Photo: Ben Cauley
Threatened species
Eighteen species at risk have been listed on the territory of the Brome Lake watershed, including 10 birds, four amphibians and reptiles, two fish, one insect and one aquatic plant.
Fishes
The Bridle Shiner (Notropis bifrenatus) is threatened by the shrinking area of aquatic grass beds, on which its survival depends. Increased water turbidity is also a significant problem for these sight-hunting minnows. Thus, any activity that increases the amount of suspended sediment puts pressure on the species. It is therefore essential to avoid navigating in shallow areas where the Bridle Shiner is present. In fact, Conservation Lac Brome installed shoreline buoys in 2022 indicating the location of these sensitive ecological zones on Brome Lake. Ondago, searchable online, indicates their location.
Bridle Shiner
Photo: Bridle Shiner - Wikimedia
Have you seen our buoys for
Bridle Shiner conservation?
Action plan
for the protection of
the bridle shiner
Written by RLB and coming soon
The chain pickerel (Esox niger), also called grass pike, is a species that is likely to be designated threatened or vulnerable in Quebec. At the federal level, it is not currently on the endangered species list, but is one of the candidate species to become one soon.
Due to its typical pike morphology, that is to say its elongated body and its beak resembling that of a duck, it can sometimes be confused with other species, such as northern pike. In order to differentiate them, it is possible to check 3 morphological traits specific to chain pickerel.
Chain pickerel
Photo: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center
Amphibians and reptiles
Photo : OBV Yamaska
Wood turtle
In Quebec, the wood turtle is at risk because of the degradation of its habitat. In fact, the expansion of urban areas encroaches on sectors conducive to its survival. Poaching is also a problem for this turtle, so occurrences are kept confidential. It is also sensitive to poor water quality.
Arthropods and molluscs
The pond rash (Erythemis simplicicollis) is an insect of the Libellulidae (dragonfly) family that is designated as likely to be threatened or vulnerable in Quebec. This was observed in 2014 during an odonate survey in the Quilliams Creek watershed.
Erythema inhabits aquatic environments where emerging plants allow it to land. The diet of this insect consists of small insects that it catches in flight. Therefore, its protection is all the more important, because it controls the populations of mosquitoes that bite you in the summer.
Pond rash
Photo : Wikimedia Commons – xpda
Plants
The twin-scaped bladderwort (Utricularia geminiscapa) is one of the aquatic plant species identified in 2009 during the first inventory of aquatic grass beds in Brome Lake. It is considered likely to be threatened or vulnerable across the province and is also on the list of rare plants in Quebec.
This plant with yellow flowers which does not measure more than 25 cm is carnivorous. Contrary to what one might think, it does not catch its prey by its flower, but rather by its roots. These grow in water or moist soil and catch small organisms with glands that suck.
