 

Old World Swallowtail Papilio machaon Secure 

Eversmann’s Parnassian Parnassius eversmanni Undetermined L 

Phoebus Parnassian Parnassius phoebus Undetermined L 

Lepidoptera – Pieridae 

Canada Sulphur Colias canadensis Secure 

Christina Sulphur Colias christina Secure 

Giant Sulphur Colias gigantea Secure 

Hecla Sulphur Colias hecla Secure 

Pink-edged Sulphur Colias interior Undetermined L 

Labrador Sulphur Colias nastes Secure 

Palaeno Sulphur Colias palaeno Secure 

Pelidne Sulphur Colias pelidne Undetermined 

Clouded Sulphur Colias philodice Secure 

Booth’s Sulphur Colias tyche Secure 

Large Marble Euchloe ausonides Secure 

Northern Marble Euchloe creusa Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Green Marble Euchloe naina Undetermined # 

Arctic White Pieris angelika Secure 

Mustard White Pieris oleracea Secure 

Cabbage White Pieris rapae Alien X 

Western White Pontia occidentalis Secure 

Spring White Pontia sisymbrii Secure 



Concern c 

Scale-winged insects – Swallowtails 

Scale-winged insects – Whites and Sulphurs 

68 






c 















Christina Sulphur 

Photo Credit: B Fournier 


6.10 

Selected 

Macromoths 

Relic Underwing Moth 

Photo Credit: G Anweiler 

Moths, together with the better-known butterflies, 

make up the large and extremely diverse group of 

insects known as the Lepidoptera or "scale-winged" insects. 

They are distinguished from all other insects by their two pairs 

of scale-covered wings. All lepidoptera undergo complete 

(4 stage) metamorphosis: eggs are laid, from which larvae 

hatch, followed by a dormant pupal stage during which the 

adult develops and then emerges to repeat the cycle again. 

While butterflies tend to be large, colourful and active during 

the day, moths tend to be smaller, less colourful and active 

mainly at night. 

Although there are many more species of moths than 

butterflies in the NWT, very little collecting of moths has taken 

place. Several hundred species of moths have been found here, 

and hundreds more will be discovered with more collecting. 

Moth collecting has taken place mostly in settled areas, 

along the main roads and in particular around Fort Smith and 

Yellowknife. Almost nothing is known about the moths in the 

mountains or the vast areas north of the forested region. 

Moths are often divided into two artificial groups; the smaller 

more poorly known groups are referred to as “micromoths", 


and the larger better known groups referred to as 

“macromoths". Although often extremely small, some 

micromoth species are very significant pests of plants, 

including forest trees and agricultural crops. The larger 

macromoths (up to 10 cm wingspan) are the ones that most 

people, encounter. A few of these are also well-known 

forest pests. 

Moths are an important part of the ecosystem, recycling plant 

material, pollinating plants and providing an important food 

source for a wide range of birds and other animals. 

The list on page 72 includes only a few groups of the largest 

and more colourful macromoths in the NWT. 

By far the largest moth found in the NWT is the Glover's 

silkmoth (Saturniidae, Hyalophora gloveri). It is the size of a 

small man's hand, with deep maroon-coloured wings and an 

eye-spot on each forewing. It is rare the NWT, more common 

in the south. They have been recorded as far north as Hay 

River. They are nocturnal and come to lights, and like most 

nocturnal moths, are most often encountered in the morning, 

resting near the lights that attracted them the night before. 

Some sphinx moths (Sphingidae) are almost as large in body 

as the silk moths, but the forewings are long and narrow. 

Most of the northern species are active during the day and 

may be seen getting nectar at flowers while on the wing. 

At such times they greatly resemble hummingbirds. Their 

forewings are drab in colour, and when at rest hide the more 

colourful banded pink or yellow hindwings. The larvae of most 

species have a small characteristic "horn" on the rear end, 

and are known as hornworms. 

The underwing moths (Erebidae, Catocala genus) are the size 

of a large butterfly. The forewings are mottled grey and black 

and provide the moth with excellent camouflage when resting 

on tree trunks. The hindwings are strongly patterned black 

and white or bright red with black bands. Only two of many 

species have been reported from NWT, one (Relict Underwing) 

with white-banded black hindwings and the other (Briseis 

Underwing) with black-banded scarlet hindwings. 

The Arctic tiger moths (Erebidae, Arctiinae sub-Family) are 

a large and mostly colourful group of medium to large size 

moths. Many species of Arctiids have evolved the ability to 

extract distasteful and toxic chemicals from the plants they 

eat as a caterpillar and use this as a defense against the birds 

and small animals that try to eat them. Many of these species 

have tough bodies and, when attacked, they exude droplets of 

this distasteful chemical through glands in their body, causing 

the predator to let them go unharmed. Most also have brightly 

coloured red or orange and black hindwings, which make them 

easy to recognize, and warn predators that they are not good 

to eat. 

If you have pictures of moths and would like to know which 

species they are or would like to share some observations and 

insights you have on their behaviour in your area, send us a 

note at NWTBUGS@gov.nt.ca, and let’s talk about moths! 

Gary Anweiler 

Alberta Lepidopterists' Guild 

Chris Schmidt 

Entomologist, Canadian Food Inspection Agency 

Mike Gravel 

Forest Ecologist, GNWT 

On taking pictures of northern biodiversity, 

including moths: 

“My camera can help me to remember details of 

animals, plants and fungi that I may have seen for 

only a moment. I can use their images to research 

and find out more about them. Pictures also help 

me to easily communicate with others, who may 

not have the good fortune to live where I do. Life 

struggles heroically here, and that is beautiful.” 

– Jenny Tucker, Yellowknife 


71

6.10 Selected Macromoths 

List 10. Selected Macromoths 

There are 21 known species of tiger moths, one species 

of silk moth, two species of underwing moths, and six 

species of sphinx moths confirmed present in the NWT. 

Two species are of global conservation concern. Species are 



Taxonomy follows Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility 

2003 and Schmidt and Opler 2008. 

Glover's Silkmoth Larvae 

Photo Credit: G Anweiler 


Lepidoptera – Erebidae (Arctiinae sub-Family) 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Scale-winged insects – Arctic Tiger Moths 

Arctic Tiger Moth Acerbia alpina Undetermined G3G4 

Rockslide Tiger Moth Acsala anomala Undetermined 

Short-winged Tiger Moth Arctia brachyptera Undetermined 

Opulent Tiger Moth Arctia opulenta Undetermined 

Yellow-collared Tiger Moth Cisseps fulvicollis Undetermined 

Alberta Dodia Tiger Moth Dodia albertae Undetermined 

Smoky Tiger Moth Eilema bicolor Undetermined 

Salt-marsh Tiger Moth Estigmene acrea Secure 

Margo’s Tiger Moth Grammia margo Undetermined L 

Philip’s Tiger Moth Grammia philipiana Undetermined L G3 

Quensel’s Tiger Moth Grammia quenseli Secure 

Bog Tiger Moth Grammia speciosa Undetermined 

William’s Tiger Moth Grammia williamsii Undetermined 

Yukon Tiger Moth Grammia yukona Undetermined 

Steppe Tiger Moth Holarctia obliterata Undetermined 

Subarctic Tiger Moth Pararctia lapponica Undetermined 

Mountain Tiger Moth Pararctia yarrowii Undetermined 

Black-and-White Tiger Moth Parasemia plantaginis Undetermined 

Ruby Tiger Moth Phragmatobia fuliginosa Undetermined 

St. Lawrence Tiger Moth Platarctia parthenos Secure 

Salmon Virbia Tiger Moth Virbia ferruginosa Undetermined 

Lepidoptera – Erebidae (Catocala genus) 

Briseis Underwing Moth Catocala briseis Undetermined 

Relic Underwing Moth Catocala relicta Undetermined 

Lepidoptera – Saturniidae 

Glover’s Silkmoth Hyalophora gloveri Sensitive L 

Scale-winged insects – Underwing Moths 

Scale-winged insects – Silk Moths 

72 



Lepidoptera – Sphingidae 

Snowberry Clearwing Moth Hemaris diffinis Undetermined 

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth Hemaris thysbe Undetermined 

Bedstraw Hawk Moth Hyles gallii Undetermined 

Yellow-banded Sphinx Moth Proserpinus flavofasciata Undetermined 

One-eyed Sphinx Moth Smerinthus cerisyi Undetermined 

Birch Sphinx Moth Sphinx luscitiosa Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Scale-winged insects – Sphinx Moths 


b For your convenience, the status derived from other processes than the one presented in this report is described in this column. COSEWIC Status: 





Bedstraw Hawk Moth 

Photo Credit: J Tucker 


6.11 

Dragonflies 

and Damselflies 

Lake Darner 


Dragonflies and damselflies have become symbolic of the 

natural world to many people. They are used to represent 

nature in art, advertisement, company and program logos, etc. 

They are monitored as indicators of the state of the aquatic 

environment. They consume pest insects including biting 

flies. They also have a major impact on ecosystems as both 

predators and prey. Numerous fish and birds, including young 

of the endangered whooping crane, will feed extensively on 

the aquatic larvae of dragonflies. 

Dragonflies and damselflies belong to the order Odonata, 

meaning “the toothy ones.” Both adults and larvae chew up 

their living prey. However, they are harmless to people and 

they neither bite nor sting. They are sometimes mistakenly 

thought to be attacking as they gather up the black flies, 

mosquitoes, deer flies and horse flies that are attacking you. 

74 


The Odonates have large wings, elongate bodies and small 

bristle-like antennae; this is a very distinctive group of 

insects. Dragonflies hold their wings horizontally and have a 

compact head with the eyes separated by a small space less 

than their own width. Damselflies differ in having their wings 

held above the body (vertically) when at rest and they have a 

large space between the eyes, greater than their own width. 

Flying adults lay eggs in or near the water. The tiny eggs 

hatch in a week or overwinter, hatching in the spring. The 

brown/green aquatic larvae, called nymphs, have a clawed 

lower lip that can be projected at a speed of 1/100th of a 

second to capture prey. Nymphs grow by molting their skin 

8-17 times. Mature nymphs then leave the water and expand 

by swallowing air. This splits the skin and a pale creature 

emerges. The wings at first appear shrivelled, but they soon 

expand. At the same time the exoskeleton hardens and 

colours develop. Within a few hours of emerging from the 

water, the dragonfly is full-grown and launches on its first 

flight. Males of some species defend territories and others 

indulge in complex mating flights. When mating, the male 

holds the front of the female with the tip of his abdomen. 

There are 42 species in the NWT. Sizes range from the very 

large lake darner (8 cm long) to the delicate metallic green 

sedge sprite (3 cm long). Some species are found only 

in specific aquatic habitats. For example, nymphs of the 

boreal snakestail occur only in fast flowing water including 

rapids and waterfalls. The nymphs of the white-faced 

meadowhawk inhabit shallow temporary pools. Most of the 

NWT dragonflies occur in the boreal forest zone and only a 

few species such as the sedge darner and the zigzag darner 

extend out onto the tundra. 

According to our most current information, three NWT 

species may be at risk. The treeline emerald occurs only near 

Inuvik and the elusive clubtail occurs only along the lower 

reaches of Hay River. The forcipate emerald is known from 

two localities but appears to be associated with tiny pools 

in some burned muskegs. 

Although we have some good information and a book 

about the dragonflies of the NWT, there is still much to be 

learned. As recently as 2010, a spectacular species (river 

jewelwing) with black wingtips and a metallic green body 

was discovered in the NWT for the first time, living on a 

section of the Kakisa River hundreds of kilometres from 

its nearest occurrence in central Alberta. 

More information on NWT Odonates is available on the 

www.enr.gov.nt.ca web page. 

If you are visiting or living in any NWT region, you may 

be able to help document the dragonfly fauna of the North. 

Photos are welcome. Collecting specimens may be done but 

only if you see that the population is large. Collected insects 

should be placed individually with wings folded over the 

back in an envelope. The date, location and collector’s name 

should be noted on the envelope. Next the envelopes should 

be frozen, put in a dry place to dry out and shipped in a box 

to prevent damage. They may be shipped to ENR. Contact 

NWTbugs@gov.nt.ca for more tips and a mailing address. 

Dr. Paul M. Catling 

Agriculture and Agri-food Canada 

River Jewelwing 



75

6.11 Dragonflies and Damselflies 

List 11. Dragonflies and Damselflies 

There are 42 species of Odonates in the NWT. One species, 

the elusive clubtail, is of global conservation concern. None 

of the species are alien. Species in the Order “Odonata” include 

all dragonflies and damselflies. The true dragonflies are part 

of the Suborder “Epiprocta”, but all North America species 

are of the Infraorder “Anisoptera”, so we used this grouping 

in the list. Damselflies are part of the Suborder “Zygoptera”. 

Species are listed alphabetically according to the Suborder/ 

Infraorder they belong to, then by Family, then by scientific 

species name. Taxonomy follows and Needham et al. (2000) 

for dragonflies, and Westfall and May (2006) for damselflies. 

Four-spotted Skimmer 


Odonata 


Anisoptera – Aeshnidae 

Canada Darner Aeshna canadensis Undetermined L 

Lake Darner Aeshna eremita Secure 

Variable Darner Aeshna interrupta Secure 

Sedge Darner Aeshna juncea Secure 

Azure Darner Aeshna septentrionalis Secure 

Zigzag Darner Aeshna sitchensis Secure 

Subarctic Darner Aeshna subarctica Secure 

Shadow Darner Aeshna umbrosa Secure 

Anisoptera – Corduliidae 

American Emerald Cordulia shurtleffi Secure 

Ringed Emerald Somatochlora albicincta Secure 

Forcipate Emerald Somatochlora forcipata May Be At Risk L 

Delicate Emerald Somatochlora franklini Undetermined 

Hudsonian Emerald Somatochlora hudsonica Secure 

Kennedy’s Emerald Somatochlora kennedyi Secure 

Ocellated Emerald Somatochlora minor Sensitive L 

Treeline Emerald Somatochlora sahlbergi May Be At Risk L 

Muskeg Emerald Somatochlora septentrionalis Undetermined L 

Anisoptera – Gomphidae 

Boreal Snaketail Ophiogomphus colubrinus Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 


Concern c 

Dragonflies and Damselflies 

Dragonflies – Darners 

Dragonflies – Emeralds 

Dragonflies – Clubtails and relatives 

Elusive Clubtail Stylurus notatus May Be At Risk L G3 - 2007 

76 



Anisoptera – Libellulidae 

Boreal Whiteface Leucorrhinia borealis Secure 

Hudsonian Whiteface Leucorrhinia hudsonica Secure 

Canada Whiteface Leucorrhinia patricia Secure 

Variable Whiteface Leucorrhinia proxima Secure 

Four-spotted Skimmer Libellula quadrimaculata Secure 

Saffron-winged Meadowhawk Sympetrum costiferum Secure 

Black Meadowhawk Sympetrum danae Secure 

Cherry-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum internum Secure 

Red-veined Meadowhawk Sympetrum madidum Secure 

White-faced Meadowhawk Sympetrum obtrusum Secure 

Zygoptera – Calopterygidae 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

River Jewelwing Calopteryx aequabilis Undetermined L # 

Zygoptera – Coenagrionidae 

Prairie Bluet Coenagrion angulatum Undetermined 

Subarctic Bluet Coenagrion interrogatum Undetermined 

Taiga Bluet Coenagrion resolutum Secure 

Northern Bluet Enallagma annexum Secure 

Boreal Bluet Enallagma boreale Secure 

Marsh Bluet Enallagma ebrium Secure 

Hagen’s Bluet Enallagma hageni Undetermined L 

Sedge Sprite Nehalennia irene Secure 

Zygoptera – Lestidae 

Spotted Spreadwing Lestes congener Secure 

Common Spreadwing Lestes disjunctus Secure 

Emerald Spreadwing Lestes dryas Secure 

Sweetflag Spreadwing Lestes forcipatus Secure 


Concern c 

Dragonflies – Skimmers and relatives 

Damselflies – Broad-winged Damselflies 

Damselflies – Pond Damselflies 

Damselflies – Spreadwings 





c 
















6.12 

Agitated Deer Fly 

Photo Credit: S Lux 

Selected 

Biting Insects 

Biting insects are a conspicuous part of northern 

biodiversity. They are important to monitor both because 

changes in their species distribution and abundance are 

excellent indicators of northern ecosystem changes. Healthy 

northern ecosystems have lots of biting insects! 

All the biting insects in the list below are part of the order 

Diptera, called “true flies”. They all possess one pair of wings 

and develop in four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Only 

the females will bite. Most biting females will use chemical 

clues to find a target. The most important clue is carbon 

dioxide. So waving our arms to chase biting insects away will 

usually only serve to advertise our presence and attract more. 

Mosquitoes 

Mosquitoes (Culicidae) are slender flies with long legs and 

scale-covered bodies. They differ in colour from dark browns 

to yellows and have varying patterns of banding on their 

bodies and legs. Only female mosquitoes will take blood 

with a special proboscis as they may require a bloodmeal 

to develop their eggs. Not all mosquito species need 

blood; many northern species can produce eggs without a 

blood-meal. Mosquitoes are very dependent on humidity 

as they develop from eggs to pupa in standing or slowrunning 

waters. Many species will lay eggs only in very 

specific aquatic habitats, such as pools of snowmelt. Arctic 

species will hatch only if eggs are subjected to very low 

temperatures before hatching. 

78 


Most species survive the winter as eggs. Some species 

survive the cold season hibernating as gravid females in 

the adult stage, and will be found flying in very early spring 

when open water is not yet available. These species are 

mostly known to northerners as the “big dumb spring ones” 

because they are slow flying and seem to require some time 

before they start taking a blood-meal. 

Mosquitoes play an important part in northern ecosystems 

as their larvae are food for fish, as well as dragonflies and 

other aquatic invertebrates. Adult mosquitoes provide an 

abundant source of food for birds and bats. Mosquitoes 

will feed on nectar for energy, and in the North, they are 

one of the main pollinating insects. Their fast reproductive 

cycles and dependency on minimum temperatures and 

water makes mosquitoes a good indicator for environmental 

changes. Rising temperatures facilitate a longer season and 

the development of more generations of mosquitoes. Also, 

species previously unseen in the NWT will potentially be 

able to establish themselves here. 

Thirty-four species of mosquitoes have been recorded in the 

NWT. A species gradient can be seen across the NWT - in the 

southern, forested regions the diversity of species is high, 

whereas in the northern tundra regions, often only two to 

three species are found on a regular basis. 

A mosquito monitoring program was initiated in the NWT 

since West Nile Virus was introduced by accident into Canada 

in 2001. This program has resulted in updated information 

on the distribution of mosquito species in the NWT. Other 

projects on insect harassment provide additional information. 

Only certain species of mosquitoes are able to transmit 

viral diseases to humans and mammals. The mosquitoes 

transmitting West Nile virus were found in small numbers in 

the southern NWT, but so far, no mosquitoes collected here 

have been found to replicate the West Nile Virus. 

Black Flies 

Black flies (Simuliidae) are very small flies usually black 

but sometimes with grey, red or yellow hues. They may be 

called sand flies or brûlots. There are 58 species already 

recorded in the NWT. More are expected. Surveys in the 

Sahtu in 2006 by Doug Currie of the Royal Ontario Museum 

identified 43 species, nearly doubling the previous estimate 

of 22 species for the region. 

Black flies need running water, like rivers and streams, 

to develop from eggs to pupa. Only female black flies 

bite. Some species do not have males, and if they exist, 

they are rarely observed. Most black flies will feed on 

nectar for energy; a blood meal is only used for egg 

development. Monitoring the types of black flies found and 

their reproductive success in a stream is routinely done to 

measure levels of freshwater contamination. 

Horseflies and Deerflies 

Horseflies and deerflies (Tabanidae) are large flies, usually 

brown to black, of which females obtain egg-forming meals 

by sucking blood from mammals and birds. Some species of 

horseflies do not require a blood-meal. Energy to survive is 

obtained from sugar in insect honeydew and nectar, hence 

they are also pollinators. Horseflies and deerflies are most 

active during warm days, especially when the wind is low. 

Deerflies are a kind of smaller horsefly with banded wings 

(Genus Chrysops). Horseflies can cause so much pain to 

humans when they bite that people call these flies ‘bulldogs”. 

Monitoring the distribution of horseflies and deerflies is 

important as they are potential vectors of some diseases 

in wildlife, such as tularaemia and encephalitis. Still, many 

aspects of the biology of horseflies and deerflies remain 

unknown. Horseflies and deerflies are in such abundance in 

the North that they are a very important source of food for 

many birds, other insects, and many fish species. 

Twenty-five species of horseflies and deerflies have been 

recorded in the NWT, mostly in the forested areas. None are 

present yet on the Arctic islands. 

Dr. Regula Waeckerlin 

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine 

Universtiy of Calgary 

Dr. Brett Elkin 

Wildlife Heath, GNWT 


6.12 Selected Biting Insects 

List 12. Selected Biting Insects 

There are 34 species of mosquitoes, 58 species of black flies, and 

25 species of deerflies and horseflies confirmed present in the 

NWT. Species are listed alphabetically according to the scientific 

Order they belong to, then by Family, then by scientific species 

name. Taxonomy follows Wood et al. 1979 for mosquitoes, 

Teskey 1990 for deerflies and horseflies, and Adler et al. 2004 

for blackflies. Mosquitoes, deerflies and horseflies common 

names are according to S. Carrière, black flies common names are 

according to P. Alder and D. Currie. Common names, as of 2010, 

have not been approved by the Entomological Society of Canada. 

Treeline Mosquito 

Photo Credit: R Gau 


Range 

Note a 


Concern c 

Diptera – Culicidae 

Fly-like insects – Mosquitoes 

Ash-coloured Mosquito Aedes cinereus Secure 

Night Vexing Mosquito Aedes vexans Undetermined 

Malaria Mosquito Anopheles earlei Undetermined 

Perturbing Dusk Mosquito Coquillettidia perturbans Undetermined 

Western Vector Mosquito Culex tarsalis Secure 

Frog Vector Mosquito Culex territans Secure 

Alaska Winter Mosquito Culiseta alaskaensis Secure 

Impatient Winter Mosquito Culiseta impatiens Secure 

Fraser Winter Mosquito Culiseta incidens Secure 

Marsh Winter Mosquito Culiseta inornata Secure 

Swamp Mosquito Culiseta morsitans Secure 

Variable Mosquito Ochleroptatus excrucians Secure 

Grass Mosquito Ochlerotatus campestris Undetermined L 

Canada Mosquito Ochlerotatus canadensis Secure 

Snowmelt Mosquito Ochlerotatus cataphylla Secure 

Common Mosquito Ochlerotatus communis Secure 

Crouching Sphagnum Mosquito Ochlerotatus dectitus Undetermined 

Spring Pool Mosquito Ochlerotatus diantaeus Secure 

Prairie Halophilic Mosquito Ochlerotatus dorsalis Undetermined 

Marsh Mosquito Ochlerotatus euedes Secure 

Aspen Mosquito Ochlerotatus fitchii Undetermined 

Large Yellow Mosquito Ochlerotatus flavescens Undetermined 

Treeline Mosquito Ochlerotatus hexodontus Secure 

Tundra Mosquito Ochlerotatus impiger Secure 

Spring Willow Mosquito Ochlerotatus implicatus Secure 

80 



Intrusive Mosquito Ochlerotatus intrudens Undetermined 

Spring Mosquito Ochlerotatus mercurator Undetermined 

Arctic Mosquito Ochlerotatus nigripes Secure 

Boreal Benign Mosquito Ochlerotatus pionips Secure 

Forest Mosquito Ochlerotatus provocans Undetermined 

Alpine Mosquito Ochlerotatus pullatus Undetermined L 

Boreal Pesky Mosquito Ochlerotatus punctor Undetermined 

River Mosquito Ochlerotatus riparius Undetermined 

Winnipeg Mosquito Ochlerotatus spencerii Undetermined L 

Diptera – Simuliidae 

Hermit Black Fly Cnephia eremites Secure 

Nearly Hidden Black Fly Greniera abditoides Undetermined 

Big-eyed Black Fly Gymnopais holopticoides Sensitive 

Alpine Black Fly Helodon alpestris Secure 

Ten-articled Black Fly Helodon decemarticulatus Secure 

Gibson's Black Fly Helodon gibsoni Secure 

Irkutsk Black Fly Helodon irkutensis Secure 

Polar Black Fly Metacnephia borealis Secure 

Sailer's Black Fly Metacnephia saileri Secure 

Saskatchewan Black Fly Metacnephia saskatchewana Secure 

Bear Island Black Fly Prosimulium ursinum Secure 

Duck Black Fly Simulium anatinum Secure 

Ringed Black Fly Simulium annulus Secure 

Argus Mountain Black Fly Simulium argus Undetermined 

Baffin Island Black Fly Simulium baffinense Secure 

Two-horned Black Fly Simulium bicorne Secure 

Bracted Black Fly Simulium bracteatum Secure 

Turkey Black Fly Simulium congareenarum Secure 

Conundrum Black Fly Simulium conundrum Secure 

Craig's Black Fly Simulium craigi Secure 

Croxton's Black Fly Simulium croxtoni Secure 

Taiga Black Fly Simulium decimatum Secure 

Decorous Black Fly Simulium decorum Secure 

Excised Black Fly Simulium excisum Undetermined 

Exiled Black Fly Simulium exulatum Secure 

Fiona's Black Fly Simulium fionae Undetermined 

Little Spring Black Fly Simulium fontinale Secure 

Forked Black Fly Simulium furculatum Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern c 

Fly-like insects – Blackflies 


6.12 Selected Biting Insects 


Blameless Black Fly Simulium innocens Undetermined 

Irritating Black Fly Simulium irritatum Secure 

Lugger's Gnat Simulium luggeri Secure 

Malyschev's Black Fly Simulium malyschevi Secure 

Turkey Gnat Simulium meridionale Undetermined L 

Murmansk Black Fly Simulium murmanum Secure 

Outflow Black Fly Simulium noelleri Secure 

Variegated Black Fly Simulium pictipes Secure 

Fine-haired Black Fly Simulium pilosum Secure 

Rendalen Black Fly Simulium rendalense Undetermined 

Beaked Black Fly Simulium rostatum Secure 

Rubtzov's Black Fly Simulium rubtzovi Undetermined 

Ruggle's Black Fly Simulium rugglesi Secure 

Woodland Black Fly Simulium silvestre Secure 

Tundra Black Fly Simulium subpusillum Secure 

Barren Grounds Black Fly Simulium tormentor Secure 

Broad Legged Black Fly Simulium transiens Secure 

Three-pointed Black Fly Simulium tribulatum Secure 

Short Black Fly Simulium truncatum Secure 

Tubercled Black Fly AB Simulium tuberosum Secure 

Vampire Black Fly Simulium vampirum Secure 

Little Thief Black Fly Simulium vandalicum Secure 

White-stockinged Black Fly Simulium venustum Secure 

Unassuming Black Fly Simulium verecundum Secure 

Injuring Black Fly Simulium violator Secure 

Striped Black Fly Simulium vittatum Secure 

Common Black Fly Simulium vulgare Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern c 

Ten-filamented Black Fly 

(Beringian Blackfly) 

Stegopterna decafilis 

Undetermined 

Emerging Black Fly Stegopterna emergens Secure 

Tricorne Black Fly Stegopterna trigonium Secure 

Diptera – Tabanidae 

Fly-like insects – Deerflies and Horseflies 

Fen Horse Fly Atylotus sublunatocornis Secure 

Malicious Deer Fly Chrysops ater Secure 

Dawson's Deer Fly Chrysops dawsoni Undetermined 

Agitated Deer Fly Chrysops excitans Secure 

Coldregion Deer Fly Chrysops frigidus Undetermined L 

Hairy Deer Fly Chrysops furcatus Secure 

Benign Deer Fly Chrysops mitis Secure 

82 



Black Deer Fly Chrysops nigripes Secure 

North American Horse Fly Haematopota americana Undetermined 

Pesky Horse Fly Hybomitra affinis Secure 

Hilltop Horse Fly Hybomitra arpadi Secure 

Astute Horse Fly Hybomitra astuta Secure 

Epistate Horse Fly Hybomitra epistates Secure 

Fearsome Horse Fly Hybomitra frontalis Secure 

Hearle's Horse Fly Hybomitra hearlei Undetermined L 

Bog Horse Fly Hybomitra illota Secure 

Orange-sided Horse Fly Hybomitra lasiophthalma Secure 

Brown-legged Horse Fly Hybomitra liorhina Secure 

Sphagnum Horse Fly Hybomitra lurida Secure 

Rock Horse Fly Hybomitra nitidifrons Secure 

Pechuman's Horse Fly Hybomitra pechumani Secure 

Northwestern Horse Fly Hybomitra sexfasciata Secure 

Western Horse Fly Hybomitra tetrica Undetermined L 

Coniferous Horse Fly Hybomitra trepida Secure 

Zonalis Horse Fly Hybomitra zonalis Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern c 








6.12 

Grasshoppers 

and Katydid 

Grasshoppers, crickets- katydids are closely related to 

cockroaches, mantids, termites, rock-crawlers (also 

called grylloblattids), earwigs and stick insects. Grasshoppers 

(Order Orthoptera) have shorter antenna than crickets and 

katydids (also called bush-crickets) (Order Grylloptera). 

Grasshoppers are important in the North in many ways. 

First, they often occur in large numbers and have 

substantial impact on plant communities. They may eat 

their weight in plant tissue each day, and can influence 

the composition of plant communities. They also hasten 

the degradation of cellulose and contribute in a significant 

way to the cycling of nutrients in ecosystems. 

Cracker Grasshopper 

Photo Credit: PM Catling 

Second, many bird species feed on grasshoppers. Also 

reptiles and amphibians are major consumers. Some birds 

and mammals probably rely heavily on grasshoppers whereas 

others simply take advantage of periodic large numbers. 

Sandhill cranes feed on the relatively large striped sedge 

grasshopper (Stethophyma lineata) in fens and on clearwinged 

grasshopper (Camnula pellucida) along roads 

(…and regularly at Hay River airfield). Grasshoppers 

are 50-75% crude protein and thus highly nutritious. 

84 


Third, they can be useful indicators of environmental 

change. The diversity, functional importance, sensitivity 

to disturbance, ease of identification and ease of sampling 

make grasshoppers potentially useful bioindicators for land 

management. Grasshopper assemblages have been shown 

to respond to disturbances associated with human land 

use and their responses may add to information from other 

groups such as plants. 

Many grasshoppers have complex behaviour patterns, both 

auditory and visual. The chirping or whistling-like sounds that 

they make can often be used to identify the species. These 

sounds are made by rubbing one part of the body against 

another and are referred to as stridulation. 

The greatest variety of grasshoppers in NWT is found in dry 

or moist open places dominated by grasses or sedges but with 

high floristic diversity. Such habitats occur beside streams 

and lakeshores and along roads. However, grasshoppers can 

occur in all habitats. The tundra grasshopper (Bohemanella 

frigida) and the Arctic grasshopper (Aeropedallus arcticus) are 

abundant in rich, limestone tundra. Our only bush-cricket or 

katydid (Metrioptera sphagnorum) occurs in sphagnum bogs 

near Fort Smith. 

The last glaciation greatly influenced the present distribution 

of grasshoppers in the NWT. Most species present here are 

widespread and abundant across most of southern Canada. 

Some likely followed the receding ice-sheet northward into 

Canada from an extensive range to the south. 

Three species, Kennicott's grasshopper (Melanoplus kennicottii), 

speckled rangeland grasshopper (Arphia conspersa) and 

club-horned grasshopper (Aeropedellus clavatus) are mainly 

distributed in the prairies but are also present in isolated 

prairie remnants within the taiga-boreal forest of the NWT. 

A particularly interesting pattern is demonstrated by a few 

species of grasshoppers in the NWT. This is the Beringia 

distribution associated with the unglaciated area of Alaska, 

Yukon and Northwest Territories. Beringia was largely 

treeless steppe tundra surrounded by glaciers. Here life 

survived when the rest of Canada was under glacial ice. 

The Beringian biodiversity spread south and east as the 

icesheet melted but the rate of dispersal varied for different 

grasshoppers. Some species were confined by habitat 

requirements while others were restricted by lack of mobility 

due to being flightless. Those that could not spread rapidly 

into recently deglaciated landscapes across Canada remained 

in the relict Beringian habitats outlining the approximate 

extent of the Beringian region. Included in this flightless 

Beringian category are the tundra grasshopper (Bohemanella 

frigida), and Arctic grasshopper (Aeropedellus arcticus). 

The third Beringian species, Brook's pink-shanked grasshopper 

(Xanthippus brooksi), is certainly one of the most interesting 

grasshoppers in the NWT and one that deserves much more 

study. Although a few individuals have been collected 

elsewhere in the Yukon and NWT, typical specimens of this 

species have been found only near Inuvik. So in a strict sense, 

it is a grasshopper unique to a very small area of the NWT. 

It probably lived in Beringia and as conditions changed 

as boreal forest invaded and many of the larger Beringian 

mammals disappeared, there is evidence that some of the 

resident insects survived in relict pockets of tundra grassland, 

dunes and rocky slopes. Brook’s pink-shanked grasshopper 

appears to be one of them. This species is the only 

grasshopper in the NWT ranked as “May Be At Risk”. 

Anyone wanting more information on grasshoppers can obtain 

it from the Orthopterists’ Society (www.orthoptera.org). 

Questions and local information about grasshoppers in the 

NWT can be sent to NWTBUGS@gov.nt.ca. 

Dr. Paul Catling 

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada 

“Insects have been documented at many locations 

near roads and communities in NWT, but in the 

vast expanse beyond settlement it is possible 

to discover species not previously found in the 

territory, or that are even new to science. Air 

transportation has vastly improved knowledge 

of biodiversity in the North. In 2007 I collected 

plants and insects during a cooperative study 

of a remote Sahtu region of unusual limestone 

terrain.” 

– Dr. Paul Catling 


6.13 Grasshoppers and Katydids 

List 13. Grasshoppers and Katydid 

There are 22 species of grasshoppers confirmed present in the 

NWT. Only one species of katydid (bush-crickets) has been 

recorded in the NWT. None are of global conservation concern. 

Species are listed alphabetically according to scientific Order 

they belong to, then by Family, then by scientific species name. 

Taxonomy follows Vickery and Kevan 1985. Common names are 

from Catling 2008. 

Tundra Grasshopper 



Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Grylloptera – Tettigoniidae 

Cricket-like insects – Bush-crickets or Katydids 

Bog Katydid Metrioptera sphagnorum Undetermined L 

Orthoptera – Acrididae 

Grasshopper-like insects – Short-horned Grasshoppers 

Arctic Grasshopper Aeropedellus arcticus Secure 

Club-horned Grasshopper Aeropedellus clavatus Undetermined 

Speckled Rangeland Grasshopper Arphia conspersa Secure 

Tundra Grasshopper Bohemanella frigida Sensitive 

Clear-winged Grasshopper Camnula pellucida c Secure 

Cow Grasshopper Chloealtis abdominalis Secure 

Sprinkled Broad-winged 

Grasshopper 

Chloealtis conspersa Undetermined L 

Marsh Meadow Grasshopper Chorthippus curtipennis Undetermined 

Northern Grasshopper Melanoplus borealis Secure 

Bruner’s Grasshopper Melanoplus bruneri Secure 

Huckleberry Grasshopper Melanoplus fasciatus Secure 

Redlegged Grasshopper Melanoplus femurrubrum c Secure 

Kennicott’s Grasshopper Melanoplus kennicottii Sensitive 

Migratory Grasshopper Melanoplus sanguinipes Secure 

Coral-winged grasshopper Pardalophora apiculata Secure 

Graceful Sedge Grasshopper Stethophyma gracile Undetermined L 

Striped Sedge Grasshopper Stethophyma lineata Undetermined 

Cracker Grasshopper Trimerotropis verruculata Secure 

Brook’s Pink-shanked Grasshopper Xanthippus brooksi May Be At Risk 

86 



Orthoptera – Tetrigidae 

Brunner’s Grouse Grasshopper Tetrix brunnerii Secure 

Ornate Grouse Grasshopper Tetrix ornata Secure 

Granulated Grouse Grasshopper Tetrix subulata Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Grasshopper-like insects – Grouse Grasshoppers 







c 

Camnula pellucida and Melanoplus femurrubrum may be introduced. They are native to North America, but occur mainly in man-made habitats. 

Northern Grasshopper 


Cow Grasshopper 


Northern Grasshopper 


Striped Sedge Grasshopper 



6.14 

Spiders 

Snowbank Wolf Spider 

Photo Credit: J Sloan 

88 


Spiders (Araneae) belong to the arthropod class Arachnida 

(a word derived from the Greek term for “spider”) along 

with scorpions, harvestmen, mites, ticks, whipscorpions and 

other familiar and not-so-familiar organisms. Arachnids have 

eight legs, a two-part body, and no antennae. In contrast, 

insects have six legs, a three-part body, and antennae. All 

spiders have fang-like mouthparts (chelicerae) and most have 

four pairs of eyes. Spiders are unique in their possession 

of abdominal spinnerets and, in males, pedipalps (leg-like 

appendages at the front of a spider) that are extensively 

modified for mating purposes. 

Spiders are common but often inconspicuous animals in all 

terrestrial and many aquatic ecosystems around the world 

(except Antarctica). They are excellent predators, primarily 

eating insects and other arthropods. Most are generalists, 

preying upon a wide variety of organisms. Only a few are 

specialists. Some actively hunt down their prey, others wait 

for prey to come to them and then capture them in elaborate 

webs or simply by ambushing and overpowering them. 

Spiders form the seventh largest order of organisms on the 

planet (and the largest entirely predatory one) and are key 

components of all ecosystems where they occur. 

All spiders use silk produced from their spinnerets for various 

purposes: from safety lines and egg sacs, to prey-capture 

webs. To most people, webs are probably the most familiar 

aspects of spiders. Many spiders, however, do not build webs. 

Spiders that ambush or actively hunt their prey (e.g., crab, 

jumping, wolf, ground, and sac spiders,) do not build preycapture 

webs. Among web-building spiders, species grouped 

within the same Family usually construct similar types of 

webs (e.g., funnel-web, orb, sheet-web, and cobweb weavers). 

Spider webs vary widely in size, shape, and the amount and 

type of silk used. 

Most Nearctic spider species take one to two years to complete 

their life cycles and, in the NWT, few live for more than one 

year. Almost all spiders are solitary animals. Because of this, 

spiders have evolved complex courtship rituals so that males 

and females of the same species can mate successfully… 

without eating each other. 

Many Nearctic spiders spend the winter either as eggs 

(e.g., many orb weavers) or as sub-adults (e.g., many wolf 

and crab spiders). Sub-adult Pardosa wolf spiders are often 

one of the first signs of spring, emerging from their winter 

hiding places and running about in open areas, often in 

large numbers, on the first reasonably warm days. They 

mature rapidly and mate in the first weeks of spring. Shortly 

thereafter the females can be found dragging egg cases 

behind them, attached to their spinnerets, or with young 

spiderlings riding on their backs. Although few spiders are 

known to care for their young, this type of maternal care is 

typical of wolf spiders. 

Most of the known NWT spiders are widespread, relatively 

common Nearctic species. Nearly 10%, however, are 

restricted to the Arctic. Spider diversity is much higher in 

the tropics and, interestingly, in the southern hemisphere 

than it is in the northern hemisphere. The diversity of one 

spider Family, Linyphiidae (sheet-web weavers and dwarf 

spiders), however, reverses this trend and is highest in 

the North. Thus, it is not surprising that nearly half of the 

known NWT spider species are linyphiids and at least 17 

of these are only found in the Arctic. 

There has been no concerted effort to document the full 

range of NWT spider diversity and most records are from 

incidental captures by insect collectors working in relatively 

accessible areas. Careful collecting, targeting especially the 

many small, inconspicuous ground- dwelling species, will no 

doubt add a considerable number of new records to the NWT 

spider species list. 

Robb Bennett 

Arachnid specialist living in British Columbia 


89

6.14 Spiders 

List 14. Spiders 

So far, 268 species of spiders are confirmed present in the 

NWT. None are of global conservation concern. Species are 



Taxonomy follows Platnick 2010 and Paquin et al. 2010. 

Common names are from diverse sources or original for this 

document and have not been approved by the Entomological 

Society of Canada. 

Taiga Wolf Spider 

Photo Credit: B Latham 


Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Araneae – Agelenidae 

Spiders – Funnel-web Weaver Spiders 

Utah Funnel-web Spider Agelenopsis utahana Undetermined 

Araneae – Amaurobiidae 

Spiders – Amaurobiid Spiders 

Common Amaurobiid Spider Arctobius agelenoides Undetermined 

Debris Amaurobiid Spider Cybaeopsis euopla Undetermined 

Araneae – Araneidae 

Spiders – Orb Weavers 

Rock Orb Weaver Aculepeira carbonarioides Secure 

Northern Orb Weaver Aculepeira packardi Undetermined 

Roundshouldered Orb Weaver Araneus corticarius Undetermined L 

Marbled Orb Weaver Araneus marmoreus Undetermined 

Nordmann’s Orb Weaver Araneus nordmanni Undetermined L 

Fierce Orb Weaver Araneus saevus Undetermined L 

Shamrock Orb Weaver Araneus trifolium Undetermined 

Yukon Orb Weaver Araneus yukon Undetermined L 

Six-spotted Orb Weaver Araniella displicata Secure 

Boreal Orb Weaver Araniella proxima Undetermined 

Deathstring Orb Weaver Cyclosa conica Undetermined L 

Greenland Orb Weaver Hypsosinga groenlandica Undetermined 

Small Orb Weaver Hypsosinga pygmaea Undetermined 

Rubens Orb Weaver Hypsosinga rubens Undetermined 

Horned Orb Weaver Larinioides cornutus Secure 

Bordered Orb Weaver Larinioides patagiatus Secure 

Araneae – Clubionidae 

Spiders – Sac Spiders 

Bryant Sac Spider Clubiona bryantae Undetermined 

Canada Sac Spider Clubiona canadensis Undetermined 

Boreal Sac Spider Clubiona furcata Undetermined 

Kulczynski’s Sac Spider Clubiona kulczynskii Undetermined 

90 



Norway Sac Spider Clubiona norvegica Secure 

Alpine Sac Spider Clubiona praematura Undetermined 

Bank Sac Spider Clubiona riparia Undetermined 

Araneae – Dictynidae 

Lapland Dictynid Spider Arctella lapponica Undetermined 

Alaska Dictynid Spider Dictyna alaskae Undetermined 

Reed Dictynid Spider Dictyna arundinacea Undetermined 

Short Dictynid Spider Dictyna brevitarsa Undetermined 

Major Dictynid Spider Dictyna major Undetermined 

Hackled-banded Dictynid Spider Emblyna annulipes Undetermined 

High Arctic Dictynid Spider Emblyna borealis Undetermined 

Manitoba Dictynid Spider Emblyna manitoba Undetermined 

Araneae – Gnaphosidae 

Pluto Ground Hunter Callilepis pluto Undetermined 

Neglected Ground Hunter Drassodes neglectus Undetermined 

Boreal Ground Hunter Gnaphosa borea Undetermined 

Brown Ground Hunter Gnaphosa brumalis Undetermined 

Forest Ground Hunter Gnaphosa microps Undetermined 

Moss Ground Hunter Gnaphosa muscorum Undetermined 

High Arctic Ground Hunter Gnaphosa orites Undetermined 

Bog Ground Hunter Gnaphosa parvula Undetermined 

Winter Ground Hunter Haplodrassus hiemalis Secure 

Taiga Ground Hunter Micaria aenea Undetermined L 

Alpine Ground Hunter Micaria alpina Undetermined 

Tundra Ground Hunter Micaria constricta Undetermined L 

Ant-like Ground Hunter Micaria pulicaria Secure 

Reddish Ground Hunter Micaria rossica Undetermined 

Three-spot Ground Hunter Micaria tripunctata Undetermined L 

Canada Ground Hunter Orodrassus canadensis Undetermined L 

Fratris Ground Hunter Zelotes fratris Undetermined 

Puritan Ground Hunter Zelotes puritanus Undetermined 

Sula Ground Hunter Zelotes sula Undetermined 

Araneae – Hahniidae 

Hahniid Spider Hahnia ononidum Undetermined 

Agile Hahniid Spider Neoantistea agilis Undetermined 

Araneae – Linyphiidae 

Olive Sheet-web Weaver Agyneta olivacea Undetermined 

Simple Sheet-web Weaver Agyneta simplex Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Spiders – Dictynid Spiders 

Spiders – Ground Spiders 

Spiders – Hahniid Spiders 

Spiders – Sheet-web Weavers and Dwarf Weavers 


6.14 Spiders 


Lace Sheet-web Weaver Allomengea dentisetis Undetermined 

Multifront Sheet-web Weaver Arcterigone pilifrons Undetermined 

Kulczynski’s Sheet-web Weaver Baryphyma kulczynskii Undetermined 

Threefront Sheet-web Weaver Baryphyma trifrons Undetermined 

Grey Sheet-web Weaver Bathyphantes brevipes Undetermined 

Short Sheet-web Weaver Bathyphantes brevis Undetermined 

Canada Sheet-web Weaver Bathyphantes canadensis Undetermined 

Northern Sheet-web Weaver Bathyphantes gulkana Undetermined 

Pale Sheet-web Weaver Bathyphantes pallidus Undetermined 

Reprobus Sheet-web Weaver Bathyphantes reprobus Undetermined 

Rockpile Sheet-web Weaver Bathyphantes simillimus Undetermined 

Bulb Sheet-web Weaver Ceraticelus bulbosus Undetermined 

Alaska Sheet-web Weaver Ceratinella alaskana Undetermined 

Dark Sheet-web Weaver Cnephalocotes obscurus Undetermined 

Bident Sheet-web Weaver Diplocentria bidentata Undetermined 

Perplexing Sheet-web Weaver Diplocentria perplexa Undetermined 

Rectangular Sheet-web Weaver Diplocentria rectangulata Undetermined 

Bearded Sheet-web Weaver Diplocephalus barbiger Undetermined 

Sphagnum Sheet-web Weaver Diplocephalus sphagnicola Undetermined 

Shortnosed Sheet-web Weaver Diplocephalus subrostratus Undetermined 

Conifer Sheet-web Weaver Dismodicus alticeps Undetermined 

Tenspotted Sheet-web Weaver Dismodicus decemoculatus Undetermined 

Miller Dwarf Weaver Erigone aletris Undetermined 

Alsaida Dwarf Weaver Erigone alsaida Undetermined 

Arctic Dwarf Weaver Erigone arctica Undetermined 

Subarctic Dwarf Weaver Erigone arctophylacis Undetermined 

Post Dwarf Weaver Erigone atra Undetermined 

Blazed Dwarf Weaver Erigone blaesa Undetermined 

Teethed Dwarf Weaver Erigone dentigera Undetermined 

Fjaeldmark Dwarf Weaver Erigone psychrophila Undetermined 

Tirol Dwarf Weaver Erigone tirolensis Undetermined 

Whymper’s Dwarf Weaver Erigone whymperi Undetermined 

Zographica Dwarf Weaver Erigone zographica Undetermined 

Bark Sheet-web Weaver Estrandia grandaeva Undetermined 

Scopulifer Sheet-web Weaver Glyphesis scopulifer Undetermined 

Park Sheet-web Weaver Gnathonarium famelicum Undetermined 

Sunshine Sheet-web Weaver Gonatium crassipalpum Undetermined 

Spruce Sheet-web Weaver Grammonota angusta Undetermined 

Big Sheet-web Weaver Grammonota gigas Undetermined 

Stripe Sheet-web Weaver Grammonota vittata Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

92 



Holmgren’s Sheet-web Weaver Halorates holmgrenii Undetermined 

Spitsbergen Sheet-web Weaver Halorates spetsbergensis Undetermined 

Thule Sheet-web Weaver Halorates thulensis Undetermined 

Marked Sheet-web Weaver Helophora insignis Undetermined 

Gibbosa Sheet-web Weaver Hilaira gibbosa Undetermined 

Oldgrowth Sheet-web Weaver Hilaira herniosa Undetermined 

Esquimo Sheet-web Weaver Hilaira incondita Undetermined 

Ice Sheet-web Weaver Hilaira proletaria Undetermined 

Snow Sheet-web Weaver Hilaira vexatrix Undetermined 

Fourcrested Sheet-web Weaver Horcotes quadricristatus Undetermined 

Eagle Sheet-web Weaver Hybauchenidium aquilonare Undetermined 

Northwestern Sheet-web Weaver Hybauchenidium gibbosum Undetermined 

Norland Sheet-web Weaver Hypomma norlandicum Undetermined 

Subarctic Sheet-web Weaver Hypomma subarcticum Undetermined 

Peatland Sheet-web Weaver Hypselistes florens Undetermined 

Island Sheet-web Weaver Islandiana falsifica Undetermined 

Kamchatka Sheet-web Weaver Kaestneria anceps Undetermined 

Bog Sheet-web Weaver Kaestneria pullata Undetermined 

Alpine Sheet-web Weaver Lepthyphantes alpinus Undetermined 

Duplicate Sheet-web Weaver Lepthyphantes duplicatus Undetermined 

Washington Sheet-web Weaver Lepthyphantes washingtoni Undetermined 

Macrargus Sheet-web Weaver Macrargus multesimus Undetermined 

Masikia Sheet-web Weaver Masikia indistincta Undetermined 

Sundevall’s Sheet-web Weaver Maso sundevalli Undetermined 

Boreal Sheet-web Weaver Mecynargus borealis Undetermined 

Hill Sheet-web Weaver Mecynargus monticola Undetermined 

Lowarctic Sheet-web Weaver Mecynargus paetulus Undetermined 

Moss Sheet-web Weaver Mecynargus sphagnicola Undetermined 

Trilobate Sheet-web Weaver Mermessus trilobata Undetermined 

Undulating Sheet-web Weaver Mermessus undulata Undetermined 

Projecting Sheet-web Weaver Metopobactrus prominulus Undetermined 

Foliage Sheet-web Weaver Microlinyphia pusilla Undetermined 

Radiate Sheet-web Weaver Neriene radiata Undetermined 

Beringia Sheet-web Weaver Oreoneta beringiana Undetermined 

Brown Sheet-web Weaver Oreoneta brunnea Undetermined 

Eskimo Point Sheet-web Weaver Oreoneta eskimopoint Undetermined 

Herschel Sheet-web Weaver Oreoneta herschel Undetermined 

Siberian Sheet-web Weaver Oreoneta leviceps Undetermined 

Coldlover Sheet-web Weaver Oreoneta magaputo Undetermined 

Undergrowth Sheet-web Weaver Oreonetides vaginatus Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 


6.14 Spiders 


Menge’s Sheet-web Weaver Pelecopsis mengei Undetermined 

Travelling Sheet-web Weaver Perregrinus deformis Undetermined 

Polar Sheet-web Weaver Perro polaris Undetermined 

Taiga Sheet-web Weaver Pityohyphantes subarcticus Undetermined 

American Sheet-web Weaver Pocadicnemis americana Undetermined 

Russian Sheet-web Weaver Poeciloneta vakkhanka Undetermined 

Gertsch’ s Sheet-web Weaver Satilatlas gertschi Undetermined 

Dubius Sheet-web Weaver Sciastes dubius Undetermined 

Spearshaped Sheet-web Weaver Sciastes hastatus Undetermined 

Truncated Sheet-web Weaver Sciastes truncatus Undetermined 

Mountain Sheet-web Weaver Scotinotylus alpinus Undetermined 

Sacred Sheet-web Weaver Scotinotylus sacer Undetermined 

Marsh Sheet-web Weaver Scyletria inflata Undetermined 

Yukon Sheet-web Weaver Semljicola beringianus Undetermined 

Lapland Sheet-web Weaver Semljicola lapponicus Undetermined 

Short Sheet-web Weaver Semljicola obtusus Undetermined 

Pampia Sheet-web Weaver Silometopoides pampia Undetermined 

Montane Sheet-web Weaver Sisicottus montanus Undetermined 

Tibias Sheet-web Weaver Souidas tibialis Undetermined 

Blauvelt Sheet-web Weaver Stemonyphantes blauveltae Undetermined 

Styloctetor Sheet-web Weaver Styloctetor stativus Undetermined 

Doubleridged Sheet-web Weaver Tapinocyba bicarinata Undetermined 

Matanusk Sheet-web Weaver Tapinocyba matanuskae Undetermined 

Minute Sheet-web Weaver Tapinocyba minuta Undetermined 

Small Sheet-web Weaver Tapinocyba parva Undetermined 

Latithorax Sheet-web Weaver Tarsiphantes latithorax Undetermined 

Ornate Sheet-web Weaver Tmeticus ornatus Undetermined 

Pygmy Sheet-web Weaver Typhochrestus pygmaeus Undetermined 

Thorax Sheet-web Weaver Vermontia thoracica Undetermined 

Wabasso Sheet-web Weaver Wabasso cacuminatus Undetermined 

Arctic Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria arctica Undetermined 

Woods Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria atrotibialis Undetermined 

Auranticeps Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria auranticeps Undetermined 

Peatland Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria castanea Undetermined 

Tundra Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria clavicornis Undetermined 

Common Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria communis Undetermined 

Tiny Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria exigua Undetermined 

Karpinski’s Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria karpinskii Undetermined 

Fir Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria lepida Undetermined 

Spiral Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria subspiralis Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

94 



Tricorne Sheet-web Weaver Walckenaeria tricornis Undetermined 

Armed Sheet-web Weaver Zornella armata Undetermined 

Araneae – Liocranidae 

Ornate Liocranid Spider Agroeca ornata Undetermined 

Araneae – Lycosidae 

Spinyrib Wolf Spider Alopecosa aculeata Secure 

Ellesmere Wolf Spider Alopecosa exasperans Undetermined 

Hairyleg Wolf Spider Alopecosa hirtipes Secure 

Painted Wolf Spider Alopecosa pictilis Secure 

Hilltop Wolf Spider Arctosa alpigena Secure 

Marked Wolf Spider Arctosa insignita Undetermined L 

Raptor Wolf Spider Arctosa raptor Undetermined L 

Redlined Wolf Spider Arctosa rubicunda Undetermined 

Whitedotted Wolf Spider Pardosa albomaculata Undetermined 

Nunavut Wolk Spider Pardosa algens Undetermined 

Thin-legged Wolf Spider Pardosa concinna Undetermined L 

Treeline Wolf Spider Pardosa furcifera Undetermined 

Snowbank Wolf Spider Pardosa fuscula Secure 

Glacier Wolf Spider Pardosa glacialis Secure 

Greenland Wolf Spider Pardosa groenlandica Secure 

Taiga Wolf Spider Pardosa hyperborea Undetermined 

Lapland Wolf Spider Pardosa lapponica Secure 

Mackenzie Wolf Spider Pardosa mackenziana Secure 

Shiny Wolf Spider Pardosa moesta Undetermined 

Podhorski’s Wolf Spider Pardosa podhorskii Undetermined 

Yukon Wolf Spider Pardosa prosaica Undetermined 

Friendly Wolf Spider Pardosa sodalis Undetermined 

Northern Wolf Spider Pardosa tesquorum Secure 

Boreal Wolf Spider Pardosa uintana Secure 

Forest Wolf Spider Pardosa xerampelina Secure 

Spruce Wolf Spider Pirata bryantae Undetermined L 

Cantrall’s Wolf Spider Pirata cantralli Undetermined L 

Lonely Wolf Spider Pirata insularis Undetermined 

Pirate Wolf Spider Pirata piraticus Undetermined 

Turf Wolf Spider Trochosa terricola Undetermined L 

Araneae – Philodromidae 

Alaskan Running Crab Spider Philodromus alascensis Undetermined 

Agile Running Crab Spider Philodromus cespitum Secure 

Blackspruce Running Crab Spider Philodromus mysticus Undetermined L 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Spiders – Liocranid Spiders 

Spiders – Wolf Spiders 

Spiders – Running Crab Spiders 


6.14 Spiders 


Slow Running Crab Spider Philodromus placidus Undetermined 

Red Running Crab Spider Philodromus rufus Secure 

Arctic Running Crab Spider Thanatus arcticus Undetermined 

Striped Running Crab Spider Thanatus striatus Undetermined 

Maritime Running Crab Spider Tibellus maritimus Secure 

Oblong Running Crab Spider Tibellus oblongus Undetermined 

Araneae – Pisauridae 

Sixspotted Fishing Spider Dolomedes triton Undetermined 

Araneae – Salticidae 

Blackmarked Jumping Spider Dendryphantes nigromaculatus Undetermined 

Bronze Jumping Spider Eris militaris Undetermined 

Proszynski’s Jumping Spider Evarcha proszynskii Undetermined 

Yellowleg Jumping Spider Pelegrina flavipes Undetermined 

Mountain Jumping Spider Pelegrina montana Undetermined 

Boreal Jumping Spider Phidippus borealis Undetermined 

Johnson’s Jumping Spider Phidippus johnsoni Undetermined 

Cutler’s Jumping Spider Sitticus cutleri Undetermined 

Swamp Jumping Spider Sitticus palustris Undetermined 

Tundra Jumping Spider Sitticus ranieri Undetermined 

Minute Jumping Spider Talavera minuta Undetermined 

Araneae – Tetragnathidae 

Clerck’s Longjawed Orb Weaver Pachygnatha clerckii Secure 

Tailed Longjawed Orb Weaver Tetragnatha caudata Undetermined 

Dearmata Longjawed Orb Weaver Tetragnatha dearmata Undetermined L 

Boreal Longjawed Orb Weaver Tetragnatha extensa Secure 

Shoshone Longjawed Orb Weaver Tetragnatha shoshone Undetermined L 

Versicolor Longjawed Orb Weaver Tetragnatha versicolor Secure 

Araneae – Theridiidae 

Arctic Cobweb Weaver Arctachaea nordica Undetermined 

Brownblack Cobweb Weaver Crustulina sticta Undetermined 

Intrepid Cobweb Weaver Enoplognatha intrepida Undetermined 

Brown Cobweb Weaver Robertus fuscus Undetermined 

Whitemarked Cobweb Weaver Steatoda albomaculata Undetermined 

Boreal Cobweb Weaver Steatoda borealis Undetermined 

Different Cobweb Weaver Theridion differens Undetermined 

Forest Cobweb Weaver Theridion impressum Undetermined 

Ohlert’s Cobweb Weaver Theridion ohlerti Undetermined 

Painted Cobweb Weaver Theridion pictum Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Spiders – Fishing Spiders 

Spiders – Jumping Spiders 

Spiders – Longjawed Orb Weavers 

Spiders – Cobweb Weavers 

96 



Minnesota Cobweb Weaver Thymoites minnesota Undetermined 

Northern Cobweb Weaver Thymoites oleatus Undetermined 

Araneae – Thomisidae 

Brownlegged Crab Spider Coriarachne brunneipes Undetermined L 

Utah Crab Spider Coriarachne utahensis Undetermined 

Goldenrod Crab Spider Misumena vatia Secure 

Arctic Crab Spider Ozyptila arctica Secure 

Gertsch’s Crab Spider Ozyptila gertschi Undetermined 

Sincere Crab Spider Ozyptila sincera Undetermined 

Britcher’s Crab Spider Xysticus britcheri Secure 

Canada Crab Spider Xysticus canadensis Undetermined L 

Chippewan Crab Spider Xysticus chippewa Undetermined L 

Shy Crab Spider Xysticus cunctator Undetermined 

Higharctic Crab Spider Xysticus deichmanni Secure 

Hard Crab Spider Xysticus durus Undetermined L 

Ellipse Crab Spider Xysticus ellipticus Undetermined L 

Emerton’s Crab Spider Xysticus emertoni Secure 

Wild Crab Spider Xysticus ferox Undetermined 

Mournful Crab Spider Xysticus luctuosus Secure 

Dark Crab Spider Xysticus obscurus Undetermined 

Triangular Crab Spider Xysticus triangulosus Secure 

Araneae – Titanoecidae 

Snow Titanoecid Spider Titanoeca nivalis Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Spiders – Thomisid Crab Spiders 

Spiders – Titanoecid Spiders 


There is not enough information readily available to determine if the range of many spider species is limited in the NWT. 







6.15 

Vascular 

Plants 

Plants give us the first and most lasting impression of a 

landscape. Being able to identify plants will give any 

person the feeling of belonging to that landscape: of being 

home. The traditional use of vascular plants is being recorded 

in ever-increasing detail to preserve this information for 

future generations. Fascinating and informative books are now 

available on the multiple uses of vascular plants in the NWT – 

see the references Andre and Fehr (2000) and Inuvialuit Elders 

and Bandringa (2010) at the end of this report. 

Plants come in many forms. Vascular plants have a special 

tube-like system to transport nutrients and water in their 

stem. Many non-vascular plants, such as mosses and some 

lichens were ranked for the first time in lists further down 

in this report. 

The general status of all vascular plants found or expected in 

the NWT was first ranked in 2006. All ranks were reviewed in 

2010, new species were added, and some errors were corrected 

in the following pages. 

The taxonomy of vascular plants is still changing since 

the publication of ranks in 2006. Again, we have tracked 

these changes in the NWT Species Monitoring Infobase at 

www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca, to facilitate our upgrade to the 

new taxonomy. In the list below, we retained the most recent 

taxonomic names and updated all species names according 

to the Flora of North America (FNA), available on the Internet 

at http://hua.huh.harvard.edu/FNA/ and to Kartesz (1999), 

for groups of plants that had not been treated in the FNA 

by December 2010. 

98 


Many plant experts from the NWT and visiting botanists from 

outside the NWT have helped review the ranks of our vascular 

plants. We acknowledge their help at the end of the report. 

Starting in 2007, we have been taking photographs and 

transcribing label information from each original specimen 

of plant ever collected from the NWT and stored in Canadian 

museums. This effort is called the NWT Virtual Herbarium. 

Most of the specimens stored at Agriculture and Agri-food 

Canada in Ottawa, and many of those stored at University 

of Alberta are now part of this database. It is proving 

valuable to review the ranks of vascular plants, to map the 

location of rare plants, to help plan for more surveys, and 

to determine if plants that may be at risk are in a proposed 

development area or a proposed protected area. 

NWT is home to five species of plants that are extremely rare 

in the world. All are found in or near areas that remained 

unglaciated during the last Glacial Age. These areas are 

called refugia, and are part of the north-western region of 

North America called Beringia. Two of these plants, the hairy 

rockcress and the Nahanni aster are found only in the NWT, and 

nowhere else in the world. 

Many alien species in the NWT are plants. So far 116 plant 

species have been introduced in the NWT that originated 

either in Eurasia or from elsewhere in North America. New alien 

(introduced) plants are found every few years. 

Monitoring plants continues in northern ecosystems. Since 

2006, new plant surveys have been performed. These surveys, 

in addition to information contributed by visiting botanists, 

users of medicinal plants, and many knowledgeable people, 

were the source of new information for this ranking of the 

general status of vascular plants in the NWT. 

Get involved: Send questions and photos to 

NWTSOER@gov.nt.ca. Remember to send all your plant 

vouchers to a reputed herbarium. 

Blue Columbine 


Dr. Suzanne Carrière 

Biologist (Biodiversity) 


Environment and Natural Resources, GNWT 


99

6.15 Vascular Plants 

List 15. Vascular Plants 

There are 1151 species of vascular plants in the NWT. 

An additional 27 species of plants are expected to be 

present. Twenty-nine NWT species are rare in the world 

and are of global conservation concern. Plants are listed 

first according to the Class they belong to, in phylogenic 

order. Within Classes, plants are listed alphetically by the 

Order they belong to, then by Family, then by scientific 

species name. Taxonomy follows the Flora of North America 

(FNA 2001-2010), or Kartesz (1999) for families not covered in 

FNA as of December 2010. Exceptions are detailed in footnotes. 

Old names for some families are given in paranthesis. 

Lapland Poppy 

Photo Credit: R Decker 


Lycopodiopsida 

Lycopodiales – Lycopodiaceae 

Alpine Clubmoss Diphasiastrum alpinum Secure 

Trailing Clubmoss Diphasiastrum complanatum Secure 

Sitka Ground Fir Diphasiastrum sitchense Presence Expected 

Fir Clubmoss Huperzia selago Secure 

Bristly Clubmoss Lycopodium annotinum Secure 

Running Clubmoss Lycopodium clavatum Undetermined 

Tree Clubmoss Lycopodium dendroideum Sensitive 

One-cone Clubmoss Lycopodium lagopus Undetermined 

Isoetopsida 

Isoetales – Isoetaceae 

Spiny-spored Quillwort Isoetes echinospora Undetermined 

Lake Quillwort Isoetes lacustris May Be At Risk L 

Selaginellales – Selaginellaceae 

Northern Spikemoss Selaginella selaginoides Secure 

Siberian Spikemoss Selaginella sibirica Undetermined L 

Equisetopsida 

Equisetales – Equisetaceae 

Field Horsetail Equisetum arvense Secure 

Water Horsetail Equisetum fluviatile Secure 

Tall Scouring Rush Equisetum hyemale Secure 

Marsh Horsetail Equisetum palustre Secure 

Meadow Horsetail Equisetum pratense Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Large Clubmosses 

Large Clubmosses – Clubmosses 

Quillworts and Spikemosses 

Quillworts – Quillworts 

Spikemosses – Spikemosses 

Horsetails 

Horsetails – Horsetails 

100 



Dwarf Scouring Rush Equisetum scirpoides Secure 

Woodland Horsetail Equisetum sylvaticum Secure 

Variegated Horsetail Equisetum variegatum Secure 

Ophioglossopsida 

Ophioglossales – Ophioglossaceae 

Triangle Moonwort Botrychium lanceolatum Presence Expected 

Common Moonwort Botrychium lunaria Secure 

Mingan’s Moonwort Botrychium minganense May Be At Risk 

Leathery Grape-fern Botrychium multifidum May Be At Risk L 

Northwestern Moonwort Botrychium pinnatum May Be At Risk L 

Least Moonwort Botrychium simplex Undetermined L 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Fern-allies 

Moonwort fern-allies – Moonworts 

Spatulate Moonwort Botrychium spathulatum May Be At Risk L G3 - 2008 

Rattlesnake Fern Botrychium virginianum Sensitive 

Filicopsida 

Polypodiales – Aspleniaceae 

Green Spleenwort Asplenium virides May Be At Risk 

Polypodiales – Dryopteridaceae 

Spinulose Wood-fern Dryopteris carthusiana May Be At Risk 

Northern Wood-fern Dryopteris expansa May Be At Risk L 

Fragrant Cliff Wood-fern Dryopteris fragrans Secure 

Northern Holly-fern Polystichum lonchitis Undetermined L 

Polypodiales – Onocleaceae 

Ostrich Fern Matteuccia struthiopteris Sensitive L 

Polypodiales – Polypodiaceae 

Sibirian Polypody Polypodium sibiricum Secure 

Rock Polypody Polydodium virginianum Undetermined 

Polypodiales – Pteridaceae 

American Parsley-fern Cryptogramma acrostichoides Secure 

Alaska Parsley-fern Cryptogramma sitchensis May Be At Risk L 

Slender Rock-brake Cryptogramma stelleri May Be At Risk 

Smooth Cliff-brake Pellaea glabella May Be At Risk L 

Polypodiales – Thelypteridaceae 

Northern Beech Fern Phegopteris connectilis Sensitive 

Polypodiales – Woodsiaceae 

Subarctic Lady-fern Athyrium filix-femina Sensitive 

Fragile Fern Cystopteris fragilis Secure 

Mountain Bladder-fern Cystopteris montana Sensitive 

Common Oak-fern Gymnocarpium dryopteris Secure 

True Ferns 

Ferns – Spleenworts 

Ferns – Wood Ferns 

Ferns – Ostrich Ferns 

Ferns – Polypodies 

Ferns – Rock-brakes 

Ferns – Beech Ferns 

Ferns – Cliff Ferns 




Nahanni Oak-fern Gymnocarpium jessoense Secure 

Alpine Cliff-fern Woodsia alpina Sensitive 

Smooth Cliff-fern Woodsia glabella Secure 

Rusty Cliff-fern Woodsia ilvensis Secure 

Oregon Cliff-fern Woodsia oregana Presence Expected 

Pinopsida 

Pinales – Cupressaceae 

Common Juniper Juniperus communis Secure 

Creeping Juniper Juniperus horizontalis Secure 

Pinales – Pinaceae 

Rocky Mountain Subalpine Fir Abies bifolia Secure 

Tamarack Larix laricina Secure 

White Spruce Picea glauca Secure 

Black Spruce Picea mariana Secure 

Jack Pine Pinus banksiana Secure 

Lodgepole Pine Pinus contorta Secure 

Monocotyledonae 

Alismatales – Alismataceae 

Northern Water Plantain Alisma triviale Sensitive L 

Northern Arrowhead Sagittaria cuneata Secure 

Arales – Acoraceae 

Several Vein Sweetflag 

(Rat Root) 

Arales – Araceae 

Range 

Note a 

Acorus americanus May Be At Risk L 

Wild Calla (Water Dragon) Calla palustris Secure 

Arales – Lemnaceae 

Star Duckweed Lemna trisulca Secure 

Turion Duckweed Lemna turionifera Secure 

Cyperales – Cyperaceae 

Red Clubrush Blysmopsis rufus May Be At Risk L 

Saltmarsh Bulrush Bolboschoenus maritimus May Be At Risk L 

Circumpolar Sedge Carex adelostoma Sensitive 

Reason for 

Change b 

Lesser Brown Sedge Carex adusta d Undertermined # 

Black-and-White-Scale Sedge Carex albonigra Secure 

Water Sedge Carex aquatilis Secure L 

Northern Clustered Sedge Carex arcta Undertermined L ∃ 2 

Wheat Sedge Carex atherodes Secure 

Slender-beak Sedge Carex athrostachya Presence Expected 



Concern c 

Coniferous seed plants 

Pine-like shrubs – Junipers 

Pine-like trees – Pines and relatives 

5 

Monocot flowering plants 

Waterplants – Water Plantains 

Aroids – Sweetflags 

Aroids – Callas 

Aroids – Duckweeds 

Grass-like herbs – Sedges and relatives 

102 



Scabrous Black Sedge Carex atratiformis Secure 

Dark-brown Sedge Carex atrofusca Secure 

Lesser Black-scaled Sedge Carex atrosquama Sensitive 

Golden Fruit Sedge Carex aurea Secure 

Bebb’s Sedge Carex bebbii Sensitive L 

Two-colour Sedge Carex bicolor Secure 

Bigelow’s Sedge Carex bigelowii Secure 

Yukon Sedge Carex bonanzensis Secure 

Brownish Sedge Carex brunnescens Secure 

Buxbaum’s Sedge Carex buxbaumii Secure 

Silvery Sedge Carex canescens Secure 

Hairlike Sedge Carex capillaris Secure 

Capitate Sedge Carex capitata Secure 

Creeping Sedge Carex chordorrhiza Secure 

Low Northern Sedge Carex concinna Secure 

Crawford Sedge Carex crawfordii Sensitive L 

Northern Sedge Carex deflexa Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Dewey’s Sedge Carex deweyana Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Lesser Panicled Sedge Carex diandra Secure 

Softleaf Sedge Carex disperma Secure 

Needle-leaved Sedge Carex duriuscula May Be At Risk L 

Bristle-leaved Sedge Carex eburnea Secure 

Goosegrass Sedge Carex eleusinoides May Be At Risk 

Thread-leaved Sedge Carex filifolia Sensitive 

Short-leaf Sedge Carex fuliginosa Secure 

Garber’s Elk Sedge Carex garberi Secure 

Glacier Sedge Carex glacialis Secure 

Gravel Sedge Carex glareosa Sensitive L 

Northern Bog Sedge Carex gynocrates Secure 

Hudson Bay Sedge Carex heleonastes Sensitive 

Arctic Marsh Sedge Carex holostoma Secure 

Hood’s Sedge Carex hoodii May Be At Risk L 

Inland Sedge Carex interior Sensitive 

Krause’s Sedge Carex krausei Undetermined 

Arctic Harefoot Sedge Carex lachenalii Secure 

Smooth-stem Sedge Carex laeviculmis Presence Expected 

Lapland Sedge Carex lapponica Secure 

Slender Sedge Carex lasiocarpa Sensitive 

Weak Sedge Carex laxa May Be At Risk L 



Concern c 




Shore Sedge Carex lenticularis Secure 

Bristly-stalk Sedge Carex leptalea Secure 

Mud Sedge Carex limosa Secure 

Livid Sedge Carex livida Sensitive 

Rye-grass Sedge Carex loliacea Sensitive 

Mackenzie Sedge Carex mackenziei May Be At Risk L 

Falkland Island Sedge Carex macloviana Undetermined 

Alaska Long-awn Sedge Carex macrochaeta Presence Expected 

Boreal Bog Sedge Carex magellanica Secure 

Sea Sedge Carex marina Secure 

Seaside Sedge Carex maritima Secure 

Norvegian Carex Carex media Secure 

Fragile-Seed Sedge Carex membranacea Secure 

Alpine Tundra Sedge Carex microchaeta Secure 

False Unicinia Sedge Carex microglochin Secure 

Pryenean Sedge Carex micropoda Sensitive 

Small-Wing Sedge Carex microptera Undetermined L 

Nard Sedge Carex nardina Secure 

Blunt Sedge Carex obtusata Secure 

Few-seeded Sedge Carex oligosperma May Be At Risk 

Peck’s Sedge Carex peckii May Be At Risk L 

Liddon Sedge Carex petasata May Be At Risk L 

Rock Dwelling Sedge Carex petricosa Secure 

Mountain Hare Sedge Carex phaeocephala Sensitive L 

Short-Stalk Sedge Carex podocarpa Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Clustered Field Sedge Carex praegracilis d Undetermined # 10 

Prairie Sedge Carex prairea May Be At Risk L 

Northern Meadow Sedge Carex praticola d Sensitive L 

Presl’s Sedge Carex preslii Presence Expected 

Ramenski Sedge Carex ramenskii Undetermined L 

Loose-flowered Sedge Carex rariflora Secure 

Retorse Sedge Carex retrorsa May Be At Risk L 

Richardson’s Sedge Carex richardsonii Sensitive L 

Ross’ Sedge Carex rossii Secure 

Swollen Beaked Sedge Carex rostrata Undetermined 

Pumpkin-fruited Sedge Carex rotundata Secure 

Rock Sedge Carex rupestris Secure 

Sarwell’s Sedge Carex sartwellii Sensitive L 

Russet Sedge Carex saxatilis Secure 



Concern c 

104 



Bulrush Sedge Carex scirpoidea Secure 

Dry-Spike Sedge Carex siccata Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Long-style Sedge Carex stylosa Undetermined L ∃ 6 

Hoppner’s Sedge Carex subspathacea Undetermined 

Weak Arctic Sedge Carex supina Secure 

Many-headed Sedge Carex sychnocephala Sensitive L 

Quill Sedge Carex tenera Presence Expected 

Sparse-flowered Sedge Carex tenuiflora Secure 

Shaved Sedge Carex tonsa Presence Expected 

Three-seed Sedge Carex trisperma May Be At Risk L 

Bear Sedge Carex ursina Secure 

Northwest Territory Sedge Carex utriculata Secure 

Sheathed Sedge Carex vaginata Secure 

Little Green Sedge Carex viridula Secure 

Williams’ Sedge Carex williamsii Secure 

White-scaled Sedge Carex xerantica Undetermined L 

Needle Spike Rush Eleocharis acicularis Secure 

Slender Spike Rush Eleocharis elliptica May Be At Risk L 

Bald Spike Rush Eleocharis erythropoda Undetermined L 

Soft-stem Spike Rush Eleocharis mamillata Undetermined T 6 

Common Spike Rush Eleocharis palustris Secure 

Few-flowered Spike Rush Eleocharis quinqueflora Secure 

One-glume Spike Rush Eleocharis uniglumis Sensitive 

Narrow-leaved Cotton-grass Eriophorum angustifolium Secure 

Short-antler Cotton-grass Eriophorum brachyantherum Secure 

Sheathed Cotton-grass Eriophorum callitrix Secure 

Slender Cotton-grass Eriophorum gracile Secure 

Rusty Cotton-grass Eriophorum russelolum Secure 

Scheuchzeri White 

Cotton-grass 

Eriophorum scheuchzeri 

Secure 

Tussock Cotton-grass Eriophorum vaginatum Secure 

Tassel Cotton-grass Eriophorum viridicarinatum Secure 

Pacific Kobresia Kobresia myosuroides Secure 

Siberian Kobresia Kobresia sibirica Secure 

Simple Kobresia Kobresia simpliciuscula Secure 

White Beakrush Rhynchospora alba May Be At Risk L 

Acerbic Bulrush Schoenoplectus acutus Undetermined 

Three-square Bulrush Schoenoplectus pungens May Be At Risk L 

Soft-stem Bulrush Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani Undetermined 



Concern c 




Black-girdled Bulrush Scirpus atrocinctus Presence Expected 

Small-fruit Bulrush Scirpus microcarpus Secure 

Alpine Bulrush Trichophorum alpinum Secure 

Tufted Bulrush Trichophorum caespitosum Secure 

Rolland’s Bulrush Trichophorum pumilum Sensitive 

Cyperales – Poaceae (Gramineae) 

Richardson’s Rice Grass Achnatherum richardsonii Presence Expected 

Crested Wheat Grass Agropyron cristatum Alien X 

Siberian Wheat Grass Agropyron fragile Alien X 

Spike Bentgrass Agrostis exarata Sensitive L 

Black Bentgrass Agrostis gigantea Alien X 

Northern Bentgrass Agrostis mertensii Secure 

Rough Bentgrass Agrostis scabra Secure 

Spreading Bentgrass Agrostis stolonifera Alien X 

Short-Awn Meadow-foxtail Alopecurus aequalis Secure 

Creeping Meadow-foxtail Alopecurus arundinaceus Alien X 

Magellan Alpine 

Meadow-foxtail 

Alopecurus magellanicus 

Secure 

Field Meadow-foxtail Alopecurus pratensis Alien X 

Broad-Leaf Arctic-bent Arctagrostis latifolia Secure 

Arctic Sweet Grass Anthoxanthum arcticum Secure 

Vanilla Sweet Grass Anthoxanthum hirtum Secure 

Alpine Sweet Grass Anthoxanthum monticola Secure 

Pendant Grass Arctophila fulva Secure 

Wild Oats Avena fatua Alien X 

Cultivated Oats Avena sativa Alien X 

Hooker’s Alpine Oat Grass Avenula hookeri May Be At Risk L 

American Sloughgrass Beckmannia syzigachne d Secure 

Fringed Brome Bromus ciliatus Secure 

Meadow Brome Bromus commutatus Alien X 

Soft Brome Bromus hordeaceus Alien X 

Awnless Brome Bromus inermis Alien X 

Pumpelly Brome Bromus pumpellianus Secure 

Corn Brome Bromus squarrosus Alien X 

Downy Brome Bromus tectorum Alien X 

Blue-jointed Reed Grass Calamagrostis canadensis Secure 

Circumpolar Reed Grass Calamagrostis deschampsioides Sensitive L 

Lapland Reed Grass Calamagrostis lapponica Secure 

Plains Reed Grass Calamagrostis montanensis Presence Expected 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

2 



Concern c 

Grass-like herbs – Grasses 

106 



Purple Reed Grass Calamagrostis purpurascens Secure 

Slim-Stem Reed Grass Calamagrostis stricta Secure 

Slender Wood Reed Grass Cinna latifolia Sensitive 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Moss Grass Coleanthus subtilius May Be At Risk # 

Poverty Wild Oat Grass Danthonia spicata Sensitive L 

Short-Leaf Hair Grass Deschampsia brevifolia Secure 

Tufted Hair Grass Deschampsia cespitosa Secure 



Concern c 

6 Special Concern - 2001/ 

Mackenzie Hair Grass Deschampsia mackenzieana May Be At Risk T 

G2 - 2001 

Svkatschew’s Hair Grass Deschampsia svkatchewii May Be At Risk L T 6 

Coastal Salt Grass Distichlis spicata May Be At Risk L 

Fisher’s Tundra Grass Dupontia fisheri Secure 

Alaska Wild Rye Elymus alaskanus Secure 

Canada Nodding Wild Rye Elymus canadensis Sensitive 

Common Western Wild Rye Elymus glaucus Undetermined ∃ 6 

Streamside Wild Rye Elymus lanceolatus Undetermined ∃ 6 

Thick-Spike Wild Rye Elymus macrourus Secure 

Creeping Wild Rye Elymus repens Alien X 

Siberian Wild Rye Elymus sibiricus Alien X ∃ 3 

Slender Wild Rye Elymus trachycaulus e Secure 

Violet Wild Rye Elymus violaceus Secure T 6 

Rough Fescue Festuca altaica Secure 

Lobed Fescue Festuca auriculata May Be At Risk L T 6 

Baffin Fescue Festuca baffinensis Secure 

Short-Leaved Fescue Festuca brachyphylla Secure 

Alaska Fescue Festuca bevissima May Be At Risk L T 6 

Arctic Fescue Festuca edlundiae Sensitive 

High Arctic Fescue Festuca hyperborea Secure T 6 

Tundra Fescue Festuca lenensis May Be At Risk L 

Proliferous Fescue Festuca prolifera Undetermined L 

Richardson’s Red Fescue Festuca rubra Secure 

Rocky Mountain Fescue Festuca saximontana Secure 

Hard Fescue Festuca trachyphylla Alien X 

Steppe Fescue Festuca valesiaca Alien X 

Viviparous Fescue Festuca viviparoidea Undetermined # 

Small Floating Manna Grass Glyceria borealis Sensitive 

American Manna Grass Glyceria grandis Secure 

Mackenzie Valley Manna Grass Glyceria pulchella Secure 

Fowl Manna Grass Glyceria striata Secure 




Needle and Thread Grass Hesperostipa comata Undetermined L 

Canadian Needle Grass Hesperostipa curtiseta Sensitive L 

Fox-tail Barley Hordeum jubatum Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Barley Hordeum vulgare Alien X ∃ 6 

Oriental Koeler’s Grass Koeleria asiatica May Be At Risk L 

Prairie Koeler’s Grass Koeleria macrantha Sensitive L 

Downy Lyme Grass Leymus innovatus Secure 

American Lyme Grass Leymus mollis Secure 

Annual Rye Grass Lolium multiflorum Alien X T 6 

Perennial Rye Grass Lolium perenne Alien X 

Spiked Muhly Muhlenbergia glomerata Sensitive L 

Green Muhly Muhlenbergia racemosa Undetermined # 

Matted Muhly Muhlenbergia richardsonis Sensitive 

Green Tussock Grass Nassella viridula May Be At Risk L 

White-grained Mountain 

Rice Grass 

Oryzopsis asperifolia Sensitive L 

Common Panic Grass Panicum capillare Undetermined L 

Reed Canary Grass Phalaris arundinacea f Undetermined 

Common Canary Grass Phalaris canariensis Alien X 

Ice Grass Phippsia algida Secure 

Mountain Timothy Phleum alpinum Sensitive 

Common Timothy Phleum pratense Alien X 

Common Reed Phragmites australis g Undetermined L 

Slender Short-awn 

Mountain-rice 

Sabine’s False 

Semaphore Grass 

Piptatherum pungens 

Pleuropogon sabinei 

Secure 

Secure 

Northern Bluegrass Poa abbreviata Secure 

Alpine Bluegrass Poa alpina Secure 



Concern c 

Sand Bluegrass Poa ammophila May Be At Risk L T 6 G3G4 - 2000 

Annual Bluegrass Poa annua Alien X 

Arctic Bluegrass Poa arctica Secure 

Flat-Stem Bluegrass Poa compressa Alien X 

White Bluegrass Poa glauca Secure L 

Hartz’s Bluegrass Poa hartzii Secure G3G4 - 1998 

Interior Bluegrass Poa interior Undetermined T 6 

Fowl Bluegrass Poa palustris Secure 

Few-flowered Bluegrass Poa paucispicula Secure 

Porsild’s Bluegrass Poa porsildii Sensitive G3 - 1997 

Kentucky Bluegrass Poa pratensis h Secure 

108 



Polar Bluegrass Poa pseudoabbreviata May Be At Risk L 

Curly Bluegrass Poa secunda Sensitive 

Anderson’s Alkali Grass Puccinellia andersonii Sensitive 

Northern Alkali Grass Puccinellia angustata Secure 

Arctic Alkali Grass Puccinellia arctica Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Banks Iland Alkali Grass Puccinellia banksiensis May Be At Risk # 

Prince Patrick Alkali Grass Puccinellia bruggemannii Sensitive L 

Speading Alkali Grass Puccinellia distans Alien X 

Alaska Alkali Grass Puccinellia nutkaensis Undetermined T 6 



Concern c 

Polar Nuttall’s Alkali Grass Puccinellia nuttalliana i Sensitive G3 - 1998 

Creeping Alkali Grass Puccinellia phyrganodes Secure 

Arctic Tussock Alkali Grass Puccinellia vaginata Sensitive 

Vahl’s Alkali Grass Puccinellia vahliana Secure 

Tall Rye Grass Schedonorus arundinaceum Alien X # 

False Melic Grass Schizachne purpurascens Secure 

Common River Grass Scolochloa festucacea Sensitive L 

Cultivated Rye Secale cereale Alien X 

Rough Bristlegrass Setaria verticillata Alien X 

Green Bristlegrass Setaria viridis Alien X 

Alkali Cordgrass Spartina gracilis Sensitive 

Freshwater Cordgrass Spartina pectinata May Be At Risk L 

Slender Wedgescale Grass Sphenopholis intermedia Secure 

Intermediate Quackgrass Thinopyrum intermedium Alien X # 

Siberian False Oat Trisetum sibiricum Presence Expected 

Narrow False Oat Trisetum spicatum Secure 

Bread Wheat Triticum aestivum Alien X 

Arctic Hairgrass Vahlodea atropurpurea Sensitive 

Brome Six-weeks Grass Vulpia bromoides Alien X 

Juncales – Juncaceae 

Northern Green Rush Juncus alpinoarticulatus Secure 

Arctic Rush Juncus arcticus Secure 

Two-flowered Rush Juncus biglumis Secure 

Toad Rush Juncus bufonius Secure 

Chestnut Rush Juncus castaneus Secure 

Drummond Rush Juncus drummondii Secure 

Dudley’s Rush Juncus dudleyi Sensitive L 

Thread Rush Juncus filiformis Secure 

Long-styled Rusk Juncus longistylis Undetermined L # 

Merten’s Rush Juncus mertensianus Presence Expected 

Rush-like herbs – Rushes 




Knotted Rush Juncus nodosus Secure 

Moor Rush Juncus stygius Sensitive L 

Northern White Rush Juncus triglumis Secure 

Vasey Rush Juncus vaseyi Undetermined 

Arctic Wood Rush Luzula arctica Secure 

Curved Wood Rush Luzula arcuata Secure 

Northern Wood Rush Luzula confusa Secure 

Greenland Wood Rush Luzula groenlandica Secure 

Kjellman Wood Rush Luzula kjellmaniana Undetermined 

Common Wood Rush Luzula multiflora Secure 

Small-flowered Wood Rush Luzula parviflora Secure 

Rufous Wood Rush Luzula rufescens May Be At Risk L 

Spiked Wood Rush Luzula spicata Secure 

Wahlenberg’s Wood Rush Luzula wahlenbergii Secure 

Liliales – Iridaceae 

Strict Blue-eyed Iris Sisyrinchium montanum Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Pale Blue-eyed Iris Sisyrinchium septentrionale May Be At Risk T 6 

Liliales – Liliaceae 

Welsh Onion Allium fistulosum Alien X 

Wild Chives Allium schoenoprasum Secure 

Common Alpine Lily Lloydia serotina Secure 

Wild Lily-of-the-Valley Maianthemum canadense Undetermined 

Large False Soloman’s Seal Maianthemum racemosum Undetermined 

Starry False Soloman’s Seal Maianthemum stellatum Secure 

Three-leaf False Soloman’s Seal Maianthemum trifolium Secure 

Clasping Twisted Stalk Streptopus amplexifolius Sensitive L 

Northern False Asphodel Tofieldia coccinea Secure 

Scotch False Asphodel Tofieldia pusilla Secure 

Sticky False Asphodel Triantha glutinosa Secure 

American False Hellebore Veratrum viride Sensitive 

Mountain Death Camas Zigadenus elegans Secure 

Najadales – Juncaginaceae 

Seaside Arrowgrass Triglochin maritima Secure 

Marsh Arrowgrass Triglochin palustris Secure 

Najadales – Najadaceae 

Slender Naiad Najas flexilis Sensitive L 

Najadales – Potamogetonaceae 

Alpine Pondweed Potamogeton alpinus Secure 

Leafy Pondweed Potamogeton foliosus Sensitive 



Concern c 

Lily-like plants – Iris 

Lily-like plants – Lilies 

Naiad-like plants – Arrowgrasses 

Naiad-like plants – Naiads 

Naiad-like plants – Pondweeds 

110 



Fries Pondweed Potamogeton friesii Secure 

Grassy Pondweed Potamogeton gramineus Secure 

Illinois Pondweed Potamogeton illinoensis May Be At Risk L 

Floating Pondweed Potamogeton natans Sensitive L 

Blunt-leaf Pondweed Potamogeton obtusifolius Sensitive L 

White-stem Pondweed Potamogeton praelongus Secure 

Slender Pondweed Potamogeton pusillus Secure 

Richarson’s Pondweed Potamogeton richardsonii Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Flatleaf Pondweed Potamogeton robbinsii May Be At Risk L # 

Straightleaf Pondweed Potamogeton strictifolius Secure 

Yenisei River Pondweed Potamogeton subsibiricus Sensitive 

Flatstem Pondweed Potamogeton zosteriformis Undetermined 

Slender Pondweed Stuckenia filiformis Secure 

Sago Pondweed Stuckenia pectinata Sensitive 

Sheathed Pondweed Stuckenia vaginata Secure 

Najadales – Ruppiaceae 

Wigeon-grass Ruppia cirrhosa Sensitive L 

Najadales – Scheuchzeriaceae 

Pod Grass Scheuchzeria palustris Secure 

Najadales – Zannichelliaceae 

Horned Pondweed Zannichellia palustris May Be At Risk L 

Orchidales – Orchidaceae 

Small Round-leaved Orchis Amerorchis rotundifolia Secure 

Calypso Calypso bulbosa Secure 

Long-bract Orchid Coeloglossum viride Undetermined 

Early Coral Root Corallorhiza trifida Secure 

Pink Lady’s-slipper Cypripedium acaule Undetermined L 

Spotted Lady’s-slipper Cypridedium guttatum Secure 

Yellow Lady’s-slipper Cypridedium parviflorum Secure 

Sparrow’s-egg Lady’s-slipper Cypripedium passerinum Secure 

Lesser Rattlesnake Plantain Goodyera repens Secure 

Loesel’s Twayblade Liparis loeselii May Be At Risk L 

Northern Twayblade Listera borealis Secure 

Heart-leaved Twayblade Listera cordata Sensitive L 

White Adder’s-mouth Malaxis monophyllos May Be At Risk L 

Bog Adder’s-mouth Malaxis paludosa May Be At Risk L 

Tall Northern Green Orchid Platanthera aquilonis Secure 

White Bog Orchid Platanthera dilatata May Be At Risk L 

Blunt-leaved Bog Orchid Platanthera obtusata Secure 



Concern c 

Naiad-like plants – Wigeon-grasses 

Naiad-like plants – Pod Grasses 

Naiad-like plants – Horned Pondweeds 

Orchid-like plants – Orchids 




Small Round-leaved 

Bog Orchid 

Range 

Note a 

Platanthera orbiculata Sensitive L 

Hooded Ladies’-tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana Secure 

Typhales – Sparganiaceae 

Narrow-leaf Bur-reed Sparganium angustifolium Secure 

Unbranched Bur-reed Sparganium emersum Secure 

Giant Bur-reed Sparganium eurycarpum Undetermined 

Northern Bur-reed Sparganium hyperboreum Secure 

Small Bur-reed Sparganium natans Secure 

Typhales – Typhaceae 

Broad-leaf Cattail Typha latifolia Secure 

Dicotylodonea 

Apiales – Apiacae 

Seaside Angelica Angelica lucida May Be At Risk L 

American Thoroughwax Bupleurum americanum Secure 

Bulbous Water-hemlock Cicuta bulbifera Secure 

Spotted Water-hemlock Cicuta maculata Secure 

Mackenzie’s Water-hemlock Cicuta virosa Secure 

Jakutsk Snow-parsley Cnidium cnidiifolium Secure 

Cow Parsnip Heracleum maximum Secure 

Reason for 

Change b 

Blunt Fruited Sweet-cicely Osmorhiza depauperata Undetermined L ∃ 6 

Wild Parsnip Pastinaca sativa Alien X 

Macoun’s Podistera Podistera macounii May Be At Risk L ∃ 6 

Black Sanicle Sanicula marilandica Presence Expected 

Water Parsnip Sium suave Secure 

Apiales – Araliaceae 

Wild Sarsaparilla Aralia nudicaulis Secure 

Asterales – Asteraceae (Compositae) 

Siberian Yarrow Achillea alpina Secure 

Common Yarrow Achillea millefolium d Secure 

Pearl Yarrow Achillea ptarmica Alien X 

Orange False Dandelion Agoseris aurantiaca Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Pale False Dandelion Agoseris glauca Sensitive 

Marsh Alkali Aster Almutaster pauciflorus May Be At Risk L 

Annual Ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia j Alien X ∃ 6 

Pearly Everlasting Anaphalis margaritacea May Be At Risk L 

Alpine Pussytoes Antennaria alpina Secure 



Concern c 

Cattail-like plants – Bur-reeds 

Cattail-like plants – Cattails 

Dicot flowering plants 

Carrot-like plants – Parsnips 

Carrot-like plants – Sarsaparilla 

Daisy-like plants – Asters and relatives 

Dense-leaved Pussytoes Antennaria densifolia Secure G3 - 2006 

112 



Fries’ Pussytoes Antennaria friesiana Secure 

Rocky Mountain Pussytoes Antennaria media Undetermined 

Small-leaf Pussytoes Antennaria microphylla Secure 

Pygmy Pussytoes Antennaria monocephala Secure 

Field Pussytoes Antennaria neglecta Sensitive 

Showy Pussytoes Antennaria pulcherrima Secure 

Rosy Pussytoes Antennaria rosea Secure 

Arctic Daisy Arctanthemum arcticum Sensitive L 

Narrowleaf Arnica Arnica angustifolia Secure 

Leafy Arnica Arnica chamissonis Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Heart-leaved Arnica Arnica cordifolia Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Snow Arnica Arnica griscomii Secure 

Lance-leaf Arnica Arnica lanceolata May Be At Risk L 

Mountain Arnica Arnica latifolia Sensitive L 

Lessing’s Arnica Arnica lessingii Secure 

Long-leaved Arnica Arnica lonchophylla Secure 

Hairy Arnica Arnica mollis Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Alaska Sagebrush Artemisia alaskana May Be At Risk L 

Arctic Sagebrush Artemisia arctica Secure 

Biennial Sagebrush Artemisia biennis Alien X 

Boreal Sagebrush Artemisia borealis Secure 

Dragon Sagebrush Artemisia dracunculus May Be At Risk L 

Prairie Sagebrush Artemisia frigida Secure 

Three-fork Sagebrush Artemisia furcata Sensitive 

Purple Sagebrush Artemisia globularia Presence Expected 

Pacific Alpine Sagebrush Artemisia glomerata Presence Expected 

White Sagebrush Artemisia ludoviciana May Be At Risk L 

Tilesius Sagebrush Artemisia tilesii Secure 

Alpin Aster Aster alpinus Secure 

English Daisy Bellis perennis Alien X # 

Nodding Beggarticks Bidens cernua Secure 

Great Northern Aster Canadanthus modestus Presence Expected 

Creeping Canada Thistle Cirsium arvense Alien X 

Drummond Thistle Cirsium drummondii Sensitive 

Leafy Thistle Cirsium foliosum May Be At Risk L 

Canada Horseweed Conyza canadensis Undetermined 

Elegant Hawksbeard Crepis elegans Undetermined 

Dwarf Alpine Hawksbeard Crepis nana Secure 

Narrow-leaf Hawksbeard Crepis tectorum Alien X 



Concern c 




Bitter Fleabane Erigeron acris Secure 

Tufted Fleabane Erigeron caespitosus Presence Expected 

Dwarf Mountain Fleabane Erigeron compositus Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Denali Fleabane Erigeron denali Sensitive L T 5 

Angular Fleabane Erigeron elatus Secure 

Smooth Fleabane Erigeron glabellus Secure 

Low Fleabane Erigeron humilis Secure 



Concern c 

Tundra Fleabane Erigeron hyperboreus Undetermined G3G4 - 1994 

Hyssop-leaved Fleabane Erigeron hyssopifolius Secure 

Short-Ray Fleabane Erigeron lonchophylllus Secure 

Snow Fleabane Erigeron nivalis May Be At Risk L T 6 

Philadelphia Fleabane Erigeron philadelphicus Secure 

Porsild’s Fleabane Erigeron porsildii Secure 

One-flower Fleabane Erigeron uniflorus Secure 

Yukon Fleabane Erigeron yukonensis May Be At Risk 

Siberian Aster Eurybia sibirica Secure 

Grass-leaved Goldenrod Euthamia graminifolia Sensitive 

Great Blanket-flower Gaillardia aristata d Undetermined 

Low Cudweed Gnaphalium uliginosum Alien X 

Broadleaf Gumweed Grindelia hirsutula May Be At Risk L 

Common Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale Sensitive L 

Common Sunflower Helianthus annuus Alien X ∃ 2 

White-flowered Hawkweed Hieracium albiflorum May Be At Risk L 

Woolly Hawkweed Hieracium triste Secure L T 3 

Umbellate Hawkweed Hieracium umbellatum Secure 

Entire-leaf Daisy Hutteniella integrifolia Secure 

Prickly Lettuce Lactuca serriola Alien X # 

Ox-eye Daisy Leucanthemum vulgare Alien X 

Pineapple Weed Matricaria discoidea Alien X 

Tartarian Lettuce Mulgedium pulchellum Secure 

Dwarf Arctic Groundsel Packera cymbalaria Secure 

Boreal Groundsel Packera hyperborealis Secure 

Rayless Mountian Groundsel Packera indecora Secure 

Ogotoruk Creek Groundsel Packera ogotorukensis May Be At Risk L 

Alpine Groundsel Packera paucifora Sensitive 

Balsam Groundsel Packera paupercula Secure 

Rocky Mountian Groundsel Packera streptanthifolia Secure 

Arctic Sweet Coltsfoot Petasites frigidus Secure 

Goldenweed Pyrrocoma uniflora May Be At Risk L 

114 



Narrow-leaf Saw-wort Saussurea angustifolia Secure 

Desert Ragwort Senecio eremophilus Sensitive L 

Black-tip Ragwort Senecio lugens Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Mount Sheldon Ragwort Senecio sheldonensis May Be At Risk L G2G3 - 2009 

Arrow-leaf Ragwort Senecio triangularis Secure 

Common Ragwort Senecio vulgaris Alien X 

Elegant Goldenrod Solidago lepida Secure 

Alpine Multiray Goldenrod Solidago multiradiata Secure 

Sticky Goldenrod Solidago simplex Secure 

Field Sow Thistle Sonchus arvensis Alien X 

Common Sow Thistle Sonchus oleraceus k Alien X ∃ 6 

Boreal Aster Symphyotrichum boreale Secure 

Alkali Aster Symphyotrichum ciliatum Sensitive L 

Lindley’s Aster Symphyotrichum ciliolatum Secure 

White Heath Aster Symphyotrichum ericoides Secure 

White Prairie Aster Symphyotrichum falcatum Secure 

Smooth Blue Aster Symphyotrichum laeve Presence Expected 

Lance-leaved Aster Symphyotrichum lanceolatum Undetermined 

Nahanni Aster Symphyotrichum nahanniense May Be At Risk L G1 - 2010 

Purple-stemmed Aster Symphyotrichum puniceum Undetermined ∃ 2 

Pygmy Wood Aster Symphyotrihum pygmaeum May Be At Risk 

Western Mountain Aster Symphyotrichum spathulatum Sensitive L 

Yukon Aster Symphyotrichum yukonense May Be At Risk L G3 - 2003 

Floccose Tansy Tanacetum bipinnatum May Be At Risk L 

Common Tansy Tanacetum vulgare Alien X 

North American Dandelion Taraxacum ceratophorum Secure T 6 

Red-seeded Dandelion Taraxacum erythrospermum Alien X 

Holman Dandelion Taraxacum holmeniarum Secure T 6 

High Arctic Dandelion Taraxacum hyperarcticum Secure T 6 

Common Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Alien X T 4 

Northern Dandelion Taraxacum phymatocarpum Secure 

Rock Dandelion Taraxacum scopulorum Sensitive 

Arctic Groundsel Tephroseris frigida Secure 

Kjellman’s Groundsel Tephroseris kjellmanii Sensitive 

Twice-hairy Groundsel Tephroseris lindstroemii Sensitive L 

Marsh Groundsel Tephroseris palustris Secure 

Yukon Groundsel Tephroseris yukonensis Secure 

Yellow Goatsbeard Tragopogon dubius Alien X 

Scentless Chamomile Tripleurospermum inodorum Alien X 




Seashore Chamomile Tripleurospermum maritima Secure 

Callitrichales – Callitrichaceae 

Northern Waterstarwort Callitriche hermaphroditica Secure 

Large Waterstarwort Callitriche heterophylla Undetermined L 

March Waterstarwort Callitriche palustris Secure 

Callitrichales – Hippuridaceae 

Four-leaved Marestail Hippuris tetraphylla Sensitive 

Common Marestail Hippuris vulgaris Secure 

Campanulales – Campanulaceae 

Yukon Bellflower Campanula aurita Secure 

Alaska Bellflower Campanula lasiocarpa Secure 

American Harebell Campanula rotundifolia Secure 

Arctic Harebell Campanula uniflora Secure 

Water Lobelia Lobelia dortmanna May Be At Risk L 

Kalm’s Lobelia Lobelia kalmii Secure 

Capparales – Brassicaceae (Cruciferae) 

Saltwater Cress Arabidopsis salsuginea May Be At Risk 

Arctic Rockcress Arabis arenicola Sensitive L 

Calder’s Rockcress Arabis calderi May Be At Risk L 

Limestone Rockcress Arabis divaricarpa Secure 

Drummond Rockcress Arabis drummondii Sensitive 

Western Hairy Rockcress Arabis hirsuta Secure 

Holboell Rockcress Arabis holboellii Secure 

Lyre-leaf Rockcress Arabis lyrata Secure 

American Wintercress Barbarea orthoceras Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Hoary False-alyssum Berteroa incana Alien X # 

Chinese Mustard Brassica juncea Alien X 

Turnip Brassica napus Alien X 

Bird Rape Brassica rapa Alien X 

Smooth Rockcress Braya glabella Secure 

Alpine Northern Rockcress Braya humilis Secure 



Concern c 

Waterstarwort-like plants – Waterstarworts 

Waterstarwort-like plants – Marestails 

Harebell-like plants – Harebells and Lobelias 

Caper-like plants – Mustards 

Hairy Rockcress Braya pilosa May Be At Risk L G1 - 2004 

Greenland Rockcress Braya thorild-wulffii Sensitive 

Large-seeded False Flax Camelina sativa Alien X 

Shepherd’s Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris Alien X 

Alpine Bittercress Cardamine bellidifolia Secure 

Richardson’s Bittercress Cardamine digitata Secure 

Small-leaved Bittercress Cardamine microphylla May Be At Risk 

Few-seeded Bittercress Cardamine oligosperma Sensitive L 

116 



Small-flowered Bittercress Cardamine parviflora May Be At Risk 

Pennsylvania Bittercress Cardamine pensylvanica Sensitive 

Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis Secure 

Purple Bittercress Cardamine purpurea Presence Expected 

Scurvy Grass Cochlearia officinalis Secure 

Green Tansy Mustard Descurainia incana Secure 

Pinate Tansy Mustard Descurainia pinnata May Be At Risk L 

Herb Sophia Descurainia sophia Alien X 

Northern Tansy Mustard Descurainia sophioides Secure 

Slender Whitlow-grass Draba albertina May Be At Risk L 

Alpine Whitlow-grass Draba alpina Secure 

Fell-field Whitlow-grass Draba arctogena May Be At Risk L 

Golden Draba Draba aurea Secure 

Boreal Whitlow-grass Draba borealis Sensitive 

Brewer’s Whitlow-grass Draba breweri Secure 

Gray-leaf Whitlow-grass Draba cinerea Secure 

Flat-top Whitlow-grass Draba corymbosa Secure 

Snowbed Whitlow-grass Draba crassifolia Sensitive 

White Arctic Whitlow-grass Draba fladnizensis Sensitive 

Rock Whitlow-grass Draba glabella Secure 

Yellowstone Whitlow-grass Draba incerta May Be At Risk 

Long-stalk Whitlow-grass Draba juvenilis Secure 

Milky Whitlow-grass Draba lactea Secure 

Lance-pod Whitlow-grass Draba lonchocarpa Sensitive L 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Macoun’s Whitlow-grass Draba macounii Sensitive G3G4 - 2006 

Wood Whitlow-grass Draba nemorosa Sensitive 

Yellow Arctic Whitlow-grass Draba nivalis Secure 

Norwegian Whitlow-grass Draba norvegica Undetermined L 

Canadian Arctic Whitlow-grass Draba oblongata Secure 

Ogilvie Range Whitlow-grass Draba ogilviensis May Be At Risk L G3 - 2006 

Few-seeded Whitlow-grass Draba oligosperma Sensitive 

Palander’s Whitlow-grass Draba palanderiana Sensitive 

Few-flowered Whitlow-grass Draba pauciflora May Be At Risk L 

Porsild’s Whitlow-grass Draba porsildii May Be At Risk G3G4 - 2006 

Tall Whitlow-grass Draba praealta Secure 

Alaska Whitlow-grass Draba stenoloba Undetermined 

Ellesmere Whitlow-grass Draba subcapitata Secure 

Common Dog Mustard Erucastrum gallicum Alien X 

Worm-seed Wallflower Erysimum cheiranthoides Secure 




Shy Wallflower Erysimum inconspicuum Secure 

Pallas Wallflower Erysimum pallasii Secure 

Edward Mock Wallflower Eutrema edwardsii Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Soft Rockcress Halimolobos mollis Secure G3? – 2006 

Dense-flower Pepperwort Lepidium densiflorum Alien X 

Branched Pepperwort Lepidium ramosissimumd Secure 

Garden Pepperwort Lepidium sativum Alien X 

Arctic Bladderpod Lesquerella arctica Secure 

Calder’s Bladderpod Lesquerella calderi May Be At Risk L G3G4 - 2003 

Yellow Ball Mustard Neslia paniculata Alien X 

Arctic False-wallflower Parrya arctica Secure G3? - 1998 

Naked Stemmed Wallflower Parrya nudicaulis Secure 

Hoary Yellowcress Rorippa barbareifolia May Be At Risk L 

Persistent-sepal Yellowcress Rorippa calycina d Undetermined L ∃ 2 G3 - 1997 

Mackenzie River Yellowcress Rorippa crystallina d Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Bog Yellowcress Rorippa palustris Secure 

Corn Mustard Sinapis arvensis Alien X 

Tall Hedge Mustard Sisymbrium altissimum Alien X 

False London Rocket Sisymbrium loesellii Alien X # 

Boreal Smelowskia Smelowskia borealis Sensitive 

Alpine Smelowskia Smelowskia calycina Sensitive 

Water Awlwort Subularia aquatica Sensitive 

Arctic Pennycress Thlaspi arcticum Presence Expected G3 - 1996 

Field Pennycress Thlaspi arvense Alien X 

Caryophyllales – Amaranthaceae 

Green Amaranth Amaranthus retroflexus Alien X 

Caryophyllales – Caryophyllaceae 

Creeping Sandwort Arenaria humifusa Secure 

Low-stemmed Sandwort Arenaria longipedunculata Sensitive L 

Alpine Chickweed Cerastium alpinum Undetermined L 

Arctic Chickweed Cerastium arcticum Undetermined 

Field Mouse-ear Chickweed Cerastium arvense d Secure 

Bering Sea Chickweed Cerastium beeringianum Secure 

Bialynick’s Chickweed Cerastium bialynickii Undetermined 

Common Chickweed Cerastium fontanum Alien X 

Great Chickweed Cerastium maximum May Be At Risk L 

Nodding Chickweed Cerastium nutans Alien X 

Regel’s Chickweed Cerastium regelii Secure 

Pink-like plants – Amaranths 

Pink-like plants – Pinks and relatives 

6 

6 

118 



Northern Pink Dianthus repens Presence Expected 

Slender Mountain Sandwort Eremogone capillaris Secure 

Showy Baby’s-breath Gypsophila elegans Alien X 

Tall Baby’s-breath Gypsophila paniculata Alien X 

Seabeach Sandwort Honckenya peploides Secure 

Arctic Stitchwort Minuartia arctica Secure 

Moutain Stitchwort Minuartia biflora Secure 

Rock Stitchwort Minuartia dawsonensis Secure 

Elegant Stitchwort Minuartia elegans Secure 

Long-pod Stitchwort Minuartia macrocarpa May Be At Risk L 

Alpine Stitchwort Minuartia obtusiloba Sensitive L 

Ross’ Stitchwort Minuartia rossii Secure 

Boreal Stitchwort Minuartia rubella Secure 

Bog Stitchwort Minuartia stricta Sensitive 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Yukon Stitchwort Minuartia yukonensis Sensitive L G3 - 2009 

Blunt-leaved Sandwort Moehringia lateriflora Secure 

Large-leaved Sandwort Moehringia macrophylla Sensitive L 

Snow Pearlwort Sagina nivalis Secure 

Knotted Pearlwort Sagina nodosa Sensitive 

Procumbent Pearlwort Sagina procumbens Alien X 

Alpine Pearlwort Sagina saginoides Sensitive 

Moss Campion Silene acaulis Secure 

Balkan Catchfly Silene csereii Alien X 

Drummond’s Campion Silene drummondii Undetermined L 

Arctic Campion Silene involucrata Secure 

Menzies Pink Campion Silene menziesii Sensitive 

Ostenfeld’s Campion Silene ostenfeldii Secure 

Creeping Campion Silene repens Sensitive 

Sorensen’s Campion Silene sorensenis Sensitive 

Apetalous Campion Silene uralensis Secure 

Corn Spurrey Spergula arvensis Alien X 

Saltmarsh Sandspurry Spergularia salina May Be At Risk L 

Boreal Stitchwort Stellaria borealis Secure 

Northern Bog Startwort Stellaria calycantha Undetermined 

Fleshy Stitchwort Stellaria crassifolia Secure 

Saltmarch Starwort Stellaria humifusa Secure 

Longleaf Stitchwort Stellaria longifolia Secure 

Long-stalked Stitchwort Stellaria longipes Secure 

Common Starwort Stellaria media Alien X 




Umbellate Stitchwort Stellaria umbellata May Be At Risk L 

Arctic-Flower (Merkia) Wilhelmsia physodes Secure 

Caryophyllales – Chenopodiaceae 

Thick-leaved Orache Atriplex dioica May Be At Risk L 

Gmelin’s Orache Atriplex gmelinii May Be At Risk L 

Garden Orache Atriplex hortensis Alien X 

Spreading Orache Atriplex patula Alien X 

Russian Pigweed Axyris amaranthoides Alien X 

Lamb’s Quarters Chenopodium album Alien X 

Berlandier’s Goosefoot Chenopodium berlandieri Secure 

Strawberry-blite Chenopodium capitatum Secure 

Narrowleaf Goosefoot Chenopodium leptophyllum Undetermined L 

Red Pigweed Chenopodium rubrum May Be At Risk 

Rocky Mountain Goosefoot Chenopodium salinuml Sensitive L 

Maple-leaved Goosefoot Chenopodium simplex Alien X 

Hooker’s Bugseed Corispermum hookeri Sensitive 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Pink-like plants – Goosefoot and relatives 

Alaskan Bugseed Corispermum ochotense Undetermined G3G4 - 2000 

Hairy Bugseed Corispermum villosum Alien X 

Mexican Summer Cypress Kochia scoparia Alien X # 

Nuttall’s Povertyweed Monolepis nuttalliana Sensitive L 

Red Glasswort Salicornia rubra May Be At Risk L 

Garden Spinach Spinacia oleracea Alien X 

Horned Sea-blite Suaeda calceoliformis Sensitive 

White Sea-blite Suaeda maritima Sensitive L 

Caryophyllales – Portulacaceae 

Alpine Spring Beauty Claytonia megarhiza May Be At Risk L 

Alaska Spring Beauty Claytonia sarmentosa Undetermined L 

Tuberous Spring Beauty Claytonia tuberosa Sensitive L 

Water Blinks Montia fontana Sensitive 

Cornales – Cornaceae 

Dwarf Dogwood (Bunchberry) Cornus canadensis Secure 

Red Osier Dogwood Cornus sericea Secure 

Swedish Dogwood Cornus suecica May Be At Risk L 

Diapensiales – Diapensiaceae 

Lapland Diapensia Diapensia lapponica Secure L 

Dipsacales – Adoxaceae 

Musk-root Adoxa moschatellina Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Pink-like plants – Spring beauties 

Dogwood-like plants – Dogwoods 

Diapensias – Diapensias 

Teasel-like plants – Musk-roots 

120 



Dipsacales – Caprifoliaceae 

Twinflower Linnaea borealis Secure 

Mountain Honeysuckle Lonicera dioica Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

White Snowberry Symphoricarpos albus Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Northern Snowberry Symphoricarpos occidentalis Secure 

Mountain Snowberry Symphoricarpos oreophilus Undetermined L 

Squashberry 

(High-bush cranberry) 

Dipsacales – Valerianaceae 

Viburnum edule 

Secure 

Clustered Valerian Valeriana capitata Secure 

Wood Valerian Valeriana dioica Sensitive 

Sitka Valerian Valeriana sitchensis Sensitive 

Ericales – Empetraceae 

Black Crowberry Empetrum nigrum Secure 

Ericales – Ericaceae 

Bog Rosemary Andromeda polifolia Secure 

Alpine Bearberry Arctostaphylos alpina Secure 

Red Bearberry Arctostaphylos rubra Secure 

Common Bearberry 

(Kinnikinnick) 

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 

Secure 

Arctic White Heather Cassiope tetragona Secure 

Leatherleaf Chamaedaphne calyculata Secure 

Moss Heather Harrimanella hypnoides May Be At Risk L 

Alpine Laurel Kalmia microphylla Undetermined 

Bog Laurel Kalmia polifolia Secure 

Common Labrador Tea Ledum groenlandicum Secure 

Narrow-leaved Labrador Tea Ledum palustre Secure 

Alpine Azalea Loiseleuria procumbens Secure 

Purple Mountain Heather Phyllodoce caerulea Sensitive L 

Pink Mountain Heather Phyllodoce empetriformis Sensitive 

Yellow Mountain Heather Phyllodoce glanduliflora Sensitive 

Lapland Rosebay Rhododendron lapponicum Secure 

Dwarf Bilberry Vaccinium caespitosum Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Mountian Huckleberry Vaccinium membranaceum May Be At Risk L 

Velvetleaf Blueberry Vaccinium myrtilloides Sensitive L 

Oval-leaved Blueberry Vaccinium ovalifolium Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Small Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos Secure 

Alpine Bilberry Vaccinium uliginosum Secure 

Rock Cranberry (Lingonberry) Vaccinium vitis-idaea Secure 



Concern c 

Teasel-like plants – Honeysuckles and relatives 

Teasel-like plants – Valerians 

Blueberry-like plants – Crowberries 

Blueberry-like plants – Blueberries and relatives 

2 




Ericales – Monotropaceae 

Indian Pipe Monotropa uniflora Undetermined L 

Ericales – Pyrolaceae 

Pipsissewa Chimaphila umbellata May Be At Risk L 

One-flowered Wintergreen Moneses uniflora Secure 

One-sided Wintergreen Orthilia secunda Secure 

Pink Pyrola Pyrola asarifolia Secure 

Greenish-flowered Pyrola Pyrola chlorantha Secure 

Arctic Pyrola Pyrola grandiflora Secure 

Lesser Pyrola Pyrola minor Secure 

Fabales – Fabaceae (Leguminosae) 

Meadow Milk-vetch Astragalus agrestis Sensitive 

Alpine Milk-vetch Astragalus alpinus Secure 

American Milk-vetch Astragalus americanus Secure 

Indian Milk-vetch Astragalus australis Secure 

Bodin’s Milk-vetch Astragalus bodinii Secure 

Canadian Milk-vetch Astragalus canadensis Sensitive L 

Elegant Milk-vetch Astragalus eucosmus Secure 

Rattle Milk-vetch Astragalus laxmannii Sensitive 

Loose-flowered Milk-vetch Astragalus tenellus Secure 

Tundra Milk-vetch Astragalus umbellatus Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Siberian Pea-tree Caragana arborescens Alien X ∃ 6 

Alpine Sweet-vetch Hedysarum alpinum Secure 

Boreal Sweet-vetch Hedysarum boreale Secure 

Beach Pea Lathyrus japonicus May Be At Risk L 

Cream Vetchling Lathyrus ochroleucus Secure 

Bird’sfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus Alien X # 

Arctic Lupine Lupinus arcticus Secure 

Black Medick Medicago lupulina Alien X 

Alfalfa Medicago sativa Alien X 

White Sweet-clover Melilotus albus Alien X 

Yellow Sweet-clover Melilotus officinalis Alien X 

Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia Alien X # 

Arctic Locoweed Oxytropis arctica Secure 

Boreal Locoweed Oxytropis borealis Secure 

Field Locoweed Oxytropis campestris Secure 

Pendent-pod Locoweed Oxytropis deflexa Secure 

Maydell Locoweed Oxytropis maydelliana Secure 

Blackish Locoweed Oxytropis nigrescens Secure 



Concern c 

Blueberry-like plants – Indian pipes 

Blueberry-like plants – Wintergreens 

2 

Pea-like plants – Peas 

122 



Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Scamman’s Locoweed Oxytropis scammaniana May Be At Risk L G3G4 - 1994 

Showy Locoweed Oxytropis splendens Secure 

Alsike Clover Trifolium hybridum Alien X 

Red Clover Trifolium pratense Alien X 

White Clover Trifolium repens Alien X 

American Purple Vetch Vicia americana Secure 

Tufted Vetch Vicia cracca Alien X ∃ 6 

Fagales – Betulaceae 

Speckled Alder Alnus incana Secure 

Green Alder Alnus viridis Secure 

Dwarf Birch Betula glandulosa m Secure 

Arctic Dwarf Birch Betula nana m Secure 

Alaska Paper Birch Betula neoalaskana Secure 

Water Birch Betula occidentalis Secure 

Paper Birch Betula papyrifera Secure 

Bog Birch Betula pumila Sensitive L 

Gentianales – Apocynaceae 

Spreading Dogbane Apocynum androsaemifolium Secure 

Indian Hemp Apocynum cannabinum May Be At Risk L 

Gentianales – Gentianaceae 

Prairie Gentian Gentiana affinis Sensitive 

Pale Gentian Gentiana glauca Secure 

Pygmy Gentian Gentiana prostrata Sensitive 

Northern Gentian Gentianella amarella Secure 

Four-parted Gentian Gentianella propinqua Secure 

Dane’s Gentian Gentianella tenella May Be At Risk L 

Sheared Gentian Gentianopsis detonsa Secure L 

Macoun’s Gentian Gentianopsis macounii May Be At Risk L 

Spurred Gentian Halenia deflexa Undetermined L 

Marsh Felwort Lomatogonium rotatum Secure 

Geraniales – Balsaminaceae 

Spotted Jewel-weed Impatiens capensis Undetermined L 

Western Touch-me-not Impatiens noli-tangere Undetermined ∃ 6 

Geraniales – Geraniaceae 

Bicknell’s Geranium Geranium bicknellii Secure 

Richardson Geranium Geranium richardsonii Sensitive L 

Haloragales – Haloragaceae 

Alternate-flower Water Milfoil Myriophyllum alterniflorum May Be At Risk 

Beech-like plants – Birches and Alders 

Gentian-like plants – Hemps and relatives 

Gentian-like plants – Gentians 

Geranium-like plants – Impatiens 

Geranium-like plants – Geraniums 

Milfoil-like plants – Milfoils 




Spilked Water Milfoil Myriophyllum sibiricum Secure 

Whorled Water Milfoil Myriophyllum verticillatum Secure 

Lamiales – Boraginaceae 

Arctic Forget-me-not Eritrichium nanum Undetermined L 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Mint-like plants – Borages and relatives 

Showy Forget-me-not Eritrichium splendens May Be At Risk L G3G4 - 2006 

Northern Stickseed Hackelia deflexa Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Western Stickseed Lappula occidentalis Sensitive 

European Stickseed Lappula squarrosa Alien X 

Drummond Bluebell Mertensia drummondii May Be At Risk G2 - 2007 

Sea Bluebell Mertensia maritima Sensitive 

Northern Bluebell Mertensia paniculata Secure 

Alpine Forget-me-not Myosotis asiatica Secure 

Lamiales – Lamiaceae (Labiatae) 

Blue Giant Hyssop Agastache foeniculum May Be At Risk L 

American Dragonhead Dracocephalum parviflorum Secure 

Thyme-leaf Dragonhead Dracocephalum thymiflorum Alien X # 

Brittle- Stem Hemp Nettle Galeopsis tetrahit Alien X 

Common Dead Nettle Lamium amplexicaule Alien X 

Northern Bugleweed Lycopus uniflorus Undetermined L 

Corn Mint Mentha arvensis Secure 

Wild Bergamot Bee-balm Monarda fistulosa May Be At Risk L 

Mint-like plants – Mints and relatives 

Ledingham’s False 

Dragonhead 

Physostegia ledinghamii May Be At Risk L G3G4 - 2008 

Hooded Skullcap Scutellaria galericulata Secure 

Hairy Hedge Nettle Stachys pilosa Secure 

Linales – Linaceae 

Flax-like plants – Flaxes 

Lewis Blue Flax Linum lewisii Secure 

Common Yellow Flax Linum usitatissimum Alien X 

Malvales – Malvaceae 

Mallow-like plants – Mallows 

Dwarf Mallow Malva neglecta Alien X 

Myricales – Myricaceae 

Bayberry-like plants – Gales 

Sweet Gale Myrica gale Secure 

Myrtales – Onagraceae 

Myrtle-like plants – Fireweeds 

Fireweed Chamerion angustifolium Secure 

River Beauty Chamerion latifolium Secure 

Small Enchanter’s Nightshade Circaea alpina Sensitive L 

Alpine Willowherb Epilobium anagallidifolium Sensitive 

Arctic Willowherb Epilobium arcticum Sensitive 

Hairy Willowherb Epilobium ciliatum Secure L 

124 



Dauria Willowherb Epilobium davuricum Sensitive 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Horenmann Willowherb Epilobium hornemannii Undetermined L ∃ 2 

White-flower Willowherb Epilobium lactiflorum Sensitive 

Linear-leaved Willowherb Epilobium leptophyllum Sensitive L 

Marsh Willowherb Epilobium palustre Secure 

Nepenthales – Droseraceae 

English Sundew Drosera anglica Secure 

Slenderleaf Sundew Drosera linearis Sensitive L 

Round-leaved Sundew Drosera rotundifolia Secure 

Nepenthales – Sarraceniaceae 

Northern Pitcher Plant Sarracenia purpurea Secure L 

Nymphaeales – Ceratophyllaceae 

Common Hornwort Ceratophyllum demersum Sensitive 

Nymphaeales – Nymphaeaceae 

Rocky Mountain Pond Lily Nuphar polysepala May Be At Risk L 

Variegated Pond Lily Nuphar variegata Secure 

Dwarf White Waterlily Nymphaea leibergii May Be At Risk L 

Pygmy White Waterlily Nymphaea tetragona Sensitive 

Papaverales – Fumariaceae 

Golden Corydalis Corydalis aurea Secure 

Few-flowered Corydalis Corydalis pauciflora Sensitive 

Pale Corydalis Corydalis sempervirens Secure 

Papaverales – Papaveraceae 

Lapland Poppy Papaver lapponicum Secure 

Macoun’s Poppy Papaver macounii Secure 

McConnell’s Poppy Papaver mcconnellii May Be At Risk L 

Arctic Poppy Papaver radicatum Secure 

Walpole Poppy Papaver walpolei Presence Expected 

Plantaginales – Plantaginaceae 

Hairy Plantain Plantago canescens Secure 

Saline Plantain Plantago eriopoda Secure 

Nipple-seed Plantain Plantago major n Alien X 

Seaside Plantain Plantago maritima May Be At Risk 

Plumbaginales – Plumbaginaceae 

Western Thrift Armeria maritima Secure 

Polygonales – Polygonaceae 

Alaska Wild-rhubarb Aconogonum alaskanum Sensitive 

Meadow Bistort Bistorta plumosa Secure 

2 

2 



Concern c 

Carnivorous plants – Sundews 

2 

Carnivorous plants – Pitcher plants 

3 

Waterlily-like plants – Hornworts 

Waterlily-like plants – Waterlilies and relatives 

Poppy-like plants – Corydalis 

Poppy-like plants – Poppies 

Plantain-like plants – Plantains 

Leadwort-like plants – Thrifts 

Rhubarb-like plants – Buckwheats 




Alpine Bistort Bistorta vivipara Secure 

Black Bindweed Fallopia convolvulus Alien X 

Iceland Purslane Koenigia islandica Sensitive 

Mountain Sorrel Oxyria digyna Secure 

Water Smartweed Persicaria amphibia Secure 

Pale Smartweed Persicaria lapathifolia d Secure 

Striate Knotweed Polygonum achoreum Alien X 

Prostrate Knotweed Polygonum aviculare Alien X 

Fowler Knotweed Polygonum fowleri May Be At Risk L 

Alaska Knotweed Polygonum humifusum Sensitive 

Bushy Knotweed Polygonum ramosissimum Undetermined L 

Arctic Dock Rumex arcticus Secure 

Great Water Dock Rumex brittanica Undetermined L 

Curly Dock Rumex crispus Alien X 

Tierra del Fuego Dock Rumex fueginus Sensitive 

Lapland Sorrel Rumex lapponicus May Be At Risk L 

Western Dock Rumex occidentalis Secure 

Siberian Willow Dock Rumex sibiricus Undetermined 

Triangular-valved Dock Rumex triangulivalvis Secure 

Primulales – Primulaceae 

Sweet-flower 

Rock-jasmine 

Androsace chamaejasme 

Secure 

Pygmy-flower Rock-jasmine Androsace septentrionalis Secure 

Northern Shooting-star Dodecatheon frigidum Secure 

Few-Flower Shooting-star Dodecatheon pulchellum Sensitive L 

Mackenzie River 

Dwarf Primrose 

Arctic Montane 

Dwarf Primrose 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Primrose-like plants – Primroses 

Douglasia arctica Sensitive L G3 - 1998 

Douglasia ochotensis Undetermined L 

Sea Milkwort Glaux maritima May Be At Risk 

Tufted Yellow Loosestrife Lysimachia thyrsiflora Secure 

Slender Primrose Primula borealis Sensitive L 

Greenland Primrose Primula egaliksensis Secure 

Arctic Primrose Primula eximia May Be At Risk L 

Mealy Primrose Primula incana Secure 

Lake Mistannini Primrose Primula mistassinica Secure 

Stiff Primrose Primula stricta Secure 

Northern Starflower Trientalis borealis Undetermined L 

Arctic Starflower Trientalis europaea Sensitive 

126 



Ranunculales – Ranunculaceae 

Mountain Monkshood Aconitum delphiniifolium Secure 

Red Baneberry Actaea rubra Secure 

Canada Anemone Anemone canadensis Secure 

Alpine Anemone Anemone drummondii Sensitive 

Purple Anemone Anemone multiceps Presence Expected 

Cut-leaved Anemone Anemone multifida Secure 

Narcissus-flowered Anemone Anemone narcissiflora Secure 

Small-flowered Anemone Anemone parviflora Secure 

Prairie Crocus Anemone patens Secure 

Yellow Anemone Anemone richardsonii Secure 

Blue Columbine Aquilegia brevistyla Secure 

Floating Marsh Marigold Caltha natans Sensitive 

Marsh Marigold Caltha palustris Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Northern Larkspur Delphinium brachycentrum Undetermined L ∃ 6 

Pale Larkspur Delphinium glaucum Secure 

Kidney-leaved Buttercup Ranunculus abortivus Sensitive 

Common Buttercup Ranunculus acris Alien X 

White Water Buttercup Ranunculus aquatilis Secure 

Seaside Buttercup Ranunculus cymbalaria Secure 

Subalpine Buttercup Ranunculus eschscholtzii Secure 

Lesser Spearwort Ranunculus flammula Secure 

Arctic Buttercup Ranunculus gelidus Sensitive 

Small Yellow Water-Buttercup Ranunculus gmelinii Secure 

Arctic Buttercup Ranunculus hyperboreus Secure 

Lapland Buttercup Ranunculus lapponicus Secure 

Macoun Buttercup Ranunculus macounii Secure 

Snowy Buttercup Ranunculus nivalis Secure 

Pallas’ Buttercup Ranunculus pallasii Sensitive 

Northern Buttercup Ranunculus pedatifidus Secure 

Bristly Crowfoot Ranunculus pensylvanicus d Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Dwarf Buttercup Ranunculus pygmaeus Secure 

Prairie Buttercup Ranunculus rhomboideus May Be At Risk L 

Sardinain Buttercup Ranunculus sabinei Sensitive 

Cursed Crowfoot Ranunculus sceleratus Secure 

Sulphur Buttercup Ranunculus sulphureus Secure 



Concern c 

Buttercup-like plants – Buttercups and relatives 

Turner’s Buttercup Ranunculus turneri May Be At Risk L G3 - 2007 

Alpine Meadow Rue Thalictrum alpinum Secure 

Few Flower Meadow Rue Thalictrum sparsiflorum May Be At Risk 




Veined Meadow Rue Thalictrum venulosum Secure 

Rhamnales – Elaeagnaceae 

American Silverberry Elaeagnus commutata Secure 

Buffaloberry Shepherdia canadensis Secure 

Rosales – Crassulaceae 

Water Pigmy-weed Crassula aquatica May Be At Risk L 

Entire-leaved Stonecrop Rhodiola integrifolium Sensitive 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Two-row Stonecrop Sedum spurium Alien X ∃ 6 

Rosales – Grossulariaceae 

Skunk Currant Ribes glandulosum Secure 

Northern Black Currant Ribes hudsonianum Secure 

Bristly Black Currant Ribes lacustre Secure 

Canada Gooseberry Ribes oxyacanthoides Secure 

Swamp Red Currant Ribes triste Secure 

Rosales – Rosaceae 

Saskatoon Berry Amelanchier alnifolia Secure 

Silverweed Argentina anserina Secure 

Egede Cinquefoil Argentina egedii Sensitive L 

Rose Chamaerhodos Chamaerhodos erecta May Be At Risk 

Marsh Cinquefoil Comarum palustre Secure 

Shrubby Cinquefoil Dasiphora fruticosa Secure 

Yellow Mountain Avens Dryas drummondii Secure 

Entire-leaved Mountain Avens Dryas integrifolia Secure 

Eight-petal Mountain Avens Dryas octopetala Secure 

Woodland Strawberry Fragaria vesca Undetermined L 

Virginia Strawberry Fragaria virginiana Secure 

Yellow Avens Geum aleppicum Secure 

Glacier Avens Geum glaciale Sensitive L 

Large-leaved Avens Geum macrophyllum Secure 

Ross Avens Geum rossii Secure 

Prairie-smoke Geum triflorum May Be At Risk L 

Segmented Luetke Luetkea pectinata May Be At Risk L 

Tall Cinquefoil Potentilla arguta Sensitive L 

Two-flowered Cinquefoil Potentilla biflora Secure 

Staghorn Cinqefoil Potentilla bimundorum Secure 

Mountain Meadow Cinquefoil Potentilla diversifolia Sensitive 

Elegant Cinquefoil Potentilla elegans Secure 

Arctic Cinquefoil Potentilla nana Secure 

Snow Cinquefoil Potentilla nivea Secure 



Concern c 

Buckthorn-like shrubs – Silverberries and relatives 

Rose-like plants – Stonecrops and relatives 

Rose-like plants – Currants 

Rose-like plants – Roses and relatives 

128 



Norwegian Cinquefoil Potentilla norvegica Secure 

Pennsylvania Cinquefoil Potentilla pensylvanica Secure 

Pretty Cinquefoil Potentilla pulchella Secure 

Rocky Mountain Cinquefoil Potentilla rubricaulis Secure 

North American 

Gorodkov’s Cinquefoil 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Potentilla subgorodkovii o Secure T 6 



Concern c 

North American Vahl’s 

Cinquefoil 

Potentilla subvahliana o Undetermined T 6 

Vahl’s Cinquefoil Potentilla vahliana o Undetermined T 4 

Beringian Hairy Potentilla Potentilla villosula o May Be At Risk L T 6 

One-flowered Cinquefoil Potentilla vulcanicola o Undetermined T 6 

Pin Cherry Prunus pensylvanica Secure L 

Choke Cherry Prunus virginiana May Be At Risk 

Prickly Rose Rosa acicularis Secure 

Smooth Rose Rosa blanda Undetermined L 

Woods Rose Rosa woodsii Secure 

Arctic Rasberry Rubus arcticus Secure 

Cloudberry Rubus chamaemorus Secure 

Red Raspberry Rubus idaeus Secure 

Dwarf Red Raspberry Rubus pubescens Secure 

Canada Burnet Sanguisorba canadensis Presence Expected 

Great Burnet Sanguisorba officinalis p Undetermined L 

Sibbaldia Sibbaldia procumbens Sensitive 

Three-toothed Cinquefoil Sibbaldiopsis tridentata Sensitive 

False Spiraea Sorbaria sorbifolia Alien X 

Greene Mountain Ash Sorbus scopulina Sensitive L 

Steven Meadow-sweet Spiraea stevenii Secure 

Rosales – Saxifragaceae 

Rose-like plants – Saxifrages 

Northern Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium tetrandrum Secure 

Wright Golden Saxifrage Chrysosplenium wrightii Sensitive 

Richardson Alumroot Heuchera richardsonii May Be At Risk L 

Leather-leaved Saxifrage Leptarrhena pyrolifolia May Be At Risk L 

Bare-Stem Bishop’s Cap Mitella nuda Secure 

Fringed Grass-of-parnassus Parnassia fimbriata Sensitive 

Kotzebue’s 

Grass-of-parnassus 

Parnassia kotzebuei 

Secure 

Marsh Grass-of-parnassus Parnassia palustris Secure 

Asending Saxifrage Saxifraga adscendens Sensitive L 

Yellow Mountain Saxifrage Saxifraga aizoides Secure 

Matte Saxifrage Saxifraga bronchialis May Be At Risk L 




Tufted Saxifrage Saxifraga caespitosa Secure 

Nodding Saxifrage Saxifraga cernua Secure 

Cushion Saxifrage Saxifraga eschscholtzii May Be At Risk L 

Rusty-Hair Saxifrage Saxifraga ferruginea May Be At Risk L 

Spider Saxifrage Saxifraga flagellaris Secure 

Leafy Saxifrage Saxifraga foliolosa Secure 

Stiff Stem Saxifrage Saxifraga hieraciifolia Secure 

Yellow Marsh Saxifrage Saxifraga hirculus Secure 

Red Stemmed Saxifrage Saxifraga lyallii Sensitive 

Heart-leaved Saxifrage Saxifraga nelsoniana Secure 

Snow Saxifrage Saxifraga nivalis Secure 

Purple Mountain Saxifrage Saxifraga oppositifolia Secure 

White Mountain Saxifrage Saxifraga paniculata May Be At Risk L 

Razshivin’s Saxifrage Saxifraga razshivinii Secure 

Yukon Saxifrage Saxifraga reflexa Secure 

Alpine Brook Saxifrage Saxifraga rivularis Secure 

Thyme-leaf Saxifrage Saxifraga serpyllifolia Sensitive 

Siberian Saxifrage Saxifraga sibirica Secure 

Ottertail Pass Saxifrage Saxifraga tenuis Undetermined L 

Prickly Saxifrage Saxifraga tricuspidata Secure L 

Rubiales – Rubiaceae 

Catchweed Bedstraw Galium aparine Alien X 

Northern Bedstraw Galium boreale Secure 

Boreal Bedstraw Galium kamtschaticum Undetermined L 

Bog Bedstraw Galium labradoricum Secure 

Small Bedstraw Galium trifidum Secure 

Fragrant Bedstraw Galium triflorum Secure 

Salicales – Salicaceae 

Balsam Poplar Populus balsamifera Secure 

Trembling Aspen Populus tremuloides Secure 

Alaska Willow Salix alaxensis Secure 

Littletree Willow Salix arbusculoides Secure 

Arctic Willow Salix arctica Secure 

Northern Willow Salix arctophila Secure 

Athabasca Willow Salix athabascensis Secure 

Barclay Willow Salix barclayi Secure 

Barratt Willow Salix barrattiana Secure 

Bebb Willow Salix bebbiana Secure 

Short-fruit Willow Salix brachycarpa Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Bedstraw-like plants – Bedstraws 

Willow-like shrubs and trees – Willows and relatives 

130 



Hoary Willow Salix candida Secure 

Chamisso’s Willow Salix chamissonis Sensitive L 

Undergreen Willow Salix commutata Sensitive L 

Pussy Willow Salix discolor Sensitive L 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Drummond’s Willow Salix drummondiana Undetermined L ∃ 6 

Yellow Willow Salix famelica Secure 

Farr’s Willow Salix farriae May Be At Risk L 

Alaska Bog Willow Salix fuscescens Secure 

Gray Willow Salix glauca Secure 

Halberd Willow Salix hastata Sensitive L 

Snowbed Willow Salix herbacea Secure 

Sandbar Willow Salix interior Secure 

Shining Willow Salix lasiandra Secure 

Mccalla Willow Salix maccalliana Secure 

Blueberry Willow Salix myrtillifolia Secure 

Barren-ground Willow Salix niphoclada Secure 

Oval-leaved willow Salix ovalifolia May Be At Risk L 

Bog Willow Salix pedicellaris Secure 

Meadow Willow Salix petiolaris Sensitive 

Skeleton-leaved Willow Salix phlebophylla Secure 

Diamond-leaved Willow Salix planifolia Secure 

Polar Willow Salix polaris Secure 

Mackenzie Willow Salix prolixa Secure 

False Mountain Willow Salix pseudomonticola Secure 

Firm-leaf Willow Salix pseudomyrsinites Undetermined 

Tea-leaved Willow Salix pulchra Secure 

Balsam Willow Salix pyrifolia Secure 

3 



Concern c 

Raup’s Willow Salix raupii May Be At Risk L G2 - 2008 

Net-veined Willow Salix reticulata Secure 

Richardson Willow Salix richardsonii Secure 

Round-leaved Willow Salix rotundifolia Secure 

Scouler Willow Salix scouleriana Secure 

Autumn Willow Salix serissima Secure 

Wedgeleaf Willow Salix sphenophylla May Be At Risk L 

Tyrell’s Willow Salix tyrrellii May Be At Risk L T 6 Not at Risk - 1999 

Santalales – Santalaceae 

Bastard Toadflax Comandra umbellata Undetermined L 

Northern Comandra Geocaulon lividum Secure 

Sandalwood-like plants – Toadflaxes and relatives 




Sapindales – Aceraceae 

Manitoba Maple Acer negundo Alien X 

Scrophulariales – Lentibulariaceae 

Hairy Butterwort Pinguicula villosa Secure 

Common Butterwort Pinguicula vulgaris Secure 

Flatleaf Bladderwort Utricularia intermedia Secure 

Greater Bladderwort Utricularia macrorhiza Secure 

Lesser Bladderwort Utricularia minor Sensitive 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 

Northern Bladderwort Utricularia ochroleuca Sensitive ∃ 2 

Scrophulariales – Orobanchaceae 

Northern Groundcone Boschniakia rossica Secure 

Scrophulariales – Scrophulariaceae 

Alpine Bartsia Bartsia alpina Undetermined L 

Pale Indian Paintbrush Castilleja caudata Secure 

Elegant Indian Paintbrush Castilleja elegans Secure 

Northern Indian Paintbrush Castilleja hyperborea Sensitive 

Raup Indian Paintbrush Castilleja raupii Secure 



Concern c 

Maple-like trees – Maples 

Figwort-like plants – Butterworts and relatives 

Figwort-like plants – Broom-rapes and relatives 

Figwort-like plants – Figworts and relatives 

Yukon Indian Paintbrush Castilleja yukonis May Be At Risk L G3? - 2006 

Dwarf Snapdragon Chaenorhinum minus Alien X 

Arctic Eyebright Euphrasia subarctica Sensitive 

Little Weaselsnout Lagotis minor Sensitive L 

Northern Mudwort Limosella aquatica May Be At Risk 

Butter-and-Eggs Linaria vulgaris Alien X 

Common Large Monkey Flower Mimulus guttatus May Be At Risk L 

Yellow Owl’s Clover Orthocarpus luteus May Be At Risk L 

Capitate Lousewort Pedicularis capitata Secure 

Red-tip Lousewort Pedicularis flammea Sensitive 

Greenland Lousewort Pedicularis groenlandica Undetermined 

Hairy Lousewort Pedicularis hirsuta Undetermined 

Labrador Lousewort Pedicularis labradorica Secure 

Woolly Lousewort Pedicularis lanata Secure 

Langsdorf’s Lousewort Pedicularis langsdorfii Secure 

Lapland Lousewort Pedicularis lapponica Secure 

Muskeg Lousewort Pedicularis macrodonta Sensitive 

Oeder’s Lousewort Pedicularis oederi May Be At Risk L 

Sudetan Lousewort Pedicularis sudetica Secure 

Whorled Lousewort Pedicularis verticillata May Be At Risk L 

Gorman’s Beardtongue Penstemon gormanii May Be At Risk 

2 

132 



Small-flowered Beardtongue Penstemon procerus Presence Expected 

Little Yellow Rattle Rhinanthus minor Secure 

Range 

Note a 

Reason for 

Change b 



Concern c 

Alaska Kitten-tail Synthyris borealis May Be At Risk L G3G4 - 1992 

American Speedwell Veronica americana Sensitive 

Long-leaved Speedwell Veronica longifolia Alien 

Purslane Speedwell Veronica peregrina May Be At Risk 

Marsh Speedwell Veronica scutellata Sensitive 

Alpine Speedwell Veronica wormskjoldii Secure 

Solanales – Hydrophyllaceae 

Franklin’s Phacelia Phacelia franklinii Secure 

Solanales – Menyanthaceae 

Bog Buckbean Menyanthes trifoliata Secure 

Solanales – Polemoniaceae 

Narrow-leaved Collomia Collomia linearis d Sensitive 

Hood’s Phlox Phlox hoodii Undetermined 

Richarson’s Phlox Phlox richardsonii Sensitive 

Tall Jacob’s Ladder Polemonium acutiflorum Secure 

Northern Jacob’s Ladder Polemonium boreale Secure 

Showy Jacob’s Ladder Polemonium pulcherrimum Sensitive 

Theales – Elatinaceae 

Long-stemmed Waterwort Elatine americana Undetermined L 

Urticales – Urticaceae 

Stinging Nettle Urtica dioica Secure 

Violales – Cistaceae 

Woolly Beach-heath Hudsonia tomentosa Sensitive 

Violales – Violaceae 

Sand Violet Viola adunca Secure 

Canada Violet Viola canadensis Undetermined L ∃ 2 

Northern Marsh Violet Viola epipsila Sensitive 

Smooth White Violet Viola macloskeyi Sensitive 

Northern Bog Violet Viola nephrophylla Sensitive 

Alpine Marsh Violet Viola palustris Sensitive 

Kidney-leaf White Violet Viola renifolia Secure 

Great-spurred Violet Viola selkirkii Undetermined ∃ 2 

Johnny-jump-up Viola tricolor Alien X 

Nightshade-like plants – Waterleaves 

Nightshade-like plants – Buckbeans 

Nightshade-like plants – Phlox and relatives 

Tea-like plants – Waterworts 

Nettle-like plants – Nettles 

Violet-like plants – Beacheaths 

Violet-like plants – Violets 







c 






d This species may have been introduced to the NWT. 

e Slender Wild Rye (Elymus trachycaulus) has both native and introduced forms, both of which are apparently present in the NWT. This grass formed the 

majority of the seed mix applied in the 1980-90s along the pipeline to Norman Wells. 

f 

Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea) has both native and introduced forms (genotypes) that can be in the NWT. 

g Two varieties of Common Reed (Phragmites australis) exists: one is native, the other one is alien. Although only the native variety appears to be present 

in the NWT, further investigations on the genetics of the NWT populations are needed. 

h Two forms of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) exists: one is native, the other one is alien. Both forms may be present in the NWT, but most sites are 

considered introduced. The species is used extensively as lawn grass. 

i 

j 

Puccinellia nuttalliana includes the taxon formerly known as Puccinellia deschampsioides, which has a global conservation concern rank of “G3”. 

Annual Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) was recorded in the 1970s near Fort Smith; its continuous presence in the NWT is unclear. 

k Common Sow Thistle (Sonchus oleraceus) was recorded in 1955 near Fort Simpson; its continuous presence in the NWT is unclear. 

l 

Rocky Mountain Goosefoot (Chenopodium salinum) is treated as synonymous to Chenopodium glaucum (mostly alien species) in FNA vol. 4, but the only 

taxon present in the NWT is the native variety C. glaucum var salinum, and is listed here using its synonym. C salinum. 

m Betula nana and Betula glandulosa ssp. exilis are treated as separate species in FNA Vol. 3. These taxa hybridize in the area where both occur, including in 

the NWT, and can be very difficult to distinguish. 

n Nipple-seed Plantain (Plantago major) has both native and alien subspecies. Both forms can be in the NWT. 

o Plants previously called Potentilla uniflora have been split into several new species: North American Gorodkov’s Cinquefoil (Potentilla subgorodkovii), 

North American Vahl's Cinquefoil (Potentilla subvahliana), Vahl's Cinquefoil (Potentilla vahliana), Beringian Hairy Potentilla (Potentilla villosula), and 

One-flowered Cinquefoil (Potentilla vulcanicola). The rank of most of these taxa is under review. 

p There is uncertainty on the identity of the taxa present in the NWT. Either Great Burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis, alien) is present, or Western Burnet 

(Sanguisorba occidentalis, native), or both. 


2 Changed from May Be at Risk 








10 Changed from Presence Expected 

134 


Edward Mock Wallflower 

Photo Credit: R Decker

6.16 

Mosses 

Large Sphagnum Moss 


136 


Mosses are small, green, terrestrial plants that most 

people will usually associate with the tropics or 

coastal rainforest. Mosses are indeed a dominant plant type 

in those habitats, but also are able to grow in steppe desert 

or tundra habitats. 

Mosses share many features with vascular plants, and they 

have unique adaptations that differentiate them from these. 

One of the most important characteristic is their lack of woody 

conducting tissue. Woody conducting tissues provide most 

plants, like trees, the rigidity and strength that allows them 

to grow to enormous size. As mosses lack this type of support, 

they remain small – the largest mosses in Canada are at most 

20 cm tall and the smallest is less than 2 mm tall! Far from 

being a disadvantage, the small size allows mosses to grow in 

microhabitats. Microhabitats are mini-habitats that differ from 

the surrounding environment in humidity or moisture levels, 

light, temperature, or substrate. Examples of microhabitats 

include rock crevices, tree trunks, and rotting logs. 

Although small, mosses play important roles in many 

ecosystems, from regulating drainage in peatlands, preventing 

erosion, providing shelter for insects and microorganisms in 

terrestrial environments and invertebrates in aquatic systems, 

and as pioneers in the development of soil after disturbance. 

They also have a strong influence on nutrient cycling in 

northern and tundra ecosystems through their role in nitrogen 

fixation and as filters for nutrients arriving in precipitation. 

Aside from small size, another feature that is unique to mosses, 

among the plants at least, is an adaptation termed ‘desiccation 

tolerance’. Desiccation tolerance allows mosses to dry out 

completely, but upon re-wetting, to become active and start 

growing again within minutes. Desiccation tolerance is an 

adaptation that allows many mosses to grow in places where 

most other plants cannot become established. This adaptation 

in mosses to rehydrate quickly was known to Aboriginal people, 

who used mosses in baby diapers and other absorbent tools 

(for examples see Inuvialuit Elders and Bandringa 2010). Also 

the insulation property of mosses has been used by northerners 

in building cabin roofs and walls. Sphagnum moss is used in 

gardens to enrich the soil. Some NWT landscaping businesses 

harvest mosses as a resource. 

Landscapes with many varied habitats and a humid climate 

generally support higher numbers of mosses than landscapes 

dominated by few dry habitats. Mosses show highest diversity in 

the mountainous areas of the southwest NWT. These mountains 

have diverse climates that vary with elevation, in addition to 

diverse bedrock types. Large areas remain unexplored and poorly 

documented for their moss diversity. Effective conservation of 

mosses will depend on surveys to determine in some detail the 

moss diversity and their patterns on the land. 

Dr. René Belland 

Curator, Plant Herbarium 

Devonian Botanic Garden 

University of Alberta 

List 16. Mosses 

There are 498 species of mosses confirmed present in 

the NWT. Nine species are of global conservation concern. 

Species are listed alphabetically according to the scientific 

Order they belong to, then by Family, then by scientific 

species name. Taxonomy follows mainly Anderson et al. 

(1990), and Flora of North America (FNA 2007) for species 

not covered in Anderson et al. (1990). Common Names are 

from various sources. 

Splendid Stair-step Moss 



6.16 Mosses 


Andreaeales – Andreaeaceae 

Blytl’s Granite Moss Andreaea blyttii Undetermined 

Oval Granite Moss Andreaea obovata Secure 

Common Granite Moss Andreaea rupestris Secure 

Andreaeales – Andreaeobryaceae 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Granite-moss Bryophytes – Granite Mosses 

Granite-moss Bryophytes – Arctic Granite Mosses 

Bigspore Arctic Granite Moss Andreaeobryum macrosporum May Be At Risk L G2G3 - 2009 

Bryales – Aulacomniaceae 

True Moss-like Bryophytes – Groove Mosses 

Acutetip Groove Moss Aulacomnium acuminatum Secure G3? - 1999 

Wetland Groove Moss Aulacomnium palustre Secure 

Fat Groove Moss Aulacomnium turgidum Secure 

Bryales – Bartramiaceae 

Straight-leaved Apple Moss Bartramia ithyphylla Secure 

Common Apple Moss Bartramia pomiformis Sensitive L 

Ranked-leaved Apple Moss Conostomum tetragonum Secure 

Capillary Apple Moss Philonotis capillaris Undetermined 

Fountain Apple Moss Philonotis fontana Undetermined L 

Oeder Apple Moss Plagiopus oederiana Secure 

Bryales – Bryaceae 

Thread-like Anomobryum Moss Anomobryum filiforme May Be At Risk L 

Brazen Moss Bryum aeneum Undetermined 

Drooping-tread Moss Bryum algovicum Secure 

Arctic Moss Bryum arcticum Secure 

Silver Moss Bryum argenteum Secure 

Short Moss Bryum caespiticium Secure 

Matted Moss Bryum calophyllum Sensitive L 

Capillary Moss Bryum capillare Secure 

Twisted-leaved Moss Bryum cyclophyllum Secure 

Overlaping-leaved Moss Bryum imbricatum Undetermined L 

True Moss-like Bryophytes – Apple Mosses 

True Moss-like Bryophytes – True Mosses 

Knowlton’s Moss Bryum knowltonii Sensitive L G3G4 - 1999 

Lise Moss Bryum lisae Secure 

Polished Moss Bryum nitidulum Undetermined 

Pale Moss Bryum pallens Undetermined L 

Pale-thread Moss Bryum pallescens Secure 

Tall Clustered Thread Moss Bryum pseudotriquetrum Secure 

Purple Moss Bryum purpurascens Secure 

Salt Moss Bryum salinum Secure 

Turned-thread Moss Bryum turbinatum Undetermined 

Weigel’s Moss Bryum weigelii Secure 

Wright’s Moss Bryum wrightii Secure 

138 



Flame-tread Moss Leptobryum pyriforme Secure 

Alpine Plagiobryum Moss Plagiobryum demissum May Be At Risk L 

Zier’s Plagiobryum Moss Plagiobryum zierii May Be At Risk L 

Andalucia Thread-moss Pohlia andalusica Undetermined L 

Andrew’s Thread-moss Pohlia andrewsii Undetermined 

Pale-fruited Thread-moss Pohlia annotina Undetermined L 

Purple Thread-moss Pohlia atropurpurea Undetermined L 

Copper-thread-moss Pohlia bulbifera Undetermined L 

Cardot’s Thread-moss Pohlia cardotii May Be At Risk L 

Glaucous Thread-moss Pohlia cruda Secure 

Mountain Thread-moss Pohlia crudoides May Be At Risk L 

Drummond’s Thread-moss Pohlia drummondii Undetermined L 

Long Thread-moss Pohlia elongata Undetermined 

Erect Thread-moss Pohlia erecta Undetermined 

Thin Thread-moss Pohlia filum Undetermined L 

Lescur Thread-moss Pohlia lescuriana Undetermined L 

Long-necked Thread-moss Pohlia longicollis Sensitive L 

Lugwig’s Thread-moss Pohlia ludwigii Undetermined 

Common Thread-moss Pohlia nutans Secure 

Tundra Thread-moss Pohlia proligera Sensitive L 

Vexans Thread-moss Pohlia vexans May Be At Risk L 

Wahlenberg’s Thread-moss Pohlia wahlenbergii Secure 

Bryales – Catoscopiaceae 

Black Golfclub Moss Catoscopium nigritum Secure 

Bryales – Meesiaceae 

Short-tooth Hump-moss Amblyodon dealbatus Undetermined L 

Longstalk Hump-moss Meesia longiseta Undetermined L 

Threeranked Hump-moss Meesia triquetra Secure 

Broadnerved Hump-moss Meesia uliginosa Secure 

Pipe-cleaner Moss Paludella squarrosa Secure 

Bryales – Mniaceae 

Arctic Cinclidium Moss Cinclidium arcticum Secure 

Large Cinclidium Moss Cinclidium latifolium Secure 

Style Cinclidium Moss Cinclidium stygium Secure 

Arrow Cinclidium Moss Cinclidium subrotundum Secure 

Flattened-leaved Cyrtomnium Moss Cyrtomnium hymenophylloides Secure 

Filmy-leaved Cyrtomnium Moss Cyrtomnium hymenophyllum Secure 

Confusing Thyme-moss Mnium ambiguum Undetermined L 

Arizona Thyme-moss Mnium arizonicum Undetermined L 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

True Moss-like Bryophytes – Golfclub Mosses 

True Moss-like Bryophytes – Hump Mosses 

True Moss-like Bryophytes – Thyme-mosses 


6.16 Mosses 


Blytt’s Thyme-moss Mnium blyttii Secure 

Olivegreen Thyme-moss Mnium marginatum Secure 

Spiny Thyme-moss Mnium spinosum Secure 

Small Spiny Thyme-moss Mnium spinulosum Undetermined L 

Thomson‘s Thyme-moss Mnium thomsonii Secure 

Many-fruited Thyme-moss Plagiomnium affine Sensitive 

Hair Thyme-moss Plagiomnium ciliare Sensitive L 

Pointed-leaved Thyme-moss Plagiomnium cuspidatum Sensitive 

Drummond’s Thyme-moss Plagiomnium drummondii Sensitive L 

Elliptic Thyme-moss Plagiomnium ellipticum Secure 

Medium Thyme-moss Plagiomnium medium Sensitive L 

Beaked Thyme-moss Plagiomnium rostratum Sensitive L 

Small-rounded Pseudobryum Moss Pseudobryum cinclidioides Sensitive L 

Andrew Thyme-moss Rhizomnium andrewsianum Sensitive L 

Gracile Thyme-moss Rhizomnium gracile Secure 

Showy Thyme-moss Rhizomnium magnifolium Undetermined L 

Marked Thyme-moss Rhizomnium pseudopunctatum Secure 

Spotted Thyme-moss Rhizomnium punctatum Undetermined L 

Bryales – Timmiaceae 

Austrian Timmia Moss Timmia austriaca Secure 

Megapolitan Timmia Moss Timmia megapolitana Secure L 

Norwegian Timmia Moss Timmia norvegica Secure 

Siberian Timmia Moss Timmia sibirica Undetermined 

Dicranales – Bruchiaceae 

Shortneck Trematodon Moss Trematodon brevicollis Sensitive L 

Dicranales – Dicranaceae 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

True Moss-like Bryophytes – Timmia Mosses 

Forkmoss-like Bryophytes – Pygmymosses 

Forkmoss-like Bryophytes – Fork Mosses and relatives 

Sand Hoofprint Moss Aongstroemia longipes May Be At Risk L 

Anderson’s Arctic-moss Arctoa anderssonii May Be At Risk L 

Twinkle Mountian-moss Arctoa fulvella May Be At Risk L 

Alpine Fork-moss Cynodontium alpestre Undetermined L 

Pale Fork-moss Cynodontium glaucescens Sensitive L G3G4 - 1999 

Gracile Fork-moss Cynodontium gracilescens Undetermined 

Jenner’s Fork-moss Cynodontium jenneri Sensitive L 

Polycarp Fork-moss Cynodontium polycarpon Undetermined 

Schist’s Fork-moss Cynodontium schisti Sensitive L 

Adam’s Apple Fork-moss Cynodontium strumiferum Secure 

Tiny Fork-moss Cynodontium tenellum Sensitive L 

Translucent Fork-moss Dichodontium pellucidum Undetermined L 

Small Forklet-moss Dicranella cerviculata Undetermined L 

140 



Dry Forklet-moss Dicranella crispa Secure 

Silky Forklet-moss Dicranella heteromalla Undetermined L 

Lakeshore Foklet-moss Dicranella palustris Undetermined L 

Schreberian Forklet-moss Dicranella schreberiana Secure 

Long-pointed Forklet-moss Dicranella subulata Undetermined L 

Variable Forklet-moss Dicranella varia Undetermined L 

Stripper Forktooth-moss Dicranodontium denudatum Undetermined 

Striated Fork-moss Dicranoweisia cirrata Undetermined L 

Crisp-leaved Fork-moss Dicranoweisia crispula Secure 

Sharp-leaved Cushion Moss Dicranum acutifolium Secure 

Bonjean’s Cushion Moss Dicranum bonjeanii Undetermined L 

Short-leaved Cushion Moss Dicranum brevifolium Sensitive L 

Long-leaved Cushion Moss Dicranum elongatum Secure 

Whip Cushion Moss Dicranum flagellare Undetermined 

Fragile Cushion Moss Dicranum fragilifolium Secure 

Dusky Cushion Moss Dicranum fuscescens Secure 

Greenland Cushion Moss Dicranum groenlandicum Secure 

Fuzzy Cushion Moss Dicranum leioneuron Undetermined 

Magic Cushion Moss Dicranum majus Undetermined L 

Mountain Cushion Moss Dicranum montanum Undetermined 

Muehlenbeck’s Cushion Moss Dicranum muehlenbeckii Undetermined L 

Ontarian Cushion Moss Dicranum ontariense Undetermined 

Many-leaved Cushion Moss Dicranum polysetum Secure 

Broom Moss Dicranum scoparium Secure 

Spade Cushion Moss Dicranum spadiceum Secure 

Tauric Cushion Moss Dicranum tauricum Undetermined L 

Sluffy Cushion Moss Dicranum undulatum Secure 

Blytt’s Kiaeria Moss Kiaeria blyttii Sensitive L 

Sickle Kiaeria Moss Kiaeria falcata Undetermined 

Glacier Kiaeria Moss Kiaeria glacialis Secure 

Stark’s Kiaeria Moss Kiaeria starkei Sensitive L 

Green Curred-back Moss Oncophorus virens Secure 

Mountain Curved-back Moss Oncophorus wahlenbergii Secure 

Small-leaved Pale Moss Paraleucobryum enerve Undetermined L 

Long-leaved Pale Moss Paraleucobryum longifolium Undetermined L 

Crisp Rhabdoweisia Moss Rhabdoweisia crispata May Be At Risk L 

Dicranales – Ditrichaceae 

Double Tooth-moss Ceratodon heterophyllus Undetermined 

Purple Tooth-moss Ceratodon purpureus Secure 

Hairy Doubleleaf Moss Distichium capillaceum Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Forkmoss-like Bryophytes – Doubleleaf Mosses 


6.16 Mosses 


Hagen’s Doubleleaf Moss Distichium hagenii Undetermined L 

Inclined Doubleleaf Moss Distichium inclinatum Secure 

Flexible Doubleleaf Moss Ditrichum flexicaule Secure 

Gracile Doubleleaf Moss Ditrichum gracile Undetermined 

Pale Saelania Moss Saelania glaucescens Undetermined L 

Cylindrical Triple-tooth Moss Trichodon cylindricus Undetermined L 

Dicranales – Fissidentaceae 

Maidenhair Moss Fissidens adianthoides Sensitive L 

Arctic Pocket Moss Fissidens arcticus Undetermined L 

Bryoid Pocket Moss Fissidens bryoides Undetermined L 

Large-leaved Pocket Moss Fissidens grandifrons Undetermined 

Osmond Pocket Moss Fissidens osmundoides Secure 

Serrulate Pocket Moss Fissidens taxifolius Undetermined 

Dicranales – Grimmiaceae 

Northern Granite-moss Coscinodon arctolimnius Secure 

Toothed Granite-moss Coscinodon cribrosus Undetermined 

Plate Rock-moss Dryptodon patens Undetermined 

Toothless Rock-moss Grimmia anodon Secure 

White-haired Rock-moss Grimmia crinitoleucophaea Undetermined 

Donniana Rock-moss Grimmia donniana Undetermined 

Long Rock-moss Grimmia elongata Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Forkmoss-like Bryophytes – Pocket Mosses 

Forkmoss-like Bryophytes – Rock Mosses and relatives 

Spurred Rock-moss Grimmia longirostris Undetermined L 

Footed Rock-moss Grimmia plagiopodia Undetermined 

Cliff Rock-moss Grimmia sessitana Undetermined L 

Dry Rock-moss Grimmia teretinervis Undetermined 

Torque Rock-moss Grimmia torquata May Be At Risk L 

Splash Rock-moss Grimmia unicolor May Be At Risk L 

Grey Fringe-moss Racomitrium canescens Secure 

Heath Fringe-moss Racomitrium ericoides Undetermined L 

Mountain Green Fringe-moss Racomitrium fasciculare Undetermined L 

Bristly Fringe-moss Racomitrium heterostichum Secure 

Awned Fringe-moss Racomitrium lanuginosum Secure 

Microcarpe Fringe-moss Racomitrium microcarpon Undetermined 

Slender Fringe-moss Racomitrium sudeticum May Be At Risk L 

Agassiz’s Fringe-moss Schistidium agassizii Undetermined L 

Reddish Fringe-mos Schistidium apocarpum Secure 

Boreal Fringe-moss Schistidium boreale Undetermined 

Curved Fringe-moss Schistidium cryptocarpum Undetermined 

Dupret’s Fringe-moss Schistidium dupretii Undetermined 

Arctic Fringe-moss Schistidium frigidum Undetermined 

142 



Unruly Fringe-moss Schistidium frisvollianum Undetermined 

Grand Fringe-moss Schistidium grandirete Undetermined 

Holmen Fringe-moss Schistidium holmenianum Undetermined 

Moth Fringe-moss Schistidium papillosum Undetermined 

Handsome Fringe-moss Schistidium pulchrum Undetermined 

Wavy Fringe-moss Schistidium rivulare Secure 

Robust Fringe-moss Schistidium robustum Undetermined 

Soft Fringe-moss Schistidium tenerum Sensitive L 

Darkolive Schistidium Moss Schistidium trichodon May Be At Risk L 

Arctic Schistidium Moss Schistidium venetum Undetermined 

Dicranales – Scouleriaceae 

Aquatic Scouler Moss Scouleria aquatica Undetermined 

Dicranales – Seligeriaceae 

Acute Blindia Moss Blindia acuta Secure 

Calcareous Moss Seligeria calcarea Sensitive 

Campylope Limestone Moss Seligeria campylopoda May Be At Risk L 

Mountian Limestone Moss Seligeria donniana Secure 

Irish Rock-bristle Seligeria oelandica May Be At Risk L 

Polar Limestone Moss Seligeria polaris May Be At Risk L 

Small Limestone Moss Seligeria subimmersa May Be At Risk L 

Three-ranked Limestone Moss Seligeria tristichoides Undetermined L 

Funariales – Disceliaceae 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Forkmoss-like Bryophytes – Scouler Mosses 

Forkmoss-like Bryophytes – Limestone Mosses 

Ropemoss-like Bryophytes – Flag-mosses 

Naked Flag-moss Discelium nudum May Be At Risk L G3G4 - 1999 

Funariales – Ephemeraceae 

Serrated Ephemeral Moss Ephemerum serratum Undetermined 

Funariales – Funariaceae 

Inuit Rope-moss Funaria arctica May Be At Risk L 

Wet Rope-moss Funaria hygrometrica Secure 

Small Rope-moss Funaria microstoma Undetermined 

Polar Rope-moss Funaria polaris May Be At Risk L 

Funariales – Pseudoditrichaceae 

Great Bear Lake Double-rope Moss Pseudoditrichum mirabile Undetermined 

Funariales – Splachnaceae 

Wormskjold’s Aplodon Moss Aplodon wormskjoldii Undetermined L 

Ropemoss-like Bryophytes – Ephemeral Mosses 

Ropemoss-like Bryophytes – Rope-mosses 

Ropemoss-like Bryophytes – Pseudoditrichum Mosses 

Ropemoss-like Bryophytes – Dung Mosses 

Yellow Splach Moss Splachnum luteum Sensitive L G3 - 1999 

Red Splach Moss Splachnum rubrum Undetermined L 

Pink Splach Moss Splachnum sphaericum Secure 

Rugged Collar-moss Splachnum vasculosum Sensitive L 

Pointed Taylor Moss Tayloria acuminata Undetermined 


6.16 Mosses 


Froelich’s Taylor Moss Tayloria froelichiana Undetermined L 

Tongued Taylor Moss Tayloria lingulata Undetermined L 

Toothed-leaf Nitrogen Moss Tetraplodon angustatus Sensitive L 

Thyme Nitrogen Moss Tetraplodon mnioides Secure 

Pale Nitrogen Moss Tetraplodon pallidus Undetermined L 

Paradox Nitrogen Moss Tetraplodon paradoxus Sensitive L 

Urceolate Nitrogen Moss Tetraplodon urceolatus Secure 

Northern Voitia Moss Voitia hyperborea Undetermined L 

Hypnales – Amblystegiaceae 

Creeping Feather-moss Amblystegium serpens Secure 

Willow Feather-moss Amblystegium varium Sensitive L 

Heart-leaved Spear-moss Calliergon cordifolium Secure 

Gigantic Spear-moss Calliergon giganteum Secure 

Large Spear-moss Calliergon megalophyllum Undetermined 

Corded Spear-moss Calliergon orbiculare-cordatum Undetermined L 

Richardson’s Spear-moss Calliergon richardsonii Secure 

Straw Spear-moss Calliergon stramineum Secure 

Triton Spear-moss Calliergon trifarium Secure 

Pointed Spearlet-moss Calliergonella cuspidata Undetermined 

Golden Feather-moss Campylium chrysophyllum Secure 

Haller’s Feather-moss Campylium halleri Undetermined L 

Hispid Feather-moss Campylium hispidulum Secure 

Fertile Feather-moss Campylium polygamum Undetermined L 

Round Feather-moss Campylium radicale Sensitive L 

Yellow Starry Feather-moss Campylium stellatum Secure 

Compact Feather-moss Conardia compacta Secure 

Thread Feather-moss Cratoneuron filicinum Secure 

Knieff´s Hook-moss Drepanocladus aduncus Secure 

Short Hook-moss Drepanocladus brevifolius Secure 

Capillary Hook-moss Drepanocladus capillifolius Undetermined 

Large Hook-moss Drepanocladus latifolius Undetermined 

Dusky Hook-moss Drepanocladus sordidus Undetermined 

Lapland Hook-moss Hamatocaulis lapponicus Undetermined 

Varnished Hook-moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus Secure 

Fountain Feather-moss Hygroamblystegium tenax Sensitive L 

Alpine Brook-moss Hygrohypnum alpestre Undetermined 

Broad-leaved Brook-moss Hygrohypnum eugyrium Undetermined 

Drab Brook-moss Hygrohypnum luridum Secure 

Ochre Brook-moss Hygrohypnum ochraceum Undetermined L 

Polar Brook-moss Hygrohypnum polare Sensitive L 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Feather-mosses 

144 



Snow Brook-moss Hygrohypnum styriacum Undetermined L 

Stringy Moss Leptodictyum riparium Secure 

Cosson’s Hook-moss Limprichtia cossonii Undetermined L 

Rusty Hook-moss Limprichtia revolvens Secure 

Arctic Loeskypnum Moss Loeskypnum badium Secure 

Curled Hook-moss Palustriella commutata Undetermined L 

Falcata Hook-moss Palustriella falcata Undetermined L 

Fat Spear-moss Pseudocalliergon turgescens Secure 

Georgico Hook-moss Sanionia georgico-uncinata Undetermined 

St Kilda Hook-moss Sanionia orthothecioides Undetermined 

Sickle-leaved Hook-moss Sanionia uncinata Secure 

Twiggy Spear-moss Sarmentypnum sarmentosum Secure 

Hooked Scorpion-moss Scorpidium scorpioides Secure 

Ringless Hook-moss Warnstorfia exannulata Secure 

Floating Hook-moss Warnstorfia fluitans Secure 

Staminate Hook-moss Warnstorfia pseudostraminea Undetermined 

Tricorne Hook-moss Warnstorfia trichophylla Undetermined 

Tundra Hook-moss Warnstorfia tundrae Undetermined L 

Hypnales – Brachytheciaceae 

Whitish Ragged-moss Brachythecium albicans Secure 

Calcareous Ragged-moss Brachythecium calcareum Undetermined 

Field Ragged-moss Brachythecium campestre Undetermined L 

Hill Ragged-moss Brachythecium collinum Secure 

Red-foot Ragged-moss Brachythecium erythrorrhizon Undetermined 

Northern Ragged-moss Brachythecium frigidum Undetermined 

Glacier Ragged-moss Brachythecium glaciale May Be At Risk L 

Greenland Ragged-moss Brachythecium groenlandicum Undetermined L 

Leigerg’s Ragged-moss Brachythecium leibergii Undetermined L 

Sand Ragged-moss Brachythecium mildeanum Undetermined 

Nelson’s Ragged-moss Brachythecium nelsonii Undetermined 

Oedipodium Ragged-moss Brachythecium oedipodium Undetermined L 

Feathered Ragged-moss Brachythecium plumosum Undetermined L 

Flexible Ragged-moss Brachythecium reflexum Undetermined L 

River Ragged-moss Brachythecium rivulare Undetermined 

Roughstalked Ragged-moss Brachythecium rutabulum Undetermined 

Golden Ragged-moss Brachythecium salebrosum Secure 

Trachypodium Ragged-moss Brachythecium trachypodium Undetermined L 

Turgid Ragged-moss Brachythecium turgidum Secure 

Velvet Ragged-moss Brachythecium velutinum Secure 

Tendril Feather-moss Cirriphyllum cirrosum Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Ragged-mosses 


6.16 Mosses 


Elegant Feather-moss Eurhynchium pulchellum Secure 

Dark Beaked Moss Steerecleus serrulatus Sensitive L 

Sickleleaf Feather-moss Tomentypnum falcifolium Undetermined 

Wolly Feather-moss Tomentypnum nitens Secure 

Hypnales – Entodontaceae 

Cladorrhizans Silk Moss Entodon cladorrhizans Sensitive L 

Trim Silk Moss Entodon concinnus May Be At Risk L 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Silk Mosses 

Schleicher’s Silk Moss Entodon schleicheri May Be At Risk L Data Deficient - 2005 

Hypnales – Fontinalaceae 

Sickle Diving-moss Dichelyma falcatum May Be At Risk 

Aquatic Water-moss Fontinalis dalecarlica Undetermined L 

Wetmat Water-moss Fontinalis hypnoides Undetermined L 

Hypnales – Helodiaceae 

Blandow’s Bog-moss Helodium blandowii Undetermined L 

Hypnales – Hylocomiaceae 

Pyrenean Wood-moss Hylocomiastrum pyrenaicum Undetermined 

Slendid Stair-step Moss Hylocomium splendens Secure 

Schreber’s Stair-step Moss Pleurozium schreberi Secure 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Water-mosses 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Bog-mosses 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Stair-step mosses and relatives 

Springy Turf-moss Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus Undetermined L 

Scarce Turf-moss Rhytidiadelphus subpinnatus Undetermined 

Big Shaggy-moss Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus Undetermined L 

Hypnales – Hypnaceae 

Chalk Comb-moss Ctenidium molluscum Undetermined 

Turfmaking Feather-moss Herzogiella turfacea Sensitive L 

Bamberger’s Feather-moss Hypnum bambergeri Secure 

Callichroum Feather-moss Hypnum callichroum Sensitive L 

Cypress-leaved Plait-moss Hypnum cupressiforme Secure 

Yellow Plait-moss Hypnum hamulosum Secure 

Holmen Feather-moss Hypnum holmenii Secure 

Log Feather-moss Hypnum imponens Undetermined L 

Lindberg’s Feather-moss Hypnum lindbergii Secure 

Pale Plait-moss Hypnum pallescens Sensitive L 

Plaited Feather-moss Hypnum plicatulum Secure 

Meadow Feather-moss Hypnum pratense Secure 

Northern Feather-moss Hypnum procerrimum Secure 

Curved Feather-moss Hypnum recurvatum Undetermined L 

Revolute Feather-moss Hypnum revolutum Secure 

Subimponens Feather-moss Hypnum subimponens Sensitive L 

Vaucher’s Feather-moss Hypnum vaucheri Secure 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Plait-mosses 

146 



Mueller Feather-moss Isopterygiopsis muelleriana May Be At Risk L 

Neat Feather-moss Isopterygiopsis pulchella Secure 

Acuminate Feather-moss Orthothecium acuminatum Undetermined 

Golden Feather-moss Orthothecium chryseum Secure 

Intricate Feather-moss Orthothecium intricatum Sensitive L 

Red Feather-moss Orthothecium rufescens Undetermined 

Strict Feather-moss Orthothecium strictum Sensitive L 

Jungerman Brocade-moss Platydictya jungermannioides Secure 

Flat Brocade-moss Platygyrium repens May Be At Risk L 

Ostrich-plume Feather-moss Ptilium crista-castrensis Secure 

Many-flowered Feather-moss Pylaisiella polyantha Secure 

Selwyn’s Feather-moss Pylaisiella selwynii Undetermined 

Hypnales – Myriniaceae 

Flood Moss Myrinia pulvinata Sensitive L 

Hypnales – Neckeraceae 

Feathered Neckera Moss Neckera pennata Sensitive L 

Hypnales – Plagiotheciaceae 

Berggren Flat-moss Plagiothecium berggrenianum Undetermined 

Roundish Flat-moss Plagiothecium cavifolium Undetermined L 

Dented Flat-moss Plagiothecium denticulatum Undetermined L 

Bright Flat-moss Plagiothecium laetum Secure 

Hair Flat-moss Plagiothecium piliferum Undetermined L 

Hypnales – Rhytidiaceae 

Golden Glade-moss Rhytidium rugosum Secure 

Hypnales – Thuidiaceae 

True Fir-moss Abietinella abietina Secure 

Delicate Fern-moss Thuidium delicatulum Undetermined L 

Lesser Fern-moss Thuidium recognitum Undetermined 

Isobryales – Climaciaceae 

Thoothed Tree-moss Climacium dendroides Secure 

Isobryales – Hedwigiaceae 

Fringed Hoar-moss Hedwigia ciliata Undetermined L 

Isobryales – Leskeaceae 

Nerved Little-leskea Leskeella nervosa Secure 

Brown Mountain Leskea Pseudoleskea incurvata Undetermined L 

Patent Leskea Pseudoleskea patens Undetermined L 

Radicose Leskea Pseudoleskea radicosa Undetermined L 

Narrow-leaved Leskea Pseudoleskea stenophylla May Be At Risk L 

Butterfly Little-leskea Pseudoleskeella papillosa Undetermined 

Downy Little-leskea Pseudoleskeella tectorum Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Myrinia Mosses 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Neckera Mosses 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Flat-mosses 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Glade-mosses 

Feathermoss-like Bryophytes – Fern-mosses 

Isometric Moss-like Bryophytes – Tree-mosses 

Isometric Moss-like Bryophytes – Hoar-mosses 

Isometric Moss-like Bryophytes – Leskea Mosses 


6.16 Mosses 


Isobryales – Pterigynandraceae 

Small Mouse-tail Moss Myurella julacea Secure 

Siberian Mouse-tail Moss Myurella sibirica Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Isometric Moss-like Bryophytes – Wing-mosses 

Dwarf Mouse-tail Moss Myurella tenerrima Secure G3G4 - 1999 

String Wing-moss Pterigynandrum filiforme Undetermined L 

Orthotrichales – Orthotrichaceae 

Lapland Yoke-moss Amphidium lapponicum Secure 

Mougeot’s Yoke-moss Amphidium mougeotii Undetermined L 

Alpine Bristle-moss Orthotrichum alpestre Sensitive L 

Anomalous Bristle-moss Orthotrichum anomalum Undetermined L 

Hooded Bristle-moss Orthotrichum cupulatum Sensitive L 

Smooth Bristle-moss Orthotrichum laevigatum Sensitive L 

Blunt-leaved Bristle-moss Orthotrichum obtusifolium Sensitive L 

Pale Bristle-moss Orthotrichum pallens Sensitive L 

Translucent Bristle-moss Orthotrichum pellucidum Sensitive L 

Pylais’ Bristle-moss Orthotrichum pylaisii Sensitive L 

Rupestre Bristle-moss Orthotrichum rupestre Undetermined 

Dark Bristle-moss Orthotrichum sordidum Undetermined 

Showy Bristle-moss Orthotrichum speciosum Secure 

Curved-leaf Ulota Moss Ulota curvifolia Secure 

Polytrichales – Buxbaumiaceae 

Leafless Elfcap Moss Buxbaumia aphylla May Be At Risk L 

Polytrichales – Polytrichaceae 

Selwyn’s Atrichum Moss Atrichum selwynii Undetermined L 

Small Atrichum Moss Atrichum tenellum Undetermined L 

Sickle Few-haircap Moss Oligotrichum falcatum May Be At Risk L 

Dented Haircap Moss Pogonatum dentatum Undetermined L 

Urn Haircap Moss Pogonatum urnigerum Undetermined L 

Alpine Haircap Moss Polytrichastrum alpinum Secure 

Common Haircap Moss Polytrichum commune Secure 

Bank Haircap Moss Polytrichum formosum Undetermined L 

Arctic Haircap Moss Polytrichum hyperboreum Sensitive L 

Jensen’s Haircap Moss Polytrichum jensenii Undetermined 

Juniper Haircap Moss Polytrichum juniperinum Secure 

Slender Haircap Moss Polytrichum longisetum Undetermined L 

Lyall’s Haircap Moss Polytrichum lyallii Undetermined L 

Bristly Haircap Moss Polytrichum piliferum Secure 

Six-ranked Haircap Moss Polytrichum sexangulare May Be At Risk L 

Bristle Moss-like Bryophytes – Bristle-mosses 

Haircap Moss-like Bryophytes – Elfcap Mosses 

Haircap Moss-like Bryophytes – Haircap Mosses 

148 



Strict Haircap Moss Polytrichum strictum Secure 

Swartz’s Haircap Moss Polytrichum swartzii Undetermined 

Cup Haircap Moss Psilopilum cavifolium Secure 

Bald Haircap Moss Psilopilum laevigatum May Be At Risk L 

Polytrichales – Tetraphidaceae 

Pellucid Four-tooth Moss Tetraphis pellucida Undetermined L 

Pottiales – Encalyptaceae 

Long Britton-moss Bryobrittonia longipes Sensitive L 

Fine Candlesnuffer Encalypta affinis Sensitive L 

Alpine Candlesnuffer Encalypta alpina Secure 

Short-necked Candlesnuffer Encalypta brevicollis Sensitive L 

Fringed Candlesnuffer Encalypta ciliata Sensitive L 

Intermediate Candlesnuffer Encalypta intermedia May Be At Risk L 

Long-necked Candlesnuffer Encalypta longicolla May Be At Risk L 

Blunt Candlesnuffer Encalypta mutica May Be At Risk L 

Tall Candlesnuffer Encalypta procera Secure 

Ribbed Candlesnuffer Encalypta rhaptocarpa Secure 

Alpine Candlesnuffer Encalypta vittiana May Be At Risk L 

Common Candlesnuffer Encalypta vulgaris Undetermined L 

Pottiales – Pottiaceae 

Short-beaked Aloe-moss Aloina brevirostris Sensitive L 

Rigid Aloe-moss Aloina rigida Sensitive L 

Ample Beard-moss Barbula amplexifolia Undetermined L 

Convolute Beard-moss Barbula convoluta Undetermined L 

Indica Beard-moss Barbula indica Undetermined 

Bird’s-claw Beard-moss Barbula unguiculata Undetermined L 

Rufous Beard-moss Bryoerythrophyllum ferruginascens Undetermined L 

Curved Beard-moss Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostre Secure 

Brush Beard-moss Didymodon asperifolius Secure 

False Beard-moss Didymodon fallax Undetermined L 

Reddish Beard-moss Didymodon ferrugineus Undetermined L 

Gigantic Beard-moss Didymodon giganteus Undetermined L 

Johansen’s Beard-moss Didymodon johansenii Undetermined 

Leskea-like Beard-moss Didymodon leskeoides Undetermined 

Maschalogena Beard-moss Didymodon maschalogena Undetermined 

Big Beard-moss Didymodon maximus Undetermined 

Black Beard-moss Didymodon nigrescens Undetermined L 

Very Short Beard-moss Didymodon perobtusus Undetermined 

Rigid Beard-moss Didymodon rigidulus Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Haircap Moss-like Bryophytes – Tetraphid Mosses 

Potia Moss-like Bryophytes – Candlesnuffer Mosses 

Pottia Moss-like Bryophytes – Pottia Mosses 


6.16 Mosses 


Andrew Beard-moss Didymodon subandreaeoides Sensitive L 

Gritty Beard-moss Didymodon tophaceus Undetermined L 

Vine-like Beard-moss Didymodon vinealis Undetermined L 

Whorled Tufa-moss Eucladium verticillatum Undetermined 

Verdegris Tufa-moss Gymnostomum aeruginosum Undetermined L 

Slender Stubble-moss Gyroweisia tenuis May Be At Risk L 

Heim’s Beard-moss Hennediella heimii Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Velenovsky’s Hilpertia Moss Hilpertia velenovsky May Be At Risk L G1 - 1999 

Hook-beak Tufa-moss Hymenostylium recurvirostrum Secure 

Sendtner Molendoa Moss Molendoa sendtneriana Undetermined L 

Spiral Chalk-moss Pterygoneurum lamellatum Undetermined 

Oval Chalk-moss Pterygoneurum ovatum Undetermined 

Hood-leaved Screw-moss Stegonia latifolia Sensitive L 

Dog-nerved Screw-moss Syntrichia caninervis Undetermined L 

Norway Screw-moss Syntrichia norvegica Sensitive L 

Great Hairy Screw-moss Syntrichia ruralis Secure 

Alpine Crisp-moss Tortella alpicola d Undetermined G2G4 - 2000 

Brittle Crisp-moss Tortella fragilis Secure 

Brent Crisp-moss Tortella inclinata Undetermined L 

Frizzled Crisp-moss Tortella tortuosa Secure 

Ample Crisp-moss Tortula amplexa Undetermined L 

Flamingo-moss Tortula cernua Secure 

Hoppeana Crisp-moss Tortula hoppeana Secure 

Laurer’s Crisp-moss Tortula laureri Undetermined L 

White-beard Crisp-moss Tortula leucostoma Secure 

Mucroni Crisp-moss Tortula mucronifolia Secure 

Blunt-leaved Crisp-moss Tortula obtusifolia Undetermined L 

Systyle Crisp-moss Tortula systylia Sensitive L 

Arctic Crisp-moss Trichostomum arcticum Sensitive L 

Dry Crisp-moss Trichostomum crispulum Undetermined L 

Narrow Crisp-moss Trichostomum tenuirostre Undetermined L 

Green-tufted Stubble-moss Weissia controversa Secure 

Sphagnales – Sphagnaceae 

Large Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum angustifolium Secure 

Annulated Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum annulatum Undetermined 

Aongstroem’s Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum aongstroemii Secure 

Baltic Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum balticum Secure 

Acute-leaved Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum capillifolium Secure 

Central Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum centrale Undetermined L 

Compact Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum compactum Secure 

Sphagnum-like Bryophytes – Sphagnum Mosses 

150 



Twisted Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum contortum Undetermined L 

Fathery Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum cuspidatum Undetermined 

Fat-topped Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum fallax Undetermined L 

Fringed Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum fimbriatum Secure 

Rusty Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum fuscum Secure 

Girgensohn’s Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum girgensohnii Secure 

Jensen’s Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum jensenii Undetermined L 

Lenense Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum lenense Secure 

Lindberg’s Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum lindbergii Secure 

Magellan Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum magellanicum Secure 

Magic Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum majus Undetermined L 

Mendocino Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum mendocinum Undetermined L 

Blunt Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum obtusum Undetermined L 

Eastern Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum orientale Undetermined L 

Perced-leaved Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum perfoliatum Undetermined 

Flat-leaved Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum platyphyllum Undetermined L 

Handsome Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum pulchrum Undetermined L 

Curved Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum recurvum Secure 

Riparian Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum riparium Secure 

Little-red Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum rubellum Secure 

Russow’s Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum russowii Secure 

Spiky Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum squarrosum Secure 

Steer’s Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum steerei Undetermined 

Lustrous Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum subnitens Undetermined L 

Slender Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum subsecundum Secure 

Rigid Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum teres Secure 

Warnstorf’s Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum warnstorfii Secure 

Wilf’s Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum wilfii Undetermined 

Wulfian Sphagnum Moss Sphagnum wulfianum Sensitive L 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 


There is not enough information readily available to determine if the distribution of many moss species is limited in the NWT. 






c 

Hilpertia velenovskyi is synonymous with Tortula scoteri, a species of global conservation concern. 

d Torella alpicola is synonymous with Tortella tortelloides, a species of global conservation concern. 


6.17 

Macro- 

Tundra Ridge, Mackenzie Mountains – a landscape of lichen 



lichens 

Lichens are dual organisms, part fungus and part algae: 

as much ecosystems as organisms. As such, lichens 

present profound challenges to classification. Few people 

would claim to "understand" lichens the way they understand, 

for example, birds or plants. Many popular books have been 

published on lichens in recent years. 

For people who live in the North to learn about lichens is to 

understand a significant component of their biodiversity. Some 

lichen (Cladonia spp.) also called “White Moss”, are boiled to 

make tea and used in soups. 

To date, roughly a thousand lichen species have been 

documented from boreal and arctic North America. The list 

of macrolichens presented below is only a fraction of these. 

There are hundreds of microlichens not listed here. 

Lichen collections for museums started in the early 20th 

century. Most lichen collections from this period are now on 

deposit at the Canadian Museum of Nature in Ottawa. 

With commercial air transport in the 1940s, lichen collecting 

intensified. Certainly the most prolific collector during this 

period was wildlife biologist George Scotter, whose studies of 

caribou took him to many parts of the NWT and Nunavut. From 

1950-1990, at least four professional lichenologists visited the 

NWT. Most of their collections are in American Museums. 

Beginning around 1990, lichen floristic research in 

Canada's North entered a quiescent period – from which 

it has still not emerged. A survey of the lichen literature 

about the NWT and Nunavut from 1990 through 2009 

yields only 20 publications – ten of which are on the use 

of lichens as indicators of heavy metal contamination. 

By contrast, 114 papers have appeared on the lichens 

of Alaska during the same period. 

It is clear that much additional field work is required 

to provide general status ranks for a majority of the 

macrolichens in the NWT. Also, a great number of NWT 

lichens on deposit in Canada's major museums need to 

be re-examined to determine the species. 

In light of the above observations, we offer five 

recommendations for future research on rare and 

infrequent macrolichens in NWT: 

• Update the official list of NWT lichens regularly 

• Examine all NWT specimens in the major museums 

• Do field work to look for more sites and verify if some 

lichens are really rare 

• Involve people – publish a popular field book 

on NWT lichens. 

Trevor Goward and Curtis Björk 

Enlichened Consulting Ltd. 


153

6.17 Macro-lichens 

List 17. Macro-lichens 

There are 325 species of macro-lichens confirmed present in 

the NWT. An additional 21 species are expected to be present. 

One species is of global conservation concern. Species are 



Taxonomy follows Tehler and Wedin (2008). 

Limestone Sunshine Lichen 



Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Acarosporales – Acarosporaceae 

Rockscab-like Fungi – Rockscab Lichens 

Maroon-eyed Rockscab Lichen Glypholecia scabra May Be At Risk 

Acarosporales – Candelariaceae 

Rockscab-like Fungi – Candleflame Lichens 

Elfin Candleflame Lichen Candelaria concolor Undetermined 

Agaricales – Tricholomataceae 

Agaric-like Fungi – Mushroom Lichens 

Hudson Mushroom Lichen Lichenomphalia hudsoniana Sensitive 

Greenpea Mushroom Lichen Lichenomphalia umbellifera Secure 

Lecanorales – Cladoniaceae 

Lichen-like Fungi – Pixie Lichens 

Scantily Clad Pixie Lichen Cladonia acuminata Undetermined 

Alaska Pixie Lichen Cladonia alaskana Sensitive G3G4 - 1999 

Quill Pixie Lichen Cladonia amaurocraea Secure 

Combed Reindeer Lichen Cladonia arbuscula Secure 

Yellowhorn Pixie Lichen Cladonia bacilliformis Undetermined 

Toy Soldiers Lichen Cladonia bellidiflora Undetermined 

Boreal Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia borealis Secure 

Stump Soldiers Lichen Cladonia botrytes Secure 

Lesser Ribbed Pixie Lichen Cladonia cariosa Secure 

Crowned Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia carneola Undetermined 

Singing Pixie Lichen Cladonia cenotea Secure 

Browned Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia cervicornis Undetermined 

Granulating Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia chlorophaea Secure 

Madame Pixie Lichen Cladonia coccifera Undetermined 

Mama Littlehorn Pixie Lichen Cladonia coniocraea Secure 

Bighorn Pixie Lichen Cladonia cornuta Secure 

Organ-pipe lichen Cladonia crispata Secure 

British Soldiers Lichen Cladonia cristatella Sensitive L 

Ambiguous Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia cryptochlorophaea Undetermined L 

154 



Blue-footed Pixie Lichen Cladonia cyanipes Secure 

Strip-tease Pixie Lichen Cladonia decorticata Secure 

Lesser Sulphur-cup Lichen Cladonia deformis Secure 

Finger Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia digitata Sensitive 

Orange-footed Pixie Lichen Cladonia ecmocyna Undetermined 

Trumpeting Pixie Lichen Cladonia fimbriata Secure 

Smooth Pixie Lichen Cladonia gracilis Undetermined 

Gray’s Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia grayi Sensitive L 

Humble Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia humilis Undetermined 

Kanewski’s Cladonia Cladonia kanewskii Presence Expected 

Lipstick Pixie Lichen Cladonia macilenta Undetermined 

Bullet-proof Pixie Lichen Cladonia macroceras Undetermined 

Fig-Leaf Pixie Lichen Cladonia macrophylla Secure 

Large-leaved Pixie Lichen Cladonia macrophyllodes Secure 

Towering Pixie Lichen Cladonia maxima Undetermined 

Gritty Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia merochlorophaea Undetermined 

Reptilian Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia metacorallifera Secure 

Ectomorphic Reindeer Lichen Cladonia mitis Secure 

Shape-shifting Pixie Lichen Cladonia multiformis Secure 

Lapland Cladonia Cladonia nipponica Presence Expected 

Greater Pied Pixie Lichen Cladonia phyllophora Secure 

Moderate Sulphur-cup Lichen Cladonia pleurota Secure 

Rosetted Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia pocillum Secure 

Pebbled Pixie-cup Lichen Cladonia pyxidata Secure 

Gray Reindeer Lichen Cladonia rangiferina Secure 

Wand Lichen Cladonia rei Undetermined 

Winged Pixie Lichen Cladonia scabriuscula Sensitive 

Dragon Pixie Lichen Cladonia squamosa Secure 

Star Reindeer Lichen Cladonia stellaris Secure 

Lesser Pied Pixie Lichen Cladonia stricta Undetermined 

Black-footed Reindeer Lichen Cladonia stygia Secure 

Subcariosa-cup Lichen Cladonia subcariosa Undetermined 

Rosegarden Pixie Lichen Cladonia subfurcata Secure 

Antlered Pixie Lichen Cladonia subulata Secure 

Greater Sulphur-cup Lichen Cladonia sulphurina Secure 

Greater Ribbed Pixie Lichen Cladonia symphycarpia Secure 

Blue Pork Pixie Lichen Cladonia thomsonii Sensitive 

Arctic Pied Pixie Lichen Cladonia trassii Undetermined 

Crazy-scale Pixie Lichen Cladonia turgida Sensitive L 

Thorn Pixie Lichen Cladonia uncialis Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 




Wainio’s Reindeer Pixie Lichen Cladonia wainioi Undetermined L 

Robust Matchstick Lichen Pilophorus robustus May Be At Risk L 

Lecanorales – Coccocarpiaceae 

Rock Hairball Lichen Spilonema revertens Sensitive 

Lecanorales – Collemataceae 

Caesar’s Tarpaper Lichen Collema bachmanianum Sensitive 

Pincushion Tarpaper Lichen Collema ceraniscum Sensitive 

Ten-Cent Tarpaper Lichen Collema crispum Sensitive L 

Flaking Tarpaper Lichen Collema flaccidum Presence Expected 

Effervescent Tarpaper Lichen Collema furfuraceum Sensitive 

Cellulitic Tarpaper Lichen Collema fuscovirens Sensitive 

Waterside Tarpaper Lichen Collema glebulentum May Be At Risk 

Lime-loving Tarpaper Lichen Collema limosum Sensitive L 

Protracted Tarpaper Lichen Collema multipartitum Sensitive L 

Double-bubble Tarpaper Lichen Collema nigrescens Undetermined 

Gilled Tarpaper Lichen Collema polycarpon Sensitive 

Petalled Tarpaper Lichen Collema subparvum May Be At Risk 

Soil Tarpaper Lichen Collema tenax Undetermined 

Jelly Flakes Lichen Collema undulatum Sensitive 

Moonlit Vinyl Lichen Leptogium burnetiae Sensitive 

Rose-petaled Vinyl Lichen Leptogium gelatinosum Sensitive 

Tattered Vinyl Lichen Leptogium lichenoides Secure 

Concentric Vinyl Lichen Leptogium pseudofurfuraceum Undetermined 

Midnight Vinyl Lichen Leptogium saturninum Secure 

Appressed Vinyl Lichen Leptogium subtile Undetermined 

Birdnest Vinyl Lichen Leptogium tenuissimum Sensitive 

Lecanorales – Gypsoplacaceae 

Gypsum Earthscale Lichen Gypsoplaca macrophylla May Be At Risk 

Lecanorales – Lecanoraceae 

Pink-eyed Rockbright Lichen Rhizoplaca chrysoleuca Undetermined 

Green-eyed Rockbright Lichen Rhizoplaca melanophthalma Sensitive 

Lecanorales – Lobariaceae 

Gray Lungwort Lichen Lobaria hallii Presence Expected 

Kurokawae Lungwort Lichen Lobaria kurokawae Presence Expected 

Cabbage Lung Lichen Lobaria linita Sensitive L 

Beringian Lungwort lichen Lobaria pseudopulmonaria Undetermined L 

Smoker’s Lung Lichen Lobaria retigera May Be At Risk 

Textured Lungwort lichen Lobaria scrobiculata Undetermined 

Arctic Moon Lichen Sticta arctica May Be At Risk 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Lichen-like Fungi – Hairball Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Tarpaper Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Earthscale Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Rockbright Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Lung Lichens 

156 



Lecanorales – Massalongiaceae 

Moss Liver Lichen Massalongia carnosa Secure 

Eyed Mossthorns Lichen Polychidium muscicola Sensitive 

Lecanorales – Nephromataceae 

Arctic Greenlight Lichen Nephroma arcticum Secure 

Cat Paw Lichen Nephroma bellum Sensitive 

Purple Paw Lichen Nephroma expallidum Secure 

Fringed Kidney Lichen Nephroma helveticum Sensitive 

Peppered Kidney Lichen Nephroma isidiosum Presence Expected 

Powdery Kidney Lichen Nephroma parile Secure 

Lecanorales – Pannariaceae 

Moss Shingle Lichen Fuscopannaria praetermissa Secure 

Mealy-rimmed Shingle Lichen Pannaria conoplea Sensitive 

Coral Shingle Lichen Parmeliella corallinoides Undetermined 

Black-bordered Shingle Lichen Parmeliella triptophylla Undetermined 

Brown-gray Moss-shingle Lichen Protopannaria pezizoides Secure 

Moss Tarts Lichen Psoroma hypnorum Secure 

Lecanorales – Parmeliaceae 

Mountain Candlewax Lichen Ahtiana sphaerosporella Sensitive 

Green Witch’s Hair Lichen Alectoria ochroleuca Secure 

Familiar Witch’s Hair Lichen Alectoria sarmentosa Presence Expected 

Lesser Rock Grub Lichen Allantoparmelia almquistii Sensitive 

Greater Rock Grub Lichen Allantoparmelia alpicola Secure 

Siberian Rock Grub Lichen Allantoparmelia sibirica Presence Expected 

V-fingers Lichen Allocetraria madreporiformis Secure 

Thin-man’s Icelandmoss Lichen Arctocetraria andrejevii Secure 

Tentacled Icelandmoss Lichen Arctocetraria nigricascens Undetermined 

Ripple Ring Lichen Arctoparmelia centrifuga Secure 

Finger Ring Lichen Arctoparmelia incurva Secure 

Arctic Ring Lichen Arctoparmelia separata Secure 

Abrading Ring Lichen Arctoparmelia subcentrifuga Sensitive 

Golden Hankie Lichen Asahinea chrysantha Secure 

Silver Hankie Lichen Asahinea scholanderi Secure 

Mountain Diamondback Lichen Brodoa oroarctica Secure 

Arctic Pretzel Lichen Bryocaulon divergens Secure 

Gray Horsehair Lichen Bryoria capillaris Secure 

Resplendent Horsehair Lichen Bryoria chalybeiformis Undetermined 

Burrhed Horsehair Lichen Bryoria furcellata Secure 

Pale-footed Horsehair Lichen Bryoria fuscescens Secure 

Wire Horsehair Lichen Bryoria glabra Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Lichen-like Fungi – Liver Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Kidney Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Shingle Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Crottle Lichens 




Boreal Horsehair Lichen Bryoria implexa Secure 

Wooly Horsehair Lichen Bryoria lanestris Secure 

Blonde Horsehair Lichen Bryoria nadvornikiana Secure 

Tundra Horsehair Lichen Bryoria nitidula Secure 

Mountain Horsehair Lichen Bryoria pseudofuscescens Secure 

Spangled Horsehair Lichen Bryoria simplicior Secure 

Pied Horsehair Lichen Bryoria tenuis Presence Expected 

Elegant Horsehair Lichen Bryoria trichodes Secure 

Spiny Heath Lichen Cetraria aculeata Secure 

Heath Icelandmoss Lichen Cetraria ericetorum Secure 

True Icelandic Lichen Cetraria islandica Secure 

Kamchatka Icelandmoss Lichen Cetraria kamczatica Sensitive L 

Striped Icelandic Lichen Cetraria laevigata Secure 

Dubious Heath Lichen Cetraria muricata Undetermined 

Ciliated Icelandmoss Lichen Cetraria nigricans Secure 

Small-toothed Icelandmoss Lichen Cetraria odontella Sensitive 

Snow-bed Icelandmoss Lichen Cetrariella delisei Secure 

Greater Ruffled Icelandmoss Lichen Cetrariella fastigata Undetermined 

Arctic Butterfingers Lichen Dactylina arctica Secure 

Pacific Butterfingers Lichen Dactylina beringica Secure 

Frost Fingers Lichen Dactylina ramulosa Secure 

Mountain Oakmoss Lichen Evernia divaricata Undetermined 

Boreal Oakmoss Lichen Evernia mesomorpha Secure 

Arctic Oakmoss Lichen Evernia perfragilis Secure 

Curled Snow Lichen Flavocetraria cucullata Secure 

Crinkled Snow lichen Flavocetraria nivalis Secure 

Black Witch’s Beard Lichen Gowardia arctica Sensitive 

Gray Witch’s Beard Lichen Gowardia nigricans Secure 

Varnished Tube Lichen Hypogymnia austerodes Secure 

Powdered Tube Lichen Hypogymnia bitteri Secure 

Deflated Tube Lichen Hypogymnia metaphysodes Undetermined 

Monks-hood Lichen, Hypogymnia physodes Secure 

Viviparous Tube Lichen Hypogymnia subobscura Secure 

Umber Monk’s Hood Lichen Hypogymnia vittata Sensitive 

Salted Starburst Lichen Imshaugia aleurites Secure 

Arctic Tumbleweed Lichen Masonhalea richardsonii Secure 

Intermingled Camouflage Lichen Melanelia commixta Secure 

Mealy Camouflage Lichen Melanelia disjuncta Secure 

Rimmed Camouflage Lichen Melanelia hepatizon Secure 

Shingled Camouflage Lichen Melanelia panniformis Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

158 



Powedered Camouflage Lichen Melanelia sorediata Secure 

Alpine Camouflage Lichen Melanelia stygia Secure 

Dimpled Camouflage Lichen Melanelia tominii Secure 

Polished Camouflage Lichen Melanelixia fuliginosa Sensitive 

Abraded Camouflage Lichen Melanelixia subaurifera Secure 

Elegant Camouflage Lichen Melanohalea elegantula Secure 

Lustrous Camouflage Lichen Melanohalea exasperatula Secure 

Townhall Camouflage Lichen Melanohalea infumata Secure 

Spotted Camouflage Lichen Melanohalea olivacea Secure 

Oilve Camouflage Lichen Melanohalea olivaceoides Presence Expected 

Northern Camouflage Lichen Melanohalea septentrionalis Secure 

Fraudans Shield Lichen Parmelia fraudans Secure 

Smoky Crottle Lichen Parmelia omphalodes Secure 

Salted Crottle Lichen Parmelia saxatilis Secure 

Silver-rimmed Crottle Lichen Parmelia skultii Sensitive 

Hammered Shield lichen Parmelia sulcata Secure 

Green Starburst Lichen Parmeliopsis ambigua Secure 

Gray Starburst Lichen Parmeliopsis hyperopta Secure 

Varied Rag Lichen Platismatia glauca Sensitive 

Coarse Rockwool Lichen Pseudephebe minuscula Secure 

Fine Rockwool Lichen Pseudephebe pubescens Secure 

Fringed Wrinkle Lichen Tuckermannopsis americana Secure 

Powdered Wrinkle Lichen Tuckermannopsis chlorophylla Sensitive L 

Thornless Wrinkle Lichen Tuckermannopsis inermis Undetermined 

Broad Wrinkle Lichen Tuckermannopsis platyphylla Undetermined L 

Chestnut Wrinkle Lichen Tuckermannopsis sepincola Secure 

Pitted Beard Lichen Usnea cavernosa Undetermined 

Fishbone Beard Lichen Usnea filipendula Undetermined L 

Lustrous Beard Lichen Usnea glabrata Undetermined 

Spotted Beard Lichen Usnea glabrescens Undetermined 

Bristly Beard Lichen Usnea hirta Undetermined 

Powder-ringed Beard Lichen Usnea lapponica Undetermined 

Straw Beard Lichen Usnea scabrata Secure 

Zebra Beard Lichen Usnea sphacelata May Be At Risk 

Nit Beard Lichen Usnea subfloridana Undetermined 

Embossed Beard Lichen Usnea substerilis Undetermined 

Powdered Sunshine Lichen Vulpicida pinastri Secure 

Limestone Sunshine Lichen Vulpicida tilesii Secure 

Greater Leaping Rockfrog Lichen Xanthoparmelia chlorochroa Sensitive L 

Colorado Rockfrog Lichen Xanthoparmelia coloradoënsis Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 




Palomino Rockfrog Lichen Xanthoparmelia stenophylla Undetermined 

Barely Hopping Rockfrog Lichen Xanthoparmelia wyomingica May Be At Risk 

Lecanorales – Peltigeraceae 

Silver-edged Freckle Pelt Lichen Peltigera aphthosa Secure 

Felt Pelt Lichen Peltigera canina Secure 

Chestnut Pelt Lichen Peltigera castanea Undetermined 

Temporary Pelt Lichen Peltigera didactyla Sensitive 

Concentric Pelt Lichen Peltigera elisabethae Undetermined 

Peppered Pelt Lichen Peltigera evansiana Presence Expected 

Mothwing Pelt Lichen Peltigera lepidophora Secure 

Ruffled Freckle Pelt Lichen Peltigera leucophlebia Secure 

Apple Pelt Lichen Peltigera malacea Secure 

Diamond Pelt Lichen Peltigera membranacea Sensitive 

Black-saddle Pelt Lichen Peltigera neckeri Sensitive 

Undulating Pelt Lichen Peltigera neopolydactyla Undetermined 

Bog Pelt Lichen Peltigera occidentalis Undetermined 

Pioneer Pelt Lichen Peltigera polydactylon Undetermined 

Pale-bellied Pelt Lichen Peltigera ponojensis Undetermined 

Born-again Pelt Lichen Peltigera praetextata Presence Expected 

Sponge Pelt Lichen Peltigera retifoveata Sensitive 

Black-bellied Pelt Lichen Peltigera rufescens Secure 

Greater Toad Pelt Lichen Peltigera scabrosa Secure 

Fan Pelt Lichen Peltigera venosa Secure 

Lesser Tundra Owl Lichen Solorina bispora Secure 

Orange Chocolate Chip Lichen Solorina crocea Secure 

Woodland Owl Lichen Solorina saccata Secure 

Blinking Owl Lichen Solorina spongiosa Sensitive 

Lecanorales – Physciaceae 

Hairy Fringe Lichen Anaptychia crinalis Secure 

Powdered Fringe Lichen Heterodermia speciosa May Be At Risk 

Upstanding Shadow Lichen Phaeophyscia constipata Sensitive 

Smiling Shadow Lichen Phaeophyscia endococcinea Undetermined 

Dark Shadow Lichen Phaeophyscia sciastra Secure 

Hooded Rosette Lichen Physcia adscendens Secure 

Hoary Rosette Lichen Physcia aipolia Secure 

Outward-looking Rosette Lichen Physcia alnophila Undetermined 

Blue-gray Rosette Lichen Physcia caesia Secure 

Powder-tipped Rosette Lichen Physcia dubia Secure 

Black-eyed Rosette Lichen Physcia phaea Sensitive 

Immaculate Rosette Lichen Physcia stellaris Undetermined 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Lichen-like Fungi – Pelt Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Rosette Lichens 

160 



Beaded Rosette Lichen Physcia tribacia Sensitive 

Petaled Frost Lichen Physconia americana Undetermined 

Bottlebrush Frost Lichen Physconia detersa Undetermined 

Ground Frost Lichen Physconia muscigena Secure 

Crescent Forst Lichen Physconia perisidiosa Secure 

Arboreal Bottle-collection Lichen Tholurna dissimilis May Be At Risk L 

Lecanorales – Placynthiaceae 

Lilliput Ink Lichen Placynthium asperellum Sensitive 

Common Ink Lichen Placynthium nigrum Undetermined 

Peppered Brownette Lichen Vestergrenopsis isidiata May Be At Risk L 

Lecanorales – Psoraceae 

Blushing Scale Lichen Psora decipiens Secure 

Mountain Scale Lichen Psora himalayana Secure 

High Arctic Scale Lichen Psora tenuifolia Undetermined 

Blue-edged Scale Lichen Psorula rufonigra Presence Expected 

Lecanorales – Ramalinaceae 

Arctic Ribbon Lichen Ramalina almquistii Undetermined 

Punctured Ribbon Lichen Ramalina dilacerata Sensitive 

Rock Ribbon Lichen Ramalina intermedia Sensitive L 

Hooded Ribbon Lichen Ramalina obtusata Undetermined 

Chalky Ribbon Lichen Ramalina pollinaria Undetermined 

Frayed Ribbon Lichen Ramalina roesleri Undetermined 

Broom Ribbon Lichen Ramalina scoparia Presence Expected 

Fan Ribbon Lichen Ramalina sinensis Sensitive 

Angel’s Hair Ramalina thrausta Presence Expected 

Lecanorales – Sphaerophoraceae 

Cushion Coral Lichen Sphaerophorus fragilis Sensitive 

Northern Coral Lichen Sphaerophorus globosus Secure 

Lecanorales – Stereocaulaceae 

Alpine Foam Lichen Stereocaulon alpinum Secure 

Sandy Foam Lichen Stereocaulon arenarium May Be At Risk 

Cauliflower Foam Lichen Stereocaulon botryosum Sensitive 

Granular Soil Foam Lichen Stereocaulon condensatum Sensitive 

Finger-scale Foam Lichen Stereocaulon dactylophyllum Undetermined 

Alpine Soil Foam Lichen Stereocaulon glareosum Secure 

Grand Foam Lichen Stereocaulon grande Secure 

Greenland Foam Lichen Stereocaulon groenlandicum Presence Expected 

Encrusted Coral Lichen Stereocaulon incrustatum Undetermined 

Pacific Brain Foam Lichen Stereocaulon intermedium Presence Expected 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Lichen-like Fungi – Ink Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Scale Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Ribbon Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Coral Lichens 

Lichen-like Fungi – Foam Lichens 




High Arctic Foam Lichen Stereocaulon leprocephalum Undetermined 

Cottontail Foam Lichen Stereocaulon paschale Secure 

Snow Foam Lichen Stereocaulon rivulorum Secure 

Woolly Foam Lichen Stereocaulon savikii Presence Expected 

Rock Foam lichen Stereocaulon saxatile Undetermined 

Two-toned Foam Lichen Stereocaulon symphycheilum Undetermined 

Eyed Foam Lichen Stereocaulon tomentosum Secure 

Variegated Foam Lichen Stereocaulon vesuvianum Sensitive 

Lecanorales – Teloschistaceae 

Tundra Sulphur Lichen Fulgensia bracteata Secure 

Desert Sulphur Lichen Fulgensia fulgens Sensitive 

Orangebush Lichen Seirophora aurantiaca May Be At Risk 

Crannied Orangebush Lichen Seirophora contortuplicatus May Be At Risk 

Arctic Sunburst Lichen Xanthomendoza borealis Sensitive 

Hooded Sunburst Lichen Xanthomendoza fallax Undetermined 

Powdery Sunburst Lichen Xanthomendoza ulophyllodes Undetermined L 

Shrubby Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria candelaria Secure 

Elegant Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria elegans Secure 

Pin-cushion Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria polycarpa Sensitive 

Sugared Sunburst Lichen Xanthoria sorediata Secure 

Lichinales – Lichinaceae 

Dryside Rockshag Lichen Ephebe hispidula Undetermined 

Waterside Rockshag Lichen Ephebe lanata Undetermined 

Frosted Rockserpent Lichen Zahlbrucknerella calcarea May Be At Risk 

Ostropales – Arctomiaceae 

Delicate Arctomia Lichen Arctomia delicatula Sensitive 

Rust-brown Tiny Rosette Lichen Arctomia interfixa Sensitive 

Ostropales – Baeomycetaceae 

Fleshy Beret Lichen Baeomyces carneus Undetermined 

Carpet Beret Lichen Baeomyces placophyllus Secure 

Brown Beret Lichen Baeomyces rufus Secure 

Ostropales – Icmadophilaceae 

Pink Turbans Lichen Dibaeis baeomyces Sensitive 

Pertusariales – Icmadophilaceae 

Water Fingers Lichen Siphula ceratites May Be At Risk 

Universal Whiteworm Lichen Thamnolia vermicularis Secure 

Umbilicariales – Umbilicariaceae 

Brown-bellied Toadskin Lichen Lasallia papulosa Sensitive 

Black-bellied Toadskin Lichen Lasallia pensylvanica Secure 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Lichen-like Fungi – Orange Lichens 

Rockshag-like Fungi – Rockshag Lichens 

Beret-like Fungi – Arctic Rosette Lichens 

Beret-like Fungi – Beret Lichens 

Beret-like Fungi – Turbans Lichens 

Wart-like Fungi – Fingers Lichens 

Rocktripe-like Fungi – Rocktripe Lichens 

162 



Frosted Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria americana Undetermined L 

Starred Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria angulata Undetermined 

Arctic Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria arctica Sensitive 

Origami Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria caroliniana May Be At Risk 

Questionable Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria cinereorufescens Undetermined 

Fringed Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria cylindrica Secure 

Netted Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria decussata Sensitive 

Peppered Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria deusta Secure 

Havaas’s Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria havaasii Sensitive 

Granulating Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria hirusta May Be At Risk 

Blistered Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria hyperborea Secure 

Lesser Salted Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria krascheninnikovii Sensitive 

Puckered Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria lyngei Sensitive 

Monumental Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria mammulata Undetermined 

Plated Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria mühlenbergii Secure 

Emery Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria phaea Sensitive 

Petaled Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria polyphylla Sensitive 

Ballpoint Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria polyrrhiza Undetermined 

Greater Salted Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria proboscidea Secure 

Sandpaper Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria rigida Secure 

Perforated Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria torrefacta Secure 

Grizzled Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria vellea Secure 

Blushing Rocktripe Lichen Umbilicaria virginis Sensitive 

Verrucariales – Verrucariaceae 

Quilted Stippleback Lichen Dermatocarpon intestiniforme Sensitive 

Brookside Stippleback Lichen Dermatocarpon luridum Undetermined 

Grounded Stippleback Lichen Dermatocarpon miniatum Undetermined 

Cold-Water Stippleback Lichen Dermatocarpon rivulorum Presence Expected 

Soil Stipplescale Lichen Endocarpon pusillum Presence Expected 

Range 

Note a 


Concern b 

Tar-like Fungi – Tar Lichens 

a Range Note: L = Species with limited distribution (less than 5% of NWT), hence small numbers are expected. X = Usual range of species not in NWT. There 

is not enough information readily available to determine if the distribution of many lichen species is limited in the NWT. 







7. Challenges and Opportunities – What are the next steps? 

As of 2011, the general status of about 10% of all species 

expected to be present in the NWT have been ranked. 

We continue to rank the general status of more groups 

of lesser-known species: the insects. All vascular plants, 

spiders, mosses, macro-lichens and vertebrates are ranked, 

except the marine fishes. 

Cooperating 

The General Status Ranking Program is done in cooperation 

with all other jurisdictions in Canada. Each NWT rank 

is used, along with the ranks from other provinces and 

territories, to draft Canada-wide ranks for each species. 

To find these Canada-wide ranks and more information 

link to www.wildspecies.ca. 

Coordinating the ranking of the general status for species 

across Canada can be a daunting task. The National General 

Status Working Group, of which the NWT is a member, 

coordinates the work following a schedule of priorities for 

ranking that is based on the availability of information 

and expertise across Canada and the world. We are already 

collecting information and will be working to rank the 

following groups of species for the next report: 

• 2012 – terrestrial and freshwater molluscs, marine fishes 

• 2013 – ants, bees and paper wasps, more macro-moths 

• 2014 – other insect groups 

All the species ranked in the present report will be reviewed 

and their rank may be modified in 2015 for the NWT Species 

2016-2020 report. 

Number of Species 

14,000 

12,000 

10,000 

8,000 

6,000 

4,000 

Extinct 

Extirpated 


May Be At Risk 

Sensitive 

Secure 

Undetermined 

Not Assessed 

Exotic 

Vagrant 

2,000 

0 

CA YT NT NU BC AB SK MB ON QC NB NS PE NL PAC WAO EAO ATL 

Regions 

Results of the general status assessments for all species in Canada from the Wild Species 2010 

report. (note: This chart does not include grasshoppers and fishes, which were not included in 

the 2010 National report, but are included in the present report NWT Species 2011-2015). CA, 

Canada; YT, Yukon; NT: Northwest Territories; NU: Nunavut; BC, British Columbia, AB, Alberta, SK, 

Saskatchewan, MB, Manitoba; ON, Ontario; QC, Québec; NB, New Brunswick, NS, Nova Scotia; PE, 

Prince Edwards Island; NL, Newfoundland and Labrador; PAC, Pacific Ocean, WAO, Western Arctic 

Ocean; EAO, Eastern Arctic Ocean; ATL, Atlantic. (CESCC 2011) 

164 


Data and Information Retrieving 

We continue to bring back copies of the data and 

information on NWT specimens stored in institutions in 

Canada or outside the country (see Carrière et al. 2009). 

Results from past studies and surveys are essential to 

compare with our current knowledge to enable us to track 

changes in northern ecosystems. For example, the NWT 

Virtual Herbarium, a photographic compilation of plant 

specimens collected in the NWT and stored in herbaria 

in Canada and elsewhere, can be used to map and study 

the distribution of all vascular plants in the NWT. Similar 

databases for mosses and for other groups of species are 

being assembled and stored in the Wildlife Management 

Information System (WMIS). Sharing resources and data 

with development agencies and industry help complement 

current monitoring programs and enhance opportunities. 

We will continue to enhance our efforts to facilitate the 

input and sharing of traditional and local knowledge of the 

land, while respecting the need to preserve that knowledge 

for future generations. Future opportunities for both 

visiting experts and Northerners exist; both can learn by 

working together and by sharing experiences on the land 

to gain insights on all NWT species. 

Evaluating 

The evaluation system described in this report must remain 

consistent between years, but improvements should be 

possible. In 2005, we added a category that is not used 

by other jurisdictions in Canada: “Presence Expected”. This 

category helps differentiate between species that are not 

recorded in the NWT but are suspected to be present, and 

species that are truly new to the NWT. This category was 

necessary in a jurisdiction where search efforts for some 

species groups are not extensive and where a valid method 

for estimating the arrival rates of new species is essential 

to track the potential effects of a changing climate. 

All residents are responsible for conserving and preserving NWT 

species for future generations. Monitoring the general status 

of NWT species using simple but efficient criteria is continuing 

with the help of many agencies and knowledgeable people 

sharing information every year. This monitoring is helping 

us detect changes in species distribution, population 

numbers, and threats. 

The NWT is rich in biodiversity. Large numbers of species 

thrive here, and Northerners have a great depth of 

knowledge of the land and enthusiasm for all species. 

Your Help 

Your opinion on the rank of NWT species will be greatly 

appreciated. We invite you to share your observations 

and your knowledge by participating in any of the 

monitoring programs available in the Northwest 

Territories. This information is summarized in the form of 

species lists and general status ranks, and then shared back 

with you in the NWT Species Monitoring Infobase available 

at www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca. 

“While traveling across the Territories, I was 

amazed by the abundance of great habitats. 

I felt that I should stop at many places. 

For people with an interest in insects, the 

Northwest Territories are a great adventure 

lasting easily more than a life time, and not 

least an opportunity to meet very hospitable 

people and cultures in each region.” 

– Henri Goulet 

Collared Pika 



8. Further Your Knowledge – How to learn more? 

Online Resources 

To Help Identify Biodiversity are 

Marked by the Symbol 

General 

Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility (CBIF) 2010. 

Available at www.cbif.gc.ca/ 

Canadian Endangered Species Conservation Council 

(CESCC). 2011. Wild Species 2010: The general status of 

species in Canada. National General Status Working Group: 

Available at www.wildspecies.ca 

Carrière, S. and Lange, J. 2002. Detailed Procedures Manual: 

General Status Ranks of Wild Species in the Northwest 

Territories. ENR Manuscript Report 143. GNWT. 

Yellowknife. NT. 

GNWT. 2000. NWT Species 2000 – General Status Ranks of 

Wild Species in the Northwest Territories. GWNT, RWED. 

Yellowknife, NT. 50 pp. 

Working Group on General Status of NWT Species. 2006. 

NWT Species 2006-2010 - General Status Ranks of 

Wild Species in the Northwest Territories, Department 

of Environment and Natural Resources, Government of the 

Northwest Territories, Yellowknife, NT. 111 pp. 

NatureServe. 2010. NatureServe Explorer: A Online 

Encyclopedia of Life (web application). NatureServe, 

Arlington, VA. Available at www.natureserve.org. 

Carrière S., Haber E., Oldham, Mike, Oldham M., Thomson 

E. R., Bickerton H., Martel C., Lamothe de Cotret, J. 2009. 

The Northwest Territories Virtual Herbarium, Protocols 

and Metadata. ENR Manuscript Report 184. GNWT, 

Yellowknife, NT. 

Eymann, J., Degreef, J. Häuser, C. Monje, J.C., Samyn, 

Y. and VandenSpiegel, D. 2010. Volume 8 - Manual on 

Field Recording Techniques and Protocols for All Taxa 

Biodiversity Inventories, ABCTaxa, Belgium. Available at 

http://www.abctaxa.be/volumes/volume-8-manual-atbi. 

Mammals 

Wilson D E. and Reeder D. M. (editors). 2005. Mammal 

Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic 

Reference (3rd ed).Johns Hopkins University Press, 

2,142 pp. Online publication 1 June 2008. Available at 

http://vertebrates.si.edu/msw/mswCFApp/msw/index.cfm. 

Birds 

Poole, A. (Ed.). 2005. The Birds of North America 

Online. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY. 

Available at bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA/. 

American Ornithologists Union. 2010. AOU Bird 

Checklist. Available at www.aou.org/checklist/. 

Fish 

Coat, B.W. and Reist J. D. 2004. Annotated List of the 

Arctic Marine Fishes of Canada. Canadian Manuscript 

Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2674. DFO. 

Winnipeg. 112 pp. 

Nelson, J.S., Crossman, E.J., Espinosa-Pérez, H., Findley, 

L.T., Gilbert, C.R., Lea, R.N., Williams, J.D. 2004. Common 

and scientific names of fishes from the United States, 

Canada, and Mexico (6th ed.). American Fisheries Society, 

386 pp. 

Nelson, J.S. 2006. Fishes of the World. Fourth edition, John 

Wiley and Sons, American Fisheries Society Special Publication 

26:1-509. 

Sawatzky, C.D., Michalak, D. Reist, J.D. Carmichael, T.J., 

Mandrak, N.E., Heuring, L.G. 2007. Distributions of 

freshwater and anadromous fishes from the mainland 

Northwest Territories, Canada. Canadian Manuscript Report 

of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 2793 

166 


Freshwater Mussels 

Clarke, A. H. 1981. The Freshwater Molluscs of Canada. 

University of Chicago Press, Chicago. 448 pp. 

Amphibians and Reptiles 

Canadian Amphibian and Reptile Conservation 

Network. 2010. CARCNET's Website. Available at 

www.carcnet.ca/english/carcnethome.html. 

Crother, B. I (eds). 2008. Scientific and Standard English 

Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America 

North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence 

in our Understanding. 6th edition. Society for the Study of 

Amphibians and Reptiles, Herpetological Circular 37. Available 

at http://www.herplit.com/SSAR/circulars/circulars.html. 

NatureWatch. 2010. FrogWatch Website. 

www.naturewatch.ca/english/frogwatch/pe/amphib.html. 

Selected Beetles 

The BugGuide.net. 2010. Identification, images, and 

information for insects, spiders and their kin for the 

United States and Canada. Available at bugguide.net/. 

Larson, D. J., Alaire, Y. and Roughly, R. E. 2000. Predaceous 

Diving Beetles (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) of the Nearctic 

Region, with emphasis on the fauna of Canada and 

Alaska. NRC Research Press, Ottawa. 

Carabidae of the World. 2009. Online Database. 

http://www.carabidae.ru/ 

Goulet, H. and Bousquet, Y. 2004. The ground beetles 

of Canada. http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/carabids/phps/ 

index_e.php 

Acorn, J. H. 2007. Ladybugs of Alberta, finding the 

spots and connecting the dots. University of Alberta Press, 

Edmonton: 169 pp. 

Pearson, D. L. Knisley, C. B. Kaziley, C. J. 2006. A Field Guide 

to the Tiger Beetles of the United States and Canada. 

Oxford Univ. Press., New York. vi + 227 pp. 

Bumblebees 

Williams. P.2010. Colour Key to the Bombus of the World. 

Available at www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/research/ 

projects/bombus/_key_colour_world/worldcolourkey.html 

Butterflies 

Layberry, R., Hall, P. W. and Lafontaine, J.D. 1998. 

The Butterflies of Canada. University of 

Toronto Press, Toronto, ON. Available at 

www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/index_e.php 

Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility. 

2006. Butterflies of Canada. Available at 

www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/index_e.php 

Selected Macromoths 

Canadian Biodiversity Information Facility. 

2003. The moths of Canada. 

http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/misc_moths/phps/ 

mothindex_e.php 

Schmidt, B. C. and Opler, P. A. 2008. Revised checklist 

of the tiger moths of the continental United States 

and Canada. Zootaxa 1677: 1-23. 

Dragonflies and Damselflies 

Dunkle, S. 2000. Dragonflies Through Binoculars: 

A Field Guide to Dragonflies of North America, 

Oxford Press, New York. 274 pp. 

Needham, J.G., J. Westfall, Jr. M.J., May, M.L. 2000. 

Dragonflies of North America, revised edition, Scientific 

Publishers, Gainesville, FL, 939 pp. 

Westfall, Jr. M.J. and May, M.L. 2006. Damselflies of 

North America, 2nd ed., Scientific Publishers, Gainesville, 

FL, 550 pp. 

Catling, P. 2003. Dragonflies (Odonata) of the Northwest 

Territories – status ranking and preliminary atlas. 

Environment and Natural Resources, GNWT. Yellowknife, NT. 

Catling, P. 2006. Tiger beetles of the Northwest 

Territories. Environment and Natural Resources, GNWT, 

Yellowknife, NT. 25pp.Available on www.enr.gov.nt.ca. 


8. Further Your Knowledge – How to learn more? 

Biting Insects 

Thielman, A. and Hunter, F. F. 2007. 

A Photographic Key to the Adult Female 

Mosquitoes Species of Canada (Diptera: Culicidae). 

Canadian Journal of Arthropod Identification. 

http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/th_04/htmlkey/ 

th_041.htm (Accessed February 26, 2010). 

Darsie, R. F. Jr. and Ward, R. A. 2005. Identification and 

geographical distribution of the mosquitoes of North 

America, North of Mexico. American Mosquito Control 

Association, University Press of Florida: 383 pp. 

Wood, D. M., Dang, P. T. and Ellis, R. A. 1979. The 

mosquitoes of Canada (Diptera: Culicidae). The Insects 

and Arachnids of Canada. Part VI. Agriculture Canada, 

Ottawa: 390 pp. 

Adler, P. H., Currie, D. C. and Wood, D. M. 2004. The black 

flies (Simuliidae) of North America. Cornell University 

Press: 941 pp. 

Blackflies Info. 2009. Taxonomy and Systematics 

of Simuliidae. Available at http://blackflies.info/ 

Currie, D. C. and Adler, P. H. 2000. Update on a survey of 

the black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Northwest 

Territories and Nunavut Project. Arctic Insect News 11: 6-9. 

Biological Survey of Canada. 2006. A preliminary 

assessment of Subarctic black fly diversity 

(Diptera: Simuliidae) in Norman Wells and environs, 

Northwest Territories. Newsletter of the Biological Survey 

of Canada (Terrestrial Arthropods) 25. Available at 

www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/news25_1/blackfly.htm. 

Teskey, H. J. 1990. The horse flies and deer flies of Canada 

and Alaska (Diptera: Tabanidae). Part 16. The insects and 

arachnids of Canada. Publication 1838, Agriculture Canada, 

Ottawa: 381 pp. 

Thomas, A. W. and Marshall, S. A. 2009. 

Tabanidae of Canada, east of the Rocky Mountains 1: 

A photographic key to the species of Chrysopsinae 

and Pangoniinae (Diptera: Tabanidae). Canadian 

Journal of Arthropod Identification, No. 8. Available at 

www.biology.ualberta.ca/bsc/ejournal/tm_08/tm_08.html 

Grasshoppers 

Catling. P. 2008. Grasshoppers and related insects of 

Northwest Territories and adjacent regions. Environment 

and Natural Resources, Government of the Northwest 

Territories, 77 pp. Available at www.enr.gov.nt.ca. 

Vickery, V.R. and D.K.McE. Kevan. 1985. The Grasshoppers, 

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Canada, Ottawa, pp.1-918. 

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(Araneae) of the Yukon. In Insects of the Yukon (H. V. 

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Vascular Plants 

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Gillespie L.J.,. Boles R.L,. Argus G.W, Gillett J.M., Scott P.J., 

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Tools. Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute and Aurora 

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continental Northwest Territories, Canada. Canadian 

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of North American North of Mexico, Vol. 27. Bryophytes: 

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of North America. Yale University Press, New Haven and 

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lichen-forming, lichenicolous and allied fungi of the 

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chcklst/chcklst7.htm (Accessed March 8, 2010). 

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edition. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 336-352. 

Bearded Seal 

Photo Credit: C Ekhart 


9. Acknowledgments – Who participated in this program? 

The Wildlife Division, Department of Environment and 

Natural Resources (ENR), as lead agency, would like to 

acknowledge the efforts of all for the successful completion 

of 2011 edition of the General Status of Wild Species in the 

Northwest Territories, and for their continuing contribution 

and dedication to species monitoring in the NWT. 

Participating Agencies 

All species ranks were reviewed by the ad hoc Working Group 

on General Status of NWT Species composed of all agencies 

with wildlife management responsibilities in the NWT: 

Coordination: 

• Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 


In Cooperation with: 

• Environment Canada, Government of Canada 

• Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Government of Canada, 

• Fisheries Joint Management Committee 

• Gwich’in Renewable Resources Board 

• Sahtu Renewable Resources Board 

• Wildlife Management Advisory Council (NWT) 

• Wek’èezhìi Renewable Resources Board 

Participating Individuals 

The Working Group would like to acknowledge the help of 

experts and knowledgeable people who greatly assisted in 

ranking the general status of species in the NWT between 

2006 and 2010. Many of these contributors also participated 

in final reviews. 

Amphibians and Reptiles: Mike Fournier, Danny Allaire, 

Susan Fleck, Danny Beaulieu. Dr. Danna Schock, 

Dr. Mike Oldham. 

Bees: Dr. Cory Sheffield, Sheila Colla. 

Beetles: Dr. James R. Duncan, Dr. Henri Goulet, Gregory Pohl, 

David Langor, Dr. David McCorquodale. 

Birds: Lindsay Amer, Craig Machtans, Bev McBride, 

Joachim Obst, Doug Tate. 

Blackflies: Dr. Doug Currie. 

Butterflies: Ross Layberry, Mike Fournier, Bonnie Fournier, 

Richard Popko, Keith Hickling, Tracy Hillis. 

Damselflies and Dragonflies: Dr. Paul Catling, Doug Tate. 

Freshwater Mussels: James Kristmanson, Dr. Rémi Hébert, 

Becky Cudmore. 

Fishes: Dr. Jim Reist, Bruce Hanna, Neil Mochnacz, 

Andrew Majewski, Chatelle Sawatzky, Pete Cott, Jim Johnson, 

Holly Cleator, Kathleen Martin. 

Grasshoppers: Dr. Paul Catling. 

Horseflies and Deerflies: Tony Thomas, Phil Taylor, 

David Beresford. 

Lichens: Trevor Goward, Curtis Björk, Janet Marsh. 

Mammals (Terrestrial): Dr. Cori Lausen, Danny Allaire, 

Dr. Nicolas Larter, Joanna Wilson, Robert Gau, Alasdair Veitch, 

Richard Popko, Dean Cluff, Marsha Branigan, Allicia Kelly, 

Dr. Anne Gunn, Judy Williams, Jan Adamczewski, 

Robert Mulders, John Nagy, Dr. Suzanne Carriere. 

Mammals (Marine): Lois Harwood. 

Mosquitoes: Syd Cannings, Aynsley Thielman, 

Fiona Hunter, Dr. Brett Elkin. 

Mosses: Dr. René J. Belland. 

Moths: Gary Anweiler, Christian Schmidt, Gregory Pohl, 

Don Lafontaine, Jenny Tucker. 

Spiders: Syd Cannings, Marilyn Anions, Dr. Pierre Paquin, 

Don Buckle, Dr. Robb Bennett, Brian Latham. 

Vascular Plants: Marilyn Anions, Bruce Bennett, 

Mike Oldham, Dr. Paul Catling, Steve Moore, Dave Downing, 

Mike Gravel, Lynn Gillespie, Jennifer Doubt, Dr. Laurie Consaul, 

Bob Decker, Dr. Jim Harris, George W. Argus, 

Dr. Suzanne Carrière. 

NWT General Status Ranking Program – Coordinator: 

Dr. Suzanne Carrière. 

NWT Species Monitoring Infobase – Data and Information 

Updates (2006-2010): Michele Stacey, Sean McGee, 

Robert Gau, Dr. Suzanne Carrière. 

170 


10. Monitoring Infosheet 

To Participate in a Monitoring Program 

or to Contact a Regional Biologist: 

• South Slave Region 

(867) 872 6400 

• Inuvik Region 

(867) 777 7230 

• North Slave Region 

(867) 873 7184 

• Sahtu Region 

(867) 587 3500 

• Dehcho Region 

(867) 695 7475 

To Report Observations on Wildlife – Mammals: 

WildlifeOBS@gov.nt.ca 

To Report a Forest Fire: 

(877) NWT FIRE 

To Report a Poacher: 

(866) POA CHER 

Any Questions About Birds or To Report Bird Observations: 

NWT Bird Checklist Survey 

NWTChecklist@ec.gc.ca 

(867) 669-4771 

www.NWTChecklist.com 

To Report a Fishing Violation: 

(800) 222 TIPS 

Any Questions About Fish or Marine Mammals: 

Department of Fisheries and Oceans 

Yellowknife (867) 669 4900 

Inuvik (867) 777 7500 

Hay River (867) 874 5570 

To Report Observations of Amphibians or Reptiles: 

NWT – Frog Watch 

WildlifeOBS@gov.nt.ca 

frogwatch@cnf.ca 

(867) 920 6327 

Pamphlets available at ENR Offices. 

To Report Insect Observations or 

to Contact an Insect Specialist: 

NWTBUGS@gov.nt.ca 

NWT keys available at www.enr.gov.nt.ca 

To Report a Banded Bird: 

(800) 327 BAND 

To Report Diseased Wildlife: 

Wildlife Disease Specialist 

(867) 873 7761 

To Report a Spill of Oil Chemicals 

or other Hazardous Materials: 

NWT 24-hour Spill Report Line 

(867) 920 8130 (Collect calls accepted) 

To obtain a copy of the NWT Species Monitoring Infobase 

or to obtain more information about the General Status 

Ranking Process, contact: 


Department of Environment and Natural Resources, 


Box 1320 


Canada X1A 2L9 

Phone: (867) 920-6327 

VISIT 

The NWT Wildlife Home Page 

www.enr.gov.nt.ca 

The NWT Species at Risk Home Page 

www.nwtspeciesatrisk.ca 


Snowshoe Hare 

Photo Credit: R Kennedy

NWT 2011-2015 - NWT Species at Risk

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