2025 Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference: Full Schedule

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7:00am CST

Continental Breakast with Exhibitors

Monday January 20, 2025 7:00am - 8:30am CST

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Monday January 20, 2025 7:00am - 8:30am CST
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Meal/Social Event

7:00am CST

Trade Show Open

Monday January 20, 2025 7:00am - 5:00pm CST

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Monday January 20, 2025 7:00am - 5:00pm CST
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7:00am CST

Speaker Ready Room Open

Monday January 20, 2025 7:00am - 5:00pm CST

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Monday January 20, 2025 7:00am - 5:00pm CST
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For Speakers

7:00am CST

Conference Registration Desk Open

Monday January 20, 2025 7:00am - 6:00pm CST

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Monday January 20, 2025 7:00am - 6:00pm CST
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8:00am CST

Plenary Session 1

Monday January 20, 2025 8:00am - 10:05am CST

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Monday January 20, 2025 8:00am - 10:05am CST
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Featured Event

10:05am CST

Coffee Break

Monday January 20, 2025 10:05am - 10:30am CST

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Monday January 20, 2025 10:05am - 10:30am CST
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Coffee Break

10:30am CST

Annual Membership Meeting – North Central Section of The Wildlife Society

Monday January 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm CST

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Moderators

Jeremy Holtz

Wildlife biologist, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Monday January 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm CST
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Committee Meeting

10:30am CST

North Central Division AFS Business Meeting

Monday January 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm CST

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Speakers

Daniel Isermann

Unit Leader, USGS-Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit

Monday January 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm CST
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Committee Meeting

12:00pm CST

Lunch On Your Own

Monday January 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CST

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Monday January 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CST
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12:00pm CST

Student & Professional Networking Luncheon (pre-registration required)

Monday January 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CST

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Monday January 20, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CST
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Meal/Social Event

1:00pm CST

Conservation philanthropy...it's not just about special events

Monday January 20, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

Many conservation foundations focus on special events to provide funding for their agencies. Is this the best way to utilize your time? During this roundtable discussion, we'll explore with foundation executives and conservation leaders creative and strategic opportunities to fund projects and programming through annual giving, major and planned gifts, foundations and government funding. We will look at individuals, businesses, foundations, NGOs, and government models that have worked and can be used to make your fundraising operation more successful and support your most important conservation programs.

Agenda
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. : Update from Midwest participants of fundraising and programming successes in 2024 into 2025.
2:00 - 4:00 p.m.: Fundraising for conservation programs.

Special Events
Annual Giving
Major and planned gifts
Foundations
Cause related fundraising
local Government
State Government
Federal Government
Funding of Programs
Capital Campaigns

Models:

Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation: Capital Campaign for Johnny Morris Institute for Fisheries, Wetlands, and Aquatic Systems.
Midway Foundation and Arkansas Impact Fund.
University of Memphis/Arkansas State University Groundwater Partnership.
Missouri Mitigation Programs: Stream Stewardship Trust Fund and Bat Habitat Program.
Tennessee's model for Capital Projects for Higher Education: S-3: Students, Supporters, State.
Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries, Parks, Marine Foundation Heritage 100 program.

Speakers

Kevin Roper

President, Kevin Roper Consulting

Monday January 20, 2025 1:00pm - 4:00pm CST
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Committee Meeting

1:00pm CST

Lake and Reservoir Management Committee Meeting

Monday January 20, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm CST

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Moderators

Will Radigan

PhD Student, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Monday January 20, 2025 1:00pm - 5:00pm CST
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Committee Meeting

1:40pm CST

Fisheries Track: Effects of Flow Variation on Recruitment in a Central Missouri Stream Fish Assemblage

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

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AUTHORS: Connor S. Church, University of Missouri School of Natural Resources; Allison A. Pease, University of Missouri School of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: In the Central U.S., we are experiencing more frequent extreme high-flow events (floods) in many stream systems associated with climate change. Large swaths of the globe are expected to experience wetter conditions with more frequent, high-magnitude precipitation events in the future. Our objectives were to determine if the effects of extreme flows on fish recruitment are predictable based on life history traits, and to learn how extreme flows affect habitat characteristics and food availability for age-0 fishes. To provide these data, we sampled age-0 fishes by seining in Richland Creek and a side channel of the Lamine River in central Missouri 2023-2024. Each site was surveyed twice monthly from May-September. To characterize food resource availability and quality in relation to flows across the season, we sampled benthic macroinvertebrates using dip net sweeps, and we collected zooplankton using a plankton trap. In 2023, a year with an exceptionally dry spring followed by one summer flood, abundance of age-0 native fishes was low in the Lamine River side channel compared to Richland Creek, Western Mosquitofish, an opportunistic species, predominated in 2023. In 2024, two spring floods occurred, along with multiple rain events during the spring and early summer that allowed floodplain and side channel access to spawning fishes and age-0 individuals. Age-0 individuals of periodic species such as longnose gar, bigmouth buffalo, and skipjack herring were only detected in 2024. Aquatic invertebrate diversity and abundance were higher in 2023 than in 2024. Our research will help address how timing, frequency, and magnitude of flow events affect recruitment in stream fish assemblages.

Speakers

Connor Church

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Missouri

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
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General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

1:40pm CST

Fisheries Track: Identifying Walleye and Lake Whitefish Spawning Habitat to Inform Habitat Improvements for Lake Sturgeon in the Lower Fox River below De Pere Dam

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

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AUTHORS: Braden Lensing, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Daniel Dembkowski, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Joshua Raabe, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Jason Breegemann, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Daniel Isermann, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

ABSTRACT: Previous research indicates that lake sturgeon Acipenser fluvescens recruitment is limited in the Lower Fox River below De Pere Dam. Habitat enhancements in the form of an offshore reef have been proposed to potentially improve the recruitment of lake sturgeon. However, identifying spawning habitats for other species could help to ensure that restoration efforts for lake sturgeon do not result in loss of spawning habitat for other species. The Lower Fox River supports spawning runs of walleye Sander vitreus and lake whitefish Coregonus clupeaformis, both of which support important fisheries in southern Green Bay. Our objectives are to 1) describe spatial variation in walleye and lake whitefish egg densities in the LFR below De Pere Dam to inform placement of the lake sturgeon spawning reef; 2) determine if spatial variation in egg densities are related to a suite of environmental variables (e.g., flow, depth, and substrate), 3) determine if spatial distributions of eggs are similar for walleye and lake whitefish, and 4) describe the timing (e.g., start, peak, end, and duration) of walleye and lake whitefish spawning. Heat maps generated from relative egg densities illustrate the spatial distribution of walleye and lake whitefish egg densities and reveal significant overlap in egg deposition between the two species, as well as notable overlap with three of four proposed reef locations. The 2023 lake whitefish spawning period spanned 14 days, beginning on November 8 and concluding around November 21. In contrast, the 2024 walleye spawning season lasted 38 days, commencing on March 18 and ending about April 25.

Speakers

Braden Lensing

Graduate Research Assistant, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit University of Wisconsin Stevens Point

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

1:40pm CST

Wildlife Track: 'On The Road Again' Native Species Seeding By Midwestern DOTs and Potential Improvements

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Wesley Bollinger, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

ABSTRACT: As road development continues to fragment native landscapes and stifle wildlife movement, there has been increased attention towards maintaining and restoring ecosystem services and habitat connectivity around roadways. Increased use of native plants along roadways can reduce overall maintenance costs, bolster ecosystem services, and broaden migration corridors for numerous species, including birds and pollinators like the Monarch Butterfly.

State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) play a critical role in the balance between development and natural area conservation given their road creation efforts and maintenance of their sizeable land holdings. As most midwestern state DOTs employ native species in their roadside seeding specifications, I provide an overview of these seeding efforts, giving particular attention to states like Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois that include many diverse native seed mixes. I will also present preliminary results from surveys of Illinois and Indiana DOT native seed plots from the last 17 years. This presentation illustrates beneficial techniques for seeding in heavily disturbed, invaded landscapes and provides insight into which native species best establish and persist in these conditions.

Speakers

Wesley Bollinger

Masters Candidate, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
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General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Habitat Management and Restoration

1:40pm CST

Wildlife Track: Low population densities of Missouri brown tarantulas (Aphonopelma hentzi) in Missouri glades.

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

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AUTHORS: Becky Hansis-O'Neill, University of Missouri - St. Louis
Aimee Dunlap, University of Missouri - St. Louis

ABSTRACT: Aphonopelma hentzi has not been a species of concern for arachnologists in North America. Researchers report high densities at their field sites in the states of Colorado (CO) and Texas (TX) with no major conservation concerns. Central Missouri (MO) represents the most northern and easterly range edge for A. hentzi where they are primarily found in native glade grasslands. We have conducted a population assessment on three such glades over the past two years and discovered very low population densities compared to other researcher sites around the USA. Glades in central MO may represent habitat islands within the edge of A. hentzi’s range. Additionally, MO glades have been degraded over time by changing fire regimes and disturbance by hobby herpetologists. Our research aims to assess these populations over time in terms of density, preferred habitat, genetic health, and effects of disturbance. These tarantulas may be at risk due to a confluence of factors such as range edge effects, illegal collecting, habitat fragmentation, or other unknowns like pesticide exposure or disease. These factors may be causing low population densities, creating an Allee effect where these subpopulations may not easily recover. Small predator biodiversity is likely important for bottom-up maintenance of native vegetation via control of grazing invertebrates like orthopterans. This paper presentation will cover our current work on this project and future directions.

Speakers

Becky Hansis-O'Neill

PhD Candidate, University of Missouri - St. Louis

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
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General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Invertebrate Ecology

1:40pm CST

S-01: Audubon’s bird conservation strategy on the Mississippi River

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

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AUTHORS: Dale Gentry, Director of Conservation, Audubon Upper Mississippi River; Brent Newman, Program Director - Mississippi River Water Initiative, National Audubon Society

ABSTRACT: Riparian and floodplain forest habitats of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) are the backbone of the Mississippi Flyway which serves as a major aerial highway for 60% of North America's bird species. The incredibly diverse ecosystems associated with the Mississippi River have been altered by agriculture, the impoundment of the river in locks and dams, levees, pollution, and climate change, which have reduced the quantity and quality of habitat for migrant and breeding birds. Audubon’s Mississippi River Initiative is a focused effort engaging and working alongside private and public land managers to mitigate these factors that are negatively influencing habitat and water quality by encouraging and guiding bird-friendly habitat management strategies that retain and enhance forest and grasslands cover in the UMR flyway. Audubon’s Mississippi River Initiative emphasizes science, habitat restoration, and policy approaches. 1) We are implementing and supporting avian monitoring and research efforts along the river to fill critical science gaps and develop habitat restoration strategies that align with science-based management and adaptation plans. 2) We are partnering with federal, state, and private land managers and stakeholders to restore and enhance bottomland and upland forests. We are also enhancing water quality by expanding and improving the management of perennial grass pastures in the Mississippi River watershed through Audubon’s Conservation Ranching initiative. Finally, 3) we are pursuing policy solutions that will lead to a healthy and resilient environment for priority bird species and human communities. Audubon works from the halls of Congress and river management teams to local city councils to achieve policies and funding implementation in alignment with our watershed goals. Through these three action steps, Audubon is seeking a more resilient and ecologically vibrant future for the Mississippi River.

Speakers

Dale Gentry

Director of Conservation, Audubon - Upper Mississippi River

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

1:40pm CST

S-02: Climbing the Ladder Towards Aquatic Connectivity for Stream Fishes in Eastern South Dakota

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Evan Spencer, GRA South Dakota State University, Dr. Christopher Cheek, Assistant Professor South Dakota State University

ABSTRACT: Stream channel fragmentation constrains the movement of stream fishes, thereby reducing access to critical habitats. Stream-road crossings are prevalent throughout the United States and have the potential to fragment aquatic ecosystems. Tube culverts, where streams pass under the road through metal pipes, are particularly concerning for stream connectivity. Undersized, aging, or inappropriately installed culverts can develop vertical drops at the outflow due to high velocities and stream bed scouring. This condition, known as perching, can function as a barrier preventing the upstream movement of fishes. Due to the prevalence of culverts in stream networks, novel solutions are needed that rapidly address fish passage at perched culverts. In this study, we assessed a low-cost Denil-type fish ladder designed to integrate with tube culverts and mitigate stream fragmentation caused by tube culverts. Specific objectives are to (1) quantify the impact road crossings have on the movement of small-bodied fishes, (2) demonstrate the long-term and short-term efficacy of experimental fish ladders in facilitating fish passage through tube culverts, (3) determine passage rates among different swimming guilds of stream fishes in Eastern South Dakota. For this, eight stream road crossings we selected in the Big Sioux, Vermillion, and Minnesota River watersheds. A before-after-control impact design was adopted to evaluate the effectiveness of fish ladders on the movement of fishes through tube culverts. In the summer of 2023-2024, over 6000 small-bodied stream fishes comprised of 22 species were captured and implanted with Biomark 8mm PIT (passive integrated transponder) tags. Capture-recapture data was collected using PIT telemetry. In the Spring-Summer 2024, experimental fish ladders were installed at perched tube culverts and fish passage was evaluated using capture-recapture methodologies to model multi-state detection, survival, and transition probability.

Speakers

Evan Spencer

Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University - Natural Resource Management

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
TBA

S-02: Connecting the Dots: Addressing Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation Across the Midwest

1:40pm CST

S-03: CWD: Strengthening Public Involvement: Iowa’s Multifaceted Approach to CWD Outreach and Management

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Catherine Cummings, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach & Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Adam Janke, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach; Tyler Harms, Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Jace Elliott, Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Rachel Ruden, Iowa Department of Natural Resources & Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory

ABSTRACT: As Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) continues to pose a significant threat to Iowa’s white–tailed deer populations, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach are committed to developing innovative outreach programs to enhance awareness and foster collaboration. With an increasing number of counties detecting CWD, our efforts focus on educating hunters, landowners, and the public on best practices for hunting and processing, while actively involving them in disease management. Key initiatives include 1) the Chronic Wasting Disease Ambassador Program, which empowers local stakeholders to serve as educators within their communities; 2) public meetings that facilitate direct communication between DNR staff, hunters, and landowners; 3) the integration of CWD education into youth and adult hunter education programs; 4) the development of county CWD resource guides tailored to each county; and 5) CWD incentive hunts in core disease hotspots to provide hunters with landowner access for additional deer harvest in the late season. Through these initiatives, the Iowa DNR and ISU Extension aim to not only share critical information, but also inspire proactive community participation in managing the spread of CWD. By fostering open dialogue and collaborative engagement, we seek to create a well-informed, adaptive, and responsive network of Iowans–hunters, landowners, and conservationists–equipped to tackle the challenges of CWD and contribute to the disease’s long-term management.

Speakers

Catherine Cummings

Chronic Wasting Disease Outreach Specialist, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach

Catherine is currently in a joint role with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and Iowa Department of Natural Resources to serve as a Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Outreach Specialist. She delivers presentations about CWD mitigation and management to relevant stakeholder... Read More →

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
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S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

1:40pm CST

S-04: Historical Perspectives on Trout Management in Missouri

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

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AUTHORS: Mike Kruse, Missouri Fly Fishing Guide

ABSTRACT: Salmonid fishes are not native to Missouri or any portion of the Ozarks, likely due to the region’s southerly latitude, low elevation and resulting scarcity of cold streams. The first salmonids were introduced in Missouri in 1878 when Pacific salmon were released. In the decades that followed, a number of species of trout, salmon and grayling were indiscriminately stocked throughout the state. Most releases were into waters unsuitable for tout and only a few populations of rainbow trout were established in springs or spring-influenced areas that maintained cold water temperatures throughout the summer. By 1937, when the Missouri Department of Conservation was established, trout hatcheries had been built near a number of large springs. Trout stocking was restricted to springs or stream sections adjacent to spring inflows that were suitable for trout survival. Hatchery production, and resultant stocking, gradually increased and created a demand for trout fishing and trout harvest. In the 1970s, the first restrictive harvest regulations were established. Initially, these restrictions applied to populations containing mostly hatchery trout, but later, to populations of naturally-reproducing trout. In 2003, the Missouri Conservation Commission approved a comprehensive trout management plan that resulted in hatchery expansions, habitat assessments, a statewide trout angler survey and a review of management approaches. Today, about 300 miles of Missouri streams are considered suitable for “coldwater sport fishery” and about half are actively managed for trout fishing by the Missouri Department of Conservation. The fisheries vary from intensively stocked “put and take” areas, to streams managed exclusively for naturally-reproducing rainbow trout. An important trout fishery is also found in Lake Taneycomo, a “tailwater” below Table Rock Lake. Seasonal trout fisheries, mostly in small municipal impoundments, have increased in number in recent decades.

Speakers

Mike Kruse

Head Guide, Missouri Fly Fishing Guide (missouriflyfishingguide.com)

I'm a retired biologist, administrator and university instructor and now a fly fishing guide in the Missouri Ozarks.

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

1:40pm CST

S-05: Fishers & Farmers Partnership: Energizing Healthy Farms & Fish Habitats Through Neighbor Connections

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Ben Lubinski, Illinois Dept of Natural Resources - Fisheries; Heidi Keuler, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Jodi Whittier, University of Missouri - Columbia

ABSTRACT: Locally led, neighbor to neighbor soil health and watershed groups are driving landscape scale change across the Upper Mississippi River Basin. Fishers & Farmers Partnership (FFP) funded their first farmer-led committee project in the Bourbeuse/Meramec Watershed in eastern Missouri in 2009-2010 and has awarded over 60 projects throughout the Upper Mississippi River Basin. FFP has learned and grown with landowner groups in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin, and has been a catalyst to drive innovative projects such as the Fishers & Farmers workshops for farmer-led groups. Each year FFP awards National Fish Habitat Partnership funds to engage landowners; improve farms and fish habitat; address root causes of watershed problems; and support communications, monitoring, and science that aligns with FFP's strategic plan. FFP works with local farmers and organizations in a bottom-up versus top-down approach to address specific agriculture-related problems more effectively. FFP communication efforts help farmers and organizations share knowledge and experiences, explore resources, and become energized and inspired by their neighbors.

Speakers

Ben Lubinski

Fisheries, IL Dept of Natural Resources

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

1:40pm CST

S-06: Prairie Reconstruction: Prairie Fork CA Case Study and Lessons Learned

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Chris Newbold, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: The Missouri Department of Conservation conducted a 700 + acre prairie reconstruction project at Prairie Fork Conservation Area in east-central Missouri from 2004-2019. This long-term reconstruction project provided an opportunity to use a chronosequence approach to assess the success of two reconstruction methods in emulating local, reference remnant prairie plant communities. We compared broadcast dormant seeding following two types of site preparation, agricultural cropping (Crop) or herbicide control in existing grass assemblages (Grass), and remnant communities. The Crop site preparation method resulted in a rapid increase in richness shortly following seeding. Although more similar to remnant assemblages initially, the Grass method took longer for mean coefficient of conservatism and floristic quality index to approach conditions of the reference communities. However, neither method resulted in plant community compositions that converged with the reference through time. Further, indicator species analysis identified a diverse assemblage of species lacking from the reconstructed prairies. This information is important for land managers in the development of adaptive management strategies during active reconstruction. We also provide some ‘lessons learned’ over the course of the 15-year reconstruction project that could be useful to other prairie managers.

Speakers

Chris Newbold

District Supervisor, The North Central Section of The Wildlife Society

Monday January 20, 2025 1:40pm - 2:00pm CST
TBA

S-06: Restoring and Reconstructing Endangered Ecosystems in Missouri: Case Studies of Prairie/Savanna/Woodland and Wetland Natural Communities

2:00pm CST

Fisheries Track: Diet and Niche Overlap of Blue Catfish and Resident Reservoir Sportfishes to Inform Stocking Decisions

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Jacob L Bentley, The Ohio State University; Stuart A Ludsin, The Ohio State University

ABSTRACT: The intentional introduction of nonnative predators to generate novel fisheries, while common, has the potential to threaten existing fisheries through numerous mechanisms such as competition and predation. Similarly, stocking success could be hampered by these same mechanisms, highlighting the need to understand habitat use and niche overlap among biota. In Ohio reservoirs, Blue Catfish (Ictalurus furcatus) has been stocked since 2010 to create novel trophy fisheries. However, the potential exists that the success of Blue Catfish will either threaten the success of existing fisheries or threaten the success of the stocking program if niche overlap among species is high. To assess niche overlap and the potential for competition among stocked Blue Catfish, native predators (e.g., Channel Catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; Largemouth Bass, Micropterus salmoides), and stocked saugeye (Sander canadensis x S. vitreus), we analyzed the diets and stable isotope ratios (nitrogen, carbon, and sulphur) of muscle tissue from fish collected during spring, summer, and fall of 2021-2023 in two Ohio reservoirs: one stocked with Blue Catfish (Hoover Reservoir) and one not stocked with Blue Catfish (Alum Creek Lake). We hypothesized that niche overlap would be highest between catfish species, with Largemouth Bass and saugeye also overlapping. Our hypothesis was only partially supported. Results show niche partitioning between Blue Catfish and all other species. Blue Catfish consumed more and larger fish prey (e.g., large-bodied Gizzard Shad) relative to all other species, with Channel Catfish feeding mostly on aquatic insect larvae (e.g., chironomids). By contrast, Largemouth Bass and saugeye primarily fed on smaller-bodied Gizzard Shad than Blue Catfish, with their diets being similar as expected. In addition to quantifying niche envelopes for these species, we discuss how our findings, and stable isotopes in general, can be used to help inform stocking decision-making in reservoir ecosystems.

Speakers

Jacob Bentley

Master's Student, The Ohio State University

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

2:00pm CST

Fisheries Track: Identifying Spawning Sites and Fidelity of Ogaa (walleye Sander Vitreus): Implications for Fishery Stewardship

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Kayla Lenz, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission; Aaron Shultz, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission; Adam Ray, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission; Carl Klimah, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe

ABSTRACT: Mille Lacs Lake located in the 1837 Ceded Territory in central Minnesota offers a unique site for assessing the movement of fish throughout a large temperate lake. The relative shallowness of the lake and resultant lack of a thermocline allows ogaawag (walleye Sander vitreus) to forage throughout the lake, thus maximizing their range. Ogaawag , have been impacted by the many changes happening in this system over the past several decades, resulting in a variable but overall decreasing population between 1980 and 2016, when the population seems to have plateaued. This decrease has largely been attributed to a decrease in annual recruitment from hatching to age-2, but the root cause of that recruitment problem is yet unclear. In other large lake systems, ogaawag frequently display spawning site fidelity, making them especially reliant on a relatively small spawning area. Disturbances and changes in these areas may decrease overall reproduction and decrease fry survival. Identifying and protecting these critical sites may maintain annual recruitment of Mille Lacs ogaawag. The purpose of this study was to identify ogaawag spawning sites across years, characterize habitat type, and quantify spawning site fidelity of adult ogaawag in Mille Lacs Lake. Here we examine the movements of 70 tagged adult ogaawag during the spawning periods of 2019, 2020, and 2021 to determine the proportion of ogaawag that display spawning site fidelity and which areas of the lake were “hotspots” for spawning. Using an acoustic telemetry array, we examine the relationships between sex, length, detection depth, average residence time at each receiver, and spawning site fidelity to establish patterns of behavior among ogaawag. We found that ogaawag in Mille Lacs display spawning site fidelity at high rates (96%) and identified areas with rocky and/or hard substrate, lots of wind/wave action, and that are near undeveloped shoreline to be hotspots of ogaawag activity during the spawning season. We also observed what is likely an occurrence of skipped spawning in a female ogaa. Findings from this study should be used to create new stewardship plans to protect in-lake, shoreline, and upland habitats near spawning aggregation sites in Mille Lacs Lake. These approaches may be applicable to other large lake ecosystems.

Speakers

Kayla Lenz

Fisheries Research LTE, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

2:00pm CST

Wildlife Track: Effects of Landscape Characteristics on Occurrence and Density of Native Bumblebee Species. Fort Riley. Kansas

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Cassidy Lathrom, Kansas State University; Dave Haukos, United States Geological Survey; Caroline Skidmore, Kansas State University; Brian Monser, Fort Riley Environmental Division; Derek Moon, Fort Riley Environmental Division

ABSTRACT: We assessed the influence of management actions on the occurrence and density of native bumblebee populations in the Great Plains region. Occurrence, density, and distribution of native bumblebees (Bombus spp.) were assessed relative to landscape characteristics and environmental conditions (e.g., fire, haying, mechanical and herbicide control of invading trees and herbaceous plants) on Fort Riley, Kansas. Multi-scale assessments were used to estimate distribution and density of species-specific Bombus at landscape and unit scales across accessible areas of the study area. Unit scales were categorized by dominant cover type (e.g., natural prairie, go-back land, woodland, cultivated/crop land, water, burned, and hayed). Distance sampling was used to estimate distribution and density of species-specific Bombus at landscape scales across accessible areas of the study area. Site locations within predetermined unit scales were selected using randomized surveys resulting in 151, 500-m transects. We conducted sampling during early summer (May and June) and late summer (July and August). Location of all bumblebees observed along the transect were recorded using a Trimble GPS unit. Package Distance in Program R was used to estimate density of Bombus spp. across Fort Riley, within certain cover types, and by management action. Data were comprised of six species including American (B. pensylvanicus), Southern Plains (B. fraternus), Black and Gold (B. auricomus), Common Eastern (B. impatiens), Brown-Belted (B. griseocollis), and Two Spotted (B. bimaculatus). We estimated 1.30 Bombus/ha (CV = 0.184) and 1.40 Bombus/ha (CV = 0.122) during 2022 and 2023, respectively. These data are the first known estimates of Bombus density in tallgrass prairie and serve as a baseline for future assessments.

Speakers

Cassidy Lathrom

Graduate Research Assistant, Kansas State University

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Invertebrate Ecology

2:00pm CST

Wildlife Track: Mastering the Flames: An overview of prescribed burning training for students and early career professionals

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Craig Maier, Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium; Carol Baldwin, Great Plains Fire Science Exchange

ABSTRACT: Prescribed burning is critical to managing many wildlife habitats in North America, and the need for trained individuals is growing due to greater investment in wildfire risk mitigation and prescribed fire. Often students and early career professionals would like to add prescribed burning to their skill set, but are unaware of the training opportunities available or which would be most suitable for their career path. Prescribed burn training can occur through academic classes, online and in-person training for federal certification, state Extension trainings with and without certification, prescribed burning cooperatives and associations, and other opportunities. An overview of training requirements and types of trainings available can help wildlife managers meet personal and career goals. Examples of incorporating training into institutional settings will provide models for those looking to begin offering trainings at the college level.

Speakers

Craig Maier

Coordinator, Tallgrass Prairie and Oak Savanna Fire Science Consortium

I work across the Upper Midwest to strengthen connections between researchers and land managers. Grad students and PIs - we have a working list of research needs, literature review needs, and fire ecology methods. Land managers - we have a library of short summaries of research (emphasizing... Read More →

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Habitat Management and Restoration

2:00pm CST

S-01: Bottomland Forest Birds along the Upper Mississippi River

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Tara Hohman, Audubon Upper Mississippi River; Dale Gentry, Audubon Upper Mississippi River; Nicole Michels, National Audubon Society

ABSTRACT: Floodplain forests of the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) provide critical habitat for a diverse avian community. Yet dozens of bird species that use these forests are listed as priority species and/or Species of Greatest Conservation Need by state and national agencies. These same agencies outline the desire to further define best management practices to conserve floodplain forest birds through their full annual cycle. Our 10 years of research on bottomland forest bird species along the UMR has resulted in the initial development of priority areas for birds within this landscape, as well as habitat associations between birds and the habitat characteristics they select for. This presentation discusses these findings and reviews the different and similar needs of focal species and species diversity in different stretches of this region. Towards the end of this presentation, we will also discuss the next steps to this work and goals for the future.

Speakers

Tara Hohman

Conservation Science Manager, Audubon Upper Mississippi River

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

2:00pm CST

S-02: Fish Freeways: How Rock Ramps are Assisting Prairie Stream Fish Movement

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: *Seth Callahan, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO 65211, bscnh9@missouri.edu
*Presenting author

Jacob Westhoff, U.S. Geological Survey, Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, School of Natural Resources, 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, westhoffj@missouri.edu

Brett Perkins, The Nature Conservancy, Dunn Ranch Prairie, 16970 W 150th St, Hatfield, MO 64458, brett.perkins@tnc.org

ABSTRACT: Human-made structures such as box culverts and similar road crossings can cause habitat fragmentation within stream networks and require remediation for effective aquatic organism passage. There is increasing interest in restoring habitat connectivity and aquatic organism passage for conservation purposes, along with assessing project effectiveness. Two, low- gradient rock ramps were installed in the forks of Little Creek in Harrison County, Missouri in 2022 to protect existing infrastructure and restore natural aquatic organism passage to over eight kilometers of headwater stream. These first order prairie streams had been eroded by head cutting to the base of each of the box culverts resulting in greater than one meter of drop on the downstream side of each culvert. Installation of the rock ramps at a natural grade sought to restore stream connectivity and allow for aquatic organism passage. We tagged multiple fish species downstream of each rock ramp using passive integrated responder (PIT) and visual implanted elastomer (VIE) tags in the spring of 2024 and used submersible PIT antennas and seining to detect fish movement. We determined that both rock ramps have allowed for fish passage of multiple fish species, including an experimental population of Topeka Shiners. We detected 14.5% of all PIT tagged fish successfully using the rock ramps to move upstream in the first two months of data collection. Three VIE tagged fish were recaptured upstream of the box culverts with seine nets. Our preliminary results highlight effective methods for monitoring aquatic organism passage in prairie streams and the ecological benefits of restored stream connectivity in fragmented habitats.

Speakers

Seth Callahan

PhD Research Assistant, University of Missouri

2nd year PhD student at Mizzou studying beaver dam analogues as tools for stream restoration in the context of stream morphology, fish communities, and fish passage.

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

S-02: Connecting the Dots: Addressing Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation Across the Midwest

2:00pm CST

S-03: CWD: Identifying the Motivations and Barriers of Landowners to Participating in Targeted Removal to Manage Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Missouri

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Jason Isabelle, Missouri Department of Conservation; Jasmine Batten, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Phil Seng, DJ Case & Associates; Matt Harlow, DJ Case & Associates; Rachel Menale, DJ Case & Associates

ABSTRACT: Since first detecting chronic wasting disease (CWD) in the free-ranging white-tailed deer population in 2012, the Missouri Department of Conservation has implemented targeted removal to slow disease spread. Targeted removal is one of few interventions with evidence of efficacy yet is often met with resistance and lack of stakeholder support. As such, identifying the motivations and barriers of landowners to participating in targeted removal is key to addressing participation deficiencies and fostering landowner engagement in CWD management. We conducted 12 focus group meetings in Missouri during 2022 with landowners who owned property near where CWD has been detected. Motivations for participating in targeted removal included a sense of civic responsibility to people and/or the deer population, additional hunting opportunity, food, convenience of the removal program, and positive feelings about contributing to CWD management. Barriers or deterrents to participation included misunderstanding about CWD and the objectives of targeted removal, perception of low deer density, reluctance to relinquish what landowners felt was management control of their land during targeted removal, distain for targeted removal methods (e.g., night shooting, baiting), and objections about when targeted removal occurred (i.e., winter, after deer season). Landowner participation in targeted removal could likely be increased by communicating more effectively about CWD and the objectives of targeted removal to combat misinformation, providing additional opportunity during the regular deer season enabling hunters to play a more active role in disease management at that time of year, considering changes to targeted removal methodology (e.g., not field dressing deer on site), and working to align targeted removal goals with landowner deer management goals when possible.

Speakers

Jason Isabelle

Cervid Program Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

2:00pm CST

S-04: Trout Streams of the Northern Ozarks: Overview of Missouri's Ribbon Areas

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Blake Stephens, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: The cool springs of the Missouri Ozarks support dozens of riverine trout fisheries across the southern half of the state. These introduced fisheries provide year-round angling opportunity unique from the trout parks that produce these fish. Missouri’s trout management areas consist of three categories, the blue, red and white ribbon areas, each with a different management approach, stocking regime (if any) and regulations. This presentation references the twenty management areas that encapsulate Missouri’s ribbon system and the history of river trout management since the state’s first trout plan adoption in 2003. Management challenges and successes associated with these stream segments will be discussed as well including some examples of specific projects and programs that have moved Missouri’s riverine trout program from surviving to thriving.

Speakers

Blake Stephens

Fisheries Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

2:00pm CST

S-05: Partnering with Private Landowners on Forest Management for Water Quality

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Jen Wahls, Landscape Connections LLC, Minnesota Forest Resources Council Southeast Landscape Committee and Winona La Crescent Local Forestry Team

ABSTRACT: The landscape of Southeastern Minnesota is a mosaic of steep woodlands, cropland, pasture, and coldwater streams. Ninety-five percent of land is in private ownership. Private landowners are integral to conservation work; however, they are often left out of planning efforts. The Southeast Landscape Plan and the Winona La Crecent Comprehensive Watershed Plan guide conservation work in this geography. The Local Forestry Team (LFT), a pilot for MN launched on in early 2024, is made up of professionals representing MN Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry, Soil & Water Conservation Districts, consulting foresters, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Board of Water & Soil Resources, industry, private landowners and non-governmental organizations who work locally and collaboratively. The LFT plans, coordinates, and implements forestry conservation work with private landowners, building on previous efforts by many partners. By coordinating programs and resources with many partners and through building relationships at the community level, the Local Forestry Team effectively and efficiently serves private landowners interested in conservation and forestry work. The LFT launched the ReInvest in Minnesota Blufflands program, a pilot that was developed overtime by local professionals with input from private landowners. The conservation easement program reflects landowner interest and fits the geography we work in. This presentation will detail each component of this critical work that benefits a wide range of resources including water quality, important upland and in-stream habitat.

Speakers

Jennifer Wahls

Winona La Crescent Local Forestry Team Coordinator, Landscape Connections LLC (private sector)

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

2:00pm CST

S-06: Woodland Management for Biodiversity at Shaw Nature Reserve

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS:

ABSTRACT: Shaw Nature Reserve has been tinkering with landscape-scale woodland management for biodiversity since the 1980s, using local manager-based institutional knowledge as well as site-specific scientific studies to back up their methods. We present insights and findings from management of woodlands and savannas, with a focus on the combination of 1) invasive species control, 2) prescribed fire, and 3) native herbaceous species re-introductions using locally-sourced seed.

Speakers

Calvin Maginel

Ecological Resource Scientist, Shaw Nature Reserve

Monday January 20, 2025 2:00pm - 2:20pm CST
TBA

S-06: Restoring and Reconstructing Endangered Ecosystems in Missouri: Case Studies of Prairie/Savanna/Woodland and Wetland Natural Communities

2:20pm CST

Fisheries Track: Evaluating the influence of climate change on walleye and largemouth bass consumption rates in a northern Wisconsin lake

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Jeston Hassler, South Dakota State University; Maxwel Wilkinson, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Quinnlan Smith, University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology; Joseph Mrnak, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-Escanaba Lake Research Station/University of Wisconsin-Madison Center for Limnology

ABSTRACT: In recent decades, some lakes in the Ceded Territory of Wisconsin (approximate northern third of the state) have experienced increasing largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides abundance coupled with declining walleye Sander vitreus abundance. These shifts in abundance have become of management concern, as largemouth bass have been hypothesized to negatively influence walleye populations through potential competitive or predatory interactions. Yet, a mechanistic understanding of these ecological interactions remains relatively unknown. As climate change continues to alter thermal habitat in northern Wisconsin lakes, understanding how warming water temperatures may influence largemouth bass and walleye interactions, specifically their consumption rates of prey items, could assist in the future management of the two species. Thus, our objectives in this study were to 1) calculate diet overlap and consumption rates of common prey items for largemouth bass and walleye in a northern Wisconsin lake and 2) simulate consumption rates of largemouth bass and walleye in predicted climate change scenarios. Our study site, Little John Lake located in Vilas Co., Wisconsin, contains a naturally recruiting walleye population and fish assemblage similar to many other northern Wisconsin lakes. We intensively sampled diets of largemouth bass and walleye in Little John Lake from May-October in 2024 and took a bioenergetics approach to estimate and simulate consumption rates of these species under climate-change scenarios. Increased rates of consumption were apparent for both species, notably of yellow perch Perca flavescens and Lepomis spp., yet walleye consumption rates slowed when water temperature began reaching their thermal tolerance. Understanding how largemouth bass and walleye consumption rates may differ under climate-change scenarios may give valuable insight into future interactions between these species in northern Wisconsin lakes.

Speakers

Jeston Hassler

Undergraduate Student, South Dakota State University

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

2:20pm CST

Fisheries Track: Zooplankton in the Upper Mississippi River System

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Molly Sobotka;
Jessica Fulgoni;
Ashley Johnson;
Alex Bell

ABSTRACT: Zooplankton link microbial primary producers to larger consumers (primarily fish) in aquatic food webs. Despite their importance, assessment of zooplankton populations in large rivers is rare, especially across large spatial scales and during the winter. We collected zooplankton alongside summer, fall, and winter water quality sampling events in the Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program’s Long Term Resource Monitoring element key reaches during 2019 and 2020. We used generalized additive models to assess the relationships between measures of zooplankton abundance and local and site level habitat variables. Zooplankton abundance was strongly tied to measures of productivity (chlorophyll) and water clarity (suspended solids), but the strength and shape of these relationships was not the same between seasons. Abundance of crustacean zooplankton was greatest during the winter however we did not find a significant relationship between abundance and chlorophyll during that season. Crustacean density and biomass were negatively associated with the presence of invasive carps and positively associated with abundant aquatic plants.

Speakers

Molly Sobotka

Resource Staff Scientist, Missouri Dept of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

2:20pm CST

Wildlife Track: PHASE: Pollinator Habitat Aligned with Solar Energy

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Alison Little, University of Illinois Chicago

ABSTRACT: The solar industry is responding to demand for a clean energy future. The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) forecasts that the solar industry is expected to nearly triple cumulative solar deployment by 2028. At the same time, insect pollinators are in decline throughout North America. Species and habitat losses are resulting in listing consideration and petitions for once-common species like monarch butterflies and several bumble bee species. Co-located pollinator vegetation at solar facilities is recognized as an opportunity to support habitat needed by declining insect populations.

How can large-scale projects incorporate pollinator plantings at solar facilities? What ecological and performance benefits can be realized from pollinator plantings? How do developers and owners weigh the costs and challenges of maintaining pollinator vegetation and determine the effects it has on power generation, community acceptance, and operations? The Pollinator Habitat Aligned with Solar Energy (PHASE) project is a four-year research project that aims to answer these questions and better support the solar industry in successfully implementing co-located plantings. This project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office.

In collaboration with industry and technical professionals, the PHASE team has developed methodology to evaluate the impacts of plantings on both biodiversity and facility operations. This includes the diversity of plant and insect communities, pollinator services being provided by the site, and the effects of pollinator vegetation on panel temperature and efficiency. The PHASE team has used this data to develop a newly finalized toolset designed to support solar industry decision-making on pollinator vegetation. The four tools include a Pollinator Planting Implementation Manual, a Cost Comparison Tool, a Seed Selection Tool, and Habitat Assessment Module Guidance.

In this presentation, attendees will learn about brief research updates on solar pollinator plantings, learn where to access the PHASE toolset, and the tool applications.

Speakers

Alison Little

Partner Coordinator - Conservation Agreements, University of Illinois Chicago, Energy Resources Center

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Habitat Management and Restoration

2:20pm CST

Wildlife Track: The relationship between butterfly diversity and canopy cover management across 25 years in Midwestern oak savannas

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Joseph B. Deas, U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station;
Desi Robertson-Thompson, U.S. Geological Survey, Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center;
Ralph Grundel, U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station

ABSTRACT: Oak savannas are among the most imperiled habitats worldwide, characterized by their unique structure and biodiversity. These ecosystems have experienced significant decline due to habitat conversion and altered disturbance regimes. To understand the impact of these changes on butterfly diversity, we conducted extensive surveys in 1998/1999 and 2023 across 17-25 sites in Midwestern oak savannas, representing a gradient of canopy cover. Our study aimed to assess butterfly abundance and species composition, alongside additional environmental variables that might influence the relationship between butterfly diversity and canopy cover. We collected data on various environmental factors, including flower abundance, composition, and fire frequency, to determine their predictive value for butterfly presence/absence and to identify key environmental predictors. By comparing data from different time periods, we evaluated how the relationship between butterfly diversity and canopy cover has changed and whether these patterns were influenced by temporal or spatial changes in environmental conditions. Preliminary analyses suggest that the relationship between canopy cover and species richness is influenced by the frequency of historic fires, plant diversity, and local climate. Our findings emphasize the importance of considering multiple environmental factors when assessing biodiversity in oak savannas and highlight the need for ongoing conservation efforts to preserve these critical habitats.

Speakers

Joseph Deas

Biologist, USGS

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Invertebrate Ecology

2:20pm CST

S-01: Breeding bird community in the Mississippi River floodplain forest: Two Decades of change

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Michael Wellik, US Geological Survey; Eileen Kirsch, US Geological Survey; Ryan Burner, US Geological Survey

ABSTRACT: Forested floodplains along the upper Mississippi River are important for breeding birds but are shaped by human use of the surrounding lands and especially by the construction of the lock and dam system in the 1940’s to control water levels. These forests are continuing to change because of higher water levels, maturing forests, and invasive species. We looked at potential changes in the avian community in forests by comparing bird species richness and species’ relative abundance and frequency of occurrence between data collected from 1994-1997 and 2015-2019. Point counts were conducted in three stretches of river at sites where there has been no direct forest management since the 1940’s. The same sites were sampled in several years during both time periods, using point counts with the same spatial scale and duration. The sites in the 1990’s were sampled once per year by a single observer, whereas in the 2010’s they were sampled multiple times by multiple observers each year. To account for this difference in yearly sampling effort we bootstrapped the 2010’s data, creating a distribution to compare to the yearly one-survey one-observer method used in the 1990’s. In this timeframe there was a slight decline in species richness for each of the three river stretches. Across all three stretches some species have declined in frequency of occurrence, such as the American Redstart, whereas others increased, like the Prothonotary Warbler. Examining bird community trends over decades, even with slightly different sampling methods, may benefit avian and habitat management.

Speakers

Mike Wellik

Biologist, USGS

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

2:20pm CST

S-02: Beyond barriers: Fish communities in a recovering tributary of Lake Erie

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Matthew R. Acre, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center; James J. Roberts, U.S. Geological Survey, Lake Erie Biological Station; Dustin W. Broaddus, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center; Ryan J. Trimbath, U.S. National Parks Service, Cuyahoga Valley National Park; Curt P. Wagner, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife; Ramsey A. S. Langford, Summit Metro Parks; Eric Waits, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development; Daniel J. Sullivan, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development; Marc A. Mills, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development; Nick Barkowski, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; David M. Walters, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center

ABSTRACT: Fragmented aquatic systems are ubiquitous across the globe. Dams and other water control structures represent significant barriers to fish passage. In many countries, these structures represent ageing infrastructure which no longer serve their original function prompting an accelerated dam removal period. In the U.S., nearly 1200 dams have been removed in the last two decades. Dam removals serve multiple functions such as securing public safety by removing failing infrastructure, defragmenting riverscapes, and restoring the natural aesthetics of the river. Additionally, removals offer an opportunity to inform conservation science and community recovery in reconnected systems. The Cuyahoga River, infamous for catching fire and one of the driving forces that established the Environmental Protection Agency, has undergone several dam removals since 2006. One of the last remaining dams, constructed in 1913, is slated to be fully removed by 2026. To empirically assess fish community response to current and future restoration efforts we established 12 sites on the Cuyahoga River. We electrofished each site four times annually from 2022 to 2024 following methods of the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA). OEPA data was consistently collected on a 5- to 7-year cycle throughout the river and enabled us to directly compare historical assemblages (1987-2017) to more contemporary periods (2022-present). At the time of writing, we have collected over 20,000 fish and representing 60 species. We used ordination analyses, Bray-Curtis distances, and trajectory analyses to link disturbance events with community changes. The best predictor of community changes were dam removals followed by environmental variables such as river discharge. Other community metrics (diversity and richness) and trajectory analysis suggests communities downstream of the Gorge Dam, and with direct access to Lake Erie, are in a dynamic state. These baseline community data are critical to evaluate effectiveness of small and large restoration projects such as dam removals.

Speakers

Matthew Acre

Research Fisheries Biologist, USGS

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

S-02: Connecting the Dots: Addressing Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation Across the Midwest

2:20pm CST

S-03: CWD: Exploring Landowners’ Support for CWD Management in Illinois

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Eric M. Walberg, Illinois Natural History Survey; Brent D. Williams, Illinois Natural History Survey; Lauren J. Stephens, Illinois Natural History Survey; Craig A. Miller, Illinois Natural History Survey

ABSTRACT: Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible neurological disease that is fatal to deer species and has significant environmental, cultural, and economic impacts. Numerous studies have examined support for CWD management among hunters and public, though few have examined landowners’ perspective on CWD management. Understanding Illinois landowners’ beliefs about CWD is important as 97% of land in Illinois is privately owned and landowners’ participation is necessary for CWD management to be effective. We examined the impact of hunting participation on landowners’ beliefs about CWD management, perceived risk from CWD, and trust in the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) to manage CWD. During 2024, a mail-based questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 5,000 landowners who own a contiguous property of 50 or more acres in Illinois. We received 1,524 questionnaires for a 32% response rate. Most landowners (59%) were not deer hunters, and most respondents (89%) earned an income from the private property that they own. Most (79%) landowners thought there was slight or no risk of becoming ill from CWD, though hunters perceived a significantly higher risk from CWD than non-hunters (t = -3.03, p = 0.002). Landowners were most concerned with the impact of CWD on the health of the deer population in Illinois and CWD spreading throughout the entire deer herd in Illinois, though non-hunters were significantly less concerned about the impacts of CWD than hunters. Landowners trusted the IDNR to manage CWD in Illinois and there was no significant difference between hunters and non-hunters. Landowners believed that the IDNR’s management actions have been somewhat effective, and there was no significant difference in beliefs between hunters and non-hunters except regarding use of sharpshooting to supplement hunting (t = 2.00, p = .046). Our research suggests hunting participation impacts landowners’ beliefs about the impacts of CWD and support for some management actions in Illinois.

Speakers

Eric Walberg

Human Dimensions Research Coordinator, Illinois Natural History Survey

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

2:20pm CST

S-04: The Meramec River Brown Trout Dilemma - a Case Study of a Missouri Ozark Stream's Salmonid Management

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Jen Girondo, MO Dept of Conservation

ABSTRACT: The Meramec River in eastern Missouri is a north-flowing Ozark stream that has a section that is heavily influenced by ground-water contributions from a major spring, which provides limited salmonid habitat. In the riverine section which is fed by both spring branch and Ozark stream discharges, Brown Trout were introduced, a put-grow-and-take fishery was established, and has been enjoyed by anglers since the 1980s. Brown trout annual survival post-stocking has declined in recent years and several management strategies have been adjusted trying to regain some of the fisheries' previous success. Efforts have included adjusting rearing and stocking strategies, movement and mortality investigations, and ongoing water temperature evaluations. The issues facing this fishery are many, and climate change appears to be threatening its limit habitat. This presentation will provide an overview of past research efforts, results, and future management direction for this unique type of salmonid habitat.

Speakers

Jen Girondo

Fisheries Management Biologist, DEPT OF CONSERVATION

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

2:20pm CST

S-05: The Power of Partnerships in Advancing Coldwater Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Michael Siepker, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: In northeast Iowa, there are numerous opportunities for aquatic conservation, particularly with over 500 miles of streams that provide habitat for coldwater aquatic communities. Many of these streams are located on private property and could greatly benefit from improvements to riparian and instream habitats. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) collaborates with landowners, conservation groups, and other government agencies to enhance public fishing access to coldwater streams through voluntary agreements or easement acquisitions. Additionally, efforts are made to protect and enhance water quality and stream habitat by establishing conservation easements along streams, reshaping streambanks to reduce pollutants entering the streams, and installing instream habitat for fishes. Each opportunity necessitates a unique approach to secure funding, develop the work plan, and successfully execute the project. Since 2019, the Iowa DNR has effectively partnered with various stakeholders and invested about $4 million into Iowa coldwater conservation efforts.

Speakers

Mike Siepker

Fisheries Supervisor, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

2:20pm CST

S-06:Monitoring the Ecological Response to Restoration Treatments in the Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project of the Mark Twain National Forest

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Elizabeth Yohe, U.S. Forest Service - Eastern Region; Kyle Steele, U.S. Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest; Mike Leahy, Missouri Department of Conservation; Brian Davidson, U.S. Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest; Rebecca Landewe, U.S. Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest; Jason Stevens, U.S. Forest Service - Eastern Region; Greg Nowacki, U.S. Forest Service - Eastern Region

ABSTRACT: The Missouri Pine-Oak Woodlands Restoration Project (MOPWR) on the Mark Twain National Forest (MTNF) is one of 17 currently funded projects across the country supported by the U.S. Forest Service Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Project (CFLRP). The project aims to restore mixed shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata)-oak (Quercus spp.) woodlands that have historically dominated this landscape. Alongside other methods, the Community Health Index (CHI) assessment was utilized to monitor restoration progress and results in this landscape. Our monitoring data suggests that we are moving selected restoration units toward more ecological functionality. However, uncertainty remains as to whether or not reference conditions are attainable, given modern-day concerns and obstacles.

Speakers

Elizabeth Yohe

Ecologist, US Forest Service

Monday January 20, 2025 2:20pm - 2:40pm CST
TBA

S-06: Restoring and Reconstructing Endangered Ecosystems in Missouri: Case Studies of Prairie/Savanna/Woodland and Wetland Natural Communities

2:40pm CST

Fisheries Track: First occurrence of American Brook Lamprey (Lethenteron appendix) in the Cuyahoga River, OH

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Zane McAdams, U.S. Geological Survey; Dustin Broaddus, U.S. Geological Survey; Ryan Trimbath, U.S. National Parks Service; Eric Waits, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Marc Mills, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Alexander V. Catalano, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Matthew R. Acre, U.S. Geological Survey

ABSTRACT: The Cuyahoga River watershed was designated as an Area of Concern by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1987. Of the original nine Beneficial Use Impairments (BUIs), five remain, three of which address water quality, fish population status, and habitat availability. The American Brook Lamprey (Lethenteron appendix; ABL), is a non-parasitic, cold-water species sensitive to habitat degradation and considered an indicator species– presence reflects good habitat quality while absence suggests poor habitat quality. Though widely distributed, population status assessed at the HUC-8 watershed scale are highly variable depending on local conditions. Since 1984, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has consistently monitored the Cuyahoga River as part of their standardized sampling to document all fish biodiversity in the river. The first ABL occurrence in the watershed was recorded in 2000 in Salt Run, a cold-water tributary located at river kilometer (rkm) 49 within Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Since then, sporadic occurrences have been documented in Salt Run and Dickerson Run, both cold-water tributaries. In 2023, we recorded the first ABL ammocoete, confirmed through genetic analysis, in the mainstem Cuyahoga River near the confluence with a cold-water tributary at rkm 43. We developed a standardized backpack electrofishing sampling protocol in 2024 to explore potential habitat in the mainstem that may be suitable for the species near cold-water tributaries, including the two known ABL tributaries. We discovered the species at one new location, Columbia Run (rkm 41.2), not represented in historical samples. Two specimens were collected at various metamorphic stages suggesting that recruitment has been occurring near Columbia Run. These findings suggest expansive restoration efforts such as, but not limited to, dam removals appear to be resulting in range expansion of ABL, including into the mainstem of the Cuyahoga River.

Speakers

Zane McAdams

Biological Science Technician, United States Geological Survey

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

2:40pm CST

Fisheries Track: Movement of Walleye and Sauger assessed using acoustic telemetry in Lewis and Clark Lake, a Missouri River reservoir

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: William J. Radigan, University of Nebraska; Dr. Mark Pegg, University of Nebraska; Christopher Longhenry, South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Dr. Cameron Goble, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas; Dr. Kevin Pope, United States Geological Survey—Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

ABSTRACT: Walleye Sander vitreus and Sauger Sander canadensis are both socioeconomically important sportfish species in Lewis and Clark Lake, an interjurisdictionally managed mainstem Missouri River reservoir fishery. Adult Walleye (n=136) and adult Sauger (n=82) movement patterns were assessed from March 2021 to September 2024 among four management zones corresponding roughly to quarters of Lewis and Clark Lake using acoustic telemetry. We used a multistate live-dead model approach to assess survival, detection, and movement probabilities. Walleye survival probabilities (mean 85%) varied over time. Detection (mean 81%) and movement (mean 14%) probabilities varied by zone. Sauger detection probabilities varied by zone (mean 58%), and transition probabilities varied by sex, with female Sauger more likely (mean 14%) to transition among zones than male Sauger (mean 6%). Approximately 34-44% of all Walleye and Sauger were site residents, moving less than 10 km from their tagging location over the study duration. Non-site resident male and female Sauger utilized 44-47 km of the reservoir. Female Walleye utilized more of the reservoir (58 km) than male Walleye (45 km). Walleye tagged near Fort Randall Dam utilized more of the reservoir (69-72 km) than Walleye tagged elsewhere (47 km). Exploitation estimates were derived from angler-reported tags and entrainment estimates were based on detections recorded on receivers placed downstream of Gavins Point Dam. Annual exploitation (0-19%) and entrainment (0-5%) are considerable sources of loss for adult Walleye and adult Sauger in Lewis and Clark Lake. Examination of Walleye and Sauger movement patterns and sources of loss enables fisheries managers to focus management on areas identified to be important for spawning and validates the appropriateness of maintaining current harvest regulations.

Speakers

Will Radigan

PhD Student, University of Nebraska - Lincoln

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

2:40pm CST

Wildlife Track: Monitoring tarantulas in Missouri glades: Conservation of a charismatic arachnid.

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Becky Hansis-O'Neill, University of Missouri - St. Louis; Aimee Sue Dunlap, University of Missouri - St. Louis

ABSTRACT: The tarantula, Aphonopelma hentzi has not been a species of concern for arachnologists in North America. In Missouri, A. hentzi tend to inhabit glade habitats. Glades have been affected by changing fire regimes resulting in the proliferation of red cedar in some areas. Red cedar contributes to habitat degradation, making glades less favorable for glade specialist species. Small predators like lizards, and possibly arachnids, can reduce damage to native plants by controlling herbivorous insect populations. The effects of tarantulas on ecosystems they inhabit has not been well studied but they may be important for controlling herbivorous insects. Therefore, tarantulas may be important for maintaining glade habitats in addition to their intrinsic and cultural value. In three central Missouri glades, we have found A. hentzi populations that appear to be much smaller than we expected given population densities in other parts of North America. Partnering with the Missouri Department of Conservation, we have monitored these populations for the past three summers and will be adding new sites in the coming field season to understand if small populations are a widespread phenomenon in Missouri glades. We believe these tarantula populations are likely at risk from habitat fragmentation and degradation, edge of range effects, and illegal collecting. In addition to population monitoring, we have been working on monitoring habitat disturbance, natural history, population genetics, and wild tarantula welfare.

Speakers

Becky Hansis-O'Neill

PhD Candidate, University of Missouri - St. Louis

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Invertebrate Ecology

2:40pm CST

Wildlife Track: Protecting Remnant Prairies and Grassland Reconstruction/Restoration Success Across Missouri.

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Jerod Huebner, Missouri Prairie Foundation

ABSTRACT: Highlight recent remnant prairie acquisitions by MPF. In the last 9 years, MPF has increased its landholdings from 21 sites ~2500 acres to 35 sites totaling over 4500 acres. Much of this is high quality remnant prairie with adjacent reconstructions and restorations. MPF has targeted rare prairie types most recently, acquiring one loess hill prairie and three sand prairies.

Speakers

Jerod Huebner

Director of Prairie Management, Missouri Prairie Foundation

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Habitat Management and Restoration

2:40pm CST

S-01: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Autonomous Recording Units for Detecting Upper Mississippi River Migratory Landbirds

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Nicole Michel, National Audubon Society; Jennifer Fuller, National Audubon Society; Dale Gentry, National Audubon Society; Michael Worland, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: The use of autonomous recording units (ARUs) is rapidly growing in the field of avian monitoring. While in-person surveys are often limited by the availability of trained observers and survey duration, ARUs enable researchers to control survey timing and drastically increase sampling frequency and duration. This improves the probability of detecting species and accurately assessing characteristics such as species richness or individual species occupancy. However, until recently, ARU recordings were manually processed by human listeners, which is inefficient and highly time-consuming. Today, numerous publicly available classifiers exist to expedite this process, but these classifiers still require human-assisted validation to confirm whether they can accurately detect species of interest. We performed a pilot study examining the effectiveness of a popular classifier, BirdNET Analyzer, for detecting 24 different migratory landbird species at the Riverbend Nature Center in Fairbault, MN. Three ARUs were deployed by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources May 11th through May 31st, 2023, for four hours after sunrise. ARU recordings were analyzed using BirdNET Analyzer, with up to 100 random samples per species extracted and validated manually in Raven Lite software as either true or false detections. We then identified species-specific confidence thresholds where we were 90-95% confident detections were true positives using a logistic regression. We detected 21 of 24 migratory landbird species, and identified 14 species-specific thresholds for migratory landbirds in Minnesota. Overall, we found that BirdNET Analyzer with human validation was highly effective for remotely monitoring avian species in this region. These findings provide valuable insight for monitoring migratory landbirds in the Upper Mississippi River, as well as for designing effective ARU study designs for a variety of seasons and habitats.

Speakers

Nicole Michel

Director of Quantitative Science, National Audubon Society

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

2:40pm CST

S-02: Moxostoma Migratory Movements during Restoration Efforts in the Cuyahoga River, OH

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Sophia M. Bonjour, U.S. Geological Survey; Cody G. Bowden, U.S. Geological Survey; Allison A. Pease, University of Missouri; Marc A. Mills, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; David M. Walters, U.S. Geological Survey; Ryan J. Trimbath, U.S. National Parks Service; Curtis Wagner, Ohio Department of Natural Resources; Ramsey Langford, Summit Metro Parks; Matthew R. Acre, U.S. Geological Survey

ABSTRACT: Habitat fragmentation poses a significant threat to migratory species, particularly when compounded with additional environmental stressors. The Gorge Dam, located in the Cuyahoga River Area of Concern as designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is scheduled for removal in the coming years. Dam and associated contaminated sediment removal is a part of ongoing restoration efforts aimed at improving water quality, enhancing fish habitat, and facilitating fish passage. These efforts follow the removal of five other dams along the Cuyahoga River. In this study, we used acoustic and radio telemetry to examine the seasonal movements of two migratory redhorse sucker species from 2023 to 2024). Silver Redhorse (Moxostoma anisurum) remained within the Cuyahoga River year-round, moving upstream an average of 28.8 km from March to April to an area between the historic Brecksville Dam (removed in 2020) and the Gorge Dam. In contrast, all seven Shorthead Redhorse (Moxostoma macrolepidotum) tagged in the river during 2023 migrated from the river into Lake Erie between May and July, moving a minimum of 60 km away from the river and averaging 19 km per day at emigration. Five Shorthead Redhorse returned to the Cuyahoga River between February and April 2024, with most fish moving more than 4 km upstream of the historic Brecksville Dam. Telemetry data provide support that fish are moving into areas reconnected by dam removals in the Cuyahoga River and reveal long-range migration patterns between the river and Lake Erie by Shorthead Redhorse.

Speakers

Sophia Bonjour

Fish Biologist, U.S. Geological Survey

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

S-02: Connecting the Dots: Addressing Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation Across the Midwest

2:40pm CST

S-03: CWD: Decoding CWD Testing

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Sherri Russell, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: Surveillance for Chronic Wasting Disease requires testing for the disease. The landscape of test options includes diagnostic tests, regulatory tests and experimental tests. Various tissue types, live and post- mortem tissue options further added to the complexity of the subject. This presentation will present an organized and comprehensive look at testing options and explain the limitations and strengths of the various choices. The presentation will be aimed at providing information to logically understand the tradeoffs between the test platforms and provide information in a way that is accessible to a wide audience of managers.

Speakers

Sherri Russell

Science Branch Chief, Missouri Department of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

2:40pm CST

S-04: Bennett Spring State Fish Hatchery Renovations

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Ben Havens

ABSTRACT: Bennett Spring State Fish Hatchery in Lebanon, Missouri, is undergoing a significant multi-year renovation, funded and approved unanimously by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) Commission. This project aims to modernize the hatchery, which has been vital for trout production for over a century, by enhancing infrastructure such as a new water intake structure, raceway reconstruction, and water quality improvements. Despite temporary disruptions in fish production, fishing will continue with trout supplied from other hatcheries in the MDC Coldwater system. This renovation not only supports local recreation and tourism but also contributes to the economy, with over 140,000 anglers visiting annually, generating an estimated $187 million in economic impact. The project reflects MDC's commitment to preserving outdoor traditions and ensuring future generations can enjoy fishing at Bennett Spring State Park.

Speakers

Ben Havens

Bennett Spring Hatchery Manager, MO Dept. of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

2:40pm CST

S-05: Conservation Counts: Building Urban and Rural Partnerships to Address Stream Biological Impairments

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Josh Balk. Iowa Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: For 20 years now, the Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project in Cedar Falls, Iowa has worked to implement beneficial conservation practices throughout its diverse landscape. These efforts are to address local water quality issues, including a stream biological impairment (both diversity and quantity of benthic macroinvertebrates and fish populations). Primarily targeting urban stormwater runoff with connected impervious surfaces as well as stream sedimentation from soil erosion, this has created partnership opportunities with landowners from many different walks of life. Through these efforts, measurable progress is being made in the overall health of the watershed. Scopes have expanded to integrate community volunteers, climate mitigation practices, habitat improvement, and more. This presentation will focus on the accomplishments of the watershed project, the challenges along the way, plans for the future, as well as actionable steps that can be replicated elsewhere to achieve similar goals.

Speakers

Josh Balk

Watershed and Source Water Protection Coordinator, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

I am a Watershed and Source Water Coordinator with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. For the last 10 years, my primary focus has been on helping to address local water quality issues in the Cedar Falls, Iowa area through the Dry Run Creek Watershed Improvement Project. This... Read More →

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

2:40pm CST

S-06: Fire effects on plant communities in Ozark woodlands and glades

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Carolyn A. Stephen, Missouri Department of Natural Resources; Jamie H. Ladner, National Park Service; Dan G. Drees, National Park Service; Lauren L. Sullivan, Michigan State University

ABSTRACT: This abstract was previously published in the journal Fire Ecology.
Citation: Stephen, C.A., Drees, D.G., Ladner, J.H., Sullivan, L.L. Fire effects on plant communities in Ozark woodlands and glades. Fire Ecology 20, 70 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s42408-024-00299-3
Background: Decades of fire suppression caused drastic changes to community structure and composition across ecosystems, including in Ozark woodlands in Missouri, United States. Reintroducing fire can restore ground flora by reducing midstory tree density, increasing ground layer light, and reducing leaf litter accumulation, but we lack a clear understanding of how these effects vary across time and space. We investigated the effects of repeated prescribed fire on ground flora species richness, floristic quality, abundance, community composition, and stand structure over 20 years in a landscape matrix of dry-mesic woodlands, dry woodlands, and glades using data collected from the Ozark National Scenic Riverways Fire Effects Monitoring program in the Current River Watershed in the Missouri Ozarks.
Results: We found that fire plays a key role in driving community structure and dynamics across community types, although with varying levels of intensity. Herbaceous species richness, abundance, and floristic quality index increased across all community types, while mean coefficient of conservatism decreased. Abundance and floristic quality effects were stronger in drier sites. Community composition changed with successive burns, resulting in several indicator species for post burn treatments. The density of midstory trees declined across community types with repeated fire. The number of burns significantly affected overstory tree density overall, but overstory tree density only declined in dry woodlands and glades and not in dry-mesic woodlands.
Conclusions: Our results suggest that landscape fire shapes plant community structure and dynamics. Specifically, these findings show that fire effects vary among community types and suggest that land managers should consider landscape heterogeneity in fire application for restoration. Separate community types imbedded in the same landscape may respond to fire differently. Understanding repeated fire effects over several decades across multiple community types is critical to informing fire-driven woodland restoration across landscape scales.

Speakers

Carrie Stephen

Natural Resource Ecologist, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Monday January 20, 2025 2:40pm - 3:00pm CST
TBA

S-06: Restoring and Reconstructing Endangered Ecosystems in Missouri: Case Studies of Prairie/Savanna/Woodland and Wetland Natural Communities

3:00pm CST

Coffee Break

Monday January 20, 2025 3:00pm - 3:20pm CST

TBA

Monday January 20, 2025 3:00pm - 3:20pm CST
TBA

Coffee Break

3:20pm CST

Fisheries Track: Environmental changes lead to reduced Walleye production in Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Thomas S. Jones, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Mark Luehring, Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Council
Heidi Rantala, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
John M. Hoenig, Virginia Institute of Marine Sciences
Patrick J. Schmalz, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: Abundance of Walleye in Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota, has decreased since the 1990s. Two important environmental changes likely contributed to these declines. First, water clarity increased abruptly in the mid-1990s and increased clarity continues through the present day. Second, zebra mussels and spiny waterflea invaded in the late 2000’s, leading to a 90% reduction in zooplankton. Efforts to rebuild the stock through low harvest since 2013 have met with limited success. This study used multiple approaches to compare Walleye productivity changes associated with three time periods (pre-water clarity, post-water clarity, and post-invasive species). First, we estimated annual harvestable surpluses by summing Walleye fishing mortality and the resultant change in population size estimated from statistical catch-at-age models. These data were fit to surplus production models making various assumptions about the shape of the sustainable yield curve. Second, we estimated total annual Walleye production using an instantaneous growth model. All models showed reduced production after each ecological event. Recognition of reduced productivity may have ramifications for future Walleye management in Mille Lacs Lake.

Speakers

Tom Jones

Treaty Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

3:20pm CST

Fisheries Track: Spatial and temporal resource use of the Upper Mississippi River

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Shaley Valentine, Aquatic Ecology Lab, Ohio State University

ABSTRACT: River theory suggests predictable changes in biological resource availability occurs when the river’s physical structure shifts. However, little empirical evidence exists to know if river theories can predict shifts in resource use along environmental gradients and better understand the macrosystem structuring of difficult to study large rivers. Here, I quantified the prey and habitat use of eight native species across space and time using trace element, stable isotope, and diet analyses in the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). The UMRS varies in its physical structure from homogenous and complex in the upper reaches to (Pools 4, 8, 13) to physically simple and disparate in the lower reaches (Pool 26, the Open River reach, and the La Grange Pool of the Illinois River), and I expected the resource use of fishes to follow this complexity pattern. At the smallest scale, diets of predatory fishes were homogenous in the physically similar upper reaches. At a seasonal scale, contrary to expectations, resource use breadth increased and isotopic overlap decreased from upstream to downstream. And at life-long scales, fish more often originated from tributaries and other river reaches than the mainstem river moving downstream. Combined, these data suggest that the physical environment of the UMRS affects the habitat and prey use of native fishes. These results follow different riverine theories depending on scale: physically homogenous reaches exhibited similar resource use (Serial Discontinuity Concept) and physically disparate research exhibited stark contrasts in resource use (River Continuum Concept or Riverine Ecosystem Synthesis). Regarding macrosystem structuring, these stark differences suggest the upper and lower reaches of the UMRS have different ecosystem structures and functions and that management of this system should occur at both local and system-wide scales.

Speakers

Shaley Valentine

Post Doctoral Researcher, Ohio State University

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

3:20pm CST

Wildlife Track: Habitat Features and the Presence of Coyotes Cause the Greatest Shifts in Mammal Diel Activity

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Nathan J. Proudman, Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Maximilian L. Allen, Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

ABSTRACT: The ability of animals to plasticly adjust their diel activity has important implications for their persistence and the structure of food webs. While many studies have examined diel activity in mammals, few have compared multiple abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic variables to determine what factors have the strongest effects on sympatric species within a system. Understanding the bounds of variation in behavior is vital to accurately determine the effects of environmental stressors on the diel activity of wildlife. We quantified shifts in diel activity among nine sympatric mammal species using camera traps across Illinois. We found biotic variables to be responsible for the greatest average shifts in diel activity across all mammal species (Δ=16.8%). Domestic cats (Felis catus; Δ=25.7%), red foxes (Vulpes vulpes; Δ=25.2%), bobcats (Lynx rufus; Δ=20.7%), and striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis; Δ=19.3%) exhibited the most behavioral plasticity of our focal species, suggesting contrasting behavioral strategies to the variables we tested. Decreased diurnal activity in more open habitat types by multiple species likely reflects the anthropogenic fear effects in the human-dominated landscape of Illinois, while urban environments may act as spatio-temporal refuges from coyotes (Canis latrans) for subordinate mesocarnivores. Our study shows that a broad range of factors contribute to variation in mammal diel activity, which can in turn affect the predatory and competitive pressures among sympatric species, with the potential for cascading effects across multiple trophic levels. Our study provides a robust baseline for the diel variation in mammal activity, allowing for more accurate assessments of their behavior.

Speakers

Nathan Proudman

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Mammal Ecology and Management

3:20pm CST

Wildlife Track: The Role of Extralimital Exploration in Avian Range Expansion

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Wendy Dorman, University of Illinios Urbana Champaign
Michael P. Ward, University of Illinios Urbana Champaign
Kirk Stodola, Illinois Natural History Survey

ABSTRACT: While many studies state that they expect birds in North America to shift their ranges north, little attention has been paid to which species will move and the mechanism by which ranges shift. Extralimital occurrences involve individuals occurring outside of their species’ core breeding distribution. The probability of extralimital occurrences may be used to infer the potential of a species to expand their range, while the location of extralimital occurrences could indicate potential areas where the range may expand. Combining eBird data, spatial modeling, and pattern analysis, I investigated range plasticity via extralimital occurrences of migrants north of their breeding distributions in the Midwest. Using dynamic occupancy modeling we predicted the likelihood of a given species to expand its range into particular areas and examined the relationship between predicted colonization and realized range shifts. We will discuss the potential for these metrics to be incorporated into an index of range plasticity.

Speakers

Wendy Dorman

PhD Student, University of Illinois

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Avian Ecology and Management

3:20pm CST

S-01: A framework to facilitate habitat conservation for marsh birds in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Michael Monfils, Michigan Natural Features Inventory; Rachael Pierce, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Kaitlin Barnes, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Stephanie Bielke, Great Lakes Audubon; Dani Fegan, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Auriel Fournier, Illinois Natural History Survey; Erin Giese, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay; Doug Gorby, Upper Mississippi/Great Lakes Joint Venture; Andrew Hinickle, Great Lakes Audubon; Kristin Malone, SUNY Brockport; Kali Rush, Ducks Unlimited; Brendan Shirkey, Winous Point Marsh Conservancy; Ben Williams, Illinois Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: Secretive marsh birds, such as grebes, rails, and bitterns, have received increased attention from the conservation community in recent decades due to declining populations, resulting in several species being identified as endangered and threatened at state levels and species of greatest conservation need in state wildlife action plans. Despite increased concern for these species, conservation activities targeting secretive marsh birds has been limited in the Midwest and Great Lakes regions. To meet objectives for these species identified in regional and state conservation plans, greater communication, coordination, and collaboration among partners is needed to overcome barriers hindering marsh bird habitat conservation. With support from the Upper Mississippi / Great Lakes Joint Venture, a group of partners began work in early 2023 to create a framework that would provide the information and tools needed to deliver increased conservation activity for marsh birds. We will describe the process used to develop the framework and give an overview of the resulting vision, mission, goals, objectives, and strategies. We will also provide details on our plans for implementation, highlight current activities, and describe opportunities for people to get involved.

Speakers

Michael Monfils

Director, MIchigan Natural Features Inventory

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

3:20pm CST

S-02: Can We Have Our Cake and Eat It to? Retrofitting an Aging Urban Dam for Multiuse, Including Recreation and Fish Passage.

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Don Pereira, HDR Inc.; Cory Gieseke, HDR Inc.; Joe Dvorak, HDR Inc.; Riley Adams, Calibre Engineering; Ben Nelson, City of Anoka; Chris Lord, Anoka Soil and Water Conservation District; Martin Weber, HDR Inc.

ABSTRACT: The Rum River in Minnesota is a tributary to the Mississippi River. It flows out of Mille Lacs Lake and joins the Mississippi River approximately 20 miles upstream of the Minneapolis/St. Paul metropolitan area. The Rum River is a significant coolwater ecosystem and is included in the State of Minnesota’s Wild, Scenic, and Recreational River Program. A wooden dam on the Rum River was initially constructed in 1853 to provide power for the early timber industry. After several modifications, the concrete dam today only provides for flood control and a summer recreational pool. The City of Anoka is now evaluating large scale reconstruction/modification and retrofitting to accommodate multiple uses and visions for the community. Candidate uses include hydroelectric power, a lock system for recreational boaters, a whitewater park, fish passage, and safety upgrades. We applied a water allocation model to determine the optimal combination of uses based on the amount of water available throughout the year. Our initial design work indicates that fish passage, a boat lock, and a whitewater park may be feasible. A comprehensive, multi-use system will serve many benefits, and a modernized, gentrified dam will be a key focal point for the local community.

Speakers

Donald Pereira

Senior Fisheries Biologist, HDR Inc.

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

S-02: Connecting the Dots: Addressing Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation Across the Midwest

3:20pm CST

S-03: CWD: Where Have All the Deer gone?

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Tricia L. Fry, Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Michael Tonkovich, Ohio Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: Conserving natural resources requires attention to the insults that aim to decrease biodiversity, spread disease, and affect an ecological community. One of these may be the white-tailed deer. When deer populations grow unchecked, they can have significant negative effects on biodiversity. Blossey et al. 2024, suggests that deer management responsibilities in the U.S. should move from state to federal oversight, as states lack the authority to address the broader spectrum of threats posed by burgeoning deer populations including human health and commercial interests, to mention a few. While we do agree with most of the author’s views on the threats that deer pose to forest ecosystems, the connections with human health, the ever-growing human-deer conflict interface, we believe that deer management is much too nuanced for federal oversight. Moreover, states have successfully managed deer for decades and are poised to continue that role, even as new challenges, that require innovative solutions, arise. As agencies struggle with declining hunter numbers, unchecked deer herd growth, increasing CWD distribution, and a growing list of conflicts, hunters are enjoying near unprecedented success rates and harvest opportunities. This sets the stage for a showdown between competing interests. We offer a perspective on the role agencies have in responding to CWD, deer management, and importantly, conservation goals of a more diverse suite of constituents. This is likely to require altering current systems and thinking outside the box to achieve management and conservation goals. Using a systems approach, we propose that agencies can tackle CWD and deer management using assets and expertise within their agencies and looking at deer management from a one health lens.

Speakers

Tricia Fry

Fish and Wildlife Health Coordinator, Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

3:20pm CST

S-04: Insights into Missouri's Urban Winter Trout Program

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: John Schulte, Missouri Department of Conservation; Andrew Glen, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: Missouri’s Urban Winter Trout Program (WTP) successfully provides close-to-home trout angling opportunities for residence of urban population centers near Kansas City (KC), Springfield, and St. Louis (STL). The WTP stockings have been administered and funded by the Missouri Department of Conservation, which stocks community and agency-owned lakes across Missouri’s major metropolitan spaces. This talk provides a brief overview of the MO WTP, including stocking efforts, and recent insights into the region’s urban trout recent angler opinion and demographic surveys.

Community partner WTP lakes are stocked exclusively through the Community Assistance Program (CAP) which is a contractual agreement through which MDC agrees to monitor, stock, and maintain fish populations within the enrolled lakes. MDC’s WTP annually stocks 46 community lakes, November through February, with over 100,000 Rainbow Trout (RBT) and Brown Trout (BT) averaging a minimum 304-mm. Trout are primarily raised and distributed by state-agency owned cold-water hatcheries at Shepherd of the Hills, Montauk, Bennet Springs.

Continued interest in MO’s WTP has again been demonstrated by urban anglers from across the state through the recent WTP angler participation survey. During 2023 MDC conducted a preliminary trout angler survey on 8 urban trout lakes in three regions (KC, Central, STL) to better understand angler usage, demographics, and inform recruitment efforts. Survey results from across participating regions showed most cooperating anglers; consumed what fish they caught, preferred traveling < 20 miles to trout fish, and KC anglers strongly supported expansion of trout angling opportunities. The survey inversely showed a clear need for better survey accommodations for non-English and ESL speaking anglers in future efforts.

However, there is still a clear need for expanded insight into agency efforts and the processes that benefit and are supported by the WTP, as to help better inform program reach and service to urban residents and underserved communities.

Speakers

John Schulte

Fisheries Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

3:20pm CST

S-05: Growing Relationships for Increasing Wetland Practice Adoption to Improve Downstream Water Quality

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Jill Kostel, PhD, Water Resources Program Director, The Wetlands Initiative; Jean McGuire, Field Outreach Specialist, The Wetlands Initiative; Jason Bleich, Private Lands Biologist, USFWS – Partners of Fish & Wildlife Program

ABSTRACT: The Wetlands Initiative’s Smart Wetlands program focuses on empowering farmers and agricultural communities to voluntarily reduce their nutrient loss into local drainageways and streams through the implementation of tile-treatment wetlands. To be effective at scale for water quality improvement, tile-treatment wetlands must one day become routine practice across the Midwest. Unfortunately, the adoption of this practice has been slow due to several challenges: lack of familiarity with the practice and its suitability for their farm, high up-front cost of implementation, and absence of a clear/direct incentive for the farmer or landowner in terms of productivity or profitability. To overcome these barriers, the Smart Wetlands team has been developing both targeted individual and advisor outreach approaches and strategic partnerships with both conservation peers and ag-sector organizations to reach a range of audiences. Our collaborative, data-driven outreach strategies provide a model that can be replicated in tile-drained areas across the Midwest to increase adoption of wetland practices and other edge-of-field practices for cleaner water.
Tile-treatment wetlands typically are located at the intersection of subsurface drainage and land at the edge of row-crop fields, where they provide a natural long-term and effective solution to the critical issue of ag nutrient runoff, which impairs waterways and harms fish habitat. Typically, these wetlands are located on less-profitable farmland acres; however, the adjacent unfarmable landscape may provide additional site opportunities. The adjacent landowners can improve downstream water quality, while the wetlands provide enhanced wildlife habitat for recreational activities.
A case study from north-central Illinois, outreach strategies, and management tools will be presented for conservation outreach professionals and technical experts who implement practices that address water quality and natural habitat resource concerns. The case study will focus on a tile-treatment wetland constructed on land next to a row-crop field. The project design focused on improving water quality while creating wildlife habitat for hunting and dog training. To accomplish this project, we created a collaborative community of wetland conservation professionals, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, and the Illinois Land Improvement Contractors Association. The talk will outline how these partnerships came together to successfully build both a tile-treatment wetland and a restored wetland for the landowners and to host three individual outreach and education events at the site in 2022.

Speakers

Jill Kostel

Water Resources Program Director, Wetlands Initiative

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

3:20pm CST

S-06: Burn with Care – Challenges and Considerations for Replicating Historic Fire in Missouri State Parks

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Ron Colatskie, Missouri State Parks

ABSTRACT: Following decades of focused fire suppression efforts in the early to mid-20th century, prescribed fire as a landscape management tool faced heated controversy as the concept and its application in Missouri landscapes developed in the 1980’s. By the 1990’s, prescribed fire became a common and accepted practice to maintain fire-adapted natural communities to the benefit of their associated flora and fauna. Missouri State Parks took a leading role in applying prescribed fire to a variety of natural communities statewide and now maintains over 42,000 acres within a burn rotation with nearly 10,000 acres burned annually throughout Missouri State Park lands. Contemporarily, prescribed fire in is again under a microscope as some within the greater conservation community have shared concerns regarding potential negative impacts from prescribed fire to natural communities. Primary questions include burn seasonality, application methods and where fire is applied. This brief discussion will explore steps Missouri State Parks staff are taking and challenges they are encountering to best replicate historic fire processes for the benefit of flora and wildlife in Missouri State Park landscapes. Additionally, preliminary findings from recent research and monitoring efforts to address potential negative fire impacts will be shared.

Speakers

Ron Colatskie

Natural Resource Ecologist, Missouri State Parks

Monday January 20, 2025 3:20pm - 3:40pm CST
TBA

S-06: Restoring and Reconstructing Endangered Ecosystems in Missouri: Case Studies of Prairie/Savanna/Woodland and Wetland Natural Communities

3:40pm CST

Fisheries Track: Evaluating the distribution of fish community production in northern Wisconsin lakes with different walleye recruitment histories

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Maxwel Wilkinson, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point; Stephanie Shaw, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Escanaba Lake Research Station; Joseph Mrnak, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Escanaba Lake Research Station and University of Wisconsin - Madison, Center for Limnology; Greg Sass, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Escanaba Lake Research Station; Daniel Dembkowski, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point; Daniel Isermann, U.S. Geological Survey, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

ABSTRACT: The Ceded Territory of Wisconsin is a lake-rich region that supports important tribal subsistence and recreational fisheries for multiple species. Recently, declines in walleye Sander vitreus production and recruitment, coupled with increases in centrarchid abundance (e.g., largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus) have created challenges for managers in terms of maintaining desired fish community structure amidst changing environmental conditions and angler preferences. Competitive and predatory interactions between centrarchid species and walleye have been hypothesized to influence walleye natural recruitment, notably in small lakes (

Speakers

Maxwel Wilkinson

Graduate Research Assistant, Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

3:40pm CST

Fisheries Track: Macroinvertebrate Assemblages Using Live Freshwater Mussels as Habitat

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Madison Dunlap, Central Michigan University Biology Department and Institute for Great Lakes Research; Daelyn Woolnough, Central Michigan University Biology Department and Institute for Great Lakes Research

ABSTRACT: Unionids (i.e., native freshwater mussels) provide essential ecosystem services to other benthic macroinvertebrates by concentrating nutrients as well as stabilizing substrate. Research has indicated that different unionid species may contribute unequally to ecosystem services which may be particularly important to epizoic macroinvertebrates living on live unionids. This research sought to understand what ecosystem factors or unionid traits contribute to structuring the epizoic assemblage and how epizoic assemblages relate to the larger benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage. Metadata was collected from unionid surveys between 2015-2023 from across the Chippewa River, Michigan USA. Macroinvertebrate and epizoite data, as well as additional data to fill in data gaps from metadata analyses, were collected during the summer of 2024 at 12 Chippewa River sites. Questions we ask include: 1) What macroinvertebrate assemblages are using live unionids as habitat, 2) Do different traits of unionid shells (e.g., smooth, bumpy, size) contribute to different epizoic assemblages and, 3) How does the epizoic assemblage on unionids compare to traditional D-net macroinvertebrate assemblages? This study considered 5 species of unionids. Analyses is ongoing but will include a comparison of epizoite and benthic macroinvertebrate data across biotic and environmental factors, a prediction of the epizoite density and species richness of epizoite macroinvertebrates based on unionid host traits, and a comparison of epizoic assemblage metrics. Overall, we predict that macroinvertebrate epizoic assemblage will differ from the surrounding benthic macroinvertebrate assemblage and will be structured based on unionid traits. Results give insight into how changes in unionid assemblages, like species extinction and declines, may impact ecosystem services and how data on benthic macroinvertebrates can inform this research. This work is the first to quantify epizoic organisms across multiple species of unionid hosts and compare epizoic macroinvertebrate assemblage to the surrounding macroinvertebrate assemblage.

Speakers

Madison Dunlap

Graduate Student, Central Michigan University

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

3:40pm CST

Wildlife Track: Investigating the effects of habitat on the distribution and abundance of Chuck-will’s-widows (Antrostomus carolinensis) in central Texas, their diet across space and time, and insect availability and preference.

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS:

ABSTRACT: Chuck-will's-widows are a declining crepuscular nightjar that breeds across eastern North America. They are among the largest nightjars, primarily sustaining themselves on insects. Despite their overall decline, their presence at Fort Cavazos during breeding seasons appears consistent and widespread. However, limited research has been conducted on this species at Fort Cavazos, prompting an investigation into their distribution and habitat preferences. To address this gap, fieldwork has been undertaken utilizing various methodologies. Point counts, microhabitat measurements, and GIS LiDAR technology have been used to find the reasons behind their presence at Fort Cavazos. Despite the base being subject to constant disturbance, fragmentation, and localized droughts, Chuck-will's-widows persist in the area, suggesting potential habitat suitability amidst challenging conditions. Data collected from two field seasons (Spring 2023 and 2024) along with four years of point count data (Spring 2021-2024) will be analyzed to discern patterns in their distribution and habitat preferences. Additionally, insect availability in the habitat of Chuck-will's-widow is being assessed through insect traps, aiming to correlate their presence with specific insect populations. By examining habitat characteristics, insect availability, and the species' distribution patterns, this research seeks to determine whether Chuck-will's-widows exhibit preferences for particular habitats or specific insect prey. An analysis of CWWI diet is also being conducted through metabarcoding fecal samples to be able to compare insect availability with chosen prey. Such insights are critical for understanding the factors influencing their presence at Fort Cavazos and for informing conservation strategies to mitigate the decline of this species in other areas.

Speakers

Sonia Tomczyk

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlfe : Avian Ecology and Management

3:40pm CST

Wildlife Track: Space use and habitat selection of a recolonized bobcat population

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Ellen M. Audia, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Katherine M. Buckman, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Brent S. Pease, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Clayton K. Nielsen, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

ABSTRACT: Bobcats (Lynx rufus) in the midwestern U.S. experienced dramatic population declines throughout the 1900s due to overharvest and agricultural expansion. Increased protection allowed bobcats to recolonize the agriculturally dominated, fragmented landscape of north-central Illinois, where they are likely using and selecting habitat differently than bobcats in less fragmented landscapes. We evaluated home range size, second order (i.e., home range) habitat selection, and dispersal of 28 bobcats in north-central Illinois during 2022-2024. Mean annual home range size of males was 166.1 ± 99.2 km2 (SD throughout, n = 11) and larger (P = 0.01) than that of females (89.5 ± 119.4 km2, n = 8). Mean annual home range size of juveniles was 273.5 ± 125.3 km2 (n = 4) and larger (P < 0.01) than that of adults (96.6 ± 75.3 km2, n = 15). Home range sizes were similar (P = 0.4) between the kitten-rearing (138.1 ± 155.1 km2, n = 14) and breeding seasons (111.0 ± 102.5 km2, n = 18). Consistent with previous research, bobcats selected for forest cover over other land cover types; locations closer to forest edges, streams, and waterbodies; and locations farther from roads. Mean dispersal distance of 7 juveniles was 65.9 ± 42.4 km and similar to other midwestern populations, with 4 males and 1 female dispersing north, and 2 males dispersing southeast. Home range size differences between sexes, ages, and seasons were generally consistent with other studies; however, home ranges were larger than those of other populations suggesting bobcat space requirements may be greater in this fragmented landscape. The selection of forest cover and locations closer to forest edges and streams indicates that riparian forests along the Illinois river provide important habitat for bobcats and may have helped facilitate their recolonization of this region.

Speakers

Ellen Audia

Graduate Assistant, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Mammal Ecology and Management

3:40pm CST

S-01: Sora and Virginia Rail Migratory Timing and Stopover Duration in the Illinois River Valley

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Auriel Fournier, Forbes Biological Station–Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
Chad Cremer, Forbes Biological Station–Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
Nicole Pietrunti, Forbes Biological Station–Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
Mike Avara, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Havana, Illinois, 62644
Therin Bradshaw, Forbes Biological Station–Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
Chelsea Kross, Forbes Biological Station–Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
Andrew Gilbert, Forbes Biological Station–Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
Joshua Osborn, Forbes Biological Station–Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign;
Mike Ward, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

ABSTRACT: Public wetlands within the midwestern US are managed for waterfowl and other wetland-dependent species, providing habitat for migratory wetland bird species provides the additional challenge of creating the needed habitat at the needed time. While a body of literature is available about the migratory timing of waterfowl and shorebirds other marsh birds remain a data gap. Rallids (Family Rallidae) are members of a larger group of marsh birds, which includes game and non-game species that use a variety of emergent wetlands. Sora and Virginia rail are the most abundant game species among Rallids found in the Midwest. Uncertainty remains about the stopover duration, migratory decisions, and migratory paths of both species in spring and fall migration. Our objectives were to determine the spring and fall migratory timing, stopover duration and migratory pathways of Sora and Virginia Rail.

Speakers

Auriel Fournier

Director, Forbes Biological Station

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

3:40pm CST

S-02: Utilizing the USFWS National Fish Passage Coordination Map and the SARP National Aquatic Barrier Inventory and Prioritization Tool to Assess Stream Connectivity Across the Western Great Plains

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Jacob Zona, South Dakota State University; Tait Ronningen, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Christopher Cheek, South Dakota State University; Stephanie Webster, South Dakota State University

ABSTRACT: Habitat fragmentation is one of the most pressing issues in conservation biology. Restricting the movement of organisms can limit access to critical habitats during different life history stages, reduce population sizes, decrease genetic connectivity, and ultimately disrupt community structure. There has been a tremendous amount of research and management focused on the impact of large dams on aquatic ecosystems, particularly anadromous fishes. However, the removal or remediation of these structures is often socially unfeasible or financially restrictive. Work focusing on smaller, more abundant barriers to aquatic organism passage (e.g. culverts, low-head dams) has increased in recent years. Considering the wide geographic scope of this issue and the enormous number of potential barriers, careful consideration needs to be taken on where best to focus limited financial resources. As more stakeholders begin working in watershed connectivity, coordination between partners becomes increasingly important. Multiple resources available to managers have been recently developed to aid in this prioritization and coordination. We utilized the USFWS National Fish Passage Coordination Map and the SARP National Aquatic Barrier Inventory and Prioritization Tool to help us more effectively assess stream connectivity across the western Great Plains in partnership with the BLM. Using the NFPCM we prioritized 38 HUC10 watersheds across Eastern Montana based on percent BLM ownership, SGCN fish species richness, amount of stream habitat, and coverage by previous barrier survey projects. We also used the NFPCM combined with other GIS tools to identify, categorize, and prioritize potential barriers within each watershed prior to field surveys. Between July and September 2024, 329 potential barriers were assessed using the Stream Crossing Survey and the Dam and Diversions Survey through SARP. Each survey was uploaded to the NABI where managers can now use the prioritization tool to determine best candidates for remediation based on their specific connectivity goals.

Speakers

Jacob Zona

Research Associate, South Dakota State University

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

S-02: Connecting the Dots: Addressing Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation Across the Midwest

3:40pm CST

S-03: CWD: CWD Hunter Harvest Initiative

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Hudman Deborah, MDC; Jason Isabelle, MDC; Aaron Hildreth, MDC

ABSTRACT: Management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is critical to slow the spread of the disease and to protect Missouri’s white-tailed deer population. However, enacting the management is expensive, very demanding of staffing resources, and controversial with some members of the public.

As CWD expands in Missouri, it strains resources needed to manage the disease and necessitates the exploration of new management alternatives. The Missouri Department of Conservation’s (MDC) CWD Hunter Harvest Initiative aims to increase deer harvest during the regular hunting season in select areas where CWD has been found to reduce or eliminate the need to conduct post-season targeted removal efforts which are very labor intensive. Engaging local stakeholders in the initiative aims to enhance efficiencies and promote sustainable management of CWD.

The CWD Hunter Harvest Initiative is being piloted in four CWD Core Areas, defined as areas within roughly two miles of a CWD-positive detection. For each core area, a deer harvest goal was established and provided to landowners with property in the core area. Public meetings were held with core area landowners. A public facing website and dashboard were created to allow landowners and hunters to track progress towards the harvest goal.

To count towards the harvest goal, hunters must have had the deer sampled for CWD at a voluntary sampling location or by depositing the deer head in a designated freezer. Landowners were notified if the removal goal was met in a core area. If the goal was not met, post-season targeted removal was conducted.

Speakers

Deborah Hudman

Wildlife Health Program Supervisor, Missouri Department of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

3:40pm CST

S-04: Evaluating Brown Trout strains stocked into Spring River, Arkansas

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Joseph E. Kaiser, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission; Christy Graham, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

ABSTRACT: The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) primarily stock two strains of Brown Trout Salmo trutta into Arkansas’ trout fisheries. Those strains include the Plymouth Rock and Crawford strains, which were considered average regarding hatchery and post-stocking performance according to historic evaluations conducted for the USFWS’s Strain Registry. In 2021, we began a contemporary evaluation of both strains on the Spring River trout fishery located in north-central Arkansas. The evaluation coincides with current strategies used for managing Brown Trout on Spring River which include annually stocking approximately 10,000, 229-mm fish and regulating harvest with a daily limit of one fish over 356 mm. From 2021 to 2024, we uniquely marked all Brown Trout stocked in Spring River (2021-22 = Crawford; 2023-24 = Plymouth Rock). We collected and tagged Brown Trout seasonally (every 3-5 months) beginning in June 2021 to track growth and survival rates of each strain. We also collected data on seasonal diets, water temperatures, and Rainbow Trout stocking rates to incorporate into the current evaluation.

Speakers

Joseph Kaiser

Trout Management Biologist, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

3:40pm CST

S-05: Scars to Shiners. Iowa's Private-Public Partnership to Save the Endangered Topeka Shiner through Oxbow Restorations.

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Brandon Iddings, Iowa Soybean Association

ABSTRACT: Showcase Iowa's unique partnership between public-private organizations and private landowners/farmers to recover the endangered Topeka Shiner. The Iowa Soybean Association, The Nature Conservancy, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Department of Agriculture, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, and private landowners have been restoring oxbows since 2001 benefiting water quality, and wildlife habitats. With hundreds of restorations completed statewide to create new habitat.
Crop commodity groups are helping push conservation in Iowa and having huge success working with diverse partners. Demonstrate voluntary efforts of landowners and identify how farmer driven outreach can reduce your outreach efforts while growing your projects. Show the benefits to the farmers/landowners as well as the fish and wildlife in these ecosystems.

Speakers

Brandon Iddings

Conservation Services Manager, Iowa Soybean Association

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

3:40pm CST

S-06: Native bee response to woodland and glade restoration on Missouri’s state parks

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Ken McCarty, Missouri State Parks (retired)

ABSTRACT: Native Ozark woodland- and glade dominated landscapes easily support 30 to 40 percent of Missouri’s native plant species at even a single site, including large numbers of conservative species. Their plant-dense, season-long floral progressions potentially support equally robust and diverse bee communities. Forty years of conservation effort protecting remnants, applying fire, and managing woody density or composition has yielded impressive examples and many designated Missouri Natural Areas. Intensive surveys since 2016 have explored bee diversity and bee community characteristics across 17 such sites within Missouri’s state parks. This presentation summarizes the findings, to emphasize the important role remnant native ecosystems play as reservoirs of bee biodiversity, and benchmarks that may help pollinator conservation efforts in more developed or altered contemporary environments.

Speakers

Ken McCarty

Director, Natural Resources Program, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Monday January 20, 2025 3:40pm - 4:00pm CST
TBA

S-06: Restoring and Reconstructing Endangered Ecosystems in Missouri: Case Studies of Prairie/Savanna/Woodland and Wetland Natural Communities

4:00pm CST

Fisheries Track: Evaluation of otolith and eye lens chemistry for identifying stocked Walleye

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Joshua Fluur, Southern Illinois University; Gregory Whitledge, Southern Illinois University

ABSTRACT: Walleye (Sander vitreus) is a popular sportfish whose populations are often supported by maintenance or supplemental stocking, with most fish stocked as fry, fingerlings, or advanced fingerlings. Evaluation of stocking efficacy is important to inform decisions regarding fish stocking rates and sizes and allocating hatchery fish to locations where maintenance or supplemental stocking is most needed. Several types of artificial tags or marks can potentially be used to identify stocked fish, but many have various drawbacks. Natural chemical markers in otoliths or eye lenses offer several advantages compared to conventional tags or marks and can be used to identify stocked fish when differences between hatchery-reared and wild fish are present. However, the accuracy of these approaches for identifying Walleye stocked at either fry or fingerling sizes has not been evaluated. Thus, the objectives of this study are to assess identification accuracy for Walleye stocked as fry or fingerlings using otolith microchemistry and eye lens stable isotope analysis. Known stocked fish and fish moved between chemically distinct locations to simulate stocking were obtained from several sources. Results to date indicate that otolith microchemistry can identify Walleye stocked as fingerlings with high accuracy and that the source hatchery signature can be detected in fish stocked as early as three days post-hatch. Results of this study will provide guidance regarding applications of otolith and eye lens chemistry techniques to assess contributions of stocking and natural reproduction to Walleye populations and relative efficacy of stocking fish at varied sizes.

Speakers

Joshua Fluur

Graduate Assistant, Southern Illinois University - Carbondale

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

4:00pm CST

Fisheries Track: Spectaclecase Mussel Detection in the Upper Mississippi River Using eDNA

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Tariq Tajjioui, U.S. Geological Survey; Daniel Kelner, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Stephen F. Spear, U.S. Geological Survey; Diane L. Waller, U.S. Geological Survey; Trevor W. Cyphers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Joseph W. Jordan, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Christopher M. Merkes, U.S. Geological Survey; Colin C. Moratz, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Theresa M. Schreier, U.S. Geological Survey; Bernard E. Sietman, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; Sarah A. Douglass, Illinois Natural History Survey

ABSTRACT: The Spectaclecase mussel (Cumberlandia monodonta) is an endangered freshwater species native to the large rivers of the Mississippi River basin in the Midwest and Southeast United States. To support the conservation of Spectaclecase populations, organizations such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are implementing habitat restoration initiatives along the upper Mississippi River (UMR). However, there are few known populations of Spectaclecase in the UMR, and gathering more occurrence data is crucial for effective restoration efforts. Traditional diving methods are typically used for surveying Spectaclecase, but this species’ preference for sheltered habitats, such as large interstitial spaces and crevices, makes these methods risky, costly, and time-consuming. Environmental DNA (eDNA) presents a promising alternative for monitoring aquatic species, although freshwater mussels often yield low detection rates. A quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for Spectaclecase has previously been developed to detect known populations. Our study aimed to build on this foundation by conducting eDNA surveys throughout the UMR to assess detection rates and locate unknown populations. Between 2020 and 2024, we collected eDNA samples from over 250 sites across 23 pools in the UMR. DNA from the samples was extracted and analyzed using the established Spectaclecase eDNA marker. We also performed dive surveys at any new positive eDNA detection site to confirm the presence of this species. Our findings indicate that eDNA can successfully identify previously unknown populations of Spectaclecase, although locations with documented populations of Spectaclecase sometimes failed to produce positive eDNA detections. Dive surveys revealed that even weak positive eDNA detections were sufficient to locate Spectaclecase mussels. This research highlights the effectiveness of eDNA as a monitoring tool for this endangered species while also addressing the challenges of detecting declining mussel populations in expansive river systems.

Speakers

Tariq Tajjioui

Geneticist, U.S. Geological Survey

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

4:00pm CST

Wildlife Track: Habitat Selection of Gray Foxes in Southern Illinois

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Nadine Pershyn, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Clay Nielsen, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Nicole Gorman, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; Abby Weber, Southern Illinois University Carbondale; and Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

ABSTRACT: Gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus) populations have declined throughout the midwestern U.S. without clear causation. Despite this decline, until recently minimal research has been conducted in the region to gain insight into the ecological needs of a vulnerable population. We evaluated gray fox second order habitat selection to determine which habitats are best suited to supporting gray foxes in southern Illinois and similar landscapes throughout the region. Gray foxes were trapped during November-March 2022-2024 using padded foothold traps and fitted with GPS collars programmed to take locations every 2 hr. Using more than 11,000 GPS locations from 10 gray foxes (5 ad F, 4 ad M, 1 ju M), we used a 2nd order resource selection function (RSF) to analyze habitat selection relative to vegetation cover (e.g., forest, grassland, crop, shrub, barren), distance to forest-grassland edges, distance to forest-crop edges, human development, distance to secondary roads, and elevation. We also investigated the impact of relative probability of use (RPU) across the landscape of coyotes (Canis latrans) and bobcats (Lynx rufus), using GPS locations also collected across southern Illinois. Gray foxes selected most strongly for developed areas, grasslands, and forest, and preferred areas closer to forest-grassland edge and farther from forest-crop edges and secondary roads. Our results support previous research that shows interspersed forest and grassland is important gray fox habitat. Gray foxes avoided areas with high coyote RPU but were not impacted by bobcat RPU. Coyotes are intraguild predators of gray foxes, and may contribute to mortality, which could be why gray foxes avoided them. Bobcats have similar habitat requirements and prey as gray foxes, which could explain the lack of response. Our study provides novel insight into habitat selection of a species of concern and sheds light on intraguild carnivore interactions.

Speakers

Nadine Pershyn

Graduate Research Assistant, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Mammal Ecology and Management

4:00pm CST

Wildlife Track: Integrated dynamic occupancy models reveal declines in gamebird distributions in Illinois and sampling bias in eBird data

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Lauren C. Scopel, Illinois Natural History Survey; T.J. Benson, Illinois Natural History Survey; Maximilian L. Allen, Illinois Natural History Survey; Kirk W. Stodola, Illinois Natural History Survey

ABSTRACT: Wildlife face increasing threats from a variety of anthropogenic sources, yet wildlife research, monitoring, and conservation funding is increasingly at risk. Wildlife managers thus face pressure to become more efficient, reducing time available for long-term survey efforts. One potential way to complement existing surveys is the use of publicly available federal or citizen science data. We integrated data from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), the Breeding Bird Survey (BBS), and eBird to analyze the distribution of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) and Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) in Illinois between 2010-2022. We used dynamic occupancy models and Bayesian methods to track long-term changes for each species, while also examining potential bias in sampling design for each survey type. Bobwhite and pheasant occupancy declined over the 13-year period and were negatively associated with urban land cover. Of the three surveys, IDNR had the greatest detection rates for both species, whereas eBird detection rates were lowest, especially for bobwhite. eBird data, unlike the other data sources, also showed a bias in sampling effort, where users preferentially surveyed urban and wetland areas relative to their occurrence in the state. Our results indicate that intensive monitoring should continue for gamebirds in Illinois, given their ongoing declines. BBS and eBird data can complement high-quality IDNR data, but eBird data especially need additional treatment during analysis to ensure more accurate occupancy estimates.

Speakers

Lauren Scopel

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Illinois Natural History Survey

I am a postdoctoral research associate at the Illinois Natural History Survey (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign). I currently study the population dynamics of furbearers in Illinois using Bayesian methods. My past research has been in seabird population and community... Read More →

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Avian Ecology and Management

4:00pm CST

S-01: Monitoring grassland bird populations in Missouri & beyond

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Ethan Duke and Dana Ripper, Missouri River Bird Observatory

ABSTRACT: As this audience is aware, the precipitous long-term decline in grassland-obligate bird populations continues largely unabated. We will discuss 12 years of monitoring data from Missouri and surrounding states, how these data can be applied to management action, and how current technology can be employed for real-time analysis and data-sharing. We will also discuss practical suggestions for effectively deploying resources to grassland bird conservation.

Speakers

Dana Ripper

Director, Missouri River Bird Observatory

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

4:00pm CST

S-02: Connecting Freshwater Resilience and Barrier Prioritization

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Mary Khoury, The Nature Conservancy; Erik Martin, The Nature Conservancy; Mark Anderson, The Nature Conservancy; Arlene Olivero, The Nature Conservancy; Analie Barnett, The Nature Conservancy.

ABSTRACT: Over the last century, the ecological integrity of most streams and lakes has declined, and now climate change is altering historic precipitation and temperature patterns, further impacting freshwater environments. In response, The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Center for Resilient Conservation Science engaged 60 colleagues over three years to assess river networks in the conterminous United States (CONUS) for resilience to climate change (Anderson et al. 2024). Freshwater resilience is the ability of a freshwater system to sustain biodiversity even as it responds to a changing climate. An integral component of freshwater resilience is aquatic connectivity. Large, diverse, and connected river networks in good ecological condition and with ample, unaltered water are expected to be more resilient because they provide many ways for freshwater species to adapt to changing conditions. TNC’s freshwater resilience analysis results are designed to assist practitioners working to protect or restore freshwater habitats. Available through the Resilient River Explorer (maps.tnc.org/resilientrivers), the two main products are: 1. Freshwater Resilience, a map and spatial database that scores every subwatershed in CONUS for climate resilience and provides users with the component values used to calculate resilience; and 2. the Freshwater Resilient and Connected Network (FRCN), which identifies a representative network of rivers, streams, and wetlands that, if conserved, could potentially sustain the freshwater diversity of CONUS under a changing climate. This presentation will highlight the key components of TNC’s freshwater resilience analysis, introduce the Resilient River Explorer (RRE) web tool and discuss its complementarity with the National Aquatic Barrier Inventory and Prioritization tool (https://aquaticbarriers.org/). While each web tool serves distinct purposes, the two can be used together to inform aquatic connectivity restoration activities that will increase the resilience of freshwater systems.

Speakers

Mary Khoury

Freshwater Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy

Regional freshwater planning and ecological integrity assessment.

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

S-02: Connecting the Dots: Addressing Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation Across the Midwest

4:00pm CST

S-03: CWD: Calculating the Cost of CWD: A Minnesota Approach

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: [presenting] Elizabeth Rasmussen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; 5463 W Broadway Ave, Forest Lake, MN 55025;
elizabeth.rasmussen@state.mn.us; 651-302-5042

Kelsie LaSharr, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, 5463 W Broadway Ave, Forest Lake, MN 55025; kelsie.lasharr@state.mn.us

Michelle Carstensen, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; 5463 W Broadway Ave, Forest Lake, MN 55025; michelle.carstensen@state.mn.us;

Erik Hildebrand, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources; 5463 W Broadway Ave, Forest Lake, MN 55025; erik.hildebrand@state.mn.us

ABSTRACT: The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has conducted Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) surveillance on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) since 2002. Since 2016 different surveillance approaches have been implemented, each with varying costs, benefits, trade-offs, and lessons learned. In this presentation I will detail how we calculate a Cost Per Sample for both voluntary and mandatory sampling frameworks, and how this has factored into determining the “sweet spot” of our current surveillance approach. As the disease continues to affect more areas and resources are stretched, having a Cost Per Sample metric gives us the ability to assess staffing, management, and confidence in disease detection against the bottom line.

Speakers

Elizabeth Rasmussen

Wildlife Health Biologist, MNDNR

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

4:00pm CST

S-04: Evaluation of the Effects of a Slot Length Limit and Stocking Changes for Rainbow and Brown Trout in Lake Taneycomo, Missouri

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Shane Bush, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: Lake Taneycomo was built in 1913 and is Missouri's oldest hydroelectric reservoir. The lake is riverine in nature, 22 miles in length and encompasses 2,080 surface acres. Prior to 1958, Lake Taneycomo supported one of Missouri's best warm-water fisheries. This changed in 1958 when Table Rock Dam, located in the headwater of Lake Taneycomo, began discharging cold hypolimnetic water into Lake Taneycomo. The discharge of cold water changed Lake Taneycomo into a cold-water environment, providing optimal conditions for trout. Rainbow trout were first stocked into Lake Taneycomo in 1958 and brown trout were first stocked in 1980. By the late 1960s, largely through the introduction of Gammarus pseudolimnaeus, rainbow trout were exhibiting growth rates up to 0.7 inch per month. Large rainbow trout were abundant, and the lake quickly earned a national reputation for producing trophy rainbow trout. By 1986, the G. pseudolimnaeus population had declined by approximately 90% and few rainbow trout larger than stocking size were present. This prompted an extensive 8-year study by MDC that led to regulation changes in 1997. These regulations have had a positive impact on both electrofishing and angler catch rates, as well as size structure of rainbow trout lakewide since they were implemented. At present day, 560,000 rainbow trout and 15,000 brown trout are stocked into the lake annually, making Lake Taneycomo Missouri's largest and most popular trout fishery. Additional work is currently being conducted to evaluate stockings of a new strain of brown trout into the lake, including triploid brown trout which resulted in two new state record brown trout being caught in 2019.

Speakers

Shane Bush

Fisheries Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

4:00pm CST

S-05: Insights, Community Development, and Other Benefits of the Watershed Leaders Network

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Beth Baranski - Jo Daviess County, Illinois

ABSTRACT: Residents in the farthest northwest corner of Illinois are using shared learning combined with cooperative and voluntary problem solving to address local water resource management issues. A long-term, volunteer-based effort has been used to establish working relationships between individuals and entities impacting water resources in the county. The collaborative efforts between scientists, local non-profits and a farmer-led group have resulted in a project design that serves as a scalable model for addressing water resource management issues.

Jo Daviess County is located in the "Driftless Area." Bypassed by ice-age glaciers, the rugged landscape is characterized by erosional valleys that have been cut down through this karst terrain. In the Illinois Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy, agriculture is cited as the primary source of nutrients lost to the Mississippi River. The complex hydrogeology and steep slopes in this area make attempts to understand and address run-off and nutrient loss issues difficult. However, much work has been done to establish the character and function of the hydrogeology and to quantify the anthropomorphic impact on both surface and ground water quality.

Inspired and supported by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services Watershed Leaders Network/Fishers and Farmers Partnership, a farmer-led group was formed in the Galena area to work on water resource management issues. There has been a movement in the agricultural community to pursue the resolution of water quality issues, but it seems clear that the best conversations take place on this topic when "soil health" is the focus. The potential environmental benefits have increased dramatically, and improved dialogue has resulted in many unanticipated social benefits.

Speakers

Beth Baranski

Jo Daviess County Soil & Water Health Coalition

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

4:00pm CST

S-06: Renovating Duck Creek CA: An Integrated Approach

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Frank Nelson, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: The wetlands in southeastern Missouri have a long history of alteration. Since the 1950’s, Duck Creek Conservation Area has been managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation to provide wetland habitat for waterfowl and other wetland dependent species within this altered landscape. Over time our philosophy of wetland management, the implications of infrastructure design, and the interaction of natural features has evolved. Based on a hydrogeomorphic assessment of the larger Mingo basin surrounding Duck Creek we identified the four following objectives to renovate the aging wetland management area: 1) restore natural water flow patterns where possible, 2) mimic natural water regimes, 3) restore natural vegetation communities, and 4) accommodate public uses that are consistent with resource objectives. A multi-disciplined team of biologists and engineers used a basin wide digital elevation model, aerial photos, and field observations to examine the landscape features and identify opportunities to restore wetland system processes to achieve these objectives. These steps have reduced several chronic management challenges, increased the wetland habitat diversity, and enhanced the wetland function of the area. Following construction, we've been able to document the responses of both aquatic and avian communities through the annual cycle and periods of flood connectivity. The collaborative approach and incorporation of system processes into the renovation have benefited Duck Creek Conservation Area.

Speakers

Frank Nelson

Wetland Ecologist, Missouri Dept. of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 4:00pm - 4:20pm CST
TBA

S-06: Restoring and Reconstructing Endangered Ecosystems in Missouri: Case Studies of Prairie/Savanna/Woodland and Wetland Natural Communities

4:20pm CST

Fisheries Track: Addressing the Data Need to Manage Future Change in Fisheries

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Maddy Siller, South Dakota State University; David Coulter, South Dakota State University; Steven Chipps, U.S. Geological Survey; Mark Kaemingk, University of North Dakota; Taufique Mahmood, University of North Dakota; Matthew Maldonado, University of North Dakota; Michaela Neal, University of North Dakota; Ayon Saha, University of North Dakota; Alison Coulter, South Dakota State University

ABSTRACT: Many studies have documented a corresponding shift in fish communities caused by a changing climate. This poses potential problems for managers in the Northern Glaciated Plains where fishing generates millions of dollars annually for local and state economies, and cool-water fish like Walleye are extremely popular. The Resist-Accept-Direct (RAD) framework is a new tool for responding to environmental changes due to climate change in ecosystems where there are elevated levels of uncertainty and variability. The RAD framework allows managers to determine if it is most advantageous to a) Resist the change by working to maintain the current ecosystem, b) Accept the changing ecosystem, or c) Direct the change to shape the ecosystem into a new one that achieves the manager’s goals. For this tool to be used, relationships between current habitat characteristics and fish communities need to be determined. Potential changes in fish communities can then be assessed using predicted future environmental conditions due to climate change. Our objective was to classify North and South Dakota lake fish assemblages based on environmental conditions using a multivariant regression tree (MRT). To create this MRT, we examined current environmental conditions including surface area, fetch, shoreline development index, water temperature, watershed area, and watershed land use. Future research will incorporate predicted environmental change to examine shifts in fish communities. The results of this study could guide managers in determining a) which lakes may be most at risk for experiencing changing fish communities, b) which RAD strategy could be best suited for each lake, and c) identify which lakes could be prioritized for ecosystem management (e.g., species and location of fish stocking, habitat renovations) to maintain angler satisfaction.

Speakers

Madalyn Siller

Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

4:20pm CST

Fisheries Track: Mille Lacs Lake Walleye: Changes in Body Condition Over Time in Relation to Biotic and Environmental Changes

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Levi Suchla, University of Minnesota; Lynn Waterhouse, University of Minnesota/U.S. Geological Survey

ABSTRACT: Mille Lacs Lake is an economically, recreationally, and culturally significant fishery, with Walleye being one of the the main targets for anglers. Over the past 30+ years, numerous biotic and abiotic changes have occurred within the lake and have had an impact on the fishery. This project aims to explore what factors have had the biggest influence on the body condition of walleye, understand the impact of some aquatic invasive species that are present in the lake, and determine the trends and shifts in walleye body condition and growth over time in relation to changing conditions.

Speakers

Levi Suchla

M.S. Graduate Research Assistant, University of Minnesota

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

4:20pm CST

Wildlife Track: Using the Motus Wildlife Tracking System to fill knowledge gaps for priority Neotropical migratory birds in the Midwest and beyond

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Sarah W. Kendrick, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Nicholas J. Bayly, SELVA: Investigación para la Conservación en el Neotropico; Ernesto M. Carman, SELVA; María de la Paz Irola-Angulo, SELVA; Yuly Caideco-Ortiz, SELVA; Stuart Mackenzie, Birds Canada

ABSTRACT: Many migratory landbird species are in steep decline and research to co-produced research to identify limiting factors and address threats across the full annual cycle for targeted recovery remains vital. Funding conservation efforts and research is another challenge for many that requires thinking outside the box. Recent tracking projects across the Western Hemisphere with international bird-conservation partners have been crowdfunded by Missouri birding organizations. Funding support was matched by state and federal agencies to fill knowledge gaps for declining songbird species of conservation concern across the Midwest and eastern U.S., including Golden-winged Warbler and Wood Thrush. Motus-tracking projects have allowed for new data on migration timing and departure dates, migratory routes, and survival at different periods of the full annual cycle. The Range-wide Wood Thrush Motus-tracking Project has engaged over 60 partners across 25 U.S. states and 7 countries via state agencies and international partners, resulting in the largest Motus-tagging project to date across the species’ full annual range. By utilizing the Motus network and leveraging funding and collaboration through partner projects including non-traditional, or often overlooked, audiences, we can build a stronger study design, ownership of the work, greater probability of conservation actions using the findings, and sense of community across the hemisphere for our shared migratory birds.

Speakers

Sarah Kendrick

Migratory Bird Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Avian Ecology and Management

4:20pm CST

Wildlife Track: When, where, and how prey pair antipredator behaviors to natural and anthropogenic mortality risks

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Michael E. Egan, Southern Illinois University; Abigail M. Weber, Southern Illinois University; Nicole T. Gorman, Southern Illinois University; Michael W. Eichholz, Southern Illinois University; Daniel Skinner, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; Peter E. Schlichting, Illinois Department of Natural Resources; and Guillaume Bastille-Rousseau, Southern Illinois University

ABSTRACT: Behavioral responses of prey to predation risk have ecological impacts that can be as great as the direct mortality mediated through behaviors including behavioral state changes and spatial avoidance. Theory suggests that prey choose between these behaviors by pairing responses to risks based on the hunting mode of the prey (hunting mode hypothesis), but prey may ignore hunting mode to prioritize responding to the most lethal predators (lethality hypothesis). Furthermore, prey may respond to the spatial distribution of these risks (risky places hypothesis) or respond only during the periods of highest risk (risky times hypothesis).We test these hypotheses using data from 40 female and 29 male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and two mesopredators (coyotes, Canis latrans and bobcats, Lynx rufus) fitted with GPS collars and human sources of mortality (hunting, roads, human modification).We used hidden Markov models (HMM) to determine whether each covariate impacted the probability of transitioning between behavioral states and step selection functions (SSF) to determine whether deer spatially avoided each covariate. Additionally, we evaluated whether these patterns varied daily and seasonally. Generally, deer changed behavioral state in response to both mesopredators, consistently shifting to slower movement states, but avoided human modification. Spatial responses to human modification varied depending on the time of day. Deer selected for human modification during daylight hours but avoided human modification during the crepuscular and nighttime periods. Space use was most strongly related to more lethal humans, providing support for the lethality hypothesis. Despite prioritizing humans, mesopredators impacted deer behavioral state, suggesting that mesopredators still have important impacts on prey behavior. Finally, temporal patterns of avoidance align with other studies that indicate avoidance of predators is time-dependent while further highlighting the complex push-pull relationship of human modified areas on wildlife.

Speakers

Michael Egan

Postdoctoral Researcher, Southern Illinois University

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Mammal Ecology and Management

4:20pm CST

S-01: An Assessment of Avian and Vegetation Communities on Agricultural Conservation Easement Wetlands in Eastern South Dakota

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Katherine Millman, South Dakota State University, Department of Natural Resource Management; Mercedes Batalla, South Dakota State University, Department of Natural Resource Management; Steve R. Chipps, U.S. Geological Survey, South Dakota Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit; Joshua D. Stafford, U.S. Geological Survey, South Dakota Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit

ABSTRACT: The USDA-NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) works with private landowners to conserve and restore wetlands to provide ecosystem services, including wildlife habitat. We selected 50 wetlands in southeastern South Dakota to survey and quantify avian and vegetation characteristics during 2023 and 2024. Of these sites, 30 were enrolled in ACEP, and the remainder were federal and state properties that served as minimally-disturbed comparative sites (n = 10), and sites heavily influenced by nearby agriculture (n = 10). At each site we sampled herbaceous vegetation, trees, and avifauna. Vegetation was sampled by measuring species richness and cover in 15 quadrats (1 m2) sampled across three vegetation zones (wet meadow, marsh, and open water). We recorded the number, species, and diameter at breast height (cm) of all tree species within 100 m of wetland bank-full boundaries. We used point counts to quantify avian abundance and diversity during four time periods, spring migration (mid-May), summer breeding season (June/July), fall migration (late-August/ mid-September), and winter (early October). Point counts included 3 10-minute surveys at each wetland, with points spaced ≥200 m apart. Vegetation diversity was generally low (e.g., species richness

Speakers

Katherine Millman

Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

4:20pm CST

S-02: Facilitated Discussion - Developing an Aquatic Connectivity Team: An example from the Missouri Stream Connectivity Partnership.

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Eric Rahm, Stream Biologist, Missouri Dept of Conservation

ABSTRACT: We will highlight the Missouri Stream Connectivity Partnership (MO SCP) and other conectivity teams throughout the Southeastern United States. We will share resourecs avaliable from American Rivers and the Southeast Aquatic Resource Partnership (SARP).

Speakers

Eric Rahm

Stream Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

S-02: Connecting the Dots: Addressing Aquatic Habitat Fragmentation Across the Midwest

4:20pm CST

S-03: CWD: Post-Season Targeted Removal Efforts are Worth the Work to Manage CWD

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Aaron Hildreth, Missouri Department of Conservation; Jason Isabelle, Missouri Department of Conservation; Deb Hudman, Missouri Department of Conservation; Sherri Russell, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: Aggressive management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is critical to slow the spread of the disease and protect Missouri’s white-tailed deer population. Post-season targeted removal, while controversial with some members of the public and expensive in terms of staff and financial resources, is effective at slowing the spread of the disease.

From January 16 through March 15, after the close of the deer hunting season, Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) staff work closely with cooperating landowners to remove additional deer within CWD Core Areas (Core). A Core includes the positive section/land grant along with a 2-section buffer.

Through the voluntary participation of landowners in Cores, 4,658 deer were removed across 33 Cores encompassing roughly 2,450 square miles in 2024. These efforts resulted in the removal of 51 CWD-positive deer and lowered deer density in these localized areas to slow the spread of CWD. Landowners removed nearly 1,600 (34%) of the total and MDC and USDA Wildlife Services staff removed the remainder. Starting in 2024, we established removal goals for each Core. The removal goal was met in 20 of the 33 Cores and at least 75% of the removal goal was met in 25 of the 33 Cores where targeted removal occurred in 2024.

A total of 572 free-ranging CWD positive deer have been detected in Missouri since 2012. Of those CWD positive deer, 213 (37%) have been removed during targeted removal while only accounting for 8% of the total deer sampled. MDC’s approach to aggressively manage CWD is intentional and is necessary to conserve Missouri’s deer and elk populations. This past year, over 80% of Missouri’s CWD positive counties had less than 1% of samples test positive. This low infection rate is a result of MDC working with landowners and partners to aggressively manage the disease through targeted removal.

Speakers

Aaron Hildreth

Cervid Biologist, Missouri Department of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

4:20pm CST

S-04: From Rod to Research and Resilience: How Anglers Enhance Fisheries Research and Management in Minnesota Waters of Lake Superior

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Nick Peterson, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: Community science has proven to be a remarkable tool for fisheries research and management in Minnesota waters of Lake Superior. The Minnesota DNR initiated three cooperative research projects that utilize volunteer anglers to collect samples from economically and ecologically important salmonids (steelhead Rainbow Trout, Coaster Brook Trout, Brown Trout, and salmon) to better understand the genetics and feeding ecology of the Lake Superior fish community. Angler collected samples increased the number, as well as spatial and temporal extents, of tissues and diet items for analyses. This effort provided novel insights into population genetics and feeding habits of multiple species, with significantly less resources (time and monetary commitments) from the state. Public education and outreach from these projects strengthened relationships between Minnesota DNR and fisheries stakeholders and improved public support for proposed changes to Rainbow Trout hatchery production, stocking, and management in Minnesota waters of Lake Superior. I will explore the processes and partnerships essential for implementing these projects, the valuable insights gained from involving anglers, and the critical role these programs have played in enhancing the resilience of fisheries in Minnesota Waters of Lake Superior.

Speakers

Nick Peterson

Fisheries Specialist, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

4:20pm CST

S-05: Engaging Private Landowners through Conservation Marketing Shoal Creek Woodlands for Wildlife Case-History

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Rob Pulliam, The Nature Conservancy - Missouri

ABSTRACT: The goal of the presentation is to share with participants how our team used concepts from commercial and social marketing to create what we call Conservation Marketing. As a working definition, Conservation Marketing is a planning, communication, and implementation process designed to deliver value for targeted customers through conservation products and services they desire and trust that benefits the biological, habitat, and socio-economic needs of a community in priority landscapes. By using a facilitated Conservation Marketing planning process, Shoal Creek Woodlands for Wildlife (SCWW) representative landowners developed their vision and mission statements; identified and prioritized their natural resource issues; helped determine solutions to their issues; and ultimately approved their marketing action plan. To date, hundreds of Best-Management-Practices have been implemented by private landowners and millions of dollars have flowed into the SCWW geography. In 2022, SCWW was recognized by the National Fish Habitat Initiative as a “10 Waters to Watch”.

Speakers

Rob Pulliam

Nature-Based Solutions Coordinator, The Nature Conservancy - Missouri

Monday January 20, 2025 4:20pm - 4:40pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

4:40pm CST

Fisheries Track: Assessing Habitat Quality Changes for Cool- and Warm-Water Fishes

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Maddy Siller, South Dakota State University; David Coulter, South Dakota State University; Kaden Ball, South Dakota State University; Mark Kaemink, University of North Dakota; Taufique Mahmood, University of North Dakota; Matthew Maldonado, University of North Dakota; Michaela Neal, University of North Dakota; Ayon Saha, University of North Dakota; Alison Coulter, South Dakota State UNiversity

ABSTRACT: It is known that temperature impacts fish growth and that the influences of temperature on growth depends on the thermal optima of a particular species. This means that the extent of climate change impacts on growth and, ultimately, body length and body weight may vary by species. Additionally, understanding how latitudinal temperature variation influences fish growth may inform planning and management decisions for the future. This is due to climate change potentially producing similar differences to what is already observed with latitudinal variation within species. A common method of assessing fish growth is with well-established bioenergetics equations. However, using bioenergetics equations requires knowledge on food availability. When potential food is unknown, scope for growth (max possible growth at a given temp) can be used to assess potential growth and compare across species, locations, and times. Our goal is to determine how habitat quality for multiple cool and warmwater fishes has changed historically (past 40 years) throughout their distribution. In order to do this, we will (1) quantify how scope for growth and therefore habitat quality has changed in the past 40 years for lakes within species’ ranges, (2) compare how habitat quality has changed across latitude, and (3) compare how habitat quality has changed across species with different thermal optimum temperatures for consumption. Understanding which species have already experienced changes in habitat quality can inform future management under climate change. Additionally, this will reveal what species may be the most resilient to warming temperatures and which may need more support/management.

Speakers

Madalyn Siller

Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Aquatic Ecology

4:40pm CST

Fisheries Track: Evaluating Data-limited Population Assessment Tools for Walleye

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Caleb J. Branam, Michigan State University; Holly S. Embke, Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey; Chris L. Cahill, Michigan State University

ABSTRACT: A key challenge in inland fisheries is assessing numerous lakes across vast landscapes within an agency’s jurisdiction given limited resources. To reconcile this, a variety of data-limited methods have been developed to assess the status of inland fish populations. However, these tools often do not explicitly address the potential for population dynamics, or they make strong assumptions that a given population or stock is at equilibrium. Furthermore, these assessment tools are rarely simulation tested in inland fishery settings to determine their efficacy. Without knowing how these methods perform when confronted with simulated dynamics where truth is known, the effectiveness of such tools remains uncertain. Our objective was to evaluate how commonly used assessment methods for Walleye Sander vitreus performed when tested against simulated data. To achieve this, we developed an age-structured simulation model for Walleye and then evaluated the performance of the following commonly used assessment methods: mark-recapture, catch per unit effort as an index of relative abundance, size-structure indices as an index for population status, and production-based dynamics as an index of population status. This presentation will lay out the research plan for our study, present initial results for at least one assessment method, and touch briefly on the implications of potential results.

Speakers

Caleb Branam

Graduate Research Assistant, Michigan State University

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST
TBA

General Fisheries, General Fisheries: Walleye

4:40pm CST

Wildlife Track: Creating a state-space model to assess the population status of fishers (Pekania pennanti) in Michigan's Upper Peninsula)

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Justin J. Remmers, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Sarah Mayhew, Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Kirk Stodola, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Maximilian L. Allen, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

ABSTRACT: Furbearer management plans often rely on population models to estimate the abundance and demographic trends of managed species. Fishers (Pekania pennanti), a medium-sized carnivore distributed across Canada and the northern United States, experienced population declines, extirpations, and range contractions in the early 1900s due to habitat loss, predator control, and overharvest by trappers. After being granted legal protections, fisher populations have expanded and recolonized parts of their historic range, enabling some states to allow limited harvest of the species. In particular, Michigan has had limited harvest of fishers in the Upper Peninsula for 30 years; however, the current abundance of fishers is unknown. To address this, we are developing a state-space model using age-at-harvest data to assess the current population status of fishers in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (93,600 km2). We are investigating the influence of different sex- and age-specific life history traits (i.e., harvest season survival, non-harvest season, mean litter size) to determine how these traits affect the overall population size and where effort should be placed to increase precision of estimates. This work will be useful in predicting population changes and informing future harvest management of fishers. Based on preliminary analysis of current age-at-harvest data, juvenile fishers appear to be more susceptible to harvest and exhibit lower annual survival rates compared to adults. Given that female fishers undergo delayed implantation and will not give birth until their second year, high levels of juvenile and yearling harvest may be more impactful on fisher demographics, especially when compared to other furbearing species.

Speakers

Justin Remmers

Postdoctoral Research Associate, Illinois Natural History Survey

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Mammal Ecology and Management

4:40pm CST

Wildlife Track: Expansion of Motus in Missouri and the Midwest: examples of local and large scale Motus tracking

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Kristen M. Heath-Acre, Sarah W. Kendrick, Nicholas J. Bayly

ABSTRACT: The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is an international, collaborative network of automated telemetry towers that help track the movements of wildlife for conservation research. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) established its first Motus receiver in 2018; since then, MDC has expanded its network to 40 stations across the state and plans to grow further. The initial goal was to create “digital fences” statewide to capture large scale movements of tagged migratory birds to fill knowledge gaps in the full annual cycles of birds of conservation concern. In the past 5 years, the Missouri Motus Network has detected 48 species of birds and has become a leader for Motus in the Midwest and the Mississippi Flyway. The Missouri Department of Conservation has also established partnerships with state, federal, and non-governmental agencies as well as international partners to tag, track, and investigate the survival, movements, migration timing, and stopover habitat of several species of migratory birds that breed or migrate through Missouri annually, including the rapidly declining Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea). Investigation into Cerulean Warbler winter survival and habitat use has revealed that Cerulean Warblers make within season winter movements, have differing habitat preference between males and females, and have relatively high overwinter survival. These data can be used to direct further research and inform full life cycle models. In addition to monitoring movements at regional and hemispheric scales, MDC has leveraged the Motus network to track and analyze local movements and survival of a reintroduced population of Brown-headed Nuthatches (Sitta pusilla) in the Missouri Ozark Highlands. Results from these analyses can help conservation partners better target management actions to protect and reverse declines of at-risk species at both local and hemispheric scales.

Speakers

Kristen Heath-Acre

State Ornithologist, Missouri Deparment of Conservation

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST
TBA

General Wildlife, General Wildlife : Avian Ecology and Management

4:40pm CST

S-01: Owl and Nightjar Monitoring in Iowa

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Anna Buckardt Thomas, Iowa Department of Natural Resources; Riggs Wilson, Iowa Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: Current state-wide bird monitoring programs in Iowa focus on diurnal species, and many data gaps exist in our understanding of nocturnal birds. Five owls and three nightjars are considered Species of Greatest Conservation Need in the state's Wildlife Action Plan, making the group a priority for monitoring and targeted habitat management. Since 2016, Iowa DNR staff have surveyed four nocturnal MOON (Monitoring Of Owls and Nightjars) routes twice each breeding season. This data collection has been in coordination with a similar citizen-science monitoring effort in Illinois, led by the Illinois Natural History Survey . That Iowa dataset is now reaching an age where it may soon be possible to detect changes in species population trends, but the data is geographically limited, and likely does not represent state-wide trends for these species. Over this time, high annual variation has been apparent for nightjars, with as few as 3 and as many as 21 Chuck-will's-widows detected on a single route, and as few as 53 and as many as 146 individuals detected in a given year across all four routes, for example. The number of owl detections however, have been much more consistent through time. In an effort to learn more about these nocturnal species on a state-wide scale, we increased monitoring efforts in 2024 to include14 routes within our Bird Conservation Areas (BCAs), and will continue to add routes again in 2025, with a goals of conducting MOON surveys all 23 of our BCAs. Our current information sets a base line for nocturnal bird populations in Iowa and has the potential to link species occupancy and abundance to habitat characteristics and management strategies into the future. The goal of this monitoring is to inform management of our BCAs to help maintain and increase populations of these declining species.

Speakers

Anna Buckardt Thomas

Avian Ecologist, Iowa Department Of Natural Resources

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST
TBA

S-01: Flight of Discovery: Bird Research & Monitoring within the Mississippi Flyway

4:40pm CST

S-03: CWD: Facilitated Discussion

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS:

ABSTRACT:

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST
TBA

S-03: CWD: A Wicked Challenge

4:40pm CST

S-04: Community ecology in a bottle: Leveraging eDNA metabarcoding data to predict occupancy of co-occurring salmonids and gill lice ectoparasites

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Sasha Tetzlaff, US Army ERDC-CERL; Aron Katz, US Army ERDC-CERL; Mark Johnson, US Army ERDC-CERL; Jinelle Sperry, US Army ERDC-CERL

ABSTRACT: Detecting environmental DNA (eDNA) of numerous organisms from the same samples has been revolutionized by metabarcoding. However, utilizing the vast amounts of data generated from metabarcoding to predict occupancy probabilities for co-occurring salmonids and their parasites is currently rare. Using established vertebrate and invert metabarcoding assays on replicate stream water samples collected on Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, we assessed ecological correlates of occurrence for eDNA of native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), its major ectoparasite (gill lice, Salmincola edwardsii), and non-native brown trout (Salmo trutta). Gill lice DNA occupancy was positively associated with brook trout biomass determined via electrofishing conducted near eDNA sampling sites, suggesting gill lice occupancy is dependent on host density. Leveraging site-specific molecular operational taxonomic units identified from metabarcoding, DNA occupancy of trout and gill lice was often positively predicted by species richness of aquatic insect orders trout commonly feed on, which are also environmental quality indicators. Thus, high-quality habitats that environmentally sensitive salmonids and their primary prey rely on may promote higher fish occupancy rates, further facilitating the spread of fish parasites. We suggest our methodological framework could be broadly implemented to enhance understanding of factors impacting distributions of co-occurring salmonids and their parasites to support management and conservation efforts.

Speakers

Sasha Tetzlaff

Research Biologist, US Army ERDC-CERL

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST
TBA

S-04: Building Resilient Salmonid Populations with Multi-faceted Management and Research Approaches (PART 1)

4:40pm CST

S-05: The Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) Aquatic Life Monitoring Project in the Illinois River and Kaskaskia River basins, Illinois

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Sarah Molinaro, Illinois Natural History Survey at University of Illinois;
Kristen Ragusa, Illinois Natural History Survey at University of Illinois;
William Nixon, Illinois Natural History Survey at University of Illinois;
Yong Cao, Illinois Natural History Survey at University of Illinois

ABSTRACT: The Illinois Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) is a partnership between the US Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency (FSA), Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), and the county Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) that aims to reduce sediment and nutrient runoff, improve water quality, and create and enhance critical habitat for fish and wildlife populations on private lands in the Illinois River and Kaskaskia River basins. In exchange for voluntarily removing frequently flooded and environmentally sensitive cropland from production, landowners receive compensation to implement conservation practices that support the goals of CREP. Since CREP was established in the Illinois River (1998) and Kaskaskia River (2010) basins, 1,324 parcels totaling 90,000 acres have been enrolled into conservation practices. Biennially, the CREP Aquatic Life Monitoring Project conducts wadeable stream surveys at fixed stream sites to monitor progress towards CREP’s aquatic life goal and evaluate how CREP affects stream habitat, fish communities, and benthic macroinvertebrate communities. In this talk, I will present a summary of conservation practices implemented by CREP and initial CREP Aquatic Life Monitoring Project results. I will also discuss next steps for the CREP Aquatic Life Monitoring Project and lessons learned working with private landowners.

Speakers

Sarah Molinaro

Assistant Research Scientist, Stream Ecology, Illinois Natural History Survey at University of Illinois

Monday January 20, 2025 4:40pm - 5:00pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

5:00pm CST

S-05: The Nature Conservancy at Dog Tooth Bend

Monday January 20, 2025 5:00pm - 5:20pm CST

TBA

AUTHORS: Tharran Hobson, The Nature Conservancy; Shelly Morris, The Nature Conservancy

ABSTRACT: The Nature Conservancy with partners began exploring options for landowners in the 17,000 acre floodplain site known locally as Dog Tooth Bend on the Mississippi River in Illinois. Increased flooding in the area has made agriculture almost impossible and changed the landscape. With partners TNC is implementing restoration measures as natural infrastructure to mitigate flood impacts locally and beyond.

Speakers

Tharran Hobson

Southern Illinois Program Director, The Nature Conservancy

Monday January 20, 2025 5:00pm - 5:20pm CST
TBA

S-05: Working Lands & Resilient Streams: The Power of Partnering with Landowners

5:00pm CST

Invasive Species Technical Committee Information and Interest Meeting

Monday January 20, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST

TBA

Speakers

Hannah Mulligan

Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University

Logan Zebro

Graduate Research Assistant, South Dakota State University

Monday January 20, 2025 5:00pm - 6:00pm CST
TBA

Committee Meeting

5:30pm CST

Michigan State University Fisheries and Wildlife Alumni and Friends Social

Monday January 20, 2025 5:30pm - 7:30pm CST

TBA

Monday January 20, 2025 5:30pm - 7:30pm CST
TBA

6:00pm CST

Offsite Dinner and Social ($)

Monday January 20, 2025 6:00pm - 9:00pm CST

Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Join us for a delicious Dinner Event at the iconic Anheuser-Busch Brewery! Savor a mouthwatering barbecue feast as you soak up the lively biergarten atmosphere. And if that wasn't enough, you'll even have the chance to meet one of the world-famous Clydesdales - the majestic Budweiser mascots! This is an event you won't want to miss. So grab your friends, raise a glass, and get ready for an unforgettable evening of good food, great beer, and even better company.

Monday January 20, 2025 6:00pm - 9:00pm CST
Anheuser-Busch Brewery 1127 Pestalozzi Street , St Louis, Missouri 63118

Featured Event