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IOWA COOPERATIVE FISH AND

WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT

ANNUAL REPORTVolume 71October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006

COOPERATING AGENCIES:U.S. Geological Survey, Biological ResourcesIowa Department of Natural ResourcesIowa State UniversityWildlife Management Institute



Photo Acknowledgements:Cover: Rolf KofordPersonnel: Dave OtisCompleted Fisheries/Aquatic Projects: Dave RoweCurrent Fisheries/Aquatic Projects: Clay PierceCompleted Wildlife/Terrestrial Projects: Rolf KofordCurrent Wildlife/Terrestrial Projects: Dave OtisCooperating Faculty Projects: Mike Quist

IOWA COOPERATIVE FISH AND

WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT

ANNUAL REPORT

Volume 71October 1, 2005 - September 30, 2006

COOPERATING AGENCIES:U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources

Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesIowa State University

Wildlife Management Institute

Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit338 Science II, Iowa State University

Ames, IA 50011-3221Telephone: (515) 294-3056

Fax: (515) 294-5468E-mail: [email protected]://www.cfwru.iastate.edu

Table of ContentsPERSONNEL AND COOPERATORS ....................................................................................... 1Unit Coordinating Committee .............................................................................................................. 2Unit Staff .............................................................................................................................................. 2Graduate Students ................................................................................................................................. 2Unit-affiliated Research Staff ............................................................................................................... 3University Cooperators ......................................................................................................................... 3Iowa Department of Natural Resources Cooperators ........................................................................... 4Other Cooperators ................................................................................................................................ 5

COMPLETED FISHERIES/AQUATIC PROJECTS .................................................................... 7Monitoring of Fish Movement, Condition, Community Structure and Invertebrate Communities

Following Modification of Two Streambed Grade Control Structures in Turkey Creek, CassCounty, Iowa ................................................................................................................................... 8

The Iowa Rivers Information System (IRIS) ....................................................................................... 9

CURRENT FISHERIES/AQUATIC PROJECTS....................................................................... 11Physical Habitat Component of the Iowa REMAP Program.............................................................. 12Radio-telemetry Investigation of Common Carp in Clear Lake, Iowa .............................................. 13Relationships of Fish Communities and Availability of Deep-water Habitat .................................... 14An Integrated Immunological-GIS Approach for Bio-monitoring of Ecological Impacts of Swine

Manure Pollutants in Streams ....................................................................................................... 15

COMPLETED WILDLIFE/TERRESTRIAL PROJECTS............................................................ 17Evaluation of the Statistical Properties of Grand Canyon Humpback Chub Abundance and Trend

Estimates Produced from ASMR and Alternative Mark-Recapture Models ................................ 18Planning and Design of Field Surveys for Wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Iowa 19National Mourning Dove Banding Study ........................................................................................... 20Development and Evaluation of Mourning Dove Population Models for Optimizing National Har-

vest Management Strategies ......................................................................................................... 21Nest Success and Brood Habitat Selection of the Northern Bobwhite in Managed and Unmanaged

Landscapes ................................................................................................................................... 22Development and Evaluation of Sampling Designs for Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance Pro-

grams ............................................................................................................................................ 23

CURRENT WILDLIFE/TERRESTRIAL PROJECTS ................................................................ 25Development of Harvest Strategies for Mourning Doves .................................................................. 26Bird Response to Enhanced Vegetation Diversity in the Spring Run Complex of NW Iowa ............ 27Development & Evaluation of Methods for Regional Monitoring of Mourning Dove Recruitment . 28Amphibian Malformation and Disease in Midwestern Landscapes ................................................... 29

COOPERATING FACULTY PROJECTS ................................................................................ 31The Use of Cattle-Grazing and Fire as Management Tools to Maintain Biodiversity on Grassland

Reserves in Southern Iowa ........................................................................................................... 32Best Management Practices for Aquatic Vegetation in Iowa Lakes ................................................... 33Distribution and Population Dynamics of Bobcats in Iowa ............................................................... 34Develop a User-Friendly Interface for Iowa’s Lake Databases – Watershed, Water Quality and

Fisheries ........................................................................................................................................ 35Development of an Invertebrate-based Terrestrial Index of Biotic Integrity ..................................... 36Effects of Commercial Harvest on Shovelnose Sturgeon in the Upper Mississippi River ................ 37Iowa NatureMapping: Enhancing Comprehensive Wildlife Management through Internet GIS

Mapping Technology .................................................................................................................... 38Genetic Variation of Northern and Southern Populations of Quadrula fragosa (Conrad, 1835) using

Microsatellites .............................................................................................................................. 39The Effect of Preserve and Conservation Site Clustering on Local Amphibian Densities and Species

Richness ........................................................................................................................................ 40Response of Forest Birds to Changes in Land Use/Land Cover in the Driftless Area of Northeastern

Iowa .............................................................................................................................................. 41Assessment of Interrelationships between the Fisheries Community and Limnological Characteris-

tics in Iowa Lakes ......................................................................................................................... 42Best Management Practices for Channel Catfish Culture in Plastic-Lined Ponds ............................. 43Effects of Prairie Restoration Using Fire and Grazing Regimes on the Butterfly Community of

Iowa’s Loess Hills ........................................................................................................................ 44Population dynamics and dispersal of bobcats in Iowa ...................................................................... 45Spatial Analysis of Waterfowl-Predator Interactions ......................................................................... 46Landscape Ecology of Mississippi River Mussels: Multiple Scale Metapopulation Perspective in

Unionid Population Biology ......................................................................................................... 47

PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS ......................................................................................... 49Scientific ............................................................................................................................................. 50Theses and Dissertations .................................................................................................................... 50Technical and Semi-Technical Reports .............................................................................................. 51Posters and Papers Presented at Professional Meetings ..................................................................... 51

SERVICE ........................................................................................................................ 52

AWARDS ........................................................................................................................ 53

NEWS ............................................................................................................................ 53

PERSONNEL

AND

COOPERATORS

PERSONNEL

AND

COOPERATORS

PERSONNEL

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COOPERATORS

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Unit Coordinating Committee

Unit Staff

David L. Otis Leader and Professor of Natural Resource Ecology and ManagementRolf R. Koford Assistant Leader for Wildlife and Assistant Professor of Natural Resource

Ecology and ManagementClay L. Pierce Assistant Leader for Fisheries and Assistant Professor of Natural Resource

Ecology and ManagementBrenda Van Beek Administrative Specialist, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and

Management

Graduate Students

Ernst, Megan A. Unit-affiliated student M.S.Hemmingsen, Amanda Unit-affiliated student M.S.Huang, Ling Unit-affiliated student M.S.Jackson, Zachary J. Unit-affiliated student M.S.Johnson, Anne Unit-affiliated student M.S.Koch, Jeff Unit student M.S.Koehler, Stephanie Unit-affiliated student M.S.Kring, Len M. Unit-affiliated student M.S.LeBrun, Jaymi Unit-affiliated student M.S.Litvan, Mary E. Unit student M.S.Loda, Jennifer Unit student M.S.McGranahan, Devan Unit-affiliated student M.S.Miller, David A. Unit student Ph.D.Orlofske, Jessica Unit-affiliated student M.S.Penne, Christopher R. Unit student M.S.Pillsbury, Finn Unit-affiliated student Ph.D.

David M. Engle, ChairDepartment of Natural Resource Ecology andManagementIowa State University339 Science IIAmes, IA 50011-3221(515) 294-1458

Patrick RubleMidwest RepresentativeWildlife Management Institute93 Central Station PlaceJohnstown, Ohio 43031-8400(740) 966-0496

Michael TomeEastern Units SupervisorCooperative Research UnitsU.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resources12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., MS 303Reston, VA 20192(703) 648-4260

Dale Garner and Marion ConoverWildlife and Fisheries Bureau ChiefsIowa Department of Natural Resources503 E. 9th St.Des Moines, IA 50319-0034(515) 281-5918

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Potter, Lisa M. Unit student M.S.Reding, Dawn M. Unit-affiliated student Ph.D.Rowe, David C. Unit student M.S.Tessin, Dale H. Unit-affiliated student Ph.D.Vogel, Jennifer A. Unit student Ph.D.Woolnough, Daelyn Unit-affiliated student Ph.D.

Unit-affiliated Research Staff

George Antoniou Assistant ScientistPatrick Brown Systems AnalystKaren Kinkead Postdoc/Assistant ScientistJason O’Brien Extension Program AssistantRobin McNeely Systems Analyst

Laboratory and Field Technicians

University Cooperators

Bowen, Bonnie S. Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Ecology, Evolution and OrganismalBiology (EEOB)

Bronikowski, Anne Assistant Professor, Department of EEOBClark, William R. Professor, Department of EEOBColletti, Joseph C. Senior Associate Dean, College of AgricultureDanielson, Brent J. Associate Professor, Department of EEOBDebinski, Diane M. Associate Professor, Department of EEOBDixon, Philip M. Professor, Department of StatisticsDowning, John A. Professor, Department of EEOBEngle, David M. Professor and Chair, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and

Management (NREM)Kane, Kevin Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Landscape Architecture and

Manager, ISU GIS FacilityKlaas, Erwin E. Professor Emeritus, Department of NREMMenzel, Bruce W. Professor Emeritus, Department of NREM

Ahrens, NickBartachek, KyleBock, IaianBozwell, JamieBrandt, BenCold, HelenCole, AaronDavros, NicoleDeBoom, CoreyDeRocher, JillFisher, Kari

Goering TravisHall, L. EmbereHangsleben, MattHarr, RyanHoly, ChadJansen, AndrewJohnson, AnnKrogh, SonyaKwak, SusanLitvan, MaryLoan-Wilsey, Anna

Lore, JonObrecht, JoshuaPowers, RussellRaese, JoshuaRandall, ThomasRemus, AdamRusk, JoshRusk, ShannonSchreck, WilliamSteffen, ChrisWahl, Andy

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Miller, James R. Assistant Professor, Departments of NREM and Landscape ArchitectureMorris, Joseph E. Associate Professor, Department of NREM; Associate Director, USDA North

Central Regional Aquaculture CenterNusser, Sarah M. Professor, Department of StatisticsPaliæ, Dušan Adjunct Assistant Professor, Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive MedicinePease, James L. Assistant Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist, NREMQuist, Michael C. Assistant Professor, Department of NREMRoth, James A. Distinguished Professor, Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive

MedicineSchulte, Lisa Assistant Professor, Department of NREMSerb, Jeanne Assistant Professor, Department of EEOBStewart, Timothy W. Assistant Professor, Department of NREMWintersteen, Wendy Dean, College of Agriculture

Iowa Department of Natural Resources Cooperators

Andrews, Ron Wildlife Biologist, Clear Lake, IABishop, Richard A. Wildlife Bureau Chief (retired), Des Moines, IABogenshutz, Todd R. Upland Game Biologist, Boone, IABonneau, Donald L. Fisheries Research Supervisor, Des Moines, IAConover, Marion Fisheries Bureau Chief, Des Moines, IAEhresman, Bruce Nongame Wildlife Biologist, Boone, IAEvelsizer, Vince Wetland Biologist, Iowa City, IAGarner, Dale Wildlife Bureau Chief, Des Moines, IAGelwicks, Gregory T. Fisheries Biologist, Manchester, IAGiglierano, Jim Geologist, Iowa City, IAGosselink, Todd E. Wildlife Biologist, Chariton, IAHansen, Kirk Fisheries Biologist, Bellevue, IAHancock, Alan Wildlife Technician, Clear Lake, IAHarr, Douglas Wildlife Diversity Program Coordinator, Des Moines, IAHawkins, Michael Fisheries Biologist, Spirit Lake, IAHowing, Ron Wildlife Biologist, Estherville, IALarscheid, Joe G. Fisheries Biologist, Spirit Lake, IALaRue, Chris Wildlife Biologist, Spirit Lake, IALarson, Chris J. Fisheries Biologist, Lewis, IALittle, Terry W. Wildlife Research Supervisor (retired), Des Moines, IAMcInroy, Mark Wildlife Technician, Boone, IAShepherd, Stephanie Wildlife Technician, Boone, IASteffen, Chuck Wildlife Biologist, Ottumwa, IASteuck, Michael Fisheries Biologist, Bellevue, IASuchy, Willie Wildlife Research Supervisor, Des Moines, IAVonk, Jeffrey Director, Des Moines, IAWilton, Thomas F. Geological Survey Bureau, Spirit Lake, IAZenner, Guy Wildlife Biologist, Clear Lake, IA

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Other Cooperators

Bunck, Christine USGS, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WICole, Rebecca USGS, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WICoggins, Lew USGS, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center, Flagstaff, AZDolton, David FWS, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Denver, COEstey, Mike FWS, Habitat & Population Evaluation Team, Bismarck, NDGreen, David USGS, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WIHeisey, Dennis USGS, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, WIHowerter, David Ducks Unlimited, Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl ResearchKelly, Sean FWS, Region 3, Ft. Snelling, MNKoneff, Mark FWS, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Laurel, MDNaugle, David University of Montana, Missoula, MTNewton, Teresa J. USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, LaCrosse, WINiemuth, Neal FWS, Habitat & Population Evaluation Team, Bismarck, NDPadding, Paul FWS, Division of Migratory Bird Management, Laurel, MDReynolds, Ron FWS, Habitat & Population Evaluation Team, Bismarck, NDRosburg, Tom Drake University, Des Moines, IASauer, John USGS, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MDSchulz, John Missouri Department of Conservation, Columbia, MOShort, Patrick Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Prairie du Chien, WI

COMPLETED

FISHERIES/AQUATIC

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COMPLETED

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COMPLETED FISHERIES PROJECTS

Monitoring of Fish Movement, Condition, Community Structure andInvertebrate Communities Following Modification of Two StreambedGrade Control Structures in Turkey Creek, Cass County, Iowa

Principal Investigators: Clay L. PierceTimothy W. Stewart

Student Investigator: Mary Litvan (M.S.)Collaborators: Christopher Larson, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: March 2004 to August 2006Funding Source(s): U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Hungry

Canyons AllianceGoals and Objectives:o To determine if a 1:15 back slope design will allow upstream and downstream passage of fishes.o To determine if there are differences in the condition and community structure of fish in proximity to weirs with 1:15

back slopes, 1:4 back slopes, and not associated with weirs.o To determine if macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity differ at weirs, and in areas both near and far from weirs.o To provide demonstration sites of successful structures to HCA members and other potential stakeholders.

Progress:Project is complete. Products include an M.S. thesis, final reports to each funding agency, a presentation at theAmerican Fisheries Society national meeting, and two manuscripts submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

Conclusions and Recommendations:Nearly 400 rock rip-rap grade control structures (hereafter GCS), were recently placed in streams of western Iowa, USA toreduce streambank erosion and protect bridge infrastructure and farmland. In this region, streambeds are dominated bysilt and sand substrates and normally support low macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity. Therefore GCS composedof rip-rap may provide critical habitat for benthic macroinvertebrates. Macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity weregreatest at sites with coarse substrates (cobble/boulder), including GCS sites and one natural riffle site. Densities ofseveral families in the orders Ephemeroptera (Baetidae, Heptageniidae, Isonychiidae, Tricorythidae), Trichoptera(Hydropsychidae, Hydroptilidae), Diptera (Chironomidae, Empididae, Simuliidae), Coleoptera (Elmidae), and Acariformesresponded positively to increased substrate particle size (adj. r2 > 0.19, P < 0.031) and were abundant on GCS riprap.With possible exception of flow velocity and depth that were highly correlated with particle size, no other measuredenvironmental variable was significantly related to macroinvertebrate assemblage characteristics (P > 0.05). Localincreases in macroinvertebrate density, biomass, and diversity at GCS may increase efficiency of ecological processes(e.g., rates of physical and chemical destruction of organic matter) in streams, and provide enhanced food resources foraquatic vertebrates. Grade control structures (GCS) may restrict fish passage and affect fish assemblage structure. Weused mark-recapture methods to evaluate fish passage over a total of five GCS ranging in slope (run:rise) from 13:1 to18:1. Three structures, over which limited fish movement was documented from 2002–2004, were modified in the winterof 2004–2005 to facilitate fish passage. Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus, yellow bullhead Ameiurus natalis, blackbullhead Ameiurus melas, and creek chub Semotilus atromaculatus, were documented passing over at least onestructure, with the majority of movements (92%) over GCS in the upstream direction. In addition, we evaluateddifferences in fish assemblages and habitat variables in reaches immediately downstream from GCS and reaches at least1 km from any GCS, and investigated longitudinal changes in fish assemblages in this GCS fragmented stream. Reachesdownstream from GCS were characterized by greater proportion of pool habitat, higher maximum depth, greater total fishbiomass, and greater abundance of Centrarchidae, specifically largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides. Index of bioticintegrity scores were fair (<43 on a 0–100 scale) and were not significantly different between GCS and non-GCS sites (P >0.117). While 13 fish species were present from downstream of the furthest downstream GCS to the most upstreamsampling location (a distance of 18 km fragmented by five GCS), 15 additional species exhibited truncated distributionsnot extending to the most upstream sampling location. The presence of GCS in streams of western Iowa is pervasive,with nearly every low order stream containing at least one in-stream structure. To sustain fish populations, managementefforts should focus on constructing or modifying GCS to allow fish passage.

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The Iowa Rivers Information System (IRIS)

Principal Investigators: Clay L. PierceKevin L. Kane

Research Associates: Patrick D. Brown, Robin L. McNeelyCollaborators: Gregory T. Gelwicks, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: June 1995 to June 2006Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o To develop the Iowa Rivers Information System (IRIS), integrating physical, chemical and biological information into

a comprehensive, user-friendly, statewide information system for interior Iowa rivers.

Progress:The Iowa Rivers Information System (IRIS) is a tool for both professionals and the public to obtain information aboutrivers and streams in Iowa and the diversity of natural resources they support. IRIS provides easy entry to the world ofinformation about Iowa’s rivers and streams. Maps, data and research products are available through IRIS, as well aslinks to several other sites containing a wealth of information. Most of the available information is geo-referenced formapping and analysis in IRIS, or for download and import to GIS software.

Conclusions and Recommendations:IRIS has many potential uses and users. From the fisheries biologist seeking information to evaluate a stream’s potentialas a smallmouth bass fishery, to the water quality analyst searching for clues to explain differences in stream nutrientsand biological integrity, to the science teacher helping students learn about flowing water ecosystems, IRIS is animportant and versatile tool. Best of all, the web interface brings the power of IRIS to anyone with a computer andInternet access. From the sidebar users can view and customize maps, query or download databases within IRIS or fromexternal sites, view or download reports and publications, or link to other related web sites.The URL for IRIS is: http://maps.gis.iastate.edu/iris/

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CURRENT

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CURRENT

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CURRENT FISHERIES PROJECTS

Physical Habitat Component of the Iowa REMAP Program

Principal Investigator: Clay L. PierceStudent Investigator: David C. Rowe (M.S.)Collaborators: Thomas F. Wilton, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: June 2004 to June 2007Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Quantify stream habitat conditions in 45 sites per year throughout Iowa, representing 2nd-through 5th-order

streams and all ecological subregions.o Determine and describe relationships of stream habitat with fish communities, stream reach characteristics, land use

and ecological subregions.o Identify ecoregion, stream reach and land use characteristics associated with healthy stream habitat conditions.o Identify stream habitat characteristics associated with fish assemblages.o Evaluate and recommend habitat mitigation and rehabilitation alternatives.

Progress:Thirty-three stream reaches were sampled at low flow conditions between July 1 and October 15, 2006. A total of 143stream reaches have been sampled. All sites were selected using a stratified random systematic design from all 2-5 orderwadeable streams in Iowa. At each location, physical habitat was surveyed following the EPA EMAP wadeable streamsphysical habitat assessment protocol.

These methods quantify (by measurement or estimation): stream size, channel morphology, gradient, sinuosity, substratesize and stability, habitat complexity, cover, woody debris size and abundance, riparian vegetation cover and structure,and anthropogenic disturbance. Measurements of stream-flow, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and water chemistrysamples were taken for each reach.

At the same locations, the University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory sampled the fish assemblage by single passelectrofishing, and they sampled benthic macroinvertebrates using artificial substrates, Hess samplers and qualitativecollections.

Human disturbance metrics have been quantified for each site at multiple scales. These metrics quantify landcover,landuse and/or human activities that may have a negative impact on stream ecosystem integrity. Examples includeestimated percent of watershed covered by impervious surface, road density with 30m of the steam network, estimatedarea drained by tile, and number of upstream road stream crossings. Metrics have been quantified by ATtILA, anArcView extension developed by the USEPA-ORD.

Basin morphometry metrics are being quantified using the computer program Basinsoft.

A comparison of the precision between the EPA EMAP and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources wadeable streamsphysical habitat assessment protocols was completed and presented at the 136th Annual meeting of the AmericanFisheries Society.

Future Plans:Metrics of stream reach physical habitat will be analyzed to determine relationships with stream fish communities and fortheir ability to predict component metrics of the Iowa Fish Index of Biotic Integrity. Human disturbance and basinmorphometry will be analyzed at multiple spatial scales to determine relationships with biological and physical habitatcomponents of stream ecosystem integrity. The results of these analyses will be presented as part of the statewide andregional stream and river monitoring symposium at the 67th Annual Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference.

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Radio-telemetry Investigation of Common Carp in Clear Lake, Iowa

Principal Investigator: Clay L. PierceStudent Investigator: Christopher R. Penne (M.S.)Duration: June 2004 to August 2007Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o The purpose of this study is to document seasonal locations, movements and tendency to aggregate of common

carp in Clear Lake, Iowa. This information is necessary to evaluate potential future carp reduction strategies, suchas targeted netting or poisoning.

o Specific objectives include:o Capture, radio-tag and track sub-adult and adult carp over a period of two years.o Describe and quantify the seasonal locations, movements and tendency to aggregate of sub-adult and adult

carp.o Interpret the results in light of the desire to reduce carp biomass through potential future reduction strategies,

such as targeted netting or poisoning.

Introduction:Reduction of carp in Clear Lake and other systems with declining water quality and high carp biomass is a key objectivein improving their overall environmental health. Unfortunately, the track record of previous efforts to permanentlyreduce carp biomass is poor. A recent effort to reduce carp biomass in Ventura Marsh, connected to Clear Lake,illustrated the potential water quality benefits of reducing carp, but unfortunately also demonstrated how short-lived thebenefits can be. Two lessons can be drawn from past carp reduction experiences: (1) efforts to reduce carp must beviewed as an on-going program rather than a one-time quick fix, and (2) detailed knowledge of the seasonal locations,movements and aggregation in the system of interest is required to accurately guide what will undoubtedly be anexpensive, long-term investment in carp control activities. This proposal addresses the second point – obtaining theinformation necessary to efficiently guide limited resources for effective carp reduction..

Progress:Investegators began tracking in November 2004 and completed tracking in August 2006, totalling 20 months of year-round tracking and collecting over 2,100 study fish relocations. These data are being used to construct maps detailingthe seasonal distribution, habitat preferences, and aggregation areas of common carp in Clear Lake.

Future Plans:We are currently analyzing data and plan to have a final report ready by May 2007. Results of this study will beinterpreted in light of the desire to reduce carp biomass through targeted removal. Our results will guide future carpcontrol activities by the DNR as part of a comprehensive water quality improvement plan.

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Relationships of Fish Communities and Availability of Deep-water Habitat

Principal Investigator: Clay L. PierceCollaborators: Gregory T. Gelwicks, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: May 2003 to August 2007Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o The purpose of this study is to examine relationships of fish communities and populations of channel catfish and

smallmouth bass with availability of deep-water habitat. The specific objectives are:o To quantify the existence of quality deep-water gamefish habitat in stream sections of interest.o To quantify fish community characteristics in the stream sections of interest.o To quantify channel catfish and smallmouth bass population size and growth rates in the stream sections

of interest.o To explore relationships of fish communities and gamefish characteristics with availability of deep-water

habitat.

Progress:Twelve study reaches on 3 eastern Iowa rivers were surveyed for depth profile using a GPS/depth sonar. The data wasentered into ArcGIS for analysis, using four categories: shallow (0 to 1 meter), intermediate (1 to 2 meters), moderatelydeep (2 to 3 meters), and deep (greater than 3 meters). Depth variables were calculated for each category and analyzed.Preliminary depth zone maps have been created. Fish community data from new collections and existing databases werecompiled for all study reaches. Summary statistics from the fish community database have been used in calculations (i.e.fish IBI scores, species abundances, etc.) for each stream reach. Smallmouth bass and channel catfish aging structureswere collected from all study reaches. Structures have been cataloged and aged. Relationships between depth variablesand fish variables were analyzed using correlation analysis and linear regression.

Species richness was found to be positively correlated to moderately deep (p=0.01) and deep (p=0.05) water depthfrequencies as well as mean depth (p=0.04) This suggests that species richness increases as the frequency ofmoderately deep and deep depth increases. Percent benthic species were found to be negatively correlated (p=0.01) todepth coeffient of variation. This suggests the number of benthic species decreases as the depth variability increases.No significant correlations were found between depth variables and sinuosity or streambed slope.

Streambed slope was the only variable that showed linear distribution downstream (F=69.80, p=0.01). The slopedecreases as the river progresses from its headwaters to its mouth.

Future Plans:Growth rates of smallmouth bass and channel catfish are being calculated and analyzed. Relationships between depthvariables, gamefish growth and fish community variables are being analyzed.

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An Integrated Immunological-GIS Approach for Bio-monitoring ofEcological Impacts of Swine Manure Pollutants in Streams

Principal Investigators: James A. RothBruce W. MenzelClay L. PierceDušan Paliæ

Duration: September 2002 to September 2006Funding Source(s): U.S. Geological Survey, National Institute for Water ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o This research is predicated on the hypothesis that low levels of swine liquid manure slurry and anaerobic lagoon

liquid released to open water cause changes in immunological response in fish and increase fish susceptibility toinfection. The initial objectives, therefore, are 1) to evaluate this hypothesis through a series of laboratoryimmunological assays applied to the test organism, the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) and 2) to identifyone or more assays for use as a bio-monitoring technique to detect ecological impact of manure pollution in nature.A subsequent task involves use of digital environmental databases that are maintained and managed by the USGSBRD Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Iowa State University. The objective is 3) to characterize anumber of Iowa watersheds and stream systems according to their potential susceptibility to hog manure pollutionand to use this information to design a water quality and fish sampling regime. Finally, water and fish collected atselected stream sites will be analyzed through a battery of chemical and immunological procedures with theobjectives 4) to quantitatively measure ecological impact of manure pollution on the streams, and 5) to evaluate theutility of this approach as a biomonitoring tool for environmental protection agencies.

Progress:2003 – The fathead minnow colony was successfully established. We have developed and constructed the computercontrolled flow through system, but water heating problems caused unexpected delays in the project timeline. We havedeveloped the isolation technique for extracting leukocytes from fathead minnow kidneys. We finished themorphological and cytochemical characterization of prepared leukocytes. We have developed and optimized an assay formeasuring production of reactive oxygen species in isolated neutrophils by the cytochrom C reduction method.

2004 - We have developed and optimized an assay for degranulation of primary granules. The assay is capable ofdetecting handling and crowding stress as well as differences in various stress-causing treatments (anesthesiaprocedures). We established baseline values for FHM neutrophil oxidative burst, myeloperoxidase content anddegranulation. We have tested developed assays on several fish species (catfish, bluegill, largemouth bass). We havestarted production of GIS maps in order to determine possible manure/chemical loads within designated watersheds. Wehave tested electrofishing equipment and assayed fish samples with our developed techniques.

2005 - We expanded the battery of assays with NETs (neutrophil extracellular traps) release assay, and tested the existingbattery of assays with different immunomodulators. We calibrated the assays to be used in fathead minnows andoptimized assays for use on bluegills, largemouth bass, common carp and catfish. We have compiled a GIS map ofsurfaces likely exposed to manure loading and currently are preparing maps for use in flow path analysis. We continuedsampling in order to optimize sample collection and laboratory procedures for rapid and efficient analysis of neutrophilfunction from field samples. USGS approved an extension of the project to September 2006.

2006 - Flow path analysis for the State of Iowa has been partially completed and the analysis is ongoing. Data on fishkills and Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) fish community sampling was requested from the DNR and isincluded in the GIS analysis of the flow path. Laboratory testing of manure effects on neutrophil function is ongoing.

Future Plans:We plan to complete laboratory trials of manure impact on neutrophil function in Spring 2007. We plan to complete GISflow path analysis and determine hot and cold spots in impacted streams in Spring 2007. We plan to analyze long termfish kill and fish community sampling data and determine if there is correlation between sampling points and manureloading predicted by the GIS model. We plan to prepare and submit final report for the project in 2007.

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COMPLETED

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COMPLETED


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COMPLETED


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18

COMPLETED WILDLIFE PROJECTS

Evaluation of the Statistical Properties of Grand Canyon Humpback ChubAbundance and Trend Estimates Produced from ASMR and AlternativeMark-Recapture Models

Principal Investigator: David L. OtisStudent Investigator: Hadley Wickham (Ph.D.)Collaborators: Lew Coggins, USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research CenterDuration: April 2005 to December 2006Funding Source(s): U.S. Geological Survey, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research CenterGoals and Objectives:o Construct a Monte Carlo simulation model to evaluate the statistical performance of estimators of annual adult and

recruitment in the Grand Canyon humpback chub population under different sets of assumptions about samplingdesigns, annual survival schedules, movement dynamics, and age misclassification, and capture probabilities.

o Make recommendations on:o preferred estimators and sampling designs conditional on the current set of simulation scenarios,o additional simulations that would improve assessment of the robustness of the models, ando how the simulation model could be employed as a helpful decision-making tool in the HBC monitoring program.

Progress:Simulation models were parameterized using empirical information from published literature and estimates from additionalanalyses that we performed. We assumed that during the annual cycle, the HBC population occupied 2 discrete riverreaches within the Grand Canyon: the lower 15 km of the lower Colorado River (LCR) and the reach of the mainstem (MS)of the Colorado River that extends 9 km upstream and 11 km downstream from the confluence with the LCR. Weassumed an age-structured population with age classes from 2 – 24 years.

The simulation model ran in 4 stages: generation of complete life histories for all individuals in the population,generation of data from sampling designs, estimation of parameters, and summarization of results. The statisticalsoftware R controlled the entire process. Three types of codes were called by R to do the model fitting and numericalanalysis necessary for estimation: 1) closed form estimators calculated “by hand” in R, 2) a specialized Jolly-Seber typeestimator (ASSA) calculated by calling Program MARK code from R, 3) estimators from the ASMR model developed byCoggins et al (2006) were generated by converting Excel spreadsheet models to AD Model Builder.

We evaluated 4 different concurrent (sampling in both reaches simultaneously) designs: 1) February, March, April , 2)February, March, April, May, 3) August, September, October, 4) August, September, October, November. We included afifth design that has been used by the GCMRC: April, May, September, October (LS only) and July, August (MS only).

Conclusions and Recommendations:The best overall statistical performance was achieved by sampling concurrently in 3 consecutive months from Februaryto April. Fall sampling designs tended to produce results with larger bias. The GCMRC design generally producedestimates with relatively large bias and poor precision. The addition of a fourth sampling month to the spring and fallconcurrent designs was not deemed cost-effective. There was no meaningful difference in performance between theASMR and ASSA estimators, although the lack of straightforward methods for estimation of sampling precision, and aninability to utilize formal model assessment and selection techniques are disadvantages of the ASMR method.

Although a simulation model mimics only the most salient characteristics of a complex biological monitoring program, itcan be a valuable tool for decision-making because it provides insight into the performance of alternative choices whenthe correct answers are known. The exercise is particularly informative when existing data are adequate for makingreasonable decisions about the structure and parameterization of population processes and demographics, such as thecase for the Grand Canyon HBC population. Simulation exercises can have value in the initial and subsequent adaptivestages of a monitoring program, as a tool to facilitate critical thinking about decision criteria, precisely stated objectives,cost efficiency, and alternative program designs.

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Planning and Design of Field Surveys for Wildlife Species of GreatestConservation Need in Iowa

Principal Investigator: Karen E. KinkeadDavid L. Otis

Collaborators: Terry Little, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: August 2004 to December 2006Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Develop a statewide monitoring program based on Iowa GAP databases and distribution maps that will provide

scientifically based information on the current distribution and abundance of target species.o Describe field survey methods to be used with the sampling strategies to gather field data.o Develop a State Wildlife Grant proposal that will implement the sampling strategies and field data collection

methods and define a process to update the databases.

Progress:The Iowa Wildlife Action Plan identified 296 species of greatest conservation need, but individual monitoring programsfor each species would be cost prohibitive. Therefore, we adapted the U.S. Forest Service’s Multiple Species Inventoryand Monitoring Program (MSIM) to Iowa for use in the monitoring program. This design involves the establishment ofpermanent monitoring plots, roughly 26 acres in size, distributed across the entire state of Iowa. Plots will be chosenbased upon a random stratified sampling scheme with a condensed number of GAP habitat types used for stratification.The number of plots per strata as determined through computer simulation is 16 but implementation will depend on theamount of funding available.

Within each of the plots, sampling protocols for various taxa will be implemented as appropriate. These protocols havebeen compiled into a technical manual, and include techniques for mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, bats, fish,mussels, butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, and terrestrial snails. Additional chapters include Data Entry, DataAnalysis, Report Writing, and Program Review. All protocols have been subjected to peer review from faculty at IowaState University, biologists with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and other wildlife and habitat expertsaround the state.

The protocols were implemented at 14 locations during 2006, mostly on lands enrolled in DNR’s Landowner IncentiveProgram. A total of 304 (19 habitats x 16 sites per habitat) permanent sampling locations have been chosen throughoutthe state of Iowa based upon a randomized sampling design using the condensed GAP habitats as the stratificationfactor. We are currently finishing the State Wildlife Grant proposal to implement the surveys on public lands.

Conclusions and Recommendations:Funding to implement the program statewide at 304 locations will be difficult to obtain. The project will therefore beimplemented in a rotating panel design with a few sites being visited each year, but the majority of areas being visitedonly every 3 - 5 years. Depending on available funding, the surveys can be scaled back by: (1) focusing on certaintaxonomic groups (e.g. butterflies and birds, will not collecting information on mammals and reptiles); and (2) focusingon certain habitats (e.g. collect information in forests and warm season grasses habitat types only, while omitting sites inother habitat categories).

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National Mourning Dove Banding Study

Principal Investigator: David L. OtisCollaborators: Multiple state and federal migratory webless gamebird coordinatorsDuration: January 2003 to December 2006Funding Source(s): U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Multiple state wildlife agenciesGoals and Objectives:o Estimate age-specific harvest rates and band reporting rates in a representative set of subregions in each of the 3

national dove harvest management units.o Estimate band reporting rates with the same subregions.o Establish protocols, training, and cost estimates for a future coordinated nationwide banding program designed to

monitor harvest and survival rates.o Provide information on geographical distribution and derivation of harvest.o Provide initial estimates of annual survival and breeding site fidelity of subregion breeding populations.

Progress:Contemporary and statistically reliable estimates of harvest rates, survival rates, and geographical distribution andderivation of harvest throughout the U.S. are necessary to improve science-based harvest management of mourningdoves. A 3-year national pilot banding program was initiated in 2003 to produce data for estimation of thesedemographic parameters. This cooperative effort between state wildlife agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service(USFWS), and the U.S. Geological Survey Bird Banding Laboratory (BBL) will result in much needed information forimprovement of dove harvest management.

During the summers of 2003 - 2005, state and federal cooperators in 29 states banded and released approximately 95,000doves, including more than 8,000 doves with reward bands. Approximately 5,000 recoveries, including > 600 rewardbands, of these banded cohorts have been reported to the BBL. Final analysis of 2003 – 2005 data produced estimatesof state reporting rates that ranged from 0.245 – 0.770 in the Eastern Management Unit (EMU), from 0.309 – 1.000 in theCentral Management Unit (CMU), and from 0.499 – 1.000 in the Western Management Unit (WMU). Nationwide,reporting rate estimates averaged 0.56, with an average CV of 28%. Average harvest rate estimates for the 3 yearsranged from 0.018 – 0.204 for adults and from 0.021 – 0.176 for juveniles. In general, harvest rates were greater in moresouthern latitudes. Annual survival probabilities for state populations were imprecise, with an average CV ~ 35%.Average survival probabilities for adults and juveniles were 0.36 and 0.23 in the EMU, 0.45 and 0.31 in the CMU, and 0.38and 0.36 in the WMU. With the exception of the northernmost regions in the CMU, > 80% of the band recoveries in astate were from birds banded in the same state. Moreover, averaged over all states, more than 90% of each state’sharvest of both age classes was derived from birds banded in that same state.

Conclusions and Recommendations:Thirty-one states continued the banding program in 2006, with quotas that were similar to 2005. A final report of the2003 – 2005 data analysis was completed and sent to state and federal cooperators in fall 2006. Also included in thisreport were estimates of state population abundance derived from harvest rates and total harvest estimates taken fromthe USFWS Harvest Information Program. The field protocols and sampling designs used and tested by the cooperatingstate agency field staffs, and the resultant parameter estimates generated from this study, will be critical in the design ofa cooperative state and federal long-term operational banding program. Recommendations for the design of thismonitoring effort will be contained in a Banding Needs Assessment to be developed in 2007 in cooperation with theUSFWS Division of Migratory Bird Management. Molt data collected from banded birds as ancillary data are also beingused in development of a technique to adjust harvest age ratio estimates that could be obtained by a parts collectionsurvey. Finally, results will also be used in development of revised interim harvest management strategies that are beingdeveloped in a separate but related study. All of these efforts are integral components in the implementation of the longterm national harvest management strategy for mourning doves.

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Development and Evaluation of Mourning Dove Population Models forOptimizing National Harvest Management Strategies

Principal Investigator: David L. OtisDuration: October 2001 to March 2006Funding Source(s): U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Texas Parks and Wildlife DepartmentMultiple State Wildlife Agencies

Goals and Objectives:o Use historical band recovery, harvest age ratio, recruitment survey, and auxiliary data as appropriate to develop

simple structural models of annual survival and reproduction.o Use the structural equations developed above as the basis for development of a small set of population life cycle

models for each of the 3 management units.o Use a range of plausible parameters values, based on historical literature, to investigate the sensitivity of predicted

population trajectories to change in individual parameters, including harvest rates.o On a regional or management unit scale, compare predicted population trajectories from different models to CCS

trends, as a coarse check on model validity.o Make recommendations regarding the need for and design of survey programs for estimation of population

parameters.

Progress:Statistical models of the relationship between harvest rate and annual survival rate have been developed for eachmanagement unit, based on re-analysis of band recovery and harvest data from 1965-1975, which is the most recentperiod of sufficient banding effort. These models make different assumptions about the compensatory versus additiveeffect of harvest mortality. Two peer reviewed manuscripts have been published from this work. A simple structuralmodel of annual recruitment has been developed and parameterized using data from the published literature. The modelpredicts a range of possible annual recruitment within large geographical regions as a function of breeding seasonlength, nest success, and fledging rate. A manuscript based on this work has been published. Survival and productivitymodels have been combined into a population model, and predictions from this model have been compared to trendsderived from Call Count Survey data during comparable time periods. Comparisons reveal positive bias in modelpredictions, probably due to bias in population parameter estimates.

A harvest strategy based on annual population change estimates derived from harvest data was developed andevaluated for management use. This alternative to use of mechanistic population models as the basis for harvestmanagement was motivated by a request from USFWS for interim harvest strategies that could be implemented duringthe period in which development of models and generation of new population monitoring data is incomplete. Use of thisstrategy was incorporated into management plans in the Eastern and Central Management Units in 2004. A manuscriptbased on this work was accepted for publication in 2005.

Conclusions and Recommendations:In 2006 the USFWS requested revised interim harvest strategies from the management unit technical committees.Subsequent discussions re-emphasized the importance of continued progress toward working population models as thebasis for future management. These models will require long-term cooperative state and federal monitoring programs forsurvival, recruitment and harvest rates, and on improved survey techniques for trend estimation. As these monitoringprograms mature, they will provide data for improvement of the first generation population models that were developedin this project.

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Nest Success and Brood Habitat Selection of the Northern Bobwhite inManaged and Unmanaged Landscapes

Principal Investigator: David L. OtisStudent Investigator: Lisa Potter (M.S.)Collaborators: Todd Bogenschutz, Chuck Steffen, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: January 2003 to December 2006Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Estimate the probability of nest success and brood rearing habitat selection as a function of habitat composition

and landscape spatial pattern.o Compare nest success and brood habitat selection in a managed and unmanaged landscape.o Evaluate effectiveness of specific habitat management practices.

Progress:The consensus among upper Midwest bobwhite biologists is that nesting and brood-rearing habitats are limitingreproduction and population densities. Therefore, this study focused on bobwhite nest success and brood habitatselection in relation to landscape spatial patterns and habitat composition between managed and unmanagedlandscapes.

Our 2 study sites were in southeastern Iowa. One site is the 1464 ha Lake Sugema Wildlife Area (LSWA), on whichbobwhite habitat management has been emphasized for several years. The second site is a 2360 ha area in an adjacenttownship (HTA) that is dominated by private crop and livestock production. During the 2003– 2005 breeding seasons,we equipped >150 bobwhite with radio transmitters, and monitored approximately 70 nests. There were no differences indaily nest survival between years, and the overall combined nest success estimate was 0.534. There was evidence of adifference between nest success on LSWA (0.628) and HTA (0.444). Nest initiation date was not associated with nestsuccess, but daily nest survival decreased with the age of the nest. We could not document any association of successwith either microhabitat vegetation characteristics or distance to enhanced management practices such as strip diskingor burning. Although there was a significant difference between the sites in habitat composition of the nest bufferareas, due primarily to less corn and more grass in LSWA, composition did not significantly influence nest success.

Data on individual brood selection was pooled over all years (n = 18 on LSWA, n = 10 on HTA). Brood use areas onLSWA consistently contained a larger proportion of grain, grass, and roadside habitats, and a smaller proportion oftimber, pasture and corn habitats relative to available habitat in the study site (P < 0.01). Grain and grass were thedominant (~ 70%) habitat types in the brood habitat polygons. Analysis of brood selection on HTA suggested thatbrood use polygons had significantly (P = 0.01) relatively greater areas of grass and pasture and relatively less area ofcorn and grain. Brood habitat polygons on HTA had relatively greater areas of pasture and grass and relatively less areaof grain, but overall habitat composition of polygons was not dominated by any one or 2 habitat types. At the smallerscale of an individual habitat patch, grain structure and roadside patches had a relatively greater chance of increaseduse in LSWA. Habitat type did not influence patch use in HTA. Patch vegetation characteristics did not generallyinfluence probability of use in either study site. Recently burned patches or patches with strip disks did not have agreater probability of use, but presence of linear areas of edge-feathered woody vegetation was associated with greaterpatch use.

Conclusions and Recommendations:Survival of young between hatching and fall remains an important unknown and future breeding ecology studies shouldconcentrate on comparison of this critical parameter between landscapes with alternative habitat composition andpattern. We could not demonstrate meaningful relationships between fine scale habitat characteristics or managementpractices and nest success or brood rearing habitat selection, and we hypothesize that large scale landscape habitatattributes are more important in determination of equilibrium bobwhite density in a given landscape. We documentedthat bobwhite populations had not been extirpated from a working midwestern landscape dominated by row crops andpasture, but we hypothesize that densities were lower than those in the managed LSWA. Our results could be used todevelop a landscape scale model of usable bobwhite space that could be implemented as a tool in development of largescale habitat modification strategies for increasing bobwhite densities.

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Development and Evaluation of Sampling Designs for Chronic WastingDisease Surveillance Programs

Principal Investigators: Sarah M. NusserWilliam R. ClarkDavid L. Otis

Student Investigator: Ling Huang (M.S.)Duration: October 2002 to December 2006Funding Source(s): U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health CenterGoals and Objectives:o Develop a set of alternative sampling designs for detection and estimation of prevalence and spatial pattern of

CWD in a given area.o Evaluate the statistical operating characteristics (bias, precision) and cost-efficiency of the designs under

alternative sets of assumptions about the spatial epidemiology and ecology of the disease and its host.o Develop products that are adaptable for use by natural resource agencies with a variety of surveillance objectives.

Progress:The primary goal of this project was to evaluate the properties of CWD detection and prevalence estimates generatedfrom a range of statistical and convenience sample designs. We developed simulation methods that can be applied todifferent landscape settings and under alternative hypotheses about CWD prevalence and spatial distribution. Wesimulated deer density and disease in an Iowa landscape and compared estimators from statistical designs with knownproperties to estimators from convenience sampling approaches whose properties are unknown. We considered 2convenience sampling approaches: road-kill sampling, and hunter-harvest sampling. These approaches were comparedto an SRS design and a probability sample design that could be used with a sharp-shooting sampling strategy.

Under a spatially random disease model, the probability of detecting at least 1 diseased deer in a single annual sampleand the mean number of annual samples required to detect at least 1 diseased deer were approximately the same for SRSand the 2-stage cluster sample for sharp-shooters. If 120 animals were sampled under these designs, there was at leastan 84% chance of observing an infected animal in the first year, and it would take on average at least 1.20 annualsamples to detect at least one infected animal. Results for these parameters were nearly identical for a clustered diseasemodel.

Under the random disease distribution model, road kill estimates were roughly the same as the probability sampledesigns. Under the hot spot and spark model, the waiting time distribution for the road-kill sample had a very lowdetection probability (9%) and a long waiting time (> 11 years).

The hunter-shot convenience samples had a lower detection probability (80%) and longer waiting time (1.26 years todetect a disease-positive animal) than the probability sample designs and the road kill design. The detection probabilitywas less (76%) and the waiting time longer (1.32 annual samples) for hunter-shot samples than for samples underclustered disease model.

The prevalence estimates were unbiased under either disease distribution model for both probability designs when theproper estimator was used. The mean of prevalence estimates for the road-kill design depended on the disease model.Under the random disease model, the true prevalence was greatly over estimated by the road-kill design. In contrast,under the clustered model, the true prevalence was grossly underestimated for the road-kill design. Compared to the true1.5% prevalence rate, the mean of the prevalence estimates was 0.1%. For hunter-based samples, the mean of theprevalence estimate is slightly negatively-biased for both the random and the clustered disease distribution models.

Conclusions and Recommendations:Convenience samples used to collect observational data for disease surveillance are often implicitly assumed to berepresentative of a population. However, sampling biases invariably occur and the inability to quantify the probability ofobtaining a sample unit in a convenience sample makes it impossible to develop a statistically valid estimate ofsurveillance parameters. Simulation models can be used to gain knowledge about disease epidemiology, and the biasesin convenience samples and to evaluate alternative sampling approaches.

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CURRENT WILDLIFE PROJECTS

Development of Harvest Strategies for Mourning Doves

Principal Investigators: David L. OtisPhilip M. Dixon

Collaborators: John Sauer, U.S. Geological Survey, Patuxent Wildlife Research CenterDuration: July, 2006 to July, 2008Funding Source(s): U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceGoals and Objectives:o Develop statistical techniques for combining CCS and population growth rate estimates derived from banding and

harvest data to produce reliable predictions of population status and trend.o Develop a detailed harvest management framework that continuously integrates monitoring data, population

models, and harvest and population objectives into a harvest management system.o Develop a Banding Needs Document driven by information required for accomplishment of the above objectives.

Introduction:Dove harvest regulations have historically been based on informal examination of trends derived from the annual CallCount Survey (CCS). No significant changes in hunting regulations have occurred during the past several decades,with the exception of a decreased bag limit initiated in 1987 in the Western Management Unit. Based on an renewedemphasis on more informed harvest management for mourning doves, the Mourning Dove National Strategic HarvestManagement Plan (National Plan) was approved in 2003 by the Flyway Councils. The foundation of this strategy is a setof population models that predict population growth and harvest as a function of survival and recruitment rates. Modelperformance is evaluated over time by confronting model predictions with independent measures of population statusand harvest. This process provides information that can be used to increase model accuracy and precision and improveour understanding of the consequences of various harvest regulation alternatives.

In 2004, the USFWS became concerned about the need for a more formalized harvest strategy during the time periodrequired for implementation of the National Plan, and it requested that interim harvest strategies be established for eachmanagement unit (MU). These strategies were subsequently developed by the MUs and approved by the ServiceRegulations Committee (SRC). The strategies varied in their reliance on CCS and HIP survey trends and on analternative population growth rate estimator. In February 2006, the SRC asked for revised interim strategies from all MUsthat would rely more heavily for the next few years on CCS trends and more rigorously derived regulation changethresholds. Subsequent discussions within the dove management and research community led to the concept ofdevelopment of interim strategies that utilize CCS and BBS survey databases and the time series of population growthrates that will result from an operational banding program and continuing harvest survey. These strategies andassociated statistical technique development must be constructed within the context of continuous progress towardimplementation of National Plan, and thus this project is also intended to serve as a catalyst for development of a morespecific stepwise plan for transition to the National Plan.

Progress:In consultation with state and federal dove harvest management biologists, it was decided that a composite estimator ofannual trend derived from application of Bayesian hierarchchical modeling techniques would be used as the basic metricfor making harvest regulation decisions in a new interim strategy. Population indices at the state level from the CCS(both number heard and number seen) and BBS surveys (1966 - 2005) as well as population estimates derived fromharvest data (2003 - 2005), constitute input into the statistical model. Estimation of trends during several alternative timeperiods is currently underway using WinBugs and R statistical software. In addition, simulation exercises are beingplanned to provide dove technical committees with information on the expected statistical performance of theseestimators, so they thay may develop informed criteria for establishing regulation change.

Future Plans:Principal investigators and dove technical committees will continue to work together in 2007 to develop and implement arevised strategy in 2008. Additional analytical and simulation exercises will be pursued early in 2007 in order to provideguidance to cooperators on 2007 operational banding quotas.

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Bird Response to Enhanced Vegetation Diversity in the Spring RunComplex of Northwestern Iowa

Principal Investigators: Rolf R. KofordDavid L. Otis

Student Investigator: Jennifer Vogel (Ph.D.)Collaborators: Todd R. Bogenschutz, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: June 2006 to August 2010Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Quantify bird use of three habitat types that will be established on managed land in the Spring Run Complex. The

types are (1) monotypic, introduced grass (smooth brome) with scattered legumes such as alfalfa, (2) a five-grassmix of native tall-grass species, and (3) and a diverse mixture of forbs and grasses, planted with over 40 species.

o Monitor vegetation composition and structure in each habitat and map land cover classes around each study field.o Estimate nest success, nestling growth rate, and brood survival of common bird species using each habitat type.o Measure invertebrate populations in the three habitat types.

Introduction:Natural resource agencies face increasingly complex challenges as they move from single-species management towardecosystem management. In Iowa, grasslands are an important focal ecosystem because of historic losses of prairie andcontinuing continental declines of a very visible component of the biological community: grassland birds. Restoredgrassland/wetland complexes in Iowa are able to attract the same species that inhabit prairies, although grassland sizemay limit reproductive success. One of the largest grassland units in Iowa is the Spring Run Complex southeast of SpiritLake in Dickinson County. Spring Run has been recognized as an official site in the National Audubon Society’sImportant Bird Areas program (http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba/index.html).

Previous research on the Spring Run Complex documented bird use of the various habitats, estimated nest success ofsome common species, and examined the snake community (Hall, 2005, M.S. thesis). Comparison of nest success in theComplex with nearby prairies indicated that greater vegetation diversity might enhance reproductive success ofgrassland birds. An important game species, ring-necked pheasant, might also benefit from more diverse vegetation. Inparticular, brood movement might be easier and food resources more abundant where forbs are a substantial componentof the vegetation. Experimental evidence for such benefits is lacking. We have designed a study to evaluate the birdresponse to plantings that vary in plant species diversity. This replicated study focuses on experimental “treatments”that span the range of planting mixtures likely used by habitat managers. We will monitor nest success and bird use ofthese treatments. The species monitored will include game species because managers need to know how they respond,but the primary objective is to document responses of high-priority grassland birds, in keeping with the currentemphasis on “all-bird conservation.”

Food resource availability in the form of arthropods varies with plant diversity and may play a role in how areas are usedby grassland birds. There is evidence suggesting that differences in both invertebrate community composition andabundance will influence the amount of energy birds use in feeding themselves and their young.

Progress:In summer 2006, 9 study fields were selected – the other half will be planted during the winter of 2006-2007. In each ofthe 9 fields (3 habitat types), transects were laid out for estimating bird densities and vegetation structure/composition.A field assistant conducted two rounds of bird surveys and measured vegetation in late summer. Invertebrates weresampled (sweep nets) in some areas to test the sampling protocol and invertebrate processing system. Pilot work wasconducted at the Boone Research Station to test imprinting techniques for pheasant chicks.

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Development and Evaluation of Methods for Regional Monitoring ofMourning Dove Recruitment

Principal Investigator: David L. OtisStudent Investigator: David Miller (Ph.D.)Collaborators: John Schulz, Missouri Department of Conservation

Paul Padding, U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceDuration: August 2005 to August 2009Funding Source(s): U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Multiple State Wildlife AgenciesGoals and Objectives:o Calibrate juvenile to adult ratios of harvested doves in order to produce an unbiased estimate of annual recruitment

of juveniles into the fall population based on wing collection surveys.o Evaluate potential sampling designs and logistical constraints for a national harvest wing survey for monitoring

recruitment.o Determine the potential for employing recaptures from an intensive banding program to generate independent

estimates of age ratios that can be used to validate wing survey estimates.o Improve understanding of intra-annual variation in reproductive output of breeding doves.

Progress:A national mourning dove national strategic harvest management plan was adopted in 2003 by state and federalmigratory game bird managers. The plan identifies a need for monitoring of annual recruitment of juveniles into the fallpopulation as part of the strategy for developing informed and more rigorous harvest management of doves. Partscollections are a traditional method for estimating fall age-ratios for game bird species. However, before a reliableoperational wing survey can be implemented, a number of issues must be addressed. These include the need tocalibrate harvest wing age ratios to produce an estimate of true age ratios, to evaluate the efficiency of differentsampling protocols to meet the information needs for doves, and to validate the accuracy of age ratio estimates usingindependent data. There is also a continuing need to increase our understanding of the basic breeding biology of thespecies, which will in turn assist with interpretation of recruitment estimates.

More than 30,000 wings were collected in 2005 from hunters by cooperating state wildlife agencies in 17 states. Age andmolt score data were collected from these wings in a first-ever national dove wing bee held in Kansas City in November2005. A matched sample of age and molt scores was collected from birds captured and released during summer bandingoperations in the same study sites. These 2 datasets have been used to develop and evaluate statistical models forcalibration of harvest age ratios into estimates of fall recruitment. In 2006, the same field protocol was followed by 20cooperating states.

A pilot study of the nesting biology of doves was conducted near Ames, Iowa between April and August 2005. Aprimary objective of the study was to develop and evaluate the cost and feasibility of field and laboratory techniquesthat elucidate the behavioral ecology of doves during the breeding cycle. In subsequent years of the study, thesetechniques could be used to address a refined set of hypotheses about dove breeding behavior. More than 200 nestswere monitored for fate, and morphometric measurements were taken from nestlings. Blood samples were collected fromnesting adults and nestlings and used to develop expertise in use of PCR analysis to determine sex of nestlings andradio immunoassay analysis to measure stress hormones such as corticosterone, testosterone, and prolactin in nestingbirds. The study was expanded in 2006 to include additional study sites in central Iowa, and nearly 200 nests weremonitored. In addition, 21 nestlings were transported and maintained in an aviary to conduct pilot experiments andrefine animal care protocols.

Future Plans:A third wing collection effort will occur in 2007, and development of statistical estimation models will continue.Nest monitoring and captive bird experiments will continue in 2007. The objectives are to examine how parental andenvironmental effects relate to early growth and development in mourning doves, and to determine whether juvenilemourning doves exhibit plasticity in growth and development that may help mediate early developmental stress due toreduced caloric intake.

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Amphibian Malformation and Disease in Midwestern Landscapes

Principal Investigator: David L. OtisStudent Investigator: Jenny Loda (M.S.)Collaborators: Rebecca Cole, U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center

Vince Evelsizer, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: October 2002 to October 2007Funding Source(s): U.S. Geological Survey, National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC)

Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)Goals and Objectives:o Estimate the strength of relationships between amphibian species abundances and richness and a suite of land use

and physical/chemical water quality parameters in semi-permanent Iowa wetlands.o Estimate the prevalence of chytrid fungus in the wetlands.

Progress:In 2005, DNR collaborators initiated a survey of water quality and land use parameters in a random sample of 29 semi-permanent wetlands in the Winnebago watershed in northern Iowa. In the summer of 2005, we collected amphibiancommunity data on a small subsample of these wetlands to develop amphibian field sampling techniques to be used in2006. We also discussed with NWHC collaborators the field and laboratory techniques that will be used to collect andprocess chytrid fungus samples from juvenile frogs. The combined datasets will then be used to address projectobjectives.

In the spring and summer of 2006, we used a combination of call surveys, visual encounter surveys, and funnel traps tosurvey amphibians in each wetland on 3 occasions. Species richness ranged from 2 – 5 species, and northern leopardfrogs (Rana pipiens) were detected at every site. There was weak evidence of a negative correlation between leopardfrog tadpole abundance and wetland nutrient levels, and no evidence of a relationship to atrazine levels. Speciesrichness was negatively correlated to atrazine levels and the presence of fish.

Chytrid samples were collected from > 600 leopard frog tadpole using a swab technique. We will utilize a real-timeTaqman PCR assay to test for infections of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. This technique has a higher degree ofsensitivity and specificity than histological and mmunohistological examinations, which have been the primarytechniques used to diagnose chytridiomycosis. Laboratory analyses will be completed at the NWHC in December 2006.

Future Plans:

Several statistical modeling techniques will be used to quantify relationships between wetland characteristics andamphibian populations. If chytrid fungus is detected in wetlands, we plan to conduct additional analyses to investigatepotential environmental correlates with disease presence. If these preliminary analyses reveal potentially significantbiological relationships, we plan to design and conduct additional amphibian and/or disease sampling in 2007.

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COOPERATING

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COOPERATING FACULTY PROJECTS

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The Use of Cattle-Grazing and Fire as Management Tools to MaintainBiodiversity on Grassland Reserves in Southern Iowa

Principal Investigators: James R. MillerDavid M. EngleDiane M. Debinski

Student Investigators: Finn Pillbury (Ph.D.)Devan McGranahan (M.S.)

Duration: August 2006 to September 2010Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Collect pre-treatment data on all sites for soil carbon, plants, invertebrates, and birds.o Conduct controlled experiments to test the effects of the fire-grazing model on species distribution patterns of both

plant and animal taxa in southern Iowa.o Quantify the response of native and invasive plants to fire and grazing, and how these responses are mediated by

prior land use.o Quantify the response of invertebrates and prairie-obligate butterflies to changes in vegetation structure and

composition.o Quantify response of grassland birds to changes in vegetation structure and composition, and to changes in

invertebrate prey base.o Quantify the relationship between nesting success of grassland bird species and habitat conditions.o Identify other potential sites under public and private ownership in the Grand River Grasslands and surrounding

region for possible inclusion in a follow-up regional study.

Introduction:The major threat to mesic grasslands was historically conversion to row-crop agriculture. Although conversion ofgrassland to row crops continues, the most significant threats to grassland systems are changing land management andfactors related to global change. To mitigate these threats, public agencies, non-governmental organizations, and privatelandowners have employed fire and grazing – logical choices given the long co-evolutionary history of grasslands withthese processes. Uniform application of fire, grazing, or other disturbances, however, tends to reduce the temporal andspatial variability that was characteristic of these landscapes historically and that is critical for some wildlife species.Recently, a fire-grazing model has been proposed that is intended to maintain or restore such variability. This modelassumes that free-ranging herbivores will selectively graze patches that have been recently burned. Applying spatiallydiscrete fires to the landscape over time causes grazing animals to shift their activities to new locations, resulting in apatchwork or shifting mosaic of habitat structure and composition that more closely approximates historical conditions.To date, the application of this model to remnant tallgrass and reconstructed prairies have confirmed these predictions.

More than 25% of Iowa remains in some form of perennial grass cover, mostly in the southern third of the state.Southern Iowa is also home to some of the state’s few remaining untilled grasslands and largest cattle herds. Our long-term goal is to evaluate the efficacy of the fire-grazing model on Iowa’s grasslands in terms of conditions forbiodiversity, species of conservation concern, and benefits accruing to livestock producers.

Progress:Study sites in southern Iowa have been identified, grazed treatment units were stocked with cattle in 2006, and pre-treatment data have been collected on replicate pastures.

Future Plans:Treatments (i.e. patch-burns) will be applied in winter 2006-07.

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Best Management Practices for Aquatic Vegetation in Iowa Lakes

Principal Investigator: Joseph E. MorrisStudent Investigator: Megan A. Ernst (M.S.)Duration: July 2006 to June 2009Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Perform literature review of methods used to assess aquatic plants in lakes and implement a standardized

methodology to monitor temporal and spatial changes in plant communities.o To improve and use Iowa’s comprehensive lakes database to understand relationships between growth of aquatic

plants and lake morphology, water quality, fish and fishing.o Evaluate physical, chemical, biological, and mechanical methods used to manage aquatic plants, including cost

comparisons and their efficacious use.o Prepare oral and written reports, publish results and prepare a procedures manual of BMPs and a comprehensive

approach to aquatic vegetation management in Iowa.

Introduction:Many different aquatic plants inhabit lakes and ponds. Aquatic plants are an important component of well-functioninglake ecosystems, producing oxygen, food, and cover for fish and other aquatic organisms. Sediments and theirassociated nutrients often cause excessive plant growth. Given the dominance of agriculture in Iowa, nutrients and soillost from “leaky” watersheds combine to create ideal habitat for growth of aquatic plants in lakes and ponds and hasteneutrophication. Under these conditions, plant growth can become a nuisance and reduce recreation, especiallyshoreline angling and boating. These nuisance growths present special problems to lake managers and thoseinterested in lake-based recreation. The goal is to develop an ecosystem-based plant management strategy for Iowalakes.

Progress:In July 2006, this project was initiated using 13 lakes located throughout Iowa; five lakes contain grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idella. These lakes range in size from 13 to 163 ha and have 0-45% vegetation coverage thatincludes algae, submergent and emergent vegetation as well as some exotic plant species. To date, we havestandardized the vegetation and larval fish sampling protocols. In addition, zooplankton, phytoplankton and waterchemical parameters will be assessed with the goal of determining the role of aquatic vegetation in relation to all bioticcomponents of a lake.

Future Plans:This project discusses development of a strategy to address the control of nuisance aquatic vegetation with the ultimategoal of producing a set of BMPs needed to manage plants in Iowa’s ponds and lakes. This information will provide lakemanagers with the best methods and techniques to sample, assess, and manage nuisance aquatic vegetation. Plansdeveloped from these strategies will link critical watershed characteristics, lake bathymetry, water quality, and densityand diversity of aquatic plants to management options that benefit fish and fishing. Considerations will include the costand benefit of various alternatives and the likelihood for success. Management alternatives will be comprehensive innature and include one or more of the following: lake drawdown, lake aeration, chemical control, biological control,physical removal, and alterations to the watershed/lake basin.


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Distribution and Population Dynamics of Bobcats in Iowa

Principal Investigator: William R. ClarkStudent Investigator: Stephanie Koehler (M.S.)Collaborators: Todd Gosselink, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Ron Andrews, Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesDuration: July 2003 to June 2006Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Determine local habitat selection by bobcats, including home range characteristics and dispersal patterns in relation

to forest, grassland, and agricultural land and the configuration of these habitats.o Evaluate population monitoring techniques that can be reliably and efficiently used to survey bobcats both at the

local scale and also across Iowa.o Determine demographic rates of bobcats in Iowa, including recruitment and survival.o Evaluate genetic similarity of the Iowa population in relation to potential dispersal linkages with other populations.

Progress:Distribution of bobcat sighting post cards to Iowa DNR personnel and the general public continues. To date, 519sightings/tracks have been reported throughout Iowa. The second annual bowhunter survey tallied 67,066 hours ofobservation of wildlife. Bobcats observed/1000 hours ranged from 6.5-7.0 across southern Iowa but were sparse or notreported in other regions of the state. We are investigating means to insure continued hunter participation and statisticalmeans to detect trends. We continue testing the applicability of a survey based on track observations under roadbridges as a means to locally detect bobcats.

Since November 2005, 25 bobcats were radio collared throughout the study area. To date, over 11,000 ground and aeriallocations have been collected on 69 bobcats. GPS collars have been recovered from 7 bobcats with a total of 3,208locations. Only 17 mortalities of radio collared bobcats have occurred, which yields an estimated annual survival of 0.82of both sexes. We also collected 380 bobcat carcasses from at least 33 Iowa counties, most of which were incidentallytrapped or killed by automobiles. Carcasses were analyzed to produce demographic parameters (see below).

Stephanie Koehler graduated with an M.S. in August, 2006. Her thesis was titled “Habitat selection and demography ofbobcats in Iowa” (abstract follows). She is working on phase II of the project as a Research Associate (see relatedproject report).

Conclusions and Recommendations:Since the mid-1900s, bobcats have been rare throughout the Corn Belt of the Midwest because of historic habitat lossand unregulated harvest. Recently, reports of bobcat occurrences have increased in Iowa, motivating study of themechanisms enabling them to recolonize this fragmented, agricultural landscape. I determined habitat selection ofbobcats by radio-collaring 44 bobcats in south-central Iowa during 2003-2005. Annual home range size of males (56.36km2) was larger than that of females (20.16 km2). Females used smaller home ranges during April-September (15.64 km2),as compared to October-March (26.30 km2). Similarly, core size of males (8.75 km2) was larger than that of females (2.26km2), and females used smaller cores in the April-September (1.66 km2) as compared to October-March (3.09 km2).Compositional analysis along with standardized selection ratios illustrate that bobcats were selecting forest habitatabout twice as frequently than any other habitat class, including grassland and CRP, at both landscape and withinhome-range scales. Predictive models indicated that home range and core area was smaller in landscapes where forestand grassland habitat was less fragmented. Predictive models indicated home range shape was more circular inlandscapes with low forest patch density within the home range. I estimated demographic parameters from 265 bobcatcarcasses and the live-captures. The proportion of females in the population was 0.46. Mean age was 1.29 years andthe oldest bobcat was aged at 9 years. Bobcats d”2 years of age comprised 66% of the age distribution. Mean litter sizeas determined from placental scars ranged from 2.50-3.00. Pregnancy rates of adult females ranged from 0.76-1.00.Annual survival of 44 radio-collared bobcats was 0.82. Automobile collisions (33%) and incidental trapping (22%) werethe 2 most common causes of death. Annual survival as calculated from the age distribution (0.56) was considerablylower than that estimated from the radio-collared bobcats. Population growth estimates determined from life tableanalysis indicated a rate of annual growth ranging from 1.13-1.52, depending on assumptions.

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Develop a User-Friendly Interface for Iowa’s Lake Databases –Watershed, Water Quality and Fisheries

Principal Investigator: John A. DowningResearch Associate: George AntoniouDuration: June 2006 to February 2007Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR)Goals and Objectives:o To provide the Iowa Department of Natural Resources with new approaches to access fisheries data along with

relevant information from the Iowa Lakes Information System. In addition, develop the capability to download datadirectly from the Lakes Information System and create printable summary lake reports (“Mini-reports”) specific toDNR Fisheries needs. The overall aim, therefore, is to create useful tools for reporting and retrieving data. Thespecific objectives are the following:o Develop printable lake mini-reports geared toward local management needs and public use. Include the ability

to choose from a select group of report components, then download and print the desired information.o Create a web-based download query function for fisheries data within the Iowa Lakes Information system.

Progress:A meeting was held on October 24, 2006, between the Downing group and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.Participants reviewed the project goals and objectives, identified groups who would use the finished product andreviewed potential components of the on-line reporting function.

Future Plans:Plans are to summarize, discuss and implement comments and suggestions presented by project sponsor. We will moveforward with completing a usable version of the on-line report function by the end of December. We will use the monthof January to incorporate additional user comments.


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Development of an Invertebrate-based Terrestrial Index of Biotic Integrity

Principal Investigator: Diane M. DebinskiStudent Investigator: Jessica Orlofske (M.S.)Duration: June 2006 to June 2008Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa Science FoundationPrairie Biotic Research, Inc.

Goals and Objectives:o Design an effective, reliable, consistent and non-technical sampling protocol for a diverse set of prairie

invertebrates.o Broaden the number of invertebrate groups that can be used in biotic integrity indices.o Develop an efficient method of analyzing the data to determine site quality.o Test the proposed index on a variety of prairie sites.

Introduction:Biotic integrity, the capacity of an area to support and maintain the appropriate diversity of organisms that allow for afunctional, adaptive system comparable to natural habitat of the same type, is difficult to measure directly. Invertebrateassessment as part of an index of biotic integrity, a measurement of the quality of the system based on the residentorganisms, has been used extensively and productively in aquatic ecosystems. Yet, terrestrial invertebrates used asbioindicators may be just as useful as their aquatic counterparts. Terrestrial invertebrates possess many of the samecharacter traits that enabled scientists to develop the indices for aquatic systems. Invertebrates compose a significantproportion of all terrestrial life and perform critical ecosystem services: pollination and decomposition which contributesto soil fertility and plant productivity. Invertebrates possess sensitivity to environmental alterations and can respond inabundance and distribution because of short generation times and high fecundity. The scientific and professionalcommunities have demonstrated a need for a non-technical, inexpensive, and effective tool for environmental monitoringand assessment. In Iowa the greatest need for the development of such an index is for prairies and prairie restorations.However, such methodology for community indices remains underdeveloped, and that which has been proposedremains untested.

The purpose of this research is to overcome the sampling and taxonomic obstacles and make critical progress toward aterrestrial index of biotic integrity for Iowa’s vital and disappearing tall grass prairie ecosystem. The results will includeeffective sampling protocols, identification of important invertebrate bioindicators, a standardized method of analysisand a preliminary tool for private and public landowners and managers.

Progress:Thirty federal, state, county, and private prairies are being used for this research. The prairies were divided into 3categories: remnant, restored and integrated reconstruction. Invertebrates were sampled with 3 collection methods:sweep nets, pitfall traps, and Berlese-tullgren soil samples. Sampling took place each month (June, July and August)during the summer of 2006. Five hundred and forty sweep net samples, 1350 pitfall samples and 90 soil samples weresuccessfully collected. The invertebrates in the samples are being identified to family and to lower taxonomic levels, ifpossible, and statistical analysis will follow.

Future Plans:Additional, but more targeted invertebrate collections may be conducted next season (2007), to test the effectiveness ofthe sampling, identification and statistical methods.

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Effects of Commercial Harvest on Shovelnose Sturgeon in the UpperMississippi River

Principal Investigators: Michael C. QuistClay L. Pierce

Student Investigator: Jeff Koch (M.S.)Collaborators: Don Bonneau, Michael Steuck, and Kirk Hansen of the Iowa Department

of Natural Resources, Patrick Short of the Wisconsin Department ofNatural Resources

Duration: May 2006 to June 2008Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Describe population parameters of shovelnose sturgeon in the upper Mississippi River (UMR),o Assess current and future harvest scenarios and accompanying actions that might be used to sustain commercial

harvest of shovelnose sturgeon in the UMR, ando Model variation in recruitment as a function of flows through the UMR system

Introduction:Shovelnose sturgeon are becoming an increasingly important commercial species in the upper Mississippi River (UMR)due to collapsing foreign sturgeon populations and bans on imported caviar. Data regarding shovelnose sturgeonpopulation parameters in the UMR are currently more than thirty years old; therefore, more recent information is neededfor managing these populations. We began a project in the spring of 2006, in collaboration with the Iowa Department ofNatural Resources (IDNR) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), to study the impacts ofcommercial harvest on shovelnose sturgeon populations in the UMR system. Three study pools (Pools 9, 13, and 14)were chosen as the focus of the study.

Progress:During the 2006 field season, 781 shovelnose sturgeon were collected from the three study pools. Preliminary analysesindicate that shovelnose sturgeon in Pool 9 have higher mean lengths, weights, and relative weights (Wr). Pool 9 is alsoan area of interest because small shovelnose sturgeon (< 530 mm) are absent, but are common in Pools 13 and 14. Sexratios were similar for Pools 9 and 13 (62 F : 38 M and 69 F : 31 M, respectively), but in Pool 14 the ratio was more even(48 F : 52 M). An analysis of the precision of four aging structures for shovelnose sturgeon is also underway.Preliminarily, cross-sectioned fin rays appear to be more useful than dorsal scutes, opercles, and cleithra.

Future Plans:Future plans include obtaining additional egg samples for fecundity estimates as well as analyzing data to model effectsof commercial harvest and potential management alternatives on UMR shovelnose sturgeon populations. Collected datawill also be used to model variation in recruitment as a function of spring flows through the UMR basin.


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Iowa NatureMapping: Enhancing Comprehensive Wildlife Managementthrough Internet GIS Mapping Technology

Principal Investigator: James L. PeaseResearch Associate: Jason P. O’BrienCollaborators: ISU Brenton Center and ISU GIS FacilityDuration: April 2006 through March 2007Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Develop a comprehensive, online, Geographic Information System (GIS) wildlife mapping tool to allow access to

NatureMapping and other wildlife and natural resource data in formats useful to wildlife professionals.o Work with various local and state wildlife and natural resource management agencies and organizations to develop

a protocol for reviewing and confirming data submitted through the Iowa NatureMapping Program, using the GISmapping tool, and adhering to the Iowa Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan (CWCP).

Introduction:In 2005, Iowa completed its Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan (CWCP). NatureMapping is Iowa’s wildlifemonitoring program, which utilizes citizens to gather location data on common wildlife species. NatureMapping iscreating a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping tool that can handle the detailed data access needs of wildlifemanagement planners and researchers charged with implementing the CWCP, as well as the needs of local planners,conservation organizations and partners, and active citizen science monitors.

Progress:There are two phases to this project. The first is to address unresolved and reoccurring problems and design issues withthe current database, including the back-end database tables and the front-end web forms that users see. The secondphase involves integrating first phase database and web form improvements with a Geographic Information System (GIS)Mapping Tool, which would greatly improve the ability of users to access and interact with NatureMapping data.

The first phase of the Geographic Information System (GIS) Mapping Tool for Iowa NatureMapping is nearingcompletion. Mistakes in the data were corrected, and the overall structure of the database was improved to betterperform on the user side. Currently, improvements are being made to the web forms for NatureMapping monitors andothers needing access to tabular data. These changes are into three categories: “User”, “Administration”, and“Reviewer.” The User pages are for current and future NatureMapping Monitors, and changes improve the overallefficiency and detail of data entry and access. The Administration pages improve efficiency of data queries and look upsfor the NatureMapping Coordinator, allowing them to better serve their clients. The Reviewer pages are new to theNatureMapping database, and allow full access to the data by wildlife experts who will have the ability to review andcomment on all NatureMapping data. Each of these web form changes will complement the second phase of this project.

The NatureMapping GIS Mapping Tool is the next step in this project. This phase of the project hinges on the outcomeof the previously mentioned work. Currently, phase two of the project has been delayed because of setbacksexperienced by the Iowa State University GIS Facility, who has been contracted to design the mapping tool. Ironically,the setback involves delays in designing another GIS Mapping Tool for the DNR. The good news is that the delay hasallowed us to work in more detail on phase one of the project, resulting in an improved database and web forms. Also,the work being done for the DNR will directly inform what is created for our NatureMapping GIS Mapping Tool. Bothwill be compatible in the long run and even have the potential to be integrated in the future. Because our project isfunded by a State Wildlife Grant (SWG) from the DNR and the other GIS Mapping Tool is funded by the DNR, it is hopedthat this delay will be seen as a positive for both projects and the final outcome will be a much improved project thanwould have otherwise been possible. This project is integral to NatureMapping’s future plans to create field-friendlydatabase tools.

Future Plans:Additional electronic data gathering tools are in the works, including a PDA/GPS handheld data collection device.

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Genetic Variation of Northern and Southern Populations of Quadrulafragosa (Conrad, 1835) using Microsatellites

Principal Investigator: Jeanne M. SerbStudent Investigator: Amanda Hemmingsen (M.S.)Duration: August 2005 to December 2007Funding Source(s): U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceGoals and Objectives:o How diverse are the northern and the southern populations of Q. fragosa?o What is the degree of genetic difference between northern and southern populations?o What are the population dynamics between northern and southern locations?o How many females will be needed to generate the same level of genetic diversity in a founder population?

Progress:The winged mapleleaf, Quadrula fragosa, historically occurred in the Mississippi, Tennessee, Ohio, and Cumberlandriver drainages, but has suffered severe population and range reductions. At the time that the species was federallylisted as endangered, its range was thought to have been reduced to a stretch of the St. Croix River betweennorthwestern Wisconsin and east-central Minnesota. Recently, morphologically “Q. fragosa-like” specimens werediscovered at sites in Arkansas (Ouachita River) and Missouri (Bourbeuse River). These specimens were geneticallydetermined to be Q. fragosa with mitochondrial DNA sequence, suggesting that two new populations of Q. fragosa existoutside the St. Croix River. Because these new southern populations may have a significant impact in the developmentof conservation management plans for the northern population of Q. fragosa, specific information about populationstructure and genetic diversity of Q. fragosa is needed.

Since the fall of 2005, specimens that will be used in the population genetic study have been collected from threesouthern populations. These populations include a new location (Little Red River, Oklahoma), which contain individualsgenetically identified as Q. fragosa during this study. Subsequently, we have expanded our research scope to includethis population. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided fresh tissue from the St. Croix population (Minnesota) forgenomic DNA library development. Two enriched microsatellite libraries were generated for di- (CA) and tri- (CAA)nucleotide repeats and these libraries were cloned into E. coli bacteria. Currently, we are screening clones that containthe repeat inserts of interest using chemoluminescence methods. Once positive clones are identified from this method,we will sequence the insert and develop microsatellite primers that will be used in the population genetics study.

Future Plans:Microsatellites developed from this project will be used to assess genetic differences within and among populations andwill improve our understanding of the population dynamics of this federally endangered mussel. This information willbe critical in developing conservation management plans for the species.


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The Effect of Preserve and Conservation Site Clustering on LocalAmphibian Densities and Species Richness

Principal Investigator: Brent J. DanielsonStudent Investigator: Anne Johnson (M.S.)Duration: October 2004 to June 2007Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Determine how the amount and number of conserved areas, including all Iowa Department of Natural Resources

(DNR) properties within a region, affect amphibian species richness and densities.o Determine the accuracy of DNR Wildlife Diversity Program volunteer frog and toad call surveys.o Determine whether restored wetland basins differ from native wetland basins in amphibian richness and densities.

Introduction:This study examines the effects of the local densities of wetland basins in regulating the abundances and diversity ofanurans. Wetland restoration efforts often center upon creating wetland complexes but there is little information on thenumbers or acreages of wetland basins within these complexes that are sufficient to support diverse anuran populations.The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has used frog-calling surveys conducted by volunteers as a means oftracking the health and status of frog populations across the state. These methods have not yet been independentlyvalidated. This study will provide a means of determining if specific frog species are being systematically missed orover- or under-represented by the volunteer surveys. Finally, there is a need to determine if anuran populations inrestored wetlands can match natural wetlands in both abundances and diversity. To these ends, we considered 370 sitesfor inclusion in our set of study sites. We have surveyed 144 of these wetlands up to three times during the 2005 fieldseason.

Progress:Analyses of these data are ongoing but preliminary analyses (subject to change as methodology is refined) suggest thatthe amount of wetlands within regions surrounding survey points has little effect on amphibian species richness anddensities.

Also, DNR volunteers tend to underestimate species richness in their nocturnal auditory surveys. Some species aremissed more often than others (leopard frogs and bullfrogs). However, they tend to identify American toads morefrequently than did the ISU Survey Team (ISUST), even though the ISUST included visual daytime surveys for bothadults and tadpoles.

Finally, categorizing the anuran richness and diversity of restored and native wetlands is proving difficult due to a lackof detailed data on the types of wetland restoration projects (intensity, what was done, what existed initially, etc.)included in the available databases; data provided includes only wetland location and year of restoration.

Future Plans:Additional spatial analyses and evaluation of wetland restorations are ongoing and targeted for completion by June2007.

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Response of Forest Birds to Changes in Land Use/Land Cover in theDriftless Area of Northeastern Iowa

Principal Investigators: James R. MillerLisa A. Schulte

Student Investigator: Jaymi LeBrun, (M.S.)Duration: August 2005 to September 2008Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Establish a suite of study sites on public lands using a stratified approach based on local habitat conditions (i.e.

forest structure/composition) and landscape position (i.e. cross-boundary land uses, proximity to other forestedhabitat, reserve size).

o Quantify the relationship between habitat use by forest birds (as measured by species occurrence/density) andforest structure/composition.

o Quantify the influence of the surrounding landscape matrix on habitat use by forest birds once variation due tolocal habitat conditions has been explained.

o Measure changes over time regarding shifts in the avian community and in forest structure/composition since thesurveys of 1996/1997 (Norris 1999).

o Estimate nest success for common forest bird species and relate variation in nest success to local habitat conditionsand landscape context.

Progress:In the spring and summer of 2006, we established study sites in northeastern Iowa in Allamakee, Clayton, Dubuque, andDelaware counties. These sites include some of the public lands surveyed by Norris in 1995–1996, including Fish FarmMounds Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Yellow River State Forest, Waukon Junction WMA, Clear Creek WMA,and Iverson Bottoms WMA (Allamakee County); Bloody Run WMA, and Pikes Peak State Park (Clayton County);White Pine Hollow WMA (Dubuque County); and Ram Hollow/Hoffman WMA and Backbone State Park (DelawareCounty). In addition to these sites surveyed by Norris, additional sites included Lansing Wildlife Management Areaand Effigy Mounds National Monument (Allamakee County). We detected a total of 812 individual birds and 42 specieson our survey plots between May 30 and July 18, 2006. The Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) was ranked as the mostabundant and most frequently encountered species, accounting for 9% of the total occurrences and present at all of the13 sites. A total of seven species of concern were detected at our sites in 2006, including the Acadian Flycatcher(Empidonax virescens), Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus), Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulean), EasternTowhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus), Veery (Catharus fuscescens), Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) and Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus). Their percent total occurrence ranged from <1% to 3%.

To assess the effect of local habitat conditions on reproductive success, we conducted a pilot study from mid-Maythrough July on two sites at Yellow River State Forest. Each study site was approximately 170 ha in size. Both studysites were similar in landscape context, but differed in the amount of invasive vegetation. A total of 33 nests from 9different species were located and monitored at these sites during the 2006 breeding season. Two of the nine specieswere ground nesters (Ovenbird [Seiurus aurocapilla] and Eastern Towhee) and seven of the nine were shrub/treenesters (Acadian Flycatcher, American Robin [Turdus migratorius], Common Yellowthroat [Geothlypis trichas], IndigoBunting [Passerina cyanea], Northern Cardinal [Cardinalis cardinalis], Red-eyed Vireo, and Wood Thrush). Althoughsample sizes were low, there was a dramatic difference in nest success at the two sites: 5/11 vs. 2/22.

Future Plans:Currently, we are digitizing land cover in the areas surrounding our study sites and we plan to continue this though thecoming year. We also plan to do preliminary analyses comparing our data with those collected by Norris. Lastly, in2007, we plan to add additional survey plots on both public and private lands and identify additional sites forconducting nest searches, focusing on the Ovenbird and Wood Thrush.


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Assessment of Interrelationships between the Fisheries Community andLimnological Characteristics in Iowa Lakes

Principal Investigator: Michael C. QuistStudent Investigator: Zachary J. Jackson (M.S.)Collaborators: Don Bonneau, Joe Larscheid, and Michael Hawkins, Iowa Department

of Natural ResourcesDuration: August 2005 to June 2008Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Evaluate patterns in fish assemblage structure among Iowa lakes using extant fisheries data,o Describe and assess age structure and growth rates of indicator fish species,o Develop a classification index based on fisheries quality, ando Examine relationships among fish assemblage structure, limnological conditions, lake basin morphology, and

watershed characteristics.

Progress:The purpose of this study is to investigate relationships between fish assemblage characteristics and habitat quality in132 Iowa lakes. Understanding the relationships between fish assemblages and habitat quality (e.g., watershedcondition, limnological characteristics) is the first step in developing water quality standards (e.g., nutrient standards)and biological assessment criteria (e.g., Index of Biotic Integrity), which can then be used to guide protection andrestoration programs for lakes in Iowa.

Standardized fisheries data were collected by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) during 2001-2004.Length, weight, and count data as well as hard structures (e.g., scales, spines, otoliths) for age and growth analysis werecollected for black bullhead Ameiurus melas, black crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, bluegill Lepomis macrochirus,common carp Cyprinus carpio, largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, northern pike Esox lucius, smallmouth bass M.dolomieu, white crappie P. annularis, and yellow perch Perca flavescens. All length, weight, and count data have beenentered into a database for storage and analysis. Iowa State University researchers and DNR fisheries personnel arecurrently aging the hard structures and entering information into a database for future analysis. Quality assurance andquality control have been performed on the data and preliminary analysis has begun. Preliminary analyses show thatlakes with high levels of nutrients (e.g., total phosphorous, chlorophyll a) and total suspended solids tend to have fewerbluegill and largemouth bass and more common carp compared to lakes with lower levels of nutrients and totalsuspended solids. In order to assist in developing nutrient standards for Iowa lakes, additional analyses have beenconducted to identify threshold levels of nutrients that may influence sportfishing opportunities. Initial findings fromour analyses coincide with values derived from other analyses being conducted by DNR.

Future Plans:Researchers will complete analysis of age and growth data and continue data analysis. Analysis will be completed toevaluate patterns in fish assemblage structure, describe and assess age structure and growth rates of indicator fishspecies, develop a classification index based on fisheries quality, and examine relationships among fish assemblagestructure, limnological conditions, lake basin morphology, and watershed characteristics.

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Best Management Practices for Channel Catfish Culture in Plastic-LinedPonds

Principal Investigator: Joseph E. MorrisStudent Investigator: Len M. Kring (M.S.)Duration: July 2003 to June 2006Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o To identify best management practices for culturing channel catfish in plastic-lined ponds.o To model the nitrogenous and phosphorus outputs derived from culturing channel catfish in plastic-lined ponds.

Progress:In 2000, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources began using ten 0.4-ha and six 0.04-ha plastic-lined ponds at theRathbun Fish Hatchery and Research Facility (Moravia, Iowa) to culture game fish that are subsequently stocked intopublic waters. During the first 3 years of use, inconsistent growth and survival of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)were evident. Two separate studies were composed to better understand the culture of channel catfish in these ponds.In study #1, the effects of stocking density was investigated in the 0.4-ha production ponds. In 2003, stocking densitieswere 75,000 and 112,000 fish/ha. No significant differences were seen in catfish production; although fish in the lowertreatment were slightly larger. The only significant water quality difference was that the ponds stocked with 112,000 fish/ha had higher concentrations of total phosphorus. In 2004, the same ponds were stocked at rates of 38,000 and 75,000fish/ha. The fish in the lower treatment exhibited significantly higher specific growth rates. These fish were alsosignificantly longer and heavier at harvest. Ponds stocked at a rate of 75,000 fish/ha had significantly higherconcentrations of ammonia, total phosphorus and chlorophyll a. These treatments were repeated in 2005 with similarresults with the biggest difference being the improved fish growth due to increased water temperatures compared to2004. In study #2, the six 0.04-ha plastic-lined ponds were used in conjunction with six 0.08-ha earthen ponds located atthe Iowa State University Horticulture Station (Ames, Iowa), to assess the effects of dietary protein content on theproduction of channel catfish in 2004 and 2005. Plastic-lined ponds that received 28% protein feed exhibitedsignificantly higher levels of total phosphorus and turbidity. Earthen ponds that received 36% protein feed displayedsignificantly higher concentrations of ammonia and chlorophyll a. Fish fed the 36% protein diet in the plastic-linedponds had significantly higher relative weights (Wr) then fish fed the 28% protein diet. There was a significantdifference in harvest lengths and weights in the earthen ponds, with the fish fed the 36% protein feed being longer.Given the significantly cooler temperatures of 2004, the same treatments used in 2004 were repeated in 2005. Analyses todate indicate limited differences between the two stocking treatments in fish production as well as in the two feedtreatments. In contrast to the previous year, water quality issues, i.e., unionized ammonia, became problematic due toincreased water temperatures as well as pH. However, although not significant (P > 0.10), plastic-lined ponds in the 36%protein feed treatment exhibited slightly higher concentrations of measured nitrogenous compounds, total phosphorus,alkalinity, and hardness. There limited differences in water quality in the earthen ponds due to increased pumping ofnutrient-rich water, as several ponds leaked excessively in 2005.

Conclusions and Recommendations:Given the noted difficulty in maintaining water quality in plastic-lined culture ponds as well as the need to stock channelcatfish of at least 180 mm long, stocking densities need to be limited to 38,000 fish per ha. This relatively low stockingrate will allow for faster fish growth as well as improved water quality conditions that have been the cause for much ofthe poor survival in previous years. In addition, while there were limited significant advantages of using lower protein(~28%) fish diets, improved water quality conditions associated with the lower protein feeds were noted. Thecombination of lower stocking densities and the use of low protein diets combined with regular water qualityassessments should be instrumental in developing culture protocols that allow for improved fish growth and survival.


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Effects of Prairie Restoration Using Fire and Grazing Regimes on theButterfly Community of Iowa’s Loess Hills

Principal Investigators: Diane M. DebinskiRolf R. KofordJames R. Miller

Student Investigator: Jennifer Vogel (M.S.)Duration: May 2004 to April 2007Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Evaluate how grazing and burning management regimes affect butterfly species richness and abundance.o Determine whether butterfly eggs or early instar larvae can survive a burn.o Assess whether S. idalia butterfly populations within a 0.5-5 km2 area management unit within the Loess Hills

prairie can recover within one or two years after a prescribed burn.o Provide recommendations on best management practices for prairie restoration based on the results of this study

combined with relevant information from the literature.

Progress:Both total and habitat-specialist (prairie-dependent) butterfly abundance were highest on prairies that were managedwith grazing and burning, and lowest on those that were only burned. Butterfly species richness did not differsignificantly among any of the management types. Responses of individual butterfly species to management practiceswere variable. In the best predictive models, both habitat-specialist and total butterfly abundance were negativelyassociated with the percent cover of bare ground, total butterfly abundance was positively associated with the percentcover of forbs, and habitat-generalist butterfly abundance was positively associated with floral resources. Areasmanaged with fire, grazing, or a fire/grazing combination all maintained equally species rich, yet compositionally differentbutterfly communities.

Total butterfly abundance and habitat-specialist butterfly abundance were positively correlated with the time (inmonths) since burn. The percent cover of warm season grasses and bare ground decreased while the cover of coolseason grasses, forbs, and litter depth increased with time since burn. We used Path Analysis to evaluate the relativecontributions of the direct effect of time since fire and the indirect effects of time since fire through changes invegetation composition on butterfly abundance. For habitat-specialist species, path models highlighted the importanceof the indirect effects of fire on habitat features (such as increases the cover of bare ground) and how these indirecteffects may influence butterfly abundance after a fire. Recovery times for butterfly populations after prescribed fires inour study are potentially longer than those previously reported. Because fire return intervals on managed prairieremnants are often less than 5 years, information on recovery times for habitat-specialist insect species are of greatimportance.

Caterpillar sweep net surveys were conducted in the spring of 2006 on recently burned and nearby unburned sites toassess post-fire survival. Sweep net samples conducted on reconstructed sites did not contain butterfly caterpillars,whereas those conducted on remnant sites did contain caterpillars. Preliminary analyses reveal that on remant sites,there were no differences in butterfly caterpillar abundance between the burned and unburned sites.

A Master’s thesis has been filed and two manuscripts from this work have been submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Results from this project were presented at the North American Prairie Conference in July of 2006.

Future Plans:Statistical analyses on caterpillar sweep net data will be continued durning the fall of 2006. Additional statisticalanalyses and revisions of manuscripts will occur in spring, 2007.

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Population dynamics and dispersal of bobcats in Iowa

Principal Investigator: William R. ClarkStudent Investigator: Dawn M. Reding (Ph.D.)Collaborators: Todd Gosselink & Ron Andrews, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Anne M. Bronikowski, Department of Ecology, Evolution and OrganismalBiology, Iowa State University

Duration: July 2006 to June 2009Funding Source(s): Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesGoals and Objectives:o Determine local habitat selection by bobcats, including home range characteristics and dispersal patterns in relation

to forest, grassland, and agricultural land and the configuration of these habitats.o Evaluate population monitoring techniques that can be reliably and efficiently used to survey bobcats both at the

local scale and also across Iowa.o Determine demographic rates of bobcats in Iowa, including recruitment and survival.o Evaluate genetic similarity of the Iowa population in relation to potential dispersal linkages with other populations.

Introduction:In 2003 the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with Iowa State University, initiated a study of theconservation biology of the bobcat (Lynx rufus), a species which has become increasingly common in the corn belt ofthe Midwest. Although we began studying bobcats in southern Iowa 3 years ago, we still have many unansweredquestions related to the landscape ecology and population dynamics of bobcats in Iowa. Desires expressed by thepublic range from complete protection of bobcats to limited harvest, so we must be prepared to define managementoptions based on scientific data. Data collection for Phase I objectives, emphasizing habitat relationships anddemography, is essentially completed although final publication is in progress. This project, which is referred to asPhase II, emphasizes estimating statewide distribution, dispersal in relation to landscape features, and populationgenetics.

Progress:We have largely completed the data collection to determine habitat selection at the local scale (Objective 1) but we arereanalyzing data collected during the first 3 years before submitting the final publications. We have only recordeddetailed dispersal tracks of 3 female and 9 male bobcats. We are redesigning the telemetry tracking scheme to focus lesson local habitat selection and more specifically on dispersing individuals. Dispersal movements often last from 1 to 5months and we have observed one dispersal >150 km into Missouri. Interestingly, we have not observed a singledispersal northward into Iowa and we wish to investigate the landscape configurations that might pose barriers todisperal along river systems in Iowa. Results from Phase I suggest that the bow hunter survey will be our mostsuccessful design for assessing statewide distribution (Objective 2) and we have now collected data for 3 years. But thestatistical reliability is such that we can distinguish abundance at the level of 9 climate regions within Iowa but thatcounty-level inference will require new statistical methods. During Phase I we also focused on demography (Objective 3)but we must resolve questions about survival estimates and the rate of increase. Telemetry data indicate very high (82%)survival of adults suggesting mean life span as an adult of >5 years, but age structure based on carcasses reveals only2% of the population reach that age. In Phase II we are focusing on the role of regional and local population genetics inthe recovery of the species (Objective 4). Using a combination of genetic and demographic methods we areinvestigating whether bobcats in Iowa represent the periphery of the current range into which the regional population isexpanding, or alternatively whether the Iowa population at the periphery of the geographic range is self-sustaining andlargely isolated. In cooperation with the laboratory of Dr. Anne Bronikowski at Iowa State University we haveestablished procedures and have now extracted DNA from tissue samples of 362 bobcats. With the collaboration of Dr.Warren Johnson at the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity we will next investigate genetic diversity using establishedmicrosatellite markers.

Future Plans:Dawn Reding will begin her Ph.D. courses in January 2007. We will continue to monitor bobcats using the bow survey in2007, and to mark and track another sample of 25 bobcats in 2007-2008. Genetic sequencing and associated analyses willcommence in 2007.


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Spatial Analysis of Waterfowl-Predator Interactions

Principal Investigators: William R. ClarkPhilip M. Dixon

Student Investigator: Dale H. Tessin (Ph.D.)Collaborators: David Howerter, Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl ResearchDuration: June 2003 to June 2007Funding Source(s): Ducks Unlimited, Institute for Wetland and Waterfowl Research

National Science Foundation VIGRE ProgramGoals and Objectives:o Review the statistical methods that have previously been used to describe and analyze spatial data, including

Ripley’s K (Dixon 2002) and kernel estimation (Berman and Diggle 1989).o Apply those methods to existing data sets on nesting waterfowl, including Ducks Unlimited’s PHJV Assessment

data.o Develop extensions of existing methods better suited to spatial questions relating to waterfowl nest data.o Explore whether the spatial patterns of waterfowl nests and predation events are related to total density of nests

and landscape context.

Progress:We are studying the nest predation process, specifically how habitat fragmentation influences patterns of waterfowlnest initiation, predator movement patterns, and the interaction of predator movements and nest patterns in space andtime using spatial point analyses. Nest initiation point patterns have been investigated using Ripley’s K, and we areusing space-time K functions to reveal the underlying processes in three dimensions. Our use of space-time Kfunctions further generalizes our point pattern analyses through the use of a null model that is robust to habitatheterogeneity. Preliminary results show that when time (in 2 week intervals) is added to the model, patterns of nestdistribution and nest predation cannot be distinguished from random patterns. Additionally, the nest initiation patterntends to be overdispersed at small spatial scales, implying that hens select nest sites farther away from existing neststhan would be expected by chance. Finally nests face a much greater risk of predation when they are located close toanother nest in both space and time. This increased risk of predation extends to ~100m over short time intervals (up to 6days) but only to ~50m over time intervals up to 15 days. Because our analyses reveal that clusters of nests apparentlydon’t exist over short time intervals, analyses of space-only patterns accumulated across an entire season are somewhatmisleading. But the analyses are consistent with predators displaying Area Restricted Search behaviors which result in apattern of increased destruction risk at small spatial and temporal scales.

We are now using kernel density ratios to describe how the risk of nest destruction varies across observed nest pointpatterns. Risk surfaces are calculated as the ratio of the destroyed nest density surface over the initiated nest densitysurface and identify the nest destruction process conditional on observed nest locations.

Future Plans:Our collaboration with Ducks Unlimited exploring the spatial processes that describe waterfowl nest initiation and nestsuccess is nearing completion. We are now investigating the interaction of nest point patterns and predator movementbehavior by simulating predator trajectories using data collected by Mike Phillips. Nest encounter rates for theobserved nest initiation pattern will be compared with encounter rates for random and regularly spaced nest locations.This analysis will help us understand the predator foraging mechanism that leads to nest destruction and how habitatarrangements lead to areas of high and low nest success through their impacts on nesting spatial patterns. Additionally,Area Restricted Search modeling of predation events in space and time will allow quantification of the strength of thisbehavior.

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Landscape Ecology of Mississippi River Mussels: Multiple ScaleMetapopulation Perspective in Unionid Population Biology

Principal Investigator: John A. DowningStudent Investigator: Daelyn Woolnough (Ph.D.)Collaborators: Teresa Newton, USGS, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences CenterDuration: September 2002 to September 2006Funding Source(s): U. S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences CenterGoals and Objectives:o To determine whether unionid populations in the Upper Mississippi River function as metapopulations.o To determine whether fish host populations in the Upper Mississippi River function as metapopulations.o To determine whether one species of fish host could contribute to population connectivity of unionid species or if

multiple species are necessary to provide connectivity of populations.

Progress:Daelyn Woolnough successfully defended her dissertation, “The importance of host fish in long range transport ofunionids in large rivers” in June 2006 and obtained a Ph.D., majoring in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. She iscurrently employed at Trent University in the Biology Department as a post-doctoral researcher (Peterborough Ontario,Canada).

Conclusions and Recommendations:Ecological processes are influenced by spatial patterns of biota and the ways in which these patterns are connected.Freshwater mussel larvae are parasites on the gills and fins of fishes, and thus, the spatial distribution of these speciesare interrelated. We investigated the spatial distribution of this host-parasite relation over a 38 km reach of theMississippi River using three spatial analysis tools (grid, spatial gradient, and Ripley’s point pattern). We used a gridanalysis to show that while both mussels and host fish are found along the entire reach of the river, <13% of the areahad >2 species of mussels (out of a possible 36), but >18% of the area had >13 species of host fish (out of a possible 37).We identified areas which contained high mussel and host fish communities. Our spatial gradient analysis showed that59% of all mussel communities were located within 100 m of host fish and there was a maximum of 21 mussel species(58% of all species). The maximum number of mussel species in communities did not increase from 100 m to 400 m fromthe host fish locations. We used Ripley’s point pattern analysis to estimate the degree to which the mussel and hostfish data were clustered, and found that both mussel and host fish species were statistically clustered over all spatialscales examined (0 to 1000 m) even after accounting for landscape complexity (i.e., islands and shoreline).

We demonstrate how the spatial patterns of freshwater mussel communities and the host fish for their larval stages wereused to quantify the connectivity that host fish provide mussel communities. We considered 15 mussel species andtheir 35 species of host fish in a 38 km reach of the Upper Mississippi River. Connections were measured with twomethods—direct connectivity and functional connectivity. Direct connectivity is that connectivity provided when agiven mussel community is contained within the home range of its host fish; our results show that nine mussel specieshad large direct connectivity (>90% of communities contained within home range of hosts). Functional connectivity is ameasure of the potential connection among and between mussel communities. We found that mussel communities withgreater functional connectivity provided by hosts had a better condition (i.e., high species richness, high abundance,large site size, and variety of age distribution). The variation in this functional connectivity-condition relation can bepartially explained by the subfamilies of mussel species. These analyses account for heterogeneity within river reachesof required resources and these methods may be used to predict the success of communities in fragmentedenvironments.

There are five suggestions for future research that can expand on this research. First, a genetic analysis of musselcommunities that either differ in functional connectivity or community condition could verify the results of this study.Second, would be to use the concepts presented to calculate host fish connectivity in an extremely fragmented orgenetically understood population of mussels. Third, would be to test this methodology in small rivers that have lessopen water areas. The fourth empirical test would be to test these methods in lentic systems. Host fish are likelydistributed differently in lentic systems and the lentic systems have less landscape complexity. Finally, the concept offunctional connectivity should be tested with other host-parasite systems. It would be interesting to test if the conceptof functional connectivity varies across Kingdoms and Phyla.


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Publications andOther ActivitiesPublications andOther ActivitiesPublications andOther Activities

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Publications and ReportsScientific

Berdeen, J.B. and D. L. Otis. 2006. The influence of subcutaneous transmitter implants on the weightchange and survival of mourning doves. Wildlife Society Bulletin 34:93-104.

Fletcher, R.J, Jr., R.R. Koford, and D.A. Seaman. 2006. Critical demographic parameters for decliningsongbirds breeding in restored grasslands. J. Wildlife Management 70:145-157.

Frohnauer, N. K., C. L. Pierce, and L. W. Kallemeyn. In Press. Population dynamics and anglerexploitation of the unique muskellunge population in Shoepack Lake, Voyageurs National Park,Minnesota. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25.

Frohnauer, N. K., C. L. Pierce, and L. W. Kallemeyn. In Press. Simulated effects of recruitment variability,exploitation, and reduced habitat area on the unique muskellunge population in Shoepack Lake,Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. North American Journal of Fisheries Management 25.

Heitke, J. D., C. L. Pierce, G. T. Gelwicks, G. A. Simmons, and G. L. Siegwarth. 2006. Habitat, land useand fish assemblage relationships in Iowa streams: a preliminary assessment in an agricultural landscape.Pages 287-303 in L. Wang, R. Hughes, and P. W. Seelbach, editors. Influences of landscape on streamhabitat and biological communities. American Fisheries Society, Symposium 48, Bethesda, Maryland.

Horn, D.J., and R.R. Koford. 2006. Could the area-sensitivity of some grassland birds be affected bylandscape composition? Pages 109-116 in Egan, D, and J.A. Harrington, editors, Proceedings of the19th North American Prairie Conference. Madison: University of Wisconsin–Madison.

Kinkead, K. E. , A. G. Abbott, and D. L. Otis. 2006. Genetic variation among Ambystoma breedingpopulations on the Savannah River Site. Conservation Genetics (online).

Otis, D.L. 2006. A mourning dove hunting regulation strategy based on annual harvest statistics andbanding data. Journal of Wildlife Management 70:1302-1307.

Shoup, D. E., S. P. Callahan, D. H. Wahl, and C. L. Pierce. In Press. Size-specific growth of bluegill,largemouth bass and channel catfish in relation to prey availability and limnological variables. Journal ofFish Biology.

Theses and Dissertations

Litvan, M. E. 2006. Evaluation of fish passage and fish and macroinvertebrate communities in southwestIowa streams modified by grade control structures. M.S. Thesis. Iowa State University. 181pp.

Peters, K. A. 2006. Shorebird and wading bird distribution, habitat use, and response to human disturbanceat Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina. Ph.D. dissertation. Clemson University.223pp.

Potter, L. M. 2006. Nesting success and brood habitat selection of the northern bobwhite in SoutheastIowa. M.S. Thesis. Iowa State University. 120pp.

Woolnough, D.A. 2006. The importance of host fish in long range transport of unionids in large rivers.Ph.D. dissertation. Iowa State University. 144 pp.

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Technical and Semi-Technical Reports

Brown, P. D., R. L. McNeely, C. L. Pierce, and K. L. Kane. 2005. The Iowa Rivers Information System(IRIS). Progress Report to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

Litvan, M. E., C. L. Pierce, and T. W. Stewart. 2006. An Evaluation of Effects of Grade Control Structureson Fish Movement and Fish Communities in Turkey Creek, Cass County, IA and MacroinvertebrateCommunities in Walnut Creek, Montgomery County, IA. Annual Progress Report for the IowaDepartment of Natural Resources, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Hungry Canyons Alliance. 55pages.

Loan-Wilsey, A. K., R. L. McNeely, P. D. Brown, K. L. Kane, and C. L. Pierce. 2005. Iowa Stream FishAtlas. Prepared for the U.S. Geological Survey, Gap Analysis Program and the Iowa Department ofNatural Resources.

Otis, D. L. and H. Wickham. 2006. Evaluation of the statistical properties of Grand Canyon HumpbackChub population abundance estimates produced from ASMR and alternative mark-recapture models.Final Report. USGS Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center. 56pp.

Otis, D. L. 2006. Summary report of 2003 - 2005 pilot reward band study. U. S. Fish and WildlifeService. 50pp.

Penne, C. R. and C. L. Pierce. 2006. Habitat Use, Seasonal Distribution, and Aggregation of CommonCarp in Clear Lake, Iowa. Annual Progress Report to the Iowa Department of Natural ResourcesFisheries Bureau, U.S. Geological Survey, and Iowa State University. 27 pages.

Rowe, D. C., and C. L. Pierce. 2006. Evaluations of Physical Habitat, Stressor, and Biological ResponseIndicators for Wadeable Streams in Iowa's Regional Environmental Monitoring and AssessmentProgram. Annual Progress Report to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. 47 pages.

Posters and Papers Presented at Professional Meetings

Huang, L., S.M. Nusser, W.R. Clark, and D. L. Otis. 2005. Evaluating Sampling Approaches for Monitor-ing Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Deer Populations. Joint Statistical Meetings. Seattle, WA

Jackson, Z. J., M. C. Quist, J. G. Larscheid, and M. J. Hawkins. 2006. Assessing fish communities andtheir relationships with water quality in Iowa lakes. 136th Annual Meeting of the American FisheriesSociety, Lake Placid, New York, September 12, 2006.

Jackson, Z. J., and M. C. Quist. 2006. Standardized sampling and assessment of fish populations in Iowalakes. Annual Meeting of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources-Fisheries Bureau, Springbrook,Iowa, February 28, 2006.

Jackson, Z. J., M. C. Quist, J. Downing, J. Larscheid, and M. Hawkins. 2006. Relations between waterquality and fish populations in Iowa lakes. Iowa Department of Natural Resources Spring ResearchMeeting, Rathbun, Iowa, May 22, 2006.

Litvan, M. E., C. L. Pierce, and T. W. Stewart. 2006. An evaluation of effects of grade control structureson fish movement and fish communities in Turkey Creek, Cass County, IA and macroinvertebratecommunities in Walnut Creek, Montgomery County, IA (poster). Iowa-Wisconsin joint Chapter meetingAmerican Fisheries Society, Dubuque, Iowa. January 2006.

Otis, D. L. 2005. Evaluation of the statistical properties of Grand Canyon humpback chub populationestimates from ASMR and alternative mark-recapture models. Colorado River Ecosystem ScienceSymposium 2005.

Penne, C. R., N. L. Ahrens, and C. L. Pierce. Expulsion of radio transmitters from juvenile common carp:effect of transmitter volume (contributed paper). Iowa-Wisconsin joint Chapter meeting, AmericanFisheries Society, Dubuque, IA, January 2006.

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Tessin, D.H., W.R. Clark, P.M. Dixon, and D.W. Howerter. 2006. Spatial and temporal variation inwaterfowl nest initiation and predation. Ecological Society of America Annual Meeting, Memphis,Tennessee, August 10, 2006.

Todorovic, Z., D. Palic, K. L. Kane, and C. L. Pierce. 2006. Use of GIS tools to identify critical points forassessment of aquatic ecosystem health in agricultural areas and potential for natural resource manage-ment (poster). Iowa Water Monitoring Conference, Ames, IA, February 2006.

Vogel, J.A., D.M. Debinski, R.R. Koford, and J. R. Miller. 2006. Grassland butterfly responses to prairierestoration: Effects of prescribed fire and grazing. 20th Annual North American Prairie Conference,Kearney, Nebraska, July 2006.

ServiceGraduate Committee Assignments

Courses Taught• Seminar, EEB 698 (Koford - 1 hr, 9 students, 1/15-5/1/06)• Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, A Ecl 569x (Otis - 3 hrs, 8 students, 1/15-5/1/06)

University Committees and Workgroups• Chair, Department Graduate Admissions Committee (Otis)• Chair, Department Graduate Curriculum Committee (Otis)• Chair, Errington Lecture Committee (Koford)• Chair,Wildlife Faculty Search Committee (Otis)• Member, Department Computer Facilities Committee (Van Beek)• Member, Errington Lecture Committee (Van Beek, ex officio)• Member, Department Safety and Facilities Committee (Pierce)• Member, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Interdepartmental Graduate Program Supervisory

Committee (Otis)• Officer At-large, University Professional and Scientific employee Council (Van Beek)

Non-society Memberships• Chair, Environmental Issues Subcommittee, Mississippi Flyway Technical Committee (Otis)• Member, Research Subcommittee, Mississippi Flyway Technical Committee (Otis)• U.S. Geological Survey Representative, Mississippi Flyway Technical Committee (Otis)• Member, National Mourning Dove Task Force (Otis)• Member, EPA Region 7 Human Stressor Index Oversight Committee (Pierce)

• Barbknecht, Andrea, M.S. (Otis)• Colbert, Paul, M.S. (Otis)• Conover, Ross, Ph.D. (Koford)• Falcy, Matt, Ph.D. (Otis)• Koehler, Stephanie, M.S. (Koford)• Lu, Pencheng, Ph.D. (Otis)• Olechnowski, Brian, Ph.D. (Koford, Otis)• Penne, Chris, M.S. (Otis)

• Pillsbury, Finn, M.S. (Otis)• Potter, Lisa, M.S. (Koford)• Powers, Russ, M.S. (Otis)• Skrade, Paul, M.S. (Koford)• Socha, Andrea, M.S. (Koford)• Woolnough, Daelyn, Ph.D. (Pierce)• Wu, Han, Ph.D. (Otis)

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Society Involvement - Memberships• American Ornithologists’ Union (Koford)• American Fisheries Society (Pierce)• American Society of Mammalogists (Koford)• Biometric Society (Otis)• Cooper Ornithological Society (Koford)• Ecological Society of America (Koford, Otis)• Sigma Xi (Koford)• Society for Conservation Biology (Koford)• Society for Ecological Restoration (Koford)• The Wildlife Society (Koford, Otis)

Society Involvement - Officer• President, Iowa Chapter of The Wildlife Society (Koford)• Executive Board Member-at-Large, Iowa Chapter of The Wildlife Society (Otis)

Technical Assistance/Outreach• Member of the academic panel in a 1-day workshop, "Beginning Your Professional Journey," at the

66th Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference, Grand Rapids, MI, December 2005. (Koford)• Talk given to Wind/Wildlife Forum, held in Des Moines, Iowa, and sponsored by the Iowa Dept.

Natural Resources and The Nature Conservancy. (Koford)• Developed and provided descriptive posters for public display at visitor centers in Voyageurs

National Park. Posters showcase results of study funded by National Park Service to assess thelong term viability of a unique strain of muskellunge found only in Voyageurs. (Pierce)

• Invited to serve as member of EPA, Region 7, Synoptic Human Stressor oversight committee.January 2006-present. (Pierce)

Training Provided• Koford, R.R. Paper given at USDA NRCS/Iowa State University Research/Outreach

Coordination Meeting, Ames, Iowa, 4 October 2005.

AwardsVan Beek, Brenda. 2006. Partnership Award from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

NewsDaelyn A. Woolnough (Ph.D) successfully defended her dissertation June 2006. She is currently employedat Trent University Biology Department as a post-doctoral researcher (Peterborough Ontario, Canada).

Mary Litvan (M.S.) successfully defended her thesis in August 2006. She is currently employed by theMissiouri Department of Conservation in Columbia, Missouri.

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