Return of Topeka Shiner (Notropis topeka) to Restored Oxbows in the White Fox Creek Watershed, Iowa, USA

2021 ◽  
Vol 128 (1-4) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
DM Osterhaus ◽  
S S Leberg ◽  
C L Pierce ◽  
TW Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
North Central ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Creek Watershed ◽  
Central United States ◽  
Notropis Topeka ◽  
Source Populations ◽  
Topeka Shiner ◽  
Historical Range

The Topeka shiner (Notropis topeka), a federally endangered species of minnow endemic to the Great Plains region of the central United States, has experienced widespread population declines resulting from loss of habitat. N. topeka habitat in Iowa, most notably oxbow wetlands, was mostly eliminated from the landscape during European settlement and agriculturalization of the region. Over the last two decades, restoration of oxbow habitats in Iowa has been increasing. Restorations provide critical habitat for N. topeka and regenerate a variety of ecosystem services that benefit many species of flora and fauna. There are signs that restoration of oxbow ecosystems is generating positive impacts on N. topeka recovery. Recent studies revealed that N. topeka populations are recovering within a few Iowa watersheds. In the investigation described here, we report the 2020 discovery of two N. topeka specimens in different restored oxbows within the White Fox Creek HUC10 of north central Iowa. Prior to these collections, the species had been undetected within this basin for 36 years. (It is possible that N. topeka persisted within the basin but remained undetected during sampling efforts.) Multiple oxbows have been restored within the White Fox Creek basin in recent years, and significant source populations of N. topeka can be found in nearby watersheds. These collections suggest that as oxbow restorations continue and land stewardship practices improve, N. topeka populations might recover and become reestablished within the historical range.

Investigating the Relationship between the Evaporative Stress Index and Land Surface Conditions in the Contiguous United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
pp. 1469-1484
Author(s):  
Yafang Zhong ◽  
Jason A. Otkin ◽  
Martha C. Anderson ◽  
Christopher Hain
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Land Surface ◽  
The United States ◽  
Stress Index ◽  
Northern Great Plains ◽  
Reference Network ◽  
North Central ◽  
Central United States

AbstractDespite the key importance of soil moisture–evapotranspiration (ET) coupling in the climate system, limited availability of soil moisture and ET observations poses a major impediment for investigation of this coupling regarding spatiotemporal characteristics and potential modifications under climate change. To better understand and quantify soil moisture–ET coupling and relevant processes, this study takes advantage of in situ soil moisture observations from the U.S. Climate Reference Network (USCRN) for the time period of 2010–17 and a satellite-derived version of the evapotranspiration stress index (ESI), which represents anomalies in a normalized ratio of actual to reference ET. The analyses reveal strong seasonality and regional characteristics of the ESI–land surface interactions across the United States, with the strongest control of soil moisture on the ESI found in the southern Great Plains during spring, and in the north-central United States, the northern Great Plains, and the Pacific Northwest during summer. In drier climate regions such as the northern Great Plains and north-central United States, soil moisture control on the ESI is confined to surface soil layers, with subsurface soil moisture passively responding to changes in the ESI. The soil moisture–ESI interaction is more uniform between surface and subsurface soils in wetter regions with higher vegetation cover. These results provide a benchmark for simulation of soil moisture–ET coupling and are useful for projection of associated climate processes in the future.

scholarly journals The Relationship between the Pacific–North American Teleconnection Pattern, the Great Plains Low-Level Jet, and North Central U.S. Heavy Rainfall Events*

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (17) ◽  
pp. 6729-6742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keith J. Harding ◽  
Peter K. Snyder
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Heavy Rainfall ◽  
Teleconnection Pattern ◽  
North Central ◽  
Rainfall Events ◽  
The North ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Central United States ◽  
Heavy Rainfall Events

Abstract This study demonstrates the relationship between the Pacific–North American (PNA) teleconnection pattern and the Great Plains low-level jet (GPLLJ). The negative phase of the PNA, which is associated with lower heights over the Great Plains and ridging in the southeastern United States, enhances the GPLLJ by increasing the pressure gradient within the GPLLJ on 6-hourly to monthly time scales. Strong GPLLJ events predominantly occur when the PNA is negative. Warm-season strong GPLLJ events with a very negative PNA (<−1) are associated with more persistent, longer wavelength planetary waves that increase the duration of GPLLJ events and enhance precipitation over the north central United States. When one considers the greatest 5-day north central U.S. precipitation events, a large majority occur when the PNA is negative, with most exhibiting a very negative PNA. Stronger moisture transport during heavy rainfall events with a very negative PNA decreases the precipitation of locally derived moisture compared to events with a very positive PNA. The PNA becomes negative 2–12 days before heavy rainfall events and is very negative within two weeks of 78% of heavy rainfall events in the north central United States, a finding that could be used to improve medium-range forecasts of heavy rainfall events.

Landscape Influences on Stream Habitats and Biological Assemblages

2006 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Groundwater Potential ◽  
Physical Habitat ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Notropis Topeka ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Topeka Shiner ◽  
Valley Segment

<em>Abstract.</em>—The Topeka shiner <em>Notropis topeka </em>is a small cyprinid listed as endangered in 1999 due to an 80% reduction in its former range across six Great Plains states. Conservation and recovery plans require information on structural indices of existing populations, distribution, and habitat relations at several spatial scales. We examined physical habitat associations of Topeka shiners at the valley segment and reach scales, and associations with fish species using stepwise logistic regression. Fish and habitat data were collected at 52 sites. Habitat features at the valley segment scale were acquired using data from a geographic information system. At the valley segment scale, Topeka shiners were associated with stream condition variables (stream size, groundwater potential, channel slope, streamflow, network position) and land-cover variables (% pasture, % trees). At the reach scale, Topeka shiners were associated with low grazing and small trees in riparian zones, low bank height, less submerged vegetation, and coarse substrates. Topeka shiners were associated with five fishes that inhabit small, intermittent, warmwater streams. Evidence of greater abundance of Topeka shiner populations in our region compared to other regions may be a result of the natural character of the streams and associated wetlands, which can influence the habitat variables associated with Topeka shiners at both scales. We identified management strategies that would be effective at conserving habitat of Topeka shiners at large and local scales.

Growth of blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) in response to atmospheric CO2 enrichment

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 1570-1573 ◽  
Author(s):  
George H. Riechers ◽  
Boyd R. Strain
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Co2 Enrichment ◽  
Bouteloua Gracilis ◽  
Growth Enhancement ◽  
Total Biomass ◽  
Blue Grama ◽  
North Central ◽  
The North ◽  
Central United States

Blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis (HBK.) Griffiths), an important C4 species in the Great Plains grasslands of the north-central United States, was grown under three concentrations of CO2: 350, 675, and 1000 μL∙L−1. Growth of blue grama was significantly enhanced by enrichment to 675 but not to 1000 μL∙L−1. At the end of the experiment, 7 weeks after planting, plants grown at 675 μL∙L−1 had 35% more total biomass and nearly 90% greater leaf area than controls grown at 350 μL∙L−1. This growth enhancement is large for a C4 species, but is modest compared with the response typical of C3 species. It is concluded that blue grama may experience increasing competition from its C3, associates if atmospheric CO2 continues to increase in the future.

scholarly journals Is Hay for the Birds? Investigating Landowner Willingness to Time Hay Harvests for Grassland Bird Conservation

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1030
Author(s):  
Matthew Gruntorad ◽  
Katherine Graham ◽  
Nico Arcilla ◽  
Christopher Chizinski
Keyword(s):  
Great Plains ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Information Support ◽  
Conservation Strategies ◽  
Bird Conservation ◽  
Willingness To Participate ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Grassland Bird ◽  
The North ◽  
Hunting Activity

Birds in agricultural environments have exhibited steep global population declines in recent decades, and effective conservation strategies targeting their populations are urgently needed. In grasslands used for hay production, breeding birds’ nest success improves substantially if hay harvests are delayed until after mid-July. However, few studies have investigated private hay producers’ willingness to alter their harvesting practices, which is a critical factor for bird conservation where most land is privately owned, such as in the North American Great Plains. We surveyed Nebraska hay producers to examine whether livestock production, wildlife knowledge, and hunting activity affects their willingness to alter haying practices for bird conservation. The majority (60%) of respondents expressed willingness to delay harvesting hay to allow birds time to nest successfully. Livestock producers and those more knowledgeable about wildlife were more willing to delay hay harvests, whereas active hunters were less willing to do so. Our findings suggest that a majority of private producers show a high potential for engaging in grassland bird conservation activities. Landowners’ willingness to participate in bird conservation programs and actions could be further encouraged through extension and education efforts connecting hay producers with information, support, and funding for bird conservation.

scholarly journals Genetic Variation of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum from Multiple Crops in the North Central United States

PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e0139188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Aldrich-Wolfe ◽  
Steven Travers ◽  
Berlin D. Nelson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Genetic Variation ◽  
Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum ◽  
North Central ◽  
The North ◽  
Central United States
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