Researchers at Northern Prairie Science Center will present information at national conference

First North American Duck Symposium will highlight research, in an exchange to get word out faster

Article taken from The Jamestown Sun, Saturday, February 8, 1997
by
Scott Kraus, Sun Staff Writer

As the premier research center in the nation's premier duck factory, the Northern Prairie Science Center near Jamestown is a natural resource for a national conference on ducks next week. Nine local researchers will present papers Feb. 12-16 in Baton Rouge, La., at the First North American Duck Symposium and Workshop, said center researcher Bob Cox.

"It gets everybody together and lets you know what's going on from a much broader perspective then you normally see in day-to-day activities," Cox said. "Kind of step back and see the big picture."

The rolling hills and potholes in this area of the United States — which includes South Dakota, central and eastern North Dakota, and parts of Canada — is a breeding ground for ducks. Up to 75 percent of the nation's ducks are produced in that area during wet years, he said.

The shaded area in the center of this map shows the Praire Pothole Region, which produces a major share of the nation's ducks during wet years. The Northern Prairie Science Center near Jamestown does extensive duck research in this area.

"It's the lifeblood of duck production," he said. "Basically it provides a unique mix of water and nesting cover."

It's also where-the center, which employs about 50 permanent employees, does most of its research.

"It's really important from a research perspective to know what's going on here in this area," he said.

In fact, the center has bid to hold the national conference, which attracts about 500 people for a week, at Jamestown in the year 2000.

"I'm hoping that we'll be successful in holding it here," Cox said.

The conference speeds up the exchange of information between researchers. Publishing a paper in a journal can take a year.

"This is a much quicker way to exchange information; let people know about new techniques," Cox said.

Northern Prairie Researchers have got plenty of information to exchange.

"We've got a really wide diversity of stuff we'll be talking about," Cox said.

Map of North America showing locations of arctic tundra region (adapted from Polunin [1960]), prairie parkland region (adapted from Mann [1974]), and locations of certain areas referenced in text (1 = Copper River Delta, 2 = Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, 3 = Anderson River Delta, 4 = Baffin Island, 5 = Queen Maud Gulf, 6 = McConnell River Delta, 7 = Southhampon Island, 8 = La Perouse Bay, 9 = Cape Dorset, 10 = Egg Island, 11 = Cape Churchill, 12 = Wrangel Island, 13 = Aleutian Islands, 14 = Hudson Bay Lowlands).

Doug Johnson and Cox will present information about how invertebrates impact the growth and survival of mallard ducklings. The potholes here produce a lot of invertebrates because they dry out periodically. So vegetation regrows in the pothole and restores nutrients, which support the tiny invertebrates that feed the ducks when the potholes refill.

"Net productivity is much, much lower with permanent water than with fluctuating water," he said.

Gary Krapu, Pam Pietz and Dave Brandt will talk about using landscape information to predict survival rates of mallard and gadwall ducklings. They found they can predict what percentage of hatched mallard ducklings will survive by knowing the percentage of wetland basins that have water. This approach can help improve estimates of mallard production on managed lands and across the Prairie Pothole Region.

Terry Shaffer and Ray Greenwood will speak about how the Conservation Reserve Program has provided valuable nesting cover for ducks. Ducks need safe nesting cover, in addition to plentiful water, to successfully raise broods. The millions of acres of CRP in the prairie pothole region has provided that cover.

Jane Austin will speak about how spring habitat conditions impact where dabbling ducks tend to settle for breeding. And Pietz and Austin will also talk about telemetry and marking techniques for tracking wildlife.

"We've been excited about it for a long time," Cox said. "It's just a chance to exchange ideas and bring yourself up to date on what everybody else in America is doing."