AUTHORS: Aysah Dondlinger, Alison A. Coulter, Brian G. Blackwell, David O. Lucchesi, Steven R. Chipps
ABSTRACT: Urban and community fisheries (UCF) are often used by state wildlife/fisheries agencies to recruit, retain, and reactivate young, novice, lapsed, and current anglers. Fishing participation has declined nationally and in South Dakota for several decades, particularly among urban youth. Given these recent declines, emphasis has been placed on UCFs to reverse this trend. A primary purpose of UCFs is to minimize barriers to recreational fishing participation while providing quality fishing opportunities that keep young, and novice anglers engaged. Management of UCFs typically focuses on providing amenities and stocking catchable fish to improve young angler recruitment, retention, and overall satisfaction. While many factors can contribute to overall angler satisfaction, catch rates of preferred fish species may be crucial to keeping anglers engaged in recreational fishing. South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks currently uses recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) to produce adult Largemouth Bass and Hybrid Sunfish (Bluegill X Green Sunfish) that exhibit fast growth. Although South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks uses supplemental stockings of RAS - produced fish to improve angler satisfaction, it is unclear if young angler recruitment, retention, and satisfaction are being improved. Objectives of this study are to (1) quantify use of UCFs by young, novice, and lapsed anglers using creel survey information from community fisheries in eastern South Dakota, (2) identify if catch rates of preferred fish species are adequate to keep young, novice, and lapsed anglers engaged, (3) determine if supplemental stocking of RAS -produced adult Largemouth Bass and Hybrid Sunfish improves young, novice, and lapsed angler satisfaction. Results from this study will help identify stocking regimes that maximize young, novice, and lapsed angler use and satisfaction in urban and community fisheries.
ABSTRACT: Unfortunately, little is known about the correlation between the outdoors and marketing. Fishing has always been a quintessential part of society. Over the last hundreds of years, it has become more and more of a social class event. For a long time, the sport was dominated only by the rich elitists of Europe, while peasants’ hand-fished to survive. The more the sport evolved, the more it became marketable. Selling the outdoors remains the biggest mystery to the industry. Thousands of jobs have been created in more recent years in the social media marketing industry with sponsors, influencers, and guide services. All of these industry leaders have had a kickstart to their careers thanks to marketing. By continuing the study of both fisheries and marketing, I aim to further grow my career through an outdoor company or firm such as the DNR. The motivation of a buyer, the mindset of a consumer, and the financial commitment of a great head fascinates me. Marketing the outdoors is more about teaching than convincing like the typical sale. Consumers will purchase every outdoor product imaginable. Knowing this, I want to interview them to find the correlation of what keeps them outdoors and passionate about their hobbies.
AUTHORS: Cary D. Chevalier, Missouri Western State University
ABSTRACT: In 2014 we began a Canada goose (Branta canadensis) population monitoring and management project on the campus of Missouri Western State University. The restoration of Canada Goose in NW Missouri has not only been successful over the years, but in some areas, like on our campus, goose populations were reaching levels where they were becoming nuisances. Geese were increasingly nesting near buildings. Nesting geese would often harass people walking by, and defecate with increased frequency near building entrances and on sidewalks, thereby creating potential health hazards as well as general messes. Our objectives were to 1) determine the extent of nesting activity; 2) map the distribution of nesting sites on campus; and 3) institute a population recruitment control program to help keep our goose population at a level where they would be considered treasures rather than nuisances. During the spring nesting season, we surveyed the entire ~ 700 - acre campus. We used mapping GPS and GIS to map nest locations and monitor nest site activity. We counted and oiled all known eggs with corn oil and/or spiked eggs, then documented hatching success. In 2014 – 2024 we recorded the locations of 10, 12, 12, 16, 14, 16, 17, 7, 6, 10, 9 nests, respectively. After treatment, broods observed were 5, 2, 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, and 0, 0, 0, 0 for years 2014 - 2024, respectively. The goose reproductive success on campus for these six years was reduced by 50% our second year of effort, then by 100% thereafter for known nests. Further, we documented the locations and distributions of all known nests using mapping grade GPS each season and developed a GIS map that now allows us to help our university develop strategies to modify landscaping to minimize nesting activity.
AUTHORS: *Ashley Hrdina, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri, 302 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building, Columbia, MO 65211, Robert DiStefano, Missouri Department of Conservation, 3500 E Gans Rd, Columbia, MO 65201 Jacob Westhoff U.S. Geological Survey, Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Columbia, Missouri, USA
ABSTRACT: Magazines are a key communication media used by most state fish and wildlife agencies for public outreach and education. Species conservation and funding can be highly influenced by public perspective and interaction through these magazines. Yet, no studies have analyzed magazine content to assess the relative proportional focus among a range of subjects and species. We quantified the allocation of magazine page space among types of subjects and species , by determining the relative proportional space allocated among these categories: 1) aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial species, 2) “game” and “non-game” species, and 3) subject of article. We contacted all 50 United States’ fish and wildlife agencies to determine if they published a magazine, then obtained and compiled digital or physical copies of all magazine issues published in 2019 (pre-Covid pandemic). We randomly subsampled 30 magazines using “ImageJ ” software for analysis. Results for taxa specific categories show over four times more space was allocated to terrestrial systems than to either aquatic or semi-aquatic systems. The percentage of space occupied by content in the game species category was 1.8 times higher, than for non-game species. Taxonomic groupings showed that mammals (18.1%) and birds (15.4%) occupied significantly greater mean allocated space than all other taxa, followed by fish (5.4%) and plants (2.2%). Subjects of articles were organized into 12 primary categories; among those categories, wildlife harvest (24.0%) occupied significantly greater mean allocated space than all others, followed by natural history (16.5%) and recreation (15.0%). In summary, the main focus of these magazines was terrestrial taxa and game species, often mammals. Article subject matter was aimed towards wildlife harvest, corresponding to a higher percentage of game species within magazines. Our review provides agencies with an understanding of wide-reaching trends within magazines, and facilitates assessment of intended communication goals.
AUTHORS: Jesslyn Brown; Charles Robison; Jon Dewitz; Heather Tollerud; Suming Jin; Rylie Fleckenstein; Chris Barber; George Xian; Josephine Horton; Congcong Li; Danny Howard
ABSTRACT: Land cover is a high priority data theme within the U.S. federal government and is foundational for many applications. These data are often combined with other data sources to provide a robust structure for scientific study and to inform decisions by managers and the public. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is building a capability for an integrated annual land cover and land cover change framework using cloud computing. To provide the most relevant land cover and land cover change information for the United States, mapped land cover (and derived products) should involve regular production, updating and improvement based on robust research, and validation of land cover and land cover change. USGS has recently released an annual record of land cover and fractional impervious surface for the conterminous U.S. (CONUS) called Annual National Land Cover Database (NLCD) spanning a thirty-nine-year period from 1985 to 2023. The NLCD has characterized land cover and land cover change nation-wide paving the way for Annual NLCD. Utilizing the Landsat observations, legacy NLCD has produced land cover and other data themes at 30-meter spatial resolution. In earlier releases, NLCD released map products for CONUS across nine epochs from 2001 to 2021 (2001, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021), producing maps describing characteristics of the land surface such as thematic class (e.g., developed, cultivated crops, and forest), percent impervious surface, and percent tree canopy cover. Annual NLCD employs a new methodology, operating in the cloud, based on the long Landsat satellite record, various chained deep learning models, harmonic time series analysis, and several post-classification procedures producing land cover through time. The database will have higher frequency and lower latency and will inform users of land change dynamics, including forest regrowth after harvest or wildfire, climatologically driven water cycles, and land use management patterns such as urban growth. An update is expected in 2025. Products for other regions (Alaska and Hawaii) are planned in 2026.
AUTHORS: Csengele Barta, Missouri Western State University; Sonja Weber, Missouri Western State University; Rene Frye, Missouri Western State University; Teri Larison, Missouri Western State University; Angel Justus, Missouri Western State University
ABSTRACT: Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens, VB) seeds were found to produce various allelopathic compounds that influence the growth of neighboring plants. Our laboratory’s prior research highlighted that VB seed coats release metabolites with negative, while the endosperm has positive allelopathic effects. We have demonstrated this effect in various species, including monocots and dicots. Through non-targeted metabolomic analysis of VB seed endosperm, L-Dopa (L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) emerged as a significant candidate among the potential allelochemicals. This study investigated the effects of L-Dopa on the growth and development of Brassica species. Our experiments demonstrated that low concentrations of L-Dopa (within 0.01-0.05 mg/mL) enhanced Brassica growth. Treated plants exhibited increased root and shoot length, enhanced biomass accumulation, and improved overall plant vigor compared to control groups. Notably, Brassica plants exposed to L-Dopa showed a marked increase in chlorophyll content, indicating enhanced photosynthetic capacity. Our findings suggest that L-Dopa, derived from VB seed endosperm, holds promise as a natural growth enhancer for Brassica crops. Its application could lead to more sustainable agricultural practices by reducing the reliance on synthetic growth regulators and fertilizers. Interestingly, the stimulatory effects of L-Dopa were, however, concentration-dependent. While low concentrations enhanced growth, higher concentrations exhibited inhibitory effects, consistent with the typical biphasic response of allelochemicals. This dual role underscores the importance of precise dosage in utilizing L-Dopa for agricultural applications. These insights into L-Dopa's allelopathic effects advance our understanding of plant-plant interactions and highlight the potential of natural compounds in improving crop productivity and sustainability. Future research will focus on elucidating the detailed molecular mechanisms of L-Dopa's action and exploring its potential benefits across different crop species.
AUTHORS: Sonja Weber, Missouri Western State University; Nora Burroughs, Missouri Western State University; Rene Frye, Missouri Western State University; Angel Justus, and Csengele Barta, Missouri Western State University
ABSTRACT: Invasive species often employ competitive strategies as the release of allelopathic metabolites into the environment, which negatively impact native species. Velvet bean (Mucuna pruriens, VB) has been reported to produce a variety of such toxic compounds, such as L-dopa, tryptamines, phenols, and tannins, with notable allelopathic activities, suppressing the growth and development of competing native species, but without any autotoxic effects. Our current study focused on the chemical impact of degrading VB seeds on tomato seedlings. We found that VB seed inclusions significantly altered tomato growth, biomass, chlorophyll concentrations, light harvesting and processing ability, and photosynthetic efficiency. VB seed coat inclusions inhibited growth and leaf development, and leaves contained 30% less chlorophyll than controls. VB seed coat soil inclusions also induced an over 50% reduction of maximum and effective quantum yields and defects in photosynthetic energy processing, with a corresponding shift in energy processing away from photochemistry towards non-photochemical quenching. VB endosperm, however, stimulated tomato growth and leaf expansion, resulting in doubled biomass compared to controls. Plants growing in soil enriched with VB endosperm inclusions exhibited higher total chlorophyll concentrations and more efficient light harvesting and photochemical energy processing capacity compared to controls, indicators for enhanced photosynthetic capacity in these plants.
