The Prairie Chicken in Illinois

The present report summarizes a study of the biology and management of the greater prairie chicken in Illinois, a study begun in 1935 by members of the Section of Game Research and Management of the Illinois Natural History Survey. The summers of 1935 and 1936 were spent in full-time field work in southeastern Illinois. Since that time, supplemental studies of prairie chicken habits, requirements and distribution have been continued in various parts of the state. Annuallysince 1935, spring and fall censuses have been made on 4 square miles of prairie chicken range in Jasper County used as a study area. The present report includes data on earlv distribution, present range, life history, populations, mortality causes, food habits and management of the prairie chicken in Illinois.

Preferential Rating of Duck Food Plants

An intensive study of the occurrence and use of duck food plants in the Illinois River valley was conducted 1938-1940. A preliminary report covering the results of the 1938 investigation was issued (Bellrose and Anderson, 1940). Altered water levels in 1939 and 1940 greatly changed the food resources of many bottomland lakes through the development of extensive communities of moist-soil plants. This paper summarizes the data for 1938-1940.

Status, trends, and population demographics of selected sportfish species in the La Grange Reach of the Illinois River

Sportfish species, specifically Yellow Bass Morone mississippiensis, White Bass Morone chrysops, Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides, Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus, Black Crappie Pomoxis nigromaculatus, and White Crappie P. annularis, often drive economically valuable fisheries in large river systems, including the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). Within the Illinois River, part of the UMRS, these species are routinely sampled by an ongoing long-term fisheries monitoring program. Through this program, we investigated long-term trends (1993-2017) in catch rates and relative weights and quantified demographic rates from 2012-2016. We found all six species, with the exception of Yellow Bass, to have declining catch rates with this decline being most stark in larger, older fishes. Population demographics for Yellow Bass, White Bass, Bluegill, and Black Crappie suggest populations are dominated by younger individuals, with only Black Crappie regularly living to age 3 and older, which may be driving population declines. There are many environmental stressors acting on the Illinois River that could be contributing to the lack of older and larger fishes, including, but not limited to, navigation efforts, altered hydrology, pollution, sedimentation, lack of overwintering habitat, and introduction of invasive species. Results of this study demonstrate that additional research to understand mechanisms driving reduced abundance and stunted age structure are needed to identify effective management actions that would benefit populations of recreationally valuable sportfish species.

A molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genera of fruit doves and allies using dense taxonomic sampling

Fruit doves and their allies are a diverse group within the pigeon and dove family (Aves: Columbidae). Progress towards subfamilial classification of Columbidae relies on identifying major groups and the phylogenetic relationships within these groups. One such recently proposed group is the Raphinae based on previous evidence that the extinct dodo is potentially within what was formerly recognized as the Treroninae (fruit doves and allies). Although several studies have explored the phylogenetic relationships within Columbidae, most have focused either on broad-scale, familial level relationships or finer scale, species level relationships. Here we use mitochondrial and nuclear gene sequences from a diverse taxonomic sample to identify relationships among the genera and species of fruit doves and their allies. In particular our goal is to identify which of these genera should be included within Raphinae (the name which has taxonomic priority over Treroninae), focusing on an inclusive, well-supported monophyletic group. We also use dense taxon sampling to explore relationships among genera and species in this group, expanding on previous studies. In addition, we use resulting phylogenetic hypotheses to reconstruct the ancestral evolutionary history of foraging mode and biogeographic patterns of dispersal within the group. We used two data sets for our phylogenetic analysis: the first consisting of novel sequences generated for this project and the second with additional, previously published sequences from the fruit dove genus (Ptilinopus). Our analyses found support for the monophyly of a clade that contains a large fraction of the genera currently classified within Raphinae and also found several well-supported clades within this group of pigeons and doves. Character reconstruction methods based on the resulting phylogeny recover multiple transitions from a terrestrial to an arboreal foraging mode and evidence for multiple dispersal events from Asia to Africa throughout the history of the clade.

Synopsis of the Subfamilies and Genera of the North American Cercopidae, with a Bibliographical and Synonymical Catalogue of the Described Species of North America

Synopsis of the Subfamilies and Genera of the North American Cercopidae, with a Bibliographical and Synonymical Catalogue of the Described Species of North America

A Synopsis of the Reptiles and Amphibians of Illinois

This synopsis is presented largely as it was written several years ago. Before a final report on our reptiles and amphibians is prepared, it is sincerely to be desired that examples of every Illinois species may be in the Illinois Laboratory collection for description, and that the local features of the fauna may be brought out by a critical comparison of Illinois specimens with collections from other parts of the United States. Specimens of the following species, and observations upon them, are especially desirable: Cistudo ornata, Chrysemys picta, Pseudemys hieroglyphica, P. concinna, Heterodon simus, Ophibolus rhombomaculatus, Nerodia sipedon var. fasciata, Rana areolata, R. sylvatica, Hyla cinerea, Desmognathus fusca, Spelerpes ruber, Amblystoma jeffersonianum and A. punctatum.

Bibliographical and Synonymical Catalogue of the Described Membracidae of North America

The following catalogue is designed as an index to the literature of the Membracidae of North America, including Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies. A few species have been seen that could not be referred to any known forms, and these are described in the following pages.

Sixth Contribution to a Knowledge of the Life History of Certain Little-known Aphididae

The literature and life history of the corn plant louse were discussed at length in 1884 by Professor H, Garmauf, who showed that at that time nothing definite was known concerning the time or place of development of the sexed forms, the connection between the root and aerial forms, or the manner in which the insect passes the winter. In the article cited the author adds nothing of importance to our knowledge of either of these points, though the conjecture is made "that the lice hibernated as alate viviparous females."

Descriptions of New Cynipidae in the Collection of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History

Descriptions of New Cynipidae in the Collection of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History

Notes on Illinois Reptiles and Amphibians, Including Several Species Not Before Recorded from the Northern States

Notes on Illinois Reptiles and Amphibians, Including Several Species Not Before Recorded from the Northern States