Notes: Oriental Bittersweet in Grasslands Near Eastern Bluebird Nest Boxes

Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.; hereafter OB) is an invasive, woody vine that has been expanding its range westward in North America since its introduction from East Asia in the mid-1700s for horticultural purposes (Albright et al. 2009, United States Department of Agriculture [USDA] 2012). Although typically a woodland problem in the United States (McNab and Meeker 1987), OB can invade grassland habitats (Fike and Niering 1999), likely sprouting from seeds dropped by birds and mammals (McNab and Meeker 1987, Greenberg et al. 2001, Sarver et al. 2008) and often developing into large, shrub-like tangles of intertwining stems (Fike and Niering 1999). Once established, OB can easily out-compete native plants because of its superior growth rate, high seed production, and high rates of seed dispersal and germination (Greenberg et al. 2001, Leicht and Silander 2006, Leicht-Young et al. 2007a, b). Oriental bittersweet was first reported in Minnesota in 2010, although it likely was present previous to that date (Minnesota Department of Agriculture [MDA] 2012, USDA 2012). Oriental bittersweet occurs mainly along highway corridors and has converted the forest-grassland edge habitat into OB monoculture jungles, overrunning and killing shrubs and trees. In many areas in southeastern Minnesota, OB has invaded deeper into grasslands along fence lines and around isolated shrubs and artificial nest boxes placed for eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis; N. D. Mundahl, Winona State University, unpublished data)

Stream Fishes Estimate Water Quality in Dayton-Montgomery County Park District Reserves

Author Institution: Department of Zoology, Miami University-MiddletownInformation on fish communities within seven streams and rivers in or near Dayton-Montgomery County Park District reserves was collected and analyzed to compile a preliminary species list for Park District waters and to estimate water quality of the streams. Fifty-two species of fishes were found in lotic habitats in or near the reserves, and more extensive sampling likely will reveal the presence of additional species. Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scoring of the fish communities indicated that water quality within the reserves ranged from fair to exceptional. It would appear that improvements of water quality and fish communities within the reserves may require changes in wastewater treatment outfalls and stream drainage land-use practices

Notes: Oriental Bittersweet in Grasslands Near Eastern Bluebird Nest Boxes

Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb.; hereafter OB) is an invasive, woody vine that has been expanding its range westward in North America since its introduction from East Asia in the mid-1700s for horticultural purposes (Albright et al. 2009, United States Department of Agriculture [USDA] 2012). Although typically a woodland problem in the United States (McNab and Meeker 1987), OB can invade grassland habitats (Fike and Niering 1999), likely sprouting from seeds dropped by birds and mammals (McNab and Meeker 1987, Greenberg et al. 2001, Sarver et al. 2008) and often developing into large, shrub-like tangles of intertwining stems (Fike and Niering 1999). Once established, OB can easily out-compete native plants because of its superior growth rate, high seed production, and high rates of seed dispersal and germination (Greenberg et al. 2001, Leicht and Silander 2006, Leicht-Young et al. 2007a, b). Oriental bittersweet was first reported in Minnesota in 2010, although it likely was present previous to that date (Minnesota Department of Agriculture [MDA] 2012, USDA 2012). Oriental bittersweet occurs mainly along highway corridors and has converted the forest-grassland edge habitat into OB monoculture jungles, overrunning and killing shrubs and trees. In many areas in southeastern Minnesota, OB has invaded deeper into grasslands along fence lines and around isolated shrubs and artificial nest boxes placed for eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis; N. D. Mundahl, Winona State University, unpublished data)

Reproductive Failure in Largeleaf Wild Indigo in a Restored Prairie in Southeastern Minnesota

Native prairie restorations in many regions of the United States have been hindered by various herbivores consuming plant reproductive parts or products. I conducted field studies of a population of largeleaf wild indigo (Baptisia lactea) on a restored prairie in southeastern Minnesota during the growing seasons of 2010–2012 to determine the cause(s) of repeated reproductive failure. I assessed plants for browsing damage caused by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during the period of flowering and with a deer exclosure experiment involving caged and non-caged plants. I compared reproductive output (numbers of seed pods, viable seeds) of caged plants to non-caged plants at the end of the growing season. I conducted surveys for Say’s blister beetles (Lytta sayi) during plant flowering in June, and for indigo weevils (Apion rostrum) in seed pods at the end of the wildindigo growing season. Deer browsing damaged 46% of wild indigo plants, destroying 14% of the flowers of the indigo population during June. Neither the numbers of seed pods nor viable seeds differed significantly between caged and non-caged plants in October. Blister beetles were present and consumed wild indigo flowers only during June 2011, but numbers exceeded 25 beetles/ wild indigo plant. High weevil abundances ( = 3.1 weevils/seed pod, SD = 2.3) in 2010 (n = 88) and 2011 (n = 27) resulted in heavy seed predation and high seed pod abortion. Overall seed production averaged/plant during 2010 and 2011, with more than 80% of plants not producing a single viable seed. Taken together, browsing by deer, herbivory by blister beetles and weevils, and pollination failure reduced potential reproductive output of the Kramer Ridge wild indigo population by \u3e99% during the study period

Potential Influence of Suspended Sediments on the Population Dynamics and Behavior of Filter-Feeding <i>Brachycentrus occidentalis</i> (Trichoptera: Brachycentridae) Larvae in a Southeastern Minnesota, USA, Trout Stream

Suspended and deposited sediments in streams can interfere with filter-feeding caddisfly larvae by reducing feeding sites and feeding efficiency, potentially lowering the densities, growth rates, and secondary production of an important trout prey. We conducted field studies at multiple stream sites with differing suspended-sediment loads, and a laboratory study was conducted under controlled conditions; together, these were designed to examine the role of suspended sediments in the population dynamics and behavior of Brachycentrus occidentalis (Trichoptera: Brachycentridae) larvae in a Minnesota, USA, trout stream. Stream sites that had elevated turbidities and elevated levels of suspended sediments also had significantly more fine bottom substrates and higher substrate embeddedness. In addition, Brachycentrus densities were reduced, growth rates were slower, secondary production was reduced, and the overall benthic macroinvertebrate taxa richness was lowest at the site with the highest suspended-sediment loading. Colder water temperatures at one site also influenced Brachycentrus production. In 24 h laboratory studies conducted in recirculating aquaria, the feeding activities of Brachycentrus larvae were reduced and their positioning altered under high turbidities (500 nephelometric turbidity units, NTU) relative to low turbidities (50 NTU or lower). High suspended-sediment loads have adversely affected filter-feeding caddisfly larvae by embedding and burying preferred coarse feeding substrates, altering their feeding positions and movements during the highest flows, and potentially impacting densities, growth rates, and secondary production

Diets, Condition, and Reproductive Fitness of Slimy Sculpin (<i>Uranidea cognata</i>) after Catastrophic Flooding in Trout Streams in Southeastern Minnesota, USA

Slimy sculpin (Uranidea cognata) inhabit coldwater streams in southeastern Minnesota, USA, many of which were subjected to probable 2000-year flood events in August 2007. Floods scoured streambeds, created new stream channels, and greatly reduced benthic invertebrate communities that serve as the primary food resource for sculpin. Diets and Fulton condition of sculpin in Gilmore Creek (with moderate flooding) and Garvin Brook (with very severe flooding) had been examined just prior to flooding and were re-examined 2 weeks after flooding to assess possible diet and condition changes. Diets, body condition, and reproductive fitness of sculpin were examined 7 months post-flood in these same two streams, plus nearby Trout Run (which also experienced very severe flooding). Sculpin condition declined slightly post-flood in Garvin Brook but improved in Gilmore Creek. Prior to spring spawning, the condition of Garvin Brook sculpin had improved, but Gilmore Creek fish condition had worsened. Sculpin diets were more diverse before and after flooding in Gilmore Creek than in Garvin Brook, although the diets of fish from both streams were dominated (>55%) by midge (Diptera: Chironomidae) larvae. Diets remained largely unchanged before versus after flooding in the more severely flooded Garvin Brook, but they changed in Gilmore Creek, becoming more midge-dominated. Prey number per sculpin stomach declined post-flood in Gilmore Creek but not in Garvin Brook, although the dry mass of prey/fish wet mass declined post-flood in both streams. Pre-spawn sculpin displayed no patterns in reproductive fitness (gonadosomatic index, hepatosomatic index, oocyte number) among the three streams that may have been related to flooding severity the previous summer. Sculpin diets and condition were not altered as expected by flooding, and food resource recovery apparently was rapid enough to prevent longer-term impacts on sculpin condition and reproductive fitness in the streams examined

Reproductive Failure in Largeleaf Wild Indigo in a Restored Prairie in Southeastern Minnesota

Native prairie restorations in many regions of the United States have been hindered by various herbivores consuming plant reproductive parts or products. I conducted field studies of a population of largeleaf wild indigo (Baptisia lactea) on a restored prairie in southeastern Minnesota during the growing seasons of 2010–2012 to determine the cause(s) of repeated reproductive failure. I assessed plants for browsing damage caused by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during the period of flowering and with a deer exclosure experiment involving caged and non-caged plants. I compared reproductive output (numbers of seed pods, viable seeds) of caged plants to non-caged plants at the end of the growing season. I conducted surveys for Say’s blister beetles (Lytta sayi) during plant flowering in June, and for indigo weevils (Apion rostrum) in seed pods at the end of the wildindigo growing season. Deer browsing damaged 46% of wild indigo plants, destroying 14% of the flowers of the indigo population during June. Neither the numbers of seed pods nor viable seeds differed significantly between caged and non-caged plants in October. Blister beetles were present and consumed wild indigo flowers only during June 2011, but numbers exceeded 25 beetles/ wild indigo plant. High weevil abundances ( = 3.1 weevils/seed pod, SD = 2.3) in 2010 (n = 88) and 2011 (n = 27) resulted in heavy seed predation and high seed pod abortion. Overall seed production averaged/plant during 2010 and 2011, with more than 80% of plants not producing a single viable seed. Taken together, browsing by deer, herbivory by blister beetles and weevils, and pollination failure reduced potential reproductive output of the Kramer Ridge wild indigo population by \u3e99% during the study period

Condition, Reproductive Fitness, and Fluctuating Asymmetry in Brook Stickleback: Responses to Anthropogenic Runoff

Multiple indicators have been used to assess the degree of exposure of fish to anthropogenic chemicals in their stream habitats. We hypothesized that brook stickleback (Culaea inconstans) in a headwater stream receiving urban and agricultural runoff (South Fork Whitewater River, SFWR) would exhibit poorer condition, reduced reproductive fitness, and a greater left side to right side morphological asymmetry (i.e., fluctuating asymmetry or FA) than fish from a nearby headwater stream with a forested drainage basin (Garvin Brook). Male and female fish were collected from both streams just prior to spawning in 2013–2015. In 2013 and 2014, fish were assessed for overall condition (Fulton’s K), internal measures of condition (hepatosomatic index, HSI) and reproductive fitness (gonadosomatic index [GSI], total oocyte count, and oocyte mass). In 2015, measurements of head length, jaw length, eye diameter, pectoral fin length, and pelvic fin length were made on both sides of each fish for assessing degree of FA. We observed declining condition with fish size, increased liver size, and reduced oocyte counts and oocyte size in female brook stickleback in SFWR relative to those from Garvin Brook. SFWR females had significantly higher FA than Garvin females for all structures assessed, except pelvic fin length. FA also was slightly higher for all structures in SFWR males compared to Garvin males, but differences were not significant. A composite FA index combining all measurements from an individual fish into a single value displayed highly significant differences for female fish (SFWR FA >> Garvin FA), but not for male fish (SFWR FA = Garvin FA). Exposure of brook stickleback to reduced water quality in SFWR during early development appears to increase morphological asymmetry in female (but not male) fish, and continuing exposure to compromised water quality throughout life impacts both general condition and reproductive fitness of stickleback, especially older female fish, in SFWR

A plan for industrial park creation, lake dredging, and wetland restoration at Winona, Minnesota

From executive summary: This document provides information pertinent to: 1) creating an industrial park within Winona\u27s flood dikes by filling a drained wetland with dredged sand from Lake Winona, 2) deepening the east basin of Lake Winona by dredging, thus improving the shallow eutrophic lake and providing the necessary fill for the industrial park, and 3) mitigating the loss of wetland within the industrial park by restoring degraded wetlands adjacent to Lake Winona.https://openriver.winona.edu/calfremlingpapers/1101/thumbnail.jp