SOUTH DAKOTA COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNIT

ANNUAL REPORT

For the Period of October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2003

by Dr. Charles R. Berry, Jr., Leader

Dr. Kenneth F. Higgins, Assistant Leader – Wildlife Dr. Steven R. Chipps, Assistant Leader – Fisheries

SSUUMMMMAARRYY: The Unit staff supervised 23 projects on northern prairie habitats and biota and completed five projects in FY 2003. The Unit produced 13 peer-reviewed publications. Also produced were seven technical reports, one popular publication, two newsletters and 29 scientific presentations. Eighteen students (14 M.S. and 4 Ph.D.) were supervised by Unit personnel; seven students graduated. Dr. Kenneth F. Higgins and Dr. Steven R. Chipps are co-editors of the Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science. The Unit staff teaches six graduate courses in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences and presents guest lectures. The Unit staff provided data, expert opinion and technical assistance to a variety of groups on numerous occasions. A special honor this year was the 2003 Educator Conservation Award from the South Dakota Wildlife Federation acknowledging the Coop Unit’s 40 years of service to natural resources in South Dakota.

UNIT ADDRESS South Dakota State University

Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Box 2140, NPB 138

Brookings, SD 57007 Telephone: 605-688-6121

Fax: 605-688-4515 Email: carol_jacobson.sdstate.edu

MISSION STATEMENTS Department of Interior: To protect and provide access to our Nation's natural and cultural heritage and honor our trust responsibilities to Indian tribes and our commitments to island communities.

http://www.doi.gov

U.S. Geological Survey: To serve the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life.

http://www.usgs.gov

Biological Resources Division: To work with others to provide the scientific understanding and technologies needed to support the sound management and conservation of our Nation's biological resources.

http://biology.usgs.gov

South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit: To conduct research on fish and wildlife in the prairie pothole region, to publish results, and to educate graduate students and professionals.

https://coopunits.org

http://wfs.sdstate.edu/wfsci.htm

COOPERATIVE AGENCIES AND COORDINATING COMMITTEE South Dakota State University (SDSU); South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP); U.S. Geological Survey (USGS); Wildlife Management Institute (WMI); and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS).

GAME, FISH AND

PARKS

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

INSTITUTE WASHINGTON, D. C.

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

USGS A Tradition of Public Service Since 1879 The USGS has nearly 9,000 employees located in 200 field offices. The office in South Dakota is in Rapid City; other offices are in Huron, Brookings, Yankton and Sioux Falls (EROS Data Center). The USGS, established by Congress in the Organic Act on March 3, 1879, provides geologic, topographic and hydrologic information to the Nation. This information comprises maps, databases and reports containing analyses and interpretations of water, energy and mineral resources, land surfaces, geologic structures, natural hazards and the dynamic processes of the Earth. While the Organic Act has been amended over time, the central mission of the USGS has largely stayed the same. What have changed are tools and talents and an emphasis on the responsibility of the USGS to meet changing national needs. One such change occurred on October 1, 1996, when the National Biological Service (NBS) was moved to the USGS to become the Biological Resources Division or BRD. The BRD consists of the thirty-nine Coop Units, in thirty-seven states, and eight Science Centers. During the life of the USGS, the mission of the agency has been reaffirmed and restated to focus on how information about the Earth is used and to demonstrate the relevance of the USGS to the American people. Key actions conducted by the Divisions of USGS in fulfilling their missions are: Water Resources Division Collect and analyze data on the quantity and quality of surface and groundwater, on water use and on the quality of precipitation. Assess the impact of human activities and natural phenomena on water resources. Geologic Division Assess energy and mineral resources, develop techniques for their discovery and evaluate the impact of their extraction, describe the onshore and offshore geologic framework and evaluate hazards associated with earthquakes, volcanoes, floods, droughts, landslides and toxic materials. Mapping Division Produce and update geographic, cartographic and remotely sensed information in both graphic and digital form. BRD Conduct research on fish and wildlife, monitor ecosystems and maintain a global network of databases and information that is available through the Current Research Information System (CRIS) at http://biology.usgs.gov/science/currproj.html.

CONTENTS Page

INTRODUCTION Research History of the South Dakota Unit...................................................................................................................1 South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Receives Educator Award .......................................... 1-3 Facilities .................................................................................................................................................................... 3-4 Environs.........................................................................................................................................................................4 Bioblitz ..........................................................................................................................................................................4 Personnel ................................................................................................................................................................... 4-5 Teaching ........................................................................................................................................................................5 Service ...........................................................................................................................................................................5 Student Graduation and Accomplishments................................................................................................................ 5-6 Awards...........................................................................................................................................................................6 Coordinating Committee ...............................................................................................................................................6 RESEARCH Program Direction Statement ........................................................................................................................................7 COMPLETED PROJECTS...................................................................................................................................7-12

Hecla Sandhills Vegetation and Canada Thistle (RWO 58) ................................................................................ 7-8 Status of the Benthic Fish Community in the Missouri River in South Dakota (RWOs 53, 55, 64, 70 and 74).. 8-9 Estimating Trophic Position of Lake Oahe Walleyes Using Stable Isotope Analysis (RWO 82) ......................9-10 Small Mammal Survey of Wind Cave National Park (RWO 76) .....................................................................10-11 Temporal Effects of Grazing Treatments on Nongame Birds in South Central North Dakota .........................11-12

STATUS OF ONGOING PROJECTS................................................................................................................12-28 STATE PROJECTS – WILDLIFE

Wild Turtles of South Dakota ................................................................................................................................13 Big Sagebrush Steppe Habitats and Their Associated Bird and Mammal Species in Western South Dakota and North Dakota ..................................................................................................................13-16 Wetlands Database for South Dakota ....................................................................................................................16 Black-Footed Ferret Monitoring .......................................................................................................................16-17 Survey of Animal Species of Greatest Conservation Needs at Representative Public Areas in South Dakota......17

STATE PROJECTS – FISHERIES

Riverine Fish Inventory and Habitat Analysis .......................................................................................................18

FEDERAL RESEARCH WORK ORDERS (RWO)

Shorebird and Invertebrate Response to Fire and Drawdown on Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge Wetlands (RWO 92) ........................................................................................................................18-19 Driving Forces of Land Use Dynamics in the Forested Ecoregions of the Southeastern United States (RWO 91) ..........................................................................................................................................19-20 Land Stewardship, Habitat Protection and Avian Presence in the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District (RWO 90)..................................................................................................................20-21 Wetland Invertebrate Availability and Energy Flow to Migrating Lesser Scaup in South Dakota (RWO 89)..............................................................................................................................21-22

Constructed Impoundments and Wetland Development in the Floodplain: Source or Sink for Native Prairie Fishes Especially the Endangered Topeka Shiner (RWO 88)....................................................22 Nutrient Dynamics, Algal Abundance and Factors Affecting Water Clarity in Angostura Reservoir, South Dakota (RWO 87) .................................................................................................................23 Factors Influencing a Declining Pronghorn Antelope Population in Wind Cave National Park (RWO 86).....23-24 Development of Aquatic GAP Analysis for the Upper Missouri River Basin (RWO 85) ................................24-25 Evaluation of Duck Trapping Techniques During Summer Duck Banding in Canada (RWO 84)........................25 EMAP (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program) for Wadeable Streams in South Dakota (RWO 83)............................................................................................................25-26 Integrating the Effects of Land Use and Global Climate Change on Hydrology and Vegetation of Northern Great Plains Wetlands (RWO 78) ............................................................................................26-27

OTHER PROJECTS...............................................................................................................................................27-28

Yield Potential and Production Economics of Managing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands as a Biomass Cropping System .................................................................................................27-28

UNIT RESEARCH PRODUCTS Newsletters ..................................................................................................................................................................28 Outreach ......................................................................................................................................................................28 Presentations...........................................................................................................................................................28-31 Proceedings..................................................................................................................................................................31 Scientific Publications ............................................................................................................................................31-32 Technical Assistance ...................................................................................................................................................32 Technical Publications............................................................................................................................................32-33 Theses and Dissertations .............................................................................................................................................33 UNIT AND COOPERATOR PERSONNEL Unit Staff ................................................................................................................................................................33-34 Coordinating Committee .............................................................................................................................................34 Unit Supported Research Staff ...............................................................................................................................34-35 Unit Graduate Students Supervised by Unit Staff .......................................................................................................35 Graduate Students Supported by RWOs, Supervised by Others.............................................................................35-36 Cooperating South Dakota Faculty..............................................................................................................................36 Regional Cooperating Scientists..................................................................................................................................36 SDSU Support Staff.....................................................................................................................................................37 USGS – BRD Support Staff ........................................................................................................................................37 FWS Research Liaison ................................................................................................................................................37 APPENDICES A. List of Substantial Technical Assistance Efforts Conducted by Unit Staff in FY 03 ....................................38-43 B. Sound Science at the South Dakota Cooperative Unit ...................................................................................43-44

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INTRODUCTION The South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit was formed in April 1984 by the combination of the separate fish and wildlife units. The objectives of the Unit are: 1. To conduct research on fish and wildlife ecology. 2. To provide technical and professional education and continuing education. 3. To make new findings, discovered through research, available through various media. The Cooperative Research Unit program was transferred from the U.S. FWS to the National Biological Service in 1994; and, on October 1, 1996, to the BRD of USGS. Research History of the South Dakota Unit: Since the South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit was formed in 1963, 192 M.S. theses have been completed. Fourteen students have completed Ph.D. dissertations since a doctoral degree program in biological sciences was initiated at SDSU in 1990. There are 69 fisheries theses and 132 wildlife theses, from which about 225 scientific or popular publications have been published. South Dakota contains a variety of aquatic habitats including natural glacial lakes, rivers, reservoirs and many types of wetlands. As such, aquatic habitat and water quality have been the focus of most fisheries and waterfowl research. Palustrine wetland ecology has been a major focus of Unit research with about two dozen theses on wetland ecology. The Unit continues to address cooperator needs through studies of 1) exotic and endangered species in South Dakota, 2) native grasses and vegetation, 3) waterfowl production, 4) pheasant habitat, 5) aquatic bioassessment techniques and river ecology. South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Receives Educator Award The South Dakota Wildlife Federation, at its annual convention in Brookings (August 2003), presented the 2003 Educator Conservationist Award to the South Dakota Coop Unit Program. Following is part of the information read to convention delegates before the award was presented. The South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit is a highly successful joint venture between South Dakota GFP, SDSU, USGS, U.S. FWS and WMI. For over 40 years, this program has produced M.S. and Ph.D. students who are now working for State and Federal Natural Resource agencies in the Upper Great Plains and throughout the nation. The success of this long-term partnership in education is unique and deserves recognition, not only to the local staff, but also to agency administrators in Washington, Denver, Pierre and Brookings who set the stage for the successful partnership. Scientists working for the South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit have contributed to natural resource

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education, research and public information and education (I&E), while instilling in SDSU students the South Dakota Wildlife Federation’s goal of “preserving the hunting and fishing heritage of South Dakota”. Three things distinguish this program: 1. Excellent cooperation among agencies and staff for over forty years.

This cooperation stems from the good working relationships between University and GFP, and from the Leaders and Assistant Leaders of the South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, who have had a strong desire to maintain the cooperative relationship to the benefit of students and natural resources in South Dakota. Each agency provides financial support to the Unit and each gets back trained graduate students and information to help solve conservation problems in South Dakota. The ecological principle of “emergent properties” (that is, there is more to a forest than the trees) is a way to describe the results of the cooperation. Each agency gets back more value than they contribute and many other public and private conservation groups also receive benefits.

2. The trademark practical education and applied research.

Management-oriented education and studies have always been a trademark of the staff and students of the South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. The Unit has produced hundreds of publications, reports and outreach products that have had direct application to improved management and conservation of South Dakota’s natural resources. The major fisheries themes of Unit research through the years have been aquatic habitat and water quality, with most studies on walleye, but several each for trout, bullheads, catfish, crappie, musky, yellow perch, largemouth bass, northern pike, sunfish, carp, paddlefish and nongame forage species. The major themes for wildlife research have been wetland ecology and wildlife habitat on farms and ranches. Animals that have received the most study are pheasants and waterfowl, but other species have also received attention including antelope, ferret, deer, nongame birds and birds of prey. The present Unit Assistant Leader, Dr. Kenneth Higgins, recently wrote books on South Dakota mammals, frogs and toads and wetlands, and brought South Dakota the first Bioblitz, a day of public participation in biodiversity counting at Oakwood Lake State Park and neighboring waterfowl production lands.

3. Contributions to the South Dakota Wildlife Federation.

For over 40 years, the Unit has essentially had two Leaders – Dr. Ray Linder (1963-1985) and Dr. Charles Berry, Jr., (1985-present). Both have aggressively promoted South Dakota Wildlife Federation membership, resolutions, issue positions and activities to University staff and students. Dr. Linder started the Brookings Wildlife Federation Club in 1983, which is still an active affiliate of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation. He was President of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation and later became a Regional Director of the National Wildlife Federation. Dr. Charles Berry, Jr., has been a member of the

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Brookings Wildlife Federation for 18 years and was President for several years. He has received two awards (Communicator, Educator) from the South Dakota Wildlife Federation. Dr. Berry and students have played an important part in the Brookings Wildlife Federation’s Kids Fishing Day since its inception.

Facilities: The South Dakota Coop Unit is located in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences, SDSU, Brookings, South Dakota. The University has approximately 9,000 undergraduate students, 1,100 graduate students and 500 faculty. Enrollment in the Department averages 35-40 graduate students and 150 undergraduates. Find information about the Unit on the Department's home page on the World Wide Web at http://wfs.sdstate.edu or on the USGS home page at https://coopunits.org. The Department is located in the Northern Plains Biostress Laboratory. Included in the 17,000 ft2 space are wet labs, walk-in freezers, a photo interpretation lab, limnology lab, bioassay lab, library, computer room and several general purpose labs. All space is shared with Unit staff and students.

A Geographic Information System lab has found increasing use, after being established, assisting with Unit research. Initially supporting work on a wetland atlas for South Dakota, the lab and computers purchased by South Dakota GFP (and subsequently upgraded by numerous cooperators) are being used for diverse studies (i.e., flooding analysis, deer use of wetlands, temporal changes in the Missouri River, GAP Analysis). The Unit and Department share an excellent supply of field equipment and off-campus laboratory facilities. A Wildlife Farm is located 1.5 miles north of campus and consists of two buildings for shop work and laboratory space, several storage buildings, deer and pheasant pens and a necropsy room for work on infectious pathogens. Also located at the farm is a four acre plot for studies of wildlife-agriculture interactions. New this year are two dugouts constructed on campus in the floodplain of Six Mile Creek, which is one of several dozen creeks that harbor the endangered Topeka shiner. The dugouts are part of the Unit’s study of interactions between floodplain wetlands and stream fish communities. The dugouts are a truly cooperative venture – designed by Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), constructed on SDSU property, paid for by FWS and monitored by USGS. Perhaps the dugouts will become a long-term research/demonstration teaching site for agricultural/natural resources issues. The Fisheries Lab, located two miles north of campus, includes an office, laboratory and wet lab space, a storage shed, six experimental wetlands and three 2 acre ponds. The wet lab space once held three artificial streams (3 ft x 30 ft), but this year graduate student Trevor Selch has set up lake mesocosms to study predator-prey interactions.

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The Unit owns two 21 ft long boats for limnological research on Lake Oahe and the Missouri River. The Unit maintains a fleet of 20 USGS trucks and cars for staff and student travel, plus several from the state motor pool as needed. Environs: Brookings, population 19,000, is located in the gently rolling farmland of eastern South Dakota where there are numerous wetlands (prairie potholes), shelterbelts (7,400 acres in Brookings County), wooded draws, rivers and glacial lakes. In Brookings County there are seven large lakes, about 35,000 acres of wetlands, three state parks, one state waterfowl refuge and approximately four dozen public wildlife management areas covering 6,000 acres. The Missouri River, which bisects the state, consists of four reservoirs and two free-flowing river sections, which are National Recreational Rivers (NRR) (Missouri NRR, Missouri-Niobrara-Verdigre Creek NRR). The James, Big Sioux and Vermillion Rivers are eastern tributaries to the Missouri River, while the Cheyenne, Moreau, Bad, White and Grand Rivers are western tributaries. East of the Missouri is glacial topography, which is sub-humid; west of the river is erosional topography, which is semi-arid.

The Black Hills are a miniature version of the Rocky Mountains that rise 4,000 ft (approximately 7,242 ft above sea level) above the Missouri Plateau. The “Hills” are an elliptical-shaped region about 60 miles wide and 125 miles long that lie on the South Dakota-Wyoming border. About 900 miles of streams and 18 lakes have wild populations of brown trout and brook trout. The largest reservoirs – Pactola, Deerfield and Angostura – were built by the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) and are important municipal and agricultural water supplies. The Unit has ongoing studies on the fisheries and water quality in these reservoirs. Bioblitz: One ignored aspect of research is science outreach to the public. The Coop Unit’s Bioblitz is perhaps our biggest outreach effort ever. A Bioblitz occurs when scientists, representing many disciplines, do a survey over a short time period (the “Blitz”) on public lands to determine biodiversity. Another goal is public information and education. Chaired by Assistant Unit Leader Dr. Kenneth F. Higgins, the Bioblitz at Oakwood Lakes State Park, and neighboring state and federal lands, was a success. The biodiversity goal was accomplished (scientists continue to sort some samples): we found 25 mammals, 16 fish, 112 birds, 12 amphibians and reptiles, 294 vascular plants and 54 insects. The public information program was also accomplished, as the public was invited to Biodiversity Day (June 21st) at Oakwood Lakes State Park to learn about biodiversity and see how sampling was done. In preparation are biodiversity brochures for park use and a video on how to Bioblitz. The Unit staff received the USGS Star Award for carrying out the Bioblitz. Personnel: Dr. Charles R. Berry, Jr., has been Unit Leader since 1985. His studies include river ecology and rare fish. Dr. Kenneth F. Higgins, Assistant Unit Leader – Wildlife, is studying rare birds, avian

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habitat management and mammal distribution. Dr. Steven R. Chipps, Assistant Unit Leader – Fisheries, joined the Unit in 1999 and studies food web interactions, energy flow in aquatic ecosystems and invertebrate ecology.

Mr. Chad Kopplin (B.S., SDSU) and Mrs. Brenda Kopplin (B.S., SDSU) worked for the GAP project as full-time Geographic Information Systems (GIS) staff. Mr. Steven Wall (M.S., University of Manitoba) worked as project leader for the Topeka shiner research project and now as leader of the Upper Missouri River Gap Analysis project. Ms. Shelly Kopplin helps with design and production of Unit reports. A complete list of research associates, graduate research assistants, cooperating faculty and SDSU support staff associated with the Unit is included at the end of this report. Teaching: Unit staff presented numerous guest lectures at SDSU classes. Each Unit staff member teaches one graduate-level course each year. The courses are related to the staff's expertise and are meant to augment basic courses offered by the University. Staff Course title Course Number Berry Fish Structure and Function WL 714

Stream Ecology and Management WL 719 Higgins Upland Game Ecology and Management WL 415-515

Grassland Fire Ecology WL 421-521 Chipps Advanced Limnology WL 717 Ecology of Aquatic Invertebrates WL 718 Service: The staff provided data and technical assistance to a wide variety of agencies and organizations (see Appendix A). Student Graduation and Accomplishments: Graduate FY 03 Position Accepted Blake A. Davis (not finished yet) Advanced Degree, University of Memphis Jeremy J. Duckwitz USDA APHIS, Bismarck, North Dakota Neil J. Haugerud Water Quality Specialist, Department of Health, Bismarck,

North Dakota Benjamin M. Holcomb Wetland Ecologist, Nez Perce Tribe, Lapawi, Idaho Eric D. Salo U.S. FWS, Waubay NWR, South Dakota. Kent B. Werlin Nez Perce Tribe, Lapawi, Idaho Joe T. Smith (Higgins Co-PI)

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Several students made noteworthy accomplishments this year above and beyond the successful work on their research projects. Nathan Morey published information in the Journal of Freshwater Ecology on the biology of the blue sucker that he gathered as an undergraduate. Sarah Bandas traveled to Brazil to take part in the international meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpentoligists and presented her new information on South Dakota turtles. Ph.D. student Chris Hoagstrom is working on products from his former employment as a FWS biologist in New Mexico and submitted a journal article and presented a paper on the Pecos bluntnose shiner at the annual meeting of the Society of Conservation Biology in Duluth. Kipp Powell received an honorable mention for a travel grant to the AFS meeting in Quebec, where he presented two papers. Awards Dr. Charles Berry, Jr., received a Distinguished Service award from the Dakota Chapter of AFS

at their Annual Meeting. Mandan, North Dakota. February 12, 2003. Dr. Steven R. Chipps received a Star Award for planning and carrying out the Oakwood State

Park Bioblitz. Dr. Kenneth F. Higgins received a Star Award for planning and carrying out the Oakwood State

Park Bioblitz. Kipp Powell (former Unit student) received an honorable mention for the AFS Skinner Award to

travel to the Quebec meeting. The South Dakota Coop Unit received the Conservation Educators Award from the South

Dakota Wildlife Federation at the Annual Convention in Brookings, August 8-10. Unit Ph.D. student Tom Cooper received a $10,000 Quick Response Grant from the U.S. FWS

Region 3 to further his research on Land Stewardship, Habitat Protection and Avian Occurrence in the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge and Wetland Management District.

Coordinating Committee: The Coordinating Committee met on October 29, 2002, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to review the Unit's past accomplishments, future plans and budget. Dr. Lynn Haines represented the U.S. FWS. Doug Hansen represented the South Dakota GFP. Dr. Fred Cholick represented SDSU. Robert Manes represented WMI. Also attending were representatives from state and federal agencies that have an interest in Coop Unit Research: Terry Sexson, Pete Gober and Bob Barrett, U.S. FWS; Roy Bartholomay, USGS; Diane Mann-Klager, Bureau of Indian Affairs; Eddie Childers, Badlands National Park; Gene Stueven and Alan Wittmuss, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); Dr. Charles Scalet, SDSU; Dr. Bob Klaver, EROS Data Center.

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RESEARCH Research at the South Dakota Unit is firmly based on the principle of sound science. Scientists and graduate students approach research problems by using 1) the scientific method, 2) quality assurance procedures, 3) data management protocols, and 4) peer review (see Appendix B for further information). Program Direction Statement: The program objectives are: 1) to conduct research toward wise management of fish and wildlife in the prairie pothole region, 2) to publish research results and 3) to educate graduate students and professionals. The Unit’s program direction is reviewed annually by representatives of the BRD of USGS, SDSU, the South Dakota Department of GFP, WMI and U.S. FWS. The program direction can be changed to meet the needs of the cooperators. The overall program direction will be to conduct applied research to benefit management of northern prairie habitats and biota. Stress mechanisms, responses and management that relate to fish and wildlife will be investigated at every opportunity. Education goals are to teach one graduate-level class per year, update professional biologists with at least one workshop every three years and to be continually involved in extension and technical assistance to cooperating agencies and the public. The Unit will readily cooperate with University faculty and State Fish and Game staffs to achieve these goals. Prairie pothole research will be on the fish, wildlife, invertebrate and plant components of wetlands. Wetland benefits – such as water retention, livestock forage, flood reduction, ground water recharge, esthetics and fishery potential – will be investigated when appropriate. Research will address wetland protection and use, wetland integration into agricultural and aquacultural practices, waterfowl production through habitat and fisheries management and development of bioassessment techniques. River and water quality research will be on fluvial systems that are often changed (degraded or enhanced) by water development projects. Research will be concentrated on riverine habitats that are typically low gradient, warm water streams. The Missouri River is unique because of its large size and large impoundments. Research emphasis will be on the rare fish and wildlife of the Missouri River and on water quality and fisheries of impoundments and tributaries. The Unit will apply an ecosystem approach to research by recognizing the often complex and dynamic relationships among plant and animal communities and their environment. COMPLETED PROJECTS: Hecla Sandhills Vegetation and Canada Thistle (RWO 58) (K. F. Higgins/G. E. Larson) Project Description: Sand dominated soils are uncommon in the Dakotas and they contain unique species of plants. Changes in farming practices offer greater risk of vegetation loss in these habitats.

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Application of Research: Research findings will be used to justify preservation of this unique habitat type. Irrigation for potato production is a threat to this habitat type. Another risk is the introduction of exotic plant species. Results: The influence of thistle-feeding insects on Canada thistle [Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.] seed production, germinability and viability was investigated during the 2000 and 2001 growing seasons at Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge (LNWR), South Dakota. The insects included Canada thistle stem weevil – Hadroplontus litura (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) – introduced at LNWR as a biocontrol agent, plus two seed head parasites – the thistle head weevil, Rhinocyllus conicus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and the thistle seed head fly, Terellia ruficauda (Diptera: Tephritidae). Infestation by these insects caused no significant reduction in per-head seed yield, with means ranging from 82.5 seeds per head when both stem weevil and seed head parasite(s) were present to 85.7 seeds per head with no insect parasites present. Average per-head seed yield was found to decline from 87.8 to 81.3 between July 12-14 and July 26-27, 2000, but the decline was not attributable to seed head parasites. Infestation by seed head fly occurred at a rate of 14.7% of female heads; male heads were not attacked by seed head fly. Seed head weevil infested both female and male heads, with 12.2% of female heads in pre-flowering condition infested compared to 8.5% in flowering or post-flowering stage; male heads were infested at a rate of 7.6% regardless of developmental stage. Germination testing suggested some reduction in germinability due to seed head parasites, but high variability in germination rates among replicates often obscured the source of differences. Seed viability, as revealed by germination and tetrazolium testing, was reduced by about 2% by either seed head parasite, but by about 4% when both the seed head fly and weevil were present. Ultimately, the impact of these biocontrol insects on the spread of Canada thistle by viable seed appears to be negligible. Products: Larson, G. E. and K. F. Higgins. 2002. Impact of biological control techniques on Canada thistle seed production.

Final Report to USGS Quick Response Program. Project Number QR-F6-00-06. USGS Central Region, Denver.

Status of the Benthic Fish Community in the Missouri River in South Dakota (RWOs 53, 55, 64, 70 and 74) (C. R. Berry Jr./B. A. Young) Project Description: The goal of the study is to analyze the fish and habitat data funded by RWOs 53, 55, 64 and 70, that funded fieldwork on the Missouri River from 1996-1998. This is a cooperative study over the entire 2,400-mile-long river, which is being done by a consortium of coop units at six universities, the USGS’s Columbia Lab and the Montana Department of Fish and Game. Objectives were to determine the status of 26 species of benthic fishes (commercial, rare, forage, recreational) and determine their association with habitat features. Work specific to the South Dakota reach dealt with the status of the emerald shiner and the community in the NRR Reaches. Application of Research: The research will allow the Corps of Engineers to assess the impact of river management on fisheries habitat and resources. FWS has used data on rare fishes to determine listing status. BOR used the data to make management plans for reservoirs in the Yellowstone River and Upper Missouri River Basin. The National Park Service (NPS) is using

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the data to craft management plans for the NRR reaches in South Dakota and the Wild and Scenic River reaches in Montana. Determining whether fish (represented by the emerald shiner) are forming subpopulations is important for managers and provides basic knowledge about speciation. Results: A 12 volume final report has been submitted. Six volumes are Ph.D. dissertations that were supported by the project and six volumes relate specifically to project objectives. Volumes are available electronically from the Corps of Engineers at the following website: http://www.now.usace.army.mil/html/pd-e/planning/html. The specific South Dakota research on the emerald shiner found that the population had not changed since the dams were closed in the 1950s, as evidenced by genetic, meristic, morphometric and performance data, which is presented in Volume 11 and in Brad Young’s dissertation. In the recreational river section we handled 22,769 fish comprising 15 families. Nine species were unique to the Gavins Point reach, only two species were unique to the Fort Randall reach. Exotic Asian carp were found downstream from Gavins Point dam. Emerald shiners have not formed dams (subpopulations) according to a battery of tests (genetic, meristic, morphometric, performance). Products: Berry, C. R. Jr. and B. A. Young. 2001. Introduction to the benthic fishes study. Volume I. Population structure and

habitat use of benthic fishes along the Missouri and lower Yellowstone Rivers. PDF and Quark versions available from the Corps of Engineers at http://www.nwo.usace.army.mil/html/pd-e/benthic_fish/benthic_ fish.htm.

Young, B. A. 2001. Intraspecific variation among emerald shiner (Notropis atherinoides) of the Missouri River.

Ph.D. Dissertation. Berry, C. R. Jr. 2003. The Missouri River Ecosystem: Exploring the Prospects for Recovery. Wetlands 23:1:208-211

(book review). Berry, C. R. Jr., M. L. Wildhaber and D. L. Galat. 2003. Fish distribution and abundance. Volume III. Population

structure and habitat use of benthic fishes along the Missouri and lower Yellowstone Rivers. Berry, C. R. Jr. and B. A. Young. (Accepted) Fishes and habitat of the National Recreational River Segments of the

Missouri River in South Dakota. Journal of Great Plains Research. Volume 14 (Spring 2004):xx-xx. Estimating Trophic Position of Lake Oahe Walleyes Using Stable Isotope Analysis (RWO 82) (S. R. Chipps/B. A. Davis) Project Description: Studies of food web ‘connectedness’ have traditionally relied on diet analysis as a means of determining predator-prey interactions. Although useful for determining prey use, when sampled infrequently food habits data offer only a snapshot of recent feeding patterns and can be time and labor intensive. Recent advancements in stable isotope analysis provide an alternative approach for quantifying energy pathways in aquatic food webs and can be less labor and time intensive than diet studies. In this study, we calculate a trophic position index for Lake Oahe walleyes using food habits data or stable isotope signatures. Using food habits data, we corroborate the isotopic trophic position index and show how this technique can be used to evaluate annual trophic status of Lake Oahe walleyes.

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Application of Research: Variable prey abundance (e.g., rainbow smelt) has important implications for walleye growth in Lake Oahe. As a result, reliable methods are needed to monitor trophic status of Lake Oahe walleyes. This study contributed to this effort by developing baseline data useful for monitoring changes in energy flow to Lake Oahe walleyes. Results: Prey fish and walleye were sampled from six sites in Lake Oahe from May 2001 to July 2002. Walleye nitrogen (δ15N) signatures were positively correlated with body size, implying that walleye trophic position is higher for larger fish. Variation in δ15N, however, was appreciably higher among smaller walleyes, implying that diet breadth was greater for smaller fish than for larger walleyes. Using diet data (% wet weight of prey) and isotope signatures (δ15N and δ13C) we calculated a trophic position index for Lake Oahe walleyes. Trophic position estimates from isotopes (e.g., past feeding history) were poorly correlated to those generated from stomach content analysis (e.g., recent feeding history). However, when seasonal diet data (May-October) were adjusted to account for the cumulative contribution of different prey items, trophic position estimates from diets and isotopes were strongly correlated. Moreover, isotope signatures quantified both annual changes in prey use and spatial differences across reservoir zones (riverine, transition and lacustrine). Products: Davis, B. A. and S. R. Chipps. 2002. Estimating walleye trophic position using stable isotope ratios: implications of

variable prey populations. Annual Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Rock Island, Illinois. Davis, B. A. and S. R. Chipps. 2003. Estimating trophic position of Lake Oahe walleyes. Dakota Chapter AFS,

Bismarck, North Dakota. Davis, B. A. 2003. Estimating trophic position of Lake Oahe walleyes using stable isotope analysis. M.S. Thesis,

SDSU. Small Mammal Survey of Wind Cave National Park (RWO 76) (J. A. Jenks/J. J. Duckwitz) Project Description: Wind Cave National Park (WCNP) was established in 1903. Since then, no inventory of the small mammal community has been conducted. The purpose of this project is to inventory small mammal biodiversity – including shrews, squirrels, hares and rabbits, gophers, mice, woodrats and voles. Application of Research: Data on small mammals allowed the NPS to manage the Wind Caves Park area for conservation of biodiversity in the future. The Park staff will use the information to: 1) design a fire management program, 2) develop back country management plans, 3) identify research needs, 4) understand concerns of future construction projects and 5) comply with National Environmental Policy Act issues. Results: The park wide, small mammal biodiversity survey – that includes shrews, squirrels, hares and rabbits, gophers, mice, woodrats and voles – is complete. Estimates of species richness and relative abundance were made and a GIS layer was developed to map and track small mammals. This information is being used by the NPS for redesigning the prescribed fire program, planning trail construction and trail reroutes and fulfilling information gaps in

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biodiversity that were identified as the number one surface resource issue in the Park's revised resource management plan. The most common species captured in the Park were deer (Peromiscus maniculatus) and white-footed mice (Peromiscus leucopus), least chipmunks (Tamias minimus) and southern red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi). Rare species captured in the Park included the hispid pocket mouse (Chaetodipus hispidus) and least shrew (Cryptotis parva). Live trapping techniques alone did not detect all small mammals; more species were detected with multiple trap types, which included fatal methods. Riparian areas contained the highest species richness, parity of five, which consisted of a boxelder (Acer negundo)/chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) vegetation alliance. Woodland vegetation alliances contained higher species richness than grassland vegetation alliances. Seven species were found to differ in mean relative abundance across vegetation alliances. Four female flying squirrels were radio collared. Mean home range size of adult female squirrels was 4.63 ± 0.68 (SE) ha using 95% MCP and 13.35 ± 3.6 ha using 95% ADK procedures. The 50% MCP and ADK core areas were 0.66 ± 0.34 ha and 2.29 ± 0.33 ha, respectively. WCNP will use this information to meet current National Environmental Policy Act compliance documents to redesign their prescribed fire program. Products: Duckwitz, J. J. 2001. Small mammal survey of Wind Cave National Park. M.S. Thesis. SDSU, Brookings, South

Dakota. Smith, V. J., J. A. Jenks, D. E. Roddy and J. J. Duckwitz. 2003. Associating small mammal presence with vegetation

alliances. Conservation Biology 00:Submitted. Smith, V. J., J. A. Jenks, D. E. Roddy and J. J. Duckwitz. Home range and habitat use of northern flying squirrels in

Wind Cave National Park. The Prairie Naturalist 00:Submitted. Temporal Effects of Grazing Treatments on Nongame Birds in South Central North Dakota (K. F. Higgins/E. D. Salo) Project Description: Pastures in grazing systems that have been in operation for more than seven years will be assessed for non-game bird occurrence. Results will be compared to earlier study results. Application of Research: Findings will help managers decide which grazing regime offers best management practices for non-game birds in mixed-grass native prairie and CRP grasslands. Results: Grazing occurred naturally in the northern Great Plains and influenced many natural processes in grassland ecosystems, including the habitat selection of breeding birds. Grazing, mainly for livestock production, is still an important land use practice and is one that impacts millions of hectares on both public and private land in the United States. In North Dakota alone, various grazing practices affect over four million hectares (ten million acres), making it one of the most important land uses, second only to cereal and oil crop production. To better understand how grazing affects nongame breeding birds a study was conducted at Central Grasslands Research Extension Center (CGREC) to determine the effects of four levels of grazing intensity on nongame bird populations and grassland habitat. In addition, two earlier studies conducted at

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CGREC were repeated, one in native prairie and the other in CRP grasslands, to determine the temporal effects of grazing systems on nongame bird populations and habitat. Bird surveys were conducted along permanent belt transects and during a 15 minute “walk-about” three times per year on treatment plots during the summers of 2001 and 2002. Vegetation structure was characterized from measurements taken parallel to the bird survey transects, two times per year for each treatment plot. Many species of nongame birds responded differently to the effects of grazing intensity and to the temporal effects of grazing systems in both native prairie and CRP grasslands. Overall breeding bird densities and vegetation structure were negatively affected by increasing levels of grazing intensity in mixed-grass prairie. Clay-colored sparrows, grasshopper sparrows and savannah sparrows reached their highest densities in the light and moderate grazing intensity treatments, whereas their lowest populations occurred in the high and extreme grazing intensity treatments. In contrast, densities of chestnut-collared longspurs, horned larks and various species of shorebirds were highest in the high and extreme grazing treatment plots. Nongame bird densities and species richness during this study period were lower for all grazing treatments in native prairie and CRP grazing system grasslands when compared to earlier studies. Among grazing treatments, season-long pastures exhibited similar or slightly higher densities of nongame birds when compared to rotational grazing treatments in the native prairie and CRP study areas. However, rotational grazing treatments supported more species and are probably beneficial because they provide areas of undisturbed habitat during the breeding season. Results from this study suggest that management of grassland habitats can be manipulated to provide nesting habitat for certain species of grassland birds depending on particular management goals. Products: Salo, E. D. 2003. Effects of Grazing Intensity and Temporal Application of Grazing Treatments on Nongame Birds

in North Dakota Mixed-Grass Prairie. M.S. Thesis, SDSU, Brookings, South Dakota. STATUS OF ONGOING PROJECTS The Unit staff oversees six ongoing projects funded by the South Dakota Department of GFP. Most of the state funds are federal aid funds derived from revenue paid by sportsmen through an 11% manufacturer's excise tax on sporting arms, ammunition, archery equipment, fishing equipment and motorboat fuels. Nationwide about 15% of the expenditures of these funds are made for fish and wildlife research, such as that being done by the Coop Unit. States also spend the federal aid funds for education, surveys, land acquisition, operations and maintenance. The Unit staff was either the Principal Investigator or Project Officer on 11 RWOs negotiated between the USGS and SDSU. The RWOs are authorized by Cooperative Agreement No. 1434-00-HQ-RU-1549 between the Federal Government and the University. Other federal agencies can contract with the Coop Unit by using the Economy Act, whereby they transfer funds to the USGS by interagency agreements.

The Unit staff also has one project funded by other state agencies or private groups. A brief summary of each ongoing project follows, as does a list of theses, technical reports, popular publications and scientific presentations associated with these projects.

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STATE PROJECTS – WILDLIFE Wild Turtles of South Dakota (K. F. Higgins/S. J. Bandas) Project Description: One hundred fifty sites were sampled for turtles within the 22 counties west of the Missouri River, as well as several sites in eastern South Dakota between May 12 and August 1, 2003. A total of 288 turtles were captured representing six species: Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina), Western Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta), False Map Turtle (Graptemys pseudogeographica), Ornate Box Turtle (Terrapene ornata), Smooth Softshell Turtle (Apalone mutica) and Spiny Softshell Turtle (Apalone spinifera). The Blanding’s Turtle (Emydoidea blandingi) is a species that possibly occurs in eastern South Dakota, but none were found or seen during the 2002 or 2003 field seasons. Most turtles were captured in baited hoop nets in a variety of aquatic systems. Ornate Box Turtles were captured by hand in the sandy grasslands of south-central South Dakota. Application of Research: This information will help South Dakota in their quest to help achieve enhancement of species diversity on management areas and private lands. Progress: Snapping Turtles have been found in all counties west of the Missouri River with the exception of Corson, Ziebach, Dewey, Butte, Pennington, Todd, Custer and Fall River. It is highly probable that Snapping Turtles do occur in these counties, but in less abundance than in other counties. Western Painted Turtles were found in all 22 counties west of the Missouri River. A total of 231 individuals were captured in a variety of aquatic habitats. False Map Turtles were captured or seen in only two counties in western South Dakota. Two males were found within or near the Missouri River in Stanley and Gregory counties. Smooth Softshells were found in only one county in western South Dakota, but they probably occur throughout the length of the Missouri River as well as the Cheyenne River. Spiny Softshells were found in five counties west of the Missouri River in greater numbers than were expected. They were found along the Missouri River as well as the Cheyenne, White and Belle Fourche Rivers. Numerous individuals were seen or captured well beyond their previously known range. The project is on schedule. Products: Bandas, S. J. and K. F. Higgins. 2003. New distribution ranges for turtle species in eastern South Dakota, USA.

Presented on July 30, 2003, at the Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists at the Tropical Hotel Conference Center in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

Big Sagebrush Steppe Habitats and Their Associated Bird and Mammal Species in Western South Dakota and North Dakota (K. F. Higgins/L. D. Flake/T. R. Mullican/A. R. Lewis/J. T. Smith) Project Description: Plant associations, non-game bird and small mammal occurrence and sage grouse population status will be determined in big sagebrush habitats in western North and South Dakota. Wildlife populations will be evaluated in relation to vegetation metrics.

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Application of Research: The eastern edge of the big sagebrush ecosystem occurs on the western edge of the Dakotas. Research products will identify what species occur in these sagebrush habitats, their relative abundance and the status of sage grouse. Progress (Non-game bird portion): The bulk of the fieldwork was completed in the 2002 field season. Two hundred surveys in South Dakota were completed for both birds and vegetation characteristics in the two field seasons of this section of the project. 896 individuals of 33 bird species were counted on surveys (4.48 individuals/ha) and 44 total species were seen in South Dakota (on both surveys and walkabouts). The most abundant species were: Western Meadowlark (Sternella neglecta) 296, Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) 140, Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) 128 and Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodrammus savannarum) 77. Of the three species of sagebrush obligate birds presumed to be possible in the western Dakotas: Brewer’s Sparrow was the third most abundant species on surveys in South Dakota and both the Sage Sparrow (Amphispiza belli) and the Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) were recorded once. Three species of sagebrush were found in South Dakota: Wyoming big sage (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis), silver sage (A. cana) and sand sage (A. filifolia). Total shrub cover on South Dakota study sites was 8.1%, with 7.5% of that cover composed of sagebrush species. The average maximum length of sagebrush bushes was 54 cm, the width was 52 cm and the height was 33 cm. Additional fieldwork (the resurvey of certain sites and the first survey of sites borrowed from the Sage Grouse section of this project) was completed in May and June of 2003 (n=32 sites, 24 of which were in South Dakota) and will be used to test the validity of models generated from earlier data. Soil survey layers of the three pertinent counties in South Dakota will be provided by NRCS in July. Analysis of bird and vegetation data in relation to land cover and soil information will be performed in late summer and early fall of 2003, followed by completion of the dissertation, projected for December 2003. All research and analysis is on schedule. Two species of sagebrush were found in North Dakota: Wyoming big sage (Atemisia tridentata wyomingensis) and silver sage (A. cana). Total shrub cover on all sites was 5.5%, with 5.37% of that cover composed of sagebrush species. The average maximum length of sagebrush was 59 cm, the width was 62 cm and the height was 36 cm. Additional fieldwork (the resurvey of certain sites and the first survey of sites borrowed from the Sage Grouse section of this project) was completed in May and June of 2003 (n=32 sites, 8 of them in North Dakota) and will be used to test the validity of models generated from earlier data. Analysis of bird and vegetation data in relation to land cover information will be performed in late summer and early fall of 2003, followed by completion of the dissertation, projected for December 2003. All research and analysis is on schedule.

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Products: Presentations by A. R. Lewis, K. F. Higgins, L. D. Flake and G. D. Kobriger since the last report: Sagebrush Steppe Habitats and Their Associated Bird Species – Society for Range Management, Casper, Wyoming,

February 1-6, 2003. Sagebrush Steppe Habitats and Their Associated Bird Species in North and South Dakota – North Dakota Chapter of

The Wildlife Society (TWS), Mandan, North Dakota, February 11-13, 2003. Sagebrush Steppe Habitats and Associated Bird Species – South Dakota Chapter of TWS, Aberdeen, South Dakota,

March 3-5, 2003. Publications: Lewis, A. R. and K. F. Higgins. 2002. Birds in the sagebrush: what kind of birds are found in South

Dakota’s sagebrush habitats? South Dakota Conservation Digest 69:20-23. Progress (Sage grouse portion): Sage grouse (Centrocercus spp.) have been declining throughout their range in the United States and Canada, as well as in individual states and provinces. Sage grouse, including the combined range of both the greater sage grouse (C. urophasianus) and the Gunnison sage grouse (C. minimus), once occurred in 16 states and 3 Canadian provinces; now they only occur in 11 states and 2 Canadian provinces. Excluding states suggested as part of the Gunnison sage grouse range, greater sage grouse range has declined from 13 states and 3 Canadian provinces to 11 states and 2 Canadian provinces. Concerns are growing over the reasons for these declines. The habitat around active and historically active greater sage grouse leks in North Dakota and South Dakota was studied during 2001 and 2002 in an attempt to find reasons for desertion of once thriving leks and for apparent population declines. We collected information on current and historic (i.e., leks with 0-<2 males on them in the last five years) sage grouse lek counts and distributions in western North Dakota and South Dakota. A steady decline is evident when reviewing the entire recorded period of greater sage grouse surveys in North Dakota (1951-2002) and South Dakota (1972-2002). There is also apparent eastern edge abandonment of the active breeding range over the years. Land use patterns in these areas once occupied by greater sage grouse have likely changed and are now failing to meet their needs. We compared peripheral microhabitat and landscape characteristics to identify possible reasons for lek abandonment. For microhabitat data, we systematically selected 12 sample sites at equidistant points from each other within 1.5 km of the lek center. No differences (P > 0.10) were detected between sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) cover or sagebrush density around active leks versus that around historically active leks in North Dakota and South Dakota. Sagebrush density does appear to have a positive effect on greater sage grouse lek size in North Dakota and South Dakota. Landscape level data were recorded and assessed using satellite imagery. Comparisons were made of 1972-1976 and 1999-2000 percent tilled and non-tilled. These land use comparisons were made between current leks versus historically active leks, active leks versus random sites and abandoned regions versus active regions. The 1999-2000 imagery illustrated that percent tilled ground, and thus fragmentation, was greater (P < 0.10) within abandoned areas than within active areas in North Dakota. However, 1972-1976 imagery revealed that this relationship has been static over the last 30 years. Thus, if the decline of sage grouse is the result of tilled ground infringements it had to occur prior to 1972. Sage grouse, a landscape species, may have been slow to show the effects of this land use change.

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Products: Smith, J. T., L. D. Flake, K. F. Higgins, G. D. Kobriger and C. C. Homer. 2003. Sage grouse on the edge of their

range: leks and surrounding landscapes in the Dakotas. 56th Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-6. Casper, Wyoming.

Smith, Joe T. 2003. Greater Sage Grouse on the Edge of Their Range: Leks and Surrounding Landscapes in the

Dakotas. M.S. Thesis, SDSU, Brookings. Wetlands Database for South Dakota (K. F. Higgins/J. A. Jenks/B. A. Rieger) Project Description: Research will involve the development of a digital database for wetland habitats in western South Dakota and to summarize attribute information relative to the classification and morphology of the wetland basins. Application of Research: Final research products will fill a gap in habitat management needs and will provide a habitat GIS database that can be used with future wildlife and fisheries research and management projects. Final products and maps will aid selection of wetland areas to protect. Progress: Digitization of National Wetlands Inventory (NWI) quadrangles for western South Dakota has been completed. All quads have been combined to create an initial GIS layer. This layer is being used for all subsequent processing. NWI delineated point, linear and polygon wetland features. These point and linear features have been extracted, buffered and combined with polygon features to create an initial basin coverage. The basin-dissolve process – in which buffered point features, buffered linear features and polygon features are collapsed to create a basin coverage – has been completed. Limitations with the ArcGIS Workstation software have caused some delay and unforeseen challenges in processing. All basins have been uniquely numbered and summarization of wetland characteristics has begun. Summarization of wetland characteristics by county, physiographic region and hydrological unit is currently underway. Project is slightly behind schedule, but is near completion. Products: None to date. Black-Footed Ferret Monitoring (K. F. Higgins/S. A. Reindl) Project Description: The efficiency of scent detection dogs to indicate black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes) presence on black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) towns will be evaluated in the Conata Basin area of southwestern South Dakota. Another aspect of the project includes evaluating different colored spotlight filters used to conduct black-footed ferret spotlight surveys. Application of Research: The Black-Footed Ferret Recovery Implementation Team (BFFRIT) is interested in ways to monitor their ferret populations with minimal disturbance to both the land and the ferrets and with a limited amount of effort spent, while still being able to estimate population size. Any improvements in ways to monitor ferrets resulting from this research will enhance future management of the species.

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Progress: Several scent dogs have been trained and calibrated to detect ferrets in prairie dog colonies. Filters for spotlights have been obtained and protocols for testing spot-lighting effectiveness have been developed. Spot-lighting trials will involve captive-reared ferrets and color-filters. Project is on schedule. Products: None to date. Survey of Animal Species of Greatest Conservation Needs at Representative Public Areas in South Dakota (K. F. Higgins/S. R. Chipps/C. R. Berry Jr.) Project Description: Goals of this project were: 1) to survey animal species of greatest conservation need at three publicly-owned areas in eastern South Dakota during three one-week-long sampling periods (late spring, mid-summer and late summer) in 2003; 2) to draw attention to species of concern and specifically to methods used to conduct biological surveys and make taxa collections; and 3) to compile a set of taxa survey protocols that are currently used by natural resource agencies and that would have application to future taxa surveys in South Dakota by December 31, 2004. Application of Research: Results will be used to demonstrate that lands purchased for specific game species are beneficial to a larger host of plants and animals. Progress: This study is divided into three components: taxa surveys, public education and awareness of biological survey methods and development of survey protocols. During the reporting period, over 500 different taxa were documented among bird, mammal, fish, plant and insect groups. Final taxa surveys and species identification efforts will continue into the late summer/early fall sampling period. The project continues on schedule. Field investigators on the project included: Dr. Tim Mullican, Dr. Gary Larson, Dr. Nels Troelstrup, Dr. William Barker, Dr. Ted Esslinger, Dr. Paul Johnson, Dr. Mike Ellsbury and Dr. Lewis Hessler. Field technicians included Dawn Sulzbach, Rocco Murano, Bruce Harris, Eric Wald, Stephanie Wacker, John Murphy, Chris Kopp, Rickie Esslinger, Steven Wall, Jason Kral, Dr. Kristel Bakker, Irakli Goradze, Sheila Thompson, Sarah Bandas, Emily Hiatt, Chad Kopplin, Brenda Kopplin, Tate Fischer and Dr. Les Flake and his SDSU Ornithology Class. Education event speakers and assistants included Dr. Kristel Bakker, Amy Lewis, Heather Gast, Rocco Murano, Bob Anderson, Terry Hall, Dr. Charles Berry, Jr., Sarah Bandas, Brenda Kopplin, Chad Kopplin, Dr. Gary Larson, Dawn Sulzbach and Dennis Skadsen. Logistical assistance was provided by Eric Salo, Rebecca Schilowsky, Bryan Rieger, Max Mills and several staff and volunteers of Oakwood Lakes State Park. Products: A Biodiversity education and information day was held at Oakwood Lakes State Park, Brookings County, on June

21, 2003. An estimated 250-300 people attended the program presentations, all of which were recorded on videotapes.

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STATE PROJECTS – FISHERIES Riverine Fish Inventory and Habitat Analysis (C. R. Berry Jr./B. C. Harland/C. W. Hoagstrom/J. P. Duehr) Project Description: This project will synthesize river fish and habitat information collected since 1989 and include new research on large-scale patterns of fish relationships to habitat. Objectives are: 1) finish river survey at about 100 tributary sites, 2) synthesize data from ongoing and post studies, 3) prepare research proposals on fish relations to habitat and 4) develop outreach products on South Dakota river fish and ecology. Application of Research: This research addresses needs listed in the State’s strategic approach to management of riverine fishes, specifically 1) improving river sport fish management, 2) protection of rare fish, 3) commenting on developments, 4) developing ways to do biomonitoring and 5) increasing information dissemination to various publics for “data gazing and grazing”. Progress: Two graduate students and one undergraduate student, supported by GFP funding, successfully finished the second summer of sampling. Brandon Harland completed all sampling in the Keya-Paha and White River drainages. He submitted a manuscript to the Journal of Freshwater Ecology, reporting that 38 species are known from the Keya-Paha River drainage, and is gathering data on flathead chub population metrics. Jeremy Duehr focused on the Cheyenne tributaries and worked extensively with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to sample Cherry Creek, a major tributary to the Cheyenne. The tribe also allowed him to fill in data on the Lower Moreau, which was dry last year. Ph.D. student Chris Hoagstrom helped with all fieldwork and completed sampling three on sites on the Cheyenne River upstream from Angostura Reservoir. Chris is bringing all data into an access database to synthesize information on South Dakota river fishes. Products: Harland, B. C. and C. R. Berry Jr. March 19, 2002. Survey of North Central Division – American Fisheries

Society’s (AFS) state guidelines for stream obstruction removal. Presented at the Spring Meeting of the Rivers and Streams Technical Committee, North Central Division – AFS, Rock Island, Illinois.

Shearer, J. S. and C. R. Berry Jr. 2003. Fish community persistence in eastern North and South Dakota rivers. Great

Plains Research 13(Spring):139-159. FEDERAL RESEARCH WORK ORDERS (RWO) Shorebird and Invertebrate Response to Fire and Drawdown on Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Wetlands (RWO 92) (S. R. Chipps/L. H. Fredrickson/K. E. Arnold/K. A. Odefey) Project Description: Invertebrates are being recognized not only as important food resources for most wetland birds and especially shorebirds, but also for their critical role in nutrient recycling and wetland energy flow. The timing of water drawdown, reflooding and duration of flooding directly influences plant germination, seed or tuber production and maturation, as well as species response within wetlands. The most common mechanisms for wetland manipulation are water

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drawdown and reflooding, prescribed fire and mowing to reduce rank stands of emergent and shrub/scrub vegetation to create “hemi-marsh” conditions. Although these practices are relatively routine on many NWRs and other wildlife management areas, few published reports are available about their impact on invertebrate communities and the subsequent response by waterbirds. Application of Research: Agassiz NWR is one of the largest and most important refuges in Region 3 for a wide range of breeding and migrant waterbirds, including several species of concern. The most active management programs on the refuge are water level management and prescribed fire. Objectives are 1) to acquire baseline information on the invertebrate communities (species composition, relative abundance) in the wetland units at Agassiz NWR and 2) to evaluate the effects of drawdown and prescribed fire treatments on the invertebrate communities and to correlate these treatments and invertebrate information to shorebird and waterbird use in the wetlands. Progress: Dr. Fredrickson and students began this study in 2001 while they were at the University of Missouri. Since then, Dr. Fredrickson moved to SDSU as an Adjunct Professor and is continuing work through an RWO between SDSU and the Agassiz Refuge. Products: None to date. Driving Forces of Land Use Dynamics in the Forested Ecoregions of the Southeastern United States (RWO 91) (C. R. Berry Jr./D. E. Napton/T. R. Loveland/C. A. Barnes/D. S. Brunskill) Project Description: The USGS Land Cover Trends project has started to document the rates, causes and consequences of land use and land cover change by ecoregion for the conterminous United States from 1970 to 2000. Technical objectives are to 1) develop a methodology for determining the significant driving forces that cause ecoregion land use and land cover change, 2) document the major driving forces that cause land use and land cover to change, 3) determine the links between the driving forces and ecoregion land use and land cover change and 4) develop methods to better understand the relationship between national forces and land changes that occur at significantly different geographical scales, especially Level III ecoregions. Application of Research: Understanding the driving forces that govern land use change will assist landscape designers and urban planners. The geographic scale will be the ecoregion level, because broader assessments may mask regional variations. Methods will be used by Coop Unit students to assess land cover changes in the Cheyenne River Basin where fisheries studies are being conducted. Progress: Dr. Darrell Napton is a professor in the SDSU Geography Department, a graduate committee member for Ph.D. student Chris Hoagstrom and an advisor for two Geography students funded by this research. The overall research project is entering the fourth year of a long-term research project focused on documenting the complex dimensions of the U.S. land cover and land use change. This research project provides an in depth study needed to understand the causes and consequences of change in southeastern U.S. ecoregions. Fieldwork is complete

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in each of the seven ecoregions. Several socioeconomic databases have been prepared. Database One: driving forces of change in ecoregions 45, 63, 65, 66, 69, 70 and 75 (40% complete). Database Two: ecoregion maps of socioeconomic variables that are hypothesized to be expressions of the driving forces (50% complete). Using the databases we are comparing and contrasting the driving forces and relating them to land change theories to develop a model that links land use and land cover changes to larger scale social and physical driving forces (10% complete). Products: None to date. Land Stewardship, Habitat Protection and Avian Presence in the Minnesota Valley Wetland Management District (RWO 90) (K. F. Higgins/T. R. Cooper) Project Description: The project will develop a GIS data base that will assist resource agencies in knowing 1) where lands are currently protected and how much land is protected, 2) what habitat resources (i.e., grasslands, wetlands, forest) exist in the district and what percentages are protected, 3) the importance of short duration habitat programs (i.e., Conservation Reserve Program) to perpetual protection and 4) where are different avian species found or likely to be found in the 14 county Wetland Management District (WMD) based on existing survey data and/or species requirements found in the literature. Application of Research: This study will help the Minnesota Valley WMD gain a better understanding of where lands are protected and the composition of the lands that are protected. Models predicting species presence based on landscape and local habitat requirements will be developed. Progress: All land stewardship GIS layers have been obtained or have been digitized for the Minnesota Valley WMD. Landsat imagery of land cover has been acquired from the U.S. FWS Habitat and Population Evaluation Team (HAPET) in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Woodland surveys were conducted from June 2 to July 14, 2003, within the Minnesota Valley WMD. A total of 100 woodlands were surveyed during the 2003 field season. Survey point locations have been brought into a GIS and woodland patches have been digitized. Sixty of the woodlands were on private land, 6 were on federal land, 23 on state land, 5 on local government land and 6 on other land classes. Woodlands surveyed ranged from 5 to 793 acres in size, with an average size of 67.3 acres. Canopy closure of the woodlands varied from 44 to 100%, while ground cover ranged from 8 to 98%. Dominant tree species included Oak species, Sugar Maple and American Basswood. Sixty-two species of birds were recorded in the surveyed woodlands. The number of species surveyed per woodland ranged from 6 to 21, species with an average of 14.0. Twenty-two species were found in >25% of the woodlands surveyed. The most common species recorded included the Eastern Wood Pewee, Great-Crested Flycatcher, Black-Capped Chickadee, Northern Cardinal, American Goldfinch, House Wren, White-Breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, American Crow, Indigo Bunting, Downy Woodpecker, Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. A pilot grassland survey was conducted during June 2002. Thirty-eight grasslands were surveyed during the pilot study. In 2003 grassland surveys were conducted from June 2 to July 14 within

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the Minnesota Valley WMD. A total of 104 grasslands were surveyed during the 2003 field season. Survey point locations have been brought into a GIS and grassland patches have been digitized. Forty-one of the grasslands were on private land, 23 on federal land, 38 on state land and 2 on other land. Forty-four of the sites were warm season grasslands, 48 were cool season grasses and 13 were mixed grass sites. Grasslands surveyed varied in size from 3.0 to 460.9 acres with an average size of 64.0 acres. The dominant grasses in the warm season sites were Big Bluestem, Indian Grass and Switch Grass. The dominant cool season grass was Smooth Brome Grass. Sixty-two species of birds were recorded during the grassland surveys in 2003. The numbers of species recorded per grassland ranged from 3 to 14 with a mean of 8.4. Ten species were found in >25% of the grasslands surveyed. The most common species recorded included the Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Bobolink, Tree Swallow and Red-Winged Blackbird. Data from the 2003 field season is currently being entered into a computer spreadsheet. The data will be analyzed over the next six months, including building habitat models and mapping results, in a geographic information system. Habitat models will be tested during the 2004 field season. Project is on schedule. Products: None to date. Wetland Invertebrate Availability and Energy Flow to Migrating Lesser Scaup in South Dakota (RWO 89) (K. F. Higgins/S. R. Chipps/R. M. Mockler/K. A. Strand/S. Kahara) Project Description: Continental declines of greater (Aythya marila) and lesser (A. affinis) scaup populations are receiving widespread attention throughout the U.S. and Canada (Austin et al. 2000). One hypothesis, supported by recent evidence, predicts that female scaup are arriving on breeding/nesting areas in poorer condition than they did historically (>20 years ago; Afton and Anderson 2001). Referred to as the Spring Condition Hypothesis (SCH), Anteau and Afton (2001) have been evaluating nutrient-reserves of lesser scaup during migration in the Mississippi Flyway. Recent findings demonstrate that female body condition was significantly lower in the 2000s than in the 1980s in northwestern Minnesota (58.0g lower) and Manitoba (46.2g lower; Anteau 2002). Although South Dakota has a small population of nesting female scaup, tens of thousands of scaup stopover on South Dakota wetlands during spring migration to nesting grounds (Holland 1997). Information regarding the condition, distribution and forage availability for lesser scaup is lacking in South Dakota. Application of Research: This study will enhance our understanding of how migration areas may be contributing to the scaup population decline. Long-term data sets on wetland distribution and water regimes are being combined with information on scaup distribution and abundance to evaluate patterns of wetland use, food availability and female body condition for migrating scaup in South Dakota wetlands. Progress: Over 60 migrating scaup (2/3 females, 1/3 males) were collected from April-May 2003 for mass and protein analysis. Transect surveys were conducted across eastern South Dakota to

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document scaup occurrence. Data from the U.S. FWS HAPET offices in North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota are being used to quantify long-term patterns in scaup use of seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands. The project supports one research technician and two graduate research assistants (one M.S., one Ph.D.). Products: None to date. Constructed Impoundments and Wetland Development in the Floodplain: Source or Sink for Native Prairie Fishes Especially the Endangered Topeka Shiner (RWO 88) (C. R. Berry Jr./S. S. Wall/S. K. Thomson/J. G. Kral) Project Description: Many NRCS conservation practices, especially constructed impoundments and wetland developments, are implemented near streams, but there is little information on the effect of these practices on the stream fish community. Specific objectives are: 1) determine fish community characteristics and measure selected population metrics of the Topeka shiner and selected cyprinids in dugouts; 2) characterize water quality, morphometry and landscape situation of representative dugouts; 3) develop recommendations for impoundment and wetland construction that make constructed impoundments and wetlands compatible with fish communities, either by enhancing habitat value to fish or minimizing the likelihood of fish entry into the impoundment/wetland. Application of Research: This study addresses the NRCS information need by reviewing literature related to the issue. The goal of the study is to place NRCS in a better position to advise landowners on the positive or negative impacts of constructed impoundments and constructed wetland developments on stream fishes, particularly the endangered Topeka shiner. Progress: Graduate student Sheila Thomson began work May 1st by contacting landowners. To date 20 dugouts have been identified as study sites in the Six Mile Creek drainage. Two situations are being studied: 1) dugout in secondary channel and 2) dugout in flood plain, but not in secondary channel. Dugouts in each category are either near (<50 yards) or far (>50 yards) from the stream. All dugouts were surveyed; two had Topeka shiners. Additionally, the stream reaches near each dugout have been sampled. We helped NRCS hydrologists gather elevation data that will be used in a flood inundation frequency model. New this year are two dugouts constructed on campus in the floodplain of Six Mile Creek, which is one of several dozen creeks that harbor the endangered Topeka shiner. The dugouts are part of the Unit’s study of interactions between floodplain wetlands and stream fish communities. The dugouts are a truly cooperative venture – designed by NRCS, constructed on SDSU property, paid for by FWS and monitored by USGS. Perhaps the dugouts will become a long term research/demonstration teaching site for agricultural/natural resources issues. We received a modification of our Federal permit (TE-047249) to sample Topeka shiners with minnow traps, which are necessary in dugouts with dense submergent vegetation. Products: None to date.

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Nutrient Dynamics, Algal Abundance and Factors Affecting Water Clarity in Angostura Reservoir, South Dakota (RWO 87) (S. R. Chipps/T. M. Selch) Project Description: Angostura Reservoir lies in the well-drained, non-glaciated landscape of southwestern South Dakota. Completed in 1949, the reservoir was built primarily for irrigation, but provides multiple benefits that include flood control, fish and wildlife production and recreation. Due to a large watershed and the erodible nature of the landscape, sedimentation in Angostura Reservoir is relatively high compared to other regional reservoirs. Proposed alternatives for water level management in Angostura Reservoir have been hampered by a general lack of information regarding nutrient levels, primary productivity and biological factors affecting water quality. This, combined with ongoing concerns about downstream water quality, underscore the need to gather additional data on limnological characteristics of the reservoir. To date, there has been no systematic effort to quantify 1) nutrient availability, 2) algae biomass, 3) factors affecting turbidity or 4) zooplankton composition/abundance in Angostura Reservoir. Application of Research: The purpose of this study is to provide baseline data on seasonal nutrient dynamics, algae biomass, dissolved oxygen concentrations and zooplankton composition in Angostura Reservoir. Data collected from Angostura Reservoir will be used to construct a turbidity model for predicting the relative importance of physical and biological constituents on water clarity. Moreover, water quality data will prove useful for monitoring potential effects (e.g., increased salinity) from proposed increases in coal bed methane extraction in the upper watershed. Progress: Field sampling was initiated in May 2003. The project supports one graduate research assistant (Trevor Selch). Preliminary observations reveal a large gradient in water turbidity from the mouth of the Cheyenne River (20 cm) downstream to the face of the dam (6.4 m). Data on chlorophyll a, total suspended solids (TSS) and inorganic suspended solids (ISS) are being used to develop a model that predicts the relative importance of physical (ISS) and biological (chl a and detritus) components on water turbidity (NTU). Products: None to date. Factors Influencing a Declining Pronghorn Antelope Population in Wind Cave National Park (RWO 86) (J. A. Jenks/J. D. Sievers/C. N. Jacques) Project Description: This study will use radiotelemetry to determine the distribution patterns, home ranges and habitat affinities of antelope in WCNP. Antelope captured by net gunning from helicopters will be collared and a blood sample and saliva swabs will be taken to determine health and genetics of the population; other measures are age, sex, teeth, temperature, saliva and photos of body and unique markings. Various measures of habitat will be made with an emphasis on vegetation. Application of Research: The WCNP’s antelope population has declined from 350 to 30 animals since 1963. This research will help Park Service staff understand possible causes for the decline and mitigate if possible.

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Progress: A total of 11 antelope were captured at Wind Cave National Park; radio collars were placed on nine adult animals. During the summer of 2002 and the summer of 2003, 13 radio collars were affixed to neonate antelope in the Park. In 2002, 3 of 13 survived the summer period; while in 2003, 5 of 13 survived the critical summer period. Blood samples collected from adult antelope have been sent to Biogenetics of Brookings, South Dakota, for DNA extraction. DNA data will be used to evaluate genetic variability of antelope in the Park. Feces collected while in the field have been prepared for dietary analyses. Products: None to date. Development of Aquatic GAP Analysis for the Upper Missouri River Basin (RWO 85) (J. A. Jenks/C. R. Berry Jr./S. S. Wall/C. J. Kopplin/R. M. Sylvester/S. E. Freeling) Project description: This project will develop Aquatic GAP for the Upper Missouri River Basin, while a similar project is being conducted in the Lower Missouri River Basin by staff at MOREAP (Missouri Resource Assessment Program). The Upper Missouri River Basin includes the waters upstream from Sioux City, Iowa – four drainage units: the Sioux-James, White-Little Missouri, Yellowstone and Upper Missouri within the states of Minnesota, North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, as well as the southern parts of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The objectives of the study are to 1) define range for all fish species within 11-digit hydrologic units occurring in the study area, 2) determine species richness by 11-digit hydrologic units, 3) define habitat affinities of each fish species occurring within the study area, 4) predict occurrence of each fish species in river reaches by similarity of stream properties to habitat affinities and fish collection sites and 5) determine protection offered each fish species using stewardship layers. Application of the Research: The data will allow conservation agencies to predict distribution of a particular species of fish and then analyze the data for “gaps” in protection. Plans can then be made to apply management in sensitive areas or purchase or lease lands and river reaches that will afford sensitive species some conservation protection. It is not the goal of the project to write conservation plans for states, but to provide resource managers with GIS layers needed to do so. Research efforts by project staff and student research will focus on a regional GAP analysis. Progress: This study has two components: 1) assembling data for the GIS layers needed to conduct the Gap Analysis for fishes and 2) accuracy assessment for the fish distribution models. GIS data analysis uses ArcView and has eight layers showing the physical and hydrological characteristics of each river reach. Progress was made in obtaining data for the eight layers, which are stream size, flow regime, soils, groundwater, gradient, size (Shreve link number), floodplain reach, temperature and lake connectivity. This part of the study is being done by Steven Wall and Chad Kopplin, who will use the information to predict the distribution of all fishes in the Upper Missouri River Basin. The second component is the accuracy assessment of the fish distribution maps. Graduate students Steve Freeling and Ryan Sylvester visited the Nowood River drainage (Wyoming) and the Beaver Creek and Elm River Basin (North Dakota) in 2002 to sample fish. In 2003 they

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sampled the Frenchman River (Saskatchewan-Montana) and the Sweet Water River (Montana). They were unable to gain access to much of the middle portion of the Sweet Water. Their species lists will be compared with the lists made by the models. In addition, Steve Freeling is collecting invertebrates for a first-ever attempt at an invertebrate Gap analysis. Ryan Sylvester is focusing his research on the ecological topology of the white sucker (Catostomus commersoni). Overall, the project is ahead of schedule. Products: Jenks, J. A., C. J. Kopplin, S. S. Wall, C. R. Berry Jr. and V. J. Smith. August 1, 2002. Organizing the Upper

Missouri Aquatic Gap Project. Presented at the 12th Annual Meeting of the National Gap Analysis Program, Shepherdstown, West Virginia.

Wall, S. S., C. R. Berry Jr. and J. A. Jenks. August 14, 2003. Applying Gap Analysis to Conserve an Endangered

Fish Species. Presented at the 133rd Annual Meeting of the AFS, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Evaluation of Duck Trapping Techniques During Summer Duck Banding in Canada (RWO 84) (C. Dieter/R. Murano) Project description: This study will determine the best methods for trapping waterfowl for banding. The project will take place in Canada during the summer and in South Dakota during the winter for 3 years. Specific objectives are: 1) band ducks at summer breeding grounds, 2) compare duck trap designs and techniques, 3) compare baiting techniques and 4) analyze data to determine if additional ducks can be banded each year with the same effort. This is a joint study between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Society, the Canadian Wildlife Agency, the USGS and SDSU. Application of Research: This research will allow the U.S. FWS and the Canadian Wildlife Agency to optimize waterfowl trapping, thereby banding more ducks each year to study migration patterns and harvest statistics. Progress: During summer 2002 and 2003, three undergraduate students and one graduate student from SDSU traveled to Canada to work on a duck banding project. Rocco Murano is a graduate student working on the evaluation of different types of duck traps. A total of 4,850 ducks of 11 species were caught and banded during 399 net nights during the month of August (12.1 ducks per net night) 2002. Four trap designs are being compared in this study including – star traps, cloverleaf traps, Benning II box traps and lily pad oval traps. Products: None to date. EMAP (Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program) for Wadeable Streams in South Dakota (RWO 83) (C. R. Berry Jr./N. M. Morey) Project description: During this three year long study, about 75 wadeable streams in South Dakota will be sampled for biota and physical water quality and hydrological conditions. Biota to be collected are fish, periphyton and benthic invertebrates. The project is a joint project between the USGS’s Divisions of Water (Rapid City) and Biology (Coop Unit). Data are supplied to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is responsible for analysis.

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Research by one M.S. student (Nathan Morey) relates to stream fish ecology in South Dakota, particularly topology of population metrics for four widely distributed fishes. Application of Research: The project is part of the EPA’s EMAP Western Pilot Study, which is designed to assess regional indicators of aquatic environmental health. Progress: All objectives have been met as 75 streams and 25 reference sites have been sampled. Fish for contaminant analysis, and other biological and water samples, were sent to contract laboratories. Voucher fish specimens were sent to the Smithsonian Institution. Of the state-listed species, only the pearl dace was collected (Ponca Creek), as was the northern red belly dace (Big Sioux River). The Topeka shiner was found in Turkey Ridge Creek (Vermillion Watershed) during both sampling visits in 2001 and 2002 and in several East River tributaries in 2002. Electrofishing or seining were used depending on water quality and physical stream conditions. Graduate Research Assistant Nathan Morey collected sand shiners, creek chubs, white suckers and green sunfish for study of the population characteristics across the state. We reported results from the Lake Creek on the Lacreek NWR as required by permit 64540-3-018. We collected 179 fish representing 10 species, 59 crayfish and 6 bullfrogs. Of special interest was the collection of 5 plains topminnows that are a state threatened species. Fish tissue was taken for largemouth bass, pumpkinseed and long nose dace. The EMAP team also captured Topeka shiners in the Elm River for the first time recently and found northern red belly dace in a Grand River tributary, which is an extension of the range. Products: Morey, N. M. and C. R. Berry Jr. March 19, 2002. EMAP: What’s happening in Dakota streams. Presented at the

Spring Meeting of the Rivers and Streams Technical Committee, North Central Division – AFS, Rock Island, Illinois.

Heakin, A. and C. R. Berry Jr. 2002. EMAP activities in South Dakota: Annual Progress Report. USGS, Rapid City,

South Dakota. Pp 26. Integrating the Effects of Land Use and Global Climate Change on Hydrology and Vegetation of Northern Great Plains Wetlands (RWO 78) (C. Johnson/R. Voldseth/B. Millet) Project Description: A new wetland model, WETSCAPE, will be used to evaluate the vulnerability of wetlands to changes in temperature and precipitation predicted by global climate change models. Earlier model simulations of surface water hydrology and vegetation indicated that a semi-permanent wetland would be sensitive to climate change of the magnitude predicted by global circulation models. Significant ecological effects could result because prairie wetlands provide the single most important breeding area for waterfowl in North America and play a major role in regional hydrology, land use and economics. This project will determine the causal mechanisms underlying wetland response to global change by focusing on the wetland hydrologic regime. The study is funded by the USGS’s Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Dr. Glenn Guntenspergen. Application of Research: Results of this research will be used by conservation agencies to understand how to manage changing land use and conservation practices to mitigate or avoid effects of global climate change. We will also modify WETSCAPE models so regional

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authorities (e.g., watershed management councils) can simulate climate change in wetlands at the landscape/regional scale and therefore have a region wide assessment of the integrated effects of global climate change and land use practices. Progress: Progress was in several areas: field measurements/instrumentation, sub-regionalization of the prairie pothole region and wetland landscape modeling. Long-term field measurements of hydrology and vegetation were continued at long-term study sites. New manipulative field sites were instrumented. At the same time work continues on finalizing our single basin model (WETSIM) and developing our multiple basin model (WETSCAPE). The Prairie Pothole Region was sub-regionalized into six sub-regions to examine relative vulnerability using our completed wetland models. Long-term measurements of surface water and groundwater associated with ten wetlands at our long-term field site (Orchid Meadows) were continued. Permanent vegetation transects were also re-measured in each wetland. Our new manipulative field site was instrumented. This site, previously owned by The Nature Conservancy, is being used to determine the effect of different land management practices on wetland hydrology. An integrated surface water-groundwater model was developed for simulating water stages in wetlands. The integrated model consists of a modified EPIC model to simulate surface runoff and recharge to an underlying groundwater system and a MODFLOW groundwater model that simulates the flux of water between a wetland and the groundwater system. In this year of the project, this model has been applied to the wetlands referred to as P-1 and T-3 at the Cottonwood Lakes, North Dakota, study area. The integrated model simulated the wetlands’ stages quite well as compared to historical data that have been collected at the site. However, the integrated model is complex and considered to be too cumbersome to use directly as a decision analysis tool. Simplifications to the model were undertaken. Comparisons to historical data showed that the simplified model performed nearly as well as the fully integrated model. In addition, the simplified model can easily be incorporated into Mathematica©, which is the modeling platform that is being used to develop the decision analysis system for this project. The single-basin model (WETSIM 2.0) has been fully converted to Mathematica© format and is now operable. Surface water and vegetation dynamics compare favorably to known wetland conditions in the reference wetland P1 in the Cottonwood Lake, North Dakota, complex. Products: Johnson, W. C., S. E. Boettcher, K. A. Poiani and G. R. Guntenspergen. Influence of weather extremes on the water

levels of glaciated prairie wetlands. Wetlands (in press). OTHER PROJECTS Yield Potential and Production Economics of Managing Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands as a Biomass Cropping System (K. F. Higgins and K. K. Bakker) Project Description: The effects of harvesting schemes for biomass fuels production will be evaluated in relation to nongame bird abundance and wildlife habitat quality. Replicated fields of two CRP vegetation types will be evaluated in North and South Dakota and Nebraska during a 4-

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6 year period. This is a joint study between SDSU (Higgins) and Dakota State University (Bakker). Application of Research: As fields (biomass fuels production) increase in number across regional landscapes, the harvest schemes could have a potential impact on wildlife. Progress: During the breeding season of 2003 we surveyed a total of 40 grasslands, 5 of which had mowed sections. We have a total of 13 biomass sites that have been surveyed for at least 2 years since 1999. Counting biomass sites only once (they are counted every year), we have a sample size of 81 grasslands over the last 2 years. We have observed a total of 31 species using the study grasslands. The most frequently occurring species include the Bobolink, Red-Winged Blackbird, Common Yellowthroat, Western Meadowlark, Sedge Wren, Grasshopper Sparrow and Savannah Sparrow in declining order of occurrence. During 2003, grassland surveys were conducted by Dr. Kristel Bakker and Max Mills, technician. The project is on schedule. Products: None to date. UNIT RESEARCH PRODUCTS

Newsletters

2

Outreach

2

Presentations

29

Proceedings

1

Scientific Publications

13

Technical Assistance

50

Technical Publications

7

Theses/ Dissertations

3 Newsletters Berry, C. R. Jr. 2002-2003. Factivities: Monthly accomplishments of the South Dakota Coop

Unit. Monthly newsletter mailed to Unit cooperators and funding agencies. Berry, C. R. Jr. et al. 2003. Upper Missouri River Aquatic Gap Analysis Project Newsletter. May

2003. An eight page newsletter to biologists in the Upper Missouri River Basin. Outreach Berry, C. R. Jr., K. F. Higgins and S. R. Chipps. 2002. Annual Report of the South Dakota

Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. Pp 49. SDSU, Box 2140B, Brookings, SD 57007; or @ http://wfs.sdstate.edu.

Berry, C. R. Jr. and C. W. Hoagstrom. 2003. Bioethics in a changing world: fisheries issue.

Fisheries 28(9):30-31. Presentations Higgins, K. F. August 26, 2002. Changing farm practices and their effects on wildlife. Talk to

the Lower Missouri River Ecosystem Team meeting, Sioux City, Iowa. (Invited)

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Smith, J. T., L. D. Flake, K. F. Higgins, G. D. Kobriger and C. G. Homer. August 12, 2002. Sage grouse on the edge of their range: leks and surrounding landscapes in the Dakotas. Bureau of Land Management Meeting, Dickinson, North Dakota. (Invited)

Salo, E. D., K. F. Higgins, W. T. Barker and K. K. Bakker. September 24-28, 2002. Temporal

effects of grazing systems on nongame birds in North Dakota grasslands. 9th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Bismarck, North Dakota.

Smith, J. T., L. D. Flake, K. F. Higgins, G. D. Kobriger and C. G. Homer. September 24-28,

2002. Sage grouse on the edge of their range: leks and surrounding landscapes in the Dakotas. 9th Annual Conference of The Wildlife Society, Bismarck, North Dakota.

Higgins, K. F. November 7, 2002. Changing landscapes in relation to changing farming practices

and demographics in the Northern Great Plains during the past 100 years. EROS Data Center. (Invited Speaker Seminar.)

Chipps, S. R. December 19, 2002. Biological Indicators of Wetland Condition. Presented at the

2002 West Nile Virus Conference, South Dakota Department of Health, Pierre, South Dakota. (Invited talk.)

Davis, B. A. and S. R. Chipps. 2002. Estimating walleye trophic position using stable isotope

ratios: implications of variable prey populations. Annual Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference, Rock Island, Illinois. December 3-5.

Davis, B. A. and S. R. Chipps. 2003. Estimating trophic position of Lake Oahe walleyes. Annual

meeting of the Dakota Chapter, AFS. February 11-13. Bismarck, North Dakota.

Lewis, A. R., K. F. Higgins, L. D. Flake and G. D. Kobriger. 2003. Sagebrush steppe habitats and their associated bird species. 56th Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-6. Casper, Wyoming.

Salo, E. D., K. F. Higgins, W. T. Barker and K. K. Bakker. 2003. Effects of four levels of

grazing intensity treatments on nongame birds in North Dakota mixed grass prairie. 56th Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-6. Casper, Wyoming.

Smith, J. T., L. D. Flake, K. F. Higgins, G. D. Kobriger and C. C. Homer. 2003. Sage grouse on

the edge of their range: leks and surrounding landscapes in the Dakotas. 56th Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-6. Casper, Wyoming.

Barker, W. T., K. K. Sedivec, T. Messner and K. F. Higgins. 2003. Temporal effects of grazing

treatments on plant species in mixed grass prairies and CRP grasslands in North Dakota. 56th Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-6. Casper, Wyoming.

Higgins, K. F., E. D. Salo, W. T. Barker and K. K. Bakker. 2003. Temporal effects of grazing

treatments on bird species using mixed grass prairie and CRP grasslands in North Dakota. 56th Society for Range Management Annual Meeting. February 1-6. Casper, Wyoming.

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Higgins, K. F., D. E. Naugle and K. J. Forman. 2003. Changing farm demographics and land use practices: greater risks to native prairie patches. (Invited.) North Dakota Chapter – TWS. February 11-13. Mandan, North Dakota.

Lewis, A. R., K. F. Higgins, L. D. Flake and G. D. Kobriger. 2003. Sagebrush steppe habitats

and their associated bird species in North and South Dakota. (Invited.) North Dakota Chapter – TWS. February 11-13. Mandan, North Dakota.

Lewis, A. R., K. F. Higgins and L. D. Flake. March 3-5, 2003. Nongame bird use of sagebrush

habitats at the eastern edge of the sagebrush ecosystem. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of TWS. Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Salo, E. D., K. F. Higgins and K. K. Bakker. March 3-5, 2003. Effects of intensity and temporal

applications of grazing on nongame birds in North Dakota. Presented at the Annual Meeting of the South Dakota Chapter of TWS. Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Higgins, K. F. March 18-20, 2003. Mortality of birds and bats at the Buffalo Ridge Wind Farm at

Lake Benton, Minnesota. Presented at the Workshop on Wind Power Development Effects on Wildlife, Kansas City, Missouri.

Berry, C. R. Jr. and C. W. Hoagstrom. March 21, 2003. Ethics: recreational fishing, fisheries

profession, and fisheries education. Poster presented at the 54th Annual Meeting, American Institute of Biological Sciences, Arlington, Virginia.

Higgins, K. F. May 17, 2003. Fires and prairie wildlife. Invited presentation at the Smokin’ on

the Prairie Program, U.S. FWS, Windom, Minnesota. Chipps, S. R., D. E. Hubbard, K. B. Werlin and N. J. Haugerud. June 4, 2003. Biological

indicators of wetland condition. Missouri River Natural Resource Conference, Atchison, Kansas.

Higgins, K. F., E. D. Stukel, J. M. Goulet and D. C. Backlund. Wild mammals of South Dakota.

This book has been out for two years, but Ken was invited to a “signing event” at the Pierre Street Emporium, in Pierre, South Dakota, on June 14th .

Hoagstrom, C. W. and J. Brooks. July 2003. Pecos bluntnose shiner conservation status.

Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Conservation Biology. Duluth, Minnesota.

Bandas, S. J. and K. F. Higgins. June 26th through July 1st. New distribution ranges for turtle

species in eastern South Dakota, USA. International Joint Meeting of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil.

Higgins, K. F. and C. R. Berry Jr. August 9, 2003. History of the Coop Unit and SDSU Wildlife

Department, 1963-2003. Presented at the Annual Convention of the South Dakota Wildlife Federation, Brookings.

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Powell, K. A. and S. R. Chipps. August 14, 2003. Longitudinal patterns in fish community composition in small backwater areas of Upper Missouri River Basin. 133rd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Quebec City, Quebec Canada.

Powell, K. A. and S. R. Chipps. August 14, 2003. Fish-habitat associations in small backwaters

of Upper Missouri River Basin. 133rd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Quebec City, Quebec Canada.

Wall, S. S., C. R. Berry Jr. and J. A. Jenks. August 14, 2003. Applying Gap Analysis to

Conserve an Endangered Fish Species. Presented at the 133rd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Wall, S. S., C. J. Kopplin, J. A. Jenks, C. R. Berry Jr. and B. L. Kopplin. August 14, 2003.

Aquatic Gap Analysis to Conserve Fish Species in the Upper Missouri River Basin. Poster presented at the 133rd Annual Meeting of the American Fisheries Society, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Proceedings Higgins, K. F. and S. R. Chipps, Editors. 2002 Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of

Science. SDSU Print Shop, Brookings, SD 57007. Volume 81. Pp 329. Scientific Publications Larson, K. L., W. G. Duffy, E. Johnson, M. F. Donovan and M. J. Lannoo. 1999.

“Paedocannibal” morph barred tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum mavortium) from Eastern South Dakota. American Midland Naturalist 141:124-139.

Zimmer, K., M. Hanson, M. Butler and W. G. Duffy. 2001. Size distribution of aquatic

invertebrates in two prairie wetlands, with and without fish, with implications for community production. Freshwater Biology 46(10):1373.

Bakker, K. K., D. E. Naugle and K. F. Higgins. 2002. Incorporating landscape attributes into

models for migratory grassland bird conservation. Conservation Biology 16:1638-1646. Higgins, K. F., D. E. Naugle and K. A. Forman. 2002. A case study of changing land use

practices in the northern Great Plains, U.S.A.: an uncertain future for waterbird conservation. Waterbirds 25 (Special Publication 2):42-50.

May, S. M., D. E. Naugle and K. F. Higgins. 2002. Effects of land use on nongame wetland birds

in western South Dakota stock ponds, U.S.A. Waterbirds 25 (Special Publication 2):51-55.

Shearer, J. S. and C. R. Berry Jr. 2002. Index of biotic integrity utility for the fishery of the

James River of the Dakotas. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 17:575-588.

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Bakker, K. K., J. R. DeJong and K. F. Higgins. 2003. Distribution of grassland birds in South Dakota. South Dakota Bird Notes 55(2):28-37.

Bakker, K. K. and K. F. Higgins. 2003. Avian use of natural versus planted woodlands in eastern

South Dakota, USA. Natural Areas Journal 23:121-128. Berry, C. R. Jr. 2003. The Missouri River Ecosystem: Exploring the Prospects for Recovery.

Wetlands 23:1:208-211. (Book review.) DeBates, T. J., S. R. Chipps, M. C. Ward, K. B. Werlin and P. B. Lorenzen. 2003. Cladoceran

zooplankton abundance under clear and snow-covered ice. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 18:169-171.

Gleason, R. A., N. H. Eullis Jr., D. E. Hubbard and W. G. Duffy. 2003. Effects of sediment load

on emergence of aquatic invertebrates and plants from wetland soil egg and seed banks. Wetlands 23:1.

Morey, N. M. and C. R. Berry Jr. 2003. Biological characteristics of the blue sucker in the James

River and the Big Sioux River, South Dakota. Journal of Freshwater Ecology 18(1):33-41.

Shearer, J. S. and C. R. Berry Jr. 2003. Fish community persistence in eastern North and South

Dakota rivers. Great Plains Research 13(Spring):139-159. Technical Assistance A tally of substantial technical assistance efforts is provided below; details can be found in Appendix A.

To Federal Agencies

12

To Newspapers/ Media

4

To State Agencies

6

To Professional Societies

4

To SDSU

15

To Miscellaneous

9 Technical Publications Chipps, S. R. and B. A. Holcomb. 2002. Nutrient inputs, iron availability, and algal biomass in

Black Hills reservoirs: implications for reservoir productivity. Final Report, submitted to U.S. BOR, Bismarck, North Dakota.

Heakin, A. and C. R. Berry Jr. 2002. EMAP activities in South Dakota: Annual Progress Report.

USGS, Rapid City, South Dakota. Pp 26. Holcomb, B. M. and S. R. Chipps. 2002. Zooplankton communities of Black Hills Reservoirs.

Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 81:219-226.

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Larson, G. E. and K. F. Higgins. 2002. Impact of biological control techniques on Canada thistle seed production. Final Report to USGS Quick Response Program. Project Number QR-F6-00-06. USGS Central Region, Denver.

Powell, K. A. and S. R. Chipps. 2002. Longitudinal patterns in fish community composition of

Upper Missouri River backwaters. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 81:211-218.

Wall, S. S., C. J. Kopplin, B. L. Kopplin, J. A. Jenks and C. R. Berry Jr. 2002. Expanding South

Dakota Aquatic GAP Analysis to the Upper Missouri River Basin. Gap Analysis Bulletin 11:40-43.

Chipps, S. R., D. E. Hubbard, K. B. Werlin, N. J. Haugerud and K. A. Powell. 2003.

Development and application of biomonitoring indicators for floodplain wetlands of the Upper Missouri River Basin, North Dakota. Final Report submitted to U.S. EPA, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Duluth, Minnesota. Pp 116.

Theses and Dissertations Haugerud, Neil J. MACROINVERTEBRATE BIOMONITORING CRITERIA AND

COMMUNITY COMPOSITION IN SEASONAL FLOODPLAIN WETLANDS OF THE UPPER MISSOURI RIVER. 2003. M.S. Thesis, SDSU, Brookings.

Salo, Eric D. EFFECTS OF GRAZING INTENSITY AND TEMPORAL APPLICATION OF

GRAZING TREATMENTS ON NONGAME BIRDS IN NORTH DAKOTA MIXED-GRASS PRAIRIE. 2003. M.S. Thesis, SDSU, Brookings.

Smith, Joe T. GREATER SAGE GROUSE ON THE EDGE OF THEIR RANGE: LEKS AND

SURROUNDING LANDSCAPES IN THE DAKOTAS. 2003. M.S. Thesis, SDSU, Brookings.

UNIT AND COOPERATOR PERSONNEL Unit Staff: Dr. Charles R. Berry, Jr., Unit Leader

South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit P. O. Box 2140B, SDSU Brookings, SD 57007 605-688-6121 charles_berry@.sdstate.edu FAX: 605-688-4515

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Dr. Steven R. Chipps, Assistant Unit Leader – Fisheries South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit P. O. Box 2140B, SDSU Brookings, SD 57007 605-688-6121 steve_chipps@sdstate.edu FAX: 605-688-4515 Dr. Kenneth F. Higgins, Assistant Unit Leader – Wildlife South Dakota Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit P. O. Box 2140B, SDSU Brookings, SD 57007 605-688-6121 terri_symens@sdstate.edu FAX: 605-688-4515

Coordinating Committee Dr. Fred A. Cholick, Dean College of Agriculture and Biological Sciences Agricultural Hall, SDSU Brookings, SD 57007 605-688-4148 Dr. Lynn Haines, Supervisor Division of Cooperative Research U.S. FWS Denver Federal Center P. O. Box 25486 Denver, CO 80225 303-236-4816

Mr. Doug Hansen, Director South Dakota Department of GFP Division of Wildlife 523 East Capitol Avene Pierre, SD 57501 605-773-3381 Mr. Robert R. Manes WMI 10201 South Highway 281 Pratt, KS 67124 620-672-5419

Unit Supported Research Staff Research Associates or Assistants Dr. Kristel Bakker Dr. Gary Larson Sharon Kahara Brenda Kopplin Chad Kopplin

Shelly Kopplin Jason Kral Dr. Tim Mullican Dr. David Naugle Steven Wall Vaughn Wassink

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Part Time and Summer Technicians Sarah Bandas Randi Biever Michelle Bouchard Aaron Bowman Catherine Anne Clayton Thomas Cooper Ross Dubray Amanda Geditz Andrew Gorder Terry Hall Bruce Harris Adam Haugerud Scott Hawks Emily Hiatt Dustin Hourigan

Pamela Johnson Craig Langenfeld Amy Lewis Max Mills Rachel Mockler Rocco Murano Mindy Oelke Jon Porter Rebecca Schilowsky Vicki Smith Kimberly Strand Dawn Sulzbach Mike Tegethoff Sheila Thomson

Unit Graduate Students Supervised by Unit Staff (*Graduated This Year)

Berry Jeremy Duehr Steve Freeling

Brandon Harland Chris Hoagstrom (Ph.D.)

Nathan Morey Ryan Sylvester Sheila Thomson

Higgins Sarah Bandas

Tom Cooper (Ph.D.) Amy Lewis (Ph.D.)

Rachel Mockler Bryan Rieger

*Eric Salo

Chipps *Blake Davis

Sharon Kahara (Ph.D.) *Neil Haugerud *Ben Holcomb Trevor Selch

Graduate Students Supported by RWOs, Supervised by Others (*Graduated This Year) *Duckwitz, Jeremy – M.S. Wildlife, Dr. Jonathan A. Jenks – A small mammal survey of Wind

Cave National Park. Millet, Bruce – Ph.D. Horticulture, Forestry and Parks, Dr. W. Carter Johnson – Global warming effects on wetlands and habitat in eastern South Dakota. Murano, Rocco – M.S. Biology, Dr. Charles D. Dieter – Evaluation of duck trapping

techniques. Sievers, Jaret – M.S. Wildlife, Dr. Jonathan A. Jenks – Wind Cave antelope. Voldseth, Rick – Ph.D. Horticulture, Forestry and Parks, Dr. W. Carter Johnson – Global warming effects on wetlands and habitat in eastern South Dakota.

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*Werlin, Kent – M.S. Wildlife, Dr. Daniel E. Hubbard – Ecology of flood plain wetlands along the Missouri River, North Dakota.

Cooperating South Dakota Faculty Name Department Cooperative Activity Dr. Kristel Bakker Dakota State University Avian Habitat Studies Dr. Bruce A. Barton Biology, University of South Dakota Missouri River Studies Dr. Arvid A. Boe Plant Science Bio-Mass Fuels Dr. Mary Brashier AgBio Communications Edit Extension Brochures Dr. Michael L. Brown Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Limnology Studies Dr. Fred A. Cholick Dean, College of AgBio Sciences Funding Dr. Charles D. Dieter Biology and Microbiology Duck Banding Jack Erickson Engineering, South Dakota Tech Rivers (Erickson is Graduate Research Assistant) Dr. Lester D. Flake Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Black Hills Birds Dr. Leigh H. Fredrickson Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Wetlands Research Dr. Daniel E. Hubbard Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Wetland Studies Dr. Jonathan A. Jenks Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Blue-Winged Teal Dr. W. Carter Johnson Horticulture, Forestry, Landscape, Parks Global Change/Riparian Forests Michael Kjellsen Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences South Dakota Wetlands Atlas Dr. Gary E. Larson Chemistry and Biochemistry Plant Selection, Noxious Weeds Dr. Darrell E. Napton Geography Land Cover Change Dr. Charles G. Scalet Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Administration, Funding Dr. Larry J. Tidemann Extension Extension Material Funding Dr. David W. Willis Wildlife & Fisheries Sciences Missouri River studies Dr. Timothy A. Wittig Mathematics and Statistics Statistical Review Regional Cooperating Scientists Name (South Dakota Unit Person) Location Subject Dr. William T. Barker (Higgins) North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND Livestock Grazing Dr. Gary Clamby (Higgins) North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND Vegetation Sampling Chapter Dr. David L. Galat (Berry) University of Missouri Benthic Fish Study Dr. James Garvey (Chipps) Southern Illinois University Fish Statistics Chapter Dr. Chris Guy (Berry) Montana State University Benthic Fish Study Dr. Kurt J. Jenkins (Higgins) USGS, Oregon Vegetation Sampling Chapter Dr. Rex Johnson (Higgins) FWS, Minnesota Wetlands and Waterfowl Dr. David E. Naugle (Higgins) University of Montana, Missoula Landscape Design Robert G. Osborn (Higgins) MN Department of Natural Resources Windpower Diana M. Papoulias (Berry) USGS, Columbia ERC, Missouri Sturgeon Sex Reversal John Peters (Berry) University of Nebraska, Lincoln America’s Rivers Chapter Dr. Clay L. Pierce (Berry) Iowa State University Missouri River Research Dr. Rebecca R. Sharitz (Chipps) Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, SC Great Rivers Research Dr. Daniel W. Uresk (Higgins) USDA Forest Service, Rapid City, SD Vegetation Sampling Chapter Dr. David H. Wahl (Chipps) Illinois Natural History Pond Ecology Dr. Mark L. Wildhaber (Berry) USG, Columbia ERC, Missouri Missouri River Research

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SDSU Support Staff Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Sciences Work Study Students Grants Administration Di Drake, Accounting Assistant Dawn Sulzbach Teresa Dawkins Carol Jacobson, Word Processor Connie Grandois Terri Symens, Secretary Cindy Kruse John Ruffolo USGS – BRD Support Staff Brenda Croston, Administrative Operations Assistant Don Dennerline, Fishery Biologist Shannon Fennell, Administrative Assistant Melissa Gruber, Office Automation Assistant Terri Linton, Secretary Vivian Mundey, Administrative Operations Assistant Kim Soto, Administrative Operations Assistance Shari Weant, Administrative Officer FWS Research Liaison Sean Kelly (Region 3) and Terry Sexson (Region 6) see that the Unit's work is noticed by FWS at the regional level. We have tremendous local support from the following FWS project offices and personnel: Aberdeen Wetland Acquisition Office (Patrick Russell); Brookings’ Wildlife Habitat Office (WHO) (Carl R. Madsen, et al.); Ecological Services (ES), Bismarck, North Dakota (Steven Krentz, et al.); Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium (Herb Bollig); Huron Wetland Management District; J. Clark Salyer NWR, North Dakota; Lacreek NWR (Rolf H. Kraft); Madison Wetland Management District (Tom Turnow); Minnesota Valley NWR, South Dakota ES Field Office (Donald R. (Pete) Gober, et al.); Sand Lake NWR (John W. Koerner); and Waubay NWR (C. Maury).

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APPENDICES A. List of Substantial Technical Assistance Efforts Conducted by Unit Staff in FY 03. To City of Sioux Falls Department of Health: • Assistant Unit Leader Dr. Steven R. Chipps (Chipps) provided technical

assistance/information regarding use of fish (fatheads) to control mosquito larvae. Field trip to view/assess storm water ponds in Sioux Falls planned for early September.

To City of Watertown: • In a meeting requested by Watertown Mayor Barger about the proposed “dry dam” on the

Big Sioux River, Unit Leader Dr. Charles R. Berry, Jr., (Berry) and Steven Wall presented data on Topeka biology and distribution.

• Chipps identified snails (Physidae) that are clogging water inflow structures. To Consulting Firm: • A Boston firm (Ind. Eco., W. Peterson) is conducting the economic analysis of the impact

of designating critical habitat for the Topeka shiner; Berry supplied the cost of Topeka surveys, so that the costs could be “monetized”.

To Corps of Engineers (COE): • A major road in Sioux Falls, crossing the Big Sioux River, will be rebuilt; the COE (L.

Deane, Omaha) needed information on fish in the river, especially the Topeka shiner. To U.S. EPA: • Chipps provided Region 8 (Billy Schweiger) with REMAP plant data for Great Rivers

EMAP; provided Region 2 wetland coordinator information and the REMAP report that summarizes wetland bioindicators.

To FWS: • Assistant Unit Leader Dr. Kenneth F. Higgins (Higgins) advised the staff of the Upper

Mississippi NWR on integrating river folk culture activities into refuge I&E programs. • Higgins visited the Region 6’s Regional Office on June 26th-27th, to confer with D.

Hamm (Federal Aid), J. Cornelly (Migratory Bird Coordinator) and T. Sexson (Research Liaison).

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• Student Career Experience Program (SCEP) student Rachel Mockler completed the internship part of her SCEP; assisted with leafy spurge beetle collections and private lands projects.

• Topeka shiner issues were the subject of numerous meetings between Berry and ES

office staff, particularly N. Gates. To GFP: • Chipps presented update on Lake Mitchell alum treatment and Lake Oahe project at

annual winter fisheries meeting. • Chipps advised Biologist J. Erickson on evaluating food web interactions (isotopes) of

brown trout in Rapid Creek. • Berry was invited to brief the Commissioners on the working relationship between GFP

and USGS in support of the Coop Unit at the monthly Commission Meeting held in Brookings, August 7, 2003.

• Berry presented a half-hour overview of rivers studies at the Summer Fisheries Staff

Meeting, Fort Pierre, August 14, 2003. To Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA): • The National Office of the IWLA asked about restoration of the Jim River and the

Topeka shiner; Berry told them that the shiner was in the lower basin only and was not a mainstem river fish.

To NPS: • The Unit worked with Ed Childers (Badlands National Park) on proposals; Chipps wrote

up a proposal on aquatic biodiversity in stock ponds, Berry and new Ph.D. student Chris Hoagstrom wrote one on sturgeon chubs in the White River.

To NRCS: • Best management practices have beneficial effects on Topeka habitat and Berry and

Steven Wall were asked to review the draft BMPs. • GIS coverage of Topeka shiner distribution were requested by NRCS – Huron to help

with their conservation planning, The Coop Unit had placed the fifty-six maps on a CD to meet such requests.

• Berry and the Topeka team met with C. Vicuna and C. Lebada (Madison Conservation

District) on July 21st to visit a potential dugout site beside E. Fork Vermillion River. The dugout will be constructed this summer and monitored for fish entry next spring.

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To Nature Conservancy: • The Nature Conservancy helped us a lot with models and methods for Gap analysis and

now they are using our data to determine the best locations for future land purchases. To National Fish and Wildlife Foundation: • Higgins reviewed two proposals concerning wetland conservation in South Dakota and

Montana. To Newspapers • Berry was interviewed by the Argus Leader on Topeka shiners and the front page article

appeared on the December 27th. • The Argus Leader ran articles, including interviews with each Unit staff member this

month: Higgins on Bioblitz, Chipps on mercury contamination and Berry on cat fishing. • The Argus Leader reporter, Ben Shouse, interviewed Berry about Missouri River

restoration. • The Brookings Register pictured Berry and students removing trout from the kids fishing

pond in Brookings. To Pheasants Forever: • Higgins participated in the several Board meetings and was involved in the 20th

Anniversary Pheasant Fest in Minneapolis, which was attended by 12,000 people. To Service Organizations: • Berry, and several Unit students, helped with a kids’ fishing weekend in a pond in

Brookings. • GIS Technician B. Kopplin presented a talk on fishes for K-2nd graders. They liked

Brenda’s waders and live fish. • The Lake Association calibrated their turbidity meter. B. Davis attended a luncheon to

show Lake Association folks how to use their new meter. To Societies: • Higgins served as peer-reviewer on two manuscripts for other journals. Higgins is on the

Waterfowl/Wetlands Committee of the South Dakota Chapter of TWS.

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• Chipps worked on the Continuing Education Committee and Chaired the new Skinner Award Committee for 2003 of the AFS Dakota Chapter.

• Higgins and Chipps arranged the Annual Meeting in Rapid City, South Dakota, April 4-5,

are editors for the Academy Proceedings and briefed the Executive Committee on Academy meetings/proceedings business.

• Berry attended the AIBS meeting (Arlington, Virginia) as the Council Representative

from AFS. To South Dakota DENR: • Chipps provided input on Angostura Reservoir Total Maximum Daily Load study based

on research data from his BOR study that matched South Dakota DENR data needs (total phosphorus, chlorophyll a, turbidity, conductivity).

• Berry supplied Topeka shiner maps so that DENR could set water quality uses and

criteria for South Dakota streams. To SDSU: • Chipps presented a guest seminar titled “Biological Indicators of Wetland Condition:

More Than Just a Puddle in the Field?” • Chipps met with Bryan Gasper (M.S. student) to set protocols for invertebrate and fish

stable isotope analysis for a NPS project on the Missouri River. Chipps is on Bryan’s M.S. Committee.

• Berry took part in the Native American Career Awareness Program, June 3-4, again this

year. Berry started the program in 1990 and it has since been adopted by SDSU – College of Agriculture

• Berry gave a guest lecture on the history of the Missouri River to students and faculty

studying literature of the American West; Berry classified historical writing about the Missouri River into three periods.

• Berry taught refresher courses in aquatic pesticide application in Brookings and Sioux

Falls; courses are required for recertification. • Berry served on a grad committee for S. Tatzlaff, Educational Administration (November

13th); Higgins served on V. Seveir’s M.S. Thesis defense committee; Berry and Chipps attended wildlife student B. Holcomb’s thesis defense.

• Chipps served on thesis defense committees for Neil Haugerud (Wildlife) and Nancy

Webb (M.S. Nursing).

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• Higgins served as a grad faculty member on the M.S. defense of Daniel J. Thompson. • Provided Coop Unit data on water quality that was recently collected from Angostura

Reservoir; Chipps and Graduate Research Assistant Trevor Selch are doing water quality work on Angostura for the BOR; citizens’ concerns about coal bed methane water releases to the Cheyenne River.

• Higgins gave a guest lecture on “River Fishing in a Commercial Way” to the Wildlife

and Fisheries Sciences Sophomore Seminar. • Higgins gave a guest lecture on terrestrial habitats in WL 220 “Introduction to Wildlife”;

Berry and Chipps gave guest lectures on aquatic habitat. • Chipps completed teaching the grad course “Ecology of Aquatic Invertebrates”; Higgins

completed “Fire Ecology and Management” and “Upland Game Management”. • Higgins served on M.S. Thesis defense exams for Matt Ward (fathead minnow

production in wetlands in Minnesota) and Eric Salo (livestock grazing effects on vegetation and nongame birds).

• Berry completed teaching fish anatomy to eleven grad students, who developed a

working knowledge of fish anatomy and an awareness of fish health issues in management, culture, angling and water pollution.

• Chipps chaired the thesis committee for Blake A. Davis; thesis titled “Using stable

isotope analysis to measure trophic position of Lake Oahe walleyes”. • Unit staff attended the one and a half day faculty retreat (July 9th and 10th) to discuss the

future of the Department, consider academic changes, budget for capitol expenses, etc. To Other Universities: • Chipps is on the graduate committee for Bryan Gasper (M.S. student) and traveled to

Vermillion for a meeting, University of South Dakota. • The Unit’s data on Missouri River fishes was requested as being critical to a National

Science Foundation grant proposal to study fish diseases in the NRR segments, written by the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse.

To U.S. Forest Service: • The Unit's Gap Analysis data for locations of flathead chub and Forest Service lands in

the Dakotas were helpful to Dr. David Willis and the AFS when reviewing fish “conservation assessments” in the Rocky Mountain region.

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To USGS: • Water: Chipps and Berry discussed wetland research ideas with Water Resources

Department – Huron Office (R. Bartholomew). B. Sound Science at the South Dakota Cooperative Unit

“Sound science” and “best available science” are phrases that should not need further explanation, but recently these terms are being discussed in many venues and even in the courts. The “sound science” debate usually appears during research on rare species, wetland drainage and river management – areas in our Program Direction Statement. The South Dakota Coop Unit has always provided the best available science and will continue to use methods which include 1) use of the scientific method, 2) quality assurance and control, 3) data management, and 4) peer review. Unit products are reviewed during three phases: 1) proposal, 2) in progress and 3) products. Using the scientific method, we try to gain reliable knowledge. The scientific method in general includes observation, hypothesis, experimentation and interpretation. The scientific method is required knowledge for each Unit student and we recognize that there are several scientific methods, each suited to a different purpose, as pointed out by Romesburg in his classic paper titled Wildlife Science: Gaining Reliable Knowledge (1981 Journal of Wildlife Management 45(2):293-3133). Research quality is assured by following standard operating procedures (proposals), receiving training in methods, critical assessment of literature, use of good laboratory practices and so forth. Unit staff is always involved in student research and do performance audits of Graduate Research Assistant activities in the field and in the laboratory. Data management includes protocols for field data sheets, record keeping, redundant copies for data storage and archiving. Data management usually includes statistical approaches to determining sample size and data interpretation and also includes plans for serving data to the general public and the scientific community. The South Dakota Unit follows the Scientific Peer-Review Policy of the Coop Research Units Program. Review of Unit products occurs on several levels: 1) Coordinating Committee, 2) funding agency and 3) graduate committee. Cooperators review each proposal for agreement with Unit’s Program Direction Statement. The Unit Leader reviews each proposal for 14 study-plan and 5 peer-review requirements (statistics, animal welfare, science, SOPs, chemical control). The student’s committee comprises three SDSU graduate faculty. The Unit Leader reviews all projects periodically to assess conformance to contractual obligations. Concerning research products, our Coop Agreement and contractual obligations govern communication of findings to cooperators and funding agencies that as such are not subject to peer review. Theses and dissertations receive review by the graduate

44

committee and the funding agency prior to outside dissemination. This is especially important if the data appear in non-refereed journals or symposia. Non-written student products (e.g., conference talks) are reviewed by the major professor and an abstract is further reviewed by the conference organizers. Articles, books, proceedings and monographs are reviewed by at least two peer scientists and the Unit Supervisor (for policy). Finally, Unit products receive peer review when submitted to scientific journals. The South Dakota Coop Unit has always provided the best available science and will continue to use methods which include 1) use of the scientific method, 2) quality assurance and quality control in research, 3) data management from start to finish of a project and 4) peer review.