New E-Fauna BC Maps

The  maps on E-Fauna BC are now being updated.  This includes a new presentation (new software) and new data.  Clicking on the large interactive map link on an atlas page will now call up data from GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility), which includes worldwide data.  To view broader distribution data for a species, zoom out on the interactive maps.  The new interactive maps are now available for most faunal groups.  A few groups are still being completed.   The small maps on the atlas pages will be updated next.  Stay tuned for more...

New Maps on E-Flora BC: North American Distribution

Because our map software is no longer being supported, we have updated our maps on E-Flora BC with new software from ESRI.  Work on the maps is ongoing.  The presentation is slightly different now, and we now include data from GBIF (the Global Biodiversity Information Facility).  The maps on E-Fauna BC are also being redeveloped.  As before, the dots on the small maps and larger interactive maps are clickable, and you can pan the maps across North America to view a broader distribution. Zooming out on the large interactive maps will easily show users global distribution information.  Please note that sometimes distributions may not reflect current taxonomic knowledge. 

Information for Photographers

All content on E-Flora BC is covered by Canadian Copyright Law. Please note: for photographs submitted to the site, adherence to copyright law is the responsibility of the photographer. Please ensure that you own the copyright to all photos that you submit to E-Flora and E-Fauna BC for publication, and that you have the right to submit the photos to our site.

Bumble Bees on E-Fauna BC

As of September 2020, Maria Leung has taken on editing the bumble bee section on E-Fauna BC. Maria is a wildlife biologist in the Yukon who has  built considerable knowledge of bumble bees and other bee species.  She says: "My work as a wildlife biologist is long and varied, spanning a range of taxonomic groups (mammals, birds, aquatic fauna, insects) and ecosystems (arctic, taiga, boreal, BC interior forest and alpine, coastal).  The common thread through these different studies is the deep interest in wild species in their native habitats and the concern for their ability to persist through the stresses imposed by anthropomorphic change."  

Our reviewers and editors are important to E-Fauna BC and bring important species and ecological knowledge to their work. 

Updated Mosses and Liverworts on E-Flora BC

We have now updated the Mosses and Liverworts on E-Flora BC to match the BCCDC listings, with many new species now displayed.  Shortly we will update again when a new list  currently in preparation is ready to go, co-authored by E-Flora bryophyte editor Steve Joya and other BC moss experts.

Update on E-Flora BC and E-Fauna BC

The distribution maps are now restored on both E-Flora BC and E-Fauna BC.  Now we are working on updating our mapping software to the newest version. That should be completed over the next few weeks.  Most components of the sites have now been restored.  Editing continues for nomenclature, that is on-going.  Please let us know if you find that something doesn't work or needs attention.

2020 Checklist of the Spiders (Araneae) of British Columbia now available

Male Rhomphaea fictilium (Hentz), a species of cobweb spider.
Photo by Sean McCann

The 2020 Checklist of the Spiders of British Columbia is now available on the E-Fauna BC checklists page thanks to the efforts of BC spider specialist Robb Bennett and co- authors David Blades, Gergin Blagoev, Don Buckle, Claudia Copley, Darren Copley, Charles Dondale and Rick C. West. This updated checklist features an annotated list of the 893 spider species of BC, a detailed summary of the work involved so far in documenting the spider fauna, and a detailed reference list.  Based on this work, the number of documented spider species have increased:   "The number of species recorded in BC has climbed from 212 in 1967 through 653 in 2006 to 893 in 2020."  More species are expected to be found.

View the checklist here.

Species accounts provided in the checklist provide global distribution information and listings of collection locations/locales in BC for each species.  An example species account for the Western Black Widow (Latrodectus hesperus) is provided below.

Latrodectus hesperus Chamberlin & Ivie, 1935 

Global Distribution: Southern BC to SK south to northern Mexico.

BC Records: Powell R, Savary Is, Nanaimo, Crofton, Duncan, Cobble Hill, Malahat, Sooke area (Monument Ridge, Mt Manuel Quimper), Victoria area (Mary Hill, Mt Braden, Metchosin, Mt MacDonald, Langford, Goldstream Prov Pk, View Royal, James Bay, Uplands Regional Pk, Mt Tolmie, Royal Oak, Sparton Rd, Mt Newton, Island View Beach, Swartz Bay), Saltspring Is (Mt Maxwell), North Pender Is, Galiano Is, Mayne Is, Saturna Is (Warburton Pike), Vancouver area (Centennial Beach), Chilliwack, Lillooet, Nicola Lk, Douglas Lk, Williams Lk, Kamloops, Salmon Arm, Oliver, Vernon, Kelowna, Summerland, Penticton, Vaseux Lk, Oliver, Osoyoos, Haynes Lease Eco Res, Mt Kobau, Nighthawk, Christina Lk, Granite Mtn, Trail, Cranbrook