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:coopunit@iastate.eduwww.cfwru.iastate.edu

2 

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 

3 

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 

 

4 

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

2 

   

NewProjects 

 

3 

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.

4 

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.

5 

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.

6 

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.

7 

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.

8 

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.

9 

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.

10 

   

ContinuingProjects 

 

11 

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.

12 

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.

13 

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.

14 

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.

15 

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.

16 

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.

17 

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.

18 

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.

19 

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.

20 

   

CompletedProjects 

21 

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.

22 

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

23 

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.

24 

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.

25 

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.

26 

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. 

27 

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.

28 

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.

29 

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.