Myriapoda and Terrestrial Isopoda of the Prairies of Canada

Bruce Snyder

doi:10.5886/672d42kv

Myriapoda and Terrestrial Isopoda of the Prairies of Canada

Citation

Snyder B (2014). Myriapoda and Terrestrial Isopoda of the Prairies of Canada. Biological Survey of Canada. Checklist dataset https://doi.org/10.5886/672d42kv accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-15.

Description

Myriapods and terrestrial isopods play important roles in numerous ecosystem processes, especially decomposition, and in the structure of soil food webs. This chapter discusses five focal taxa, specifically the terrestrial Isopoda (commonly known as pill bugs, sow bugs, roly-polys, woodlice, or slaters) and the four Classes of the Myriapoda: Diplopoda (millipedes), Chilopoda (centipedes), Pauropoda, and Symphyla (sometimes called garden centipedes). After a brief review of each taxon’s phylogenetic position, global diversity, and ecological role, current knowledge of species diversity in Canadian prairies is summarized. Biodiversity of these five groups is relatively low in the prairies of Canada. Terrestrial isopods have yet to be discovered in Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba. Diplopoda are represented by ten species while six species of Chilopoda are known or suspected from the prairies. The Canadian pauropod fauna consists of two species which may be present in the prairies. Twenty-three species of Symphyla are known elsewhere in Canada, but none are known from the Prairie Provinces. Little research on these taxa has been done in this region and much remains to be discovered, likely including species new to science. In addition to diversity and distribution studies, future research directions should include studies of biology and ecology of these species.

Taxonomic Coverages

Myriapoda
rank: subphylum
Diplopoda
rank: class
Chilopoda
rank: class

Geographic Coverages

Canadian prairies

Bibliographic Citations

Snyder, B. A. 2014. Myriapoda and Terrestrial Isopoda of the Prairies of Canada. In Arthropods of Canadian Grasslands (Volume 3): Biodiversity and Systematics Part 1. Edited by H. A. Cárcamo and D. J. Giberson. Biological Survey of Canada. pp. 21-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.3752/9780968932162.ch2 - doi:10.3752/9780968932162.ch2

Contacts

Bruce Snyder
originator
position: Instructor
Division of Biology, Kansas State University
Division of Biology, 116 Ackert Hall
Manhattan
66506-4901
Kansas
US
Telephone: 785-532-2430
email: basnyder@ksu.edu
homepage: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~basnyder/

Bruce Snyder
metadata author
position: Instructor
Division of Biology, Kansas State University
Division of Biology, 116 Ackert Hall
Manhattan
66506-4901
Kansas
US
Telephone: 785-532-2430
email: basnyder@ksu.edu
homepage: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~basnyder/

Bruce Snyder
author
position: Instructor
Division of Biology, Kansas State University
116 Ackert Hall
Manhattan
66506-4901
Kansas
US
Telephone: 785-532-2430
email: basnyder@ksu.edu
homepage: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~basnyder/

publisher
Biological Survey of Canada
US

David Shorthouse
processor
position: Biodiversity Informatics Manager
Université de Montréal Biodiversity Centre
4101 rue Sherbrooke est
Montréal
H1X 2B2
QC
CA
Telephone: 514-343-6111 82354
email: david.shorthouse@umontreal.ca

Bruce Snyder
administrative point of contact
position: Instructor
Division of Biology, Kansas State University
Division of Biology, 116 Ackert Hall
Manhattan
66506-4901
Kansas
US
Telephone: 785-532-2430
email: basnyder@ksu.edu
homepage: http://www-personal.ksu.edu/~basnyder/