2025 Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

AUTHORS: Frank Nelson, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: Biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and climate change are inherently connected challenges. These threats and their potential solutions have both global and local significance. For example, wetlands, which are one of the most productive and biodiverse habitats, have been drastically reduced worldwide. This same food system that has contributed to wetland loss is itself quite fragile, as 75% of global food is dependent on only 12 crops and five animals. Without natural buffers, like wetlands, commodities within floodplains are at risk of natural hazards as the frequency and severity of droughts and floods are increasing worldwide. Finding solutions that are more resilient requires greater integration of social and ecological systems.

Zooming into the Midwest, the states like Ohio, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, have similarly lost the majority of their historic wetlands through agricultural conversion and urban development. The focal point to preserve what is left and make strides in wetland restoration for the past 90 years has been centered around concern for waterfowl populations and the tradition of hunting. Although progress has been made, this focus isn’t enough to offset on-going alterations, continuing pressures, and remaining separation of land and water.

Native wetland flora and fauna have deep cultural histories around the world and even here in the Midwest. Future wetland conservation cannot just occur in remote public places but must also be integrated into lived spaces. What if rather than just providing wildlife habitat, wetland management encapsulated the tending of water gardens? Perhaps by reframing our connections to wetlands, acknowledging overlooked histories, and including underserved communities we can identify new opportunities where diverse food systems, flood resiliency, and biodiversity can be better intertwined int the future. This presentation will introduce the idea of viewing wetlands as working water gardens rather than just marshes for waterfowl.

AUTHORS:  Kathleen Smith, Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission

ABSTRACT:  Wetlands hold immense importance for the Ojibwe people, particularly in relation to nibi (water), connects all orders of creation and manoomin (wild rice), which is central to their culture and spirituality. Manoomin, native to the Great Lakes region, is more than just a food source; it is a sacred entity deeply intertwined with the identity, traditions, and sustenance of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) people.
According to Anishinaabe oral tradition, their ancestors were guided by a prophecy to find “the place where food grows on water,” leading them to the Great Lakes region where manoomin flourishes. The term “manoomin” translates to “good berry,” reflecting its esteemed status. Harvesting manoomin is a ceremonial act, performed using traditional methods that have been passed down through generations. This process involves using canoes and wooden sticks to gently knock the rice into the boat, ensuring the sustainability of the rice beds.
The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission (GLIFWC) plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the cultural and ecological significance of manoomin. GLIFWC collaborates with member tribes to protect manoomin habitats, advocate for sustainable harvesting practices, and conduct research to support the health of wild rice beds.
Wetlands are essential to the growth and sustainability of manoomin. These ecosystems provide important food and medicines. Wetlands also support a diverse group of plant and animal species, contributing to the overall health and resilience of the environment. The Anishinaabe view wetlands as sacred spaces, integral to their cultural and spiritual practices.
Manoomin is integral to various cultural practices and ceremonies. It is offered in spiritual rituals, feasts, and funerals, symbolizing a connection to the land and the ancestors. The preservation of wetlands is thus not only an environmental concern but also a cultural and spiritual imperative for the Ojibwe people.

AUTHORS: Tracy Hames, Wisconsin Wetlands Association

ABSTRACT: This presentation will tell the story of the return of Wapato (Sagittaria spp.) to wetlands within the Yakama Nation’s Reservation in eastern Washington state. Wapato has been utilized by the Yakama People since time immemorial. Past disturbances related to agricultural development and other land and water use alterations, however, resulted in the near extirpation of these plants on the Yakama Reservation. When healthy Wapato beds began to return to wetlands on the Reservation, the return of these plants was unplanned, but not unexpected. The story of how the Yakama Nation helped bring about this return begins in the 1970’s when Yakama cultural leaders called for the protection and restoration of the heavily disturbed wetland and floodplain landscapes in the agricultural portion of the Reservation. During the decades that followed, the Yakama Nation developed a “cultural” approach to wetland and floodplain protection, restoration, and management. This approach emphasized reestablishing, as much as possible, historic conditions to benefit all resources in the locations and proportions that they existed in the past. The results of this large-scale effort on the Yakama Reservation will be shown, and why this approach should be of interest to all waterfowl and wetland managers will be discussed.

AUTHORS: Kent Sanmann, Native Foodways Restoration Alliance

ABSTRACT: If we are to reimagine wetlands as sustainable water gardens, then we are going to need tools, both gardening tools and tools to process the produce. And are the gardens just for us, or other creatures as well? And while wetlands have been lost in modern times by agricultural conversion of floodplains, both agriculture and wetlands co-existed in a symbiotic relationship in the past.
One plant that played a vital role in all of these activities in the past is river cane. Although the plant is mainly associated with the southeastern United States, historically its range extended into the Midwest as well as Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. River cane grew extensively in the original homelands of the Chickasaw tribe and was used by them for a variety of purposes. After their removal to Oklahoma, where it was not as common as it was in the southeast, they continued to use it for limited purposes until today. This presentation will look at the historical uses of river cane by Chickasaws as well as modern uses, including its use in alleviating current problems along the Blue River, the only undammed river in Oklahoma and an important water source for south/central Oklahoma and the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations.

AUTHORS:  Veronica Pipestem, Native Foodways Restoration Alliance

ABSTRACT:  Yonkapin, Nelumbo lutea, is an important part of contemporary 𐓷𐓘𐓻𐓘𐓻𐓟 (Osage) culinary tradition as it still eaten today during ceremonies and other community activities. We have a long, documented history of eating yonkapin and its importance as a food source has been well documented. While it is primarily considered a feast food, its rarity may be due to larger, systemic issues that are related to colonization, including land and habitat loss, confinement to reservations, the introduction of rations and other government food sources, etc. This presentation will provide a brief overview of Osage culinary traditions as it relates to 𐓲𐓟𐓷𐓘𐓵𐓟 (American Lotus), its place as an indicator of Osage food sovereignty, and efforts and issues related to making it a more regular food source for Osages and other Native communities.

AUTHORS: Natalie G. Mueller and Christina Youngpeter

ABSTRACT: The ancient city of Cahokia (900-1350 AD) was the largest Indigenous settlement North of Mexico before European colonization. It was built in the middle of the American Bottom floodplain, south of the confluence of the Illinois, Missouri, and Mississippi rivers. Cahokians relied on a diverse array of annual and perennial floodplain-adapted plants, and created anthropogenic wetlands within the urban landscape. Cahokia was gradually abandoned between 1250-1350 AD, and many archaeologists have argued that either droughts or floods destabilized the food system and caused this “collapse.” However, the drought and flood tolerance of most of the plants grown by Cahokian farmers is unknown. We are conducting experiments with these plants to better understand their productivity, in terms of yield, and susceptibility to flooding and drought throughout their lifecycle. In addition to shedding light on the fate of this ancient city, we hope that our results will contribute to a revitalization of some of these ancient crops. With flood frequency and intensity predicted to rise in coming decades, floodplain adapted crops could provide a low input alternative to the flood-intolerant industrial crops that currently dominate agriculture in the Midwest.

AUTHORS: Cydney Ross, Deep Roots KC

ABSTRACT: Global conservation challenges are viewed with apathy. In a rapidly changing climate, how can individuals and organizations make a lasting impact while outdated systems dominate? Deep Roots KC is empowering Midwestern communities to enact social change. From individual impact to organizational change, outreach efforts are altering perspectives and landscapes in Kansas City, Missouri. Learn about our native landscape initiatives to create sustainable practices at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. See how partnerships with Missouri Department of Conservation and Johnson County Parks and Recreation District have expanded community impact. We’ll discuss programs that have inspired people to reconsider their place in our natural communities and embrace native landscapes across the Midwest.

AUTHORS: Nadia Navarrete-Tindall; Lincoln University of Missouri, Cooperative Extension; Sue Bartelette, LU-Cooperative Extension; Qingbo Yang, LU-Cooperative Research; and Samira Mahdi, LU-Cooperative Research;

ABSTRACT: Native edible plants can be found in all plant communities like woodlands, grasslands and wetlands. In Missouri, there are many native plants that can be consumed as greens, teas, in stews or for flavoring, as Native Americans did before the arrival of the Europeans.

There are more than 2000 native species in the state, and this presentation will provide information on a few that are naturally found in bottomlands and wetlands and can be grown in farms and gardens.

One of the significant advantages of promoting native edibles is their adaptability to various soil and shade conditions. Unlike annual crops, perennials do not need to be replanted each year, ensuring a continuous and reliable food supply. This adaptability makes them ideal for urban farming, providing a sustainable and cost-effective solution for food production that also benefits pollinators. Ongoing studies are done in collaboration with a LU researcher to determine their nutritional value.
The SPC promotes native edibles as specialty crops, such as golden glow or sochan (Rudbeckia laciniata) and cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum), wild plums (Prunus spp.), persimmon and paw paw. Other species promoted for food consumption are wapato (Sagittaria latifolia), a wetland species that produces edible tubers at the end of the growing season. This particular species can be grown in water gardens that can also provide habitat for frogs and other wetland animals.

Through a series of hands-on workshops and presentations offered across the state, the SCP team educates small-scale farmers and gardeners about planting, harvesting and benefiting from native edibles. The SCP maintains three demonstration areas, fully established, at Lincoln University. Here more than 150 species, including more than 50 native edibles can be seen. Workshops include food tastings in collaboration with local chefs.

AUTHORS: Mark Flaspohler, Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

ABSTRACT: Ducks Unlimited’s Agriculture Strategic Plan Vision is focused to help take action in partnership with farmers, ranchers, landowners, cooperatives and commodity groups, financial institutions, corporations, municipalities, and policy makers to achieve sustainable agricultural landscapes. The goal is to provide economic prosperity and healthy communities for people while growing our conservation impact in the highest priority landscapes for North America’s waterfowl. Depending upon the region, watershed, and landscape position, wetlands contribute in a variety of ways. Wetlands are an essential part of these sustainable landscapes because they serve as natural infrastructure and contribute to a range of ecological services including water quality and quantity, carbon sequestration, soil health, flood control, mitigation, and coastal resiliency. Having a diverse set of programs ensures that there are suitable options for producers to value and incorporate these vital habitats and their interaction with the surrounding land and water.

Ducks Unlimited’s Sustainable Agriculture and Working Lands Focus is aimed at key landscapes, their primary resource concerns, conservation practices, and program implementation strategies. This means developing and scaling on-the-ground conservation programs that are beneficial for agricultural producers and waterfowl, while simultaneously providing ecosystem services is also key. Both in-field and edge-of-field practices help working ag lands target soil health, water quality and flood mitigation improvement. Maintaining existing and building new partnerships to target a voluntary and incentive-based approach to agriculture and conservation is also key. Continuing to work closely with producers, NRCS, USFWS, NFWF, MRCTI, State Fish and Wildlife Agencies, Departments of Agriculture, and commodity partners will also be critical in many ways, e.g., driving new public and private revenue towards important program needs while growing wetland and associated habit acres on both private and public lands. Finally, communication of these opportunities, partnerships, and successes by generating and amplifying media narrative around DU’s positive impact on working lands is important to develop DU’s brand that resonates with the agricultural sector and its supporters.

AUTHORS: Zack Miller, The Nature Conservancy

ABSTRACT: With mounting biodiversity and climate crises, there is increasing pressure on land stewards, farmers, and other leaders in land-use to make America’s ‘breadbasket’ more resilient. While there is overwhelming evidence that biodiversity underpins resilience, most Midwestern landscapes remain dominated by monocultures of annual crops, with biodiversity relegated to degraded and fragmented habitats. Designing, incentivizing, implementing, and maintaining biodiverse landscapes for both production and resilience to uncertain future conditions is a major challenge of our time.

In this talk, Zack Miller of The Nature Conservancy in Missouri will discuss landscape-scale ecological health and how the incorporation of ecological design can benefit human health and ecosystem function, undergirding more diverse, resilient, and regenerative socio-ecological systems. Miller will use the Missouri River Center, a new collaborative conservation project on the banks of the Missouri River in Boone County, MO, as a case study for exploring intentional design, co-benefits, cost-share opportunities, and polyculture food production in wetland and floodplain habitats. This ~164-acre project will be comprised by a mosaic of wetlands, alley cropping systems with native, flood-tolerant perennial fruit and nut trees, multi-functional riparian buffers, and amenities to support a variety of educational and training programs. The project aims to re-establish diverse food forests in the fertile floodplain and to serve as a learning and gathering place for public and partners.

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Author: Paul Frater, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

Using living data to inform management decisions is the asphalt that will pave the road to resilience, but what exactly does that construction project look like? This talk is for those who want a data system that transforms distributed data collected across an agency into actionable insights and management decisions. I will lay a foundation for the concept of “living data” by outlining integral components of data pipelines and provide examples of how these have been implemented by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources’ (WDNR) Fisheries Management Program. The purpose of this talk is to look at what an effective data pipeline is and what each part looks like as well as how the WDNR fisheries management program built theirs. Lastly, I will share some success stories for how the data pipeline has helped make fisheries management more efficient and effective in the WDNR.

AUTHORS: Nick Sievert, Missouri Department of Conservation; Matt Combes, Missouri Department of Conservation; Steffanie Abel, Missouri Department of Conservation; Emily Sinnott, Missouri Department of Conservation; Jessica Scholz, Missouri Department of Conservation

ABSTRACT: Harmful algal blooms, caused by outbreaks of cyanobacteria, pose substantial health risks to humans, domesticated animals, and wildlife. Often, the monitoring of harmful algal blooms is conducted based on reported observations from the public or through formal monitoring programs. While this approach is effective in many ways, there are limitations to the scope of coverage and the timeliness of detection. To reduce the harm caused by these events, it is important to both quickly identify active blooms to provide notice to the public and facilitate additional data collection and to evaluate long-term patterns to better identify at risk areas and develop management strategies for reducing the frequency and severity of outbreaks. Remotely sensed data, made available by the Cyanobacteria Assessment Network (CyAN), provides daily estimates of cyanobacteria cell counts for thousands of waterbodies across the United States. With these data, we are developing methods and tools for early detection and reporting of potential harmful algal blooms, evaluating waterbody specific historical outbreaks and contextual variables such as watershed land cover and climate data, and using observational and monitoring data to validate the remotely sensed data for Missouri waterbodies. The next day delivery of this information and the broad-scale coverage of waterbodies in the CyAN dataset provides a valuable resource for both timely decision making and long-term research efforts.

AUTHORS: Alexander Latzka, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Dan Oele, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Colin Dassow, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Zach Lawson, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

ABSTRACT: Muskellunge are the state fish of Wisconsin, are heavily targeted by dedicated anglers, and are relatively large and long-lived. In many Wisconsin lakes, there is little or no natural reproduction, so these fisheries must by supported by stocking. And because budgets are limited, there is a constant need to ensure stocking produces the best bang-for-the-buck. However, evaluating musky stocking events’ impacts on fishery metrics 10-20 years later is inherently difficult, with data accumulating over several decades but at various frequencies across hundreds of lakes, evolving data standards and monitoring protocols, and changing stocking practices. In this talk, we will share our attempt at making the most of these messy and asynchronous—but nonetheless crucially valuable—data to answer a seemingly simple question: where and when is musky stocking successful? We found that stocking events that occurred 3 to 16 years prior to a population survey were most predictive of population outcomes, and used that time window to calculate cumulative stocking rates preceding each population survey. We then used generalized additive mixed models to assess the effects of cumulative stocking rate on musky populations across different lake types and environmental conditions. We are now using these models to recommend updates to muskellunge stocking policies, aimed at ensuring lake-specific objectives are in line with expected stocking performance and prioritizing stocking where it will provide the best returns.