Savannas

Wildlife Action Plan

Prairies &

MICHIGAN 2015 - 2025

Today’s Priorities, Tomorrow’s Wildlife

SavannasPrairies &

What Are Prairies & Savannas?

Prairiesarediverse,fire-dependentnativegrasslandcommunitiesthatwerehistoricallyabundantinsouthernLowerMichigan,andoccurinfrequentlyinthenorthernLowerPeninsulaandthefarwesterncountiesintheUpperPeninsula.Theyaredominatedbywarm-seasongrasses,herbs,andflowerswithnoorfewtrees.Prairiesoccuronglacialoutwashplains,pittedoutwashplains,lakeplains,coarse-texturedendmoraines,andglacialtillplainsonavarietyofsoilsincludingsands,loamysands,sandyloams,loams,andsiltloams.Naturalprocessesthatinfluencespeciescompositionandcommunitystructureincludefire,fluctuatingwaterlevels,drought,and,forPrairiesoccurringinnorthernMichigan,growing-seasonfrostsandlow-nutrientsoils.

Savannasarealsofire-dependentecosystemscharacterizedbyagrass-dominatedgroundlayerwithscatteredoverstoryofoaksandsometimesconiferswithtypicallylessthan60%canopycover.Savannasarenowrare,butwereoncewidespreadthroughoutMichiganonavarietyoflandformsincludingsandyoutwashplains,sandyglaciallakeplains,coarse-texturedendmoraines,andkettle-kametopography.Theyoccuronavarietyofsoils,includingsands,loamysands,sandyloams,andloamswithsoilmoisturerangingfromdroughtytomesic.Naturalprocessesthatinfluencespeciescompositionandcommunitystructureincludefire,fluctuatingwaterlevels,drought,and,forSavannasoccurringinnorthernMichigan,growing-seasonfrostsandlow-nutrientsoils.TheSavannanaturalcommunitiesaddressedinthismini-plandonotincludePineBarrens,astheyareaddressedintheDryNorthernForests&PineBarrensmini-plan.

– Adapted from Cohen et al. 2015

Eastern Box Turtle

Rusty-patched Bumble Bee

Wild Turkey

Eastern Cottontail

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Why are Prairies & Savannas important?

What uses Prairies & Savannas?

Detroit Zoological SocietyGrand Traverse Regional Land ConservancyGratiot Conservation DistrictMichigan Department of Natural ResourcesMichigan Nature Association

Michigan Natural Features InventoryMichigan State University Pheasants ForeverPierce Cedar Creek InstituteU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

PLAN CONTRIBUTORS

TherootsofMichigan’sPrairiesandSavannasgrewunderthehoovesofBisonandthefeetofdancingGreaterPrairie-chickens.WiththelossofmanyofouroriginalPrairiesandSavannas,wesaidfarewelltothelastofthesetwospecies,butitisnottoolatetosaveourPrairiesforgenerationsofMichigandersyettocome.Thesefragmentsandremnantsofwhathadbeenarichnaturalheritagestillprovidevitalservicesforthecommunitieswheretheycanbefound.Prairiepatchesinagriculturallandscapesanchortopsoilinplaceandslowerosionwiththeirrootsystems.Theselarge,complexrootsystemsalsoimprovesoilstructuretohelprainwaterpercolatethroughthesoilandpreventrunoffandflooding.Theycancapturenutrientsastheyleachfromfertilizedfields,anduseittoconvertcarbondioxidetograssesandwildflowers,protectingbothourwaterwaysandourair.ThediversityofplantsfoundinPrairiesandSavannassupportspollinatorsthroughoutthegrowingseason–pollinatorsthatwedependontoproduceavarietyofcrops.PrairiesandSavannasarehometosomeofourmostpopularwildlifespecies,suchasRing-neckedPheasantandWildTurkey,andsomeofourrarest,includingKarnerBlueButterfliesandHenslow’sSparrows.WemayneverseeBisonroamingfreeinMichiganagain,butwecanacttoensurethatfuturegenerationswillalwaysknowthebuzzingwonderofaPrairieinbloomandthetranquilityofasummerSavanna.

Sandhill Crane

Monarch Butterfly

Northern Bobwhite

Karner Blue Butterfly

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What is the Health of prairies & savannas?

Naturalcommunitiesaretrackedinthestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabase,whichprovidesinformationabouttheirlocation,quality,andoftentheplantsandwildlifefoundthere.ThisdataprovidesanindexoftheoverallhealthofPrairiesandSavannasacrossthestate.Between2005and2015,twoPrairieswereaddedtotheNaturalHeritageDatabaseforatotalof50trackedecosystems.Eighteenwereassessedbetween2005and2015todeterminequalityorhealthoftheecosystem;ofthoseassessed67%weredowngraded.Between2005and2015,tenoakSavannacommunitieswereaddedtotheNaturalHeritageDatabaseforatotalof46trackedecosystems.Fifteenwereassessedsince2005todeterminequality;7%wereupgradedinqualityand67%weredowngraded.

Anelementoccurrenceisthebasicunitofrecordfordocumentinganddelimitingthepresenceandgeographicextentofaspeciesornaturalcommunityonthelandscapeinthestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabase.Elementoccurrencesaredefinedasanareaoflandand/orwaterwhereaspeciesis,orwas,present,andwhichhaspracticalconservationvalue.Forspecies,elementoccurrencescommonlyreflectpopulationsorsubpopulations.

ASSOCIATED RARE PLANTS

White false indigo (Baptisia lactea)

Prairie coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata)

Leadplant (Amorpha canescens)GOALS

IncreasequalityandmaintainexistingacresofPrairieandSavanna.

Prairie-smoke (Geum triflorum)

Side-oats grama grass (Bouteloua curtipendula)

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Western silvery aster(Symphyotrichum sericeum)

What Are thePRAiRIE & SAVANNA Focal species?

Where we are now and what we think we can realistically achieve over the next 10 years.

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Karner Blue Butterfly (Lycaeides melissa samuelis)Federally Endangered & State Threatened

KarnerBlueButterfliesarenickel-sizedbutterfliesandthemalesareavibrant,silveryblue.Thecaterpillarsoftheseprettylittlebutterfliesfeed

onlyonlupine,whereastheadultsnectaronavarietyofplantsincludingbutterflyweed(Asclepias tuberosa)andblazingstar(Liatris aspera).AntsandKarnerBluemayhaveamutuallybeneficialrelationshipwheretheantsfeedonthesweetsecretionsproducedbylarvaeandinreturntheantshelpprotectthebutterflylarvaefrompredatorsorparasitoids(Rabe2001).Therearecurrently146elementoccurrences,however,only32areconsideredviable(MNFI2007).Habitatmanagementeffortsareongoingandneededactionsarewellknownatexistingsites.

GOALSRetaincurrentviableelementoccurrences(ofA,B,orCranking).

KarnerBlueButterfly Occurrence

Rusty-patched Bumble Bee (Bombus affinus)Proposed Federally Endangered, Special Concern

TheRusty-patchedBumbleBeeisanimportantpollinator,likeother

bumblebees.Theydonotrelyononeflowerbutvisitmanywildfloweringplantsaswellascrops.Bumblebeesareabletoflyincooltemperaturesandlowerlightlevelsthanotherpollinators,andwill“buzzpollinate”(Hatfieldetal.2012).Buzzpollinationoccurswhenthebeegrabstheflower’santhers,andvibratestodislodgepollenthatwouldotherwiseremaintrapped;someplantsincludingtomatoes,peppers,andcranberriesrequirebuzzpollination(Hatfieldetal.2012).Populationsrange-widearerapidlydecliningbyanestimated87%(XercesSociety2015),yetitisunclearwhy.Therearecurrentlynorecordsinthestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabase;however,threesightingshavebeendocumentedinBumbleBeeWatch(2013).

GOALSEstablishbaselinestatusanddistribution.

Frosted Elfin (Incisalia irus)State Threatened

TheFrostedElfinisasedentarybutterflythatsitsaroundonitshostplantuntilitisdisturbed,atwhichpointitfliesclosetothegroundandlooksforanotherperch(Gehring2006).Thecaterpillarstypicallyuselupineorwildindigoastheirhostplantsandadultsnectaronblueberryblossoms(Vaccinium spp.).ThesebutterfliesusesmallopeningswithinwoodlandsorovergrownSavanna.Theyhaveundergoneasignificantrangereductionsincethe1960s,andmanyoftheknownsitesareindegradedhabitats(Nielsen1994).ItisestimatedthatFrostedElfinpopulationshavedeclinedbetween50%and90%.Thereareonly12recordsofthisspeciesinMichiganwithinthelast20years(MNFI2007).

GOALSDeterminestatewidedistributionandrelativeabundance.

Manage3existingsitesforFrostedElfin.

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FrostedElfin Occurrence

Rusty-patchedBumbleBeeNoData

Eastern Massasauga(Sistrurus catenatus catenatus)Federally Threatened

TheEasternMassasaugaisMichigan’sonlyrattlesnake,andisashydocilesnakethatpreferstoremain

hidden.Whenthreatened,theywillsoundtheirrattleandtrytoescape,preferringtoavoidconfrontations.Hedgecock(1992)foundthattheonlythingthatelicitedastrikingresponsefromaMassasaugawasbeingsteppedon,andthatonlyoccurred7%ofthetime.Thissnakeofferslittlethreattoreasonablycarefulpeoplewillingtoleavethemalone.MichiganisthelaststrongholdforthissnakeintheUnitedStates,whichislistedasEndangeredineveryotherstateandprovinceinwhichitoccurs.Thisspecieshaslikelydeclinedby30%overthelast30years.MassasaugasappeartobesomewhatstableinthesouthwesternandnorthernportionsoftheirrangeinMichigan.Accordingtothestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabasethereare127potentiallyviableelementoccurrencesinMichigan.

GOALSMaintainknownpopulationsandcontinuetoidentifyadditionalpopulations.

GOALSImproverecruitmentatlong-termmanagementsitesforEasternBoxTurtle.

Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina)Special ConcernTheEasternBoxTurtleisalandturtlethathasyellowororangemarkingsonitsdomedshell;thebottompart,orplastron,hingestoallowtheturtletohideitshead,legs,andtailwithinitsclosedshell.Theseturtlesarefoundinforesthabitatswithsandysoilsandwaternearbybutrequireopen,unshaded,andsandynestingareas(Hyde1999).Populationsarerapidlydeclininginthestate.Overtheirentirerange,populationreductionslikelyexceed30%overthreegenerationsandMichiganpopulations

havelikelyexperiencedgreaterthan50%declines.Itisestimatedthatbotheggandjuvenilemortalityrangefrom70-100%.Thereare25viableelementoccurrencesinthestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabase.

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Eastern Massasauga Occurrence

EasternBoxTurtle Occurrence

Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

MonarchButterfliesarefamousfortheirmigrationsfromtheir

winteringgroundsintheSierraNevadaMountainsofMexicotomany

easternstatesandCanada,includingMichigan.Thefirstthreegenerationsduringthesummerliveonlyfor2-6weeksandwillcontinuetomovenorthward.Butthefourthgenerationcanliveupto9months,andthesebutterflieswillmigratesouthforthewinter.Itisanamazinglifecycleandaspectacletoseeduringtheirmigrationssouthbecausetensofthousandsofindividualswilllandonasingletree.Theoverwinteringpopulationofmonarchshasdeclinedoverthelasttwentyyears,leadingtoapetitiontoplacetheMonarchonthefederalthreatenedandendangeredspecieslist.InMichigan,currentevidencesuggestspopulationshavestayedstable(BadgettandDavis2015).

GOALSIncreaseoutreacheffortsontheMonarchButterflyandwhatpeoplecandotoaidconservation.

Establishbaselinestatus anddistribution.

Blazing Star Borer(Papaipema beeriana)Special Concern

BlazingStarBorerlarvaecanbefoundontheplantblazingstar(Liatris spp.)bylookingforasmallholeatthebaseoftheplantandlookingforfrass(caterpillarfeces)neartheopening(Cuthrell1999).Thisspeciesoverwintersintheduffmakingitsusceptibletofiresinearlyspring.TheBlazingStarBorerisgloballyrareandisaspeciesofspecialconcerninMichigan.Thereisalong-termtrendofdeclinesgreaterthan90%.Thereare24occurrencesofthisspeciesinMichigansince1984(MNFI2007).

GOALSDeterminestatewidedistributionandrelativeabundance.

Manage3extantsitesforBlazingStarBorer.

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BlazingStarBorer Occurrence

MonarchButterflyNoData

How Vulnerable are Focal Species to Climate Change?

Hovingetal.(2013)determinedclimatevulnerabilitiesforfocalspecies.Seethreatssectionformorespecificsabouthowclimatechangemay

affectspeciesandhabitats.

Climatevulnerabilitiesarebasedonprojectedchangesintheabundanceorrangeofaspecies

by2050-extreme=greatlyreducedorthespecieswoulddisappear;high=significantlydecrease;

moderate=likelydecrease.

Climate Vulnerability

Karner Blue Butterfly HighFrosted Elfin HighBlazing Star Borer UnknownEastern Box Turtle HighRusty-patched Bumble Bee StableEastern Massasauga HighMonarch Butterfly NotAssessed

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Did you know?

Whilenotasextensiveasthoseofthewesternstates,nativegrasslandcomplexesonceoccurredinalmosteverycountyofMichigan’sLowerPeninsula.Intheearlytomid-1800s,theLowerPeninsulasupportedapproximately73,000acres(29,500ha)ofuplandprairie,coveringagradientofmoistureconditionsfrommoderatetodry(KostandSlaughter2009).Historically,areasofCrawfordandNewaygocountieseachsupportedapproximately5,000acres(2,000ha)ofdrygrassland,thelargestareasofdrysandprairieinthestate(Kost2004).Today,only2%oftheoriginaluplandprairieremainsintactinallofLowerMichigan(KostandSlaughter2009).Oncecommonplantsandanimalsremainonthefringesoftheirformerhabitatsastheyattempttoadapttoalandscapenowheavilyimpacted byhumans.

Get Engaged!

Checkoutthesecitizen scienceopportunities:

MichiganButterflyNetwork www.michiganbutterfly.org

•••

MonarchLarvaMonitoringProject www.mlmp.org

•••

BumbleBeeWatch www.bumblebeewatch.org

•••

AmphibianandReptiles www.miHerpAtlas.org

•••

TrackingInvasiveSpecies www.misin.msu.edu

What are the conservation threats & Actions?Major threats that need to be addressed and key actions that need to be implemented over the next 10 years.

Invasive & Other Problematic Species, Genes & Diseases• Invasiveplantsoutcompetenativeplantsand

changethestructureofhabitatsneededforfocalspecies(Kostetal.2007).

Natural Systems Modifications• Successiontomoreforestedecosystems

(USFWS2003).• Suppressionoffireandcurrentprescribedburn

practicescanchangeplantdiversity(Kost etal.2007).

• Fragmentationofhabitatstosmallertracts(USFWS2003).

Climate Change & Severe Weather• Changesinclimatecouldhaveavarietyof

impacts:ecosystemsmaybedriventomoremesicconditionsduetoincreasedprecipitation,andchangesintemperaturecouldalterthetimingofplantgrowth(USFWS2003).

Land & Water ManagementH1. Conducthabitatmanagementtomimicnatural

disturbanceregimestomaintainspeciesdiversityandcommunitystructure.[BSB;EMR;KBB-1.2;KBB2;PBMP]

H2. AvoiddiskingremnantPrairieand Savannahabitats.

H3. Useprescribedfireasamanagementtoolandconsiderburningthroughouttheyearoratvaryingtimestoincreaseplantdiversity;includerefugeareasinknownorsuspectedfocalspeciessites.[BSB;EMR;KBB-1.2;KBB2;PBMP]

H4. Whensettingbacksuccessionandconnectinghabitats,useacombinationmethodofprescribedfireandthencuttingofsub-canopytomoreeffectivelymanageredmapleinvasion.

H5. Conducttargetedmanagementinprioritylocationsforhigh-threatinvasivespecies.[CC-7.3;TIS]

THREATS to Habitat Conservation ACTIONS for Habitat

Threats &

Actions H

abitat

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H6. Continueearlydetectionandresponseeffortsforinvasivespecies.[CC-7.3;TIS]

H7. Implementinvasivespeciesdecontaminationandpreventionprotocols.[CC-1.4;TIS]

H8. Workwithprivatelandownersadjacenttopublicorlandconservancyholdingstomanageandexpandthesizeofsuitablehabitatsandcreateconnectionstoothersuitablehabitatsforfocalspecies.[CC-1.4; KBB-1.3]

Conservation Designation & PlanningH9. Useconservationeasementsandacquisitions

toincreaselong-termviabilityofremnantPrairieandSavannahabitats,andtocreateimportantlinkagesforfocalspeciesneeds.[CC-1.2]

H10. WorkwiththeNaturalResourcesConservationService(NRCS)andtheFarmBillprogramtofocusonprotectionandmanagementofPrairieandSavannahabitats,creatingawildlife-friendlymatrixacrossthelandscapeforthefocalspecies.[CC-7.1]

H11. Identifyhigh-qualityPrairiesandSavannasinclimateresilientlandscapes,andincorporatethemintoconservationplanningandmanagement;currentlybeingdevelopedbyTheNatureConservancy.[CC-1.2]

Raising AwarenessH12. Supporteducationeffortsonthevalueofnative

plants,pollinators,Prairies,Savannas,andfocalspecies.[KBB-4]

H13. WorkwithlanduseplannersandlocalgovernmentstoencourageconservationofPrairiesandSavannasandthewildlifethatrelyon

them.Provideresourcestoaidtheminconsideringthesevaluesintheirdecisions.

H14. PromotemanagementandrestorationofPrairieandSavannahabitatsandthepositiveimpactsithasonimprovingdeerandturkeyhuntingexperiences.

H15. Promotevoluntarybestmanagementpracticesforstoppingtheintroductionandspreadofinvasivespeciesbyrecreationalusers,researchers,andindustry.[TIS]

Law & PolicyH16. Takeappropriateenforcementactionsforviolations

oftheInvasiveSpeciesOrder,andmaintaintheProhibitedandRestrictedSpecieslistpursuanttotheNaturalResourcesandEnvironmentalProtectionAct,451of1994,asamended.[TIS]

Research & MonitoringH17. Continueresearchoneffectivebiocontrolforkey

invasivespecieswithminimalnegativesideeffectstonativespecies.[TIS]

H18. UseandpromotetheMidwestInvasiveSpeciesInformationNetwork(MISIN)tomonitorinvasivespecies.[CC-7.3;LMBCS-6.3;TIS]

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THREATS to Karner Blue Butterfly

Invasive & Other Problematic Species, Genes & Diseases• Degradationofavailablefood/nectarsources

forKarnerBluebyexcessivedeerbrowseincertainareas(USFWS2003).

Natural Systems Modifications• Improperlytimedhabitatmanagement,

andchangesfrommechanicaltochemicaltreatments(USFWS2003;USFWS2012).

Pollution• Pesticidesmaysignificantlyimpact

populationsclosetoagriculturalfields (Rabe2001;USFWS2012;PecenkaandLundgren2015).

Climate Change & Severe Weather• Climatechangecouldhaveavarietyof

impacts:populationscouldshiftto3flightsperyearcreatingamismatchinphenologywithitshostplant,aslupinebecomesalowerqualityfoodsourcetowardtheendofthegrowing

seasonormayevendieoffbeforethethirdflightiscompleted;lackofconsistentsnowcovercancauseeggstodesiccate;andextremestormsandprecipitationduringtheflightcankilllarvaeandadults(Hovingetal.2013).

Conservation ACTIONS for Karner Blue Butterfly

Land & Water ManagementKB1. ImplementandpromotetheKarnerBlue

ButterflyHabitatConservationPlan(HCP),thisprovidesguidanceforhabitatmanagementtolimitnegativeimpactsonthespecies.[KBB-1.2;KBB2]

KB2.Conducthabitatmanagementincoolerandwettermicroclimatestoadapttochangesintheclimate.[CC-1.3;KBB-1.2]

Conservation Designation & PlanningKB3. IncorporatehabitatneedsofKarnerBlueinto

landmanagementplans.[KBB-1.3]

Species ManagementKB4. ImplementtheKarnerBlueButterflyRecovery

Plan.[KBB]

KB5.DeveloppoliciestoguidetranslocationsofKarnerBlue.[CC-2.2;KBB-2]

Research & MonitoringKB6.Exploretheuseofoccupancymodellingto

evaluatehabitatmanagementanditseffectsonpopulations.[KBB-5]

KB7.Determineifherbicidesandpesticidesareaffectingpopulations.[KBB-5]

Threats &

Actions K

arner Blue B

utterfly

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THREATS to Frosted Elfin

Lack of Knowledge• Lackofinformationondistribution,

abundance,andthepotentialeffectsonpopulationsfromclimatechange,pesticides,andhighdeerherbivory(Gehring2006).

Climate Change & Severe Weather• Climatechangecouldhaveavarietyof

impactsincludingthepossibilityofhostplantphenologicalmismatchesandextremestormsandprecipitationduringtheflightthatcankilllarvaeandadults(Hovingetal.2013).

Conservation ACTIONS for Frosted Elfin

Land & Water ManagementFE1. Managesmallopeningswithinwoodland

andovergrownSavannaatknownsitesforFrostedElfin.[PBMP]

Conservation Designation & PlanningFE2. IncorporatehabitatneedsofFrostedElfininto

landmanagementplans.

Research & MonitoringFE3. Determineifherbicidesandpesticidesare

impactingpopulations.

Thr

eats

& A

ctio

ns F

rost

ed E

lfin

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Threats &

Actions R

usty-patched Bum

ble Bee

Lack of Knowledge• Lackofinformationoncurrentdistributionand

reasonsfordecline.

Pollution• Pesticidesmaysignificantlyimpact

populationsclosetoagriculturalfields(Hopwoodetal.2012).Increaseduseofinsecticidesincropfields(blueberries,cherries,raspberries,etc.)tocontrolSpottedWingDrosophila(Drosophila suzukii),aswellassprayinginadjacentnaturalhabitatstoprotectcrops(XercesSociety2015).

Agriculture & Aquaculture • Removalofhabitattocontroloreliminate

alternativewildhostsforcroppollinatorsinareasadjacenttoagriculturalfields(XercesSociety2015).

THREATS to Rusty-patched Bumble Bee

Conservation ACTIONS for Rusty-patched Bumble Bee

Land & Water ManagementRB1.ProtectandmanagehabitatswhereRusty-

patchedBumbleBeesarefound.

Research & MonitoringRB2.Collaboratewithotherstatestoinvestigate

thecauseofbumblebeepopulationdeclines.

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Thr

eats

& A

ctio

ns E

aste

rn M

assa

saug

a

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Lack of Knowledge• Lackofinformationontheeffectsofsnake

fungaldiseaseonpopulations,hibernaculahabitatrequirementsandlocations,gestationorparturitionlocations,andfactorsthataffectpersistenceandviability(Szymanskietal.2015)(formoreinformationaboutsnakefungaldisease,seetheEmergingDiseasesmini-plan).

Natural System Modifications • Poorlytimedorinappropriatehabitat

managementwithoutrefugeprovisions(Szymanskietal.2015).

Residential & Commercial Development• Fragmentationandlackofconnectivityof

transitionzonesbetweenkeyhabitatscanbeasignificantlimitingfactor(LeeandLegge2000;Szymanskietal.2015).

Human Intrusions & Disturbance • Humanpersecution(LeeandLegge2000;

Szymanskietal.2015).

Climate Change & Severe Weather • Growingseasondroughts

duetoclimatechangesmaycauseincreasedpredationandlossofprey(Hovingetal.2013).

THREATS to Eastern Massasauga Conservation ACTIONS for Eastern Massasauga

Land & Water ManagementEM1.ImplementandpromotetheEastern

MassasaugaCandidateConservationAgreementwithAssurancespractices,whichprovidesguidanceforhabitatmanagementtolimitnegativeimpactsonmassasauga.[EMR]

EM2.IdentifyandconserveimportanthabitatsforEasternMassasauga.[CC-1.1]

Conservation Designation & PlanningEM3.IncorporatehabitatneedsofMassasaugainto

landmanagementplans.

EM4.DevelopanEasternMassasaugaconservationstrategyforthestate.

Raising AwarenessEM5.Continueoutreachandeducationonsnakes

andtheirecologicalvalue.

Research & MonitoringEM6.Developacost-effectivemonitoring

protocolfordeterminingthestatusof EasternMassasauga.

EM7.DetermineimpactsofdifferentmanagementactivitiesonEasternMassasaugapopulationstobetterinformmanagementandpolicies.

EM8.SurveyandassessviabilityofEasternMassasaugaatnewsitestofocus activemanagement.

Threats &

Actions E

astern Box Turtle

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Lack of Knowledge• Lackofinformationonhowhabitat

managementandoperationalmaintenanceaffectspopulations,factorsthataffectrecruitment,impactsofredmapleinvasionsonhibernationareas,andhabitatneeds.

Invasive & Problematic Species, Pathogens & Genes• Nestpredationbymesopredators(e.g.,

raccoons)(Hyde1999).

Human Intrusions & Disturbance • Vehiclemortalityandillegalcollection

(Hyde1999).

Natural System Modifications • Poorlytimedhabitatmanagementusing

fireandmechanicaltreatments(HoweyandRoosenburg2013).

Agriculture & Aquaculture • Agriculturalfieldsmaycreatehabitatsinksas

shadingofthenestscanmakethemunviable(A.Inken,personnalcommunication).

THREATS to Eastern Box Turtle Conservation ACTIONS for Eastern Box Turtle

Land & Water ManagementBT1. Restore,maintain,andprotectconnectivity

betweenPrairieandSavanna,andadjacentforesthabitatsforEasternBoxTurtle.

Species ManagementBT2. Designateplacesforlong-termEasternBox

Turtlemanagement;implementmanagement.

BT3. ControlmesopredatorsandprotectnestsinareaswherethereisevidenceofEasternBoxTurtlereproduction.

BT4. ConsiderheadstartingEasternBoxTurtlesatsiteswhereeffectivemesopredatorandnestprotectioneffortsareineffective.

Research & MonitoringBT5. Determinefactorsoutsideofmesopredators

thataffectrecruitment.

BT6. Determineimpactsofdifferentmanagementandoperationalmaintenanceactivitiestobetterinformmanagementandbestpracticesguidelines.

Thr

eats

& A

ctio

ns B

lazi

ng S

tar

Bor

er &

Mon

arch

But

terfl

y

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Lack of Knowledge• Lackofinformationongenerallifehistory,

distribution,relativeabundance,andthepotentialeffectsonpopulationsfromclimatechangeandpesticides(Cuthrell1999).

Natural System Modifications• Improperlytimedhabitat

management;thisspeciesisverysusceptibletofire(Cuthrell1999).

THREATS to Blazing Star Borer Conservation ACTIONS for Blazing Star Borer

Land & Water ManagementBSB1.ConducthabitatmanagementforBlazing

StarBorertoincludeitslarvalhostplant,blazingstar.[BSB]

Conservation Designation & PlanningBSB2.IncorporatehabitatneedsofBlazingStar

Borerintolandmanagementplans.

Research & MonitoringBSB3.Determineifherbicidesandpesticidesare

impactingpopulations.

Natural System Modifications• Lossofmilkweedandtimingofmanagement

especiallymowingwhenmillkweedisatitspeak(CommissionforEnvironmentalCooperation2008).

• Paleandblackswallow-wortarepopulationsinksforMonarchButterflies(CasagrandeandDacey2007).

THREATS to Monarch Butterfly Conservation ACTIONS for Monarch Butterfly

Land & Water ManagementMB1.Identifyandcontrolpaleandblackswallow-

wortincooperationwithCooperativeInvasiveSpeciesManagementAreas.[TIS]

Raising AwarenessMB2.SupportMonarchButterflyeducation

andconservationefforts.PromotebestmanagementpracticesforlandmanagerstoaidMonarchButterflyconservation.Promoteseedsourceswithadiversityofmilkweedspecies.[PBMP]

what Additional conservation actions are needed?These additional conservation actions were identified by partners and should be addressed as resources become available.

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Species Management1. ConductmanagementfornestinghabitatsofEastern

BoxTurtleinkeyplaces.[EBT]

2. AssessopportunitiesforinstallingwildlifecrossingsforEasternBoxTurtleinareaswherehighvehiclemortalityisaffectingpopulations,andimplement.

Raising Awareness3. Developprogramsforclassroomstolearnabout

EasternBoxTurtlesandtheirhabitats.

Research & Monitoring4. Determineeffectsofhabitatmanagement,anddevelop

bestmanagementpracticesforBlazingStarBorer.[BSB]

5. DevelopmethodsforattractingfemaleEasternBoxTurtlestoproductivenestingareasandawayfromunproductiveareas.

6. DevelophabitatsuitabilitymodelforEasternBoxTurtle,includingidentificationofpotentialhotspots.

7. DeterminepopulationstructureforEasternBoxTurtle.

8. DevelopmethodologyorapplicationtoidentifyindividualEasternBoxTurtlestobetter understandpopulations.

9. DeterminehibernaculaneedsofEasternMassasauga.

10.MonitorandassessgeneticdiversityofextantpopulationsofEasternMassasauga.

This map was designed by partners to help them

connect around important places for focal species.

Working together on conservation actions on a

voluntary basis provides great benefits to wildlife

and people.

Where Are there places

for partnership?

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ThismapisbasedonfocalspeciesoccurrencesinlevelIIIandIVEcoregionsofMichigan.

Rusty-Patched Bumble Bee

• Conducttargetedsurveysinknownandsuspectedareastodeterminedistributionandrelativeabundance.[PRAP-1.2]

•Usecitizenscienceprograms,suchastheBumbleBeeWatch,tohelpassessdistributionandrelativeabundance.

•Continuetoupdateelementoccurrencesinthestate’s NaturalHeritageDatabase.

How will we Monitor?

Habitat

• ContinuetosurveyandupdatequalityrankingsforPrairieandSavannanaturalcommunitiesin thestate’sNatural HeritageDatabase.

• Continuedistancesurveysforpopulationtrends.Additionally,habitatmonitoringisneededespeciallyatrecoverysiteswherepopulationsarelow.[KBB]

•Useoccupancy-basedsurveysorothernewsurveymethods, whereappropriate.

•Continuetoupdateelementoccurrencesinthestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabase.

KARNER BLUE BUTTERFLY

• Developastandardmonitoringandsurveyprotocol.

•Conducttargetedsurveysinknownandsuspectedareastodeterminedistributionandrelativeabundance.

•Usecitizenscienceprograms,suchastheMichiganButterflyNetwork,tohelpassessdistributionandrelativeabundance.

•Continuetoupdateelementoccurrencesinthestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabase.

FROSTED ELFIN

Assessing status and measuring progress towards goals.

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• Continuepresence/absencemonitoringatknownoccupied sitesregularly.

• ContinueandexpandintensivemonitoringatasubsetofknownoccupiedsitesthatrepresentarangeofconditionswhereEasternMassasaugaoccurs.

• Ifcost-effectiveprotocolisdeveloped,implement.

• Continuetoupdateelementoccurrencesin thestate’sNatural HeritageDatabase.

Eastern Massasauga

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• Developastandardmonitoringand surveyprotocol.

•Conducttargetedsurveysinknownandsuspectedareastodeterminedistributionandrelativeabundance.

•Continuetoupdateelementoccurrencesinthestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabase.

Blazing Star Borer

• Usecitizenscienceprograms,suchastheMichiganButterflyNetworkandMonarchLarvaMonitoringProject,tohelpassessdistributionandrelativeabundance.

Monarch ButterflyEastern Box Turtle

• Usecitizenscienceprograms,suchasthe HerpAtlas,tohelp assessdistributionandrelativeabundance.

•Continuetoupdateelementoccurrencesinthestate’sNaturalHeritageDatabase.

How does this plan link with other conservation plans?

[BSB] ConservationAssessmentforBlazingStarBorerMoth(Papaipema beeriana)(USFS2003)

[CC]NationalFish,WildlifeandPlantsClimateAdaptationStrategy(NationalFish,WildlifeandPlantsClimateAdaptationPartnership2012)

[CG]ConservationplanningfortheGraylingsubdistrictofMichigan(Muladoreetal.2006)

[CW]AConservationActionPlanfortheCeruleanWarbler(Dendroica cerulean) (USFWS2007a)

[EMR]EasternMassasaugacandidateconservationagreementwithassurances(DNRinpreparation)

[IB]IndianaBat(Myotis sodalis)DraftRecoveryPlan:FirstRevision(USFWS2007b)

[JV] UpperMississippiRiverandGreatLakesRegionJointVentureLandbirdHabitatConservationStrategy(Potteretal.2007)

[KBB]FinalRecoveryPlanfortheKarnerBlueButterfly(Lycaeides Melissa samuelis) (USFWS2003)

[KBB2]MichiganKarnerBlueButterflyHabitatConservationPlan(DNR2009)

[LMBCS]Michigami:greatwater.StrategiestoconservethebiodiversityofLakeMichigan(Pearsalletal.2012)

[NWR]ShiawasseeNationalWildlife RefugeComprehensiveConservationPlan(USFWS2001)

[PBMP]Pollinator-FriendlyBMPsforFederalLands(USFS2015)

[PRAP]PollinatorResearchActionPlan:ReportofthePollinatorHealthTaskForce(TheWhiteHouse2015)

[SWR]WildlifeDivisionSouthwestRegionalHabitatGuidance(DNR2015b)

[TIS]MichiganTerrestrialInvasiveSpeciesStateManagementPlan(DNRDraft)

Therehasbeenamultitudeofrelevantplanningeffortsacrossthestateandcountryoverthepasttenyears.BracketedsuperscriptsthroughouttheWildlifeActionPlanindicatewheretheconservationaction,goal,ormonitoringstrategyalignswiththosefromanotherplan.Forconservationplanswithdistinctobjectives,theobjectiveorstrategynumberisalsoincluded.Thislinkingofplansismeanttofacilitatetheexpansionofpartnerships.

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Badgett,G.andA.K.Davis.2015.Populationtrendsofmonarchsatanorthernmonitoringsite:analysesof19yearsoffallmigrationcountsatPeninsulaPoint,MI.AnnalsoftheEntomologicalSocietyofAmerica.Accessedat:dx.doi.org/10.1093/aesa/sav060.

BumbleBeeWatch.2013.BumbleBeeWatch:Bumblebeesightings[webapplication].Available:www.bumblebeewatch.org.(Accessed:August27,2015).

Casagrande,R.A.andJ.E.Dacey.2007.Monarchovipositiononswallowworts(Vincetoxicumspp.).EnvironmentalEntomology36(3):631-636.

Cohen,J.G.,M.A.Kost,B.S.Slaughter,andD.A.Albert.2015.AfieldguidetothenaturalcommunitiesofMichigan.MichiganStateUniversityPress,EastLansing,Michigan.362pp.

CommissionforEnvironmentalCooperation.2008.NorthAmericanMonarchConservationPlan.CommissionforEnvironmentalCooperation,Montreal,Canada.56pp.

Cuthrell,D.L.1999.SpecialanimalabstractforPapaipemabeeriana(BlazingStarBorer).MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory,Lansing,Michigan.3pp.

FaustL.,J.Szymanski,M.Redmer.2011.RangewideextinctionriskmodelingfortheEasternMassasaugaRattlesnake(Sistruruscatenatuscatenatus).U.S.FishandWildlifeService,FortSnelling,Minneapolis.66pp.

Gehring,J.L.2006.SpecialanimalabstractforIncisaliairus(Godart)(FrostedElfin).MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory,Lansing,Michigan.3pp.

Hatfield,R.,S.Jepsen,E.Mader,S.H.Black,andM.Shepherd.2012.Conservingbumblebees.GuidelinesforcreatingandmanaginghabitatforAmerica’sdecliningpollinators.TheXercesSocietyforInvertebrateConservation.Portland,Oregon.32pp.

Hopwood,J.,M.Vaughan,M.Sheperd,D.Biddinger,E.Mader,S.H.Black,C.Mazzacano.2012.Areneonicotinoidskillingbees?Areviewofresearchintotheeffectsofneonicotinoidinsecticidesonbees,withrecommendationsforaction.TheXercesSocietyforInvertebrateConservation.Portland,Oregon.32pp.

Hoving,C.L.,Y.Lee,P.J.Badra,andB.J.Klatt.2013.Changingclimate,changingwildlife:avulnerabilityassessmentof400speciesofgreatestconservationneedandgamespeciesinMichigan.WildlifeDivisionReportNo.3564.Lansing,Michigan.82pp.

Howey,C.A.F.andW.M.Roosenburg.2013.EffectsofprescribedfireontheEasternBoxTurtle(TerrapeneCarolinaCarolina).NortheasternNaturalist20:493-497.

Hyde,D.A.1999.SpecialanimalabstractforTerrapenec.carolina(EasternBoxTurtle).MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory,Lansing,Michigan.3pp.

Kost,M.A.2004.Naturalcommunityabstractfordrysandprairie.MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory,Lansing,MI.10pp.

Kost,M.A.,D.A.Albert,J.G.Cohen,B.S.Slaughter,R.K.Schillo,C.R.Weber,andK.A.Chapman.2007.NaturalcommunitiesofMichigan:classificationanddescription.MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory,ReportNo.2007-21,Lansing,Michigan.

Kost,M.A.,andB.S.Slaughter.2009.Naturalcommunityabstractformesicsandprairie.MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory,Lansing,MI.10pp.

Lee,Y.andJ.T.Legge.2000.SpecialanimalabstractforSistruruscatenatuscatenatus(EasternMassasauga).MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory,Lansing,Michigan.8pp.

MichiganDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR).2009.MichiganKarnerBlueButterflyHabitatConservationPlan.MichiganDepartmentofNaturalResources,LansingMichigan.113pp.

MichiganDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR).(2015a).DraftEasternMassasaugacandidateconservationagreementwithassurances.Manuscriptinpreparation.

MichiganDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR).(2015b).WildlifeDivisionSouthwestRegionalHabitatGuidance.

MichiganDepartmentofNaturalResources(DNR).(Draft).DraftMichiganTerrestrialInvasiveSpeciesStateManagementPlan.Manuscriptinpreparation.

MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory.2007.RareSpeciesExplorer(WebApplication).Availableonlineatmnfi.anr.msu.edu/explorer[Accessed08/10/2015].

Muladore,J.,S.Pendergrass,andR.Schillo.2006.ConservationplanningfortheGraylingsubdistrictofMichigan.TheNatureConservancyofMichiganandtheUniversityofMichigan.

NationalFish,WildlifeandPlantsClimateAdaptationPartnership.2012.NationalFish,WildlifeandPlantsClimateAdaptationStrategy.AssociationofFishandWildlifeAgencies,CouncilonEnvironmentalQuality,GreatLakesIndianFishandWildlifeCommission,

NationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministration,andU.S.FishandWildlifeService.Washington,DC.

TheNatureConservancy.2015.SouthernFensandSavannasConservationBusinessPlan.

Nielsen,M.1994.Anintroductiontoinsects.Pages329-392inD.Evers,editor.EndangeredandThreatenedWildlifeofMichigan.Univ.ofMichiganPress,AnnArbor,Michigan.

O’Connor,R.2006.Alandmanager’sguidetoprairiesandsavannasinMichigan:history,classificationandmanagement.Report2006-18.MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory,Lansing,Michigan.62pp.

Pearsall,D.,P.CartondeGrammont,C.Cavalieri,P.Doran,L.Elbing,D.Ewert,K.Hall,M.Herbert,M.Khoury,S.Mysorekar,S.Neville,J.Paskus,andA.Sasson.2012.Michigami:greatwater.StrategiestoconservethebiodiversityofLakeMichigan.TechnicalReport.AjointpublicationoftheNatureConservancyandMichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory.309pp.withappendices.

Pecenka,J.R.andJ.G.Lundgren.2015.Non-targeteffectsofclothianidinonMonarchButterflies.ScienceofNature.102:19,Publishedonline:03April2015.

Potter,B.A.,G.J.Soulliere,D.N.Ewert,M.G.Knutson,W.E.Thogmartin,J.S.Castrale,andM.J.Roell.2007.UpperMississippiRiverandGreatLakesRegionJointVentureLandbirdHabitatConservationStrategy.U.S.FishandWildlifeService,FortSnelling,Minnesota.124pp.

Rabe,M.L.2001.SpecialanimalabstractforLycaeidesmelissasamuelis(KarnerBlue).MichiganNaturalFeaturesInventory.Lansing,Michigan.6pp.

Szymanski,J.,C.Pollack,L.Ragan,M.Redmer,L.Clemency,K.Voorhies,andJ.JaKa.2015.SpeciesstatusassessmentfortheEasternMassasaugaRattlesnake(Sistruruscatenatus).U.S.FishandWildlifeService.July23,2015(v1).

USDAForestService,EasternRegion(USFS).2003.ConservationassessmentforBlazingStarBorerMoth(Papaipemabeeriana).USDAForestService.Milwaukee,Wisconsin.

USDAForestService(USFS).2015.Pollinator-FriendlyBMPsforFederalLands.USDAForestService.Milwaukee,Wisconsin.

U.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS).2001.ShiawasseeNationalWildlifeRefugecomprehensiveconservationplan.

U.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS).2003.FinalRecoveryPlanfortheKarnerBlueButterfly(LycaeidesMelissasamuelis).U.S.FishandWildlifeService,FortSnelling,Minnesota.273pp.

U.S.FishandWildlifeService–DivisionofMigratoryBirdManagementFocalSpeciesProgram(USFWS).2007a.AconservationactionplanfortheCeruleanWarbler(Dendroicacerulea).

U.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS).2007b.IndianaBat(Myotissodalis)draftrecoveryplan:firstrevision.U.S.FishandWildlifeService,FortSnelling,Minnesota.258pp.

U.S.FishandWildlifeService(USFWS).2012.KarnerBlueButterfly(Lycaeidesmelissasamuelis)5-yearreview:summaryandevaluation.NewFranken,Wisconsin.129pp.

XercesSociety.2015.Bumblebees:Rusty-patchedBumbleBee(Bombusaffinis)(website).Availableonlineat:www.xerces.org/rusty-patched-bumble-bee.(Accessed:August25,2015).

Photo CreditsEasternBoxTurtleandEasternMassasauga-JenniferMoore

Rusty-patchedBumbleBee-ChristyStewart

Monarch-MNFI,DaveCuthrell

Powesheik-USFWS,CoreySeeman

BlazingStarBorer-MNFI,DaveCuthrell

WhiteFalseIndigo(page4)-PierceCedarCreekInstitute

PrairieCorepsisandWesternSilveryAster(page4)-MNFI,BradSlaughter

PrairieSmoke(page4)-MNFI

FrostedElfin[pages6,13(leftphoto),and20]-MNFI

Habitat(page9)-USFS

Habitat(page10)-MNFI,BradSlaughter

FrostedElfin[page13(centerandrightphotos)]–KathyMalone

Habitat(page20)-USFS

Recommended CitationDerosier,A.L.,S.K.Hanshue,K.E.Wehrly,J.K.Farkas,andM.J.Nichols.2015.Michigan’sWildlifeActionPlan.MichiganDepartmentofNaturalResources,Lansing,MI.www.michigan.gov/dnrwildlifeactionplan

For More Information/References

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About The wildlife action plan

Today’s Priorities, Tomorrow’s Wildlife

EverystatehasaWildlifeActionPlan,whichtakentogethercreateanationalconservationstrategyforsafeguardingwildlifeandtheirhabitatsforcurrentandfuturegenerations.Eachstate’sactionplanisuniquelydesignedtoservetheneedsofthatstate.Theseplansprovideaframeworkforproactiveconservationandmanagementoffishandwildlifebeforetheybecomeimperiled,whichismorestraightforward,cost-efficient,andeffective.

Michigan’sWildlifeActionPlanwasdevelopedbyconservationpartnersacrossthestate.Itprovidesinformationaboutthosespeciesingreatestconservationneed.Theplanisorganizedbychaptersormini-plans.Eachmini-planoutlinesprioritiesforthenext10years.Themini-plansdetailpriorityhabitatsandfocalspeciesofgreatestconservationneed,statusofspeciesandhabitats,criticalthreats,neededconservationactions,placesforpartnerships,monitoringneeds,andgoals.Thisisoneof15mini-plans.Formoreinformationabouthowtheplanwasbuiltandtoreadothermini-plans,pleasevisit:www.michigan.gov/dnrwildlifeactionplan.