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2013AnnualReportJuly2012–June2013
CooperatingAgencies:U.S.GeologicalSurvey,Ecosystems
IowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesIowaStateUniversity
U.S.Fish&WildlifeServiceWildlifeManagementInstitute
IowaCooperativeFish&WildlifeResearchUnit338ScienceII,IowaStateUniversity
Ames,IA50011‐3221Telephone:(515)294‐3056
Fax:(515)294‐5468Email:[email protected]
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Contents2013 Annual Report ............................................................................................................................................ 1
Personnel and Cooperators .............................................................................................................................. 4
Unit Coordinating Committee .................................................................................................................................. 4
Unit Staff ................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Collaborating Professors: ......................................................................................................................................... 4
New Projects .................................................................................................................................................... 2
Acoustic transect monitoring and White Nose Syndrome response plan for Iowa bats .................................... 3
Seasonal succession in floral resources and response of insect pollinator groups in three grassland types
important for pollinator conservation in Iowa ................................................................................................... 4
Northeastern Iowa Forest Monitoring ................................................................................................................ 5
Developing a Model to Predict Canada Goose Breeding Pair Densities in the Midwest Using National Wetlands
Inventory Data .................................................................................................................................................... 6
Conservation, Habitat Use, and Genetic Diversity of a Translocated Population of Greater Prairie‐chickens in
Iowa ..................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Distribution and Population Dynamics of Asian Carp in Iowa Rivers.................................................................. 8
Evaluation of an electric barrier to reduce walleye escapement ....................................................................... 9
Continuing Projects ........................................................................................................................................ 10
Functional Assessment of Missouri River Mitigation Wetlands in Iowa........................................................... 11
Comparison of Amphibian Habitat Suitability In USDA CREP and Reference Wetlands in the Des Moines Lobe of
Iowa ................................................................................................................................................................... 12
Genetic Analysis of White‐tailed Deer Population Structure in Iowa: Identifying Potential Patterns and Rates of
Disease Spread .................................................................................................................................................. 13
Lead in Species of Greatest Conservation Need: Free‐flying Bald Eagles as Indicators ................................... 14
The Use of Fire and Grazing to Improve Grassland Habitats for Species of Greatest Conservation Need ...... 15
Iowa Multiple Species Inventory and Monitoring (MSIM) Program ................................................................. 16
Impact of Wind Farms on Birds and Bats in Iowa ............................................................................................. 17
Reproductive Ecology of White‐tailed Jackrabbits in Central Iowa .................................................................. 18
Urban Fisheries Development Plans in Central Iowa ........................................................................................ 19
Completed Projects ........................................................................................................................................ 20
Population Dynamics and Dispersal of Bobcats in Iowa ................................................................................... 21
Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas project completion ................................................................................................... 22
Best Management Practices for Hybrid Striped Bass Culture........................................................................... 23
Effects of Introduced Common Carp and Invading Zebra Mussels on Water Quality and the Native Biological
Community of Clear Lake, Iowa ........................................................................................................................ 24
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Fish Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Iowa’s Nonwadeable Rivers: Distribution, Relative Abundance,
and Influences from Potential Movement Barriers .......................................................................................... 25
Occurrence and Abundance of Topeka Shiners in West‐Central Iowa ............................................................. 26
Testing the Use of Patch‐Burn Grazing to Provide Habitat for Species of Greatest Conservation Need ......... 27
Developing Benchmarks of Biological Integrity for Iowa Lake and Reservoir Restoration Success ................. 29
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PersonnelandCooperators
UnitCoordinatingCommitteeMichaelTomeUnitsSupervisorCooperativeResearchUnitsU.S.GeologicalSurvey,EcosystemsDaleGarnerandJoeLarscheidWildlifeandFisheriesBureauChiefsIowaDepartmentofNaturalResources
SueBlodgettDepartmentChairNaturalResourceEcology&ManagementIowaStateUniversityPatrickRubleMidwestRepresentativeWildlifeManagementInstitute
UnitStaffRobertW.Klaver UnitLeaderandProfessorofNaturalResourceEcology&ManagementClayL.Pierce AssistantUnitLeader,Fisheries,andProfessorofNaturalResourceEcology&
ManagementOpenPosition AssistantUnitLeader,WildlifeJessicaBell AdministrativeSpecialist,DepartmentofNaturalResourceEcology&Management
CollaboratingProfessors: JulieBlanchong,NREM RebeccaChristoffel,NREM WilliamClark,EEOB DianeDebinski,EEOB StephenDinsmore,NREM SueFairbanks,NREM JosephMorris,NREM,NCRAC RolfKoford,FormerUnitLeader DavidOtis,FormerUnitLeader
MichaelQuist,FormerUnitScientistMichaelJ.Weber,NREM
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AcoustictransectmonitoringandWhiteNoseSyndromeresponseplanforIowabatsPrincipalInvestigator: JulieA.Blanchong
RebeccaChristoffelStudentInvestigator: Collaborators: DarylHowellDuration: July2012toJune2013FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(IDNR)GoalsandObjectives:o Conductacousticsurveysalongdrivetransectstomonitorbatactivityo PrepareaWhiteNoseSyndromeresponseplanforIowaIntroduction:WhiteNoseSyndrome(WNS),adevastatingdiseaseassociatedwiththemortalityofmillionsofbatswasfirstdocumented in New York during thewinter of 2005‐2006, and is now confirmed in 19 US states and fourCanadianprovinces.ThefungusthatcausesWNSwasdetectedonabigbrownbathibernatinginanIowacaveinMarch2012.ThelossoflargenumbersofbatsduetoWNSisexpectedtohaveenormouseconomicimpactstoagriculture.KnowledgeoftheabundanceanddistributionofbatspeciesinIowaisminimal,butiscriticallyneededtounderstandthepotentialramificationsofWNStoIowa.Inthisproject,wewillconductacousticsurveysalongdrivetransectsineastern,central,andsouthernIowatodocumentbatecholocationactivityinordertogainabetterassessmentofbatabundanceanddistributioninIowa. We will also prepare a White Nose Syndrome response plan for the state of Iowa that will includeobjectives, management actions and tools for bats and contaminated environments, monitoring plans, andrestorationplansforrespondingtoaWNSepidemicinIowabats.Progress:TwoNREMundergraduatestudentswerehiredtoworkontheproject.Studentsidentified2‐3possibledrivetransectsineachof7counties(Boone,Clayton,Dubuque,Jackson,Lucas,Story,andWarren)alongwhichtoconductacousticsurveys.WhiteNoseSyndromeresponseplansfromseveralstateswerereviewed,andafirstdraftofanIowa‐specificWhiteNoseSyndromeresponseplanisbeingprepared.TwoAnabatdetectorsandassociatedequipmentforconductingdrivetransectshavebeenordered.FuturePlans:AdraftoftheWhiteNoseSyndromeresponseplanwillbesharedwiththeIDNRandotherstakeholdersforcomments,andafinaldraftwillbeproducedbasedonstakeholderfeedback.Undergraduatestudentswillspendthewinter/springlearninghowtouseacousticanalysissoftwaretoidentifybatspecies.Dr.ChristoffelandDr.BlanchongwillattendanAnabatTechniquesWorkshopinthespring.Drivetransectsidentifiedinthefallwillberoad‐testedinearlyspringand,pendingtheiracceptability,acousticsurveyswillbeconductedalongeachtransecttwiceinlateMaythroughJunetocollectdataonbatactivity.AfinalreportwillbesubmittedtotheIDNRbyJune30,2013.
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SeasonalsuccessioninfloralresourcesandresponseofinsectpollinatorgroupsinthreegrasslandtypesimportantforpollinatorconservationinIowa PrincipalInvestigator: DianeDebinskiStudentInvestigator: JohnDelaneyCollaborators: KarinGrimlund– TNCMissouriDuration: May2013toNovember2013FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(IDNR)GoalsandObjectives:o Provideinformationondifferencesinfloralresourcesandpollinatorcommunitiesamongdifferenttypesof
grasslandsimportantforconservationintheUpperMidwest.o Quantifydifferencesandpatternsofchangesinfloralresourcesovertheentiregrowingseason.o Understandhowpollinatorcommunitieschangeinresponsetodifferencesandseasonalchangesinfloral
resourceavailability.o Useinformationacquiredondifferencesoffloralresourcesandpollinatorcommunitiesamonggrassland
typestodeveloprecommendationstoimprovefloralresourcesintallgrassprairiereconstructioneffortsandmanagementpracticesofexoticdominatedgrasslands.
Introduction:Recentlyaglobaldeclineinpollinatorshasbeenobserved.Nectarandpollenfromflowersareimportantresourceformanypollinatorsforpoweringflightandincreasingreproductivesuccess.ConservationofnativegrasslandpollinatorspeciesinIowareliesuponthepreservationofhighqualityhabitats,thereconstructionofnewhabitats,andthecarefulmanagementofnovelgrasslands(fallowfieldsandmoderatelymanagedpasturesdominatedbyexoticplantspecies).Thesethreetypesofgrasslandsdifferintheirfloralresourcecommunities.Hereweproposetomeasurethefloralresourcesavailableinthreetypesofgrasslandsnotonlyfromasingleorafewsnapshotsintimebutthroughoutthegrowingseason(spring‐fall),andobservethepollinatorcommunityoverfoursamplingrounds.Understandinghowthesehabitattypesdifferintheirfloralresourcesandseasonalavailabilityisanessentialstepindeterminingtheirutilityforpollinatorconservationandforrefiningstrategiesforreconstruction,restoration,andmanagementofhabitatforpollinators.Progress:
o Wehavecompleted4roundsofmeasuringnectarresourcesavailabletopollinatorsattwoweekintervals.
o Wearenearingcompletionofourfirstroundofbutterflytransectsandwillcompleteatleasttwomoreinthenexttwomonths.
o WehaveorderedsuppliesandfinalizedmethodologyforcollectingbeeandflowervisitingfliesinpantrapsandwillbeginsamplingLateJune2013.
FuturePlans:Wewillcompletesamplingofbutterfly,bee,andflowervisietyfliesinAugust2013.SamplingoffloralresourceswillcontinueintothefallandconcludesometimeinNovember2013.WewillbeginidentifyingsamplescollectedfrompantrapsbeginninginAugust2013.
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NortheasternIowaForestMonitoring PrincipalInvestigator: StephenJ.DinsmoreStudentInvestigator: 2undergraduatefieldtechniciansCollaborators: KatyReeder,IowaDNRDuration: 15April2013to30June2015FundingSource(s): IowaDNRGoalsandObjectives:o MonitorbreedingbirdswithMultipleSpeciesInventoryandMonitoring(MSIM)protocolstogaugeresponses
toforesthabitatmanagement.o MonitorbutterflieswithVisualEncounterSurveys(VES)togaugeresponsestoforesthabitatmanagement.
Iowawasawardedamulti‐statefederalgrantthroughtheCompetitiveStateWildlifeGrantsprogramtoimprovehabitatforopenwoodlandandsavanna‐associatedwildlifeonforestedWildlifeManagementAreasinNortheastIowa.Aspartofthiswork,theIowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(IDNR)committedtomonitoringbirdsandbutterfliesintheprojectareaaspartofastatematchforthegrant.Specifically,Iowacommittedtorestoring650acresofbluffprairie,savanna,andopenwoodlandhabitatonlandownedandmanagedbyIDNR.
STUDYAREA
Thestudyareaconsistsof16wildlifemanagementareas(WMAs)locatedinfivecounties(Allamakee,Clayton,Howard,Jones,andWinneshiek)innortheasternIowa(Figure1).Inaddition,areaswithina3‐milebufferofthoseWMAsmaybesurveyed,althoughthisisnotrequired.
BIRDMONITORING
BirdmonitoringwillfollowprotocolsestablishedaspartoftheMultipleSpeciesInventoryandMonitoring(MSIM)programofIDNR.Wewillplaceahexagonconsistingofsevenpointsspaced200mapart(orfewerpointsifthestandistoosmall)ateachproperty.Breedingbirdsarethefocusofmonitoring,sowewillconductaminimumof3visitstoeachpoint(moreiftimepermits).Ateachpointthetechnicianwillconducta10minutepointcountandrecordallbirdsseenorheardandplacethemintooneoffivedistancebins(0‐25m,25‐50m,50‐75m,75‐100m,and>100mfromthepoint).Countswillbeconductedduringacceptableweatherconditions(nofogorrain,wind<20km/hr[12mph])fromsunriseto4.5hoursaftersunrise.
BUTTERFLYMONITORING
Butterflymonitoringwillconsistofvisualencountersurveys(VES)andthecollectionofhabitatinformationassociatedwithsurveyedareas.AVEScanbeconductedanywhereonthepropertythatappearstobethebesthabitatforthetargetbutterflies(Table1).Ifanyofthetargetspeciesisfound,wewillrecordapointlocationusingahand‐heldGPSandprovideabriefdescriptionofthehabitat(Table2).WewillusethehabitatclassificationsidentifiedbytheIowaWildlifeActionPlan(Zohrer2006)andestimatetheproportionoftheareasurveyedintorelevanthabitattypes(Table2).WewillalsorecordaGPSlocationfortheapproximatemidpointofeachVESaswellasanystandinformationthatisavailable.Forotherbutterflyspecieswewillrecordonlythepropertynameandnumberofindividualsseen.Butterflysurveyswillbeconductedunderstandardizedweatherconditionsthatareconducivetoencounteringthetargetspecies.Allsurveyswillbeconductednoearlierthan10a.m.andendby6:30p.m.onanygivenday.Thetemperatureatthetimeofthesurveywillbebetween21°and35°C(70‐95°F)withwindslessthan15mph.Surveyswillbeconductedonmostlysunnydays.
Progress:TwofieldtechnicianswerehiredinMay2013andhavebegunthefirstseasonoffieldwork.
FuturePlans:MonitoringwillcontinuethroughsometimeinAugustof2013,andasecondfieldseasonwilloccurduringthesametimeframein2014.
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DevelopingaModeltoPredictCanadaGooseBreedingPairDensitiesintheMidwestUsingNationalWetlandsInventoryDataPrincipalInvestigator: RobertKlaverStudentInvestigator: BrennaTowery(M.S.)Collaborators: Duration: January2013toAugust2015FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(IDNR);
U.S.GeologicalSurveyIntroduction:MississippiFlywayCouncilstatesandprovinceshavebeendevelopingandrefiningmethodstoestimatethegiantCanadagoosepopulationsintheFlywaysince1993.Soundscience‐basedmanagementofgiantCanadageeserequiresmorepreciseestimatesofthebreedingpopulationsofthesebirdsinthestatesandprovinceswithresidentpopulations.ThesurveymethodologyhasevolvedascomputingtoolsandGISinformationhasimproved.ThesurveysconductedinIowaandsurroundingstatesindicatethatthekeytopreciselyestimatingtheCanadagoosebreedingpopulationinaregionistheaccuracyofthestratificationoftheuniverseofsurveyplots.BecausewenowhavearevisedandrefinedwetlandsinventoryforIowa(circa2002),aswellas5yearsofCanadaGooseobservationdata(fromaerialsurveysof1602mi2plots/year)thattiesalltheobservationsofgeese(singles,pairs,andgroups)tospecificwetlandsorstreams/riversonindividualsurveyplots,wecandevelopamodelthatwillpredicttheCanadagoosepopulationforeachsectioninthestatebasedonnumber,size,andtypesofwetlandsineachsection.GoalsandObjectives:InordertodevelopamodeltopredictgiantCanadagoosebreedingpairdensitiesinIowa,wewillfirstreclassifytheNWIdatabycreatingasystemthatissimplifiedandrelevanttouseofwetlandsbyCanadageese.Wewillalsodigitize5yearsofCanadagooseaerialsurveydatausingaGIS,identifyallsectionsinthestatewithpotentialCanadagoosenestinghabitat,andassignsectionstostratabasedontheirpredictednumbersofbreedingpairs.Inordertodeterminetheprecisionofthissurveymethodology,wewillalsoground‐truthaerialcountsofCanadageeseonplotswithhighdensitiesofbreedingpairsandcalculatevisibilitycorrectionfactorsifappropriate.Inaddition,wewilldeterminegiantCanadagoosenestsuccessatRiceLakeWildlifeManagementArea,andotherareaswherenestdensitieshavehistoricallybeenveryhigh.Progress:TheprocessofmodifyingtheNWIclassificationsystemisunderway,asisthedigitizingoftheaerialsurveydata.GiantCanadagoosenestswerelocatedandmonitoredatRiceLakeandElkCreekWildlifeManagementAreas(WMA),aswellasBigWallLakeduringthe2013springnestingseason.OnehundredCanadagoosenestswerefoundatRiceLakeWMA,with21nestshatched.Thedailysurvivalrate(DSR)ofnestsatRiceLakeWMAwas94%and,witha28daynestingperiod,theMayfieldestimateofnestsuccessis18%.Twenty‐nineCanadagoosenestswerefoundatBigWallLake,with18nestshatched.TheDSRofnestsfoundatBigWallLakewas97%,andtheMayfieldestimateofnestsuccessis43%.FuturePlans:Oncetheaerialsurveydatahasbeendigitizedandthewetlandclassificationsfinalized,modeldevelopmentwillcommence.AdditionallakeswillbesearchedforCanadagoosenestsinthe2014nestingseason.Detailsarestillbeingdiscussedconcerningwhichlakeswillbeadded.
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Conservation,HabitatUse,andGeneticDiversityofaTranslocatedPopulationofGreaterPrairie‐chickensinIowaPrincipalInvestigator: JenniferVogelCo‐PrincipalInvestigator: DianeDebinskiCollaborators: StephanieShepherd,IowaDNRDuration: 2013‐2016FundingSource(s): StateWildlifeGrant(IDNR,USFWS)GoalsandObjectives:o Evaluatethegeneticdiversityoftheexistingsmallpopulationofgreaterprairie‐chickensinIowaand
examinetheeffectsongeneticdiversityofsupplementingthecurrentpopulationwithtranslocatedbirds.o Developahabitatsuitabilitymodelandexaminehabitatuseforgreaterprairie‐chickensinIowa.Wewill
usecurrentsatellitelandcoverdataalongwithlocalscalehabitatdatatodevelopahabitatsuitabilitymodelforgreaterprairie‐chickensinIowa.
Progress:Genetics:Wecollected74bloodsamplesfromtranslocatedbirdsin2013.Wealsotookpossessionof48bloodsamplesthatwerecollectedfromtranslocatedbirdsin2012.LekSurveys:PrairiechickenleksurveyswereconductedweeklyfromMarch21,2013toApril27,2013.Wesurveyed4previouslyestablishedleksurveyroutesinIowaandweestablished2additionalleksurveyroutesinMissouri(surroundingDunnRanch).HabitatSurveys:Forthe3activeleksites,weestablisheda3kilometerradiusaroundeachlek.Withineach3kmbuffer,weobtainedshapefilescontainingcommonlandunit(CLU)polygonsasourunitofmeasurementforlocallevelhabitatsurveys.WeareevaluatingeachCLUpolygonwithinthe3kmbuffers.Forgrasslands,weareconductingvegetationsurveysthatincludemeasuringvisualobstructionanddeterminingvegetationcomposition.Telemetry:Weattached10ARGOSsatellite/GPStransmitterstofemaleprairie‐chickensinNebraskapriortotransport.AllofthebirdswithourtransmitterswerereleasedinIowabetweenApril3,2013andApril7,2013.WehavebeentrackinglocationdatawithweeklydownloadsfromtheARGOSsatellitesystem.AsofJune4,2013,themarkedbirdshavebeenlocatedin20CountiesinIowaand18CountiesinMissouri.FuturePlans:Wewillcontinuehabitatsurveysoftheareasaroundthe3activeleksfortheremainderofthe2013fieldseason,wewillcontinuetomonitorthelocationsofthebirdswithtransmitters,andwewillstarttoanalyzethedatafromthe2013fieldseasonthroughthefallandwinterof2013.
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DistributionandPopulationDynamicsofAsianCarpinIowaRivers PrincipalInvestigator: MichaelJ.Weber
ClayL.PierceStudentInvestigator: M.S.GraduateStudentCollaborators: KimBogenschutz,IowaDNR
JasonEuchner,IowaDNRDuration: July2013toJune2016FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(IDNR)GoalsandObjectives:o Evaluateadultpopulationcharacteristics(abundance,distribution,sizestructure)anddynamics
(recruitment,growth,mortality)ofAsiancarpamongselectIowarivers,includingtheMississippi,DesMoines,Skunk,Iowa,andCedarrivers
o EvaluateAsiancarpreproduction(fecundity,larvalandjuveniledensities)andrecruitmentinselectIowarivers,includingtheMississippi,DesMoines,Skunk,Iowa,andCedarrivers.
Introduction:Bighead(Hypophthalmichthysnobilis)andsilver(H.molitrix)carps(collectively,Asiancarp)arenon‐nativefishesthathaveinvadedtheMississippiandMissouririverbasins.Asiancarpcanreducezooplanktonassemblageswhichmayresultinnegativeinteractionswithnativefishes.ExtensiveresearchhasbeendevotedtowardsunderstandingAsiancarppopulationsintheIllinoisandlowerportionsoftheMississippiandMissouririvers.However,littleisknownaboutAsiancarppopulationsintributariesofthesesystems,includingthosethroughoutsoutheasternIowa.AsiancarpareknowntoinhabitlowerportionsoftheDesMoines,Iowa,Cedar,Skunk,andCharitonriversinIowa.However,itisnotknownwhethertheseareresidentormigrantpopulations,thebesttimeofyeartosamplethesepopulations,ifAsiancarparesuccessfullyreproducingandrecruitinginIowarivers,orfactorsregulatingdynamicratefunctionsofthesepopulations.ResourcemanagersandstakeholdersareconcernedthatAsiancarpwillfurthercontributetotheimpairedecologicalconditionsofIowa’saquaticresources.SuccessofAsiancarppopulationsinIowadependsontheabilityofadultstofindsuitableconditionsforreproduction(sustained,highflowvelocityduringspring).AmoredetailedevaluationoffactorsaffectingreproductionandrecruitmentinIowatributariesoftheMississippiRiverisneededtobetterunderstandAsiancarppopulationdynamicsinthesesystemsandpotentiallydevelopmanagementstrategiesfortheseinvasivefishes.Abasicunderstandingoffishpopulationdynamicsisessentialformanagementofanypopulation.Additionally,fecundity,ageatsexualmaturity,andspawningperiodicityprovideinsightintoreproductivepotential.Finally,informationonthespatialandtemporaldistributionofAsiancarplarvaewillhelptoidentifyadultspawningareas,determinereproductivecues,andcharacterizerelationshipsbetweenenvironmentalvariablesandsurvivaloflarvaeandjuveniles.Progress:Agraduatestudenthasbeenselectedandhastentativelyacceptedtheposition,pendingreceiptofsignedfundingaward.FuturePlans:ThegraduatestudentwillbeginworkinAugust2013.Reconnaissance,siteselection,andequipmenttestingwillbedoneAugust‐October2013.
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EvaluationofanelectricbarriertoreducewalleyeescapementPrincipalInvestigator: MichaelJWeberStudentInvestigator: NoneCollaborators: MarkFlammang,GeorgeScholten,IDNRDuration: April1,2013– July31,2013FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesGoalsandObjectives:o Evaluatethepotentialeffectivenessofanelectricbarrieratreducingwalleyeescapementfromreservoirs.
Laboratoryexperimentswereusedtocomparewalleyebehavior,escapement,andmortalityusingfourpulse(0,0.3,0.5,and0.8ms)andthreevoltage(0,60,and80V)settings.
IntroductionFishentrainmentthroughdams,hydroelectricprojects,orintocoolingwaterintakeshasbeenshowntohavenegativeimpactsonfishpopulations.InIowa,walleyeescapementfromRathbunLakecanapproach30%annuallywithanassociatedlargeeconomiccost.Section316(b)oftheCleanWaterActhasrequiredthat“besttechnologyavailable”beusedtominimizeadverseenvironmentalimpactsresultingfromoperationofcoolingwaterintakestructures.Thus,evaluationsofbarrierstoreducewalleyeescapementareneeded.Severaldifferenttypesofnonphysicalbarriershavebeenemployed,suchasconstantlight,strobelights,underwatersound,bubblecurtains,electricalcurrent,oracombinationoftheabove.Arecentbarrierevaluationfoundthatasound‐air‐lightbarrierwasminimallyeffectiveatreducingwalleyeescapement.Theuseofelectricbarriershasbeensuccessfulatreducingmovementoffishesforover60years.However,fewformalevaluationscurrentlyexistthatassesstheirabilitytosuccessfullydeterfishmovements.ProgressAlltrialshavebeencompletedatRathbunFishHatcheryanddataiscurrentlybeinganalyzed.Preliminaryresultssuggestthattheelectricbarrierwassuccessfulatreducingapproachesandincreasingdeflectionsofwalleyeswhenitwasactivated,suggestingfishavoidedthebarrier.Alteredbehaviorresultedinnearlyan80%reductioninescapement.However,pulsewidthandvoltagedidnotinfluenceescapementrates.Walleyemortalityrangedfrom0.5‐5.7%andwashighestatthehighestbarriersetting(0.8ms,80V).FuturePlans:CompletedataanalysisandwritefinalreportforIowaDNR.
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ContinuingProjects
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FunctionalAssessmentofMissouriRiverMitigationWetlandsinIowaPrincipalInvestigator: RolfR.Koford
DavidL.OtisStudentInvestigator: TylerGrant(Ph.D.)Collaborators: KarenKinkead,AngiBruce,IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources
NE,KS,MOStateagenciesanduniversitiesDuration: June2009toMay2014FundingSource(s): U.S.ArmyCorpsofEngineersGoalsandObjectives:o EvaluateherpetofaunahabitatfunctionofrestoredwetlandsintheMissouriRiverfloodplaino Relatespeciesresponsetomanagementpracticesandphysicalattributesofwetlandso Integrateresultsfromcomparablestudiesincollaboratingstatestoproducemodelstoinformadaptive
managementofexistingandfuturemitigationprogramsProgress:In2012,fieldworkwasconductedfromlateMarchtomid‐August.Thefloodof2011modifiedthelandscape,soacompleteassessmentofthewetlandswasconductedinMarch.Newwetlandsweremappedandaddedtothesurveyrotationandwetlandsfilledwithsedimentwereremovedfromtherotation.Theresulting82sitesrepresentedallthewetlandsinthestudyarea.TheMissouriRivermaintainednormallevelsin2012andfieldworkwascompletedasplanned.Sevencallsurveys,fivetadpolesurveys,andfivemetamorphsurveyswereconductedateachsite.Habitatsurveyswereconductedateachsitetwiceoverthesummer.Driftfencesinstalledbeforethefloodwereacompleteloss.New,lesspermanentdriftfenceswereinstalledattwonewscourholes.Severalspecieswerecapturedbutnobreedingoccurredinthesetwowetlands.TurtletrappingwasconductedfromJuly23toAugust10in8largewetlands/scourholes.Though139capturesweremade,recaptureswererareanditseemslikelythatamark‐recaptureanalysiswillnotbepossible.FuturePlans:Inthefinal2013fieldseason,fieldworkwillbeconductedasin2012.Inaddition,depthmeasurementsofaselectionofthewetlandswillbetakentodeterminehydrologyinrelationtotheriver.
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ComparisonofAmphibianHabitatSuitabilityInUSDACREPandReferenceWetlandsintheDesMoinesLobeofIowa PrincipalInvestigator: ClayL.PierceStudentInvestigator: RebeccaReeves(M.S.)Collaborators: ErinMuths,USGSFortCollinsScienceCenter
MarkVandever,USGSFortCollinsScienceCenterDuration: September2011toDecember2014FundingSource(s): U.S.GeologicalSurvey,FortCollinsScienceCenter,SSPGoalsandObjectives:o ThisprojectcomparesamphibianpopulationsinrestoredCREPandinreferencewetlandsintheDes
MoinesLobelandformofCentralIowa.Populationsizeisbeingestimatedforchorusfrogsandleopardfrogs(PseudacrismaculataandLithobatespipiens,respectively)andameasureofstressderivedfrommeasurementsoffluctuatingasymmetryisbeingdeterminedinleopardfrogs.Wearealsocomparingwaterqualityandanuranspeciesrichnessandcharacterizingthepresenceofparasites,predaciousfish,andemergentdiseasesintargetwetlands.
o Ourassessmentofdiseasesinwetlandswillfocusprimarilyonidentifyingtheprevalenceoftheamphibianchytridfungusinwetlands.Fluctuatingasymmetry,whichisanydifferenceinbilateralsymmetrybetweenpairedbodyparts,mayindicateexposuretoemergentdiseasesorotherenvironmentalstressors(e.g.poorwaterquality,parasites,predationetc.)andhasbeenfoundtobeagoodindicatorofoveralldevelopmentalstressinamphibians.Wearealsoinvestigatingthepresenceofpredaciousfishinwetlandsasitaffectsthespeciesrichnessandpotentialbreedingsuccessofseveralanuranspecies.
o Specifically,ourhypotheseswerethattherewouldbe:1)loweranuranspeciesrichness,2)smalleranuranpopulationsizesand3)increasedlevelsoffluctuatingasymmetryatsiteswithdecreasedwaterquality,predaciousfish,disease,andparasites.DuetothepresenceoftiledrainageoutflowinCREPwetlands,wealsopredictedthatwaterqualitywouldbelowerinCREPthaninreferencewetlands.
Introduction:Habitatloss,emergentdiseaseandchemicalcontaminantsareallfactorscontributingtorecentamphibianpopulationdeclines.Theeffectsofanthropogenicactivitiessuchasurbandevelopmentandagriculturemayhaveexacerbatedtheroleofthesefactors.TheConservationReserveEnhancementProgram(CREP)strategicallyrestoreswetlandsinlandscapelocationswheretheyprimarilyreceivesubsurfacetiledrainage,andaimstoreducenutrient(especiallynitrogen)concentrationsinsurfacewaters.However,thebenefitsofthisincreasedwetlandareaasamphibianhabitatmaybenegatedifthequalityofthewetlandsisinsufficienttosustainviableamphibianpopulations.OtherrestoredwetlandsareprevalentacrosstheDesMoinesLobeandgenerallyreceivesurfacewaterandtoalesserextentsubsurfaceflow.SimilartoCREPwetlands,these“reference”wetlandswererestoredfromagriculturaluseatonetimebutarenottypicallypositionedtoacceptsubstantialamountsoftiledrainage.Progress:Thisprojectisexaminingthesetwowetlandtypes(CREPandreference)inCentralIowa,andinvestigatingtheirabilitytosupportamphibianbiodiversity.Wearemeasuringcontaminantoccurrenceinwater,sedimentandfroglivertissue;pathogen(Batrachochytriumdendrobatidis(Bd))occurrence,andaquaticpredatoroccurrencetoassesstherelativequalityofthehabitatfornativeamphibians.Water,sedimentandlivertissuesamplesarebeinganalyzedfor100compounds,including36fungicides,27insecticides,23herbicidesand14degradationproducts.Wewillrelatethesemetricstoanuranspeciesrichness,thepopulationsizesofchorusandleopardfrogs(PseudacrismaculataandLithobatespipiens,respectively)andthelevelsorfluctuatingasymmetry,orvariationsfromexpectedbilateralsymmetry,inleopardfrogs.
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GeneticAnalysisofWhite‐tailedDeerPopulationStructureinIowa:IdentifyingPotentialPatternsandRatesofDiseaseSpreadPrincipalInvestigator: JulieBlanchongStudentInvestigator: LynneGardner(Ph.D.)Collaborators: Duration: July2011toJune2015FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesGoalsandObjectives:o ConductastatewideassessmentofdeerpopulationgeneticstructureinIowatodeterminethescaleof
spatialautocorrelationanddispersalratesamongsampledareasacrossthestate.o Determinethedegreeofgeneticconnectivitybetweenfree‐rangingdeerpopulationsinIowaandfree‐
rangingdeerpopulationsinstatesborderingIowawhereCWDhasbeendetectedinfree‐rangingand/orcaptivedeer.
Progress:White‐taileddeer(Odocoileusvirginianus)areavaluedresourceforhunters,forviewing,andforstaterevenue.Knowledgeofdeerpopulationstructurecanprovideinsightintoaspectsofdeerecology(e.g.,dispersal)thatareimportantformanagingpopulationsandunderstandingpotentialfordiseaseintroductionandspread.ThegoalofthisprojectistousegenetictechniquestocharacterizedeerpopulationgeneticstructureinIowaandotherMidweststateswithparticularattentiononthosewherechronicwastingdisease(CWD)hasbeendetectedincloseproximitytoIowa’sborders(e.g.,Illinois,Minnesota,Missouri,Nebraska,SouthDakota,andWisconsin).LynneGardner,aPhDstudent,beganworkonthisprojectinAugust2011.WorkthusfarhasfocusedonsecuringsamplesfromharvesteddeeracrossIowaandtheMidwestandestablishingprotocolsfortheproject,includingoptimizationofmicrosatellitemarkersforthestudy.Tothatend,wereceivedseveralthousanddeertissuesamplescollectedfortheIowaDepartmentofNaturalResource’s2009‐2010CWDsurveillanceeffortsandwillreceiveadditionalsamplesfromthe2011‐2012CWDsurveillanceprogram.Inaddition,weobtained~300deertissuesamplesfromtwocaptivecervidfacilitiesinIowa,andwillobtainadditionalsamplesfromCWD‐positivefacilitiesinthestate.Wereceived100deersamplesfromdeerharvestsintwourbancommunities,andanother100deersampleswillbesolicitedfromtwomoreurbancommunities.Thusfar,1,675deertissuesampleshavebeenreceivedfromeightstatesintheMidwest,includingIllinois,Indiana,Kansas,Minnesota,Nebraska,Ohio,NorthDakota,SouthDakota,andWisconsin,andweexpecttoreceivesamplesfromMissouri’s2012‐2013huntingseason.FuturePlans:Inwinter‐spring2013,wewillselectsamplesofdeerharvestedinareasoflow,medium,andhighdensityinIowa,andbegingenotypingthesesamplesat10microsatelliteloci.Insummer2013,wewillcontinuetogenotypesamplesfromdeerharvestedinIowa,andoptimizemitochondrialDNA(mtDNA)sequencingprotocolsandsequencethesesamples.Wewillcoordinatecollectionof100deerfromeachoftwoadditionalurbanareasduringthe2013‐2014huntingseason.Wewillusethegeneticdatacollectedfromwinter‐summer2013tocharacterizepopulationgeneticstructureinIowadeer,andcomparethescaleofgeneticstructureamongareasoflow,medium,andhighdeerdensity.Inthefuture,wewillquantifyandcomparegeneticdiversityandpopulationstructurebetweencaptiveandfree‐rangingdeerandbetweenurbanandruraldeerinIowa.WewillalsocharacterizegeneticconnectivitybetweendeerinIowaandseveralsurroundingMidweststates.
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LeadinSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeed:Free‐flyingBaldEaglesasIndicators PrincipalInvestigator: JulieBlanchong
StephenDinsmoreStudentInvestigator: WilliamReiter‐Marolf(M.S.)Collaborators: Duration: January2012toDecember2014FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources,StateWildlifeGrantGoalsandObjectives:o CharacterizeleadlevelsinnestingandwinteringBaldEaglesinIowaStateUniversityo Compareleadexposureinfree‐flyingeagleswitheaglesadmittedtorehabilitationcentersProgress:ThehighproportionofBaldEagles(Haliaeetusleucocephalus)withleadpoisoningreportedbywildliferehabilitationcentersandwildlifehealthmonitoringprogramshasraisedconcernaboutthemagnitudeandconsequencesofleadexposureinthisspeciesandotherbirdSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeed(SGCN).ThisstudyisexaminingthedegreetowhichavianSGCNarebeingexposedtoleadintheirdietsbyexaminingleadlevelsinraptorsandotherbirdsbroughttowildliferehabilitationcentersandinnestingandwinteringBaldEaglesinIowa.In2012,M.S.studentWilliamReiter‐Marolfandhistechniciannon‐invasivelycollectedfecalsamplesfromwinteringBaldEagleroostsandfrom110randomlyBaldEaglenestsitesinwinter(duringeggincubation)andagaininspring(wheneagletswere3‐9weeksofage).FiftynestswereincloseproximitytotheMississippiRiverand50weredistributedthroughouttherestofIowa.BloodandfecalsampleswerealsocollectedfromBaldEaglesadmittedto3rehabilitationcentersinIowa.AllsamplesweresenttotheIowaStateHygienicLabforleadtesting.Themajorityoftestingfor2012iscompleteandwehavebeguntosummarizeandanalyzethesedata.FuturePlans:Inspring2013,wewillcontinuetoanalyzethedatacollectedin2012.Wewillconductthe2013fieldseasoninasimilarmannertothatof2012.Specifically,fecalsampleswillbenon‐invasivelycollectedatnestsitesinwinterduringeggincubationandinspringwheneagletsare3‐9weeksofage.Fecalsampleswillalsobecollectedatwinteringeagleroosts.FecalandbloodsampleswillbecollectedfromeaglesandotherspeciesofSGCNthatareadmittedto3wildliferehabilitationcentersinIowa.AllsampleswillbesenttotheIowaStateHygienicLabforleadtesting.Moreformalstatisticalanalyseswillbeconductedfollowingthe2013fieldseason.
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TheUseofFireandGrazingtoImproveGrasslandHabitatsforSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeedPrincipalInvestigators: DianeM.Debinski JamesR.Miller(UniversityofIllinois)
LoisWright‐Morton DavidM.Engle(OklahomaStateUniversity)RyanN.Harr
StudentInvestigators: JohnDelaney(Ph.D.), TimLyons(Ph.D.,UI)CourtneyDuchardt(Ph.D.,UI) DerekScasta(Ph.D.,OSU)
Duration: August2010toJuly2013FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources,StateWildlifeGrantComp.GoalsandObjectives:o Wewilldevelopspecificguidelinesfornaturalresourcemanagersregardingtheuseoffireandgrazingto
enhancehabitatconditionsforSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeed(SGCN)andothergrassland‐dependentwildlifeintheGrandRiverGrasslandsonapproximately2500acres.
o WewillextendwhatislearnedonexperimentalpasturestonearbyprivatelandsbyincreasinglandownerknowledgeandskillsintheapplicationofrestorationpracticestoenhancehabitatconditionsforSGCNandothergrassland‐dependentwildlifewhilemaintaininggrazingandrecreationaluseson1800‐3000acres.
Progress:Thisprojectbuildsonanexperimentthatbeganin2006thatwasdesignedtocompareplant,insect,andbirdresponsestothreetypesofgrasslandmanagementinGrandRiverGrasslandsofsouthernIowa:1)patch‐burngraze,2)graze‐and‐burn,and3)burn‐only.Weareexaminingbird,butterfly,andvegetationresponsestoeachofthethreetreatmentsduringthesecondthree‐yearburncycleandthisprojectincorporatesasocialsciencecomponentfocusedonworkingwithlocalfarmerstoextendwhatislearnedonexperimentalpastures.Alltreatmentvariablesremainthesameasinthefirstthree‐yearburncyclewiththeexceptionofstockingrate,whichwasreducedin2010comparedtopreviousyears,andithasbeenmaintainedatthisreducedratesince2010.Twelvepastures,fourofeachtreatmenttype,serveasstudysitesinoureffortstoassesstheeffectivenessofpatch‐burngrazinginimprovinghabitatforgrasslandSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeed(SGCN).Pasturesrangeinsizefrom38to84acresandarelocatedattheIADNR’sRinggoldandKellertonWildlifeManagementAreas,onpropertiesownedbyTheNatureConservancy,onprivatepropertiesinRinggoldCounty,Iowa,andattheMissouriDepartmentofConservation’sPawneePrairiePreserveinHarrisonCounty,Missouri.Thethreetreatmentsaredefinedasfollows:1)patch‐burngraze:burningofspatiallydistinctpatcheswithinthepastureandfreeaccessbycattle,2)graze‐and‐burn:freeaccessbycattleandburningoftheentirepasture,and3)burn‐only:burningoftheentirepasturebutnograzing(typicalmanagementforprotectedlandsintheregion).Eachofthethreetreatmentsisburnedonathreeyearfire‐return‐interval.Patch‐burngrazeandgraze‐and‐burnpasturesarestockedannuallyfromMay1untilOctober1atanaveragerateof0.7animal‐unitmonthsperacre(thisstockingratebeganin2010).Burn‐onlypasturesarenotfenced.Nofertilizersorherbicideshavebeenappliedinthepasturesduringthestudy,andnochemicalswillbeappliedduringthecourseofthecurrentstudy.Weholdannualfielddaysforlandownersandweorganizeworkshopstoexplaintheuseoffireandgrazingforgrasslandmanagement.Wealsoconductin‐personinterviewstodocumentlandownerknowledge,attitudes,andwillingnesstolearnaboutandimplementconservationandrestorationmanagementpracticessuchasprescribedfireandgrazingontheirlands.FuturePlans:Ourresearchwillcontinueforonemorefieldseason,withdatacollectionandanalysisofplant,butterfly,andbirdresponsestotheprescribedfireandgrazingtreatments.Socialscienceapproacheswillalsocontinue,withthegoalofbuildingastronglandownergroupthatwillgrowanddevelopamanagementprogramoftheirown.Wewillworkwithlandownerstouseassessmenttechniquestocollectbaselinedatasetsontheirownpropertiesthatwillenablethemtotrackchangesintheirgrasslandsastheybegintoimplementrestorationpracticesoverthecomingyears.
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IowaMultipleSpeciesInventoryandMonitoring(MSIM)ProgramPrincipalInvestigator: StephenJ.DinsmoreStudentInvestigator: N/ACollaborators: KarenE.KinkeadIowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR)
TylerM.Harms,ResearchAssociate,IowaStateUniversityDuration: January2012toDecember2014FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources,StateWildlifeGrantGoalsandObjectives:o ConductMSIMsurveysonaminimumof113newpropertiesandupto26previouslysurveyedproperties.o EnsurecollecteddataareenteredintotheMSIMonlinedatabase.o SubmitcountyoccurrencerecordstotheappropriateIowaWAPtaxonomicsubcommittee.o ProvideadditionallyrequestedinformationtotheIWAPsubcommitteesandchangedatabaserecordsas
advised.o ThoroughlyreviewtheMSIMProgramin2014,basedontheinformationcollectedbetween2007and
2013.Progress:In2012wehiredaResearchAssociateII(TylerM.Harms)atIowaStateUniversitytohelpwithmanyaspectsofthisproject,especiallydataanalysesandpreparingpublicationsforthepeer‐reviewedliterature.Inadditionwehiredatotalof29seasonalfieldtechnicianstostafffivefieldcrewsthroughoutIowaandimplementedMSIMprotocolsatmorethan60sitesfrom2Aprilto31October2012.Duringthe2012surveyseason,weentered3,078surveysintotheMSIMdatabase.AtsurveyedpropertiesacrossIowa,wefound234speciesofbirds,34speciesofmammals,44speciesofreptilesandamphibians,58speciesoffish,13speciesoffreshwatermussels,87speciesofOdonates,and79speciesofbutterflies.WealsofoundtwoOdonatesthatwerenewrecordsforIowa.ThosespeciesweretheStreamCruiser(Didymopstransversa)andSpringtimeDarner(Basiaeschnajanata).Lastly,wepublishedashortnoteinArgiadocumentingseveralsignificantrecordsofOdonatesthatresultedfromMSIMsurveys.FuturePlans:Ourinitialfocuswillbetocompletedataentryfor2012andsubmitrecordsofrareoccurrencestotheappropriateIWAPtaxonomicsubcommitteesforreview.WearealsocontinuingtoworkonpublicationsarisingfromMSIMdata,includingonelookingatlandscapeeffectsonOdonatedistributionandanotherlookingatgrasslandbirds.In2013wewillcompletethefinalyearoffullfieldworkbyhiringcrewsatfivelocationsthroughoutIowatoimplementMSIMprotocolsat61sites.InterviewswilloccurinFebruary2013andfieldworkwillbegininearlyApril.
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ImpactofWindFarmsonBirdsandBatsinIowaPrincipalInvestigator: StephenJ.DinsmoreStudentInvestigator: MollyK.Gillespie(M.S.)Collaborators: KarenE.Kinkead,IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR)Duration: October2010toAugust2013FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources,StateWildlifeGrantGoalsandObjectives:o DocumentbirduseatwindfarmsitesinIowa.Iwillemploypointcountsanddistancesamplingtechniques
toprovideanassessmentofbirdcommunityresponsesatwindfarmsandpairedcontrolsites.Thiswillproduceameasureofcommunityresponse(speciesrichness)andspecies‐specificdensityestimatesasameansforcomparisons.[fieldworkfromMaytoJulyin2011and2012]
o Monitornestingsuccessofbirdsinresponsetoproximitytowindturbines.Iwilllocateandmonitornestsofoneormorecommonspecies(probablyDickcisselorRed‐wingedBlackbird)todetermineifnestsuccessisrelatedtoproximitytowindfarms.Theprobabilityofsuccessfullycompletinganestingattemptisanimportantdemographicparameterandwillbethemeansforcomparingresults.[fieldworkfromMaytoJulyin2011and2012]
o MonitorbatproximitytowindturbinesusingAnabattechnology.IwillplaceAnabatreceiversatwindfarmandcontrolsitestomonitorspeciescompositionandencounterfrequencyateachsite.Anabatsdonotallowindividualstobeidentified,soIwillrelyoncallencounterratesbyspeciesasameasureforcomparisons.[fieldworkfromMaytoJulyin2011and2012]
Progress:Objective1)DocumentbirduseatwindfarmsitesinIowa
The2012surveyseasonwentfrom1Juneto15July.Duringthisseasonwewereabletoconduct924pointcountsacrossthe3sites.Atthesepointswedetectedbirdsfromover47species.ThefivespeciesmostcommonlydetectedincludedKilldeer(625detections),VesperSparrow(627detections),Dickcissel(1014detections),Red‐wingedBlackbird(1870detections),andCommonGrackle(734detections).
Objective2)Monitornestingsuccessofbirdsinresponsetoproximitytowindturbines
Wemonitoredatotalof217Red‐wingedBlackbirdnestsduringtheincubationstageand191duringthenestlingstage.Nestswerefound250mfromtheturbinebaseoutto10kmfromaturbine.
Objective3)MonitorbatproximitytowindturbinesusingAnabattechnology
Batactivitywasmonitoredfrom5Junethrough5October2012ateightturbineandeightcontrolsitesinStoryCounty,Iowa.Thisresultedin510detectornightsacross48differentpointsinStoryCounty.Wethenusedanactivityindextodeterminethenumberof1‐minintervalswhichcontainedbatactivity(Miller2001),andthiswasthenconvertedtoafractionofminuteswithactivitytoaccountforchangesinsearcheffortoverthecourseoftheseasonassunsetandsunrisechanged.FuturePlans:In2013wewillcontinuedataanalysesandpreparetheresultsforpublicationinatleastthreepeer‐reviewedmanuscripts.MollyGillespiewillgraduateinspring2013.BytheendoftheyearafinalprojectreportandM.S.thesiswillbefinalizedandsubmitted.
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ReproductiveEcologyofWhite‐tailedJackrabbitsinCentralIowaPrincipalInvestigator: W.SueFairbanksCollaborators: PeterWolter,ISU;IowaDNR:ToddBogenschutz,MarkMcInroyDuration: June2010toMay2013FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources,WildlifeDiversitySmallGrants
ProgramGoalsandObjectives:o Toidentifynumberandtimingofbirthsoflittersinwhite‐tailedjackrabbitsincentralIowao Todeterminenumberofoffspringbornperlittero Toassesshabitatusebyfemalesandyoungoffspringo ToestimatesurvivalofyoungjackrabbitsProgress:Althoughwecaptured,opportunistically,threeyoungjackrabbitstheyearbeforethisstudybegan,allfromdifferentnests,wewereunabletofindanyyoungin2010,despiteradio‐trackingcollaredfemalesandconductingintensesearchesinfieldsoftheirhomeranges.Wehavecontinuedtotrackradio‐collaredmaleandfemalejackrabbitstosupplementthesamplesizefromapreviousstudy,forestimatingsurvivalrates.Inanattempttoprovideuseableinformationasanoutcomeofthisgrant,wearegatheringinformationontheoccurrenceofjackrabbitsacrossthestateofIowatocharacterize,usingGIS,thetypesoflandscapesinwhichremnantpopulationsstillexist.FuturePlans:WemetwithDNRandotherbiologiststopooldataonjackrabbitlocationsinthestate.Theselocationscomefromtheannualdeerspotlightingdata,Augustroadsidesurveys,road‐killedjackrabbitsobtainedforapreviouspopulationgeneticstudy,andbiologistandcitizenreportsofremnantjackrabbitpopulationsandsightings.WeareattemptingtoconvertthedataintoGISlocations(pointsorareas,dependingontheprecisionofthelocationdata),andevaluatethelikelihoodthatthelocationsrepresentincidentalordispersingindividualsvs.potentialremnantpopulations.WeexpecttheresulttobeamapofIowaindicatinglikelylocationsofremnantpopulations,whichmaybeusedtocharacterizeassociatedlandscapefeatures.Weexpecttheresultinginformationtoassistinfocusingeffortstolocateandmonitorremainingpopulationsofthisdecliningspeciesinthestate.
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UrbanFisheriesDevelopmentPlansinCentralIowa
PrincipalInvestigator: JosephE.MorrisStudentInvestigator: StevenJ.Konrady(M.S.)Collaborators: BenDodd,IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR);BarbGigar,IowaDNRDuration: February2012toApril2014FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources
GoalsandObjectives:o DeveloplistoflakesandpondsinpublicownershipnearincorporatedcitiesinninecountiesofCentral
Iowao Examinesocial,physical,chemical,andbiologicalcharacteristicsofthesitesandtheirrespective
watershedso Determinepotentialforsustainablefisherydevelopmentatselectedsiteso CreatelistofprioritysitesbasedonpotentialsinallcategoriesbyworkingwithDNRstaffo Determinemanagementneedsforprioritylakesanddeveloprestorationstrategieso Assistlocalareastakeholderswithfundingguidance
Progress:Alistoflakeswasdevelopedthroughtheuseofaerialimagery,mapping,andpubliclyavailableinformationoncityboundariesusingGISsoftwareandothertools.Additionalinformationwasgatheredthroughcontactswithcity,county,andotherlocalorganizations.AnongoingInstitutionalReviewBoard(IRB)approvedinterviewprocesswithmanagingorganizationsisbeingconductedtocapturedataonmanagerialsupportforpublicfishingandfisheriesdevelopmentatthesepotentialsites.Additionally,theseinterviewsattempttocapturethemanagers’opinionsonthelocalsupportforrestorationandimprovementofthewaterbodies.
Intotal,153lakeswereidentifiedthroughthisfirstpass.Stepsarebeingtakentonarrowthislisttoaworkablenumber,andthisprocesswillcontinuethroughthefollowingyears.CollaborationwithIowaDNR,NRCS,PolkCountySoilandWaterConservationDistrict,andothershasbeenestablishedforthisprocess.Severalmeetingswiththesecollaboratorshavebeenconductedtobothupdatethemonfindingsandinformthe“firstpass”prioritizationprocess.
WorkingwithGIStools,pondacreage,watershedboundaries,watershedlanduse,andotherpertinentinformationwasandisbeinggatheredformanyofthesitesnoteliminatedbytheestablishedmatrixforsiteselection.OrganizationintoaGISdatabaseisongoingandwillbeusedtofurthertheendgoalsoftheproject–managementplansforapproximately15sites.
Additionalworkwasappliedtowaterbodiestargetedbythestakeholders(IowaDNR,others)forimmediaterestorationactivitiesincluding:waterqualityassessment,watershedassessment,draftingofmanagementplans,andinformingmanagementorganizationsofoptionsandbestmanagementpractices.TheseprojectsincludeseverallakeswithactiveprojectsandfutureprojectsfundedbyboththeIowaDNRandothersourcesthroughvariousgrants.
FuturePlans:Applicationofthesiteselectionmatrixdevelopedinphaseoneofthisprojectwillbecontinuedasmoredataiscollectedinyeartwo.Thesummerof2013willseeanindepthfieldinvestigationof15+siteschosentogotothissecondstage.Arankingofthesesiteswillbedrafted,usingtheevaluationmatrix,andsubmittedtoaforementionedstakeholdersandcollaboratorsforfurtherreview.Afterconsultingwiththesepartiesamoreconcreteplanofworkwillbeestablishedtofinalizethenarrowedlisttoatop15sitelist.
Furtheranalysisofthetop15prioritysitesinCentralIowawillbeconductedtoassessneededmanagementandrestorationstrategieswiththegoalofestablishingormaintainingsustainablefisheriesatthesesites.ThesestrategieswillbeformulatedintoappropriatemanagementplansforthesitesandusedbythelocalgovernmentsandtheIowaDNRtoapplyforgrantfundingforimplementation.ThisworkisinconjunctionwiththeIowaDNR’smissiontoprovidequality,sustainablefisheriesforIowa’surbanareas.
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CompletedProjects
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PopulationDynamicsandDispersalofBobcatsinIowa
PrincipalInvestigator: WilliamR.ClarkStudentInvestigator: DawnReding(Ph.D.)Collaborators: ToddGosselink,IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources
AnneBronikowski,IowaStateUniversityDuration: July2006toDecember31,2012FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources
GoalsandObjectives:o Determinelocalhabitatselectionbybobcats,includinghomerangecharacteristicsanddispersalpatterns
inrelationtoforest,grassland,andagriculturallandandtheconfigurationofthesehabitatso Evaluatepopulationmonitoringtechniquesthatcanbereliablyandefficientlyusedtosurveybobcatsboth
atthelocalscaleandalsoacrossIowao DeterminedemographicratesofbobcatsinIowa,includingrecruitmentandsurvivalo EvaluategeneticsimilarityoftheIowapopulationinrelationtopotentialdispersallinkageswith
populationsinotherstates.
Progress:Duringthelastyearoftheprojectandourfocuswasonfinalpublicationofresults.Wecontinuedtorefineestimatesofsurvival,dispersal,andpopulationtrends.
ConclusionsandRecommendations:Analysesatboththescaleofthehomerange(Tuckeretal.2008,JournalofWildlifeManagement)andatthelandscapescale(Redingetal.2013LandscapeEcology)consistentlysupporttheconclusionthatforestcoverishighlyselectedbybobcatsbutalsothattheinterspersionofforestswithperennialgrasslandsisimportanttobothresidentanddispersingbobcats.DespiteobservingtheinfluenceofhabitatheterogeneityonmovementbehaviorthroughIowa'slandscape,wedidnotdetectaneffectoflandscapeconfigurationonfine‐scalegeneticstructure(Redingetal.2013).ButattheregionalscaleoftheMidwest,theexpanseoftherowcropagricultureisasignificantlimitationtoresidenceanddispersalofbobcats(Objective1)
Thebowhunterobservationsurvey(BOS)hasproventobeareliableandefficientwaytosurveybobcatsandothercarnivoresacrossthestate(Lindeetal.2012,JournalofWildlifeManagement).ModelsofrelativeBOSabundanceatthecounty‐levelandHUC12watershedscaleledtothesameconclusionthatbobcatsarepresentandabundantwhereperennialgrasslandhabitatisinterspersedwithpatchesofforests.Hardedgebetweenforestandcroplandwasnegativelyrelatedtoabundanceandbrushyedgeassociatedwithcottontailabundancewaspositivelyrelated.(Objective2)
Basedonnearly1200carcassesofbobcatslittersizeaveraged3.2kittensandpregnancyratepeakedat83%of3‐year‐oldfemales.Agestructurebasedontoothsectioningindicatesthatonlyabout10%ofthepopulationisgreaterthan4yearsold.Estimatesofsurvivalderivedfromradiotelemetryaresomewhatgreaterandsurprisinglysuggestthatannualsurvivalof1and2agedbobcats(77%)exceedsthatof3‐5agedanimals(60%).WeestimatedthatthebobcatpopulationinIowaisgrowing1.09peryear(CI0.99‐1.19).(Objective3)
AnalysesindicatethattherecentregionalexpansionofbobcatsintoIowahascomefromthestatesimmediatelytothesouthandwest.ButanalysisofbothnuclearandmitochrondrialDNAcollectedacrossthenationrevealedamajorphylogeographicbreakbetweenbobcatsintheeasternversuswesternUnitedStateswithatransitionzoneoccurringalongtheGreatPlains.ThesetwobasiclineagesapparentlywereseparatedduringthetimeofPleistoceneglaciation.Thegreaternumberofsubpopulationsonthelandscapethatwasdelineatedbythenuclearmarkerswithinsomeregionsofthecontinentistheresultofvariationthathasarisenmorerecently.Thislandscapegeneticvariationislargelytheresultofanthropogenicchangesinhabitatandpopulationlevelsinthelast200years,e.g.conversionoftheCornBelt,andhasbeensuperimposedonthelongertermevolutionarypatterns(Redingetal.2012,MolecularEcology).(Objective4)Collectivelythedatasuggestthatnotonlyhavebobcatpopulationssuccessfullyre‐colonizedIowabutthatpopulationsaresufficienttomaintainalimitedharvestseason.
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IowaBreedingBirdAtlasprojectcompletionPrincipalInvestigator: StephenJ.DinsmoreStudentInvestigator: N/ACollaborators: KarenE.Kinkead,IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR)Duration: April2012toDecember2012FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesGoalsandObjectives:o Completebreedingbirdatlasworkongrid‐basedblocksduringthe2012fieldseason.o Completedataentryforallblocksvisitedduringthe2012fieldseason.Progress:Insummer2012wehiredsevenfieldtechnicians(fourfortheentireseasonandthreetocompleteasmallnumberofremainingblocksinAugust)toassistwiththecompletionofthesecondIowaBreedingBirdAtlasproject.Results:Duringthe2012breedingseasonforbirds,theteamofatlasershelpedcompleteallgrid‐basedBBAblocksinIowa(thiswasaccomplishedinlateJuly).Aftermeetingtheoriginalobjectiveofthisproject,theBBAsteeringcommitteecameupwithrevisedblockcompletionguidelines(usingratiosofconfirmedtototalspecies,overallpercentconfirmed/probablestatus,etc.).ThesenewguidelinescreatedadditionalworkfortheBBAtechnicians,whichtheywerealsoabletocompletebytheendoftheproject.Collectively,thesetechnicianscompletedmorethan1450hoursofatlasworkandentereddataformorethan13,000records,allofwhichwascriticalforprojectcompletion(Table1).TheIowaBBAsteeringcommitteeisnowworkingtowardsa2013bookpublicationsummarizingtheatlas’results.Table1.EffortandproductivitydataforsevenISUtechnicianshiredtoassistwiththesecondIowaBreedingBirdAtlasproject,2012.CO=ConfirmedbreedingrecordsandPR=Probablebreedingrecords.
Tech StartDate BlockVisits TotalHoursCO/PRSpecies
RecordsTomSchilke 5/29/2012 156 429.63 1869WaltZuurdeeg 5/29/2012 133 397.07 689ClaudetteSandoval‐Green 5/29/2012 53 139.86 130TuckerLutter 5/29/2012 95 280.40 1508CoreyLange 8/1/2012 37 106.91 676JamieBalk 8/1/2012 15 49.80 109RachelSimmons 8/10/2012 15 55.15 417
Totals 504 1,458.82 5,398
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BestManagementPracticesforHybridStripedBassCulturePrincipalInvestigator: JosephE.MorrisStudentInvestigator: JamesWamboldt(M.S.)Collaborators: AlanJohnson,IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR)
JayRudacille,IowaDNRDuration: June2010toNovember2012FundingSource(s): IowaDNRGoalsandObjectives:o Performliteraturesearchonextensively‐rearedhybridstripedbass(HSB)andreviewpasthatchery
recordstodeterminerelationshipsbetweenrearingtechniques,survival,andwaterquality.o IdentifybestmanagementpracticesformovementofhybridstripedbassfrytoIowa’shatcheries.o Identifybestmanagementpracticesforculturinghybridstripedinplastic‐linedandearthenpondsinIowa.o Compile,analyze,andpublishinfederalaiddocumentsandappropriatejournalsthebestmanagement
practicesforrearinghybridstripedbassinearthenandplastic‐linedpondsProgress:Inadditiontothefieldportionofthisstudy,wealsoconductedaHybridStripedBassSurveyin2011.ThesurveywassenttohatcheriesthroughouttheUSwithquestionspertainingtophysical,chemical,biological,andlogisticalcomponentsofHSBproduction.Thegoalofthissurveywasto1)identifyexistingproductionpractices,2)examinethesuccessofeachtechnique,and3)determinethebestmanagementpracticesforculturingphase‐IandIIHSBinIowahatcheries.Surveyresultswerecompiledandcomparedtovaluespublishedinliterature.Thisinformation,aswellaspreviousproductionexperienceatMt.Ayr,wasusedtoguideourHSBcultureoperationsstartingin2011and2012..The2012cultureseasonfocusedonthreeexperimentalstudies.Inthefirststudy,wetestedthedifferenceinproductionoftwodifferentcrossesofhybridstripedbass(palmettoandsunshinebass)inplastic‐linedpondsattheRathbunResearchFacility.Similarto2011,thesecondstudyfocusedontheneedoforganicfertilizersinearthenpondsattheMt.AyrHatchery.However,the2012studyatMt.Ayrhadagreaterstockingdensitiesandadifferenthybridstripedbasstaxathanin2011.ThethirdstudywasconductedattheISUhorticulturestationandfocusedondetermininganappropriatestockingdensityforhybridstripedbassinearthenponds.PalmettobasswereflowninfromKansasonMay15whilesunshinebasswereshippedinfromKeo‐FishFarms,ARtwodayslater.Frywerestockedat160,000/acre,4‐6daysafterpondfloodingatboththeMt.AyrandRathbunfacilities.StockingdensitiesattheISUhorticulturestationwere80,000/acreand160,000/acre.DuetohighammonialevelswithinISUsourcewater,webeganfillingponds8dayspriortostockinginanattempttodissipateaccessammonia.Althoughthereisstillaquestionconcerningwhetherornotthereareproductiondifferencesbetweenpalmettoandsunshinebass,resultsfromthe2012cultureseasonindicatethatsunshinebassmaygrowlongerandheavierduringphaseI.However,increasedgrowthratesduringphaseIislikelyattributedtohighermortalityratesofthesunshinebass.BecausebothcrossesofhybridstripedbassperformedsimilarlyduringphaseIculture,otherconsiderations,suchasfryorbroodstockavailabilityorpost‐stockingsurvivalandgrowthofjuvenilesandadults,maydictatewhichcrosstheIDNRchoosestocultureforsportfisheryenhancement.FundingtocompletethisstudywasremovedpriortodataanalysisoftheMt.AyrHatcheryexperiment;excessiveammoniawithinISUsourcewaterresultedinallfishbeinglostduringthestockingdensitystudy.Wehypothesizethathighammoniawithinourwellwaterisdirectlylikenedtolocaldroughtconditions.Withouttheabilitytoremoveammoniafromthewateralongwithsimilardroughtconditionsforecasted,futureresearchisonholdwithinISUponds.ConclusionsandRecommendations:Finalanalysesofthe2012cultureseasonwillbecompletedin2013withrelatedpublicationspublished.
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EffectsofIntroducedCommonCarpandInvadingZebraMusselsonWaterQualityandtheNativeBiologicalCommunityofClearLake,IowaPrincipalInvestigator: ClayL.Pierce
TimothyW.StewartStudentInvestigator: MichaelE.Colvin(Ph.D)Collaborators: JoeLarscheid,IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR)
JimWahl,IowaDNRDuration: May2007–June2012FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesGoalsandObjectives:o Developalakeecosystemmodel,anassociatedcarppopulationdynamicsmodel,monitorbiological
populationsandwaterquality,andevaluatemanagementstrategiesforClearLake,Iowa
Progress:Alldatahavebeenacquired,processedandenteredintoadatabase.Atechnologytransferworkshopwasheldtodemonstratethecarpbiomassdynamicsmodel(CarpBioDyn)andtheClearLakeEcosystemSimulationModel(CLESM)toIowaDNRemployees.Afinalreportwassubmitted.Twoarticlestitled“Strategiestocontrolacommoncarp(Cyprinuscarpio)populationbypulsedcommercialharvest”,and“Semi‐discretebiomassdynamicmodeling:animprovedapproachforassessingfishstockresponsestopulsedharvestevents”havebeenpublishedintheNorthAmericanJournalofFisheriesManagementandtheCanadianJournalofFisheriesandAquaticSciences,respectively.Twoadditionalmanuscriptstitled“Commoncarp,zebramussels,andthefoodwebofClearLake,Iowa:consequencesofnon‐nativespeciesforlakerestorationandtherecreationalfishery”,and“Asimulationapproachtoevaluatepotentialnon‐nativespeciesimpactsonwaterqualityandfisheryyieldinashalloweutrophiclakeundergoingrestoration”,areinpreparationforsubmissiontoEcologicalModeling.Twoadditionalmanuscripts,asyetuntitled,describingthebiologicalcommunitiesoverthecourseofthestudyarealsoinpreparation.
ConclusionsandRecommendations:Wefoundthataccountingfordiscretefishharvestusingasemi‐discretebiomassdynamicsmodelreducedparameterbiasandrecommendthisapproachforfutureapplicationswhendiscretefishharvestisoccurring,suchaswhenemployingcommercialfisherstoremovenon‐nativespecieslikecommoncarp.Usingthisapproach,wefoundthatthecarppopulationinClearLakewasincreasingandthatcurrentlevelsofcommercialharvestwereinsufficienttosuppressbiomass.Aframeworktoassesstheminimumamountofharvestneededtomaintaincontrolofcommoncarpbiomasswaspresented.
Foodwebanalysisrevealedapotentialimpedimenttowaterqualityimprovement.Zooplanktonpredationbyabundantage0yellowbassmayhindertopdownregulationofphytoplanktonbiomass.Basedonmass‐balanceestimates,age0yellowbasswereestimatedtoconsumeupto50%ofzooplanktonproduction.Therecentinvasionofzebramusselwasshowntoreducephytoplanktonpopulations,likelycompensatingforreducedzooplanktonabundance.Commoncarpfoodwebimpactswerelowerthanexpected,duetoabundantbenthicfoodresources.
InthefullClearLakeEcosystemSimulationModel(CLESM),simulatedchangesincommoncarpbiomasshaddramaticeffectsonwaterqualityandrecreationalfisheryyield.Thiseffectwasduetoincreasedsuspendedsedimentreducingwatertransparency,whichinturnlimitedphytoplanktonproduction.Thisalsolimitedanyeffectofzebramusselsonwaterqualitybylimitingfoodresources(i.e.,ediblephytoplankton).
Resultssuggestthatin‐lakeprocessesareasignificantdeterminantofwaterqualityandrecreationalfisheryyield.Controllingcommoncarpbiomasswillbecriticaltoachievewaterqualitygoalsandminimizeadverseeffectsonrecreationalfisheryyield.Therecentinvasionofzebramusselswilllikelypositivelyaffectwaterclarity;howeverthiswillbelimitedbycommoncarp.Withcommoncarpbiomasscontrolled,zebramusselscanbeexpectedtoclearthewatercolumn;howeverthiswillreducepelagicprimaryproduction,andrequireconsumerstoshifttofeedingonbenthicfoodresources.
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FishSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeedinIowa’sNonwadeableRivers:Distribution,RelativeAbundance,andInfluencesfromPotentialMovementBarriersPrincipalInvestigators: MichaelQuist
ClayPierceStudentInvestigator: TimothyParks(M.S.)Collaborators: GregoryGelwicks,GregSimmons,andThomasWilton;IowaDepartmentof
NaturalResources(DNR)Duration: January2010toSeptember2012FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesGoalsandObjectives:o DescribethedistributionsoffishspeciesofgreatestconservationneedinIowa’snonwadeablerivers.o Evaluatetheinfluenceofpotentialmovementbarriersandanthropogenicstressorsonfishdistributionsin
Iowa’snonwadeablerivers.o DetermineeffectsofdamsandinstreamhabitatcharacteristicsonfishassemblagestructureinIowa’s
nonwadeableriversProgress:Inaddressingthefirstobjective,weassessedthehistoricchangesinfishdistributionsandfishassemblagestructure.Changesinfishdistributionweredeterminedbycomparingspeciesoccurrencesbetweenahistoricandcontemporaryassessmentperiodsinmainstemportionsoffivefocalriversystems.Changesinthedistributionof126specieswerejudgedusingiterativeresamplingmethodsandshiftsinspeciescompositionweredeterminedusingmultivariateapproaches.Asexpected,ourresultsindicatedobvioustemporalchangesinfishassemblagestructure.Themagnitudeofthesechangesvariedbothwithinandamongriversystems.FishassemblagesintheDesMoines,Iowa,andCedarriversexhibitedsignificanttemporalchangeinspeciescomposition;whereasthefishesshowedlittlechange(i.e.,potentialpersistence)WapsipiniconRiverandinconclusivechangesintheMaquoketaRiver.WiththeexceptionoftheMaquoketaRiver,thehighestvaluesofspeciesturnoverwereemphasizedinlowerriverreachesshowingconnectivitytotheMississippiRiver.Comparedtootherrivers,thefishassemblagesintheDesMoinesRivershowedthemostdecline(~50%ofitsspecies).Speciesthathavedeclinedwereprimarilycharacterizedasbackwater‐phytophilicspeciesandfluvialspecialistsacrossriversystems;whereas,speciesexhibitinganexpandedoccurrencewereprimarilymacrohabitatgeneralists.Insightsfromthisresearchcanaidinre‐evaluatingtheconservationstatusofIowa’sriverinefishspeciesaswellasreprioritizingmonitoringandrehabilitationeffortsneededinspecificriverinehabitats.ConclusionsandRecommendations:ThelasttwoobjectiveswereaddressedwhenevaluatingenvironmentalinfluencesonfishassemblagestructureintheCedarandIowarivers.Specifically,weevaluatedtherelativeimportanceofenvironmentalcharacteristicsmeasuredatmultiplespatialscales[e.g.reach‐scale,intermediate‐scale(dams),andlandscape‐scale].Comprehensivefishassemblageandenvironmentaldatawerecollectedfrom33samplereachesintheCedarandIowariversandanalyzed.Associationswereidentifiedbetweenfishassemblagestructure(taxonomicandfunctionaldescriptors)andenvironmentalvariablesusingcanonicalcorrespondenceanalysis(CCA)foreachgeartypeandassemblagedescriptor.PartialCCAsindicatedthatfishassemblagestructurewasexplainedbyreach‐scalehabitatcharacteristicsin11modelsanddam‐relatedandlandscapescalecharacteristicsin9models.Despitetheinfluencefromdamsandthelandscape,reach‐scalehabitatcharacteristicsexplainedthemostfishassemblagevarianceinthemajorityofthemodels.Meanannualdischargeandpercentageofshorelinerip‐rapwereamongreach‐scalevariablesthatexplainedhighestproportionsoffishassemblagevariation.Inparticular,spatiotemporaldynamicsofdischargeexplainedlifehistoryvariationdescribedinriverreaches.Despitetheimportanceofreach‐scalehabitat,damsandthelandscapeaccountedforconsiderableamountsofvariationinfishassemblagestructure.Specifictaxonomicandfunctionalpatternswereexplainedconsistentlybymainstemfragmentlengthanddistancetodownstreamimpoundment.Additionally,severalspeciesdisplayedpatternstruncatedoccurrence(eightintheCedarRiverand11speciesintheIowaRiver)belowdamsindicatingthatdamsoperateasbarrierstodispersal.Findingsfromthisstudyfurtherdescribehowfishassemblagesrespondtobothnaturalandanthropogenicfactors,whichoffernewconsiderationsformeasurementsofbiologicalintegrityandfordiscerningimportanthabitatsneededtoconservefunctionalfishassemblages.
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OccurrenceandAbundanceofTopekaShinersinWest‐CentralIowa PrincipalInvestigators: ClayL.Pierce,MichaelC.QuistStudentInvestigator: BryanBakevich(M.S.)Collaborators: DarylHowell
GregGelwicks,IowaDNRDuration: August2009toSeptember2012FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources,EndangeredSpecies
U.S.GeologicalSurvey,ScienceSupportPartnership(SSP) Goals and Objectives: o Describethedistributionandoccurrence(i.e.,presence‐absence)ofTopekashinersinwest‐centralIowao EstimatethedensityofTopekashinersinwest‐centralIowao Describeanddefineabioticfactors(i.e.,physicalandchemicalhabitat)andbioticinteractions(i.e.,
predators,competitors)associatedwiththeoccurrenceandabundanceofTopekashinersinIowawaters.
Progress:Allprojectobjectiveswerecompleted,afinalreportwassubmitted,andthreemanuscriptsarebeingsubmittedforpublication.ConclusionsandRecommendations:Fishassemblagesandhabitatcharacteristicsweresampledin67streamand27off‐channelsitesduring2010–2011.Topekashinerswerefoundin52%ofoff‐channelsites,butonly9%ofstreamsites,supportingthehypothesisthatoff‐channelhabitatsareanimportantcomponentoftheirlifehistory.Whencomparedtopriordistributions,ourresultsindicatedarecentreductioninthedistributionofTopekashinersinIowa.Fishassemblagesinstreamsitesdifferedsignificantlyfromoff‐channelsitesandhadhigherspeciesrichness.FishassemblagescontainingTopekashinerweredifferentfromthosethatdidnotcontainTopekashinerinoff‐channelsites,butnotinstreamsites.ResultsfromlogisticmodelssuggestedthatTopekashinerpresencewasassociatedwithincreasedsubmergedvegetationandabundanceoffatheadminnowPimephalespromelas.Contrarytothefindingsofotherstudies,theabundanceoflargepiscivorousfisheswasnotassociatedwiththeoccurrenceofTopekashiner.OurresultsprovidenewinformationaboutthebiologyandlifehistoryofTopekashinersinwest‐centralIowathatwillguiderestorationandotherrecoveryefforts.
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TestingtheUseofPatch‐BurnGrazingtoProvideHabitatforSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeedPrincipalInvestigators: DianeM.Debinski
DavidM.Engle(OklahomaStateUniversity)RyanN.Harr
PostdoctoralAssociate: RaymondMoranz,IowaStateUniversity Duration: October2010toSeptember2012FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR),StateWildlifeGrantGoalsandObjectives:o Conductcontrolledexperimentstotesttheeffectsofpatch‐burngrazingonspeciesdistributionpatternsof
butterflytaxaintheGrandRiverGrasslands.o Quantifytheresponseofgrassland‐obligateandSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeed(SGCN)butterflies
tochangesinvegetationstructureandcomposition.
Progress:Thisprojectbuiltonanexperimentthatbeganin2006thatwasdesignedtocompareplant,insect,andbirdresponsestothreetypesofgrasslandmanagementinGrandRiverGrasslandsofsouthernIowa:1)patch‐burngraze,2)graze‐and‐burn,and3)burn‐only.Itfocusedonexaminingbutterflyresponsestoeachofthethreetreatmentsduringthesecondthree‐yearburncycle.Alltreatmentvariablesremainedthesameasinthefirstthree‐yearburncyclewiththeexceptionofstockingrate,whichwasreducedin2010comparedtopreviousyears.Twelvepastures,fourofeachtreatmenttype,servedasstudysitesinoureffortstoassesstheeffectivenessofpatch‐burngrazinginimprovinghabitatforgrasslandSpeciesofGreatestConservationNeed(SGCN).Pasturesrangedinsizefrom38to84acresandwerelocatedattheIADNR’sRinggoldandKellertonWildlifeManagementAreas,onpropertiesownedbyTheNatureConservancy,onprivatepropertiesinRinggoldCounty,Iowa,andattheMissouriDepartmentofConservation’sPawneePrairiePreserveinHarrisonCounty,Missouri.Thethreetreatmentsweredefinedasfollows:1)patch‐burngraze:burningofspatiallydistinctpatcheswithinthepastureandfreeaccessbycattle,2)graze‐and‐burn:freeaccessbycattleandburningoftheentirepasture,and3)burn‐only:burningoftheentirepasturebutnograzing(typicalmanagementforprotectedlandsintheregion).Eachofthethreetreatmentswasburnedonathreeyearfire‐return‐interval.Patch‐burngrazepasturesandgraze‐and‐burnpastureswerestockedannuallyfromMay1untilOctober1atanaveragerateof0.7animal‐unitmonthsperacrebeginningin2010.Burn‐onlypastureswerenotfenced.Nofertilizersorherbicideswereappliedinthepasturesduringthestudy.ConclusionsandRecommendations:Since2007,thedegradedgrasslandremnantshavebecomemoresimilartothehighqualityremnants,bothwithrespecttothevegetationandthebutterflycommunities.NumerousyearsofintensegrazingpriortoourtreatmentswereprobablymoreresponsiblethanfirehistoryforthelownumbersofSGCNbutterfliesinthesesites.Thus,thereductionofstockingrateisprobablythelargestfactorcontributingtotherecoveryofthesepastures.ThetrendinSGCNbutterfliesobservedwithinourstudypastureshasshownimprovementovertime.OnlyoneSGCNbutterflyspecies(regalfritillary)wasseeninourexperimentalpasturesfrom2007to2009,whereasfourSGCNbutterflyspecieswereobservedduring2010to2012(regalfritillary,two‐spottedskipper,zebraswallowtail,andEdwards’hairstreak).Inaddition,threeotherSGCNbutterflieswereobservedinthevicinityofourexperimentalpasturesduring2010‐2012(wildindigoduskywing,zabulonskipper,andbyssusskipper).Twoofthemostabundantprairie‐specialistbutterflyspecies(commonwoodnymphandregalfritillary)appeartoberesilienttonegativeeffectsofdormant‐seasonfireinthissystemandwiththeappropriatelandscapecontext(i.e.,substantialamountsofunburnedhabitatremainingwithin300mofpatchboundaries).Wehypothesizethatlandscapecontext(i.e.,theamountofgrasslandsurroundingaparticularsite)shouldbeconsideredwhendevelopingburnplansbecauseaprairiespecialist(Edwards’hairstreak)mighthavebeenextirpatedfromagraze‐and‐burnsitein2012duetoalarge,completeburn.Althoughthismaybeconsideredweakevidenceofcausality,takingaprecautionaryperspectivewithfireandSGCNbutterfliesisadvisable.
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Beforeconductingthisstudy,wehypothesizedthatwewouldfindgreaterpatchcontrastwithinpatchburn‐grazetractsattributabletolowerstatureinthemost‐recentlyburnedpatchandgrazeravoidanceoftheunburnedpatches.Secondly,wehypothesizedthatgreaterpatchcontrastwouldleadtogreaterabundanceofprairiesensitivebutterfliesinpatch‐burngrazepastures.However,during2010‐2012wefoundlittledifferenceinpatchcontrastamongthethreetreatmentgroups.Thismayaccountfortheless‐than‐positiveresponseweobservedwithrespecttobutterflyabundancewithinthepatch‐burngrazetreatment.Inessence,wewerenotabletotestthepatch‐contrasthypothesis.Pre‐treatment(2006)valuesofvegetationcharactersremainedimportantpredictorsofbutterflyabundancein2010‐2012,evidenceoftheimportanceofland‐uselegacies.Commonwoodnymphabundancewaspositivelyassociatedwithproportionofnativeplantcover.Regalfritillaryabundancewaspositivelyassociatedwithgrasscoverwithin300moftheperimeterandnegativelyassociatedwithpre‐treatmenttimesincefire.Post‐treatmentvegetationvariablesassociatedwithabundanceofcommonwoodnymphsincludedvegetationheight(positiveeffect)andtallfescuecanopycover(negativeeffect).Forregalfritillaryabundancethesevariablesincludedvegetationheightandwarm‐seasongrasscover(bothwithpositiveeffects)andtallfescuecover(negativeeffect).Fromthevegetationperspective,thegreatestdifferencebetweenremnantanddegradedsiteswasinthecoveroftallfescue,whichwasmuchmoreabundantondegradedsites.Ourrecentanalyseshavealsospecificallyhighlightedthesignificanceofbutterflymilkweed(Asclepiastuberosa)asapreferrednectarsourceforseveralSGCNbutterflies.Thisnectarsourcehasoccurredinrelativelylowdensity,butappearstobeincreasingovertimeinpastureswheregrazingintensityhasbeenreduced.Itwillbeanimportantspeciestomonitorinthefutureandinthecontextofeachofthemanagementtreatments.WerecommendAsclepiastuberosaasakeyindicatorplantspeciestomonitorinassessinggrasslandrecovery.Themonitoringiseasyandstraightforwardgiventheshowynatureofitsinflorescence.
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DevelopingBenchmarksofBiologicalIntegrityforIowaLakeandReservoirRestorationSuccessPrincipalInvestigator: MichaelQuist
JohnDowningStudentInvestigator: JesseFischer(Ph.D.)Collaborators: MichaelMcGhee,GeorgeAntoniou,JosephLarscheid,GeorgeSchoelten,
RandallSchultzDuration: January2008toDecember2012FundingSource(s): IowaDepartmentofNaturalResourcesGoalsandObjectives:o Toprovideecologicalbenchmarksoflakeandreservoirrestorationthroughanintegrated,
interdisciplinaryapproachcombiningmeasuresofmacroinvertebrateandfishassemblages,andwaterquality.
Progress:SixwaterbodiesrepresentingawiderangeoftrophicconditionsinIowaweresampledseasonallyin2008withmultiplegears(i.e.,seines,benthictrawls,fykenets,gillnets,electrofishing)todeterminestandardsamplingprotocolsforfuturesampling.Atotalof43fishspeciesand61,293individualsweresampledin2008acrossallseasonsandgears.Probabilitiesofspeciesdetectionindicatedstrongselectivitiesandseasonaltrends.Theevaluationoftotalspeciesrichnessandthetotalnumberofindividualssampledusingmultiplegearcombinationsdemonstratedthatappreciablebenefitsoverrelativelyfewgears(e.g.,threetofour)usedinoptimalseasonswerenotpresent.Ourresultsindicatedthatthecharacterizationoflenticfishassemblageswashighlyinfluencedbytheselectionofsamplinggearsandseasons,butdidnotappeartobeinfluencedbywaterbodytype(i.e.,naturallake,impoundment).Methodsestablishedfromfishsamplingin2008wereusedtosample39additionallakesin2009,2010,and2011.Samplingmethodsincludedtrawlingduringthesummer(i.e.,lateJune–midJuly)andfykenettingandnighttimeelectrofishingduringthefall(i.e.,mid‐September–lateOctober).Thelakesandimpoundmentssampledwereselectedfrom“highwaterquality”waterbodies(e.g.,WestOkoboji)or“restorationpriority”waterbodies(e.g.,ClearLake,StormLake)designatedbyIowaDNR.Samplingfrom2008to2010yieldedatotal50speciesand149,108fishacrossall45lakes.ConclusionsandRecommendations:Ourresultsindicatedthatincreasedspeciesdiversityinreservoirswasmoststronglyrelatedtomorphometriccharacteristics(i.e.,largersurfacearea,increaseddepth);whereas,fewerspecieswereobservedinnaturallakeswithlowwaterclarityandhighsuspendedsolids.Fishassemblagestructurebetweennaturallakesandreservoirswasalsoconsistentlydissimilarfortaxonomicandtrophicdata.Overall,distinctdifferencesinfishassemblagestructurewereobservedbetweennaturalandartificiallenticecosystems.Ourresultsemphasizetheneedtoconsiderwaterbodyorigin(i.e.,naturalorartificial)onfishassemblagecharacterizationandsubsequentinferencesmadefromenvironmentalcorrelations.