Ecology and Contaminant Exposure of Lake Calumet Black-Crowned Night Herons: Population Levels and Nesting Ecology: Final Report

Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Preservation Grantunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Acute Toxicity Test of Zinc Shot on Game-farm Mallards: Preliminary Report

unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Intersexuality and the Cricket Frog Decline: Historic and Geographic Trends

Exposure to anthropogenic endocrine disruptors has been listed as one of several potential causes of amphibian declines in recent years. We examined gonads of 814 cricket frogs (Acris crepitans) collected in Illinois and deposited in museum collections to elucidate relationships between the decline of this species in Illinois and the spatial and temporal distribution of individuals with intersex gonads. Compared with the preorganochlorine era studied (1852–1929), the percentage of intersex cricket frogs increased during the period of industrial growth and initial uses of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (1930–1945), was highest during the greatest manufacture and use of p,p-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and PCBs (1946–1959), began declining with the increase in public concern and environmental regulations that reduced and then prevented sales of DDT in the United States (1960–1979), and continued to decline through the period of gradual reductions in environmental residues of organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in the midwestern United States (1980–2001). The proportion of intersex individuals among those frogs was highest in the heavily industrialized and urbanized northeastern portion of Illinois, intermediate in the intensively farmed central and northwestern areas, and lowest in the less intensively managed and ecologically more diverse southern part of the state. Records of deposits of cricket frog specimens into museum collections indicate a marked reduction in numbers from northeastern Illinois in recent decades. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that endocrine disruption contributed to the decline of cricket frogs in Illinois

Effects of Diet and Soil Ingestion on the Toxicty of Zinc Shot to Game-Farm Mallards: Final Report

unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Factors Determining Diving Duck Condition and Habitat Quality during Spring Migration in the Upper Midwest

The Illinois and Mississippi river corridors historically provide critical stopover habitat for spring-migrating diving ducks (Havera 1999). However, recent evidence suggests that wetlands associated with these river systems in the region provide limited seed and invertebrate biomass during spring (Straub et al. 2012). We evaluated habitat quality throughout the upper Midwest during springs 2014–2015 by sampling foods available to diving ducks and examining an index of daily lipid deposition of lethally collected lesser scaup and canvasbacks (DLDs; Anteau and Afton 2008b). We related habitat quality metrics to body condition, determined by proximate analyses, and habitat selection of diving ducks.Additionally, we estimated levels of the stress hormone, corticosterone, and bioaccumulated hepatic elements to describe physiological condition of lesser scaup at Midwest stopover locations. Our data indicate that regional differences in body condition, stress levels, nutrient acquisition, foraging patch selection, and foraging area selection were more important than other factors (e.g., food densities) during spring migration.We observed low food densities, diverse diets, and negative energy balances, suggesting that food may be limited for diving ducks during spring. In particular, lack of evidence for patch and area selection may indicate that diving ducks are often unable to differentiate foraging patches based on energetic value. Additionally, other stressors such as introduced parasites may be an emerging threat to lesser scaup populations and important contributors to the Spring Condition Hypothesis (England 2016).unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

A Preliminary Assessment of Isoflavones in an Agricultural Environment

Isoflavones are phytoestrogens that are abundant in the legume family. Little information exists on the presence of these compounds in the agricultural environment. We conducted a preliminary investigation of selected phytoestrogens in a small highly-cultivated watershed in central Illinois. Paired water and sediment samples were collected from 7 different locations in central Illinois during 2007 and analyzed for a suite of 14 phytoestrogens, including 12 isoflavones, coumestrol,and flavone (used as an internal standard). Seven of the phytoestrogens we measured were detected in low concentrations (parts per trillion) in water, whereas eight analytes were observed in sediment samples at higher concentrations (parts per billion) than in water samples. Our results suggested seasonality to the observed presence of these compounds. Based on the patterns observed in parent compounds and their metabolites, it appears that there are multiple sources of these phytoestrogens in the agricultural environment. Additional studies to further elucidate the patterns observed in this pilot study are warranted. [Editorial note: This project was funded by ISTC on a limited basis as a seed project. There were some analytical issues due to severe matrix suppression in LC/MS which may limit the usefulness of some of the results and these should be taken into consideration as readers view the report.]published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

Illinois Waterfowl Harvest, Hunter Activity, and Attitudes Toward Duck Shooting Time, Goose Season Dates, and Shotgun Shell Limit for Goose Hunters, in 1993-94

Waterfowl Program Periodic Report no. 81Report issued on: June 9, 199

Results of the 1997 Illinois Mourning Dove Hunter Survey

ID: 889; Job Completion Report, Federal Aid Project Number: W-112-R, As required by Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, IllinoisReport issued on: December 14, 199