Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Research Progress
Migratory Bird Studies
 Snowy Plover |
Wetland fragmentation: effects on abundance and dispersal of wetland-dependent endangered species in California: ecology of western snowy plovers. Southern California's coastal wetlands provide critical habitat for many wetland-dependent species, but many of these species are jeopardized by habitat fragmentation. This study assesses the use of Southern California's coastal wetlands by the western snowy plover. Data collection on breeding biology of western snowy plovers, including nest success, survival, and dispersal of adult and juvenile snowy plovers at Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base began in March, 1999, and will continue on wintering plovers through March, 2000. The 1999 breeding season was not successful in comparison to 1994-1998. There were significantly fewer adult plovers in the breeding population and reproductive success was low. Data from this study were contributed to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Recovery Plan, Western Snowy Plover, Pacific Coast Population, which is currently in review in the FWS Region 1 Office. This study has resulted in five publications and one presentation to date. A Web site, http://comp.uark.edu/~anpowell/plover.html , is being developed on this research. Contact: abby_powell@usgs.gov. | |
Status and distribution of breeding grassland birds in tallgrass prairies of Great Plains national parks. Managers of small prairie parks need information regarding current populations of grassland birds and guidance on how to measure their populations. This study will produce baseline inventories for grassland birds in the parks and develop the required protocols. Data were collected on avian diversity and abundance in Pea Ridge National Battlefield, AR, Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, KS, Scott's Bluff National Monument, NE, Agate Fossil Beds National Monument, NE, Badlands National Park, SD, and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, ND in FY99. In addition, we collected data on habitat structure at those parks and at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, MO, Homestead National Monument, NE, and Pipestone National Monument, MN. Data are currently being analyzed. This study has resulted in two presentations to date. A Web site, http://comp.uark.edu/~anpowell/grasslands.html , is being developed on this research. Contact: abby_powell@usgs.gov.
Effects of clearing woody vegetation on breeding birds of the Platte River Valley. Upstream dams and water diversion have allowed woody vegetation to establish on Platte River islands and accretion lands. Efforts are underway to clear woody vegetation from selected sites for the benefit of sandhill cranes and waterfowl. This study assesses the effect of clearing on breeding bird communities. During FY 1999, 27 study areas were located and marked. Of these, 11 had been treated (cleared of large woody vegetation), 11 were untreated controls, and five were untreated sites that were scheduled for treatment. The last five sites will provide valuable before-and-after data for comparison. At each study area, investigators conducted censuses of Neotropical migrant and other birds twice during the breeding season. In addition, a variety of vegetational measurements were made at each area. Contact: douglas_h_johnson@usgs.gov.
Breeding bird use of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) fields in the northern prairie region. This long-term study has provided critical information about the values of the CRP to breeding grassland birds. Over 400 CRP fields are surveyed annually in Montana, North and South Dakota, and Minnesota. In 1999, an additional effort, with partial support from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, focused on the influence of landscape features on the use of CRP fields. Contact: douglas_h_johnson@usgs.gov.
Effects of water development on grassland birds in the Little Missouri National Grasslands. The development of stock ponds and other water resources for cattle in the Little Missouri Grasslands in western North Dakota will alter grazing patterns and may impact breeding bird use of the habitat. This two-year study, which began in 1999 in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and Colorado State University, will assess effects of water development on avian density and species richness. In the first field season, 100 sample points were established at various distances from wetlands to determine the influence of those water sources on cattle grazing and, in turn, grassland birds. At each point, breeding birds were censused and vegetation was measured. Contact: douglas_h_johnson@usgs.gov.
Evaluation of the Bird Conservation Area Concept in the northern tallgrass prairie. This study tests the hypothesis that large core areas of quality habitat (e.g., native prairie) surrounded by neutral habitat (e.g., small grain fields) and isolated from hostile habitat (e.g., woody vegetation) will result in reproductive rates sufficient to at least maintain populations of grassland birds. The evaluation, which was conducted in northwestern Minnesota in 1998, was expanded in 1999 to include sites in southeastern North Dakota. Forty-five study plots were established, in large and small grassland patches, and in neutral and hostile landscapes. Birds were censused and vegetation was measured on all plots, and nests were found and monitored on a subset of 30 plots. In 1999, 53 species were recorded on the plots, and 794 nests of 34 species were studied. Preliminary findings indicate that both the size of a grassland patch and the type of landscape it is embedded in influence the use by breeding birds. Contact: douglas_h_johnson@usgs.gov.
Effects of leafy spurge infestations on breeding birds of the Sheyenne National Grassland. Leafy spurge, an invasive Eurasian perennial, forms dense stands on millions of acres of rangeland and wildland in the northern Great Plains. Effects on wildlife are poorly quantified. With partial funding support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and in cooperation with Eastern Illinois University and the U.S. Forest Service, a study examining the effects of leafy spurge infestation on grassland birds was initiated in FY99. Early results suggest reduced use by birds of areas where spurge infestations were severe. Contact: douglas_h_johnson@usgs.gov.
Responses by breeding ducks to restored wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region: a landscape approach. Restoration of previously drained wetlands is of great interest to waterfowl managers within the Prairie Pothole Region. Several studies indicate that breeding ducks extensively use wetlands within 1-2 years following restoration. However, dabbling ducks also require upland nesting habitat for successful breeding. This study examines breeding duck use of restored wetlands relative to availability and fragmentation of nesting habitat. Field data were collected during spring and summer of 1997 and 1998, which were characterized by extreme wetness. Data were not collected during 1999 because conditions were even wetter. Data from the third and final field season will be collected during 2000. Preliminary results indicate that landscape factors (proportion of the upland landscape in perennial cover and numbers of nearby seasonal and semipermanent wetlands) synergistically influence both breeding pair density and production of dabbling ducks in North Dakota. Contact: robert_cox@usgs.gov.
 Snow geese | Spring staging ecology of greater white-fronted geese, lesser snow geese, and northern pintails in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) and Rainwater Basin (RB) of Nebraska. Increasing numbers of lesser snow geese using the RB and CPRV during the spring staging period may have increased competition for food resources among other waterfowl. This study examines diets, nutrient reserves, and time-activity budgets of lesser snow geese, greater white-fronted geese, and pintails during spring migration in Nebraska. Field data were collected during late winter and early spring of 1998 and 1999. Preliminary results indicate that body condition of white-fronted geese increases only marginally or not at all while in Nebraska during spring. These results contrast sharply to 20 years ago, when white-fronted geese increased body condition at 18-21 g/day. Large increases in numbers of mid-continent lesser snow geese in Nebraska during spring may be negatively influencing the ability of white-fronted geese to store fat through depletion of food resources (primarily corn) or through competitive exclusion. Contact: robert_cox@usgs.gov. | |
Development of techniques to identify predators of grassland songbirds. The goal of this study is to design a monitoring system appropriate for identifying predators at grassland bird nests without affecting the reproductive success of those birds. During FY99, miniature video cameras were deployed at 31 songbird nests at J. Clark Salyer National Wildlife Refuge and predators were recorded at 20 of these. Over four seasons, we have monitored 132 nests with cameras and documented predation at 58. Results to date indicate that at least 13 species depredate grassland songbird nests in the northern Great Plains. Nest predation by some of these species had not been documented previously (e.g., white-tailed deer, jumping mice). Brown-headed cowbirds, known for laying their eggs in the nests of other songbirds, also impact songbirds through direct destruction of eggs and young. Preliminary evaluations of techniques indicate that (1) our cameras did not increase nest predation but may increase nest abandonment, and (2) standard methods for identifying nest predators and assessing nest fates need modification. Contact: pam_pietz@usgs.gov.
 Sandhill crane and chick | Spring staging ecology of sandhill cranes in the Central Platte River Valley (CPRV) and its relation to reproduction. Nearly the entire midcontinent population of sandhill cranes, about 500,000 birds, stages along the CPRV each spring. This project examines whether the role of the Platte Valley in meeting nutrient needs for migration and reproduction has changed over the past 20 years, and if so, factors responsible for change. One aspect of the work involves identification of breeding areas, wintering grounds, and migration routes of cranes. Sixteen sandhill cranes were captured and fitted with satellite transmitters in the CPRV in spring 1999 and monitored during spring migration and on the breeding grounds. Tracking of fall migration began in August. Last year we successfully radiotracked four cranes to their wintering grounds. Movements of the cranes can be viewed on the NPWRC web site at http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/perm/cranemov/cranemov.htm . In FY99, a total of 110 sandhill cranes were collected in the CPRV to determine magnitude of change in carcass nutrient composition over the staging period. Also, waste corn was sampled during fall, early spring, and late spring on 23 randomly selected quarter sections in the CPRV. | |
 Mallard ducks | Survival rates and causes of mortality among mallard and gadwall ducklings in prairie pothole habitats. Detailed knowledge of survival rates of waterfowl broods and factors influencing survival are vital for managing North American waterfowl populations. This study seeks to obtain that information for mallards and gadwalls. Totals of 56 mallard brood hens, 185 mallard ducklings, and 273 gadwall broods were radio-marked and monitored during 1992-94. Data analysis, interpretation, and writing were ongoing in FY99. A manuscript addressing influence of landscape factors on total brood loss was accepted for publication in The Journal of Wildlife Management and another addressing factors controlling length of breeding in dabbling ducks was accepted for publication in The Auk . Analyses indicate that in mallards, total brood loss was 11 times more likely for broods hatched in landscapes where most wetlands were dry than in areas where most contained water. Also, total brood loss was five times more likely during rainy than dry periods. Contact: gary_krapu@usgs.gov. | |
Seasonal population dynamics of northern pintails, mallards, blue-winged teal, and northern shovelers in the Dakotas and Prairie Provinces. This study examines the influence of local water levels in prairie wetlands upon the selection of breeding area by representative species of dabbling ducks. Study areas in North and South Dakota, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan were surveyed annually from 1992-95. Analysis and manuscript preparation neared completion in FY99. Overall, wetland water levels do not appear to be a major factor in breeding duck numbers at the local scale. Contact: jane_austin@usgs.gov.
Evaluation of wetland and upland management practices at Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Grays Lake NWR is a large bulrush and wet meadow/grassland marsh in southeastern Idaho that is managed as nesting habitat for sandhill cranes, waterfowl, and other waterbirds. This cooperative study is designed to develop a systematic monitoring program to assess wildlife and habitat responses to meadow management practices. Treatments (burning, grazing) were successfully applied to experimental units in late summer and fall 1998. FY99 was the first of two years of post-treatment data collection in this four-year study. Efforts continued to collect data on breeding and nesting birds, small mammals, plant community and biomass, and the predator community. Although relatively few ducks nest in them, the wet meadows provide important nesting habitat for >20 bird species, and are particularly important to coots. Preliminary analyses of plant community data indicate strong relationships between plant species and communities and spring flooding conditions. Contact: jane_austin@usgs.gov.
Breeding ecology of sandhill cranes at Grays Lake. This study examines population status and nesting ecology of sandhill cranes at Grays Lake NWR (see above). Information from this study and earlier records will be synthesized to provide management guidance to refuge staff. During FY99, nest fate was determined for 145 nests, and elevation data were collected at 75 of these to assess influence of water level on success. Numbers of cranes were estimated in spring and fall. Preliminary assessment of the data suggest numbers of cranes using the Grays Lake basin (700-750 in spring and 1100-1400 in fall) are similar to those of the early 1970's. The lack of a strong relationship between crane nest success and water levels around the nest suggests increased water levels during spring may not contribute to improved nest success in most years. Contact: jane_austin@usgs.gov.
 Chestnut-collared longspur | Global climate change and range shifts of grassland birds: will the habitat be there? Earlier research has suggested that, under predicted global climate change scenarios, a number of grassland bird species will need to shift their breeding ranges if they are to maintain identified climatic tolerances. Funds were received in FY99 for a new study which is proceeding along both modeling and field investigation phases. The modeling part of the study will ascertain whether suitable habitat for grassland birds will likely exist in the predicted new areas with suitable climate for each species. It is recognized that bird distributions can shift rapidly, even from one year to another, in response to changes in climatic patterns. Habitat, such as grassland vegetation, cannot change nearly so rapidly. Further, geological features, such as unsuitable substrate or soils, may preclude shifts of suitable vegetation, as can anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and urbanization. The field investigation is intended to gain a more complete understanding of the exact features used by grassland birds to cue on when selecting breeding habitats. An analogy with waterfowl is appropriate. Their rapid responses to altered climatic patterns, such as drought and wet parts of the cycle, are well-known. Specifically, | |
Northern Prairie waterfowl nest file. Development of the Northern Prairie Waterfowl Nest File, a database of 120,000 duck nest success records dating back to the 1950s, continued at steady pace. Four thousand records from studies conducted by the Center and its cooperators in 1999 were added to the database. Seventeen summary reports of nest success were generated and distributed to nest file contributors. Estimates of nest success for the 1995-1999 period will be generated in FY2000 for use in population models and management decision support systems. Contact: terry_shaffer@usgs.gov.
Mammalian Studies
Determining possible role of prey nutrition in buffering wolf depredations on livestock. Depredation on livestock is a major concern in efforts to restore wolf populations. This project examines nutritional indices of deer, monitors deer mortality to wolf predation, and attempts to determine relationships between deer vulnerability and wolf depredation on livestock. In FY99, 25 deer were live-trapped, weighed, aged, and radio-collared, 10 with VHF collars and 15 with GPS collars. The 10 deer, plus 21 others collared in previous years, were located by radio-tracking from the air and ground an average of 30 times each. The GPS collars yielded an average of 729 locations per deer. Analysis of 8-23 years of data on wolf population and human harvest of buck deer indicated that size of the wolf population explained 14-22% of annual variation in buck harvest. For the part of the study area with poorest deer range, wolf population size accounted for 66-84% of the annual variation in harvest. Contact: david_mech@usgs.gov.
 Radio collaring a gray wolf | Determining factors affecting the forecasting of trends in restored wolf populations. This study in northeast Minnesota determines the role of disease and other factors that influence natural wolf populations. Results will provide understanding of factors that may impede restoration efforts elsewhere. In FY99, 10 new wolves and one radioed wolf were live-trapped, weighed, blood-sampled, and radio-tagged. These wolves, and 28 others already collared, were radio-tracked from the air and ground about 30 times each. Thirteen packs were aerially observed 2-13 times during winter and the number in each pack was determined. Results indicate wolf numbers in the study area declined by 9% from 1998 to 1999. The number of members and territory sizes of these packs in previous years were used this year in the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' estimate of the 1997-98 Minnesota wolf population. That estimate of 2,450 wolves indicated that Minnesota has met the wolf population criterion for delisting from the endangered species list. Contact: david_mech@usgs.gov. | |
Obtaining information from a pristine ecosystem to assess degraded ecosystems and assist in restoration ecology. An understanding of wolf ecology in a pristine ecosystem is needed to compare with populations in degraded ecosystems and ecosystems that are candidates for wolf restoration. The study population in Denali National Park, AK is less affected by human influences than any other in the U.S. Efforts in FY99 concentrated on data analysis and preparation of a manuscript examining mating patterns in the Denali and Minnesota wolf populations. A preliminary analysis indicates that the mated pairs of Denali and Superior National Forest wolves are significantly more closely related than random matings. Nevertheless they are not as closely related as sibling-sibling or parent-offspring dyads. Wolves may be seeking mates with some optimal degree of relatedness. Contact: david_mech@usgs.gov.
Assessing biology of a restored wolf population. This study at Yellowstone National Park is designed to determine the interactions between a restored wolf population and its prey. The results have ramifications for predicting wolf-prey relations throughout the west as wolves colonize new areas. Data on wolf predation on hundreds of elk and on 14 bison in the park were analyzed in FY99, and a manuscript was submitted. Bison-naive wolves learned to kill bison 21 days to 25 months after release and tended to take young or injured individuals or those in poor condition. Contact: david_mech@usgs.gov.
 Gray wolf | Examining wolf ecology in degraded ecosystems. Wolves have recently colonized disjunct sites in northwestern and central Minnesota. This study seeks to understand the ecology of wolves in areas of high human activity. Of interest are rates of increase, social spacing, movements, dispersal, and livestock depredation. Among other FY99 activities, two wolves that dispersed from Camp Ripley, MN, on the edge of wolf range, were tracked by satellite collar for periods of 6 to 9 months. One of the dispersing wolves traveled a minimum of 1,054 km and was killed by a coyote hunter just west of the Twin Cities, MN. The other traveled a minimum of 4,251 km to Green Bay and Eau Claire, WI, then reentered Minnesota and traveled back to Camp Ripley via Hinckley and the north edge of the Twin Cities. These two examples demonstrate that dispersing wolves from the edge of the wolf's range can tolerate traveling through developed areas, including those with numerous roads and highways. Contact: david_mech@usgs.gov. | |
Predator-prey relationships in fragmented grassland landscapes. Much of the formerly continuous prairie today consists of small patches of grassland separated by agricultural fields. An understanding of the role of patch size in predator-prey relationships is crucial to maximizing wildlife benefits of farm programs such as the Conservation Reserve Program. This study examines composition of the predator community and survival of duck nests in relation to size of patches of grassland nesting cover in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Data analyses were completed during FY99, and a manuscript was submitted. Daily nest survival rates were generally higher in larger than in smaller patches and red fox activity indices were higher in smaller than in larger patches. Contact: marsha_sovada@usgs.gov.
Swift fox ecology studies. Swift foxes have suffered major population declines and are now absent from much of their former range throughout the prairie states and provinces. Information fundamental to management of the swift fox is lacking. This study was undertaken in Kansas to develop basic understanding of swift fox biology and to test accuracy of survey methods currently used to monitor their populations. Data analysis and manuscript preparation continued in FY99. A manuscript on swift fox mortality was published, one on scent post surveys was accepted for publication, and another on swift fox food habits was submitted to a journal. Data are being analyzed on home range, habitat use, and survey methods. Results to date demonstrate that coyotes are the main cause of swift fox mortality, and although swift fox mortality is high, it is consistent with mortality rates among other canid species. Data also indicate that swift foxes living in cropland and rangeland have similar food habits, home range size, and reproductive rates. Contact: marsha_sovada@usgs.gov.
Behavioral interactions between captive swift foxes and red foxes. Factors that limit expansion of swift fox into unoccupied portions of their historic range are unknown. This study is testing the hypothesis that interspecific competition with red foxes may restrict spatial distribution and population size of swift fox. A two-year study of observations of swift and red fox interactions in an enclosure was completed in 1998. FY99 efforts involved analysis and manuscript preparation. Very preliminary results indicate likely interference competition between red and swift foxes, which could result in red foxes limiting pioneering of swift foxes into suitable habitat that is available. Moreover, competition from red foxes should be considered when reintroduction of swift foxes is intended as a conservation measure. Contact: marsha_sovada@usgs.gov.
 Black-tailed prairie dog | Black-tailed prairie dog biomonitoring protocol for seven prairie parks. Black-tailed prairie dogs, which presently occupy only 2% of their historic range, are a key species in efforts to maintain prairie biodiversity. Land management agencies are working to develop sound processes to manage the species within a systems context. Development of inventory and monitoring protocols, which are addressed in this study, are critical to success of that effort. During FY99 the first draft of this biomonitoring protocol was extensively revised and used by the staff at Scotts Bluff National Monument to conduct prairie dog population counts and map colony size. The prairie dog population at the park has increased over the past five years. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov. | |
Grasslands and Vegetation Management
 Aphrodite fritillary | Effects of size, fragmentation, and management of prairie remnants on butterfly species diversity and abundance. This research on 24 remnant tallgrass prairies will provide baseline information regarding butterfly species diversity, distribution, and abundance in midwestern prairies and selected prairie parks. Results will aid management of prairie remnants for butterfly diversity and provide a monitoring protocol to allow managers to detect changes over time. The study was completed in FY99. Prairie area was positively correlated with grassland specialist species richness in the two historically fragmented regions (the Driftless region and southwestern Missouri). Prairie size did not explain differences in grassland specialist species richness in the two historically continuous tallgrass prairie regions (the Flint Hills and the southern Prairie Pothole Region). Species densities were expected to vary according to guild membership and prairie size, but no consistent correlations were found between species densities and prairie area. Results from this study indicate that conservation efforts involving land acquisition for new preserves should not universally accept theoretical predictions from island biogeography theory with respect to butterfly communities in fragmented habitats. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov. | |
Inventory and monitoring of 24 rare plant species. The high botanical species diversity of mid-continental prairies is often the result of locally rare or ephemeral populations, rather than high rates of endemism. Within mid-continent area national parks, little is known about rare plants that are not federally listed as endangered. The goal of this project is to map distributions of rare plants in six national parks, quantify populations over time, and integrate rare plant monitoring with other monitoring programs. Results obtained during the 1997 and 1998 field seasons were analyzed in FY99; 46 populations representing 18 species were located. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov.
 Western prairie fringed orchid | Monitoring protocol development and testing for the threatened western prairie fringed orchid. The western prairie fringed orchid occurs in small populations in moist prairies in the upper midwest and prairie provinces. The goal of this project is to refine a monitoring protocol for the species at Pipestone National Monument in Minnesota. Data collection continued in 1999, with a survey in late July. Sixteen flowering plants were found in unit 2A. Results of annual counts of flowering orchids for the years 1993-1999 revealed a large variation in the number of flowering plants (range 0-55). When compared to the record of prescribed burns, two of the three years with low numbers of flowering plants coincided with the years when the orchid habitat was burned. The loss of flowering plants or reduction in the number of flowers per inflorescence could jeopardize reproduction, which is essential for long-term persistence of the orchid. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov. | |
 Sampling grassland vegetation | Vegetation dynamics of the riparian corridor, Jacks Fork and Current Rivers, Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri. The riparian zones of these rivers are subject to floods that significantly modify channel morphology and vegetation communities. Understanding how riparian vegetation changes with time and disturbance is vital to management. This study seeks to reassess vegetation at sites that were sampled in 1969 on the Jack's Fork, establish baseline data and monitoring protocols for other sites on the two rivers, and develop a classification system to characterize the riparian communities of both rivers. This study was completed in FY99. Nine historic vegetation plots were relocated and sampled. Conclusions were difficult to draw from the data due to the small number of plots located and the uncertainties regarding exact location of historic plot boundaries. Due to the difficulties in plot relocation and the paucity of plots, a larger, more comprehensive riparian ecological classification study was developed in cooperation with the Missouri Department of Conservation, and 159 long-term monitoring plots were established in Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Significant changes in the overstory basal area in three of the nine plots were due to river erosion | |
 Studying boreal relict plants | Microclimatic habitat characterization and population demographics of three boreal relict plant species in southern Missouri. Relict plants are locally rare species existing in site-specific microclimates far from the core of their current range. Pleistocene boreal relicts have persisted in small refugia with cool, moist microclimates atypical of their surrounding habitat. This study examines three boreal relict plants and their habitat along the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri. During FY99, 36 data loggers were installed on the faces of three bluffs that harbor relict populations, and temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity were recorded at 15-minute intervals from April through October. Light monitors were removed in mid-October, and temperature/relative humidity monitors were reset to record fall and winter data. Demographic data and tissue samples for isozyme analysis were collected for Zigadenus elegans . Less than 3% of Z. elegans individuals in the demographic samples produced flowers. Early analysis of microclimate data suggests that light intensity levels are lower in bluff locations without populations of Z. elegans. Contact: esther_schneider@usgs.gov. | |
Climate variations of the Ozark Highlands in the context of global change. In response to National Park Service concerns about resource management needs in an era of climatic change, this study is developing models to forecast long-term weather patterns in the Ozark Highlands. Data analysis continued in FY99. On the basis of principal component analysis of long-term climate records from a dense observational network over the United States, regression models were formulated and forecast experiments were conducted for monthly temperature and precipitation of the Ozark Highlands area. Predictors include the global sea surface temperature, hemispheric upper air fields, and local climate observations. The forecast experiments were performed for each month of the year with 15-year segments of data from 1961-75 to 1980-94 for years beyond the 15-year data periods. Results revealed useful and stable forecasting of the principal component regression models up to 10 years beyond the 15-year data period without significant deterioration of the models with time. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov.
Plant community monitoring protocol in the Prairie Cluster Long-term Ecological Monitoring Parks. The National Park Service's Prairie Cluster Long-term Ecological Monitoring Program is based on six small prairie parks that capture the biotic climatic diversity of all parks in the Great Plains. The program objective is to detect and describe long-term changes in grassland plant communities. Northern Prairie is developing and testing the protocols to be used in that program. The final year of field data was collected in five parks during FY99, and the final draft of the monitoring protocol is in progress. The protocol is addressing sampling design and questions of monitoring intensity and frequency. It is also developing statistics and summaries that can be used to describe the vegetation community on a yearly basis and analyses that can be used to look at change over time. The protocol will be flexible enough to be utilized in the study parks as well as in other prairie parks wishing to implement vegetation monitoring. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov.
Survey and ranking of non-indigenous plants in national parks. Invasion of exotic plants has been recognized as one of the most serious threats to the integrity of natural systems. National Park Service managers need information on which species occur within their park, potential effects of the species present, and the feasibility of control. This study was undertaken to address these questions at Theodore Roosevelt (TRNP) and Wind Cave National Parks. Field work was completed in FY98. FY99 activities were directed toward reporting and completion of a computerized ranking system for the species involved. The study demonstrated wide distribution of exotics in the survey areas; in the south unit of TRNP, for example, 38 exotics species were found, exotics were found in all vegetation types, and only 13% of 847 transects were free of exotic plants. Contact: diane_larson@usgs.gov.
Effect of leafy spurge infestation on pollination of native flowering plants in hardwood draws of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Large, fragrant stands of flowering leafy spurge, an invasive alien plant, attract a wide array of insect pollinators. This study examines the effects of leafy spurge stands on pollination of nearby native flowering plants. The study compared the proportion of leafy spurge and conspecific pollen on stigmas, and subsequent seed production of native blue flax at locations with and without leafy spurge infestations, and sampled insects visiting both plant species. Analysis and writing were completed in FY 99, and a manuscript was submitted for publication. Results show that pollinators are carrying leafy spurge pollen to stigmas of blue flax, and that if enough spurge pollen is deposited, seed production of the native plant suffers. No significant differences in the community of pollinators was found between leafy spurge and blue flax, or between blue flax with and without leafy spurge in the vicinity. Thus, leafy spurge infestations support large populations of generalist pollinators, to the potential detriment of native plants that also rely on these pollinators. Contact: diane_larson@usgs.gov.
Effects of prairie dog disturbance and ungulate grazing on native and non-native propagule banks in Badlands National Park. Invasive exotic plants are often associated with disturbed areas. This study, in cooperation with the National Park Service, examines effects of prairie dog disturbance and bison grazing, both alone and in combination, on composition of the seedbank. Of particular interest is the potential for native rangeland to regenerate on towns that have been poisoned for agricultural purposes, and the vegetative potential of prairie dog towns selected for black-footed ferret reintroductions. Analysis and manuscript preparation were ongoing in FY99. The propagule banks of prairie dog towns examined in this study were lacking in native grasses, but had abundant weed and annual plant seeds. Contact: diane_larson@usgs.gov.
Leafy spurge and Canada thistle biocontrol: achieving management objectives. Managing invasive plants is a complex issue, but what has become clear is that simply killing weeds is not an adequate management goal. This five-year study, begun in 1998 on national wildlife refuges in North and South Dakota, focuses on ways to achieve habitat goals using not only weed control, but also restoration techniques that will help re-establish the native community and make it more resistant to invasion. Data collection continued in FY99. Contact: diane_larson@usgs.gov.
Plant community response to biological and chemical control of leafy spurge in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota. Although biological control has been widely used to combat leafy spurge, in many cases land managers have lacked resources to evaluate the outcome of these control efforts. This study will determine the effect of two biocontrol agents and two herbicides on leafy spurge, on the native plant community, and on other alien invaders by habitat type. It will thus provide information which will allow managers to determine which method is most likely to be effective for leafy spurge control in various mixed-grass prairie habitat types, while at the same time causing the least impact to native plant communities. During FY99, vegetative measures were assessed on 550 plots receiving various operational treatments. An additional 54 plots were established to experimentally determine the effects of leafy spurge, biocontrol, herbicide, and nitrogen manipulation on native plant communities, nutrient cycling, and restoration potential in two vegetation types. Contact: diane_larson@usgs.gov.
 Yellow-headed black bird | Factors influencing soil macroinvertebrate communities in the riparian grasslands of the central Platte River flood plain. The rich riverine, wet meadow, and grassland habitats of the Platte River flood plain in Nebraska provide critical resources for a variety of migratory birds. Management of the river and riparian zone are hampered by lack of quantitative data relating hydrology to the riparian communities. This study was begun in FY99 to describe the macroinvertebrate community relative to hydrology, soil, and vegetation, and to assess the ecological processes affecting food resources for migrating sandhill and whooping cranes. Soil and macroinvertebrate samples were collected during four periods at three elevations at each of 12 sites along the central Platte River. Invertebrates were collected from soil block samples, surface litter, and pitfall samplers. Soil samples were submitted for lab analysis of carbon, nitrogen, organic matter, and alkalinity. Invertebrates from soil block samples and surface litter were sorted and identified. Root biomass was separated and weighed. Soil moisture levels in the riparian grasslands along the central Platte remained relatively high through mid-summer because of extensive precipitation. Contact: jane_austin@usgs.gov. | |
North Dakota Gap Analysis. Gap Analysis, a national USGS program, is a multi-institutional cooperative program conducted on a state-by-state basis. The goal is to improve biodiversity policy and planning by making digital maps and associated databases for land cover, vertebrate species distribution, and land ownership available to decision makers. NPWRC has the lead role in Gap Analysis for the state of North Dakota. During FY99, Thematic Mapper imagery was acquired to provide complete spring, summer, and fall coverage for the state, and a preliminary seven-class land cover classification was developed. Vegetation surveys were conducted on 30 study areas in eight ecoregions, and access was obtained to a number of preexisting vegetation databases. Land stewardship data were obtained from a number of agencies and requested from others. Checklists of all vertebrate species in North Dakota were completed and reviewed by experts. Locational data for herptiles, birds, and many mammals were assembled into GIS coverages, and range maps were completed and subjected to expert review. Literature reviews were started and wildlife-habitat relationship models were completed and reviewed for several vertebrate species. Contact: larry_strong@usgs.gov.
Wetland and Aquatic Ecosystems
Application of a distributed hydrology-vegetation model to the Jacks Fork Basin to predict changes in runoff due to climate change. This project is designed to predict potential effect of anticipated climate change upon streams in national parks within the Ozark Highlands of Missouri and Arkansas. During FY99, a distributed hydrology-vegetation model was calibrated using hourly data for the Jack's Fork River basin from June 1996 through November 1998. Except for minor differences, the simulated hydrographs for the two water years 1997 and 1998 are consistent with the observed hydrograph. The two-year simulation result was used as the baseline in comparison to model results using climate and land cover change scenarios developed from historic climate data and from possible vegetation changes in the basin. Results of the study suggest that even a small percentage change in land cover in the basin can have a drastic impact on annual stream discharge. Also, changes in regional climate will likely exaggerate the impacts of land cover changes on annual stream discharge. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov.
 Prairie stream | Macroinvertebrate biomonitoring protocol for four prairie streams. This research is directed toward development of a protocol for assessing condition of streams in national parks of the Great Plains based on macroinvertebrate communities. The project was completed in FY99 with analysis and reporting of 1998 data, final revision of the protocol, training of National Park Service staff to conduct future sampling, and coordination of the 1999 sampling effort. Macroinvertebrate sampling at Pipestone National Monument documented a progressive decline in water quality over the past several years. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov. | |
Development and validation of biocriteria for national parks in the prairie ecoregion. An important task in refining the use of benthic invertebrates for use in aquatic biomonitoring is to be able to separate the effects of habitat degradation (such as sedimentation) from those of chemical or biological alterations. This study examines the relationship between benthic macroinvertebrates and stream substrates to better understand the effects of sedimentation. During FY99 the response of benthic invertebrates to various levels of naturally deposited sediment was investigated in two Missouri streams. Three methods were used to quantify deposited sediment: a visual cover estimate, a measurement of the embedded height of individual substrate particles, and a volumetric measurement obtained by settling an Imhoff cone. Although the methods were highly correlated, the visual embeddedness measure was less labor intensive and as good or better than the other two methods at detecting effects on invertebrates. Contact: gary_willson@usgs.gov.
Effects of water development on the hydrologic features and the biological communities of palustrine wetlands and adjacent mixed-grass prairie uplands in western North Dakota. Development of water resources for grazing in the semiarid Little Missouri Grasslands frequently involves damming and deepening natural drainages, with unknown impacts on the aquatic systems. This study evaluates the effects of these alterations on drainage hydrology and selected components of the aquatic community. All field data were collected in FY99 for this project but some laboratory work remains to be completed in early FY2000. Contact: ned_euliss@usgs.gov.
 Created wetland in western North Dakota | Assessing wetland productivity to time drawdowns at the Tewaukon National Wildlife Refuge. Wetland managers need quantitative feedback on how wetlands respond to specific management practices in order to develop more effective management practices. This 5-year cooperative study evaluates the use of sediment tube samplers to estimate secondary productivity of wetlands in a refuge setting. In theory, annual production indices will allow refuge staff to identify when specific wetlands begin to lose productivity and need to be revitalized by drawdown. Thirty-six secondary production tubes were installed in each of two refuge wetlands in spring, 1999, to obtain an estimate of sample variance. Samples were collected in October and will be used to determine if a sufficient number of tubes are installed. Secondary production tubes will be reset in early spring, 2000 and a third wetland will be fitted with tubes to begin the first full year of monitoring for this effort. Contact: ned_euliss@usgs.gov. | |
Hydrogeomorphic model analysis. This is a cooperative project with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) that will test the Hydrogeomorphic Model developed for wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region. The model is being developed by NRCS as a tool to help prevent loss of wetland function by activities proposed in farm plans. The Center has completed the analysis of the preliminary data set and is currently waiting for NRCS personnel to complete their field call estimates. Once this is complete and the Center receives their subjective field calls, we will perform an additional analysis that will compare subjective field calls with empirical data collected in a related study. No results are available at this time. Contact: ned_euliss@usgs.gov.
 Instrumented wetland on Cottonwood Lake Study Area | Wetland restoration literature synthesis. NPWRC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are collaborating to develop a management-oriented synthesis of available literature on wetland restoration in the Prairie Pothole Region. The first draft - Knutsen, G. A., and N. H. Euliss, Jr. Wetland restoration in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America: A literature review. 162 pp - was completed in FY99 and is undergoing peer review. Contact: ned_euliss@usgs.gov. | |
The Cottonwood Lake Study Area: long-term monitoring of the dynamics in hydrology, chemistry, and biology of a prairie wetland complex. An extensive, multifaceted cooperative research and monitoring program has been ongoing at the Cottonwood Lake Study Area since 1967 (see http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/clsa/index.htm ). In 1992 the collection of biotic data was expanded to document vertebrate wildlife and macroinvertebrate responses to long-term climatic cycles. In FY99, another year's worth of hydrological, chemical, and biological data was added to the extensive data sets associated with this long-term monitoring effort. Data analysis is ongoing, and one manuscript was completed and peer-reviewed. Water levels remained far above normal for another year in the semi-permanent wetlands at the study area. Much of the nutrients available in the water when these wetlands reflooded in 1993 have been tied up in unusable forms, resulting in declines in aquatic invertebrate populations and ultimately in declines in use by waterfowl and other breeding birds. Very few semipermanent wetlands currently support emergent vegetation due to the extreme water depths. This lack of emergent cover has resulted in a sharp decline in the numbers of marsh wrens, American coots, rails, and other birds dependent upon emergent cover. Several seasonal wetlands at the study area have returned to more normal water regimes (i.e. drying up and oxidizing the sediments during late July-August) and are producing an abundant food source for breeding birds in the form of aquatic invertebrates. Salamander populations at the study area remain at fairly low levels after peaking in 1996, also reflecting the unavailability of nutrients in the semipermanent wetlands. Contact: ned_euliss@usgs.gov.
Impact of global climate change on aquatic invertebrates in the northern Great Plains. Aquatic invertebrates are the critical link between primary producers and many species of wetland-dependent wildlife. This study analyzes biological data from the Cottonwood Lake Study Area (see previous paragraph) in relation to climate variations. This is a cooperative project with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, which will perform the climate analysis. The goal is to develop a model that will allow the prediction of the effects of various climate change scenarios on the aquatic invertebrate communities of prairie wetlands. This work was ongoing in FY99, and no conclusions are available. Contact: ned_euliss@usgs.gov.
A decision support model for prioritizing wetland restoration in the northern Great Plains. The goal of this study is to produce a decision-support model that can be used by professional ecologists/biologists to compare potential wetland restoration sites. Decisions will be based on geographic data that examine wetland functions such as water storage and hydrologic function. Work continued in FY99 to develop algorithms for quantifying a suite of wetland functions. Contact: ned_euliss@usgs.gov.
 Invertebrate remains in tilled wetland | Use of aquatic invertebrates to identify and delineate temporary and seasonal wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region. It is often essential for agricultural and wildlife managers to accurately identify, classify, and determine the boundaries of tilled temporary and seasonal prairie wetlands in cultivated fields. This study investigates use of aquatic invertebrate remains (shells, eggs, exoskeletons, etc.) for that purpose. Data analysis and writing continued in FY99. A draft manuscript was completed and submitted for Center review. Findings indicate that remains of aquatic invertebrates can be used to identify, delineate, and classify wetlands under conditions where conventional methods do not work. Contact: ned_euliss@usgs.gov. | |
 Taking a sediment core | Areal extent of sediment overburden in restored prairie wetlands and the impact on recolonization by aquatic invertebrates and hydrophytes in the United States Prairie Pothole Region. Drained wetland basins in agricultural fields in the Prairie Pothole Region may receive heavy sedimentation due to cultivation of the surrounding watershed. Knowledge of the effects of sediment on the functions and values of restored wetlands will allow managers to better evaluate restoration potential of wetlands with significant sediment overburdens. This study examines the spatial extent of sediment overburdens in drained, natural, and restored wetlands, and experimentally examines the influence of sediment overburden on recolonization potential of aquatic invertebrates and plants. During FY99, soil cores were collected from 60 of the 204 selected wetlands for determination of sediment overburden, and experimental treatments were completed. Preliminary results indicate that covering wetland soils with 0.5 cm (vertical depth) of sediment greatly reduces emergence of plants and invertebrates. Invertebrate egg banks appeared to be more sensitive to sediment effects than did plant seeds. Covering wetland soils with sediment essentially eliminated invertebrate | |
 Wetland siltation | Evaluation of restored wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of the United States. More wetlands have been restored in the PPR than in any other region of the country. Although the goal of these efforts has been to restore functions and biotic communities to predrainage conditions, little scientific information has been available to guide restoration work. This study is part of a multiagency effort, coordinated by NPWRC, to address these information needs. Specifically, this study consists of an extensive survey of critical hydrological, biological, and chemical variables of a large sample of restored wetlands and their natural analogues throughout the PPR. The Center and its cooperators will then conduct selected intensive studies on subsets of the survey wetlands. The survey was completed in 1997. During FY99, we analyzed soil carbon and nitrogen data collected on 204 prairie wetlands from the following treatment groups: 1) drained wetlands, 2) restored wetlands, 3) non-drained farmed wetlands, and 4) pristine wetlands. Additionally, we provided numerous data sets to collaborators and prepared manuscripts on carbon sequestration in pristine and restored prairie wetlands and a floristic quality index for evaluating | |
Social Science Studies in the National Parks
NPWRC partially funds operations of the University of Minnesota Cooperative Park Studies Unit (UMN CPSU). Consistent with the Center's limited contribution to the CPSU, we have elected to illustrate the nature of their work in FY99 by highlighting one study and providing a list of other ongoing projects. Publications related to work partially supported by NPWRC are also listed. For further information on this program, contact David Lime dlime@forestry.umn.edu.
 Surveying national park visitors | Monitoring visitor reactions to the National Park Service Recreational Fee Demonstration Program. Under Public Law 104-134, Congress authorized the National Park Service (NPS) to implement a three-year Recreational Fee Demonstration Program to increase entrance and other recreational fees within specified park units. Beginning in 1997, individual parks participating in this program were allowed to keep 80% of the increased revenue, with the remaining 20% retained by the NPS. To help monitor and assess visitor reactions to this program, we interviewed over 1,300 visitors at 11 national park units in 1997. During FY99, an additional 1,100 visitors were again interviewed at nine of these units. The areas visited represent a cross section of NPS sites and include different types of park units, different kinds of new recreation fee programs, and different regions of the United States. The NPS, Department of the Interior, and Congress are using the information obtained from visitor interviews for continued evaluation of the Recreational Fee Demonstration Program. Survey results were consistent between years, and demonstrate that the majority of visitors accepted the new fees. Overall, 89% of all survey respondents in 1999 indicated the fees they paid | |
Other Social Science Studies ongoing in FY99
- Defining indicators and standards of experience quality: a handbook - completed
- Arches National Park: defining indicators and standards of experience quality - data analysis ongoing
- Capitol Reef National Park: defining indicators and standards of experience quality - data analysis ongoing
- Isle Royale National Park: defining indicators and standards of experience quality - data analysis and report writing ongoing
- Visitor's reactions to recreational fees in national parks - data analysis and report writing ongoing
- Visitor's reactions to recreational fees in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness - data collection, analysis and report writing ongoing
- Visitor's reactions to the 1999 July 4th storm in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness - data collection, analysis and report writing ongoing
- Evaluating an education program at Hopewell National Historical Park - data collection and analysis ongoing
- Evaluating a computerized non-indigenous plant ranking system - competed
- Canyonlands National Park Visitor Survey - data analysis and report writing ongoing
- Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore Visitor Survey - data collection ongoing
- Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Visitor Survey - data collection ongoing
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial Visitor Survey - data analysis and report writing ongoing
- Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Visitor Survey - data collection ongoing
- Devils Tower National Monument Visitor Survey - data collection ongoing
- Human Dimensions of Wildlife Workshop - discussions initiated, program being developed. Workshop will be held February 1-3, 2000
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