Posters

Avian Response to Natural Disturbance Factors: Woodland Birds at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park. Allen, Otis G. and Allison J. Vaughn. Missouri Department of Natural Resources/Division of State Parks 1659 E. Elm St. Jefferson City, MO 65101  (573)522-3260. allison.vaughn@dnr.mo.gov.

On May 8, 2009, a violent storm with sustained winds in excess of 100 mph traveled across a 130 mile swath of the Ozark Highlands. The wind event, known as a derecho, toppled trees across approximately 110,000 acres in a 20 mile path, leaving a nearly impenetrable layer of downed canopy trees and thousands of tip up mounds.  In the path of the derecho rests Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park (8,646 ac.), which is centrally located in the heart of the St. Francois Mountains. Since 1988, the Department of Natural Resources has managed the woodlands at Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park with regularly occurring prescribed fires, resulting in a heterogeneous mix of woodland flora and diverse natural community types. Paul Nelson’s 1977 Flora of Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park documented 900 vascular plant species in the park’s original 2,396 acres. The natural integrity of the site, documented prior to the prescribed fire program there, remains high following the derecho, with a reinvigorated mixed pine-oak canopy and diverse ground flora. In spring 2011, two years after the derecho swept through the park’s recently burned East Fork Wild Area (817 acres, burned 3/16/09), ornithologist Otis G. Allen conducted a 6 week bird survey to compare bird populations in the areas impacted by the wind event and areas outside the derecho’s path. He discovered greater species richness and abundance in the area impacted by the windstorm compared to the area unaffected by the windstorm. Naturally occurring disturbances, namely fire and weather events, influence not only the woodland flora at the park, but woodland bird populations as well.

A preliminary model for the estimation of weight of Missouri black bears. Altis, Gailene, Jeff Beringer, and Brad Hadley. Drury University – Springfield MO, Cabool Campus, 801 Walnut Street, Cabool MO 65689, USA, (417) 962 5314, galtis@drury.edu.Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), 1110 South College Avenue, Columbia MO 65256 USA, (573) 882 9909, Jeff.Beringer@mdc.mo.gov. 3Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), HCR 1 Box 177K, Eminence MO 65466 USA, (573) 226 3616, Brad.Hadley@mdc.mo.gov.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) were considered extirpated from Missouri by the 1950’s.  Since then, reports of black bears and cubs have increased to levels that suggest they are likely becoming a significant wildlife resource, particularly in parts of southern Missouri.  Black bears are large, wide-ranging, ambulatory and omnivorous animals whose weight fluctuates seasonally in response to available food sources and winter denning habits.  In 2010 the Missouri Department of Conservation began a study to determine basic population characteristics and movement patterns of black bears in the state.  We utilized morphometric attributes of 27 yearling or adult black bears captured in 2011 to investigate the relationships among body measurements (in cm) and weight (in pounds) in Missouri black bears.  We found a significant relationship (p < 0.01α 0.05, R2 = 95.2%) between the sum of chest and forearm girths and weight, and offer the following preliminary model for estimating the weight of Missouri black bears: 4.56(combined girth) – 325.  We acknowledge that greater accuracy and statistical robustness may be achieved as the data set for Missouri’s black bears grows, but contend that the present model offers utility to resource managers in the interim.  Specifically, substantial deviations from estimated weights may be indicative of overall body condition and health in Missouri black bears.  Additionally, this model (or future iterations), may be useful for collecting evidence for use in prosecuting violations of Missouri’s Wildlife Code regulations relating to black bears.

Evaluating and Demonstrating the Effectiveness Edge of Field Wetlands and Agricultural Bio-reactors in the Removal of Nutrients and Herbicides. Bacon, Robert R. Environmental Resources Coalition (ERC), Jefferson City, MO 65109.

This study will quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of edge-of-field constructed wetlands and agricultural bioreactors for their removal of nutrients, sediment, and herbicides from actively row cropped fields.  These innovative best management practices (BMPs) will be used to capture surface runoff from terrace tile outlets and have been constructed in Northeastern Missouri in the North Fork of the Salt River watershed (HUC 8, 07110005).  This watershed is well known for its claypan soils, which are particularly susceptible to nutrient and herbicide transport (Lerch and Blanchard 2003).  Since this is the first year of this study, this poster will characterize the study location, the project objectives, the BMP engineering plans and the study design for this project. 

Currently there is a scarcity of studies that evaluate the performance of the various agricultural BMPs.  Evaluating and valuing nutrient removal efficiencies is extremely important because this information is critical to the development of accurate nutrient credits.   The data collected from these conservation practices will be valuable in developing future planning and trading frameworks for achieving nutrient, sediment, and herbicide reduction goals.  These practices will help comply with water quality criteria; thereby, reducing the likelihood of waters being placed on the impaired waters list.  If successful, these practices could become important BMPs for addressing Gulf of Mexico hypoxia problems and water quality nutrient issues specific to the state of Missouri.  However, these practices will only be accepted by growers only if they make economic sense; therefore we will also demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of implementation.

Natural Treatment for in situ Biodegradation of BTEX and potential In-Planta Measurements. Bartz, Rachel; Jordan Wilson; Matt Limmer; Joel Burken. Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, MO 65401, (314)956-8270, rebfk2@mst.edu.

Subsurface BTEX contamination, usually caused by leaking underground storage tanks, is a hazard to environmental and human health by means of groundwater contamination and vapor intrusion due to its carcinogenic nature. Since trees extract and translocate moderately hydrophobic contaminants, sampling the tree for BTEX can help delineate plumes. However, when BTEX is detected in the groundwater, often times little to no traces of the contaminant are found in nearby trees. A feasible explanation for the absence of contaminant in the trees is that the BTEX undergoes rapid aerobic degradation, often rhizospheric, in the soil prior to entering the tree. The aim in this study was to determine the effect of groundwater level on BTEX concentration in tree tissue. Water level was found to significantly impact BTEX concentrations in trees. The influx of oxygen coupled with the presence of the tree facilitates aerobic biodegradation of the BTEX in the vadose zone. These results imply that BTEX can rapidly biodegrade in phytoremediation systems, using trees planted to intercept and extract the contaminated groundwater. While this hinders plume delineation via tree sampling, the absence of BTEX in trees at contaminated sites provides strong evidence for biodegradation. The use of phytoremediation and natural treatment approaches also promotes restoration of contaminated sites and provides ecological services while reducing risk to humans.

Black Bear Project Update. Blair, Justan, Spencer Lynch and Jeff Beringer. Missouri Department of Conservation, 1110 S. College Avenue, Columbia, Missouri 65201, (573) 882-9909, justan.blair@mdc.mo.gov, spencer.lynch@mnd.mo.gov.

Black bears (Ursus americanus) are becoming an increasingly significant wildlife resource in parts of southern Missouri.  In September of 2010, the Missouri Department of Conservation, in cooperation with Mississippi State University and the University of Missouri began the first ever black bear research project in the state. Personnel from multiple divisions assisted with baiting, capturing and collaring of black bears across southern portions of the state. A total of 45 bears, 27 males and 17 females, have been captured to date. Of the 45 bears trapped, 39 were fitted with GPS- equipped radio collars. All captured bears were outfitted with ear tags for identification.  The average weight for captured male bears was 93 kilograms (range 22.2-216.8 kilograms), while females averaged 73 kilograms (range 32.7-99.8 kilograms).  Home ranges for males and females were 249.0 and 61.9 square kilometers respectively.  Denning data suggest that females are entering their dens during the last week in November, while males begin denning around December 10th.  Brush piles, hollow trees and shallow caves were all utilized as denning locations. Den sites were characterized by elevations ranging from 335.3 meters to 481.6 meters and habitat around den sites was typically early successional hardwoods.

Identifying Ecological Niches Using Historic and Contemporary Aboveground Forest Biomass (AFB) Densities within the Missouri River Corridor. Bobryk Christopher W., Brice Hanberry and Hong S. He. School of Natural Resources. University of Missouri-Columbia, 203 ABNR Building, Columbia, MO 65211-7270, (573) 882-7405, C.W.Bobryk@mail.missouri.edu.

Sustainable forest management strategies that focus on offsetting carbon emissions by maintaining or increasing aboveground forest biomass (AFB) are a long term challenge that requires knowledge of dynamics of biomass. This research integrates contemporary and historic field inventory data, coupled with physiographic covariates, to investigate the dynamics of AFB along the Missouri River (MoR) corridor. The corridor is 106,000 km2 delineated by a 75-mile buffered region centered along the MoR.  The corridor resides exclusively within Missouri, USA, and represents the processing region for potential use in biomass industry. Since per ton transport costs of biomass are calculated on the basis of travel distance and fuel prices, the 75-mile buffer represents a feasible distance to: 1) create positive effect on energy crop financial competitiveness, and 2) signify the most economic transportation distance necessary to make converting frequently flooded marginal cropland to flood tolerant perennial biomass crops economically viable. To determine a baseline reference for biomass densities, the Morisita plotless density estimator was applied to GLO data in combination with a surveyor bias correction factor.   To estimate density for current forest, known densities of FIA plots were used to predict densities with random forests, an ensemble regression tree method.  Physiographic factors included topographic and soil variables obtained from the soil survey geographic (SSURGO) dataset and digital elevation models (DEM).  Contemporary distributions of AFB along the MoR represent an integrated manifestation of ecological niches reflecting the theoretical capacities of AFB the landscape can support under current environmental conditions and cumulative impacts of anthropogenic activities.

Monitoring and Modeling Rainfall Heterogeneity in a Central U.S. Urbanizing Watershed. Bobryk, Shannon M. and Jason A. Hubbart. University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, 203-Q ABNR Building, Columbia, Missouri, 65211 USA, (573) 884-7732, S.M.Bobryk@mail.missouri.edu. 2University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, 203-Q ABNR Building, Columbia, Missouri, 65211 USA, (573) 884-7732, HubbartJ@Missouri.edu.

Determination of appropriate management practices for restoration and preservation of water quality requires the assessment of current and anticipated pollutant loading. This is frequently achieved through pollutant transport models that, lacking in better information, assume precipitation homogeneity. That assumption can result in confounding conclusions pertaining to stormwater runoff timing and distribution, and flow and pollutant loading estimations. Studies are critically needed to quantify the spatial variability of precipitation and implications for modeled runoff and streamflow to determine if and where precipitation homogeneity is an appropriate assumption. Recent research indicated that lumped climate parameters may not be appropriate for accurately assessing the relationship between land use and nutrient loading in the Hinkson Creek Watershed (HCW) located in the central US. The current work will quantify the spatial heterogeneity of rainfall in the HCW comparing observed vs. modeled rainfall. A nestedscale watershed study design implemented in 2009 includes five permanent hydroclimate monitoring stations along Hinkson Creek from which precipitation data will be collected. Publicly available rainfall data from four additional meteorological stations located in and near the boundaries of HCW will supplement the nested-scale data. Observed rainfall will be compared to stochastic climate generators including: CLIGEN, PRISM, and WXGEN to determine the optimal number and distribution of gauges necessary to properly estimate precipitation. Study results will be used to better assess results from a concurrent nutrient study in the HCW to determine loading in surface waters, relationships to land use, and assist in the development of future management plans.

Turtle trapping at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area. Bogosian, Vic  III. Missouri Department of Conservation, Eagle Bluffs CA, Columbia, MO 65203.  (573) 445-3882, Vic.Bogosian@mdc.mo.gov.

Conservation areas (CA) in Missouri are managed to promote a variety of natural communities and the wildlife that are found within.  Some taxa receive more consideration than others, depending on the primary role each CA was designed to fulfill.  For example, many of the management decisions that are made at Eagle Bluffs CA (EBCA) focus on creating wetland habitat that is critical for migratory wading birds, shorebirds, and waterfowl.  These habitats are expected to serve many other non-target species in a beneficial way, but specific management decisions may have negative impacts that are not recognized directly.  For example, turtle species may be impacted negatively by water level manipulations that occur during critical annual life history events (i.e., nesting). I began surveying turtles on EBCA in April 2011 to begin the process of identifying the existing turtle species and population structure, with the eventual goal of comparing varying water level management strategies over multiple years to turtle mark/recapture data.  Pilot year field efforts resulted in the capture and unique marking of 322 individuals from 5 species of turtles, with 17 recaptures.  Field efforts are planned to continue on an annual basis indefinitely.  High capture rates and low recapture proportions suggest a large turtle population on EBCA, and overall gender ratios (0.82 M:F) did not suggest disproportionate female road mortality.  Ideally, management decisions on EBCA can continue to be made in a cost/benefit framework that maximizes focal species suitability while minimizing or eliminating negative impacts on non-focal species.

Water quality trends at Harry S. Truman Reservoir 2001-2011. Boyer, Marvin. Water Quality Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Environmental Resources Section, Kansas City, MO.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Kansas City District collects standardized monthly water quality samples at Harry S. Truman Reservoir from April through September annually.   Water quality data collected include nutrient data, sediment data, select herbicide scans, total metal sampling, secchi  measurements, chlorophyll a , and physical water quality profiles measured at 1meter depth intervals.    These data will be analyzed for  the major tributary streams(Pomme de Terre, Sac River, Marmaton, Osage, Marais de Cygne, South Grand, Tebo Creek), upper lake at each major arm, main lake and outflow.

Water quality impacts of tremie placed concrete repair of Harry S. Truman Stilling Basin. Boyer, Marvin and Robert Schoen. Water Quality Program Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Environmental Resources Section, Kansas City, MO.  Senior Project Engineer, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Resident Office of Kansas City, Independence, MO.

In 2011, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Kansas City District  implemented in-situ concrete repairs of the eroded spillway and ogee section of the Harry S. Truman Dam  Stilling Basin.  Repairs consisted of drilling and grouting anchors, drilling drains and placing concrete. A total of 1827 cubic yards of  concrete were placed in three mobilizations using a tremie pipe (cast-in-place).  Tremie placement builds the concrete placement from the bottom of the form as the tremie pipe transfers concrete through the water.  In contrast to traditional concrete methods, the new concrete is at the bottom of the form rather than the top.  Concrete placements occurred at an average water depth of 39 feet.  The unique concrete formulation included an anti-washout admixture  to prevent water from diluting or mixing with the concrete, also reducing impacts to water quality.  Water quality parameters including latent dissolved oxygen, temperature, pH, conductivity, and turbidity were monitored  before, during, and after the concrete placement(s) for compliance  with Federal regulations and  Missouri Department of Natural Resources Section 401Water Quality Certification.  No measured results were significantly effected by construction activities or concrete placement.  Improvements in concrete  admixtures, namely anti-washout, coupled with tremie placement methodology led to reduced impacts to water quality and aquatic life while repairing the structure and ensuring the dam safety.

75th Wildlife and Sport Fishing Restoration: History. Brown, Doyle. MDC.

In the early 1900s, when many fish and wildlife species were dwindling in numbers or disappearing altogether, the hunting and shooting industries stepped forward to help state fish and wildlife agencies counteract the crisis.

Manufacturers supported the use of excise taxes on equipment and sought legislation to ensure federal funding would be directed to aid agencies in managing and conserving America’s natural resources and providing hunting access.

On September 2, 1937, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, now called the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, which to this day fosters partnerships between federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, the sporting arms industry, conservation groups and sportsmen and women to benefit wildlife.

Later, anglers and the fishing and boating industries established similar funding strategies through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act) in 1950 and its Wallop-Breaux Boating Trust Fund amendment in 1984.

Through this American System of Conservation Funding, more than $12 billion dollars have been entrusted to agencies for fisheries and wildlife restoration and management; hunter, angler and boater access; as well as for hunter and boater safety education.

In 2012, we proudly observe 75 years of the WSFR program and the success of the partnerships that have made this program the single most successful conservation effort in U.S. history.

Desiccation resistance of invasive Myriophyllum spicatum and Potamogeton crispus following simulated overland dispersal by boat. Bruckerhoff, Lindsey , Knight, Susan, and Havel, John . Missouri State University, Springfield MO 65897 USA, lindsey1953@live.missouristate.edu. University of Wisconsin Trout Lake Station, Boulder Junction, WI 54512 USA.

The secondary spread of exotic macrophytes between lakes determines the scale of the ecological and economical impacts associated with aquatic invasive species. Recreational boating is a vector for the overland transport of invasive species, especially macrophytes due to their vegetative reproduction capabilities and the tendency of fragments to become entangled on boats/trailers. The effectiveness of recreational boats as a transport vector relies on the resistance of macrophytes to air exposure. During the summer of 2011, air tolerance field experiments were conducted in northern Wisconsin on Eurasian Watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) and Curlyleaf Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) to determine how long these species can survive out of water under conditions they would experience when ensnared on boats/trailers. Four experiments tested the air tolerance of the two species by hanging macrophyte fragments to dry for varying amounts of time and assessing viability based on growth rates after rehydration. Eurasian Watermilfoil exhibited a positive growth rate after 24h of air exposure, while Curlyleaf Pondweed could not survive 12h of exposure. The short air tolerance time exhibited in this study suggests that management and public education should focus most attention on boats moving within the scale of a few days.

Small Ruminant Biological Control of Amur Honeysuckle and Common Buckthorn: Is it a Viable Option?. Casey, Allen, Charlotte A. Clifford-Rathert, Michael Schulte, Luke Wilbers, Cody Cave, James Caldwell, Ron Cordsiemon, Jerry Kaiser, Nick Adams, Mark Kennedy, and John Turner. 1/ USDA, NRCS Plant Materials Center, Elsberry, MO 63343, (573) 898-2012, allen.casey@mo.usda.gov.  2/ Lincoln University, Cooperative Extension and Research, Jefferson City, MO.  3/USDA, NRCS, Houston, MO. 4/USDA, NRCS, Retired.

Amur honeysuckle (AH; Lonicera maackii Herder) and common buckthorn (CB; Rhamnus cathartica L.) are tall shrubs that are common invaders in forested lands across central and eastern United States.  These shrubs grow readily in many soil types, climatic environments, and are often so prolific that they form dense understory thickets, that restrict native plant growth and tree seedling establishment.  Mechanical and chemical control can be effective methods for controlling these species but are expensive, and generally require many follow-up treatments to be successful.  If good economic returns can be demonstrated by grazing AH and CB with small ruminants, then this control method may be appealing to producers.  During the 2011 grazing season (May – Aug.), mature Katahdin ewe hair sheep (n = 49) with lambs, grazed four paddocks of AH and CB to a height of 4.5 ft in Lincoln County, Missouri.  Ewes had an average daily gain (ADG) of -0.37 lbs, total gain of -12.5 lbs, mean body condition score of 3, and mean FAMACHA© scores of 2.  Fecal nematode counts were conducted approximately every 21 days and counts increased on average by 485 over the course of the grazing season, whereas coccidia counts decreased (-648 mean).  Lambs had a mean birth weight of 13.4 lbs, mean end weight of 30.3 lbs, mean ADG of 0.4 lbs, and a mean total gain of 16.8 lbs.  Grazing AH and CB to a height of 4.5 ft (1.4 m) may alter ewe performance but may not negatively impact lamb performance.

Influence of a spring on fish communities in a small Ozark stream. Clark, Myranda K. Missouri State University, Department of Biology, Springfield, MO 65806, (417) 234-3229, Clark90@missouristate.edu.  Dodd, Hope R. Heartland I&M Network, National Park Service, 6424 W Farm Road 182, Republic, MO,65738.

It is a known fact that springs greatly influence the water temperature of the streams it encounters.  However, little is known about the effects of spring-influenced streams on the fish communities.  In the spring, summer and fall seasons of 2011, data collection of fish communities, water quality and physical habitat were taken upstream and downstream of Double Spring, located on Terrell Creek within Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield, Missouri. We discovered temperature, dissolved oxygen and pH stayed consistent downstream of the spring as expected, whereas temperature increased and dissolved oxygen decreased drastically upstream until October when the upper reach was completely dry. The fish community was quite different between the two reaches.  In the lower portion, species richness ranged from 15 to 17 among seasons with richness and abundance increasing in summer and fall. The upper reach ranged from 10 to 12 species, decreasing in richness from spring to summer seasons, but had a consistent abundance until October when the reach became completely dry.  As the upper reach began to dry and the temperature of the water became warmer, abundance of cool water species declined.  However, in the lower reach, both cool and warm water species were found. This is possibly due to dry conditions upstream creating less available space as well as the spring creating cooler temperatures downstream. This data will improve our understanding of springs and their influence on aquatic communities and assist biologists in better managing their natural resources.

The MU Energy Project: Building a Verifiable Woody Biomass Supply Chain. Coffin, Gregg and H.E. ‘Hank’ Stelzer. University of Missouri, 203 ABNR, Columbia, MO 65211 USA, (573) 882-4444, stelzerh@missouri.edu.

In the summer of 2012, the University of Missouri’s Energy Plant will bring online a biomass boiler that will supply roughly 25 percent of the University’s required energy. Combined with co-firing its other boilers, the energy plant will require approximately 150,000 tons of woody biomass annually. MU Forestry faculty have worked closely with the energy plant, forestry professionals, and interested NGOs to develop a supply contract that will ensure all woody biomass coming directly from Missouri’s forests to the plant is harvested in a sustainable fashion that is verifiable. Sustainability standards, including the verification process, will be presented.

Flora and physiographic associations of the Lake Truman region. Crawshaw, James A. University of Central Missouri. Warrensburg, MO 64093 USA, (660)-864-3596, jamesacrawshaw@yahoo.com.

During this research project a rough census of herbaceous plant species was conducted on land maintained by the Harry S. Truman Dam Visitor Center to further our understanding of the associations among the flora, geology, and physiography of the region. Plant specimens were collected approximately every three weeks throughout the summer of 2010 from various localities near the Truman Dam visitor center. Generally, only specimens with fruit or flowers were collected for identification purposes. The specimens were then pressed between sheets of newspaper and dried using plant presses, blotting paper, cardboard, foam, straps, and a fan. The original edition of Julian Steyermark’s Flora of Missouri was used as the primary reference for identification of collected plant specimens. The approximate location and prevalence of certain types of natural communities were evaluated by recording the geographical coordinates of each collected plant specimen and researching the natural communities each plant is associated with. Geographical patterns were also analyzed using ArcMap 10 software in conjunction with data collected in the field. The data suggested that glades, woodlands, forest, and limited prairie remnants are present in the landscape surrounding the Harry S. Truman Dam Visitor Center with glades and prairie communities most commonly associated with rocky hilltops and steep slopes.

Arkansas Discovery Farms: Row Crop Production. Daniel, Pearl. Discovery Farm Technician. University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Cooperative Extension Service. 2301 S. University Ave., Little Rock, AR 72204. 501-944-6858. pdaniel@uaex.edu.

The Arkansas Discovery Farms is a program geared toward monitoring and evaluating water quality of runoff from various agricultural production systems.  The program assesses the need for Best Management Practices related to water conservation, as well as reduction of nutrient and sediment loss. In eastern Arkansas, two row-crop production systems are being monitored.  The Cherry Valley location consists of a soybean-wheat-rice rotation across the Clements and Wood farms, 1,600 and 2,700 acres, respectively.  The Clements farm utilizes conventional tillage and a groundwater irrigation source, whereas the Wood farm practices conservation tillage and uses a combination of surface water sources and wells.  In Stuttgart, the Dabbs 1,500 acre farm features a rice-soybean-corn rotation.  This farm utilizes only surface water for irrigation and collects all runoff into an irrigation reservoir via a tail-water recovery system.  Water use and quality is being monitored on the Dabbs farm on four fields including rice grown on zero-grade, rice grown on unleveled ground (control), and rice and corn grown on precision-leveled fields.  It is the goal of the Arkansas Discovery Farms Program to bridge a knowledge gap among farmers, natural resource managers, and other partners about the environmental benefits and effects of agriculture on water quality.

Nonpoint pollution sources and transport in rural Spring Creek, SW Missouri. Daugherty, Nicole and R.T. Pavlowsky. Missouri State University, Springfield MO, (417) 350-4864, Daugherty42@live.missouristate.edu.

While large rivers in the Ozarks have been tested for water quality impairments, few watershed-scale studies have been undertaken. Smaller streams and their contributing drainage areas have been largely ignored, especially those located in rural areas.  Tributary systems need to be evaluated to provide information on specific pollution sources within watersheds in order to provide for a more manageable approach upon which to base conservation or remediation plans. The purpose of this study is to complete a water quality monitoring assessment for the Spring Creek watershed in rural Southwestern Missouri.  The goal of the study is to identify seasonal trends in nutrient, sediment, and bacteria concentrations, as well as to identify potential point and non-point sources. Sampling occurred at 14 sites over a one year period, twice per month, and during both low and high flow periods. Seasonal and storm influences are evident at all sites, but all sites regularly exceed water quality standards for nutrients. Bacteria levels during summer low flow conditions typically exceeded body contact standards at most sites. This study will improve our understanding of the spatial distribution and water quality influence of point and non-point sources in a rural watershed.

Channel Morphology and Substrate Variability in the James River, Southwest Missouri. DeWitt, Andrew R. and Pavlowsky, Robert T. Missouri State University; Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institute. 901 S. National Ave., . Springfield, MO 65897. (616) 443-8634. DeWitt11@live.missouristate.edu.

Geomorphic regime equations quantify downstream trends in bankfull and hydraulic geometry variables using log-log regression analysis.  They have been proven useful for stream restoration and habitat improvement designs and for comparing watersheds in different regions.  A watershed-scale geomorphic study of the James River basin (3,771 km2) of southwest Missouri’s Ozarks is currently lacking, and there are few studies available that quantify Ozark stream characteristics in general.  Ozark streams possess characteristics of both alluvial and bedrock systems, and are influenced by limestone bluffs and gravel bedload.  The purpose of this study is to develop a comprehensive set of geomorphic regime equations that quantify the relationship between channel morphology and drainage area. Field data were collected from 17 sites along the main stem of the James River (~160 km) spanning a range of drainage areas from 6 to 2,530 km2.  Channel cross-section, grain size, and longitudinal profile data are used to quantify downstream changes in channel morphology.  Bankfull channels in the James River contain the 1.1 to 1.5 recurrence interval flood based on USGS gage calibration. Regime equations were developed for several cross-sectional (bankfull area, discharge, width, and depth) and longitudinal (slope, riffle spacing, pool dimensions, and grain size) characteristics.  Channel variables are strongly related to drainage area with r2 values >0.90 for equations describing width, depth, area, and bankfull discharge. The methods used in this study and the results presented provide conservation insights beneficial for stream restoration and describing streams concerned with sediment sources and water quality problems.

Middle Basin Pallid Sturgeon Propagation at Blind Pony Hatchery. Drecktrah, Bruce and Jacob Colehour. Missouri Department of Conservation. Blind Pony Hatchery. Sweet Springs, MO 65351. 660-335-4531. Bruce.Drecktrah@mdc.mo.gov.

The middle basin of the pallid sturgeon’s range extends from Gavins Point Dam on the Missouri River downstream to the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, and then downstream to the mouth of the Ohio River.  Potential brood fish are collected by state and federal agencies then shipped to Blind Pony Hatchery (BPH) for evaluation.  Each fish is evaluated with ultrasound and an endoscope to determine sex and reproductive stage.  Fin clips are collected and analyzed to establish genetic purity and develop a spawning matrix.  Spawning takes place in late April, at which time adults are injected with hormone.  Sperm is collected and checked for viability, and a portion from each male is cryopreserved.  Eggs are fertilized and stirred in a clay solution for 30 minutes to prevent clumping.  Eggs are water hardened for four hours then placed in McDonald-style hatching jars.  A portion of the eggs may be sent to Neosho National Fish Hatchery (NNFH) and Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery (GPNFH).  Once the eggs hatch, fry are collected in aquaria then moved to start tanks.  Fry are first fed zooplankton and nauplii cysts, then frozen brine shrimp.  In late September the fingerlings are about 8 inches.  BPH annually produces approximately 12,000 fingerlings.  The Middle Basin Pallid Sturgeon Workgroup has established an annual protocol of stocking 1/3 of each year class as fingerlings and 2/3 as yearlings.  Fingerlings are sent to NNFH to overwinter for stocking the following year.

Effects of Season on Microhabitat Selection of Niangua Darters. Faulkner, Jake D.A. and Craig P. Paukert.

Understanding temporal and spatial dynamics of habitat preferences of species are crucial for directing species management in a changing environment.  We evaluated microhabitat selection of adult Niangua darters, Etheostoma nianguae, at three Missouri Ozark stream reaches (mean= 524 m), two on the Little Niangua River and one on Starks Creek.  Within each reach we collected six variables representing mesohabitats characteristics to determine if reach-scale characteristics differed among reaches.  We also snorkeled each reach (mean= 2.2 m/min) identifying locations used by Niangua darters and measuring nine instream habitat variables at these locations.  We also collected the same variables at three random locations within 100 m of each used location to represent available habitat.  We then used an information theoretic framework to fit six a priori discrete choice models; hydrology (depth, mean velocity, and focal velocity), substrate (dominant substrate, subdominant substrate, and embeddedness), cover (distance to nearest cover and cover density), stream ID, only depth and velocity, and a global model, to identify microhabitat variables selected by Niangua darters.  Discriminant function analysis revealed that the three reaches differed in mean wetted width, depth, and velocity.  The discrete choice modeling revealed that habitat selection of adult Niangua darters was associated with less embedded, gravel and pebble substrates, but was not influenced by other factors such as depth, velocity, and cover.  Sampling will continue every other month to capture seasonal variability.  However, preliminary results support an emphasis on management practices that increase mean particle sizes and decreases embeddedness of substrates.

Floodplain Habitat Use by Missouri River Fishes during the Flood of 2011. Gosch, Nathan J.C., Marcus L. Miller, Joseph L. Bonneau, and Todd R. Gemeinhardt. United States Army Corps of Engineers, 601 East 12th Street, Kansas City, MO 64106 USA, (816) 389-2044, Nathan.J.Gosch@usace.army.mil.

The importance of floodplain connectivity for spawning, nursery, and foraging habitat is well documented for lotic fishes; however, floodplain connectivity is relatively uncommon on the lower Missouri River.  During the summer of 2011, we had the unique opportunity to study floodplain habitat use by fishes of the Missouri River during a historic flood.  We sampled three floodplain sites (Dalby Bottoms, Baltimore Bottoms, and Overton Bottoms) using ichthyoplankton trawls, mini-fyke nets and seines.  These sites were selected based on habitat availability and varying degrees of floodplain connectivity during high water events.  Each site was sampled once every two weeks from June 21 to September 9; supplemental sampling occurred during October in disconnected floodplain pools.  The objective of this study was to determine which species were utilizing the floodplain, if fish assemblages differed among floodplain sites, and which species were trapped in the floodplain as flood waters receded.  We will present preliminary findings of these sampling efforts.

An exhibit of Missouri ancient oak wood and research. Guyette, Richard, Michael Stambaugh, Joseph Marschall, and Greg Pitchford. University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, Columbia, MO 65211 573-882-7741, guyetter@missouri.edu; 4Missouri Department of Conservation.

An exhibit of sub fossil oak wood (Q. macrocarpa) is presented. The oak wood has been buried and preserved for as long as 14,000 years in north Missouri floodplains and streams. The oak trees are naturally excavated and entombed by meandering streams over many thousands of years. Cross sections of this wood have been collected, carbon and tree-ring dated, and archived at the University of Missouri’s Department of Forestry.  We exhibit this ancient oak wood along with examples of science and research results from this resource on climate, wildlife, and carbon. Oak growth and climate records have been developed from the tree-rings of this sub fossil wood.  Annual growth and climate chronologies during the last 14,000 years are exhibited. We exhibit the uses of ancient oak wood in describing long-term drought, flooding, riparian carbon, wildlife habitat, and northern hemisphere ocean temperature forcing of growth and climate in Missouri.

Spatial and temporal variability of annual stream flow records in two Missouri ecoregions. Harrington, Megan C. and Pavlowsky, Robert T. Missouri State University, Department of Geography, Geology, and Planning, Springfield, MO 65897, (417) 631-8025, megan579@missouristate.edu.

Understanding Missouri’s stream flow trends is important for decision-making by water resource managers and policy makers. Stream flow characteristics, trends, and watershed relationships, and the cause of any trends are explored in this study. Discharge characteristics for two Missouri ecoregions were evaluated using annual stream flow records from the USGS stream gage network. Records for a total of 29 gages in the Central Dissected Till Plains and 37 gages in the Ozark Highlands were analyzed, and three different time periods (1925-1950, 1951-1980, and 1981-2010) were compared at 12 sites. Discharge-drainage area regression equations were analyzed for the 90%, 50%, and 10% exceedance flows, mean annual discharge, and 2-year flood.  Preliminary results show that drainage area explains the majority of variation in discharge in both ecoregions (r2= >0.9). The strongest correlations occur in the 90% and 50% exceedance flows and the mean annual discharge. Drainage area explains at least half (r2= >0.5) of the variation in discharge for the 10% exceedance flow and the 2-year flood. The influence of climate and land use changes on discharge-drainage area relationships will be evaluated.

Geologic influence on aquatic invertebrate community structure and integrity in Ozark tributaries at Buffalo National River and Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Hinsey, Janice A., David E. Bowles, J. Tyler Cribbs, and Hope R. Dodd. National Park Service (NPS), Heartland Inventory & Monitoring Network (HTLN), 6424 West Farm Road 182, Republic, MO 65738 USA, (417) 836-3129, Jan_Hinsey@nps.gov.

Watersheds are influenced by local and regional environmental factors that affect surface flows, groundwater sources, and aquatic invertebrate communities. Ozark Plateau geologic structure and karst topography play a key role in structure and function of its streams including water chemistry, hydrology, and temperature. In 2006, the National Park Service (NPS) Heartland I&M Network (HTLN) implemented long-term monitoring of aquatic invertebrate communities in wadeable tributaries of three Ozark Plateau rivers:  1) Buffalo River, Buffalo National River (BUFF), Arkansas, and 2) Current River, and 3) Jacks Fork River, both in Ozark National Scenic Riverways (OZAR), Missouri. Additional tributary data included were collected by BUFF aquatics staff in 2005 and Wallace and Rabeni at OZAR in 2007 utilizing comparable methods and seasons. Invertebrate data and dominant geologic characteristics from 55 wadeable tributaries were analyzed to determine geologic influences on invertebrate community structure and integrity. Additional local and regional environmental factors were also examined. Major geologic differences between rivers appear to greatly influence community structure, but do not appear to determine overall integrity. Metrics varied among tributaries and between rivers with similar values for all three watersheds showing little indication of disturbance. Distinct park groupings of taxa similarity in relation to geologic differences using non-metric multidimensional scaling and cluster analysis clearly illustrated the potential influence of geology on community structure. A deeply incised plateau eroding slowly over time, the Ozarks naturally occurring geologic influences may not be controlled; however, long-term invertebrate and water quality monitoring may ensure early detection of changes in community integrity.

Impact of predation by common crayfish (Orconectes luteus) on invasive and native snails. Kelley, Whitney M. and John Havel. Missouri State University Department of Biology, 901 South National, Springfield, MO 65897, 660-868-1166, wmk423@live.missouristate.edu.

Chinese mystery snails, Cipangopaludina chinensis, are an invasive species that is found in many places across North America and can become very numerous in certain ecosystems.  Introduced Chinese mystery snails frequently come into contact with crayfish, a common aquatic snail predator, which may alter existing predator/prey interactions between crayfish and native snail species.  Many species of native snails, including Physella gyrina and Elimia potosiensis, as well as the invasive Chinese mystery snail, are found in the Springfield, Missouri area, where a common crayfish species, the golden crayfish (Orconectes luteus), is also common.  The purpose of this study was to determine the feeding rate of the golden crayfish (carapace length 14.2-31.0mm) on P. gyrina (shell length, SL, =9.6mm) E. potosiensis (SL=11.3mm) and C. chinensis (SL=7.5mm) as well as preference when given the availability of all three snail species.  Feeding trials were conducted during summer 2011 in the lab, for 12h in darkness, within 5.7L trays.  E. potosiensis, which are abundant in the field with O. luteus, were never eaten.  Over 13 trials, an average of 4.2 (range 0-8) P. gyrina were consumed, and 8.3 (range 0-20) C. chinensis were consumed in 10 trials.  Results of the preference experiment were similar, with E. potosiensis neglected, P. gyrina eaten at a moderate rate, and C. chinensis eaten at the highest rate.  Results of these experiments combined with preliminary field observations suggest that crayfish should play a key role in controlling Chinese mystery snail populations in locations where they co-occur.

A 400-year history of canopy disturbance in pine-oak forests of the Ozark Highlands, Missouri, USA. King, Chad B. and Rose-Marie Muzika. Department of Forestry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA, (660) 238-0445, cbkm88@mail.missouri.edu.

It has been well established that fire historically played a primary role in the establishment and maintenance of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata, Mill.) forests in Missouri.  Yet, other disturbances have likely contributed to the structure of these forests.  Using dendrochronology and growth release models we analyzed the canopy disturbance history of shortleaf pine-oak forests in the Missouri Ozark Highlands encompassing the years 1588-2008.  The objectives of this study were:  1) identify growth release events using living and remnant shortleaf pine and oak; 2) analyze the temporal aspects of canopy disturbances; and 3) determine effects of changes in the disturbance regimes at two sites Shannon County, Missouri.  Growth release events demonstrated a high degree of variability in the magnitude and frequency across the temporal scales of the two sites.  Synchronous release events at both sites likely indicate large-scale mortality that promoted growth releases in surviving trees.  Both sites exhibited similarities in the intervals of growth release across time periods.  However, the timing of releases was different between sites.  Current management of these two pine-oak sites includes single-tree selection.  However, historical data indicates differences in the frequency of canopy disturbance.  Despite the similarity between sites (south-facing slopes) and the relative proximity between sites (~10km), there appears to have been differences in the historical disturbance dynamics between these pine-oak forests.

Restoring Oak Woodlands: Changing stand structure and ground flora composition by Thinning and burning. Kinkead, Carter O., John M. Kabrick, Michael C. Stambaugh, and Keith W. Grabner. epartment of Forestry, University of Missouri. 202 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Bldg. Columbia, MO 65211 USA, (573) 291-6760, Carterkinkead@mail.mizzou.edu.

Prior to European settlement, the Ozark Highlands Region maintained extensive oak and oak-pine woodlands. These systems, characterized by canopy openness and diverse ground flora, have since been greatly transformed following timber harvest and the advent of fire suppression.  Currently, closed-canopy forests with dense mid- and understory vegetation are widespread in locations that were historically open woodlands.  As managers attempt to restore woodland condition, research is necessary to quantify responses of ground flora and stand structure following certain treatments.  Our objective was to measure the incremental effects of prescribed fire and thinning to forest stocking, structure, and species composition. Our study included four treatments (burn, thin, burn and thin, control) on each of three slope aspects (south, north, ridge) replicated in three complete blocks.  There was no significant interaction between aspect and treatment on stocking.  One year after the second fire there was a 15% reduction in stocking and a 46% reduction in 2-5-inch stems compared to control. Where thinned and burned, there was a 27% and 24% reduction in stocking after the first and second burn, respectively. However, current data suggest that over 5 years after the treatments, the desired results of woodland restoration techniques are diminishing.  Our study has included analysis of light penetration, growth rates, and mortality to explain the interactions occurring after thinning and burning.  Additionally, woodland indicators and different functional groups (forbs, vines, shrubs, etc.) were also analyzed.  These findings will provide managers with the understanding needed to meet restoration objectives in oak and oak-pine woodland communities.

Gravel sediment sources and bar distribution within the main stem of upper Bull Creek, southwest Missouri. Kosovich, Kyle K. and Robert T. Pavlowsky. Missouri State University, 901 South National Avenue, Springfield, Missouri 65897 USA, (417) 293-3860, Kyle@longboatoufitters.com.

Gravel mobilization and stream channel migration in Bull Creek is evident with recent flood occurrences.  Landowners blame stream destabilization on a local ATV area managed by Mark Twain National Forest. Bull Creek is an Ozark Plateau stream draining mostly steep topography with in-channel bedrock outcroppings and large gravel bars. It is located in Christian county, the fastest growing county in Missouri. This study will evaluate the historical patterns of reach-scale gravel bar area in a 9 km long segment of upper Bull Creek in order to understand the timing and sources of excess gravel loads to the main stem.  The objectives are to:  (i) use historical aerial photographs to monitor bar deposition and erosion; (ii) perform field assessments to evaluate upland, tributary and main stem sources of gravel sediment; and (iii) collect field data on channel and bar morphology to better understand the geomorphic processes involved in channel changes in response to gravel storage and transport.  A channel classification system according to historical planform behavior and bedrock influence is presented.  Preliminary results based on historical bar analysis indicate that: (1) bar area and meander belt widths are positively correlated; (2) bar areas at some sites do not vary much over time suggesting broader sediment source and valley-scale control of bar deposition to some degree; and ( 3) gravel bar area is usually highest below tributaries draining ATV use areas.  The relative contribution of geomorphic forcing on gravel bar storage patterns in contrast to human influence such as ATV trail erosion will be evaluated.

New locality records for an aquatic snail, Campeloma crassulum (Gastropoda: Viviparidae), in Missouri. Lanning, Seth, William Mabee, Mary Culler , and Matt Combes . Missouri Department of Conservation Resource Science Center, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, MO 6520; 2 Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Northeast Regional Office, 1709 Prospect Dr., Macon, MO 63552; 3 Missouri Department of Conservation, Agriculture Systems Field Station, 3500 S. Baltimore, Kirksville, MO 63501.

Specimens of the viviparid snail Campeloma crassulum (Ponderous Campeloma) were found in aquatic macroinvertebrate community samples collected from 3 reaches of 2 wadeable streams in the Ozark Highlands in southwestern Missouri during 2006 and 2010.  C. crassulum has not previously been reported to occur in either of the streams sampled, and this report presents new locality records for C. crassulum in the Elk River and Sac River basins in Missouri.  Sampling techniques and taxonomy used in collection and identification of C. crassulum are provided, and habitat characteristics of stream reaches where C. crassulum was found to occur are presented.  C. crassulum is a mollusk of conservation concern in Missouri.

Shoreline erosion assessment for Lake of the Ozarks State Park, Missouri. Larkin, Anna C. and Robert T. Pavlowsky. Ozarks Environmental and Water Resources Institue, Missouri State University - Department of Geography, Geology, and Planning, Springfield, MO 65806, (309) 826-2695, Larkin1@MissouriState.edu.

Shoreline erosion is a concern at Lake of the Ozarks State Park.  Wind and boat traffic increase wave energy which can accelerate shoreline erosion in areas where the substrate is of low strength.  While shoreline erosion is known to be occurring, there has been no attempt to formally document the eroding locations and quantify erosion rates.  Agencies involved with lake management need baseline information and procedures for long-term shoreline monitoring programs.  This research will address these needs by providing information which will lead to a better understanding of shoreline erosion in the state park.  The objectives of this study are to quantify shoreline erosion rates in Lake of the Ozarks State Park, develop an erosion sensitivity classification system, and determine primary causes of accelerated erosion rates.  Lake of the Ozarks State Park is located on the Grand Glaize Arm of Lake of the Ozarks in Camden and Miller County, Missouri.  Shorelines will be digitized for the years 1964, 1980, and 2007 using aerial photography, and the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) will be used to determine shoreline rates of change.  Shoreline characteristics will be mapped and compared with these rates in order to determine the amount of impact each factor has had on the observed erosion.  Shoreline erosion patterns will be evaluated based on soil types, land use, boat traffic, and wind patterns.  The results of this study can be used to influence lake management practices and public use patterns.

Arkansas Discovery Farms Program: An overview of the runoff, water quality monitoring efforts on livestock production farms. Lawson, Raven L., Pearl Daniel, Mike Daniels, and Andrew Sharpley. Arkansas Discovery Farms, University of Arkansas, Division of Agriculture. Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701, USA.  (479) 575-7192. rllawson@uark.edu.

Arkansas Discovery Farms are designed to monitor and demonstrate the effects and benefits of agricultural management practices on water quality. These privately owned farming operations volunteered to be a part of the program, and represent the diversity of the state’s agricultural operations.  On our livestock production farms, we are evaluating the impact and cost-effectiveness of various conservation practices on water quality. Our demonstration efforts on these farms involve monitoring nutrient and sediment losses for 5-7 years. Currently, we are collecting baseline data reflecting each farm’s present management plan. Our livestock productions farms are a poultry farm in Northwest Arkansas and a beef-cattle operation in Central Arkansas. 

At our poultry farm in Elkins, we monitor runoff from four poultry houses that flow into a 3-acre pond and from two houses where runoff flows through a hay pasture into an ephemeral creek. Monitoring stations quantify nutrient and sediment loadings entering the pond and pasture and before reaching the creek. These data will be used to determine quantities of nutrients and sediment that may be lost from around the poultry houses, and to quantify the nutrient and sediment trapping efficiencies of the pond and pasture. 

Our beef-cattle operation in Morrilton, raises beef on pastures that are utilized to produce high quality hay. Many of the pastures are underlain by poorly drained soils that stay saturated for portions of the winter months and are prone to intermittent flooding. In one pasture, we will determine the effect of poultry litter application on nutrient runoff from a pasture containing a wetland, and quantify the capacity of the wetland to store nutrients and sediment by monitoring runoff entering and leaving the wetland.

Phytomonitoring: Ecologically Friendly Groundwater Monitoring Using Trees. Limmer, Matt A., Amanda J. Holmes and Joel G. Burken. Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, MO 65409, 419.276.5358, malqn3@mst.edu.

Groundwater contamination across Missouri and the United States poses a risk to humans and the environment due to toxicity and carcinogenicity of common contaminants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and chlorinated solvents. Long term monitoring at these contaminated sites is often invasive, resource intensive and costly. Trees offer a sustainable, natural treatment and monitoring system, extracting contaminants from shallow groundwater and translocating them above surface. However, field-scale testing of variations in contaminant transport has been lacking, which is particularly important in monitoring and assessing contaminant removal efficiency. In this research, sampling tools were developed to monitor chlorinated solvents in trees at Schuman Park in Rolla, MO. The proximity to the S&T labs offers a unique testing opportunity. Concentrations in the trees were found to fluctuate seasonally, with higher concentrations observed in the summer when trees were actively transpiring groundwater. Groundwater monitoring using trees holds promise as an ecological solution that is non-invasive. Compared to traditional methods, less water, electricity and equipment are required while less hazardous waste is generated. Also at this field site, more than 100 willow and poplar cuttings have been planted in a partnership between S&T, Rolla’s Parks Department and Rolla City Hall to perform phytoremediation and serve as a teaching and technology transfer tool, allowing students and practicing engineers/scientists to learn about ecological solutions to environmental problems.

Employing GIS and recent mammalian distribution data to demonstrate the necessity to update commonly used wildlife literature. Lisek, John C. and Victoria Jackson. Department of Biology and Earth Science, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093 USA, (417) 234-9905, john.lisek@live.com.

The Wild Mammals of Missouri is currently the most widely used text that examines the ecology of the mammals residing within the state of Missouri. We compared distributions of mammalian species data against the information provided in The Wild Mammals of Missouri, 2001 edition. Upon review of the 2001 edition, one could argue that there is a need to update this version with the latest distribution data on county distributions and vegetation association maps, as well as a need for focus at the state level. It would be beneficial to have a table listing the counties based on occurrences of various species (known, likely, unknown, etc). Geographic Information Systems (GIS) allows for the analysis of recent data and allows scientists to update spatial information regarding distributions within the conservation and natural resources community. Missouri Fish and Wildlife Information System (MOFWIS) is a database which contains information on wildlife species residing within Missouri. We compared spatial maps from Schwartz and Schwartz (2001) against maps with current data that we created using MOFWIS (http://mdc4.mdc.mo.gov/applications/mofwis/mofwis_search1.aspx). More detailed information is provided in newly created maps about species occurrence and distribution in Missouri. With today’s land cover disturbances and anthropogenic factors affecting spatial distributions, the need for constant renewal of species distribution maps is vital to maintaining the reliability of widely used literature.

Hydrologic processes controlling herbicide transport in a Missouri claypan watershed. Liu, Fengjing, Robert Lerch, Claire Baffaut, John Yang, and John Sadler. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences and Cooperative Research Program, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO, 573-681-5390, liuf@lincolnu.edu

. Cropping Systems and Water Quality Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, USDA,

. Columbia, MO.

Hydrologic processes controlling herbicide transport are still poorly understood for claypan watersheds in the US Midwest. The presence of a near-surface claypan, a restrictive soil layer of smectitic mineralogy, may play a critical role in controlling herbicide transport to stream water. Data from Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed (GCEW) in central Missouri indicate that atrazine concentrations in stream water peaked during spring storm events, but high concentrations persisted in the baseflow following these events for days to weeks. It is hypothesized that hydrologic pathways exert a major control on atrazine concentrations in stream water. The hypothesis is tested using a combination of a statistical hydrograph model developed by Washington University in Saint Louis and orthogonal data such as electric conductivity and stable isotopes. The basin time constant, the single fitting parameter for the model, was approximately 0.4 days for GCEW. This value is similar to those for other small, non-claypan watersheds in Missouri. Stream flows were simulated very well by the model during the rising limbs of hydrographs for GCEW. Unlike other Missouri watersheds without claypan soils, stream flows in this claypan watershed were always significantly over-predicted for the prolonged falling tails, indicating a possible strong evapotranspiration effect during baseflow. These results suggests that both hydrologic pathways and evapotranspiration exert a major control on stream water quality in Goodwater Creek Experimental Watershed.

Environmental Vigilante Application (EVA). McCubbins, Heather, Jennifer Mittelhauser, Michael Bostwick. University of Central Missouri Warrensburg, Mo. 64093 USA hmccubbins@gmail.com (816)724-0385.

Environmental Vigilante Application (EVA) is an android phone application (app) aimed at increasing citizen scientists’ involvement in conservation. This app provides users with a simple-to-follow dichotomous key to identify frogs and toads within Missouri. EVA will be added to the Android Market in December, for those with an android phone. The key will also be available through evadroid.com. The benefits of this app include digital versions of dichotomous keys, pictures and diagrams that introduce citizens to the diversity and importance of amphibians. The goal of the app is to encourage users to connect to the natural environment around them with access to user-friendly information. In addition, the hope is to establish a large community, particularly among universities, where collaboration can take place. Future plans for this app include the addition of more keys for a wider variety of taxa that incorporate larger regions of the United States.

Distribution of Sauger in Lower Missouri River Relative to a Range of Hydrographs. McDaniel, Adam J., Clayton J. Ridenour, and Tracy D. Hill. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Columbia Fish and Wildlife Conservation Office, 101 Park DeVille Drive, Suite A, Columbia, Missouri, 65203, USA, (573) 234-2132 Ext 101, adam_mcdaniel@fws.gov.

Many temperate large rivers are channelized and regulated by dams.  Aquatic habitats in lower Missouri River (LMOR; USA) are undergoing restoration to mitigate loss during channelization and flows are regulated to address congressionally authorized purposes.  Contemporary habitat restoration is largely achieved through modification of channel training structures (i.e., rock dikes) since they are a dominate feature in LMOR that structure aquatic habitats, but river hydrology is a driving component of river ecosystems.  We evaluated catch data on sauger (Sander canadensis) between 2003 and 2010 to determine their length distribution, relative year class strength, and habitat use, in light of a wide range of hydrology during the study period.  These results will provide insight to variation in the sauger population of LMOR and guide habitat and flow management to promote this native and recreationally important fish.

Responses of Amphibians to Restoration of a Wetland Site in Blue Springs, Missouri:  Species Survey and Marking for Long-Term Study. Mertz, Ashley, Bryan White, Aaron Bossert, and Jennifer Mittelhauser. The Honors College, University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, MO 64093 USA, (660)-525-2206, amm18370@ucmo.edu.

The primary goal of wetland restoration is to create an ecosystem of ecological equivalence to that of which that was destroyed (Mitsch & Wilson 1996).  However, wetland restoration is still in its infancy.  Most studies currently being conducted focus on short-term success of mitigated wetlands by primarily looking at colonization rates and species diversity within the first few years of construction (Petranka, Murray, & Kennedy 2003).  Mitsch et al. (1996) suggests that, to determine success, restored wetlands need to be monitored longer than 5 years.  In order to monitor the amphibian population over a long period of time, the amphibians must be marked with a tag that will last.   Visible implant elastomer (VIE) has shown to have the least impact on the test organism and markings should last throughout the organism’s lifetime (Binckley, Plesky, Werner, & Droege 1998).  This marking technique, coupled with drift fences and pitfall traps offer the ability to monitor a population of amphibians over a long period of time.  Using this tagging method, fifty-seven individuals were marked for future study.

Influence of Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) on Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii) nest success in central Missouri. Metzger, Nathan R. and Cara Joos. University of Missouri Division of Biological Sciences, Tucker Hall, Columbia, MO 65201 USA, (217) 740-8913, nrmm98@mail.missouri.edu.

Invasive exotic plants out-compete native plants for resources and space. Historically, exotic shrub species were introduced to the U.S. for their ornamental value, as food and cover for wildlife, or as windbreaks and erosion control.  Many of these shrubs have since been identified as a threat to biodiversity. Studies have shown that altered habitat composition negatively affects wildlife. For example, selection of exotic shrubs by shrub-nesting birds decreased nest success. In central Missouri, autumn olive is a major invasive shrub but its negative effects on wildlife are relatively unstudied. Shrub nesting birds may be sensitive to invasion of autumn olive and management to control its spread. This study sought to assess the impact of autumn olive invasion on the fitness of a shrub nesting bird in mid-Missouri. We studied Bell’s Vireos a Missouri species of conservation concern, which breed in shrub-lands where autumn olive is prevalent and often chosen as a nesting substrate. During the breeding seasons of 2009-2011 we located and monitored nests in multiple habitat types, recording nest substrate and nest patch shrub community composition. We will discuss results regarding nest success in relation to nest substrate and patch composition as well as the interaction between these scales. The conservation value of this research is a better understanding of autumn olive impact on the fitness of Bell’s Vireos in Missouri. This information can aid land managers in managing habitat where invasive shrubs occur for this declining species, also increasing knowledge of effects invasive plants have on native wildlife.

Understanding spatial and temporal variation in the site of attachment by the parasitic copepod Salmincola californiensis on rainbow trout. Mocker, Danielle M. , Jeff Koppelman, Wes Swee, Matthew E. Gompper. Dept of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 USA, (412) 303-6420, dmp2c@mail.missouri.edu;  2Resource Science Center, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, MO 65201 USA, (573) 882-9909 Ext.3230, Jeff.Koppelman@mdc.mo.gov; 3Maramec Spring Trout Hatchery, 21304 Maramec Spring Dr., St. James, MO 65559 USA, (573) 265-7801, Wes.Swee@mdc.mo.gov.

Salmincola californiensis is a parasitic copepod of rainbow trout. This copepod is native to the western U.S., but was discovered at Maramec Spring Trout Hatchery, St. James, MO, in September 1992. This introduction has resulted in a decline in fish health, survivorship and aesthetic quality, as well as quarantine on the transport of trout raised in the Maramec hatchery.  As part of a broader effort to address this parasite-host interaction, we examined the spatial and temporal variation in the site of copepod attachment on hatchery-reared rainbow trout. We placed 235 tagged, uninfected 6mo old fish into cages which were in turn placed in pools inhabited by infected trout. We regularly reexamined each fish to document the timing and site (left gill, right gill, mouth) of infection. We then analyzed the first two months of the dataset to assess whether copepods preferentially infected one site, the correlations between intensity of infection of the three sites, and whether infection of a site increased the likelihood of subsequent infection of the site. Parasitism was first observed 2 weeks post-exposure. At that time, prevalence was 21%, with no difference between left or right sides (prevalence for both was 9%). Seven weeks post-exposure, prevalence was 76% and mean intensity was 1.8 parasites per host (range = 0 - 10). There was again no evidence of asymmetrical preference (prevalence and intensity: left = 51%; 0.77; right = 54%; 0.76).  Thus there was no evidence of copepod preference for left or right gills. Prevalence in the mouth was 17%, but parasitism of the mouth without concurrent gill parasitism was rare (2%). While the intensity of parasitism of left and right gill was significantly correlated (p < 0.0001), as was the correlation between intensity of parasitism of the mouth and both gills combined (p <.001), correlation coefficients were weak (R = 0.22 - 0.38) indicating that counts on one body region do not aptly indicate the total intensity of parasitism of an individual.

Effects of timber harvest on avian nest survival in the Missouri Ozark Forest Ecosystem Project. Morris, Dana, John Faaborg, Paul Porneluzi, Janet Haslerig. Department of Biological Sciences, 203 Tucker Hall, University of Columbia, Columbia, MO 65274, (573) 882-4854, email: morrisd@missouri.edu.

Understanding the effects of timber harvest on the persistence of bird communities requires multiple measures of population health including abundance and reproductive success.  We sampled avian nesting survival in 9 forested study sites (average size = 400 ha) allocated to 3 harvest treatments (no harvest, even-aged clearcuts, and uneven-aged group selection cuts) within Carter, Reynolds, and Shannon counties in south-central Missouri.  We compare nest survival of forest interior species from 5 years pre-harvest (1991-1995) with 13 years of post-harvest (1997-2010).  We used the logistic exposure method to evaluate the effects of treatment, year, and distance to experimentally-created edges on nest survival. We also examined the effect of these same set of covariates on brood parasitism rates.  Previous data collected via spot-mapping from 1991-2010 show that densities of forest interior species [Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens), Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus), Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus), Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus) and Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)] declined in all three treatments following timber harvest.  We predicted that nest survival would decrease in harvested stands due to increased disturbance and decreased distance to experimentally-created edges following timber harvest but that nest survival would increase after 7-8 years as the affected stands regenerated.  We will present data on nest survival, changes to potential predator and brood parasite communities and discuss the potential management implications of different timber harvest practices on bird populations in the Ozarks.

Improving Physical Understanding of Stream Macroinvertebrate Assemblages in an Urbanizing Watershed Using Trait-Based Analyses. Nichols, John and Jason A. Hubbart. University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, 0-T ABNR Building, Columbia, Missouri,  USA. Jrnb@mail.missouri.edu. University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, 0-Q ABNR Building, Columbia, Missouri,  USA, () 88-, HubbartJ@missouri.edu.

Urbanization often alters historic hydrologic flow regimes and hydrogeomorphology, which consequently impacts stream aquatic biota, reducing species diversity and richness. Macroinvertebrate community assemblages serve as a bioindicator of aquatic ecosystem stress. However, mechanistic relationships between hydrologic alterations and changes in benthic community composition remain poorly understood. This study will improve quantifiable understanding of the relationships between benthic community composition relative to differences in stream temperature, flow regime, multiple water quality indices and chlorophyll content in a dynamic urbanizing watershed in the central US. Five study sites were established in Hinkson Creek located in Boone County Missouri using a scale-nested study design. Hinkson Creek flows through the rapidly developing City of Columbia (2010 population census, 108,500). Urban land cover in the Hinkson Creek Watershed ranges from 5 to 23% in the five nested sub-watersheds. Preliminary results from spring 2011 macroinvertebrate sampling indicated a decline of taxa richness (R2 = 0.65) and EPT richness (R2 = 0.83) and an increase in Biotic Index (R2 = 0.82) as urban land cover increases. Ongoing investigation will include fall macroinvertebrate sampling and analyses to correlate species richness to streambed substrate composition, woody root biomass, canopy cover, water quality and flow regime. A biological trait-based analysis approach will be used to identify changes in functional trait composition of benthic communities and relate these changes to the physical stream environment. Results will provide improved physically based understanding of mechanisms impacting aquatic communities in rapidly developing urban watersheds.

Effects of Historical Mine Tailings Inputs on Channel Morphology and Substrate, Big River, Southeast Missouri. Olson, Lindsay M. and Dr. Robert T. Pavlowsky. Missouri State University, 901 S. National Ave., Springfield, MO 65897, (417) 836-3015, Olson13@live.missouristate.edu.

Tailings releases associated with large-scale historical Pb-Zn mining in southeast Missouri resulted in excessive sedimentation in the Big River. Mining “chat” composed of coarse sand to fine gravel-sized dolomite fragments was released to the channel from ore mills from 1894 to around 1932 after which slime ponds and tailings dams were created to contain mine waste. Presently, chat represents from 20 to 60 percent of the mobile bed material near mining areas. This study addresses how mining sediment inputs influence fluvial processes and forms in the Big River. The specific objectives of the study are to (i) evaluate historical planform channel changes in affected and control reaches; (ii) determine bed substrate characteristics at the channel unit-scale in affected and control reaches; and (iii) evaluate indicators of geomorphic recovery from the effects of historical land use. Channel morphology and sediment data were collected at 19 reaches across a gradient of mining influence in the Big River. Sediment samples were analyzed for particle size and mineralogy. Morphologic data were combined with features digitized from historical aerial photographs and used to evaluate planform changes within a geospatial framework. Mining affected reaches contain more sand and sediment overall per unit channel length than controls. However, preliminary results indicate the chat sediment wave has not moved far downstream and has attenuated or dispersed locally by infilling large pools or moving into semi-permanent storage in vegetated bars or young floodplains. Thus, mining effects are limited in downstream extent, but recovery may take a relatively long time.

The impact of sugar maples on woodland groundcover. Schuette, Bruce. MODNR, Cuivre River State Park, 678 St. Rt. 147, Troy, MO 63379 USA, (636) 528-7247, bruce.schuette@dnr.mo.gov.

For many years observations have indicated that an increasing dominance of sugar maples (Acer saccharum) in oak woodlands was having a negative effect on groundcover diversity and abundance. At Cuivre River State Park in northeast Missouri this observation was tested in a small grove of sugar maples on a west facing oak dominated wooded hillside. Sampling between 2003 and 2006 under the maples yielded an average of 41% the number of species, and only 7.5% the cover, of plots located outside the maple grove. The sugar maples were removed later in 2006. By 2010 the plots formerly under the maples showed a 246% increase in species diversity and an 800% increase in cover, which was 86% the species diversity and 47% the cover of the plots in the adjacent woodland that year. These results demonstrate that sugar maples invading this oak woodland were suppressing the abundance and diversity of the groundcover flora.

Effects of Wick-Applied Herbicides on Invasive Sumac and Desirable Forbs in Missouri Prairies. Selby, Brittnie, Kirsten Stephan, Malissa Underwood, Emily Magrowski, Julie Plaster, and Martin Schaffer. Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, 2 Cooperative Research, 3 Department of Life and Physical Sciences, Lincoln University of Missouri, 816 Chestnut St., Jefferson City, MO, 65101;  4 Missouri Department of Conservation, 2901 W. Truman Blvd., Jefferson City, MO, 65102,  (573) 681-5116, brittnie.selby084@my.lincolnu.edu, stephank@lincolnu.edu.

Missouri native species smooth sumac (Rhus glabra) and winged sumac (R. copallinum) are encroaching on prairie remnants as a result of altered historic disturbances regimes.  The objective of this study was to identify an herbicide and application method that kills sumac but minimally impacts forb species diversity. The study was conducted in three sites located in the Osage and Glaciated Plains of west central Missouri. At each site, eight 6´12 m plots were established in 2010. Two, randomly selected plots at each site were treated with the herbicides Tordon®22K (wick-application), Buccaneer® Plus Glyphosate (wick-application), and Pasture Guard® (broadcast-application) in May of 2011. Two plots per site served as control. In July and August 2010 and 2011, sumac abundance and forb species richness were collected in 20 1x1 m randomly located sampling quadrats per plot by counting primary and secondary sumac stems and recording presence/absence for each forb species, respectively.   Pre-treatment, primary (and secondary) stem counts were 1.2 (2.3) m-1, 2.4 (4.9) m-1, and 2.7 (8.1) m-1 at Paintbrush Conservation Area (CA), Wah-Kon-Tah Prairie, and Risch CA, respectively. Forb richness was inversely related to sumac abundance with 12.2, 9.9, and 8.3 species m-1 at the respective sites. While wick-applied Tordon and broadcast Pasture Guard equally and maximally reduced sumac primary and secondary stem counts by 80% and 95%, respectively, only wick-applied herbicides did not appear to negatively affect forb richness. Based on these results we recommend that managers use wick-applied Tordon to counteract sumac encroachment while maintaining high forb species richness.

Quantifying Stem Density and Basal Area in a Forested Ozark Riparian System: Implications for BMP’s in SMZ’s. Sheals, Joe, Pennan Chinnasamy and Jason A. Hubbart. University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, 0 ABNR Building, Columbia, Missouri  USA, (0) -98. University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, 0-Q ABNR Building, Columbia, Missouri,  USA, () 88-, HubbartJ@missouri.edu.

Forested riparian buffer management practices have significant implications for aquatic ecosystem hydrology and health. Current Missouri best management practices (BMP’s) within streamside management zones (SMZ’s) recommend leaving at least 40ft2 per acre basal area (or 33% of trees of average diameter). Current recommended BMP’s while useful, are deserving of validation to improve land manager confidence. Canopy density, stem mapping and basal area calculations were conducted in two 100m2 instrumented study sites in the Baskett Research and Education Area (BREA) along the northern border of the Ozark region of Missouri. Data were collected that augment on-going studies of energy balance and hyporheic nutrient flux to evaluate the associated effects of adjacent forest stands. Basal area along an east-west stream reach (site I) was 2.75ft2, or 111.4 ft2/acre. Basal area along a north-south stream reach (site II) was 5.37ft2, or 217.5 ft2/acre. Canopy density of site I and II was 95.6% and 95.9% respectively, while canopy closure was 93.9% and 95.1% respectively. Site I contained 15 stems (607 stems/acre) while Site II contained 13 stems (527 stems/acre). Average leaf area index (LAI) was 2.64 and 2.43 for site I and II respectively. Study results indicate that riparian forests attenuate solar radiation by shading and significantly affect groundwater hydrology by altering soil conditions by providing preferential flow paths for infiltration and improving soil water holding capacity. Continued analysis coupled to other concurrent studies in the sites will provide improved quantitative understanding of the relationship between forested Ozark SMZ’s and aquatic hydroecological systems.

An evaluation of brook trout as a biological control of the parasitic copepod Salmincola californiensis at Maramec Spring Hatchery. Swee, Wesley, Jeff Koppelman, Matthew E. Gompper, Ben Havens, Jen Girondo , Chris Landstad, and Danielle Mocker.

Maramec Spring Hatchery has been plagued with an infestation of the parasitic copepod, Salmincola californiensis for many years.  This parasite attaches to the mouth and gills of Chinook, Coho, kokanee, lake trout, cutthroat trout, and rainbow trout (Hoffman 1999).  Although usually not fatal in the wild, this parasite is very prolific and detrimental in hatchery situations.  The high density trout culture techniques common in Missouri hatcheries lead to outbreaks of this parasite.  The serial raceways at Maramec are the perfect situation for this copepod to proliferate and cause chronic mortalities.   Modeled after a similar study done in California, Maramec is using brook trout as a biological filter for the parasite.   Brook trout eggs from Utah were shipped to Maramec hatchery.  After the brook trout reached 3 inches we moved them to an outdoor raceway (12’x120’x2.42’).  We place 11 thousand 3 inch brook trout in a pool between infected and non infected rainbow trout.  We placed one cage of 100 rainbow trout above the brook trout and one cage of 100 rainbow trout below the brook trout.  We monitored the copepod concentration on both cages biweekly for approximately 5 months.  After the first year of implementation copepod infestation rates showed no significant difference between control and experimental groups.  Our results have led us to one conclusion that protection against Salmincola californiensis is a balancing act between density of brook trout in the pool and percent of infected individuals in the head waters of the hatchery.  We were unable to establish a high enough density of brook trout this first year for the large scale evaluation to be effective.  A smaller simulation of the California study will be done this winter. A second year class of brook trout will be raised to evaluate a hatchery scale feasibility.

Using Ecological Sites to Guide Species Selection in Bottomland Hardwood Plantings. Villwock, Jason, Kyle Steele, John Kabrick, and Randy Jensen. Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, 573-882-9909 x3263, jason.villwock@mdc.mo.gov.

In bottomland afforestation efforts, site conditions related to flood duration, soil drainage, and nutrient supply greatly affect tree seedling survival and growth. Ecological classification systems group land units by site conditions resulting from different soil properties on varying landform positions into ecological sites that greatly influence tree seedling establishment success. Here we report the first-year survival and growth of twelve different bottomland species planted on five different ecological sites. Results to date show that seedling survival probabilities differed significantly (P < 0.001) by land type and were greater on silty-textured soils of mesic terraces and mesic high-elevation flood plains, or in sandy-textured soils (all > 0.90) where better soil drainage occurred. Survival probabilities were 0.87 on wet-mesic terraces and 0.82 on low floodplains subject to frequent flooding. Basal diameter growth also differed significantly (P < 0.001) among land types with the greatest growth occurring on mesic terraces and mesic high-elevation floodplains. These findings complement several research projects in Missouri that have studied specific management techniques to improve the success of old field bottomland reforestation including evaluating  seedling stock type, use of cover-crops, use of various herbicides, tree species, seedling flood tolerance, soil mounding, and seedling caging.  This information is useful to field managers who are interested in making bottomland reforestation efforts most successful by selecting the appropriate species for sites with varying soil moisture, texture and flooding frequencies.  This project also attempts to determine the viability of using bottomland ecological sites to plan reforestation projects and evaluate their success.

Comparing Streambank Vegetation Erosion Mitigation between Bottomland Hardwood Forest and Agricultural Floodplains. Waterhouse, Gabriel, Jason A. Hubbart, and Dandan Huang. University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, 0 ABNR Building, Columbia, Missouri  USA,  University of Missouri, Department of Forestry, 0-Q ABNR Building, Columbia, Missouri,  USA, HubbartJ@missouri.edu.

Vegetation perform key roles in streambank erosion prevention. There is an ongoing need to better understand the composition of vegetation that best stabilizes streambanks. Ten erosion pin plots (pins = ~350) were installed in 2010 to quantify streambank erosion and deposition processes in an urbanizing section of Hinkson Creek located in Columbia, Missouri. Five pin plots were located in a bottomland hardwood forest (BHF) and five pin plots were installed in an agricultural floodplain (AG). Sites were located less than 250 meters apart. Erosion pins were used to monitor soil movement as well as to determine vegetative composition and cover, the latter using 1 m2 quadrats. Results show that vascular plants accounted for only 59% coverage (SD = 10.7) in the BHF, while the AG site had 66% coverage of vascular plants (SD = 12.6). However, bank erosion in the AG site was over 50 kg/m as opposed to 4.5 kg/m in the BHF. Therefore, the increased resistance to erosion in the BHF relative to the AG site is not fully explained by the presence of vascular plants, or related coverage. Resistance to bank erosion was much better explained by tree root occurrence of 10% in the BHF (only 1% in the AG site). Results therefore indicate that the presence of trees and more precisely woody plant roots are much more effective for mitigating streambank erosion. These results hold important implications for future riparian and streambank management practices in favor of reducing erosion and improving water quality and aquatic habitat.

Thermal and physical habitat mapping of the Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Westhoff, Jacob T. and Craig P. Paukert. Missouri Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, 302 ABNR Building, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211 (573)884-8530, jtw7a1@mail.missouri.edu.

Models of organism abundance and habitat use are useful for managers when developed at appropriate scales and applied to appropriate management zones.  However, uncertainty often exists when applying these models throughout lotic systems because biotic conditions included in these efforts are not known for the entire area where the model is to be applied.  In this ongoing project, we seek to determine the feasibility of creating a predictive thermal model for the Current and Jacks Fork Rivers (Riverways) using temperature data from stationary temperature loggers and longitudinal temperature transects.  We also intend to use aerial imagery and field data collection to classify channel unit types throughout 215 km of the Riverways.  Sampling in fall of 2011 provided initial temperature data and resulted in the creation of a preliminary channel unit map for the Riverways.  The resulting maps and models created by this project will be used in conjunction with ongoing habitat selection studies of smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) to better understand and predict their distribution and population size in the Riverways.  In addition, maps of biotic conditions may be useful for threatened or endangered species restorations (e.g., hellbender) or for mitigating current systemic stressors such as in-stream gravel waves, motorboat use, and riparian corridor disruption. Study results also have relevance to determining the effects of future climate change on thermal conditions within the Ozark National Scenic Riverways.

Using remotely-triggered cameras to assess the co-occurrence of three common suburban mammals. White, Bryan. 913-269-2213 Cell . 510-377-7422 Work. University of Central Missouri. Bryanwhite2337@gmail.com.

Remote cameras are an increasingly common tool used for mammal surveys. Camera traps offer researchers an affordable all-day sampling method that can record large amounts of community data while remaining non-invasive. This data can also be an important supplement to harvest data and other invasive techniques often used by wildlife managers. To assess their utility, we surveyed both public and private properties with varying degrees of human disturbance around the city of Warrensburg, Missouri. We set remotely triggered camera stations (n=19) greater than 500m apart and baited them with urine lure and compact discs from October 2010 – April 2011. We obtained photos of all the expected mammal species with the exception of bobcat (Lynx rufus). The most abundant mammal that was encountered during this study was white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus, n=18 stations), followed by raccoon (Procyon lotor, n=17 stations) and coyote (Canis latrans, n=9 stations). Given the high occurrence of all three species there was little evidence of spatial avoidance. Thus temporal activity for these three species was examined across the 24hr clock to determine if coyote activity peaks corresponded with limited activity by the two potential prey species. Coyotes were mainly nocturnal but had several small peaks of activity during the day. Deer activity was relatively consistent throughout the day with an apparent crepuscular peak, while raccoons were mainly nocturnal with crepuscular peaks. These results suggest little evidence of avoidance of coyotes by deer but there was some evidence of avoidance by raccoons.

History, distribution, and human interactions of American black bears in Missouri. Wilton, Clay M., Jerrold L. Belant, and Jeff Beringer. Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Ph:(517) 388-2829 E-mail: cwilton@cfr.msstate.edu.

American black bears (Ursus americanus) are an important wildlife resource in Missouri, yet little information is known about their population status. Once abundant throughout the state, black bears were extirpated due to over harvest and habitat degradation during the 18th and 19th centuries. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is encouraging black bear expansion while managing for the species in a way that is consistent with available habitat and within limits of human tolerance. While current abundance in Missouri is unknown, recent increases in sightings, reproduction, and nuisance complaints suggest black bear population size may be increasing and possibly expanding in range. The greatest proportion of reported sightings occur in the southern and eastern regions, predominately in the Ozark Mountains. There have been 416 sightings (2000 - 2010), with 90% occurring in these regions. Of these, 110 included sightings with cubs and 93% occurred in the Ozarks. Bear conflict occurrences totaled 667 from 2004 - 2010 (  = 95.3/year, SD = 56.2), and 9 bears were killed from 1991 - 2010 due to vehicle collisions or nuisance bear activity. These trends have created the need to develop a greater understanding of bear ecology, abundance, and distribution to facilitate the application of bear management objectives in Missouri. As black bear populations continue to grow in Missouri, creating a foundation for sound management strategies is imperative to maintaining sustainable population levels while minimizing human conflict.

Abundance and distribution of American black bears in southern Missouri. Wilton, Clay M., Jerrold L. Belant, Lori S. Eggert, Emily E. Puckett, and Jeff Beringer. Carnivore Ecology Laboratory, Forest and Wildlife Research Center, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS 39762, USA. Ph:(517) 388-2829 E-mail: cwilton@cfr.msstate.edu.

Wildlife population estimates are essential for making informed conservation and management decisions.  Precise population estimates are necessary for understanding population trends, developing harvest regulations, and reducing human-wildlife conflicts. During May – August 2011, we established 382 hair snare stations encompassing 11 counties (13,508 km2) in southwestern Missouri to estimate abundance, distribution, and sex ratios of black bears. A 10 x 10 km grid system was applied over the study area to generate a distribution of reported bear sightings (1989 – 2010) per grid cell and hair snares were allocated proportionately to the number of sightings per cell. In addition, we established 124 remote cameras at selected hair snares located within GPS-collared bear home ranges. We collected 97 black bear hair samples from 29 snares (8%) and 46 bear images from 19 cameras at snares (15%). Of these snares, 13 were visited by marked bears (8 snares with GPS-collared bears, 5 snares with ear-tagged bears), and 10 snares were visited by unmarked bears. Preliminary results of active hair snares indicate that bears are likely distributed in clusters with individuals sparsely distributed between clusters. The Missouri Department of Conservation has identified regulated hunting as part of its management strategy to maintain a viable black bear population compatible with habitat and human tolerance. In a recently recovering population, as with black bears in Missouri, population estimates are the first step in determining species’ status and designing appropriate management strategies for their long-term viability in Missouri.

Spatial and temporal variation in age-0 fish recruitment and production in Missouri River floodplain areas during a flooding cycle. Winders, Kyle R. and Darby J. Niswonger. Missouri Department of Conservation, Missouri River Field Station, Chillicothe, MO 64601 Kyle.Winders@mdc.mo.gov. (660)646-6122.

The flood-pulse concept postulates that biological production is enhanced and diversity in the system is maintained through several processes during a flooding cycle.  High turnover rates of organic matter and nutrients, the process predicted to be the most influential to biological production, is largely a result of the movement of the littoral zone.  During flooding, the moving littoral zone provides excellent spawning areas for adult fish and rearing grounds for age-0 fish.  Production of age-0 fish is also expected to be high during flooding due to effects of nutrient accumulation.  High recruitment and production of age-0 fish before drawdown is necessary for fish to reach sufficient size to reduce predation losses and reduce overwinter mortality.  In this study, we sampled the fish assemblage within the littoral zone on three floodplain areas during the 2011 Missouri River flood.  Sampling involved push-trawling and mini-fyking floodplain areas from the advancement of water in June to the retraction of water in August.  We estimated the recruitment and production rates of age-0 fish in floodplain areas and examined how these rates varied during a flooding cycle and along a longitudinal gradient.  We hypothesized that age-0 fish of species more adapted to lotic ecosystems would recruit sooner after floodplain inundation and would also have greater recruitment and production rates than age-0 fish of species more adapted to lentic ecosystems.

Surface-active arthropods: effects of prescribed fire and understory vegetation changes in the Ozark Highlands. Wright, Lizzie W., Carter O. Kinkeade, Rose-Marie Muzika. Department of Forestry, School of Natural Resources, University of Missouri-Columbia, 203 Anheuser-Busch Natural Resources Building
Columbia, Missouri 65211. ewwr52@mail.missouri.edu.

This study examines the effects of prescribed fire on surface-active arthropods in the Missouri Ozark Highlands near Ellington, MO. Study sites for this project are owned by the Missouri Department of Conservation and were initiated under the Joint Fire Science Project in an effort to examine the effects of prescribed fire on oak forests and woodlands. Topography and aspect are considered independent variables. Studies on herbaceous plant diversity and tree regeneration have been conducted yet little information is known about arthropod communities. Using pitfall traps, we sampled surface-active arthropod communities in burned and control areas on ridge tops, south and north slopes in all three blocks of the Joint Fire Science study area.  Traps were placed one meter south of vegetation plots and left open for two weeks. Sampling was conducted in July 2011. We hypothesize that arthropods will be more abundant in control areas but more diverse in burned areas. We expect to see an association between surface-active arthropod diversity and ground flora diversity of vegetation plot data, also collected summer 2011. Data will most likely be collected again in July of 2012 after a prescribed burn tentatively planned for spring of 2012. Results will have implications for fire management practices in the Ozarks indicating effects of burn frequency and aspect on ground-dwelling arthropods.

Re-Discovering the Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) Maternity Colony in Wayne County, Missouri:  A Cooperative Effort among the Mark Twain National Forest, Shawnee National Forest, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. York-Harris, Megan. USDA Forest Service, Poplar Bluff, MO, 63901 USA (573) 785-1475, myorkharris@fs.fed.us.

The Indiana bat was originally discovered in the Brown’s Hollow area of Wayne County in May of 2004.  Subsequent trapping in 2008 revealed additional roost trees, and a maximum of 62 bats were documented during a concurrent exit count. A proposed forest management project in the area made the re-discovery of this colony urgent and necessary, particularly due to the short-lived nature of suitable maternity roosts.  In June of 2011, bat trapping was conducted outside of Greenville, Missouri in order to document current movements and use.  Seven net sites resulted in the capture of six individuals, including two adult females, two adult males, and three juveniles.  Four bats were transmittered, and five roost trees were located. The identification of these additional roost trees brought the total documented number of roost trees for this colony to 12 and allowed us to more accurately identify the size of the colony later in the season.  A maximum of 168 bats were observed exiting the primary roost.  Surprisingly, no roost trees were located within the Brown’s Hollow area, confirming the ephemeral nature of suitable maternity habitat for this species and the importance of providing potential roosts across the landscape.