Survey of historic populations of slackwater fish Species in Greatest Need of Conservation in the Cache River watershed

The Cache River watershed has a unique community of slackwater fishes which are associated with low gradient, low velocity backwater habitats that typically have silt and organic detritus substrata. Most of these slackwater fishes are classified as Species in Greatest Need of Conservation (SGNC) because of their rare and declining status in Illinois. Historic records of 13 slackwater fish SGNC were used to determine species presence at locations with records over 10 years old and identify new locations. The lack of recent records for slackwater fishes may have resulted from deficiency in sampling bottomland habitats, or partially due to habitat loss, heavy sedimentation and hydrologic alteration.Survey sites were selected by identifying historic locations with multiple target species (> 2 species) and by identifying stream reaches with similar habitat characteristics to sites with known locations of target fish species. Similar habitat characteristics were determined by using existing ArcGIS datalayers associated with stream structure (e.g., discharge, watershed landuse) and modeled to all streams within the Cache River watershed.Nine out of thirteen slackwater species were present at slackwater survey sites \including five species at modeled locations. Modeling stream characteristics to locate fish SGNCwas successful and this technique could be applied to future research to assist with filling ecological and distribution information gaps of rare species in need of conservation. This research also supports the need for targeted surveys as a valuable supplement to existing fish sampling programs that do not regularly sample habitats that are specific tosome fish SGNC.IDNR Wildlife Preservation Fund WPF 15-L16Wunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Otolith δ15N Distinguishes Fish from Forested and Agricultural Streams in Southern Illinois

We investigated the ability of otolith stable nitrogen isotope ratio (δ15N) to discriminate among fishes from southern Illinois streams that differed in proportions of watershed agricultural land. Otolith δ15N was nearly as effective as muscle δ15N in identifying fishes from individual sites with different percentages of agricultural land cover; both had accuracies of \u3e75%. However, because of the relatively low N content of otoliths, substantial amounts (~8 mg) of otolith material are required for δ15N analysis compared to fish muscle tissue (~0.3 mg), which precludes the use of otolith δ15N as an indicator of dietary and environmental history for small fishes

Hierarchical Framework for Wadeable Stream Management and Conservation: Annual Report 2013

We have consolidated and mapped biological information associated with existing criteria for INAI listing of wadeable streams. Threatened and Endangered species locations, fish Index of Biotic Integrity and Mussel Community Index values, and Mussel Species Richness from recent statewide surveys that meet existing criteria for INAI listing have been consolidated and mapped. Additional efforts were made toward developing standard methods for classifying and rating INAI Category I and Category VI sites.Work on this project continued with one full time research scientist and one part-time research scientist during the reporting period. We hired and added a second full time staff member nearthe end of the reporting period to focus on completion of Jobs 2 and 3.Our part-time graduate student worker completed georeferencing and quality assurance of Illinois EPT collections data that is now available for our use.Efforts to define AES polygons uncovered two unexpected but related issues with our existing GIS database system. A large number of very small areas (often < 1 meter wide but sometimes miles long) within the state had not been incorporated into the system. Secondly, some watershed polygons were found to have been misattributed to adjacent watersheds. These areas were generally at the boundaries of the processing units that were used in the initial database development. Identifying, incorporating, and attributing these areas has taken considerable time and delayed work on defining AESs (Job 3)Illinois Department of Natural Resources State Wildlife Grant Program (Project Number T-75-R-001)unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Revision and Update of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan's Streams Campaign: Final Report

We used new and existing information to revise and update the Streams Campaign of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan (IWAP). The draft produced is organized around six focalthemes and contains newly articulated goals developed with the assistance of the Streams Campaign Steering Committee. The draft includes sections describing the current status of aquatic habitats, stressors and threats to wildlife and habitats, focal species (selected to act as ecological indicators for effectiveness monitoring), focal areas, and conservation actions. We have also conducted a broad scale priority watershed analysis that identifies areas for protection and enhancement based on their bio logical richness and relative anthropogenic disturbance. Finally, we have identified potential performance measures for each of the Streams Campaign Implementation Goals.IDNR State Wildlife Grant Program Project Number T-97-R-001unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Hierarchical Framework for Wadeable Stream Management and Conservation: Final Report

This project produced a series of attributed GIS feature classes that describe nested classification units consisting of Ecological Drainage Units and Aquatic Ecological Systems that can be used for conservation and management planning for stream systems at a variety of landscape scales. Valley Segment Types were also developed for the 1:100,000 scale GIS that was available when the project was started but have not yet been redeveloped for the finer scale system (1:24,000). We also examined existing Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI) Natural Community Types (NCT), and Subtypes, associated with streams and identified areas that meet the physical descriptions of these NCTs based on stream size and gradient. We discuss the identification of natural features in terrestrial and stream systems within the initial development of the INAI and how this lead to differences in their evaluation and separation into different Categories (Category I: High Quality Natural Communities; Category VII: Outstanding Aquatic Features). An approach for defining and evaluating natural features for stream systems that is more similar to that used for terrestrial NCTs is presented. Information from recent and historical surveys of fish, mussels, and other invertebrate taxa was assembled for use in identifying potential Illinois Natural Areas Inventory (INAI) sites using existing criteria for streams. We identified stream reaches that contained current element of occurrence records for Illinois Endangered and Threatened fish and mussels including those that were not currently listed on the INAI that may qualify as Category II sites (Specific Suitable Habitat of Endangered and Threatened Species) and give recommendations for their further evaluation. These data were also used to identify stream reaches that may qualify for the INAI as Category VI (Unusual Concentration of Flora and Fauna). Additional guidance is provided for implementation of existing criteria that use mussel species richness, the mussel classification index, and the fish index of biotic integrity as criteria for qualifying as Category VI INAI sites.Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Natural HeritageIllinois Department of Natural Resources, State Wildlife Initiative Grants Program T-75-R-001unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Hierarchical Framework for Wadeable Stream Management and Conservation: Annual Report 2014

Work focused on integrating existing da ta for bio logi cal assemblage s with new GIS infrastruc ture and existing classificat ion efforts within Illinois (e.g., National Fish Habitat Partnership [Esselman et al. 2011]; Upper Mississippi River Basin Assessment [Khoury et al. 2011]). Updated fish and mussel data were prepa red for application within Ecological Drainage Unit s (EDU) and summarization with Aquatic Ecologi cal System (AES) being developed during this reporting pe riod. We have also incorporated an expa nded taxonomic resolut ion by adding informat ion from the Illinois Natural History Sur vey (INHS) collections database, and IEPA macroinvertebrate surveys for aquatic macroinvertebrates (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera or collectively EPT) throughout Illinois.Work on this project was mainly conduc ted by one part time research scientist for the majority of the reporting period due to delays in obtaining completed summarizes for the IDNR update GIS infrastructure. While EDU, AES, and VSTs were initially developed using the previous version their integration wit h the new system has been more difficult than anticipated and effectively delayed work on defining Natural Community Types (Job 5) which requires their use. This project will produce attributed GIS feature classes that describe a series of nested classification units that can be used for conservation and management planning for stream systems at a variety of landscape scales. A request for a second one year no-cost extension was accepted for the project during this reporting period.Illinois Department of Natural Resources Illinois State Wildlife Grant T-75-R-001unpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

MACROINVERTEBRATE RESPONSES TO REMOVAL OF RIPARIAN WOODY VEGETATION ALONG TALLGRASS PRAIRIE STREAMS

Woody vegetation encroachment has become a major threat to tallgrass prairie streams mainly because of fire suppression. This process converts prairie streams from open to closed canopy systems. The effects of these riparian changes are poorly understood, but the relative importance of basal resources presumably shifts from primarily autochthonous to allochthonous with increasing canopy cover, potentially altering macroinvertebrate functional structure and production. To assess the effects of woody vegetation encroachment on stream ecosystem structure and function, riparian trees were removed from two headwater stream reaches on the Konza Prairie Biological Station (KPBS) in eastern Kansas. Experimental stream reaches were compared to streams with naturally open and closed canopies before and after the manipulation. Benthic organic matter and macroinvertebrates were collected monthly from each reach for one year before and one year after woody vegetation removal. Total community production in canopy removal reaches ranged from 8.9-10.2 g AFDM m-2 y-1 before riparian removal, and this increased significantly to 13.4-14.5 g AFDM m-2 y-1 after riparian removal. Scraper production in canopy removal reaches was 2.8-3.9 g AFDM m-2 y-1 before riparian removal, and increased significantly to 6.0-8.7 g AFDM m-2 y-1 after riparian removal, presumably due to enhanced food availability. Total community production in naturally open reaches ranged from 7.6-12.6 g AFDM m-2 y-1 before riparian removal and decreased to 6.5-9.8 g AFDM m-2 y-1 after riparian removal. Riparian forest removal altered macroinvertebrate production and functional structure, but higher macroinvertebrate production in canopy removal reaches compared to naturally open reaches suggested natural conditions were not restored one year after riparian removal. However, macroinvertebrate communities in naturally open and canopy removal reaches became more similar after riparian removal. Functional structure, based on production, in naturally open and canopy removal reaches after riparian removal was dominated by scrapers (45-60% of total production), with similar proportions of collector-gatherers (12-26%) and predators (15-25%). Collector-filterers and shredders contributed \u3c 9% of total production in naturally open and canopy removal reaches after riparian removal. Results demonstrate that woody vegetation encroachment and riparian forest removal significantly influence tallgrass prairie stream structure and function. Information from this study can help inform and guide management, restoration, and conservation of remaining tallgrass prairie streams

Assessing Vulnerability of Coolwater Habitats in Illinois Wadeable Streams: Annual Report 2014

Study objectives were (1) Identify coolwater habitats and associated fish species on Illinois’ wadeable streams; (2) Characterize thermal and flow regimes under current conditions and scenarios describing landcover and climate change; (3) Assess vulnerability (sensitivity and exposure) of thermal and flow regimes to landcover and climate changes for coolwater reaches; (4) Examine potential changes in fish species distributions and connectivity of their associated habitats; (5) provide annual and final reports that include an assessment of vulnerability to alterations in landcover and climate projected to occur in Illinois.IDNR State Wildlife Grant ProgramU.S. Fish & Wildlife Serviceunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe