For many people, a walk through a forest, along a river, or across a meadow is simply an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors. For zoologist John Klymko, those same places can become a living laboratory filled with thousands of questions waiting to be answered.
Originally from Kitchener, Ontario, John discovered his passion for field biology at an early age. Interestingly, that passion was helped along by something as simple as a high school birdathon — and a free T-shirt. What may have started as a school activity eventually developed into a lifelong interest in the natural world and the incredible diversity of species found within it.
John went on to earn a Master’s degree in insect taxonomy, developing a specialized knowledge of insects and their identification. His career has included working as a park naturalist, research assistant, and environmental consultant before joining the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre (AC CDC) in 2009.
Since then, John has become an important contributor to biodiversity research and conservation throughout Atlantic Canada.
One of his major projects has been leading the Maritimes Butterfly Atlas, helping document and better understand butterfly species across the region. His work, however, extends far beyond butterflies. John conducts surveys and research involving butterflies, pollinators, dragonflies, birds, plants, and other groups of wildlife.
His specialty in flies is particularly important because insects such as flies are often overlooked by the general public. Yet they play major roles in ecosystems. They can be pollinators, decomposers, predators, prey, and indicators of environmental conditions. Many species remain poorly understood, and discovering where they occur is an important part of understanding biodiversity.
Exploring the North Branch of the Renous River
In 2022, John joined BiotaNB for several days of insect collecting. BiotaNB brings together people interested in documenting the incredible biological diversity found throughout New Brunswick, creating opportunities for researchers, naturalists, and others to explore areas and record species that may otherwise go unnoticed.
During the 2022 fieldwork, John explored the North Branch of the Renous River, searching through the landscape for insects.
For someone watching from the outside, insect collecting might look like a simple matter of walking through the woods and looking for small creatures. In reality, it requires considerable knowledge, patience, observation, and an understanding of where different species may be found.
John made several exciting discoveries during his time along the river. Those discoveries were only the beginning. Once specimens return from the field, the detailed work continues in the laboratory, where they can be examined, identified, documented, and compared with existing records.
Some discoveries can require months of laboratory work before researchers fully understand what they have found.
That is one of the fascinating things about biodiversity research: a discovery in the field can open the door to months or even years of investigation.
Why This Work Matters
The work carried out by people like John Klymko is important because we cannot protect what we do not know exists.
New Brunswick contains an extraordinary variety of habitats — forests, rivers, wetlands, fields, coastal areas, and everything in between. Each habitat supports its own communities of plants and animals. Some species are common and easily recognized, while others may be tiny, difficult to identify, or rarely encountered.
Documenting these species gives scientists and conservation organizations valuable information about where species occur, how populations may be changing, and what habitats are important to protect.
It also reminds us that wildlife conservation is not only about the large and recognizable animals.
A bird soaring above a river or a deer moving through a forest may capture our attention, but beneath our feet and hidden among the vegetation is another world — one filled with insects and other small organisms that are essential to healthy ecosystems.
John's work helps bring that hidden world into focus.
A Career Built on Curiosity
From a high school birdathon and a free T-shirt to a career studying insects and documenting biodiversity across Atlantic Canada, John Klymko's story is a great example of where curiosity can lead.
His work demonstrates that there is always more to discover in the natural world.
A small insect can represent a new record for an area. A butterfly survey can reveal changes in populations. A dragonfly can tell us something about the health of a wetland. A plant growing beside a river can become another piece of the larger biodiversity picture.
And sometimes, an ordinary-looking walk through the woods can lead to an extraordinary discovery.
That is what makes field biology so important — and so exciting.
For people like John Klymko, the natural world is not simply something to look at. It is something to study, understand, document, and ultimately protect.
As a nature and wildlife photographer and advocate, I believe this work deserves recognition. Scientists, zoologists, naturalists, field technicians, and volunteers are constantly adding to our understanding of New Brunswick's natural heritage. Their work may often happen quietly, away from the public eye, but the knowledge they create can have a lasting impact on conservation.
The next time you walk beside a New Brunswick river or through one of our forests, take a moment to look a little closer.
There may be an entire world beneath the leaves that you have never noticed.
Keith Dennis Brewer
Nature and Wildlife Advocate
New Brunswick, Canada
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