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Organic farming is continuing to expand in Canada, with close to 6,000 producers farming over 2% of all agricultural land. There is insufficient evidence, however, of a trend toward larger average farm size and increasing specialization by these organic farms. This mini-review postulates that a gradient of intensity of farm management exists within organic farming sectors in Canada, with respect to cropping diversity, and tillage and nutrient utilization, and this gradient of intensity is a key determinant of agroecological outcomes. This variation in management approach and intensity reflects producer's individual perspectives on organic farming principles and practices, irrespective of farm scale. By directly influencing farm crop and vegetative diversity and cover, and farm nutrient status and carbon cycling, management intensity determines soil carbon storage and flux, soil health and biodiversity agroecological and ecosystem services, plus farm agronomic resilience. Demographic trends and perspectives of new entrants in organic farming are encouraging signs of an increasingly inclusive and socio-ecologically complex Canadian organic farming sector, which recognizes the agroecological implications of intensity of organic farm management across all production sectors.

Organic field crop systems are characterized by complex rotations with high spatial and temporal vegetative diversity, an enhanced use of legumes, and reduced external nutrient (nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) use. At the same time, a core premise of certified organic agriculture is that this farming system provides benefits to soil health via enhanced microbial diversity. The following short review, drawing primarily upon selected studies from North America, examines the impact of farming systems, and various management strategies within these, on soil organic matter, N and P dynamics, and soil microbial and macrofaunal abundance and diversity. Organic cropping systems are shown to provide benefits with respect to reduced farm N and P surpluses, in combination with maintenance of soil organic matter and improved soil health. However, soil health benefits appear consistently achieved only for larger soil organisms partly due to the resilience of the soil microbial community. Recent research examining soil P dynamics and P uptake in relation to legume biological N2 fixation and bacterial and mycorrhizal community diversity provide evidence of the resilience of the soil microbial community with respect to functionality, if not diversity of microbial community composition. These latter results may challenge organic agriculture core premises of consistent benefits to soil health via enhanced microbial diversity, but in its place may lead to an improved understanding of how specific cropping practices and production system intensity overall, rather than farming system per se, influences both nutrient cycling and soil ecosystem functioning.

Dalotia coriaria (Kraatz, 1856) (For diagnosis, illustrations and literature reviews, see Klimaszewski et al. (2007) and Gouix and Klimaszewski (2007)). CANADA, Nova Scotia, Upper Rawdon, Hants Co., 14.VIII.2008, highbush blueberry field R2T3A, J. Renkema (CGMC) 1 male. Dalotia coriaria is a cosmopolitan species that is adventive in many parts of the world including Europe, east Africa, Madagascar, New Zealand, Galapagos Islands (Benick and Lohse 1974; Pace 1999; Sivasubramaniam et al. 1997; Klimaszewski and Peck 1998), and North America (Klimaszewski et al. 2007). In Canada it has previously been recorded from Ontario and Alberta (Klimaszewski et al. 2007; Gouix and Klimaszewski 2007), and in the United States from California, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York (Moore and Legner 1975; Muona 1984; Frank 1980; Gusarov 2003). Th is species is herein newly recorded from Nova Scotia., Published as part of Klimaszewski, Jan, Lynch, Derek, Majka, Christopher, Renkema, Justin, Savard, Karine & Hlavac, Peter, 2009, Pella glooscapi, a new rove beetle, and new records of aleocharines from Nova Scotia, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), pp. 35-44 in ZooKeys 22 (22) on page 42, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.22.95, http://zenodo.org/record/576534, {"references":["Kraatz G (1856) Staphylinii. Naturgeschichte der Insecten Deutschlands. Vol 2. Nicolai, Berlin: 1 - 376.","Klimaszewski J, Assing V, Majka CG, Pelletier G, Webster RP, Langor D (2007) Records of adventive aleocharine beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae) found in Canada. Th e Canadian Entomologist 139: 54 - 79.","Gouix N, Klimaszewski J (2007) Catalogue of Aleocharine Rove Beetles of Canada and Alaska (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae). Pensoft Publishers, Sofia-Moscow, 166 pp.","Pace R (1999) Insectes Coleopteres Staphylinidae Aleocharinae. Faune de Madagascar, Paris 89: 1 - 261.","Sivasubramaniam W, Wratten SD, Klimaszewski J (1997) Species composition, abundance, and activity of predatory arthropods in carrot fields, Canterbury, New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 24: 205 - 212.","Klimaszewski J, Peck SB (1998) A review of aleocharine rove beetles from the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae). Revue suisse de Zoologie 105: 221 - 260.","Moore I, Legner EF (1975) A catalogue of the Staphylinidae of America north of Mexico (Coleoptera). University of California Division of Agricultural Sciences, Special Publication 3015: 1 - 514.","Muona J (1984) Review of Palaearctic Aleocharinae also occurring in North America (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae). Entomologica Scandinavica 15: 227 - 231.","Frank JH (1980) Atheta coriaria (Kraatz) (Aleocharinae) and Sunius confluentus (Say) (Paederinae) in Florida (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae). Th e Coleopterists Bulletin 34: 388.","Gusarov VI (2003) Revision of some types of North American aleocharines (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Aleocharinae), with synonymic notes. Zootaxa 353: 1 - 134."]}

Pella glooscapi Klimaszewski & Majka, sp. n. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act: CC905F4C-29C9-4D1C-A761-E49D84E006BE Figs 1–10 Holotype.Male. CANADA, Nova Scotia, Upper Rawdon, Hants Co.,NS, 28.VIII.2008, J. Renkema, highbush blueberry field R2T1C (LFC). Paratypes: CANADA, Nova Scotia, Upper Rawdon, Hants Co., J. Renkema, highbush blueberry field: R2T1C, (LFC) 1 female; R2T1C, 26.VIII.2008 (CGMC) 1 male; R3T5A, 14.VIII.2008 (CGMC) 1 male; R2T1C, 9.IX.2008 (CGMC) 1 male; 12.IX.2008 (CGMC) 1 male; R2T1C, 25.VI.2008 (CGMC) 1 male. Etymology. The name of this new species is derived from the name Glooscap, a mythical creator and cultural hero of the Wabanaki native peoples (the Abenaki, Mi’kmaq, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, and Maliseet). According to the Mi’kmaq legend, when Glooscap slept, Nova Scotia was his bed and Prince Edward Island his pillow. Glooscap was the source of early environmental myths, teaching hunters that those who kill too much would destroy the world he created. According to legend, Glooscap inhabited the region where Pella glooscapi has been found. He supposedly created the neighbouring Five Islands in the Bay of Fundy by throwing stones at a giant beaver that built a dam to flood his medicine garden in Advocate. Accordingly we name this new species in honour of the rich mythology of the people of the Wabanaki Confederacy. Diagnosis. Pella glooscapi is similar in general appearance to P. loricata but may be easily distinguished by the uniformly black body (except for tarsi and basal parts of antennae), more robust antennae (Figs. 1, 2), and differently shaped median lobe of aedeagus with broad and sinuate tubus in lateral view (Fig. 4) and the shape of spermatheca (Fig. 8). Th e closest known relative of this species would appear to be P. criddlei (Casey 1911), from which it may be distinguished by the black body and differently shaped male genitalia (Figs. 3–5). The latter two species have an almost identical spermatheca. This and other Pella species may readily be distinguished from members of the genus Drusilla by their lack of a distinct neck, and from the majority of Myrmoecia species by lacking abdominal trichomes and the characteristic tuberosities on the 2 nd and 3 rd visible abdominal tergites (Klimaszewski et al. 2005). Description. Body length 3.4–3.8 mm, subparallel, black with basal parts of antennae and tarsi reddish brown, integument glossy, forebody with distinct isodiametric microsculpture, punctation fine, pubescence yellow-brown, short and sparse, abdo- Figure Į. Pella glooscapi sp. n., in dorsal view. Figures 3–Į0. Genital structures of Pella glooscapi sp. n.: 3–Į0 (male): 3, median lobe of aedeagus in dorsal view, and 4, in lateral view; 5, paramere; 6, tergite 8; 7, sternite 8; 8–Į0 (female): 8, spermatheca; 9, tergite 8; and Į0, sternite 8. men with central areas of tergal discs glabrous (Fig. 1); antennae robust (Figs. 1, 2), reddish-brown basally and black apically, about as long as head, pronotum, and elytra combined, basal article large and swollen, as long as 2 nd and 3 rd combined, 2 nd article about 2/3 as long as 3 rd, 3 rd article about 2/3 of the 1 st, 4 th– 7 th almost as long as wide, 7 th– 10 th slightly wider than long, 11 th slightly longer than penultimate (Figs. 1, 2); maxillary palpi 4-articled, last article needle-shaped and about 1/4 the length of the penultimate article; head elongate, broadest at eye level, strongly constricted basally, pubescence directed obliquely inwards on centre of the disc (Fig. 1); pronotum trapezoidal in shape (Fig. 1), longer than elytra, widest in apical third, strongly convex with centro-basal depression, pubescence directed posterad and forming ring around the depression, hypomeron very strong and almost as long as pronotum laterally (Fig. 2); elytra (Fig. 1) slightly broadened posteriorly, pubescence directed straight or obliquely posterad, at base obliquely laterad; abdomen with three first visible basal tergites bearing deep longitudinal depressions, sometimes posterior edges of tergites lighter in colour, lateral edges of sternites slightly produced over sternites. Male. Tergite 8 transverse, space between antecostal suture and base of tergite narrow, antecostal suture approximately straight, apical margin truncate and with irregular small dents (Fig. 6). Sternite 8 transverse, space between antecostal suture and base of sternite narrow, antecostal suture approximately straight, apical margin broadly rounded, macrosetae small (Fig. 7); median lobe of aedeagus broadly oval in dorsal view (Fig. 3), bulbus gradually merging with tubus and tapering apically, apex broad and rounded (Fig. 3); tubus sinuate laterally and broad, apex slightly produced ventrally (Fig. 4); internal sac structures and paramere as illustrated (Figs. 3–5). Female. Tergite 8 transverse, space between antecostal suture and base of tergite narrow, antecostal suture approximately straight, apical margin truncate and smooth (Fig. 9). Sternite 8 transverse, space between antecostal suture and base of sternite narrow, antecostal suture approximately straight, apical margin broadly rounded, macrosetae small (Fig. 10). Spermatheca Lshaped, capsule with sharply produced apical projection (Fig. 8). Bionomics. Adults were collected in June, July, August, and September in a highbush blueberry field. The area is one of mixed highbush and lowbush blueberry fields and re-growing old fields, with neighbouring mixed forests and a beaver pond. Distribution. Known only from Nova Scotia, Canada. Comments. In Klimaszewski et al. (2005), Pella glooscapi keys out to couplet 12, which is modified as follows to include the new species: 12 Body bicoloured, yellowish-brown (Fig. 11 in Klimaszewski et al. 2005); genitalia as illustrated (Figs. 41–43 in Klimaszewski et al. 2005)............................................................................................................... P. fauveli Sharp – Body approximately uniformly brown or black......................................... 12 12A Pronotum slightly to strongly transverse................................................... 13 – Pronotum strongly elongate, genital structures as illustrated (Figs. 1, 3–10).............................................. Pella glooscapi Klimaszewski & Majka, sp. n.

Genus Pella Stephens, 1835 (For literature review, synonymy, description, diagnosis, and illustrations, see Klimaszewski et al. (2005) and Maruyama (2006))., Published as part of Klimaszewski, Jan, Lynch, Derek, Majka, Christopher, Renkema, Justin, Savard, Karine & Hlavac, Peter, 2009, Pella glooscapi, a new rove beetle, and new records of aleocharines from Nova Scotia, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), pp. 35-44 in ZooKeys 22 (22) on page 37, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.22.95, http://zenodo.org/record/576534, {"references":["Stephens JF (1835) Illustrations of British Entomology; or a synopsis of indigenous insects: containing their generic and specific distinctions, with an account of their metamorphoses, times of appearances, localities, food, and economy, as far as practical. Mandibulata 5: 369 - 448.","Klimaszewski J, Pelletier G, Maruyama M, and Hlavac P (2005) Canadian species of the Zyras group of genera and review of the types from America north of Mexico. Revue suisse de Zoologie 112: 703 - 733.","Maruyama M (2006) Revision of the Palaearctic species of the myrmecophilous genus Pella (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae, Aleocharinae). National Science Museum 32, Tokyo, 207 pp."]}

Zyras (s. str.) obliquus (Casey, 1894) (For description and illustrations, see Klimaszewski et al. (2005)). CANADA, Nova Scotia, Bridgewater, 1���16.VII.1965, B. Wright, pitfall trap under red oak (NSMC) 1 male. Zyras obliquus is a widely distributed North American species recorded by Klimaszewski et al. (2005) from British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Qu��bec in Canada and from Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, and Oregon. We herein provide the first record of Z. obliquus from Nova Scotia., Published as part of Klimaszewski, Jan, Lynch, Derek, Majka, Christopher, Renkema, Justin, Savard, Karine & Hlavac, Peter, 2009, Pella glooscapi, a new rove beetle, and new records of aleocharines from Nova Scotia, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), pp. 35-44 in ZooKeys 22 (22) on page 42, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.22.95, http://zenodo.org/record/576534, {"references":["Casey TL (1894) Coleopterological notices. 5. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 7: 281 - 606.","Klimaszewski J, Pelletier G, Maruyama M, and Hlavac P (2005) Canadian species of the Zyras group of genera and review of the types from America north of Mexico. Revue suisse de Zoologie 112: 703 - 733."]}

Pella loricata (Casey, 1894) (For description and illustrations, see Klimaszewski et al. (2005)). CANADA, Nova Scotia, Upper Rawdon, Hants Co., 16.VII.2008, J. Renkema, highbush blueberry field R1T6E (LFC) 1 male; R1T6H, 18.VII.2008 (CGMC) 1 female; R1T6H, 19.VII.2008 (CGMC) 1 female. Pella loricata was described by Casey (1894) from Ohio, USA. Klimaszewski et al. (2005) reported this species for the first time in Canada from Ontario. We herein provide the first record of P. loricata from Nova Scotia., Published as part of Klimaszewski, Jan, Lynch, Derek, Majka, Christopher, Renkema, Justin, Savard, Karine & Hlavac, Peter, 2009, Pella glooscapi, a new rove beetle, and new records of aleocharines from Nova Scotia, Canada (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae), pp. 35-44 in ZooKeys 22 (22) on pages 41-42, DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.22.95, http://zenodo.org/record/576534, {"references":["Casey TL (1894) Coleopterological notices. 5. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 7: 281 - 606.","Klimaszewski J, Pelletier G, Maruyama M, and Hlavac P (2005) Canadian species of the Zyras group of genera and review of the types from America north of Mexico. Revue suisse de Zoologie 112: 703 - 733."]}

The distinctive production characteristics and economic performance of organic dairy farms in central Canada has been documented, but the sustainability of these systems with respect to farm nutrient flows is less well understood. We have assessed farm management, livestock productivity, and nutrient status of fifteen long term (>10y) certified organic dairy farms in Ontario, Canada. Farm size, herd size and herd productivity averaged 110 ha, 52 cows and 8207 kg milk cow yr-1, respectively. Cropping composition differed little between farms, with pasture and forage accounting for an average of 65% of the cropped landbase. Annual farm nutrient budgets (inputs-outputs) over two years (2003-2005) for N, P and K were 52, 1 and 11 kg ha-1 yr-1, respectively. The majority (13) of farms had positive K budgets with half of the farms recording negative annual P budgets. Nutrient budget results were supported by soil fertility data generated by sampling 80% of farm fields (n=225). Overall, these results contrast strongly with large nutrient surpluses reported for more intensive, confinement-based dairy farms throughout N. America, but suggest a challenge to remain sustainable over the longer term for the 50% of these farms adopting a broadly ‘self-sufficient’ approach, and importing little P (0 - 2.5 kg ha-1 yr-1) as feed and feed supplements.