Water consumption of Central Platte River riparian vegetation
David L. Rus (United States Geological Survey, Lincoln, NE)
A Partnership between the U.S. Geological Survey, the Central Platte Natural Resources District and the Nebraska Environmental Trust
Summary
Changes in land use have included the establishment of permanent riparian woodlands that have been presumed to be consuming large volumes of surface- and ground-water supplies in comparison to riparian grasslands that exist along the Platte River corridor. Unfortunately, a direct comparison of riparian water use between woodlands and grasslands has not been done in Nebraska. This study proposes to make that comparison by expanding an existing study focusing on woodlands to include a grassland site. Measurements of water consumption will continue at an existing riparian woodland site near Odessa, Nebraska using micrometeorological equipment, soil moisture sensors, and ground-water-level monitoring. A similar measurement system will be established at a riparian grassland site for direct comparison between the two riparian vegetation types. Additionally, ground water use computed from daily water level fluctuation will be compared to the depth to ground water at monitoring wells associated with different riparian vegetation. These comparisons will be used to identify critical depths at which ground water use occurs for different riparian vegetation settings.
Objectives and Scope
1. Quantify water consumption rates of riparian grasslands and woodlands along the Platte River.
2. Compare water consumption rates of riparian grasslands and woodlands along the Platte River in order to understand how these natural riparian vegetation covers influence water availability in Nebraska.
3. Compile and analyze existing ground-water level data to identify critical depths to water below which vegetation does not directly utilize ground water as a water source.
Data collection began in September 2007 and will continue through at least September 2009 at two sites located near Odessa, NE (woodland site) and Elm Creek, NE (grassland site).
Title: Forecasting The Invasion And Distribution Potential Of Non-Native Plant Species In Nebraska Researchers: Justin Williams and Craig Allen Description: Thousands of non-native plant species are established outside of cultivated areas in many countries. These species have the potential to become invasive, which poses both ecological and economic risks to ecosystems. Methods for anticipating the threat of potentially invasive species would allow managers to make informed decisions and take action to exclude or mitigate harmful species before they are established. The objective of my research is to determine the invasion and distribution potential of non-native plant species in Nebraska. My research will entail two main components. First, I will combine existing data from scientific collections, agency reports, literature review, and solicited expert opinion to rank the risk of potentially invasive species. I will use the I-Rank risk assessment framework, a qualitative species assessment designed to rank invasion threat or impact of non-native species. Second, I will select a subset of species and predict their potential geographic range in Nebraska. I will use classification trees to model the species’ potential range using species’ occurrence data and environmental predictive variables. Together, these two research components will yield information about which species pose the greatest invasion risk and where in Nebraska they are likely to occur.
Title: Understanding Invasions and Extinctions Researchers: Aaron Lotz and Craig Allen Description: Mediterranean-climate regions support large human populations resulting in extensive, and outside the Mediterranean Basin proper, rapid, anthropogenic transformation. Compared to other continental areas, Mediterranean regions have been invaded by a large number of non-indigenous organisms, including vertebrates. Concomitant with invasions, declines and extinctions have transformed the faunas of Mediterranean ecoregions. Goal: Project objectives are to 1) compare the vertebrate body mass structures of Mediterranean-climate ecosystems, and 2) examine the effects of invasions and extinctions in Mediterranean-climate ecosystems on body mass structure and alpha, beta and gamma diversity.
Title: Spatial Risk Assessment of Invasive Species Impacts in Native Species in Nebraska Researchers: Thad Miller and Craig Allen Description: This project conducts spatially-based risk analyses for species and communities identified as at- risk. This project focuses on assessments of the risk to native species from non-native invasive species in Nebraska. It will also conduct community-level risk assessments to evaluate the risk faced by those communities identified as “at-risk” by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Legacy Project. Modeling of both stressors and targets will be based on species-habitat associations with the use of relevant auxiliary data, as per Gap Analysis protocols. Several different GIS landcovers are available for the State of Nebraska and we will likely have to make use of several of them, as all have different strengths and weaknesses. Where possible, we will utilize the methods described in Allen et al. (2001) to incorporate minimum viable population modeling based on minimum critical areas for vertebrate models. Products will include spatial models of stressors and targets, models of spatial overlap, hazard indices, and relative risk indices for each target. Stressors (invasive species on the Nebraska Watch List) and targets have been identified and modeling is currently underway.GOALS: This project conducts spatially-based risk analyses for species and communities identified as at-risk by the Nebraska Legacy Project. Stressors are invasive species on the Nebraska noxious weed watch list. Results may provide guidance for invasive species surveillance and monitoring, and prioritize research and management needs regarding specifics of impacts.
Title: The Relationship between Diversity and Ecological Functions in Wet-Mesic Tallgrass Prairie Restorations Researchers: Craig Allen, Kristine Nemec, Chris Helzer Description: The relationship between restoration diversity and ecological functions, such as soil development, invasion resistance, and herbivore control, remains poorly understood. Invasion by aggressive plant species, erosion of diversity over time, and failure to withstand drought or other disturbances are all possible results of unsuccessful restoration efforts. Because restoration of grasslands is an important on-going management activity on many public lands in Nebraska, we are investigating the relationship between species diversity in prairie restorations, and ecological functions along the Platte River in south-central Nebraska. We established twenty-four 0.30-hectare plots which are planted to six replicates of four treatments: high diversity sites of ~100 species, high diversity sites at twice the normal seeding rates (to be similar to NRCS practices), and CP-25 sites (15 species) at normal and half-normal seeding rates. These sites will be used to assess invasion resistiance among the treatments, soil development, and the populations of nematodes, surface-dwelling predatory invertebrates, and aboveground predatory invertebrates.
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Title: Predicting the invasiveness of introduced plants based on plant demography Researchers Involved: Brigitte Tenhumberg, Richard Rebarber Description: Population projection models (PPM) are widely used to predict population dynamics because different life history attributes can be incorporated in PPM’s, estimating model parameters is straightforward, and the prediction of the population growth rate is a measure of population performance. We will perform a meta-analysis of matrix models to find general pattern of life history traits that predict invasiveness of exotic species.
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Title:Avian Response to Invasive Tree Removal in Remnant Prairie Pastures in Southeast Nebraska Researchers: Elizabeth Forbus, Craig Allen Description: Study response of grassland bird species to the removal of red cedar and other invasive trees on pastures in southeast Nebraska. We're collecting pre- and post-treatment data on species densities on privately owned prairie pastures in four counties of southeast Nebraska and modeling predictors of bird response.
Title: (1) Non-target effects of weed biological control insects (2) Thistle population biology and dynamics in the Great Plains Researchers: Dr. Svata M. Louda (and graduate students), Dr. F. Leland
Russell (Wichita State University), Dr. Linda Qvarnemark, Dr. Tatyana Rand, Dr.
Amy Arnett Description: We focus on the basic ecology of plants, especially thistle
species, and the biological control insects introduced to control them. Our
findings suggest (1) that insect herbivory is an important factor in thistle
population dynamics, (2) that standard screening protocols for the introduction
of exotic biological control agents for weeds are necessary but not sufficient
to protect native species, and (3) that native thistles are important providers
of natural enemies, and so biotic resistance to invasion by exotic relatives of
our native thistles (and so providing a significant economic benefit and should
be maintained).
Title: Sustaining Nebraska’s Natural Heritage by Enhancing Access to the Bessey Herbarium Vascular Plant Specimens Researchers Involved: Rachel Simpson (PI), Research Assistant Professor, School of Natural Resources
Robert Kaul (Co-PI), Curator, Bessey Herbarium,
Thomas Labedz, Collections Manager, Bessey Herbarium, Linda Rader, Collections Assistant, Bessey Herbarium Description: The rich botanical heritage of the Great Plains is documented in the collections of the Charles E. Bessey Herbarium, which contains many of the oldest specimens of the region, dating from the mid-1800s. With funding from the “Museums for America” program, of the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Herbarium's database of information about some of its vascular plant collections will be prepared for a long-range cataloging effort with updated software, and the current content will be enriched by adding geospatial coordinates. Textual information associated with thousands of specimens collected in Nebraska will be computerized, using database software specifically designed for managing natural history museum collections. An interactive mapping system will provide online access to the information.
Creation of the original database was supported by the National Science Foundation. The database software used is Specify (University of Kansas). The database currently holds information about over 62,000 vascular plant specimens from across North America, including over 30,000 from Nebraska.
The IMLS-funded project, which began in September 2006, is a partnership between the School of Natural Resources and the University of Nebraska State Museum. The project team includes personnel from both units. The interactive mapping system will be hosted by the School’s Center for Advanced Land Management Information Technologies (CALMIT).
Title: Evalualtion of Landowner Incentives Program (LIP)
The size of the Landowner Incentive Programs and Partnerships in terms of funding, cooperation and stakeholder involvement requires an assessment of program success. Such an assessment should be an adaptive process that will continue throughout the implementation of the program. During this early stage of the Landowner Incentives Program, the assessment needs to proceed on two fronts: landowner involvement and the response of species at risk.
GOALS: This research project focuses on the response of species at risk. Assessment has focused on elements that are likely to respond rapidly, such as vegetation structure (which are directly manipulated in the LIP), insect communities (which have short generation times), and bird communities (which respond to vegetative structure).
Western Meadowlark (USFWS)CURRENT STATUS: In 2005, pretreatment, base-line data were collected and followed by the removal of invasive trees such as red cedar. This data included assessment of vegetation using the Floristic Quality Index, and estimation of bird densities. Herpetofauna data was collected using coverboards, but was sparse and discontinued for 2006. The second, 2006, season of data collection focused on bird species using transect methods, and is currently being analyzed.
This project is complete with results compiled into a master’s thesis. Changes in bird species and populations resulting from tree removal did not reflect a basic shift from woodland to grassland species. In some cases, large piles of unburned trees continue to provide cover or nesting habitat for woodland species within a grassland environment.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Beth Forbus (MS 2007)
TECHNICIANS: Meghan Halabisky, Ryan Rezac, Chad Brock, Lizette Peters
FUNDING: The U.S. Geological Survey, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Landowner Incentives Program (LIP)
PROJECT PI: Craig R. Allen, NE CFWRU
Fish
Title: Population Assessment of Channel Catfish in Nebraska
To aid in the management of channel catfish populations in Nebraska—a fish highly desired by anglers—the Nebraska Game and Parks Commssion (NGPC) currently samples catfish in reservoirs using gill nets set during autumn. The NGPC fisheries management would like to shift to a new methodology for standard catfish sampling that has been used by a number of midwest states: tandem, baited hoop-net series for lentic catfish sampling. This project will provide baseline information on channel catfish populations in Nebraska's lentic systems as measured using tandem-bated hoop nets, describe differences in population charateristics among water-body types, and stocking protocols. Further, we will compare indices of population characteristics derivwed from two different sampling methods—the gill net method, and the tandem-bated hoop nets method.Dan and Nick Dobesh hauling in catfish (courtesy of Lindsey Ricthers)
GOALS: The purpose of the project is to gain an understanding of the present variability in the dynamics (recruitment, growth and mortality) and structure (abundance, size- and age-structure, and condition) of channel catfish populations found in reservoirs throughout Nebraska. This information will help managers determine the need for future stockings and harvest regulations of channel catfish.
CURRENT STATUS: Lindsey Richters and her field technicians completed the first sampling season this past summer on 18 water bodies across Nebraska with 2,200 catfish collected. The second field season will begin summer 2009.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT: Lindsey Richters
TECHNICIANS: Chad Dobesh and Nick Dobesh
FUNDING: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
PROJECT PI: Kevin Pope, NE CFWRU
Title: Aquatic Invasive Species Research - Evaluating Asian carp colonization potential and impact in the Great Lakes. National Sea Grant. 2005-7 Researchers: Mark Pegg (UNL), Walter Hill (Illinois Natural History Survey), John Dettmers (Great Lakes Fisheries Commission), Robert Herendeen (Illinois Natural History Survey) Description: A bioenergetics modeling approach will be used to answer questions concerning the ability of Asian carp to colonize in Lake Michigan given the unknowns about food use and temperature constraints. The objectives of the overall project are to use bioenergetics to predict Asian carp growth and consumption in the Great Lakes, perform mesocosm experiments to verify these predictions, determine where in the Great Lakes Asian carp are likely to colonize, and predict the potential impacts of Asian carp on the plankton communities of the Great Lakes.
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Title: Impact of White Perch on Walleye and Predators of White Perch at Branched Oak and Pawnee Reservoirs Researchers: Nathan Gosch and Kevin Pope Description: Habitat alterations and accidental introduction of white perch into Branched Oak Lake have shifted the fish community from one dominated by littoral (near-shore) species (e.g., largemouth bass and bluegill) to one dominated by pelagic (open-water) species (e.g., white perch and gizzard shad). Along with the change in the fish community, angler trips to Branched Oak Reservoir have declined by 85% over the last two decades. Further, the white perch population has become stunted (high density of slow growing individuals that mature at a small size). Like Branched Oak Lake, Pawnee Lakehistoricallysupported an active and diverse fishery, and has experienced similar habitat alterations and accidental introduction of white perch. However, unlike Branched Oak Lake, stunting has not yet occurred for the white perch population in Pawnee Lake. These two companion projects are an opportunity to examine whiteperch interactions with other fishes in two similar Nebraska reservoirs having different white perch population stages (i.e., stunted and non-stunted). Food habits and diet overlap among white perch, crappie, walleye, white bass, and channel catfish are being evaluated.GOALS: This project will help document potential competition bottlenecks that exist between white perch and other fish species of importance in the hopes ofdeveloping a management program to eliminate stunted status for the white perch population in Branched Oak Lake and to prevent stunting of the whiteperch population in Pawnee Lake.
Angler Response to Reservoir Management
GOALS: Natural resource agencies invest substantial resources to recruit anglers—the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is no different. However, there is little understanding of human motives for participation in angling activities. Even less is known about how management actions influence the participation patterns of anglers. This project will provide baseline information of angler-participation patterns on different spatial and temporal scales, and assess changes in angler participation in response to changes in management actions. In addition, this project will document how the harvest of sexually dimorphic fishes varies with different regulations (i.e., length limits) in order to better understand how harvest regulations affect sportfish populations.
CURRENT STATUS: This new project began in January, 2009. Preparations are underway to initiate field research in mid-March 2009.
GRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANTS: Dustin Martin, Carla Knight, Alexis Maple, Peter Spirk
2009 CREEL CLERKS: Randy Fusselman, Ron Grandi, Ross Juelfs, Rhonda Lawing, Gerald Schmitt, Chris Trumler, Toby Welch
RESEARCH TECHNOLOGIST: Tony Barada
RESEARCH TECHNICIANS: Dan Dobesh, Chris Hedgecock
FUNDING: Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
PROJECT PI: Kevin Pope, NE CFWRU
Angling is the most important factor influencing fish populations. For example, populations of largemouth bass and walleye frequently exhibit “stockpiling” of fish just below the minimum length limit. Even so, fishery biologists rarely incorporate spatial and temporal patterns in angler participation into management strategies, probably because little is understood about angler decisions to participate in the sport. Anglers are influenced by numerous factors when selecting fishing sites. For example, angler effort may be related directly to fish densities within any one lake and influenced by the regulation strategy in place on that lake. Furthermore, fish densities and angling participation are dynamic (i.e., vary from year to year and from lake to lake).
There exists interplay between angler participation and quality of fish in a lake. Variability in recruitment of fish among lakes should increase dispersion in densities of fish across a region, whereas movement of anglers among lakes should decrease dispersion in densities of fish across a region. Unlike fishery management efforts that in general operate on a local scale (i.e., single lake), these counteractive forces are likely stronger on a regional scale. Thus, incorporation of spatial and temporal patterns in angler participation into fishery management likely will require a shift in focus from lake-specific management to regional management. This shift in focus would be facilitated by an understanding of angler-participation patterns.
Scientists with the Nebraska Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, which is housed at the University of Nebraska—Lincoln, initiated a 5-year study to gain a better understanding of angler participation and its influence on fish populations. Components of this study include development of models that (a) describe patterns of angler participation within a region (specifically focusing on the Salt Valley), and (b) describe fish population responses to different harvest regulations. Study findings should help biologists better determine appropriate lake-specific management objectives given the dynamic nature of angler participation and its interrelationship with fish populations.
Wildlife
Title: Internet Center for Wildlife Damage Management Researchers Involved: Scott Hygnstrom, Paul Curtis, Robert Schmidt, Greg Yarrow, Stephen Vantassel, and Raj Smith Description: Nearly all web-based information on wildlife damage management can be accessed through this clearinghouse site. Includes several invasive species such as Norway rats, house mice, house sparrows, european starlings, etc....
Title: Prevention and Control of Wildlife Damage Researchers involved: Scott Hygnstrom, Robert Timm, Paul Curtis, Mark Tobin, Kurt VerCauteren Description: The leading reference book on wildlife damage management, two volume, 860 pages, currently under revision. Includes all problem species in North America and several invasive species such as Norway rats, house mice, house sparrows, european starlings, etc....
Western Nebraska Resources Council has been a strong advocate within the classrooms across the state emphasizing the
‘uniqueness of’ and ‘differences between’ natural systems.
Title: The Nebraska Leafy Spurge Working Task Force
The Nebraska Leafy Spurge Working Task Force was organized in 1987 largely due to the efforts of the Range, Forage, and Livestock Program of the North Central Nebraska RC&D office in Bassett. The task force is made up primarily of landowners concerned about Leafy Spurge and other noxious weeds. Other members of the task force include Nebraska Weed Control Superintendents, researchers, chemical company representatives, state and governmental agencies. The objective of the task force is to “Make all persons and entities of government in Nebraska aware of the problems associated with Leafy Spurge control, and to reduce the economic impact of leafy spurge to a management level within the state.”
Farmers and ranchers are always encouraged to attend quarterly meetings held the first Thursday in February, May and November, which include committee reports from Biological Control, Legislative, Advisory and Public Relations. The task force also sponsors an annual tour and conference held in a different area in Nebraska each year. All meetings are open to the public. Anyone concerned about Leafy Spurge and other noxious and invasive weed control are encouraged attend. Participation in the operations of the organization is vitally important. This organization was created by farmers and ranchers to control the spread of Leafy Spurge. All input from landowners and renters is vital to the success of the task force.
The current president of the task force is Larry Gibbens, Custer County Weed Superintendent, Broken Bow. You can contact Larry at 308-872-2410 or email custer4@kdsi.net.
Title: The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition
The Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition is an independent organization of ranchers, interest groups, and agencies whose mission is to collaborate on projects that improve the management and health of Nebraska grazing lands and ensure long-term stability of rangeland resources. The NGLC is funded through grants from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Nebraska Environmental Trust Fund, the Nebraska Rural Development Commission and the Sandhills Task Force.
Visit www.nebraskagrazinglands.org. For more information contact Tamara Beardsley-Choat, Nebraska Grazing Lands Coalition Coordinator, at 402.430.3656 or tamara@nebraskagrazinglands.org.
The Weed Science Society of America
The Weed Science Society of America was founded in 1956 and established to encourage and promote the development of knowledge concerning weeds and their impact on the environment.
The WSSA promotes research, education, and extension outreach activities related to weeds; provides science-based information to the public and policymakers; and fosters awareness of weeds and their impacts on managed and natural ecosystems.
The international Society publishes three journals: Weed Science, Weed Technology, and the new journal Invasive Plant Science and Management.
The next annual meeting of the WSSA will be February 9–12, 2009, in Orlando, Florida.
