Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Publications
Aquatic vegetation and invertebrate communities of Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge
Observed degradation of aquatic systems at Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge, located in west-central Minnesota, have been associated with sediment-laden inflows from riverine systems. To support management, a study was conducted during 2013–2014 with overall goals of characterizing the aquatic invertebrate and vegetation communities of the Big...
Tangen, Brian; Finocchiaro, Raymond; Newton, Wesley E.; Dahl, Charles F. Hydrologic lag effects on wetland greenhouse gas fluxes
Hydrologic margins of wetlands are narrow, transient zones between inundated and dry areas. As water levels fluctuate, the dynamic hydrology at margins may impact wetland greenhouse gas (GHG) fluxes that are sensitive to soil saturation. The Prairie Pothole Region of North America consists of millions of seasonally-ponded wetlands that are ideal...
Tangen, Brian A.; Bansal, Sheel Can multi-element fingerprinting of soils inform assessments of chemical connectivity between depressional wetlands?
The question of wetland connectivity is particularly relevant regarding depressional wetlands because these wetlands often seem to be “isolated” from other wetlands on a landscape. In this study, multi-element fingerprinting of soils was used to assess similarity in element composition of depressional-wetland soils as a measure of wetland...
Xiaoyan Zhu; Yuxiang Yuan; Mushet, David M.; Marinus L. Otte Effects of land use on greenhouse gas flux in playa wetlands and associated watersheds in the High Plains, USA
In the High Plains, U.S., native prairie conversion to cropland agriculture has resulted in a loss of service delivery capabilities from most depressional wetlands as a result of sedimentation. Restoring historic hydrological conditions to affected wetlands may rejuvenate some services, however, there may be tradeoffs due to emissions of CH4 ...
Daniel, Dale W.; Smith, Loren M.; McMurry, Scott T.; Tangen, Brian A.; Dahl, Charles F.; Euliss, Ned; LaGrange, Ted
U.S. Geological Survey—Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center 2017 research activity report
The mission of Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center is to provide scientific information needed to conserve and manage the Nation’s natural capital for current and future generations, with an emphasis on migratory birds, Department of the Interior trust resources, and ecosystems of the Nation’s interior. This report provides an...
Sherfy, Mark H. Diurnal habitat selection of migrating Whooping Crane in the Great Plains
Available stopover habitats with quality foraging opportunities are essential for migrating waterbirds, including Whooping Crane (Grus americana). Several studies have evaluated habitats used by Whooping Crane for roosting throughout its migration corridor; however, habitats associated with foraging and other diurnal activities have received less...
Baasch, David M.; Farrell, Patrick D.; Pearse, Aaron T.; Brandt, David A.; Caven, Andrew J.; Harner, Mary J.; Wright, Greg D.; Metzger, Kristine L.
Assessing the impact of the Conservation Reserve Program on honey bee health
Insect pollinators are critically important for maintaining U.S. food production and ecosystem health. The upper Midwest is home to more than 40 percent of all U.S. honey bee colonies and is considered by many beekeepers to be America’s last beekeeping refuge. Beekeepers come to this region because their honey bees require high-quality grassland...
Otto, Clint R. V.
Response of vegetation in open and partially wooded fens to prescribed burning at Seney National Wildlife Refuge
The health and function of northern peatlands, particularly for fens, are strongly affected by fire and hydrology. Fens are important to several avian species of conservation interest, notably the yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis). Fire suppression and altered hydrology often result in woody encroachment, altering the plant community and...
Austin, Jane E.; Newton, Wesley E.
Demographic responses of least terns and piping plovers to the 2011 Missouri River flood—A large-scale case study
A catastrophic flood event on the Missouri River system in 2011 led to substantial changes in abundance and distribution of unvegetated sand habitat. This river system is a major component of the breeding range for interior Least terns (Sternula antillarum; “terns”) and piping plovers (Charadrius melodus; “plovers”), both of which are Federally...
Anteau, Michael J.; Sherfy, Mark H.; Shaffer, Terry L.; Swift, Rose J.; Toy, Dustin L.; Dovichin, Colin M. Whooping crane use of riverine stopover sites
Migratory birds like endangered whooping cranes (Grus americana) require suitable nocturnal roost sites during twice annual migrations. Whooping cranes primarily roost in shallow surface water wetlands, ponds, and rivers. All these features have been greatly impacted by human activities, which present threats to the continued recovery of the...
Baasch, David M.; Farrell, Patrick D.; Howlin, Shay; Pearse, Aaron T.; Farnsworth, Jason M.; Smith, Chadwin B. Landscape genetics reveal broad and fine‐scale population structure due to landscape features and climate history in the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens) in North Dakota
Prehistoric climate and landscape features play large roles structuring wildlife populations. The amphibians of the northern Great Plains of North America present an opportunity to investigate how these factors affect colonization, migration, and current population genetic structure. This study used 11 microsatellite loci to genotype 1,230...
Waraniak, Justin M.; Fisher, Justin D. L.; Purcell, Kevin; Mushet, David M.; Stockwell, Craig A. Modeling effects of crop production, energy development and conservation-grassland loss on avian habitat
Birds are essential components of most ecosystems and provide many services valued by society. However, many populations have undergone striking declines as their habitats have been lost or degraded by human activities. Terrestrial grasslands are vital habitat for birds in the North American Prairie Pothole Region (PPR), but grassland conversion...
Shaffer, Jill A.; Roth, Cali L.; Mushet, David M.