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52ND ANNUAL MEETING Illinois Chapter of The Wildlife Society

Touch of Nature Environmental Center Southern Illinois University Makanda, IL April 10-12, 2016

ABSTRACTS Abstracts are listed alphabetically by presenter’s last name.

Updated 4/5/2016

Wetland Quantity and Quality for Waterbirds in Illinois

Blake-Bradshaw, AG (presenter), Hagy, HM. Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research

Institute, Forbes Biological Station, Havana, IL, 62644, USA, Matthews, JW. Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, IL, 61820, USA,

O’Connell, J. Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901,

USA, and Eichholz, M. Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA. Waterbirds use a variety of wetland types during critical periods, such as spring migration. However, the amount wetland area in the Midwest has decreased, and remnant wetlands are often degraded and may not meet habitat needs for waterbirds. The National Wetland Inventory (NWI) is currently the most comprehensive measure of wetland quantity in this region, but unfortunately, NWI lacks data regarding the timing, depth, and persistence of surface water inundation. Therefore, current information regarding wetland quantity may overestimate wetland availability for waterbirds because many wetlands are not inundated and accessible to waterbirds during the appropriate periods. We estimated wetland quantity for waterbirds during critical periods in Illinois and will model factors that affect wetland quality. We surveyed wetland vegetation characteristics, potential hydrologic stressors, waterbird occupancy, and management intensity on approximately 100 wetland plots (0.25 km^2) during three sample periods critical to focal waterbirds (i.e., spring [migrating dabbling ducks], early summer [nesting marsh birds], late summer [migrating shorebirds]) across the state of Illinois. Within each plot, we mapped inundated area of NWI polygons (Forested, Emergent, Pond, Lake, River). Water depth and vegetation cover were assessed for each polygon type. Additionally, high-resolution aerial photographs of all plots and the surrounding area during each sample period were obtained. During spring, less than 30% of any wetland type was flooded shallowly and accessible for foraging dabbling ducks. Likewise, emergent vegetation (<10%) and overall vegetation (<25%) were rarely inundated. Summer inundation rates were greater than spring: forested (34%) and emergent (61%). During fall, flooded area was similar to spring, but shallow inundation was slightly greater. However, mudflats, critical for shorebirds, comprised less than 20% of any wetland type.

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Based on preliminary results, we conclude most wetland area assessed by the NWI in Illinois is not flooded at suitable depths for waterbirds during critical periods.

The Chicago Ring-billed Gull Damage Management Project

Michelle L. Bloomquist (presenter), J.W. Hartmann, T.G. Guerrant, C.K. Pullins, S.F. Beckerman, and R.M. Engeman, USDA APHIS Wildlife Services, Springfield, IL; Phone: (773) 459-1274; email: michelle.l.bloomquist@aphis.usda.gov The population of Ring-billed Gulls in the upper Midwest has increased exponentially in recent decades leading to a variety of conflicts including property damage, negative economic impacts, threats to human safety, and potential threats to human health. Some studies have suggested a link between gull fecal droppings and elevated Escherichia coli levels in water, which result in swim advisories on public beaches. The objectives of the Chicago Ring-billed Gull damage management project are to reduce the local production of Ring-billed Gulls, to evaluate the affects that limiting gull production has on the use of beaches by gulls, and to reduce the severity of conflicts with gulls including the issuance of swim advisories. Between 2007 and 2015, we applied corn oil to 52 - 80% of nests in several gull colonies in Chicago and successfully reduced hatching success and subsequent fledging. It is estimated that we prevented the production of between 83,062 and 197,273 Ring-billed Gulls since initiation of the project. The number of hatch year gulls observed on Chicago's beaches during 2008 through 2015 has consistently been less than during the initial year of egg oiling, 2007. The reduction in the number of gulls using Chicago beaches has contributed to a reduction in conflicts with gulls, including a decrease in the frequency of swim advisories on Chicago's beaches in comparison to 2006.

Using raccoons as sentinels to identify organic contaminant point sources in the Midwest

Esmarie Boyles (presenter), Clayton K. Nielsen, and Da Chen, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Zoology Department, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6504; Email: ejooste@siu.edu Raccoons (Procyon lotor) are one of the most widespread and abundant mammals in North America. As an opportunistic, omnivorous feeder, raccoons may be exposed to environmental contaminants via multiple pathways, including direct food intake and accidental ingestion of contaminated soil or waste particles. Raccoons are also known to feed directly on trash discarded by humans. Given the relatively high trophic status and longevity of raccoons, some persistent and toxic priority contaminants (e.g. halogenated flame retardants; HFRs) may reach high levels through biomagnification. During 2013 and 2014, we collected 35 raccoons from various sites (Superfund, urban, and rural) across Illinois and Missouri. Liver tissues were analyzed for the presence of HFRs. As expected, raccoons collected from urban areas had significantly higher levels of HFRs than raccoons from rural areas. Conversely, there were no significant differences in the levels of flame retardants between raccoons collected at rural and Superfund sites. Our findings indicate that terrestrial ecosystems are widely exposed to emerging flame retardants, and that accumulation of these contaminants by mammals may be more pronounced in close proximity to human development. Raccoons appear to be suitable sentinel species to assess exposure of terrestrial ecosystems to anthropogenic pollutants and our results suggest that generalist carnivores may be subject to elevated exposure.

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Prion protein gene sequence variation among Illinois white-tailed deer: Implications for chronic wasting disease management.

Adam L. Brandt (presenter)1, Michelle L. Green1,2, Paul Shelton3, Jan Novakofski2 and Nohra E Mateus-Pinilla1,2; (1)Illinois Natural History Survey, (2)Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820; (3)Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources; Springfield, Illinois, 62702; Phone: (217) 300-3749; Email: abrandt2@illinois.edu Managing and controlling the spread of diseases in wild animal populations is challenging, especially for highly social and mobile species. Effective management would benefit from information about disease susceptibility, allowing focus of limited resources to areas or populations with a higher risk of infection. Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy that affects cervids; diagnosed in the 1970s in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming CWD has spread to an increasing number of other US states and Canadian provinces. In Illinois, CWD was first detected in 2002 and has since spread to 16 counties. Though management has kept disease prevalence relatively constant, the affected area has continued to grow. Specific nucleotide variations in the prion protein gene (PRNP) sequence have been associated with reduced susceptibility to CWD in white-tailed deer. In a previous study, we found that deer with a coding mutation (nt286A) and a silent mutation (nt555T) were statistically less likely to be infected with CWD. Though genetic resistance found was incomplete, the frequency of deer possessing these mutations in a population may be an important factor of disease spread. In this study we sequence 626 bp of the PRNP gene from an expanded sampling of deer originating from a broader area in northern Illinois. PRNP variation is examined in relation to CWD prevalence and population demographics where the goal is to better understand the mechanisms of disease spread and potential for genetic barriers.

Habitat selection of reintroduced bison in northern Illinois

Julia C. Brockman (presenter) and Clayton K. Nielsen, Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, Dept of Forestry, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Phone: (618) 536-7766; jcbroc@gmail.com, Jeffery W. Walk, The Nature Conservancy, Peoria, IL 61602; Phone: (309) 636-3300 American bison (Bison bison) have historically played an integral role in shaping prairie ecosystems. In one of the first reintroductions of a semi-wild population of bison east of the Mississippi River, The Nature Conservancy reintroduced bison to the Nachusa Grasslands in northern Illinois in November 2014. Given the novelty of such efforts, questions remain regarding how human disturbances and prairie management affect bison habitat selection. Our study will address these literature gaps while investigating seasonal and annual changes in habitat selection. During the first year of study (October 2014-September 2015), we collected hourly location data from Lotek Iridium TrackM 3D and 4D collars placed on 7 bison prior to reintroduction. We overlayed these data on a map of land cover types within the bison enclosure. Using a discrete choice model to analyze resource selection, we compared the influence of individual landcover types to a null model. Our initial findings indicate that including landcover type increases the competiveness of the model with few exceptions. The most competitive models include restored prairie or unrestored grassland landcover types, with restored prairie having a negative effect on habitat selection and unrestored grassland having a positive effect on habitat selection. Future analysis will include the development of a resource selection function to more thoroughly investigate other environmental and management-related variables that may influence

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habitat selection, including burn regime, planting restoration date, slope, aspect, and distance from anthropogenic structures. With a better understanding of how bison grazing is influenced by restoration management and human disturbance, wildlife managers can make better-informed decisions regarding bison restoration and public use.

Energy Balance of Small Insectivorous Bats during Mid-Summer at High Latitudes

Christopher Brooks (presenter) and Dr. Justin Boyles, Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Email: cbrooks@siu.edu Animals at the extremes of the species' distribution experience ecological constraints different than individuals in the core of the distribution. For example, small endotherms at very high latitudes face cool temperatures, lack of true darkness, and short summers. In particular, insectivorous bats at high latitudes may experience constraints because of their unique life history traits, and may have different energy requirements than bats at lower latitudes. To evaluate the extent of these differences, we estimated an energy budget and refueling rates for reproductively active little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) roosting in buildings in eastern Alaska (~63°N). Physiological parameters (torpor use and metabolic rates) and daily energy expenditures (26.4 ±5.3 kJ d-1) were similar to conspecifics at lower latitudes. These bats foraged for less time than southerly conspecifics, but measurements of plasma β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations suggest these bats refuel at a rate considerably higher than more southerly conspecifics. It appears that high refueling rates (and therefore foraging intensity) are driven largely by a dietary shift to orb-weaver spiders, which are presumably easy to capture and likely offer higher energetic benefit than small, flying insects consumed by bats in other parts of the distribution. Environmental factors may limit species' distributions, but our results provide an example of a population at the limit of the distribution that has compensated for environmental challenges by adopting unique behavioral strategies while the underlying physiology (including daily energy expenditure) remains similar to populations at the core of the species range.

A Multiple Harvest Reporting System For Hunters In Illinois Ryan J. Conat (presenter) and Craig A. Miller, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Champaign IL 61820; Email: rconat@illinois.edu The Illinois Natural History Survey conducts annual hunter harvest surveys of Illinois hunters using a random sample of 3,000 hunters selected from 2014 Illinois Habitat Stamp and hunting license purchasers. We received 1,296 questionnaires; 1,207 (40.2%) of which were usable for the 2014-15 study. We asked questions regarding harvest reporting methods employed for hunters using public lands. Public land harvest reporting methods including self-issued windshield cards, manned check stations, unmanned hunt sheets, telephone check-in, online check-in, special site harvest reporting, and CWD check-in have raised questions regarding burden, complexity, and system accuracy. Hunter Fact Sheets display different harvest reporting methods across the 5 IDNR administrative regions in Illinois. For example, 93.8% of public hunting sites in Region 3 require self-issued windshield cards, whereas only 53.6% of Region 1 sites require the same method. Additionally, Region 4 requires 44.5% of its sites to report harvest via manned check stations, compared to 6.3% of the sites in Region 3. Inconsistencies effect hunters' opinions of harvest reporting. We asked what harvest reporting methods hunters have

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experienced: 66.3% used telephone check-in, whereas 7.7% used the online windshield cards. When asked hunters' preferred method of harvest reporting, the majority (52%) preferred telephone check-in, while only 2.4% preferred online windshield cards. To understand further preferences, we analyzed deer hunters and turkey hunters using Person's Chi-square analysis with Cramer's V for effect size. We ran additional tests looking at harvest method preference for public v. private lands across the 5 regions for: small game hunters, deer hunters, and the counties most hunted by our respondents. Discussion will revolve around preference correlations, regions of the state, possible effect of hunter participation, and overall accuracy of harvest reporting.

Lake Michigan and Coastal Campaign of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan

Lisa A. Cotner (presenter) and Diane Tecic, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Coastal Management Program, 160 N. LaSalle, S-703, Chicago, IL 60605; Phone: (312) 814-6414; Email: lisa.cotner@illinois.gov Lake Michigan and its coastal area are among the most biologically diverse places within Illinois. Over the past two centuries, this region has been substantially altered by human activities including urban development, habitat fragmentation, hydrologic changes, invasive species, shoreline modifications, and persistent contaminants. The purpose of this campaign, which is a new addition to the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, is to maintain and enhance biodiversity in this region through actions that are realistic, achievable and implementable within the next ten years. These actions are intended to minimize and mitigate adverse effects and increase abundance and quality of functional habitats to support healthy populations of native taxa, especially focal species. Recommended actions range from preventing nonpoint source pollution, to encouraging native species landscaping, to protecting rocky shoals important for fish spawning. Implementation planning is underway. This campaign aligns with the geography, goals, and activities of the IDNR Coastal Management Program.

How Does Winter Weather Affect Urban Canada Goose Movements? Inferences made from an Agent-based Model Brett E Dorak (presenter), J. Conner England and Mike P. Ward, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; Phone (406)

480-5645; Email: dorak2@illinois.edu. James D. Westervelt, Army Corps, Engineer Research and

Development Center, PO Box 4005, Champaign, IL 61826. Heath M. Hagy, Forbes Biological Station-Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-

Champaign, Havana, IL 62644. Mike W. Eichholz, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901. The thermal environment generally dictates the northern range for wintering birds, but recently some species have shifted their wintering distribution northward suggesting that some species are able to adapt to new thermal environments. One particular example is the giant Canada goose (Branta canadensis maxima) within urban landscapes. Urban landscapes provide thermal refugia, food sources, and limited predation risk. Increases in geese using these areas also increases potential conflicts in the forms of increased fecal levels, aggressive behavior, and most notably, goose-aircraft collisions.

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We built an agent-based model in NetLogo 5.2.0 to visualize goose movement during the winter in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area (GCMA) and to determine if we can use environmental factors, such as temperature, as a predictor for potential goose-aircraft conflicts near Midway International Airport. Canada geese were captured during the winter months of 2014‒2016 and affixed with solar-powered GPS transmitters in order to identify high use sites. iButtons and anemometers were deployed in these areas to monitor variations in temperature and wind levels. All micro-site specific weather data were incorporated into the digitized GCMA landscape and generated movements were assessed with transmitter data to ensure the model is generating results similar to real world data. The model was then run at different temperature regimes to predict at what temperatures goose movement would increase around Midway International Airport airspace and therefore heightened risk of goose-aircraft collisions would exist. Understanding how geese respond to fluctuations in winter temperatures will provide alternate management options and possible conflict mitigation techniques for local business owners and natural resource agencies in the GCMA. Furthermore, our agent-based model can be used by appropriate organizations to identify factors influencing goose-aircraft collision risks and thus mitigate such events in the GCMA.

Micro-site Climatic Conditions Associated With Urban Thermal Refugia Used By Canada Geese During Winter

Brett E Dorak (presenter) and Mike P. Ward, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; Phone (406) 480-5645; Email:

dorak2@illinois.edu. Heath M. Hagy, Forbes Biological Station-Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center,

Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Havana, IL 62644. Mike W. Eichholz, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901. In the past several decades the temperate-breeding Canada geese (Branta canadensis) population has increased throughout the midwestern United States and appears to concentrate in more urban environments opposed to migrating to southern latitudes during winter to aid in thermoregulation. We investigated Canada geese wintering in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area (GCMA) and identified winter roost sites and measured their micro-site thermal benefits. Our objectives were to determine thermal regulatory benefits of selected habitats during winter and identify the temperature gradient when geese transition from one use site to another. Use sites were determined by attaching solar-powered global positioning system (GPS) CTT 1040a transmitters (Cellular Tracking Technologies, Somerset, PA) to waterfowl neck collars on 41 Canada geese and monitoring movements. Thermal refugia locations where identified including two rooftops, a wastewater treatment plant, portions of the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, and a park along Lake Michigan. During the winters of 2014‒2016 temperature recorders were deployed along with anemometers to record micro-site specific data for use in an agent-based model. Areas that were previously used before extreme winter weather shifted goose movements had temperatures in close proximity to data gathered from a local weather station, but thermal refugia such as the wastewater treatment plant and rooftops had temperatures exceeding local temperatures by 21.6°C and 9.6°C at certain points throughout the day, respectively. Canada geese showed a preference for black color rooftops when compared to white and gray colored rooftops of adjacent buildings. Each black rooftop had as many as 450 individuals occupying them at one time.

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Identifying thermal benefits will help understand why current sites are selected by wintering geese and how local businesses and wildlife managers can manage these areas to decrease conflicts with humans.

Urban Takeover: Canada Geese Shifting From City Parks To Industrial Rooftops Brett E Dorak (presenter) and Mike P. Ward, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; Phone (406) 480-5645; Email:

dorak2@illinois.edu. Heath M. Hagy, Forbes Biological Station-Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center,

Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Havana, IL 62644. Mike W. Eichholz, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901. In the past several decades, temperate-breeding Canada geese (Branta canadensis) have increased throughout the midwestern United States. Moreover, subarctic-breeding populations of Canada geese appear to be shifting their wintering range northward from the south and central portions of the Mississippi Flyway to more northern latitudes. We investigated Canada geese wintering in the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area (GCMA), including determining genetic composition of birds using locations nearby Midway International Airport, home range sizes, spatial and temporal use of thermal refugia, and shifts in movement patterns.

Soil Variation: A Predictor of Chronic Wasting Disease Risk Sheena J. Dorak (presenter) Dept of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, Nohra Mateus-Pinilla Illinois Natural History Survey, Michelle Green and Jan Novakofski, Dept of Animal Science,

Marilyn O'Hara Ruiz, Dept of Pathobiology, and Michelle Wander, Dept of Natural Resources and Environmental Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801; Phone: (406) 480-5622; sjdorak@illinois.edu Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a fatal prion disease that affects multiple cervid species including white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Because CWD is a chronic infectious disease, the opportunity for disease spread within the free-ranging white-tailed deer herd is great, especially considering its direct and indirect modes of transmission. Direct transmission can be achieved through deer to deer contact while indirect transmission can be achieved through contact with the infected environment. Environmental contamination occurs when infected animals shed prions through bodily fluids like saliva, urine, and feces, but the environment is also exposed to infectious prions through decaying carcasses and shed antler velvet. Exposure of animals to a contaminated environment, specifically infected soils, is an important means of transmission because prion persistence and infectivity can be affected by different soils. For example, prions have been shown to become more infectious when bound to certain clay minerals like montmorillonite. Some studies have also shown that soil characteristics may be associated with the spatial patterns in the spread of CWD. Because we know that different soils can greatly affect prions, we aim to look at the underlying characteristics of soils to help explain the patterns in the spread of CWD in three counties in Northern Illinois. Soil variables selected for this study include soil texture (clay and sand), organic matter, water content, and pH. The study area encompasses the region where CWD was first detected in Illinois and includes data covering disease surveillance from 2003 to 2014 by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. We have seen patterns in the distribution of CWD-positive deer that correlate with the distribution of several soil variables. These

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patterns are leading us to dig deeper into soil variables to unearth possible sources contributing to the fate of prions in soil and their bioavailability.

Updates to the Invasive Species Campaign of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Christopher Evans1 (presenter) and Jody Shimp2. 1Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, Simpson, IL 62985; Phone: (618) 695-3383; Email: cwevans@illinois.edu. 2Division of Natural Heritage, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Benton, IL 62812; Phone (618) 435-8138; Email: jody.shimp@illinois.gov. Invasive species are a major threat to wildlife, wildlife habitat, and natural communities in Illinois. The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan lists controlling invasive species as one of the six primary challenges to conservation of wildlife. During the latest revision of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan, the Invasive Species Campaign was updated to identify priority invasive species for each habitat campaign (Forests & Woodlands, Farmland & Prairie, Streams, Wetlands, Great Lakes, and Urban), identify focal wildlife species most impacted by invasive species, incorporate aquatic wildlife and wildlife health / disease program, designate targeted and universal actions, and designate an EDRR list for state. This presentation will review the changes to the Invasive Species Campaign and how the revision will target actions to benefit wildlife species in greatest conservation need.

Corridors and Pockets: Habitat use of two distinct populations of wild felids and their prey in Panamá Jessica L. Fort (presenter), Clayton K. Nielsen, Andrew D. Carver, Ricardo Moreno; 251 Life Sciences II; Carbondale IL, 62901; Phone: (980) 253-6671 Although Panamá is an important global hotspot for biodiversity, basic information on large carnivore and prey distributions as well as habitat needs is largely unknown. Most studies in Panamá have been limited to populations located in protected areas along the Panamanian Atlantic Mesoamerican Biological Corridor (PAMBC) and have excluded potentially important refuge populations located outside the PAMBC. Our study was conducted in 2 disparate study areas: Cerro Hoya National Park (CHNP), an isolated remnant of tropical rainforest habitat 125 km from the PAMBC located on the Azuero Peninsula; and Serranía de Pirre (SP), a comparative study area in the PAMBC located in Darién National Park. We used remote cameras to investigate patterns of site occupancy and detection probabilities as affected by habitat and anthropogenic influences for 3 species of felids (jaguars, pumas [Puma concolor], and ocelots [Leopardus pardalis]) and 2 species of peccaries (white-lipped [Tayassu pecari] and collared [Pecari tajacu]). There were no strong differences in habitat use of species between CHNP and SP; however, detection probabilities were influenced by study area, which likely reflects differences in density. Distance to rivers, elevation, and anthropogenic disturbance (distance to logging, cattle pastures, and agricultural fields) influenced habitat use of focal species. White-lipped peccaries were never detected in CHNP, which may indicate their local extirpation in this region of Panamá. Further, our research elucidates previously unknown distribution limits of wildlife in the Azuero Peninsula (jaguars and white-lipped peccaries). For managers, we recommend improvements of survey design for future occupancy studies in the Neotropics and provide targeted areas to prioritize for future wildlife conservation efforts in Panamá.

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Detection Probability and Disturbance of Waterfowl During Aerial Surveys Andrew D. Gilbert (presenter), Illinois Natural History Survey, Forbes Biological Station, Havana, IL,

62644, USA, agilb849@gmail.com; Heath M. Hagy, Illinois Natural History Survey, Forbes Biological

Station, Havana, IL, 62644, USA; Christopher N. Jacques, Department of Biological Sciences, Western

Illinois University, Macomb, IL, 61455, USA; Aaron P. Yetter, Illinois Natural History Survey, Forbes Biological Station, Havana, IL, 62644, USA Aerial surveys of waterfowl have been conducted in the Illinois and Mississippi River floodplains since 1948. These traditional surveys provide an index of waterfowl population size and are used to track migration events, set harvest regulations, and for research purposes. New methods are being evaluated to estimate population size by randomizing survey locations and estimating detection probabilities. We used double sampling to determine a correction factor for waterfowl estimates during fall aerial surveys. Immediately before an aerial survey, a ground observer conducted an intensive survey of waterfowl in predetermined locations from an elevated, unobstructed location where probability of detection was assumed to be 100%. Aerial counts were divided by ground counts for all common species and foraging guilds to determine detection probability. Preliminary results indicate that mean detection rate for all waterfowl was 96.0% (SE=7.1). Mean detection rate was 94.4% (SE=8.2) for ducks, 105.2% (SE=11.0) for dabbling ducks, 74.8% (SE=10.5) for diving ducks, 53.3% (SE=7.5) for mergansers, and 92.4% (SE=8.6) for geese. While conducting ground surveys, observers also documented any disturbance to waterfowl caused by aerial surveys. Our preliminary findings indicated that on average 18.4% (SE=2.4) of waterfowl, 12.2% (SE=2.1) of ducks, 11.5% (SE=2.1) of dabbling ducks, 4.5% (SE=1.4) of diving ducks, 13.0% (SE=2.6) of mergansers, and 28.6% (SE=4.0) of geese exhibited a negative response (i.e., flew short distances, swam away, changed behavior significantly) to aerial surveys. Our preliminary findings indicated that on average 5.5% (SE=1.6) of waterfowl, 2.0% (SE=1.0) of ducks, 1.2% (SE=0.8) of dabbling ducks, 0.7% (SE=0.4) of diving ducks, 4.3% (SE=1.4) of mergansers, and 15.1% (SE=3.0) of geese abandoned the survey site and did not return following aerial surveys. With our findings, traditional aerial surveys conducted in the Mississippi and Illinois River floodplains can be used to minimize bias in population estimates associated with aerial survey techniques.

Spatial Ecology of River Otters in Southern Illinois Alex Hanrahan (presenter); Andrew Rutter; Dr. Clay Nielsen; and Dr. Eric Schauber; Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Phone: (217)474-7666; Email: alexhanrahan1@gmail.com North American river otter (Lontra canadensis) populations in Illinois have grown considerably since reintroduction efforts in the mid-1990s. The river otter serves as a top level carnivore here, as well as a valuable resource available for sustainable harvest. However, the reestablishment of an apex predator requires a sound understanding of the species' spatial ecology for ongoing population management efforts to remain effective. Furthermore, several key factors concerning the space use of otter populations, such as sociality and habitat selection, have been found to vary considerably across North America. To gain a better understanding of their spatial requirements throughout this region, our study will analyze habitat selection in addition to home range size and overlap of river otters in southern Illinois. Thus far 35 individuals have been implanted with intraperitoneal radiotransmitters from 2014-2016. Locations obtained twice per week per year have been used to estimate home ranges (95% fixed

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kernel) for 21 river otters; core areas (50% fixed kernel) were estimated for 17 of those individuals. Mean (± SE) female and male home ranges were 1,881.40 ± 665 ha (n=11) and 4,495.40 ± 1,422 ha (n=10), respectively. Mean female core areas were 437.55 ± 155 ha and male core areas were 968.62 ± 306 ha. The proportion of home range overlap between individuals is currently being used to quantify levels of sociality and further analyses will quantify habitat selection within home ranges. Faced with continuous degradation and loss of habitat, a more comprehensive understanding of the spatial ecology of river otters will help maintain viable populations throughout the region.

Does a decline in harvest of muskrats mean muskrat populations are declining? Maybe. Adam A. Ahlers, Edward J. Heske (presenter), Tim Lyons, and Craig A. Miller, Horticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resources, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506 (AAA), Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820 (EJH, TL, CAM); Phone: (217) 244-2173; email: eheske@illinois.edu Declines in harvest of muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) in Illinois and throughout the contiguous U. S. have caused concern among some management agencies. However, these declines in harvest are highly correlated with changes in pelt price and could reflect changes in trapper effort or participation in addition to, or instead of, real changes in muskrat abundance. Using Illinois as a case study, we show that harvest data are highly correlated with trapper participation. We further show that trapper participation is highly correlated with economic incentives such as pelt price, gas price, and unemployment rates. However, even after controlling for pelt price, the strongest predictor of trapper participation, declines in harvest across the U. S. are still statistically significant. A variety of other factors, both biological and social, could influence harvest data.

Swamp Rabbits as Indicators of Bottomland Hardwood Forest Integrity Elizabeth M. Hillard (presenter), Clayton K. Nielsen, John W. Groninger, Eric M. Schauber, and Joanne Crawford; Department of Forestry, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Mailcode 6504, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; phone (217)-840-4613; e-mail: lizhillard@siu.edu Specialist wildlife that evolved within forest ecosystems can be sensitive to the composition, structure, and function of an ecosystem in relation to the system's natural or historical range of variation and thereby serve as indicators of ecosystem integrity. The swamp rabbit (Sylvilagus aquaticus) is a bottomland hardwood forest (BLH) specialist and recent research has improved our understanding of landscape- and stand-level characteristics that influence swamp rabbit occupancy, abundance, viability, and survival. Efforts to restore, monitor, and manage BLH forest habitat is difficult due to extensive loss, fragmentation, and altered hydrology. The objectives of this paper are (1) to review the issues in determining indicators of BLH forest integrity, including desirable qualities of indicators, (2) to review the literature concerning swamp rabbits as components of BLH forest integrity, and (3) to assess swamp rabbits as potential indicators of forest integrity.

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Effects of riparian habitat and stream structure on multi-season occupancy of beaver and muskrat populations in Illinois Angela Holland (presenter), Eric Hellgren, Clay Nielsen, and Eric Schauber, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Phone: (618) 453-6959; Email: amjackson@siu.edu Mammals in freshwater aquatic systems can be indicators of freshwater ecosystem function, as these species play important roles as ecosystem engineers and nutrient transfer agents. Our objectives were to model multi-season occupancy of beaver (Castor canadensis) and muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) in Illinois to better understand which habitat and watershed features affect the seasonal occupancy of these species. To estimate multi-season occupancy, we sampled 103 bridge sites for aquatic furbearers in 2 seasons (Jan-Feb and Mar-Apr) each year from 2012 -2014 in 11 major watersheds in the southern

third of Illinois (44,526 km2). Each survey unit was a 400-m stream segment visited twice by 2 observers for a total of 4 observations per site per season. Naïve occupancy was high (≥ 82%) every year for each species. The probability of detection for beaver and muskrat was best predicted by survey period. Beaver were more likely to occupy larger streams during the initial survey period. Sites were colonized by beavers when otters were previously present, and when sites were characterized by increased water availability at the landscape scale, stream density, and stream size. The probability of site extinction decreased as stream size, stream density within 1 km, and water availability within 500 m of the survey segment increased. Occupancy of muskrat during the initial survey period was negatively predicted by % forest in the 1-km riparian area, channel incision, and mercury in the sediment. Muskrat colonization varied by period and was positively correlated with the amount of organic carbon in the sediment. The probability of site extinction by muskrat decreased with mixed land-cover landscapes, decreasing % forest within the riparian area around the stream segment, and increasing 1-km stream density. Monitoring programs should consider the scale at which the species perceive their surroundings and the importance of food and water availability.

The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan - 2015 Update and Implementation

Ann Holtrop1(presenter), Mike Wefer1, Stan McTaggart1, Chris Evans2, Nancy Williams1,

Diane Tecic1, Leon Hinz3, and Randy Smith1 1Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702 2University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, NRES, 354 State HWY 145N, Simpson, IL 62985 3Illinois Natural History Survey State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) were mandated by Congress starting in 2005 in order for states to receive funds through the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program and the State Wildlife Grants Program. SWAPs were designed to be comprehensive wildlife conservation strategies for each state in the U.S. The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan (IWAP) is designed to function as a guide to manage target wildlife populations in Illinois through focused habitat conservation efforts. The IWAP is divided into "campaigns" which focus on specific habitats and the wildlife that use them. The IWAP is updated every ten years and is reviewed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In this update, the focus for each Campaign is on implementation strategies. IWAP campaigns include: Farmland and Prairie, Forest and Woodland, Wetlands, Streams, Lake Michigan Coastal, Green Cities, and Invasive Species.

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Comparison of food plot mixtures for attracting white-tailed deer Ryan E. Leeson (presenter), Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University,

Carbondale, IL 62901; Phone: (337) 339-2371; email: ryan.elizabeth.leeson@gmail.com; Devon C. Oliver, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Clayton K. Nielsen,

Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; William J. Banz, Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 Despite the multitude of food plot mixtures available for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), few studies have assessed the efficacy of different mixtures at attracting deer in Midwestern landscapes. During September-November 2015, we established 4 food plot mixtures in 16 plots (0.05 hectares each) in southern Illinois; 8 of these were tilled. We measured deer use via 2 methods: vegetation growth in exclosures versus control (i.e., unfenced) areas and camera traps. We compared Big Tine Buck Brunch, Evolved Harvest Throw & Gro, Antler King No Sweat, and a food plot mix that we created (SIU). Deer used all 4 food plot mixtures (n = 292 to 2,522 pictures per plot over 9 weeks), having a negative impact on mean vegetation height outside of exclosures (F1,1402 = 17.011, P < 0.0001). Analysis of camera data indicated that there was a difference in the number of deer pictured based on the seed mixture use and whether the plot was tilled (F3,60 = 5.39, P = 0.0024), with the untilled SIU mixture ranking highest and the tilled Big Tine mixture ranking lowest. There was no difference in the proportion of deer pictured in the process of eating within each food plot mixture (F1,109 = 0.31, P = 0.820). Differences in deer use were slight, thus we suggest that any of these 4 food plot varieties could be planted in the Midwest on tilled or untilled land with similar use by deer observed by a hunter or wildlife manager.

Influence of white-tailed deer on oak and hickory regeneration in southern Illinois Ryan E. Leeson (presenter), Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University,

Carbondale, IL 62901; Phone: (337) 339-2371; email: ryan.elizabeth.leeson@gmail.com; Devon C. Oliver, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Clayton K. Nielsen,

Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Eric J. Holzmueller, Department of Forestry, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 Many oak-hickory forests in the eastern U.S. are experiencing a lack of oak (Quercus spp.) and hickory (Carya spp.) regeneration that threatens the long-term sustainability of these forests. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) may contribute to this issue by altering composition of forest stands through browse of seedlings and/or consumption of acorns. In order to determine how much of an impact white-tailed deer may have on regeneration, 150 paired plots (fenced and unfenced) were established in June 2015 at Trail of Tears State Forest in southern Illinois. At each plot, we measured 25 habitat variables to assess impacts of deer herbivory. There was no difference between numbers of oak and hickory seedlings found in fenced and unfenced plots in August 2015 (F1,445 = 0.01, P = 0.924). Plots will be sampled April and August 2016 to examine effects of protection from deer over the course of a year. During September-November 2015, we counted and marked fallen acorns within 50 random paired-plots 3 times. There was no difference in the number of acorns discovered and consumed in fenced versus unfenced plots (F1,8 = 0.12, P = 0.736). When complete, our study will aid managers in making deer management decisions that will best encourage oak and hickory regeneration.

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Piping Plovers return to Illinois: How much anxiety can a small bird cause a biologist? Daniel R. Ludwig (presenter), Division of Wildlife Resources, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Bartlett, IL 60103; Phone: (847)608-3177; Email: dan.ludwig@illinois.gov The Great Lakes Piping Plover Program has facilitated the return of Piping Plovers to the perimeter of the bird's historic range during the 2015 breeding season (75 pairs). Military, industrial and recreation buildup along Lake Michigan's shoreline in Illinois reduced the Piping Plover from a “very common summer breeding resident” (late 1800's) to a pair last breeding in Waukegan IL (1973 and 1979). The IDNR began surveying Illinois Beach State Park and Nature Preserve for Piping Plovers (with very low expectations) after designation of the coastal zone of Lake Michigan in Illinois as Critical Habitat (2004). Piping Plover's returned to nest in Illinois during 2009 and 2015 much to IDNR's surprise and with considerable support from IDNR. The recent nesting seasons provided insights (the importance of behavioral cues and a bird's physiological state; cooperation between agencies and volunteers; and formerly endangered/endangered species conflicts) that will be shared during the presentation.

Maternal Transfer of Flame Retardants in Four Shark Species From The Atlantic Ocean Hillary Marler1* (presenter), Doug Adams2, Da Chen1, Clay Nielsen3

1 Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois 62901, USA. 2 Cape Canaveral Scientific Inc, 220 Surf Road, Melbourne Beach FL 32951, USA 3 Department of Forestry, College of Agricultural Sciences, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA The aim of this study was to examine potential maternal transfer of both legacy and emerging flame retardants in paired mother/embryo samples from four viviparous shark species from the Atlantic Ocean. As high trophic level predators in marine systems, sharks are valuable for monitoring the emergence and temporal trends of persistent organic pollutants. Although previous work has documented detectable concentrations of these classes of contaminants in shark livers, little is known about maternal transfer of flame retardants in sharks. To address this literature gap, liver samples from pregnant female blacknose (Carcharhinus acronotus, n=13), blacktip (Carcharhinus limbatus, n=1), bonnethead (Sphyrna tiburo, n=2), and sharpnose (Rhizoprionodon terraenovae, n=3) sharks from coastal waters of the eastern US and their embryos were analyzed for a suite of 20 polybdrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), 20 non-PBDE brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and 14 dechlorane plus (DP)-related compounds to determine if maternal transfer of these compounds is occurring. Previous studies of various shark species have observed maternal transfer of other organohalogen compounds through testing various tissues (muscle, liver, ovary, etc.) from female sharks and their embryos. Therefore, we expect to observe significant transfer of brominated and chlorinated flame retardants in these four shark species as demonstrated by detecting these flame retardants in shark embryo livers.

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Mitigation Translocation of Red-tailed Hawks to Reduce Raptor–aircraft Collisions Gregory J. Martinelli, (presenter), Craig K. Pullins, Travis L. Guerrant, Scott F. Beckerman and Brian E. Washburn, USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services, Chicago, IL 60666; Phone: (773) 686-6742; Email: Gregory.J.Martinelli@aphis.usda.gov Nationally, wildlife-aircraft collisions (wildlife strikes) have been increasing over the past 25 years; denoted in the National Wildlife Strike Database that has been maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) since 1990. Increasing wildlife populations and air traffic coupled with quieter, faster aircraft create a significant risk to aviation safety; the cost to the civil aviation industry is an estimated $708 million dollars annually. USDA/APHIS/Wildlife Services (WS) provides technical and direct assistance to over 838 airports and airbases around the United States, including Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD). At ORD, raptors are one of the most commonly struck bird guild and accounted for at least 25% of damaging strikes from 2010-2013. An Integrated Wildlife Damage Management (IWDM) program is implemented at ORD to reduce the presence of wildlife on the airfield, consequently lowering the risk of wildlife strikes. Mitigation translocation (i.e., live-capture and translocation of problematic individuals) is a common practice used to reduce the hazards posed by raptors using airports and there is no published information available regarding the efficacy of raptor live-capture and translocation for reducing raptor-aircraft collisions at airports. Therefore, we conducted a study to determine which biological and logistical factors might influence the return of red-tailed hawks translocated from ORD during 2010–2013. Our findings suggest age (of the bird), season (breeding or non-breeding), and the number of times an individual raptor has been trapped and translocated, but not the distance of the release site from the capture location, influences how frequently red-tailed hawks return to the same airport environment following a translocation event. The decision matrix regarding the use of a raptor trap and transfer program involves a variety of biological, logistical, economic, and socio-political variables. This study represents an important first step in providing a scientific foundation for informing such management decisions.

Wetland management strategies that maximize marsh bird use in Illinois Douglas McClain (presenter), Heath Hagy, Joshua Osborn, Aaron Yetter, Christopher Hine, Sarah Vanderhorst, Andrew Gilbert, and Abigail Blake-Bradshaw, Forbes Biological Station, Illinois Natural History Survey, Havana, IL 62644; Phone: (217) 332-3825; E-mail: drmcclai@illinois.edu Marsh birds are an understudied guild of wetland-associated species that can be valuable indicators of wetland health and condition (Conway 2011). As wetlands have declined in Illinois, likely so have marsh birds (Bolenbaugh et al. 2011). In addition, wetland management in Illinois for wildlife is often used to increase energetic carrying capacity for waterfowl, primarily dabbling ducks (Soulliere et al. 2007). It is widely assumed that waterfowl management activities benefit other birds, but few studies have quantified those benefits or evaluated tradeoffs among management strategies for multiple species (O'Neal et al. 2008, Gray et al. 2013). To examine the effects of various wetland management strategies and hydrologic regimes on marsh bird populations, we conducted call playback surveys for secretive marsh birds at wetland sites throughout Illinois. Using a standard protocol, we sampled one-half hour before sunrise to two hours after sunrise at random, focal, and Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP) sites throughout Illinois from 15 April 2015 to 30 June 2015. Marsh birds were detected both aurally and visually, and the distance between each individual and the survey location was estimated.

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Furthermore, habitat assessments were conducted at each survey location to evaluate overall wetland quality, management practices, and hydrologic regimes. American coot (Fulica americana; 56.3%), sora (Porzana carolina; 24.0%), and pied-billed grebe (Podilymbus podiceps; 10.0%) were the most common species and accounted for >90% of detections. Total marsh bird detections were greatest on focal sites (15.5 ± 4.6 detections/survey/site), followed by random (2.6 ± 0.6 detections/survey/site) and CTAP sites (0.4 ± 0.2 detections/survey/site). Sites where wetland management practices were evident (8.8 ± 2.8 detections/survey/site) had more detections than those without management practices present (3.5 ± 0.9 detections/survey/site). Similarly, restored wetlands (7.9 ± 1.9 detections/survey/site) had more detections than natural wetlands (2.3 ± 1.9 detections/survey/site). In future years, when more data are available, we will model marsh bird detections by various wetland management actions and generate density estimates using a detection function.

Using Waterfowl Harvest Data to Investigate Efficacy of Non-toxic Shot Regulations Craig A. Miller (Presenter) and Brent. D. Williams, Illinois Natural History Survey, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820. Phone: (217)244-0691; Email: craigm@illinois.edu. The Illinois Waterfowl Hunter Harvest Survey has been collecting waterfowl harvest and crippling data from hunters since 1981. Lead shot was banned for waterfowl hunting in Illinois beginning with the 1994 waterfowl season. We employed time series analysis to investigate efficacy of non-toxic (“steel shot”) regulations on waterfowl crippling rates for ducks and geese among Illinois hunters across the 33 years of waterfowl harvest data. Crippling trends prior to 1994 (R2 = -0.356) suggest the same trend in decline as that from 1994 to the present (R2 = -0.353); however, number of crippled ducks was greater prior to the lead shot ban. Crippled ducks per 100 ducks bagged showed a steady trend prior to the ban (R2 = 0.001) and declined after the ban was in place (R2 = -0.617) with number of crippled ducks greater prior to 1994. Standardizing crippled ducks per hunter per day produced differing trends: Cripples were greater and trend line for decrease lower (R2 = -0.153) prior to the ban, and trend for crippled ducks (R2 = -0.540) declined following the ban. Trends for geese showed crippled geese per year increasing (R2 = 0.478) prior to the ban, and declining afterwards (R2 = -0.178). Trends for crippled geese per 100 bagged were similar to ducks: R2 = 0.0003 prior to the ban and R2 = 0.-535 after it was in place. Trend for crippled geese per hunter per day was increasing prior to the ban (R2 = 0.142) and declined afterwards (R2 = 0.331). Discussion will focus of the effectiveness of the lead shot ban on waterfowl crippling in Illinois and use of harvest data to denote trends in regulatory effects.

Using Harmonic Radar to Estimate Home Range Movements in Hatchling Texas Horned Lizards Jennie M. Mook1 (presenter), Eric M. Schauber1, Raymond W. Moody2 1Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62902 2Natural Resources Department, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma 73145 Texas horned lizards are currently listed as a species of concern in Oklahoma and threatened in Texas, making research crucial to management and conservation efforts. Over the past decade, the population at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma has become increasingly isolated due to encroaching urbanization.

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While there has been much research on this species, little is known about the hatchling life stage. Understanding their movements to better enhance survival of hatchling Texas horned lizards is imperative for estimating population viability for the species. Until now, monitoring hatchlings has proven difficult due to small size and limited technology. However, harmonic radar has proven to be a possible alternative for tracking small organisms. This study is the first to use harmonic radar to track the movements of horned lizard hatchlings, enabling us to learn more about hatchling survival rates and mortality-related details, as well as information about home-range sizes. Preliminary results have found success with using harmonic radar to monitor hatchlings (n=42) using Schottky barrier diodes (S2), aluminum, and PET. Diodes weighed less than 0.02g and were detected using a RECCO Detector 8 from up to 3m away. The earliest results show that hatchlings inhabit home ranges of 0.216 ± 0.184 ha using 95% KDEs. Our work can serve as a model approach to aid in conserving horned lizard populations and increasing population growth rates throughout their habitat.

Food Habits and Availability for Lesser Scaup in the Upper Midwest

Joshua M. Osborn (presenter), Heath Hagy, Jamison England, Aaron Yetter, Michelle Horath, Chris Hine, and Douglas McClain, Illinois Natural History Survey-Forbes Biological Station, University of Illinois, Havana, IL 62644; Phone (217) 244-7675; Email: osbornjm@illinois.edu The Illinois and Mississippi River corridors provide critical stopover habitat for migrating waterfowl. Recent evidence suggests that wetlands associated with these river systems provide limited seed and invertebrate biomass for waterfowl in spring. The “Spring Condition Hypothesis” states that declines in midcontinent foraging habitat quality may explain extended declines in species like lesser scaup (Aythya affinis). We experimentally collected lesser scaup (n = 262) from foraging flocks throughout the Illinois and Upper Mississippi River valleys during February-April 2014-2015. We extracted upper digestive tracts and collected benthic and nektonic food samples at collection sites to evaluate food use and selection. Further, we compared food items at collection sites to foods from randomly-collected samples throughout wetlands. Lesser scaup contained invertebrates more frequently (82%) and at a greater percent aggregate mass than plant material (66%). While digestive tracts also frequently contained invertebrates (68%), overall aggregate percent biomass (34%) was considerably less than that of invertebrates. Overall food density was greater in the Upper Mississippi River Valley (321.6 kg/ha) than the Illinois River Valley (205.1 kg/ha). Food density at foraging sites was greater than randomly-collected samples in 45.7% of wetlands, indicating food patch selection may be limited or non-existent. Interestingly, this frequency was much lower in the Upper Mississippi River (19.3%) than the Illinois River Valley (53.9%). The Upper Mississippi River appeared to be of greater foraging quality during spring than the Illinois River, perhaps contributing to lesser scaup's oportunistic site selection in this region. Although scaup exhibited some fourth order selection tendencies (amphipods, lymnaeids, etc.); selection of food items, similar to foraging patches, appears opportunistic during spring migration in the Midwest.

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Summer Habitat Use of Game Species in a Central Hardwood Forest Brent S. Pease (presenter), Eric J. Holzmueller, and Clay K. Nielsen, Department of Forestry, Southern Illinois University, 1205 Lincoln Drive, Carbondale, Illinois 62901; Phone: (618) 322-7722; Email: bpease1@siu.edu. Oak-hickory forests have been documented to support nearly 100 North American vertebrate species and are one of the most widespread land cover associations in eastern United States. Research indicates that removal of active forest management in this forest type can lead to shifts in stand composition and structure. However, despite several predictions about how these changes will affect wildlife, there is a paucity of empirical data describing the relationship between habitat use of wildlife and shifting forest composition and structure. We utilized a hardwood-forest dominated site in southern Illinois to quantify the distribution of a mammal community as a function of forest composition and structure. During June-August 2015, we randomly deployed 54 remotely-triggered cameras for 22 days across a 120 ha study area to document key micro-habitat characteristics that influence the abundance and diversity of silvicolous species. Camera traps recorded 143 photos, of which 40% were carnivorous mammals, 50% were non-carnivorous mammals, 9% were bird species, and 1% were unidentifiable individuals. Preliminary results indicate a diverse trophic community is utilizing the study area during the summer season, but at low frequencies (0.13 individuals captured per trap night). Species with sufficient detections were analyzed in an occupancy modeling framework where preliminary results show a strong response to overstory composition by certain taxonomic groups, including white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) and eastern wild turkeys (M. g. silvestris). Further analysis, along with continued monitoring in 2016, will be conducted to better explain the distribution of the silvicolous community in our study area.

TWS – Adapting to Challenges and Opportunities in the Wildlife Profession Gary E. Potts, President, The Wildlife Society, c/o IL DNR, 129 North Kennedy Blvd., Vandalia, IL 62471; Phone: (618) 283-3070; Email: gary.potts@illinois.gov Wildlife biologists are trained to be concerned with the art and science of managing wildlife, habitats and the users of wildlife. Today, we are dealing with complex issues such as changing public demographics and the social mosaic, globalization of the economy and the world society, invasive species, wildlife diseases, information/technology explosion, and the redefinition of public and private roles in wildlife management. Certainly, today’s wildlife professionals stand their watch during a critical time for wildlife. The Wildlife Society can play a key role to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitats through science-based management and conservation. TWS enhances our members’ networking and learning opportunities, professional career development, and provides numerous ways for them to get more involved in creating a better future for wildlife and their habitats. The Presidential theme of “Expanding the Partnership” will be explored in an effort to strengthen the connection between wildlife science and its applications to real-world management and policy problems. TWS efforts in strategic areas will be discussed such as the member value proposition and connecting more effectively with our chapters and sections, publications and communications, professional development, conferences, and our coalition building and outreach efforts via e-communications and the Conservation Affairs Network.

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Capture Efficiency and Survival of River Otters in Southern Illinois Andrew Rutter (presenter); Alex Hanrahan; Dr. Clay Nielsen; and Dr. Eric Schauber; Cooperative Wildlife Research Lab, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Phone: (847)721-3694; Email: rutter450@gmail.com River otter (Lontra canadensis) populations in Illinois have rebounded considerably due to >80 years of harvest protection and a successful reintroduction program. Relatively few studies of river otter ecology exist in the Midwestern U.S. where river otters have increased regionally. The objectives of our study are to estimate capture efficiency and survival of otters in southern Illinois. During the winters of 2014-15 and 2015-16 we captured 42 river otters 49 times; 8 in foot-hold traps (1 capture/87.5 trap nights) and 34 in box traps (1 capture/77 trap nights). Thirty-five river otters were surgically implanted with intra-abdominal radio-transmitters and individuals were located and monitored for survival using radiotelemetry. Of the 22 river otters monitored from the 2014-15 season, 1 was killed in a body gripping trap after 7 days, 2 left the study area after 116 and 129 days, respectively, and 19 otters could no longer be monitored due to transmitters failing between 171-287 days. One male river otter was recovered after a vehicle collision with an inactive transmitter 330 days after his initial instrumentation. Two others with inactive transmitters were recaptured during the subsequent trapping season 336 and 459 days after their initial instrumentation, respectively. We are currently monitoring the survival of 13 river otters instrumented during our most recent capture season.

Mississippi River Basin/Gulf Hypoxia Initiative: Seven LCCs Meet Large-Scale Agricultural Conservation Challenges From Grassland Birds and Pallid Sturgeon to Gulf Coast Shrimp Michael Schwartz, The Conservation Fund; Gwen White, Glen Salmon, Kristin Shaw (presenter) Eastern Tallgrass Prairie & Big Rivers LCC; Robert Clevenstine, US Fish & Wildlife Service; Greg Wathen, Gulf Coast Plains & Ozarks LCC; Bill Bartush, Gulf Coast Prairie LCC; Nicole Athearn, Great

Plains LCC; Richard Nelson, Plains & Prairie Potholes LCC; John Rogner, Upper Midwest & Great Lakes

LCC; Jean Brennan, Appalachian LCC According to water quality model assessments, Midwestern states within the upper Mississippi River watershed currently contribute the greatest nutrient load to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone. The conservation community needs optimization tools that prioritize the design and configuration of actions that appeal to upstream agricultural communities under a range of climate extremes. The Mississippi River Basin/Gulf Hypoxia Initiative, spearheaded by seven Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, is undertaking a strategic and transparent process to create an integrated framework that supports planning, design, configuration and delivery of water quality enhancement and wildlife conservation practices within targeted locations across the watershed. Work Teams of researchers and managers across the LCCs have identified and described the design/policy considerations for 14 highly effective conservation practices that protect and enhance wildlife habitat while complementing ongoing efforts that reduce nutrient loads to the Gulf of Mexico hypoxic zone and benefit agricultural production through ecosystem services (“what to do”). The Conservation Fund is developing datasets and decision support tools to be utilized as part of the Conservation Blueprint 1.0 to map, evaluate, and select the most strategic and cost effective places to implement these actions (“where to do it”). Future scenario planning for landscape change could provide climate forecast and adaptation strategies over a range of time scales in response to ecological or economic drivers. The Initiative plans to use this framework to

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address collaborative needs that will enhance organizational capacity, avoid duplication of effort, streamline prioritization, and align the work of agencies and organizations across multiple scales. This effort is intended to be complementary to related on-going efforts, like the Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Task Force, Mississippi River Basin Initiative, and state nutrient reduction initiatives, but with an added emphasis on the ecological and social values of wildlife habitat.

Using Canvasbacks (Aythya valisineria) as a Bioindicator of Wetland Quality in the Upper Midwest Eric J. Smith (presenter) and Christopher N. Jacques, Department of Biological Sciences, 1 University Circle, 338 Waggoner Hall, Macomb, Illinois 61455. cn-jacques@wiu.edu (309-298-2155), ej-

smith@wiu.edu (701-840-9355); Heath M. Hagy, Illinois Natural History Survey, Frank C. Bellrose

Waterfowl Research Center, Havana, Illinois 62644. hhagy@illinois.edu (309-543-3950); Michael J. Anteau, U. S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, 8711 37th Street SE,

Jamestown, North Dakota 58401. manteau@usgs.gov (701-253-5507); Randy Smith, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702. Randy.Smith@illinois.gov (217-785-2347) The canvasback (Aythya valisineria) is an omnivorous, wetland-obligate species that is dependent on food associated with submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV), namely tubers, vegetation, moist-soil seeds, and aquatic invertebrates. Since the 1950s, fluctuations in canvasback populations may be due, in part, to changes in wetland quality and abundance at migration stopover sites and wintering areas. Wetland loss and degradation can lead to declining food resources, which in turn has direct implications for migratory waterfowl. Thus, a need to provide high-quality habitat for wetland-obligate species is paramount for management and conservation efforts. As such, a greater understanding of the fate of acquired nutrients (e.g., catabolized or accumulated) as lipid reserves may be useful in assessing habitat quality of key migration stopover areas for large-bodied diving ducks like canvasbacks, especially given spatial heterogeneity in habitat quality of stopover sites along traditional migration corridors. Though plasma-lipid metabolite indices have been developed for assessing habitat quality of passerines and other small-bodied birds, a paucity of information exists for assessing wetland quality for large-bodied waterfowl like canvasbacks. Development of a relatively unbiased plasma metabolite index for canvasbacks may provide waterfowl managers with a useful tool for assessing the relative magnitude of change in wetland quality. Thus, our overall goal is to develop a plasma-lipid index for canvasbacks for landscape-level use in evaluating wetland quality at traditional stopover sites including Illinois wetlands. Results of our study may assist agencies with the geographic prioritization of waterfowl conservation efforts. Further, our landscape-level assessment of wetland quality may be an indicator of how sensitive spring migration habitat presently is for canvasbacks, which in turn may help to identify specific life stages whereby management may or may not help with future conservation of this species.

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The Revised Illinois Wildlife Action Plan - Wetlands Campaign Randy Smith (presenter), Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702; Phone: (217) 785-2347; Email: randy.smith@illinois.gov The Illinois Wildlife Action Plan (IWAP) is designed to function as a guide to manage target wildlife populations in Illinois. The IWAP is updated every ten years, and is reviewed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. In this update, the focus for each Campaign is on implementation strategies. The Wetlands Campaign will focus on six natural divisions most important to wetland wildlife in Illinois. The Wetlands Campaign includes wetland habitat goals, an update on goals listed in the 2005 IWAP, a list of wetland species in greatest conservation need, and specific actions for wetland habitat that will maximize habitat value and positively impact species in greatest conservation need.

Estimating Density of Bobcats with Capture-Mark-Recapture Data from Camera Traps Tim Swearingen (presenter) and Christopher Jacques, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL 61455; (734) 755-5194, (309) 298-2155; TC-swearingen@wiu.edu CN-

jacques@wiu.edu. Bob Bluett, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way,

Springfield, IL 62702; (217) 782-7580; bob.bluett@illinois.gov. Jonathan Jenks, South Dakota State University, Dept. of Natural Resource Management, Brookings, SD 57007; (605) 688-4783;

jonathan.jenks@sdstate.edu. Troy Grovenburg, South Dakota State University, Dept. of Natural Resource Management, Brookings, SD 57007; (605) 688-5064; troy.grovenburg@sdstate.edu.

Christopher DePerno, Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, North Carolina State University, Dept. of Forestry and Environmental Resources, Raleigh, NC 27695; (919) 513-7559; csdepern@ncsu.edu.

Chuck Anderson, Colorado Parks & Wildlife, 317 W. Prospect Rd., Ft. Collins, CO 80526; (970) 472-4335; Chuck.Anderson@state.co.us. Continued expansion of bobcat abundance has prompted state legislators to initiate the first bobcat hunting season since the early 1970s. Previous research has been limited to southern Illinois, thus, the need for quantitative information on bobcat population demographics in other regions of the state is needed. Use of remote cameras is less invasive, labor intensive, and costly than other long-term census techniques, and especially useful to study elusive nocturnal species that occur in low densities. Because bobcats are individually identifiable, the opportunity exists to obtain population abundance estimates within a capture-recapture framework using remote cameras. Our objective is to evaluate the efficacy of camera traps (concurrent with live trapping and individually marking [radiocollaring]) to estimate bobcat abundance across northern Illinois. We will conduct camera trap surveys for 3-month seasonal sampling intervals, including breeding season (1 November - 30 April) and parturition-kitten rearing seasons (1 May - 31 October). We will construct encounter (e.g., capture) histories for each bobcat camera trapped and analyze data using Program MARK. This study will identify relationships between camera density, variation in habitat types, and bobcat detection probabilities. A greater understanding of factors influencing bobcat detection probabilities will be used to develop efficient camera sampling protocols, and subsequent validation of established protocols across the state where habitat types and bobcat densities vary. Further, this study will contribute to a greater understanding of potential spatial effects (i.e., habitat) on home range use by bobcats across northern Illinois landscapes, which in turn will aid in refining camera survey protocols (e.g., sampling intervals, size of sampling area) for subsequent use in estimating bobcat abundance across Illinois.

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Hunting and Habitat Use in Allerton Park's White-tailed Deer Noelle E. Thompson (presenter), Dept of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign,

Urbana, IL 61801; Phone: (708) 983-5505; Email: nethomp2@illinois.edu; Michelle L. Green; Nohra E. Mateus-Pinilla; Jan E. Novakofski; Nathan J. Beccue; John Griesbaum Using Allerton Park as a study site, our objective was to visualize changes in deer habitat use as a result of hunting pressure. The University of Illinois' Allerton Park offers 1,500 acres of diverse habitat situated within central Illinois' predominantly row cropped agricultural landscape. Since the early 1980's, the park has maintained a white-tailed deer program which has generated detailed data and information on the species. Before 2004, hunting was not allowed within Allerton Park and it was seen as a refuge area for local deer. However, Allerton Park was first hunted in 2004 as a way to lower population numbers and has continued to participate in the hunting season each subsequent year. Although the program has effectively reduced deer numbers, it is unknown if this has altered deer habitat use throughout and around the park. Habitat types within the park include old growth, bottom land, and early succession forest types, along with restored prairie and wetland areas. Crops dominate the surrounding area. Since 1980, yearly aerial counts have been conducted following the hunting season. Through analysis of these yearly aerial counts, we determined that prior to hunting, an average of 59% of observed deer were located within Allerton Park. Post hunting implementation, the average decreased to 22% within Allerton Park. Using GIS, we can visualize changes in habitat use prior to and concurrent with hunting in the park. With this same information, we can locate and quantify deer in specific habitat types. We can determine which habitat types are most often selected by deer and determine whether habitat use is nonrandom. Understanding deer habitat use can help managers identify potential refuge sites and congregation among deer due to hunting pressure. This is especially applicable to northern Illinois counties, where disease transmission is a concern.

Evaluating gene expression in chronic wasting disease infected white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Emma K. Trone (presenter), Western Illinois University; Christopher N. Jacques, Western Illinois

University; James T. Lamer, Western Illinois University; Paige Zick, Western Illinois University;

Guoqing Lu, University of Nebraska-Omaha; Paul A. Shelton, Illinois Department of Natural Resources Throughout much of their range, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are affected by transmissible diseases such as chronic wasting disease (CWD). Although previous research has evaluated CWD genetics (e.g., , PRNP gene polymorphisms) the underlying pathogenicity and mechanisms of the disease remain poorly understood. The primary objective of our research was to create a genetic profile of CWD-infected deer to better understand how the disease affects deer on a transcriptome (i.e., full range of mRNA molecules expressed by individual) level. We evaluated gene-expression in CWD-infected and non-infected white-tailed deer collected by Illinois Department of Natural Resource game managers during annual population reduction (e.g., sharpshooting) and disease monitoring efforts throughout the CWD-endemic area of northcentral Illinois and established a timeline for RNA viability. We used next generation sequencing (NGS) to analyze tissue samples from CWD-infected deer

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euthanized by IDNR sharpshooters during winter 2015 (February – March 2015). Specifically, we used the Illumina HiSeq 2500 Sequencing System (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) to quantify and map the transcriptomes de novo, and identify novel and known genes from CWD-infected (n=5) and non-infected (n=5) deer. Preliminary results indicate 59 differentially expressed genes, of which 23 can be annotated using the Blast2GO database. Molecular functions of these genes include binding, catalytic activity and receptor activity. Specifically, we have identified ADIPOQ and CCL3 as differentially expressed. These genes are responsible for regulation of tumor necrosis factor in a typical immune response. Unidentified genes may be previously un-described cervid genes or related to CWD infection. Annotation and validation of differentially expressed genes is necessary when creating a genetic profile. Identification of differentially expressed genes involved in the pathogenesis of CWD may enable researchers and wildlife managers throughout Illinois to predict the infectious status of harvested deer using gene expression (transcriptome) profiles.

Post-mortem RNA degradation in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in west central Illinois

Emma K. Trone (presenter), Western Illinois University; Christopher N. Jacques, Western Illinois

University; James T. Lamer, Western Illinois University; Paige Zick, Western Illinois University;

Guoqing Lu, University of Nebraska-Omaha; Paul A. Shelton, Illinois Department of Natural Resources White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are an important wildlife species in Illinois and provide many social, economic, cultural, and ecological values to wildlife users throughout the state. Managing this species remains a top concern to the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Potentially valuable molecular techniques (e.g., microarray analyses, next-generation sequencing) for understanding neurodegenerative diseases require use of ribonucleic acid (RNA) from post-mortem tissues. Despite ongoing research evaluating neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., chronic wasting disease) at a molecular level, there exists a paucity of information on potential effects of intrinsic (sex, tissue type, body temperature [Tb]) and extrinsic (ambient temperature [Ta]) factors on RNA quality. Thus, our objective was to evaluate post-mortem RNA degradation in hunter-harvested white-tailed deer to establish post-mortem intervals (PMIs) for RNA viability. We collected tissue (liver [LV], brain stem [BS], retropharyngeal lymph nodes [RPLN]) samples from 17 hunter-harvested deer in Hancock County, Illinois during the 2015 annual firearm season to estimate RNA stability. We collected tissues at predetermined PMIs (2, 8, 16, 24, 36, 48 hrs) and sent all samples to the University of Chicago for analysis. Results indicated RNA was stable through 24 hrs, though sample quality was low; average RNA integrity number (RIN) values ranged from 3.6–5.67. We used linear regression to determine the influence sex, time since death, Tb, and Ta on RNA quality. We found significant (P < 0.005) relationships between our dependent variable and several independent variables, including ambient temperature (R2 ≥ 0.12) and time since death (lymph node tissue; R2 = 0.35). Our analyses represents the first quantitative assessment of the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on quality of tissue samples collected for subsequent disease monitoring. Our findings may be useful for creating a PMI for RNA quality in white-tailed deer, thereby aiding in future tissue collection for high-throughput sequencing techniques.

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True Metabolizable Energy of Submersed Aquatic Vegetation for Dabbling Ducks Sarah E. Vanderhorst (presenter) and Heath M. Hagy, Illinois Natural History Survey, Forbes Biological Station-Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center, Prairie Research Institute, University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign, P.O. Box 590, Havana, IL, 62644; Chris N. Jacques, Western Illinois University, 1

University Circle, Macomb, IL, 61455; and John W. Simpson, Winous Point Marsh Conservancy, 3500 South Lattimore Road, Port Clinton, OH 43452; Phone: (937) 422-0559; Email: sevander@illinois.edu Aquatic systems in the Midwest have been highly modified since the beginning of the 20th century, including channelization, damming, and dredging of most large rivers (e.g., Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, Missouri) and disconnection from their natural floodplains with networks of levees. While the loss of submersed aquatic vegetation from hydrologically-connected wetlands and backwater lakes along the Illinois and Mississippi rivers is well-documented, information is unavailable to determine the implications of these losses on energetic carrying capacity for waterfowl, especially dabbling ducks. The objective of this study is to estimate true metabolizable energy of species of submersed aquatic vegetation common to the Upper Midwest for dabbling ducks. We conducted feeding trials using wild-strain mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) during autumn 2015. Feeding trials consist of a 48-hour fasting period followed by precision feeding of one of six species of submersed aquatic vegetation (e.g., Stuckenia pectinata, Ceratophyllum demersum) and a 48-hour period in a metabolic chamber where excreta is collected. We will estimate gross energy of test foods and excreta using a Parr adiabatic oxygen bomb calorimeter and adjust estimates for digestion efficiency to ascertain true metabolizable energy. We expect the true metabolizable energy of submersed aquatic vegetation to be less than that of seeds, tubers, and other hard mast. Our data may aide conservation planners in estimating energetic carrying capacity of semi-permanently-flooded marsh habitats and projecting impacts of wetland management alternatives such as semi-permanently-flooded marsh verses moist-soil management. It will also be useful for assessing the tradeoffs in habitat quality for dabbling ducks considering hydrologic connectivity with rivers and lakes, and as input parameters in models predicting habitat change over time or in response to stressors (e.g., climate change).

Ecology of the Striped Skunk across an Urban-rural Gradient in Southern Illinois John P. Vanek (presenter), Clay Nielsen, and Eric Schauber, Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901; Phone: (631) 813-8559; Email: john.p.vanek@siu.edu The striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) is an economically and ecologically important species, consuming vast numbers of arthropod and rodent pests, and also serving as a vector for a variety of zoonotic diseases, including rabies, tularemia, and distemper. The species is a habitat generalist with a wide geographic distribution ranging from the boreal forests of Canada to the arid plains of South Texas, with correspondingly variable home ranges, body sizes, and dispersal rates. As generalists, striped skunks are capable of infiltrating and persisting in urban areas, but the population dynamics, spatial ecology, and disease ecology in human-dominated landscapes are poorly understood. To address these deficiencies in the literature, we are investigating the home range, habitat use, disease prevalence, abundance, and survival of striped skunks across an urban-rural gradient in southern Illinois. Preliminary data suggests a male bias in trapping success, with home ranges up to 800 ha in size. Radio-collared skunks regularly

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cross busy roads and utilize both forest and field habitats; at least one skunk has exploited anthropogenic food sources (sunflower seeds).

The Illinois Fire Needs Assessment Jeff Walk (presenter), Bill Kleiman, Mike Saxton, and Sarah Hagen, Illinois Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, Peoria, IL; Phone: (309) 363-3327; Email: jwalk@tnc.org How much prescribed fire are we applying in Illinois? How much prescribed fire should we be using? On behalf of the Illinois Prescribed Fire Council, we surveyed managers of more than 1 million acres of conservation lands in the state. Excluding fire-inappropriate land cover types such as cropland, picnic areas, open water, only about 6% of conservation lands were burned during the survey year. Based on fire return intervals recommended by land managers, use of prescribed fire needs to increase by more than 400% (an additional 213,000 acres annually) to maintain ecological integrity. Critically, 20% of conservation land in Illinois was judged by their managers to be too ecologically degraded to carry fire or worth burning even if capacity were available, and would require chemical or mechanical removal of invasive vegetation in addition to prescribed fire to restore desirable conditions. Across all land ownership, we estimated the 8.5 million acres of fire-appropriate habitat in Illinois requires 1.9 million acres of fire annually to maintain current conditions, and 3.6 million acres/year to improve ecological conditions. A few organizations apply sufficient fire to achieve a 2-4 year fire return interval, and we identify characteristics of successful fire programs. Significantly greater resources and higher prioritization needs to be placed on prescribed fire in particular and land management in general to slow the pace of degradation of the state's wildlife habitats. The Revised Illinois Wildlife Action Plan - Forest and Woodlands Campaign Michael A. Wefer (presenter), Illinois Department of Natural Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702; Phone: (217) 785-2438; Email: mike.wefer@illinois.gov The focus of Illinois’ revised Wildlife Action Plan is on implementation. The revised Campaign sections provide more detail on a subset of the original strategies outlined in the 2005 Plan and have been expanded to better guide on the ground work. The revised Campaign sections along with a revised list of Species in Greatest Conservation Need are the main components of Illinois’ revised Wildlife Action Plan. This speed talk will discuss the Forest and Woodlands Campaign section in the revised plan/implementation guide.

Skill and commitment among Illinois waterfowl hunters Brent D. Williams (presenter) and Craig A. Miller, Human Dimensions Research Program, Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL 61820; Phone: (217) 244-7193; Email: bdwllms2@Illinois.edu We conducted a self-administered mail survey to 5,000 Illinois waterfowl hunters. We received 2,212 (48%) usable questionnaires from persons that had purchased a waterfowl stamp during 2014.

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Participants that hunted were asked several questions about how central waterfowl hunting was to their lives and to rate their hunting skills. Using principal component analysis, we confirmed the validity of the skill and commitment constructs then calculated mean commitment and skill scores for each hunter. We used k-means clustering to organize hunters by these 2 variables and identify 4 groups of hunters who reported: (1) low skill and low commitment, (2) high skill and low commitment, (3) low skill and high commitment, and (4) high skill and high commitment. Commonalities among groups were used to identify key characteristics of each type of hunter. Forty percent of waterfowl hunters were in the high skill/high commitment group, but this group was 59% of the September teal hunters and were responsible for almost 70% of total duck harvest. On average this group spent significantly more days afield duck hunting (17.6) than those with high commitment and low skill (9.6 days), high skill and low commitment (8.3 days), and the group low in both (4.5 days). The group high in skill and low in commitment had the highest mean age (49) and the group with high commitment and low skill had the lowest mean age (43). Those groups with higher skill had been hunting on average 10 years longer than in the low skill groups. Discussion will focus on understanding additional differences among groups and application of these results.

Green Cities Campaign for the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan Nancy Williamson (presenter), Illinois Department of Natural Resources, 2050 W. Stearns Rd. Bartlett IL 60103. 815-263.9857; Email; Nancy.Williamson@illinois.gov The Green Cities/Metropolitan Areas Campaign of the Illinois Wildlife Action Plan advances habitat conservation and restoration in support of wildlife species within the state's developed Metropolitan areas. Presentation will discuss: the importance of species protection in Illinois Urban areas; how the eight Illinois Metropolitan/Urban Focus Areas where identified; the development of campaign goals and actions with multiple conservation partners; identification of Urban Focal Species; and two sub-urban area Focal Species identification processes included in the Campaign.

Comparison of Aerial Waterfowl Survey Methods during Fall and Spring Migration Aaron P. Yetter (presenter), Heath M. Hagy, Michelle M. Horath, Joshua M. Osborn, Randy V. Smith, Andy D. Gilbert, Doug R. McClain, Chris S. Hine, Sarah E. Vanderhorst, and Jay A. VonBank. Illinois Natural History Survey, Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center and Forbes Biological Station, Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois, Havana, IL 62644 , USA, ayetter@illinois.edu Illinois provides important stopover habitat for migratory waterfowl. Consequently, the Illinois Natural History Survey has aerially inventoried waterfowl since 1948. However, inventory-style monitoring does not yield detection probabilities or variance estimates and locations are not random making population estimation difficult. We evaluated aerial line transect surveys of diving ducks (Aythyini) on Pool 19 of the Mississippi River during springs 2013–2015 and assessed aerial quadrat (1-mi2) surveys of waterfowl along the Illinois River during falls 2014–2015. For comparison, we estimated waterfowl abundance along both rivers using inventory methods. We used Program DISTANCE to generate detection probabilities and populations sizes. Spring transect surveys in 2013 were oriented perpendicular to the

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river and tended to underestimate populations of diving ducks on Pool 19. Detection probabilities exceeded 50% with coefficients of variation <9%, but encounter rate was extremely low (≤0.005) and variable (CV = 5.2–28.5%). We oriented transects parallel to the river during spring 2014, and estimated duck densities were greater from transect surveys than inventories (�̅� = 43%, CV = 117%) and densities ranged from 0.06–10.7 ducks/ha. We noted inventory and transect surveys produced similar population estimates for most species when abundances were 10,000–150,000, but differences were common and pronounced when inventory abundances were outside this range. Preliminary analyses indicated detection probability exceeded 50% during surveys with coefficients of variation <13%. Duck abundance extrapolated from density estimates from a quadrat survey conducted during peak fall migration indicated quadrats were 17% less than the traditional inventory (538,960 ducks) on refuges. Our results suggest transect surveys oriented parallel to the river were logistically feasible and produced reasonable population estimates. Overall, parallel transect surveys appear to be a viable option for further evaluation along rivers, and we suggest comparison to statistically valid quadrat surveys for estimating waterfowl abundance along river systems.

Cytauxzoon felis (Apicomplexa:Theileriidae) in bobcats, domestic cats, and tick vectors in southern Illinois

Elliott Zieman (presenter)1,2, Megan Schwarzinger1, Clayton K. Nielsen 2,3 and F. Agustín Jiménez1. 1Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, IL. 62901-6501, 2Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. 62901, 3Department of Forestry and Center for Ecology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL. 62901-4619. Phone: (618)452-4211; Email ezieman@siu.edu Cytauxzoon felis is an intraerythrocytic Apicomplexan parasite of felines in the southeastern US. Infection in domestic cats (Felis catus) can result in the highly fatal cytauxzoonosis. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are the natural host and often show no apparent pathology associated with infection by C. felis. The lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis) are competent vectors of C. felis. Previous work on C. felis has addressed the infection in one host species in a specific geographic region. In particular, distribution of the parasite in tick vectors was based on ticks removed from domestic animals and humans. A comprehensive study of the distribution of the parasite in both questing ticks and felines is necessary. Our study had two objectives: i) to determine the prevalence and parasitemia of C. felis in bobcats and domestic cats and determine the prevalence in questing tick vectors, and ii) to compare the genetic diversity of C. felis among different hosts. We screened tissues of 122 bobcats, 218 ticks (117 A. americanum, 101 D. variabilis), 12 domestic cats suspected to suffer from cytauxzoonosis, and 28 asymptomatic domestic cats for the presence of C. felis using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Bobcats from Illinois showed a prevalence of 66%, whereas ticks had a prevalence of 15.6% with no difference between species. Eleven cases of cytauxzoonosis were confirmed in domestic cats and 9 of 28 (32.1%) of asymptomatic domestic cats were positive for C. felis. This is the first study to examine a local population of ticks, domestic cats and bobcats. Our data indicate a very high prevalence in ticks and bobcats. Future research must address the role of domestic cats as reservoirs of this pathogen, the identification of foci of the disease and the effects of chronic infection in bobcats.

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Evaluating capture techniques for southern flying squirrels in hardwood forests of west-central Illinois James S. Zweep (presenter), Christopher N. Jacques, Sean E. Jenkins, and James T. Lamer, Department of Biological Sciences, Western Illinois University, Macomb, IL USA 61455; Phone: (630) 815-9193; Email: JS-Zweep@wiu.edu Despite numerous investigations of small mammal trapping methods, there exists a paucity of information comparing the effectiveness of trapping techniques for arboreal and semi-arboreal mammals. Previous investigations indicate that trap success of arboreal mammals is higher in trees than at ground level, though direct comparisons of capture rates among traps placed at different tree heights are limited. Moreover, no studies have attempted to develop a portable (and thus more efficient) trap design for use in future flying squirrel research. Our objective was to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of modified Sherman trap capture techniques for southern flying squirrels. We systematically placed Sherman t -m along 450 m transects; we alternated between 0-(i.e., control group), 3-, and 6-m above ground from the starting location of each transect. We attached 35-cm wood boards (platforms) at 3- and 6-m above ground along established transects and raised Sherman traps to the base of the platform using bailing twine (pull ropes). During summer (15 May–15 Sep) 2015, we recorded 77 squirrel capture events (23 males, 52 females, 2 unknown) over 91 trap nights. At 0-, 3-, and 6-m above ground, we recorded 1, 32, and 44 capture events, respectively. Trap success varied between 0- and 3-m (χ²1 = 29.12, P < 0.001) and 0- and 6-m (χ²1 = 41.09, P < 0.001) above ground, though trap success was similar (χ²1 = 1.89, P = 0.169) among above ground (3- vs. 6-m) treatment groups. We demonstrated that our modified trap design is an efficient, portable, and safe capture technique, which provides a valuable option for researchers evaluating population or behavioral ecology of flying squirrels. Deployment of traps at 3-m above ground is recommended for ease of deployment and redeployment during field activities.