Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons^™

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 25. No. 2. June 1993

The Prairie Naturalist

Paul B. Kannowski, Editor

Nikki R. Seabloom, Assistant Editor

Douglas H. Johnson, Book Review Editor

CONTENTS

RAPID GROWTH OF CHANNEL CATFISH IN FLAMING GORGE RESERVOIR, WYOMING ▪ C. B. Alexander and W. A. Hubert

MANAGEMENT EVALUATION OF BODY CONDITION AND POPULATION SIZE STRUCTURE FOR PADDLEFISH: A UNIQUE CASE ▪ M L. Brown and B. R. Murphy

DISTRIBUTION OF THE RIBBON LEECH IN NORTH DAKOTA ▪ C. M. Pennuto and M. G. Butler

SELENIUM IN EARED GREBE EMBRYOS FROM STEWART LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE, NORTH DAKOTA ▪ M. M. Olson and D. Welsh

USING GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION TO PREDICT BREEDING LOCALES OF …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 25. No. 1. March 1993

The Prairie Naturalist

Paul B. Kannowski, Editor

Nikki R. Seabloom, Assistant Editor

Douglas H. Johnson, Book Review Editor

CONTENTS

FACTORS AFFECTING BIRD COLONIZATION OF RESTORED WETLANDS ▪ L. M. Hemesath and J. J. Dinsmore

RESPONSE OF DABBLING DUCKS TO EARLY-SPRING PARTIAL DRAWDOWN ON LAKE ERIE MARSHES ▪ T. Z. Riley and T. A. Bookhout

OVER-WATER NESTING BY DUCKS IN NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA ▪ . K. L. Solberg and K. F. Higgins

ADDITIONAL MOUNTAIN PLOVER SIGHTINGS IN MONTANA ▪ D. M. Prellwitz

SMALL MAMMALS OF WOODED HABITATS OF THE KONZA PRAIRIE RESEARCH NATURAL AREA, KANSAS ▪ D. W. Kaufman, G. A. Kaufman, and E. …

A Simplified Key For Assessing The Ecological Significance Of On-Farm Bush Remnants In The Wheatbelt, F Mollemans

Agriculture reports

Many farms today still contain areas of natural bush, yet there is little knowledge about the condition and value of this bush. There is also a wider interest by farmers in this bush because of its perceived value in assisting to combat on-farm salinity, and for diverse other reasons. As a response to the general interest by farmers and others in on-farm bush, a key, produced for use in a remnant vegetation survey of the southern wheatbelt (Mollemans,1992), and which may be used to assess the value of on-farm bush, is being reproduced here.

Geological Field Guide To The Cedar Point Biological Station, Keith County, Nebraska, Robert F. Diffendal Jr., Roger K. Pabian

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

This field guide was produced by staff members of the Conservation and Survey Division of the University of Nebraska originally in 1979 at the request of Dr. Brent Nickol, former Director of the Cedar Point Biological Station. It is an introduction to the geologic history and paleoecology of the Cedar Point area intended for students, staff, and other persons using the camp. This revision has been made some 15 years after the first version to reflect changes in ideas resulting from new data collected during that time.

Users of this guide should take care when studying the rock exposures described …

Nebraska Butterflies, Stephen M. Spomer

University of Nebraska State Museum: Staff and Affiliates, Publications

Nebraska is a crossroads of butterfly diversity. Many species reach their distributional limits in Nebraska. The 100th meridian, which runs through central Nebraska, appears to be a good distributional limit for many species. In short, eastern Nebraska contains butterflies similar or identical to those found in most of the eastern United States, central Nebraska has both eastern and western butterflies, and western Nebraska has a butterfly fauna more like the Rocky Mountains or Black Hills. Over 200 species of butterflies have been recorded in Nebraska, which is a higher number than most of our neighboring states. Some of our butterflies …

Do Worm Lizards Occur In Nebraska?, Louis A. Somma

Papers in Herpetology

Amphisbaenids, or worm lizards, are a small enigmatic suborder of reptiles (containing 4 families; ca. 140 species) within the order Squamata, which include~ the more speciose lizards and snakes (Gans 1986). The name amphisbaenia is derived from the mythical Amphisbaena (Topsell 1608; Aldrovandi 1640), a two-headed beast (one head at each end), whose fantastical description may have been based, in part, upon actual observations of living worm lizards (Druce 1910). While most are limbless and worm-like in appearance, members of the family Bipedidae (containing the single genus Bipes) have two forelimbs located close to the head. This trait, and …

Spiculopteragia Spiculoptera And S. Asymmetrica (Nematoda: Trichostrongyloidea) From Red Deer (Cervus Elaphus) In Texas, Lora G. Rickard, Eric P. Hoberg, Nancy M. Allen, Gary L. Zimmerman, Thomas M. Craig

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Specimens of Spiculopteragia spiculoptera and S. asymmetrica were recovered from the abomasa of five of ten naturally infected red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Texas (USA). Female specimens of Spiculopteragia were present in all five animals. Male specimens of S. spiculoptera and S. asymmetrica were present in one of five and three of five red deer, respectively. Spiculopteragia spiculoptera has not previously been recognized in the United States and the present report constitutes the first records of Spiculopteragia spp. in red deer from North America. It is likely that species of Spiculopteragia have been introduced to North America with …

Field Notes, Jonathan L. Dunnum

Division of Mammals - Field Notes and Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Specimen Catalog, Pablo M. Marquet

Division of Mammals - Field Notes and Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Specimen Catalog & Field Notes, Sara V. Brant

Division of Mammals - Field Notes and Catalogs

No abstract provided.

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 24, No.4 December 1992

The Prairie Naturalist

NEW VASCULAR PLANT RECORDS FOR NORTIl DAKOTA ▪ B. L. Heidel, A. J. Duxbury, W.T. Barker, and J. R. Challey

GROWTH OF BLUEGILLS AND YELLOW PERCH IN SOUTH DAKOTA WATERS ▪ D.w. Willis, J.P. Lott, C.S. Guy, and D.O. Lucchesi

SEASONAL VARIATION IN SAMPLING DATA FOR WALLEYE AND SAUGER COLLECTED WITH GILL NETS FROM LAKE SAKAKAWEA, NORTH DAKOTA ▪ S.W. Mero andD.W. Willis

OBSERVATIONS ON NESTING OF THE AMERICAN BITTERN IN NORTIlWEST MINNESOTA ▪ W D. Svedarsky

FOOD HABITS OF MOURNING DOVES IN EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA ▪ J.T. Van't Hul and J.A. Jenks

DISTRIBUTION OF TIlE PYGMY SHREW IN …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 24, No.3 September 1992

The Prairie Naturalist

VESICULAR-ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE IN BLOWOUT PENSTEMON ▪ T. R. Flessner and J. Stubbendieck

STATUS OF HAPLOPAPPUS FREMONTII A. GRAY SSP. MONOCEPHALUS (A. NELSON) HALL [ASTERACEAE] IN COLORADO ▪ K.A. Schulz and R.B. Shaw

HABITAT CHANGES ABOVE AND BELOW WATER PROJECTS ON THE NORTH PLATTE AND SOUTH PLATTE RIVERS IN NEBRASKA ▪ P. M. McDonald and J.G. Sidle

INSECT FLORAL VISITORS TO FOUR SPECIES OF TALL-GRASS PRAIRIE COMPOSITE (ASTERACEAE: HELIANTHEAE) ▪ J. A. Dickinson and M. J. McKone

SUMMER BIRD USE OF KANSAS WINDBREAKS ▪ T.T. Cable, R.L. Schroeder, V. Brack, Jr., and P.S. Cook

RING-NECKED PHEASANTS AND FOOD PLOT SIZE (GALLIFORMES: …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 24. No.2 June 1992

The Prairie Naturalist

FIRST FLOWERING DATES AND FLOWERING PERIODS OF PRAIRIE PLANTS AT WOODWORTH. NORTH DAKOTA ▪ J. M. Callow, J A. Kanlrud, and K.F. Higgins

PROBABLE DISTRIBUTION OF THE WOODCHUCK IN NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS ▪ J.R. Choate and T. W. Haner

NEST AND NEST SITE CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME GROUND-NESTING NON-PASSERINE BIRDS OF NORTHERN GRASSLANDS ▪ H A. Kantrud and K.F. Higgins

CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS FOR NORTH DAKOTA ▪ R.N. Randall

COMPARISON OF SIZE STRUCfURE AND CATCH RATE FOR LARGEMOUTH BASS SAMPLES COLLECTED BY ELECTROFlSHING AND ANGLING ▪ DJ. Isaak, T.D. Hill, and D.W. Willis

MULE DEER HABITAT USE IN THE NORTH DAKOTA …

Survey Of Mollusks Of The Platte River: Final Report, Patricia W. Freeman, Keith Perkins

School of Natural Resources: Faculty Publications

A survey of the mollusks of the Platte River was carried out during the summers of 1990 and 1991. With the exception of the Big Bend Reach of the River in Dawson, Buffalo and Hall counties, no unionids (mussels) were found in the main channel of the river. We found 11 species of mussels along the river and 16 species of snails at 49 different sites from east to west across the state. We found the Asiatic clam, a known, non-native, pest species, for the first time in the state placing it several hundred miles west of the present eastern …

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 24, No.1 March 1992

The Prairie Naturalist

HABITAT CONSERVATION FOR NESTING LEAST TERNS AND PIPING PLOVERS ON THE PLATTE RIVER, NEBRASKA ▪ J. W. Ziewitz, J. G. Sidle, and J. J. Dinan

DIURNAL FLIGHT TIME OF WINTERING CANADA GEESE: CONSIDERATION OF REFUGES AND FLIGHT ENERGETICS ▪ J. E. Austin and D. D. Humburg

MYCOTOXIN OCCURRENCE IN WASTE FIELD CORN AND INGESTA OF WILD GEESE IN THE NORTHERN GREAT PLAINS ▪ K. F. Higgins, R. M. Barta, R. G. Neiger, G. E. Rottinghaus, and R. I. Sterry

NOTES

Cost of Nest Reuse by Western Kingbirds ▪ T. M. Bergin

A New Record for Falcate Spurge in the Midwest …

Effects Of Moose Foraging On Browse Availability In New Hampshire Deer Yards, Michael T. Pruss, Peter J. Pekins

New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station Publications

Food habits of moose (Alces alces) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) overlap in northern New Hampshire during autumn and winter. High moose and deer densities in deer yards, where deer may be confined for extended periods, could result in competition for limited deciduous forage. The purpose of this study was to investigate possible impacts by moose on browse availability in deer yards, and the potential effects on deer. Fifteen deer yards were studied in northern New Hampshire during spring and fall, 1990-91. Unbrowsed and browsed deciduous twigs, and deer and moose pellet groups were counted on 900 permanent plots to …

Status, Production And Migration Of Greater Sandhill Cranes On Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge, Minnesota, Jon J. Dimatteo

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Greater sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) nesting at Agassiz National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in northwestern Minnesota were studied from 20 April 1984 to 10 December 1985. Local birds were monitored to determine population size and age structure, reproductive success, and migration routes and wintering grounds. Forty-two pairs were identified. Thirty-four were breeding pairs and 3 were subadult (nonbreeding) pairs. Twenty nests were found; pairs at 13 of these hatched at least 1 young. Forty-three pairs hatched a minimum of 62 young, and 28 pairs fledged 42 of 47 young. Fifteen birds were colormarked, 8 of which were radio-tagged …

An Evaluation Of Three Areas For Potential Populations Of Whooping Cranes, Janet L. Mcmillen, Stephen A. Nesbitt, Mary A. Bishop, Alan J. Bennett, Laurel A. Bennett

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Sandhill crane (Grus canadensis) populations were evaluated on the Seney NWR, Michigan, the Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia, and in southcentral Florida to evaluate their suitability to support introduced whooping cranes (G. americana). This paper compares data collected at these sites and additional data collected in northcentral Florida. The length of the egg-laying period varied from 4.5 months in central Florida to 1 month at Seney, but egg-laying ceased at all sites from mid-May to early June. Mean clutch sizes were similar 0.7-1.9). Renesting ranged from 79% in northcentral Florida to <=5% at Seney. These dates and values are consistent with nesting successes that ranged from 48% in northcentral Florida to 80% at Seney. Average annual recruitment, 12.3 juveniles/lOa adults, was highest on the Kissimmee Prairie in southcentral Florida. Average annual horne range size for the non-migratory populations were 1 km2 on the Okefenokee and 6.6 km2 on the Kissimmee. Nesting season horne range sizes ranged from 0.5 km2 on the Okefenokee to 1.8 km2 at Seney. All candidate populations successfully satisfied most of the guidelines for potential whooping crane populations as established by the Whooping Crane Recovery Team. Once reintroduction techniques have been refined, any or all of the study sites have the capacity to accommodate a flock of whooping cranes commensurate with Whooping Crane Recovery Team recommendations.

A Microcomputer Data Base For Managing Whooping Crane Observation Records, Duane A. Asherin, David B. Hamilton, Wendy M. Brown, Roderick C. Drewien

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

A database called WHOOPER contains whooping crane (Grus americana) observations for the Rocky Mountain foster-parent population and currently consists of 1,438 observations covering the period 1975-1987. The dBase III Plus database management system for microcomputers is used for the application. This description of the data base and its capabilities updates the prototype database described in the 1985 Crane Workshop.

Unobstructed Visibility At Whooping Crane Roost Sites On The Platte River, Nebraska, Craig A. Faanes

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Unobstructed visibility is an important component of whooping crane (Grus americana) roosting habitat. Recent habitat modeling efforts suggest that unobstructed horizontal visibility is suitable at a minimum of 335 m. Unobstructed upstream and downstream visibility is also an important part of whooping crane roosting habitat, but quantification of that parameter has not been reported previously, or incorporated into species models. Data from the Platte River suggest that a minimum of 732 m of unobstructed upstream and downstream visibility is needed at whooping crane roost sites.

Crane Propagation At Miami Metro Zoo, 1983–1987, Carol G. Hesch

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Five species of cranes are bred at Miami Metrozoo. Few health problems have been encountered in raising a large number of chicks. Rearing cranes in close confinement, with limited resources, requires sound management and careful observation.

Sandhill Crane Surveys In The Northern Interior Highlands Of Mexico, Roderick C. Drewien, Wendy M. Brown, Elwood G. Bizeau

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Most sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) wintering in Mexico are found in the northern Interior Highlands of Chihuahua. We surveyed sandhill cranes in the states of Chihuahua and occasionally Durango, Mexico, in winters 1972-90. The population averaged 23,106 (SD = 10,369) in 11 counts at 5-6 areas in Chihuahua. Laguna de Babicora, the most important wetland for cranes wintering in Mexico, had the largest numbers (X = 16,012), followed by Ascension (x = 2,405) and Laguna de los Mexicanos (x = 1,468). All 3 migratory subspecies were present. The lesser subspecies (G. c. canadensis) comprised 85.7% of …

Preliminary Identification Of Whooping Crane Staging Areas In Prairie Canada, Brian W. Johns

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

For 60 years a passive program has been in effect to monitor the migration of whooping cranes (Grus americana) through Saskatchewan, and currently the Canadian Wildlife Service coordinates a triprovincial reporting network and operates a telephone Hot Line to receive reports of sightings of migrating cranes. Analyses of historical data reported through those efforts have identified the chronology of migration, the migration corridor through Canada, and major staging/ stopover areas in Saskatchewan. Investigations are continuing to identify specific roost sites, feeding areas and the availability of suitable habitat within the staging/ stopover area.

Isolation-Rearing Of Siberian Crane Chicks At The International Crane Foundation, Meenakshi Nagendran, Robert H. Horwich

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Three Siberian crane (Grus leucogeranus) chicks hatched in the summer of 1987 at the International Crane Foundation (lCF); Baraboo, Wisconsin, were raised in near-complete isolation from humans. The chicks were exposed to species-specific models, vocalizations, a costumed "parent" and a role-model adult Siberian crane housed in an adjacent pen. Attachment to costumed "parent," interchick interaction, and reactions to humans were measured and compared with those aspects of sandhill crane behavior under similar rearing conditions.

Re-Pairing Of Whooping Cranes At Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Thomas V. Stehn

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Adult whooping cranes (Grus americana) on the winter range at Aransas NWR without mates may re-pair over a period of several months, while others remain un-paired throughout the winter. However, 1 association formed during the winter did not result in a pair bond.

Habitat Use By Florida Sandhill Cranes On The Kissimmee Prairie In Central Florida, Mary Anne Bishop

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Radio-tagged Florida sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis pratensis) were monitored for habitat use during 1985 and 1986 on the Kissimmee Prairie in central Florida. For both breeding and nonbreeding cranes, 93 % of the daytime locations were in 3 habitat types: cropland and plowed pasture, improved pasture, and palustrine emergent wetlands. Improved pasture was the most frequently used daytime habitat for both social classes. Radio locations were divided among 4 time blocks (3 diurnal, 1 nocturnal) and 4 3-month seasons. Time-of-day effects for use of wetlands and improved pasture were only marginally significant (1' < 0.08 and l' < 0.09, respectively) for breeders and not significant (1' < 0.30 and l' < 0.43, respectively) for nonbreeders. There was no significant difference in habitat use by breeders among seasons. Chi-square analyses of diurnal locations indicated that 4 of the 6 breeding cranes monitored used palustrine emergent wetlands more than their availability. The selection for wetlands reflects not only the rich food sources available, but also their use as midday loafing and drinking sites and as a source of cover that the upland habitats do not offer.

Cranes And Power Lines: An Analysis Of The Issue, Craig A. Faanes, Douglas H. Johnson

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

As part of a 1980-82 study, the flight behavior and mortality of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) was studied at 4 alkaline lake sites in central North Dakota. We analyzed the behavioral response of sandhill cranes in flight at powerline sites and examined factors associated with collisions with a power line structure. Several methods that can be used to reduce crane mortality at power line sites are discussed. Findings of several other research efforts that address crane mortality at power lines are summarized.

Population Status, Hunting Regulations, Hunting Activity, And Harvests Of Mid-Continent Sandhill Cranes, David E. Sharp, William D. Vogel

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

The mid·continent population of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis) was protected from 1916 until 1961, when hunting resumed on a limited basis. Areas open to hunting were experimentally expanded during 1961-72, but during the subsequent 1975-90 period only minor changes were made in the 8 Central Flyway states that established hunting seasons. Annual spring surveys conducted during 1982-90 indicated the population was stable at objective levels, with spring populations estimated at about 540,000 and fall flights near 590,000. Special federal hunting permits have been required for all bunters participating in regular seasons in the Central Flyway since 1975, where …

Contaminants In Habitat, Tissues, And Eggs Of Whooping Cranes, James C. Lewis, Roderick C. Drewien, Ernie Kuyt, Charles Sanchez Jr.

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

Sampling of contaminants in the principal habitat areas of whooping cranes (Grus americana) of both the Rocky Mountain and the Aransas/Wood Buffalo National Park whooping crane populations began in the mid-1980's. Contaminants in eggs and tissues of whooping cranes were sampled opportunistically since the 1960's. Chlorinated hydrocarbons existed in low levels in the environment. Some trace elements including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper. mercury, selenium, and zinc are of sufficient abundance to justify continued monitoring. Declines over time in residues of DDT and mercury in tissues and eggs reflected the prohibition in use of these as pesticides or …

Progress In Satellite Tracking Cranes, David H. Ellis, Dwight G. Smith, Glenn H. Olsen, Mark R. Fuller, Steven E. Landfried, Hiroyoshi Higuchi, Charles H. Vermillion

Proceedings of the North American Crane Workshop

We review the history of tracking cranes with satellite telemetry and identify some of the difficulties in designing satellite transmitters and harnesses for cranes. Miniaturization of these transmitters and a plethora of harnessing experiments since 1989 allow us to recommend limited application of this technology to all species of cranes. We are still uncertain, however, if cranes harnessed with satellite telemetry devices are able to reproduce after migration. Because of this uncertainty, we urge caution in the use of this technology, especially with breeding adults in severely endangered popUlations. This manuscript also describes continuing research needs.