Showing papers in "American Midland Naturalist in 2019"

Habitat Preference and Phenology of Nest Seeking and Foraging Spring Bumble Bee Queens in Northeastern North America (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Bombus)

Abstract: Bumble bees are among the most abundant and important wild pollinators in North America. Spring nest establishment is a brief and vulnerable stage in the colony life cycle that is poorly understood. Bumble bee nesting activity in temperate North America has received little recent attention, and this knowledge gap is a barrier to conservation efforts. The aim of this study was to investigate the habitat use, nesting phenology, and key food plants of spring bumble bee queens. Through 108 nonlethal surveys of bumble bee queens in spring 2018, researchers observed 451 nest seeking and 555 foraging queens of nine species in Ohio, U.S.A. Spring queen activity began in mid-April and peaked in mid-May, although nest seekers were observed into late June. Nest seeking queens favored woody transitional habitats over open habitats. In accordance queen abundance and diversity increased with the proportion of forest in the surrounding landscape. The proportion of row crops and urban areas negatively influenced queen diversity and the number of nest seekers, respectively. Through a literature review, the earliest emergence dates for each species were compared for 12 datasets to establish an order of species emergence in northeastern North America. Forty-seven species of flowering plants were used by foraging queens. Highly visited food plants included both native and nonnatives(*): Lupinus perennis, Malus spp., Taraxacum officinale*, Lonicera spp.*, Lamium purpureum*, Glechoma hederacea*, Trifolium pratense*, and Mertensia virginica. Systematic field surveys are needed by state to document the timing of spring queen emergence and nesting activities to inform conservation efforts.

A Comparison of Bat Activity in a Managed Central Hardwood Forest

Abstract: Bats exploit forest resources based on species-specific adaptations, resulting in differences in activity across forested landscapes. Forest management practices alter forests, impacting species differently and presumably affecting bat activity. Application of forest management that promotes species-specific bat conservation requires further understanding of bat response to silvicultural practices. We surveyed timber harvest treatments on two Indiana State Forests to compare bat activity across forest management treatments, in forests adjacent to harvests, and at locations across the harvest-forest gradient from May to July in 2013 and 2014. We used Wildlife Acoustics Song Meter SM2BAT+ detectors and Kaleidoscope Pro analysis software to survey bats in relation to four treatment types: clear cut, patch cut, shelterwood preparatory cut, and intact forest. Detectors were deployed at two points within each treatment and three points on the forested periphery of treatments and recorded for three consecutive nights. We examined bat activity using N-mixture models that estimate abundance and probability of detection for an open population and used Akaike's Information Criterion to select the best models. Based on identification of acoustic calls, eastern red bats and hoary bats were more active in harvest treatments than control treatments. Big brown, eastern red, and tri-colored bats were most active at harvest edges. Northern long-eared and Indiana/little brown bats were most active at harvest edges and in adjacent forest and hoary bats were most active at harvest centers. Differences in bat activity across these managed forests suggest bat assemblages benefit from management that employs an array of silvicultural methods, provides edge habitat, and maintains adjacent forest stands. Our results can be used to predict effects of forest management practices on species-specific bat activity to maximize bat usage of forests.

First examination of diet items consumed by wild-caught black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) in the U.S.

Abstract: Black carp (Mylopharyngodon piceus) were imported to the U.S. in the 1970s to control snails in aquaculture ponds and have since escaped from captivity. The increase in captures of wild fish has raised concerns of risk to native and imperiled unionid mussels given previous literature classified this species a molluscivore. We acquired black carp from commercial fishers and biologists, and examined digestive contents of 109 fish captured over 8 y from lentic and lotic habitats in the central and southern U.S.A. Digestive tract contents were preserved, and diet items inventoried. We identified 59 aquatic animal taxa (21 mollusks, 27 insects, and 11 other invertebrates) and various plant material including nuts and seeds; no fish were found. Approximately 45% of stomachs examined were empty or only contained flukes (Trematoda) that had infected mollusks before they were ingested. Nonempty stomachs contained snails (16.5%), bivalve mussels (22.8%), and insect larvae (net-spinning caddisflies, 15.6%; burrowing mayflies, 6.4%; and midges, 13.7%). Fish also consumed freshwater sponges (Porifera), moss animals (Bryozoa), crustaceans (Ostracoda and Decapoda), water mites (Acarina), and three worm phyla (Nematoda, Nemertea, Annelida). Seven taxa of unionid mussels were identified from shell fragments among the fish we examined, all of which are found in habitats with soft mud or sand/silt substrates. Diet of fish captured in lentic environments contained significantly higher richness than those captured in lotic environments. Individual black carp often contained large numbers of only one or two diet items that were assumed locally abundant and did not always crush the shells of mollusks. Most fish we examined consumed benthic prey, which supports the classification of black carp as a benthic foraging species. However, the presence of other aquatic taxa associated with pelagic or subsurface zones suggests black carp are opportunistic in their consumption of diet items and flexible in their feeding modes.

Cocoon Heat Tolerance of Pheretimoid Earthworms Amynthas tokioensis and Amynthas agrestis

Abstract: In the United States earthworms of two Asian species (Amynthas tokioensis and A. agrestis) are leading a northward invasion into temperate forests and horticultural landscapes. Some studies have shown temperature sensitivity in earthworms, but none has explicitly tested the range of heat tolerance for A. tokioensis and A. agrestis cocoons. This study tested the hypothesis A. tokioensis and A. agrestis cocoons would become nonviable when exposed to 55 C in a laboratory setting. Clitellate earthworms of A. tokioensis and A. agrestis were established in replicate incubation cultures to quantify cocoon production rate and to obtain cocoons of known source. Cocoons were then exposed to heat treatments (3 or 15 d at 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 C) to determine viability after heat exposure. Twelve A. tokioensis and A. agrestis earthworms produced as many as 74 and 82 cocoons in 20 d, respectively (overall mean = 0.14 ± 0.10 cocoons earthworm–1 d–1). All heat treatments ≥40 C resulted in zero viability (P < 0.001), but the 30 C treatment was no different than the control at 20 C (P = 1.000). These findings were consistent regardless of species, treatment length, or period of incubation during which the cocoons were collected. The threshold of tolerance was between 27.1 C (maximum of the 30 C treatment) and 38.1 C (minimum of the 40 C treatment) for A. tokioensis and A. agrestis cocoons. These data may guide management decisions concerning the spread of A. tokioensis and A. agrestis to new locations.

Patterns of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) establishment in wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana) understories.

Abstract: Ecosystem community structure and function is shaped in part by intra- and inter-specific interactions among plants. Facilitative interactions, wherein one plant benefits another's fitness, can strongly influence plant community dynamics. We investigated the potential of an endemic, perennial bunchgrass, wiregrass (Aristida beyrichiana), to function as a nurse plant for longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) seedlings in fire-maintained pine savannas of the southeastern U.S.A. We documented significantly more pine seedlings growing close to established wiregrass bunchgrasses in a site burned one year prior to sampling. Pine seedlings growing close to wiregrass were also significantly taller than those growing further away. This positive spatial association between wiregrass and pine seedlings suggests that wiregrass facilitates early longleaf pine establishment in flatwoods environments, at least within the first year after fire.

Grassland Bird and Butterfly Responses to Sericea Lespedeza Control via Late-Season Grazing Pressure

Abstract: Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) is a high-tannin, late-season invasive forb species that reduces biodiversity in tallgrass prairie ecosystems. The largest tallgrass prairie remnant exists in the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma, where the most common grazing management practice involves prescribed fire in early spring followed by intensive stocking with yearling beef cattle from April to July. Sericea has continued to spread under this management regime. From 2013 to 2016, in Kansas Flint Hills tallgrass prairie, we tested the effects of using spring burning with early-season steer grazing, followed by late-season sheep grazing (Steer+Sheep) compared to spring burning followed by steer grazing only (Steer) on sericea vigor, grassland birds, and pollinators. Density and nest success of Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum) and Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) were not negatively affected by Steer+Sheep relative to Steer treatments, whereas there was evidence of a negative effect in these same metrics for Dickcissels (Spiza americana). Abundance of butterflies and their nectar sources were similar between treatments but abundance of grassland specialist butterfly species was low, overall. Comprehensively, Steer+Sheep effectively controls the spread of sericea but may not create habitat for all tallgrass prairie wildlife species.

Mowing frequency influences number of flowering stems but not population age structure of Asclepias viridis, an important monarch host plant.

Abstract: Milkweeds (Asclepias spp.) are host plants for monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), which are currently being considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Previous research has documented declines in milkweed availability in the Midwest, but less research has focused on the southern Great Plains. Furthermore, the influence of management practices on the structure of milkweed populations has not been evaluated. We assess the age structure of Asclepias viridis, an important milkweed species for monarchs in the southern Great Plains, in two land uses that differ in the frequency and timing of mowing. Plant age may influence resource availability for larval and adult monarchs by affecting foliar biomass and flower production, and flower production and subsequent seed production may influence the recruitment of new individuals to the population. Using herb-chronology, we found age structure did not differ between roadsides mowed several times during the growing season and grasslands mowed less frequently. However, we did find younger individuals in less frequently mowed grasslands had more stems and more flowering stems than those in more frequently mowed roadsides. Though plant age did not differ among the land uses and mowing regimes included in this study, our results suggest frequent mowing can negatively affect foliar and reproductive biomass of younger A. viridis plants. Limiting mowing during the early summer flowering season for A. viridis could support efforts to maximize host plant and nectar availability for monarchs and other pollinators.

Searching for a Salamander: Distribution and Habitat of the Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) in Southeast Ohio Using eDNA as a Rapid Assessment Technique

Abstract: Habitat destruction and anthropogenic drivers have led to amphibian population declines worldwide, but the conservation status of many species remains in question. This study reports on the distribution of Mudpuppies, Necturus maculosus, in southeast Ohio, where widespread acid mine drainage and other forms of habitat destruction have led to severe declines and extinction in many waterways. Within the last century, however, the region has reforested, and damage to some streams has been mitigated, providing opportunities for Mudpuppy recolonization and population recovery. However, being a relatively secretive species, Mudpuppies require difficult and time intensive field surveys to detect. Therefore, the current distribution and conservation status of Mudpuppies in southeast Ohio is unclear. As a first step in documenting the current distribution and abundance of Mudpuppies in southeast Ohio, we conducted a rapid species assessment using environmental DNA (eDNA) surveys (September–November 2016) at 10 stream sites. We detected Mudpuppies at six of 10 streams using eDNA, including four streams in which they were known to occur from historical records and two streams from which Mudpuppies had not been previously reported. We also collected habitat data at each site, including concentrations of heavy metals and nutrients, physical stream habitat, conductivity, pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, and oxygen levels. Using logistic regression, we found composite Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI) scores were the best predictor of Mudpuppy presence. Our results suggest Mudpuppy eDNA is not easily detected when they are at low density, and animals may need to be within approximately 182 m of sampling points to be detected.

Freshwater Sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) of Tennessee

Abstract: Freshwater sponges (Porifera: Spongillida) are an understudied fauna. Many U.S. state and federal conservation agencies lack fundamental information such as species lists and distribution data. Such information is necessary for management of aquatic resources and maintaining biotic diversity. During the months of June, July, and August of 2013, 2014 and 2015 a survey was conducted in Tennessee to document species of freshwater sponges and obtain preliminary distribution data. Selected rivers and streams were sampled at two to five sites. A total of 520 sponge samples were collected. Spicules and gemmules were viewed and photographed using Scanning Electron Microscopy. Thirteen or 39% of the known species of freshwater sponges occurring in the North America have been collected from Tennessee's rivers and streams. Eunapius fragilis, Spongilla lacustris, and Trochospongilla horrida were the most abundant and widely distributed species. Corvospongilla becki and Heteromeyenia latitenta were the least frequently encountered sponges.

Relationships between Wildfire Burn Severity, Cavity-Nesting Bird Assemblages, and Habitat in an Eastern Ponderosa Pine Forest

Abstract: Historically, eastern ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests were described as sparse patches of old-growth trees maintained by frequent, low-severity fires; however, in recent decades, there have been a number of large mixed-severity wildfires throughout the range of these forests. Wildlife responses to severe fire disturbance in eastern ponderosa pine forests are not well understood. Our study investigates how cavity-nesting bird species in an eastern ponderosa pine forest are impacted by burn severity. The objectives of our study were to: (1) identify the community composition of cavity-nesting birds in a 27 y old burn of mixed severity, (2) assess how habitat variables important to cavity-nesting birds differ in the mixed-severity fire, and (3) determine what habitat variables best predict bird occurrence 27 y after mixed-severity fire. We surveyed 56 sites across four burn severity classes, ranging from unburned to severely burned forest, in the Pine Ridge region of Nebraska. We measured multiple habitat characteristics (tree and snag diameter at breast height (DBH), coarse woody debris (CWD), tree and snag density, shrub height, and shrub cover) in May–August 2016 and conducted bird count surveys between 25 May and 8 June 2016. Cavity-nesting bird species' occurrence varied among the burn severity variables. Burn severity class (unburned, low severity, moderate severity, high severity) was a significant predictor of habitat characteristics for cavity-nesting birds, including tree density, snag density, mean snag DBH, variance in DBH, and CWD, which also was the best indicator of cavity-nesting bird community composition. We report evidence that mixed-severity wildfires in eastern ponderosa pine forests create variation in habitat characteristics and cavity-nesting bird occurrence.

Space Use of Predatory Larval Dragonflies and Tadpole Prey in Response to Chemical Cues of Predation

Abstract: Chemical cues are frequently a key source of information to aquatic organisms. Both predators (kairomones digestive metabolites) and prey (alarm and damage-released cues) may generate chemical cues during their interactions, and different cue types can have different informational values. How predators and prey use the information from chemical cues to make spatial movement decisions influences both their direct interaction rates and their interactions with other species. We measured the spatial response of predatory larval dragonflies (Anax junius) and predator-naive green frog (Lithobates clamitans) tadpoles exposed to several types of chemical cues using experimental mesocosms. We found tadpoles only responded with spatial avoidance when exposed to both Anax kairomones and conspecific alarm cues together, whereas Anax did not exhibit consistent spatial responses to any cue type. Our results suggest tadpole prey selectively respond to environmental information from chemical cues (possibly to minimize costly antipredator behavior due to responding to insufficient information or reflecting a need for associative learning). They also show predatory dragonflies may use nonchemical information to make space use decisions (possibly due to inability to detect the same chemical cues as tadpoles).

Age and Growth of Middle Mississippi River Smallmouth Buffalo

Abstract: Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus (Rafinesque)) are an important component of the Middle Mississippi River commercial fishery. Despite their commercial importance, limited contemporary information is available regarding population age and growth. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine age and growth of Middle Mississippi River smallmouth buffalo. To fulfill this objective, 125 individuals collected during routine Long-Term Resource Monitoring element hoop net surveys were aged via lapilli otoliths (mean age = 17.9 years; SD = 8.3), and a von Bertalanffy growth model (Lt = 730.289[1 - e-0.086(t-5.051)]) was used to evaluate growth. Our results indicate Middle Mississippi River smallmouth buffalo can achieve maximum ages beyond 20 y despite commercial harvest. Ultimately, we hope our results catalyze future research which seeks to understand other aspects of smallmouth buffalo biology and ecology.

Overlooked Costs of Coloniality: Mislaid Eggs and the Double Incubation of Separate Nests

Abstract: The evolution of colonial breeding remains an outstanding question in evolutionary biology due to our limited understanding of the costs and benefits of group living We document 85 cases of Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica erythrogaster) laying, and subsequently abandoning, eggs in empty, unclaimed nests located adjacent to active nests during a 6 y study The frequency of this behavior was positively correlated with total available nests, a metric that increases with colony size In addition, two female swallows were observed alternately incubating multiple clutches after mislaying eggs in neighboring nests We argue the potential to mislay eggs and allocate parental care across separate nests may represent an overlooked cost of colonial nesting in birds

Resource availability and the potential for bison introduction in a landscape mosaic.

Abstract: The tallgrass prairie ecosystem was historically maintained through the interaction of climate, fire, and grazing by large ungulates. Efforts are being made to return large ungulates (bison) back into prairie landscapes, but successful introductions can be constrained by suitable habitat as determined by resource availability (plant biomass, forage quality of the plant biomass, and soil carbon and nitrogen), particularly given some of these tracts are former arable land that has been restored to tallgrass prairie. The objective of this study was to quantify whether plant biomass (available forage) differs between prairie types, if forage quality varies across native prairie remnants and restored prairies, and if these differences are related to carbon and nitrogen storage in soil. We sampled native prairie remnants, low seeded-diversity older restored prairies, and high seeded-diversity younger restored prairies at Nachusa Grasslands, Illinois during July 2014. Total plant biomass differed between the three prairie types, with the high seeded-diversity younger-restored prairies having almost twice that of the low seeded-diversity older-restored prairies and more than twice that of the remnant prairies. In regard to forage quality, the percentage of crude protein in dry matter was greater in the remnant prairies compared to both of the restored prairie types. The high seeded-diversity younger restored prairies had the highest lignin concentration in the forage. The fat content of forage was highest in the high seeded-diversity younger restored prairies. Total soil carbon and nitrogen did not differ between the three prairie types at either the 0–10 cm or 10–20 cm depth. The preliminary findings of this study suggest bison grazing within the introduction unit at Nachusa Grasslands will be more intensive within restored prairies as compared to remnants.

A Leucisitic Fisher (Pekania pennanti) and the Prevalence of Leucism in Wild Carnivores

Abstract: Animal coloration has adaptive roles for communication, concealment, sexual selection, and physiological function. Genetic mutations sometimes cause abnormal coloration such as leucism, in which an animal appears partially or entirely white, except for exposed soft skin tissue. Here we document a leucistic fisher (Pekania pennanti). Fisher fur normally ranges from deep brown to black, but the function of the pelt color is not understood. The literature on the occurrence of leucism includes 33 other records of leucism among carnivores. Reporting cases of rare coloration in the wild helps to understand the distribution, prevalence, and significance of abnormal colors.

Survival, Movements, and Habitat Use of Fledgling Veeries (Catharus fuscescens) in Northeastern Pennsylvania

Abstract: For most passerines, survival and behavior during the postfledging period are poorly known, even though these population characteristics are potentially important to demography and conservation. In 2013–2014 radiotelemetry was used to measure survival, movements, and habitat use of juvenile Veeries (Catharus fuscescens) during the postfledgingdependent period in a landscape dominated by mature forest in northeastern Pennsylvania. In total I tracked 29 juvenile Veeries and conducted habitat sampling at sites used by fledglings and at associated random sites. Survival during the first 21 d postfledging was high (0.78), with most mortalities occurring during the first 7 d, and all deaths attributed to predation. Fledglings moved gradually away from their nests as they aged, averaging 333±62 m by 19–21 d. However, there was much variation in movement patterns among individuals, perhaps reflecting differences in spatial distribution of important microhabitats or differences in timing of postfledging dispersal. Like fledglings of many other species of forest passerines, Veery fledglings preferred microhabitats with dense woody understory vegetation: compared to random sites, sites used by fledglings had, on average, greater woody ground cover, midstory cover, and sapling density but had lower density of eastern hemlock trees. However, unlike many other forest passerine species, Veery fledglings did not exhibit broad shifts to other nonnesting habitat types. These results provide the first detailed study of postfledging survival and behavior of the Veery and add generally to our understanding of postfledging ecology in forest passerines.

Something for Everyone: A Review of “The Biology and Identification of the Coccidia (Apicomplexa) of Carnivores of the World”

Abstract: The Biology and Identification of the Coccidia (Apicomplexa) of Carnivores of the World—by authors Donald W. Duszynski, Jana Kvičerová, and R. Scott Seville—represents an ambitious new reference compendium on the ecology, pathology, and management of Conoidasida in mammals of the order Carnivora. Although this book focuses on the relatively-narrow subject of what is effectively a single class of parasites in a single order of mammals, the importance of these hosts and the impacts that these ubiquitous parasites have on them make this work of much broader concern. It may be argued that few groups of mammals deserve more attention than carnivores, which include: common domestic companion animals like cats and dogs; as well as, several economically important (Trapezov, 2014; Wilen, 2018) animals related to the fur trade, such as foxes, sables, mink, and seals; several charismatic zoo animals (Carr, 2014), ranging from bears to big cats, to meercats, to walruses; and many animals of immediate conservation concern (Ripple et al., 2014), such as pandas, polar bears, and tigers. Carnivores also include many common animals of the urban Anthropocene (Bateman and Fleming, 2012), such as coyotes, raccoons and skunks, that have adapted to life close to humans and represent potential sources of zoonotic disease risk and cross-transmission with domestic animals (Han et al., 2016). This latter point is particularly important as coccidians and their relatives can infect a wide range of unrelated hosts and use non-carnivores as intermediate or parentenic hosts. As such, many of the organisms described in this book also infect and cause serious pathology in humans, rodents, oddand even-toed ungulates, and domestic fowl. This broad range of potential infection helps make coccidia and Cryptosporidium spp. among the most common and successful parasites of vertebrates (Fayer, 2010; Innes, 2010). Together, the omnipresence of focal parasites and the multifactored importance of focal hosts will make this work of interest to a wide audience of professional readers. Despite this generalist appeal, the primary perspective of this work is taxonomic. Coccidia (and their close relatives) have gone through a series of major taxonomic reclassifications that began in the late 1970s and has continued until relatively recently (Frenkel, 1977; Barta et al., 2005; Fayer, 2010; Adl et al., 2012). This book provides an important and opportune road map for these reclassifications, and will prove invaluable to anyone interested in coccidian taxonomy in its own right, as well as teachers, veterinarians and wildlife biologists who wish to integrate these taxonomic updates into their diagnostic repertoires and pedagogy. This work goes above and beyond to cover its subject material comprehensively. Despite the seemingly narrow focus of the title, the book extends beyond the currently classified coccidians by including the Cryptosporiidae, which were historically classified as coccidians, but are no longer (Adl et al., 2012). In this respect, the book effectively covers all Conoidasida known to infect carnivores as either definitive, parentenic, or intermediate hosts. Basic, but detailed, information on host evolution and ecology is also provided in a specific chapter and throughout the book to provide a rich ecological and evolutionary context. Entries are organized into chapters based on broader parasite taxonomy as well as host taxonomy, either at the level of chapters (as in the case of Eimeriidae), or within chapters (for most other groups of Conoidasida). The book also covers countless unnamed and purported species within the Conoidasida of carnivores. An entire chapter is dedicated to species inquirendae within the coccidia of carnivores that can serve as a solid springboard for taxonomist who are interested in exploring undescribed coccidian diversity. Chapters on described species also include a number of entries on purported or partially described species in which the authors provide a thorough description of the evidence for and against these classifications. In addition, entries also include scientific and colloquial synonyms and depreciated and dubious species descriptions, and taxonomic assignments are crossreferenced with better-recognized alternative assignments to provide a detailed map to resolve taxonomic changes and disputes encountered in historic literature. This is particularly helpful for the presentation of coccidian parasites of carnivores, as many Isospora-like parasites in this group have been reassigned from the genus Isospora, within the Eimeriidae, to the genus Cystoisospora, within the family Sarcocystidae (Frenkel, 1977; Barta et al., 2005). The authors also include many entries on what they

Status of the Topeka Shiner in Iowa

Abstract: The Topeka shiner Notropis topeka is native to Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota and has been federally listed as endangered since 1998. Our goals were to determine the present distribution and qualitative status of Topeka shiners throughout its current range in Iowa and characterize the extent of decline in relation to its historic distribution. We compared the current (2016–2017) distribution to distributions portrayed in three earlier time periods. In 2016–2017 Topeka shiners were found in 12 of 20 HUC10 watersheds where they occurred historically. Their status was classified as stable in 21% of the HUC10 watersheds, possibly stable in 25%, possibly recovering in 8%, at risk in 33%, and possibly extirpated in 13% of the watersheds. The increasing trend in percent decline evident in earlier time periods reversed, going from 68% in 2010–11 to 40% in the most recent surveys. Following decades of decline, the status of Topeka shiners in Iowa appears to be improving. One potential reason for the reversal in the distributional decline of Topeka shiners in Iowa is the increasing number of oxbow restorations. Until a standardized monitoring program is established for Iowa, periodic status assessments such as this will be necessary to chronicle progress toward conserving this endangered fish species.

Choosing Native Species for Restoring Crested Wheatgrass Fields on the Great Plains of Northeast Montana

Abstract: Large areas of the Northern Great Plains of North America were intentionally planted with the non-native crested wheatgrass 80–90 y ago. Land managers hope to restore these near-monoculture fields to more diverse native grassland. Our goal was to help guide selection of native species for restoration. We sampled vegetation at each of 24 fields planted with crested wheatgrass in the 1930's in northeast Montana across a range of soil textures. We documented composition at the edge of each crested field and in adjacent native vegetation, allowing us to rank native species as to their ability to persist with crested wheatgrass and determine how soil texture influences their ability to coexist with crested wheatgrass. We identified 29 native species that commonly re-established in crested wheatgrass fields. Sagebrush and several grasses occurred with similar abundance across all soils. Six forb species occurred preferentially on either heavy or light soils. Our results can be used to design seed mixes that will provide native species capable of coexisting with crested wheatgrass in eastern Montana. Application of our methods may be useful in other areas of the Great Plains.

Fish Assemblage Response to Altered Dendritic Connectivity in the Red River Basin, Central Louisiana

Abstract: Louisiana's streams provide habitat for a diversity of ecologically and economically important fish species. However, most stream systems in the state have been subject to substantial anthropogenic alterations related to municipal, agricultural, and forest resource development. Extensive reservoir construction has also resulted in altered dendritic connectivity in many drainages, which has been shown to significantly alter the function and biodiversity of streams throughout the U.S. This study explored interactions among stream connectivity, watershed characteristics, stream physicochemistry, and fish assemblage composition and abundance in 21 headwater streams within the Red River basin of Louisiana, with half flowing directly into a reservoir. In 2014 and 2015, fish were sampled by electrofishing and seining, and habitats and physicochemistry were characterized. Six fish species were exclusively found in reservoir streams, three fish species were only found in river tributaries, seven fish species were more abundant in river tributaries, and all richness metrics (total, stream specialist, and generalist) calculated for seined fishes were higher in river tributaries. Notably, Grass Pickerel (Esox americanus) was more abundant in river tributaries. Because of its potential role as an obligate glochidial host for the Louisiana Pearlshell Mussel (Margaritifera hembeli), the influence of stream fragmentation on Grass Pickerel may have significant implications regarding conservation of this endangered mussel. Our results parallel trends observed in similar studies indicating decreased species richness and abundance in streams truncated by reservoirs.

Trends in Distribution of Plains Minnow (Hybognathus placitus) in Kansas from 1964 to 2017

Abstract: Streams of North America have been degraded by over a century of anthropogenic stressors, including channelization, fragmentation, impoundment, dewatering, and the modification of the natural flow regime. These stressors have contributed to the decline of many freshwater fish species and are particularly detrimental to the pelagic-broadcast spawning reproductive guild of cyprinids. Members of this guild require an unfragmented river section of 458 (±137) river kilometers (rkm) in length to persist. The Plains Minnow is a member of this reproductive guild and is listed within Kansas as a threatened species. Plains Minnow were once common throughout Kansas, but have experienced declines in abundance and distribution. Using historical data and 14 y of new data, we analyzed the proportion of sites occupied by Plains Minnow over time within Kansas as a whole and within specific river basins using parametric linear regression models and nonparametric localized regression models. We found Plains Minnow to be declining within the historical range of the species across the state as a whole and specifically within the Smoky Hill-Saline and Lower Arkansas river basins. We found Plains Minnow distributions to be unchanging within the Kansas-Lower Republican and the Cimarron river basins. Within the Smoky Hill-Saline and the Kansas-Lower Republican river basins, the proportion of sites occupied by Plains Minnow has been at or near zero for the majority of the time period studied. Our findings support previously published studies and contribute to the growing body of evidence that Plains Minnow continue to decline within Kansas. If the species is to recover within the state, anthropogenic stressors will have to be mitigated, and repatriation efforts will need to be conducted.

Documentation of freshwater mussels (Unionidae) in the diet of round gobies (Neogobius melanostomus) within the French Creek watershed, Pennsylvania.

Abstract: The round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) was discovered in 2013 in the French Creek (Allegheny River Drainage) watershed and is the first documented invasion outside of the Lake Erie basin in Pennsylvania. The round goby throughout the Laurentian Great Lakes is known to eat dressenid mussels (Dreissenidae), but consumption of either dressenids or native mussels (Unionidae) in tributaries to Lake Erie is minimal based on low populations of any bivalves. The French Creek watershed, on the other hand, harbors 29 species of native freshwater mussels as well as introduced fingernail clams (Sphaeriidae; Corbicula fluminea). The objectives of this study were to document the diet of round gobies in the French Creek watershed to determine whether consumption of native freshwater mussels was occurring. Round gobies were collected in the summer months (May–Sept.) of 2016 via kick seine in four locations, dissected, and their stomach contents identified to lowest possible taxa. We separated the gobies into categories based on length classes, in order to determine if diet changed with increased size and age. Unionid mussels were consumed by all length classes, particularly in length class one (30–44 mm), but diet shifted to a dominance of sphaeriids in length class four (≥75 mm). Round gobies also consumed benthic aquatic insects, a large percentage of which were chironomids (greater than 24% in all size classes). This is the first documentation of unionid consumption by the round goby in Pennsylvania that poses possible threats to native mussels in the French Creek watershed.

Nesting Density and Dispersal Movements between Urban and Rural Habitats of Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter Cooperii) in Wisconsin: Are These Source or Sink Habitats?

Abstract: Cites are relatively new landscapes for breeding Cooper's Hawks (Accipiter cooperii) that nest commonly in urban and rural habitats throughout North America There is a call for data that may indicate if cities are low quality, sink habitats, as for some other raptors, or if cities function as high-quality, source habitats Source habitats should exhibit high nesting densities, high reproductive output, and they should produce net emigration to sites that offer the potential for greater fitness There are no reports of connectivity via dispersed individuals and their reproductive success (ie, gene flow) between rural and urban subpopulations for Cooper's Hawks in North America We report one of the highest nesting densities in North America, one nest/238 ha in the city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 2015, with regular spacing of nests suggestive of the saturated, stable population which occurs elsewhere throughout the state Averages of 47 eggs and 41 nestlings per nest in Oshkosh, respectively, rank among the highest metrics for the species, and are similar to the stable and high reproductive indices found elsewhere throughout rural and other urban Wisconsin habitats across 34 y (1980–2015) An apparent low index of hatchling mortality rate (10%), or the loss of offspring from clutch to brood counts, was also found in Oshkosh We detected both breeding and natal dispersal, with relatively high clutch and nestling counts, among eight individual Cooper's Hawks of both sexes moving into and emigrating from Stevens Point, Wisconsin with surrounding rural habitats Most dispersal movements were less than 10 km A relative similarity in maximum dispersal distances across 38 y (1980–2017) for rural-to-rural movements in males (35 km) and females (79 km), with those distances in males (27 km) and females (48 km) that moved between Stevens Point and its rural surroundings, suggest the maximum extent of natal dispersal movements is not habitat-specific in Wisconsin Cooper's Hawks Discussion of various demographic contexts, including potentially confounding ecological variables, revealed limitations to previous reports and interpretations of reproductive output and nesting densities for the species, including assessments of habitat quality We suggest high-quality rural and urban nesting habitats in Wisconsin are not source habitats for Cooper's Hawks within the state given none comparatively appears to offer the potential for greater fitness Therefore, there should be no net dispersal among habitat types

Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Gut Passage Can Alter Seed Germinability

Abstract: Seed dispersal by animals is an important plant-animal mutualism, but saurochory, the dispersal of seeds by reptiles, is an understudied phenomenon despite its prevalence in many taxa. The effects of seed ingestion by the gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) were investigated in eight central Florida plant species by comparing germination of ingested seeds to seeds that did not pass through tortoises. Seeds from both treatments were also planted with and without tortoise scat. Both the percentage of seeds germinating and the time to germination were recorded. Ingested seeds from two fleshy-fruited plant species germinated in greater proportions and in less time than control seeds. The presence of scat also increased germination proportion following gut passage and decreased time to germination in both these species. Germination proportions in five dry-fruited native species were either not affected, or lowered, and time to germination was either not affected, or slower. Similarly, the effects of scat had either no effect on germination percentage in these species or caused a decrease, and either had no effect on time to germination or caused an increase. One non-native dry-fruited species was also tested, and although germination percentage following gut passage was unaffected, time to germination decreased. Similarly, while the addition of scat increased germination percentage, there was no effect on time to germination. In summary only seeds from fleshy-fruited plant species were consistently positively impacted by passage through gopher tortoise guts and by gopher tortoise scat.

Presence of both Active and Inactive Colonies of Prairie Dogs Contributes to Higher Vegetation Heterogeneity at the Landscape Scale

Abstract: Black-tailed prairie dogs are herbivorous rodents known to have large effects on grassland landscapes in North America. They have considerable impacts on prairie plant communities as the result of repeated clipping of vegetation that can reduce preferred forage species and may indirectly result in increased abundance of disturbance-tolerant species. We investigated plant communities within three different habitat types: Active and inactive prairie dog colonies, and adjacent suitable, but unoccupied, control areas in the Northern Great Plains of Montana, U.S.A. Plant species richness did not vary markedly between the three habitat types. However, plant composition measured as cover of plant life forms (forbs, shrubs, and graminoids), which was further divided into native status (native or introduced), and plant species indicators (plant species associated with a specific habitat) did vary distinctly between the three habitat types. Differences in plant composition between the habitat types suggests black-tailed prairie dog activities result in greater diversity of plant microhabitats at a landscape scale, and prairie dogs are an important component of the overall ecosystem in the Northern Great Plains of North America.

Witness Tree Records for the Early Colonial Period (1623-1700) of Eastern Virginia

Abstract: The composition and dominance of 1256 witness (land survey) trees were compiled for the early Colonial era (pre-1700) in two locations in eastern Virginia, a region where studies of such information are lacking. The study locations are the Marine Corps Base Quantico and the Cheatham Annex Naval Supply Center, both along major rivers of Tidewater Virginia. At Quantico, a total of 754 witness trees comprising 22 species were recorded. Oak (Quercus) species made up 67% of these trees, followed by hickory (Carya; 15%), poplar (Liriodendron), gum (Nyssa), and pine (Pinus) each representing 4% of the forest composition. At Cheatham Annex a total of 502 witness trees from 24 species were recorded. Oaks made up 57% of the total composition followed by hickory (13%), pine (10%), poplar (5%), and gum (5%). There was a dearth of late successional, fire sensitive species at both locations, despite the presence of many mesic locations that should support such species. This suggests Native American activity (e.g., burning and land clearing) was an important factor affecting forests in eastern Virginia. This research provides a better understanding of the original forests of eastern Virginia and can serve as a baseline for making comparisons with present day forests to assess forest change since the Colonial era.

A Wandering Black Bear (Ursus americanus, Pallas 1780) in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve, Queretaro

Abstract: Black bear distribution and dispersal in Mexico are uncertain. Here we document the occurrence of a black bear in the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve in the Mexican State of Queretaro. We assessed its population membership using microsatellites genetic markers and conclude the individual came from the Nuevo Leon population, which is approximately 200 km north of the study area.

Mycorrhizal Colonization in a Successional Plant Community

Abstract: Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are widespread in plant communities and are important mediators of plant community structure. However, patterns of variation among species and linkages with above-ground traits have received much less attention. To address this research need, we surveyed plant species from a long-term study of old field succession for AM colonization. Root tissue was collected from five individuals for each of 46 species that represented a range of origins and life forms. Root samples were cleared, stained, and examined to determine the percentage of colonized hyphae area and the number of vesicles and arbuscules. Nonnative species had greater hyphal colonization than native taxa, and the number of vesicles produced in woody species was lower than in the herbaceous species of the system. AM were associated with above-ground traits in both woody and herbaceous taxa, suggesting mycorrhizae integrate with other plant traits to generate resource acquisition strategies. AM decreased as species peaked later in succession for herbaceous species but was not associated in woody species. These results suggest AM may play an important role in species invasion and overall plant functional strategies, but these relationships may vary based on plant life form.

Space Use and Habitat Selection of American Badgers (Taxidea Taxus) in Southwestern Wisconsin

Abstract: Badger (Taxidea taxus) life history and ecology are poorly described despite widespread distribution in North America. We used radio-telemetry to estimate home range size and quantify habitat selection for badgers living in agricultural habitat in southwestern Wisconsin, U.S.A. Badgers in Wisconsin established relatively large home ranges (3 to 30km2), with those of males tending to be larger than females. Badgers selected broadly for nonforested grassland habitat in a matrix of agriculture, although fine-scale use varied substantially by individual. These patterns suggest that badgers tolerate levels of human alteration associated with agriculture in Wisconsin, although there may be limits to that tolerance.

Life History Variation Within and Among Populations of the Ninespine Stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) in Alaska: Lake-Stream Contrasts

Abstract: Intra- and inter-population comparisons of size at reproduction, clutch size, and egg mass revealed differences between one stream and one lake population of ninespine stickleback (Pungitius pungitius) in Alaska. These results are compared with published data for a second lake population. Ninespine stickleback in the stream appeared to reproduce at a smaller overall average size and to produce greater numbers of smaller eggs per clutch than lake-dwelling ninespine stickleback. This pattern of life history traits is consistent with that reported for populations of the threespine stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus) in published studies from Alaska and Central Europe, suggesting stream environments favor a different set of life history tactics than lakes in both species. Further research is needed to test this hypothesis and to elucidate the causal mechanisms.