Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
April 2017 Activity Highlights
Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
La Crosse, Wisconsin
Topics covered in the April activity report.
- Aquatic Invasive Species
- Carbon Dioxide Demonstration Barrier Planning Meeting
- Great Lakes Sea Lamprey Control Program Technical Support
- Collaborative Research Activities
- Cross walking National Park Mapping Layers to the U.S. National Vegetation Classification
- Outreach
- Minnesota Representative Lewis Briefed on Asian Carp and Mississippi River Science
- Monarch Butterfly Surveys and Conservation Programs
- Publications and Tools
- Using Electrical Fields to Control Zebra Mussels
- Scientific Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
- US-International Association for Landscape Ecology
- High-throughput Computing with HTCondor and Docker Webinar
- Webinar: Introduction to environmental DNA (eDNA)
- Mississippi River Research Consortium
- American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Specialty Conference
- Training
- Social Ecological Systems Training and Education Program
- Acronyms
Aquatic Invasive Species
Carbon Dioxide Demonstration Barrier Planning Meeting
Aaron Cupp and Kim Fredricks (UMESC) represented UMESC at a planning meeting for Mississippi River Lock and Dam 14 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Demonstration Barrier, April 4, 2017, in Bettendorf, IA. If planning continues as planned, the demonstration barrier will be installed in the auxiliary lock of Lock and Dam 14 during FY 2018. Meeting attendees included representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Water Science Center, and Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (Aaron Cupp, acupp@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
Great Lakes Sea Lamprey Control Program Technical Support
The second quarter lampricide samples were collected for the five year storage stability study on April 3 and 4, 2017. Lampricides are the chemicals used to control invasive larval sea lamprey populations in the tributaries of the Great Lakes, before they become parasitic adults and migrate into the lakes to feed on lake trout, salmon, walleye, and other commercially important fish species. Chemicals stored at the Marquette, MI. and Sault Ste. Marie, ON, Canada, facilities are being monitored for five years to assess their stability under different storage conditions (Jeff Bernardy, jbernardy@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
Collaborative Science
Cross walking National Park Mapping Layers to the U.S. National Vegetation Classification
Kevin Hop (UMESC) presented, “Lessons learned: synchronizing map layers to a single U.S. National Vegetation Classification version,” at NatureServe’s Biodiversity Without Boundaries 2017 conference, April 9-13, 2017, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The presentation showcased some of the successes and challenges in synchronizing vegetation map layers of national park units within the National Park Service Great Lakes Network to a contemporary version of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification, and in updating the crosswalk to a consistent map classification. Additionally, Hop networked with NatureServe, their partners, and other cohorts who attended the conference (Kevin Hop, khop@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
Outreach
Minnesota Representative Lewis Briefed on Asian Carp and Mississippi River Science
Director Mark Gaikowski and key staff from the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center (UMESC) briefed U.S. Representative Jason Lewis (MN-02) and staffers on April 13 along with partners from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Representative Lewis was briefed on Asian Carp surveillance, monitoring and control research and management activities at the request of Rep. Lewis. In addition Congressman Lewis and staff were also briefed about the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Upper Mississippi River Restoration Program (UMRR), authorized by Congress to address the river’s ecological needs through restoration and scientific monitoring and research. The Long Term Resource Monitoring (LTRM) element is implemented by the USGS-UMESC, in cooperation with the five Upper Mississippi River System states of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and Wisconsin (Randy Hines, rkhines@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
Monarch Butterfly Surveys and Conservation Programs
Emily Weiser (UMESC) presented, “Saving the Monarch Butterfly: National Surveys and Conservation Programs,” at the Kickapoo Valley Reserve’s Spring Fling, April 29, 2017. Weiser’s presentation was a featured highlight of this year’s Spring Fling, as 2017 is the “Year of the Pollinator” at the Reserve (Emily Weiser, eweiser@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
Publications and Tools
Using Electrical Fields to Control Zebra Mussels
James Luoma, Todd Severson, Jeremy Wise, Matthew Barbour (UMESC), and Jan Dean (Dean Electrofishing L.L.C.) evaluated the use of sinusoidal Alternating Current (AC) and 20% duty cycle square-wave Pulsed Direct Current (PDC) for controlling adult zebra mussels. The authors developed prediction regressions to estimate the peak dose (Joules/cm3) and applied power (kWh) required to achieve desired levels of zebra mussel mortality at water temperatures of 10, 15, and 22 °C. The results demonstrate that 20% duty cycle square-wave PDC requires less applied power (i.e. lower cost) than sinusoidal AC to inducing the same level of zebra mussel mortality. The paper is available online at http://www.reabic.net/journals/mbi/2017/ICAIS.aspxt (James Luoma, jluoma@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
- Luoma, J.A., Dean, J.C., Severson, T.J., Wise, J.K., and Barbour, M.T. 2017. Use of alternating and pulsed direct current electrified fields for zebra mussel control. Management of Biological Invasions Vol. 8, Special 19th ICAIS Issue (in press).
Scientific Meetings, Conferences, and Workshops
US-International Association for Landscape Ecology
Nate De Jager and Molly Van Appledorn (UMESC) organized the special symposium, “Floodplain Landscape Ecology: Patterns, Processes and Management Implications,” at the 2017 Annual Meeting of the US-International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE), April 9-13, 2016, in Baltimore, MD. The symposium was created to discuss challenges and advances in characterizing floodplain ecosystem patterns and processes, and how such research can address the grand management challenge of maintaining biophysical interactions that sustain essential natural resources while reducing flood-related damage to property and loss of life (Molly Van Appledorn, mvanappledorn@usgs.gov, Ecosystems). Within this symposium De Jager and Van Appledorn will present,
- Interactive effects of flood inundation, browsing, and an invasive grass on vegetation and soil nutrient dynamics on the Upper Mississippi River floodplain, by Nate De Jager.
- Hydro-geographic analyses of floodplain forest ecosystems: quantifying ecologically-relevant patterns of inundation from continental to local scales, by Molly Van Appledorn (UMESC), Matthew E. Baker, and Andrew J. Miller (University of Maryland Baltimore County).
High-throughput Computing with HTCondor and Docker Webinar
Richard Erickson (UMESC) and Michael Fienen (WI WSC) presented a webinar on high-throughput computing with HTCondor and Docker, Tuesday April 18 at 10:00 a.m. Central. (https://usgs.webex.com/usgs/j.php?MTID=m7b40859a92d0a6cd104dce52cb1066ba, Richard Erickson, rerickson@usgs.gov, Ecosystems)
Webinar: Introduction to environmental DNA (eDNA)
Chris Merkes (UMESC) presented an introduction to eDNA for the National Water Quality Monitoring Council (NWQMC), April 18, 2017, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The presentation covered an overview of eDNA by defining what it is, its history, how we analyze it, and where future research is taking us. Some of the significant findings discovered at UMESC were discussed as well as how such studies can impact natural resource management. Pre-registration was required to view the webinar live, or a recording will be posted on the NWQMC YouTube channel (Chris Merkes,cmerkes@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
Mississippi River Research Consortium
Scientists from the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center gave the following presentations at this year’s Mississippi River Research Consortium, April 26-28, 2017, in La Crosse, WI (Patricia Ries, pries@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
- Age and Growth Demographics of Asian Carp in the Upper Mississippi River, by Cortney Cox, Jim Lamer, Allison Lenaerts (WIU), Greg Whitledge (SIU), Brent Knights (UMESC), and Kevin Irons (IL DNR).
- Assessing Movement of Adult Silver Carp and Bighead Carp in the Upper Illinois Waterway System Using GPS Satellite Transmitters, by Andrew T. Mathis, James T. Lamer (WIU), Brent Knights (UMESC), and Kevin Irons (IL DNR).
- Carbon and Nitrogen Stable Isotope Comparison between Mantle and Foot Tissues of Amblema plicata and Fusconaia flava over a Range of Habitats from Mississippi River Pool 2, Lake St. Croix, and the St. Croix River, by Toben Lafrancois (Northland College), Andrea Fritts, Brent Knights (UMESC), and Byron Karns (NPS).
- Diet Analysis of Piscivorous Fish above and Below Lock and Dam 19 of the Upper Mississippi River: Detecting a Presence of Juvenile Asian Carp, by Cory A. Anderson, Rebekah L. Anderson (WIU), Brent Knights, Jon Vallazza, James H. Larson (UMESC), and James T. Lamer (WIU).
- Differences in and Factors Affecting Growth of Centrarchid Sportfish in the Illinois River, by Jason DeBoer (IL NHS), Andrea Fritts (UMESC), Mark Fritts (USFWS), Rich Pendleton (NY DEC), Levi Solomon (IL NHS), T.D. VanMiddlesworth (NC DEQ), and Andrew Casper (IL NHS).
- Fatty Acid and Lipid Profiles for Food Webs in the Upper Mississippi River Basin, by Andrea K. Fritts, Brent C. Knights (UMESC), Toben Lafrancois (Northland College), William B. Richardson, Lynn A. Bartsch, Michelle R. Bartsch, Jon M. Vallazza (UMESC), and Byron Karns (NPS).
- Mapping Ecologically-Relevant Flood Attributes in the Upper Mississippi River System: Development and Application of a Systemic Floodplain Inundation Model, by Molly Van Appledorn and Nathan De Jager.
- Phosphorus Uptake in Streams within the Fox River Basin of Eastern Wisconsin, by Eric A. Strauss, Katie J. Bohrman, Nick Leisz, Marissa McKeehan (UW-L), Becky Kreiling, Lynn Bartsch, and William B. Richardson (UMESC).
- Quantification of Daily Otolith Increments in Young of Year Asian Carp, by Emily A. Szott, James T. Lamer, Thomas Plate (WIU), James H. Larson, Brent Knights, Jon Vallazza (UMESC), Levi Solomon, Rich Pendleton, Andy Casper (IL NHS), and Jun Wang (Shanghai Ocean University).
- Quantifying the Effect of Floodplain-River Connectivity: Sediment, Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Carbon Removal on the Reconnected Maquoketa River Floodplain, Iowa, by William B. Richardson, Lynn A. Bartsch, Rebecca Kreiling (UMESC), Jessica Garrett, Greg Nalley (IA WSC), and Sean Bailey (UMESC).
- Reduced Habitat Diversity and Longitudinal Connectivity Limit the Functional Diversity and Redundancy of Fishes in the Upper Mississippi River, by Kristen Bouska (UMESC).
- Spatial Patterns within Freshwater Mussel Beds in the Upper Mississippi River, by Patricia Ries, Nathan De Jager, Teresa Newton, and Steve Zigler (UMESC).
- Timing and Hydrological Conditions Associated with Bigheaded Carp Movement Past Navigation Dams on the Upper Mississippi River, by Jon M. Vallazza (UMESC), Kyle J. Mosel, Ann L. Runstrom (USFWS), James H. Larson (UMESC), Neil D. Gillespie (USFWS), and Brent C. Knights (UMESC).
- Using Physical Metrics of Hydrologic Connectivity to Describe Limnological Conditions in Backwaters of the Upper Mississippi River, by Kathi Jo Jankowski, James T. Rogala, and Jeff N. Houser (UMESC).
- Validating Aging Structures in Asian Carp, by Charmayne L. Anderson, James T. Lamer (WIU), Brent C. Knights (UMESC), Jun Wang (Shanghai Ocean University), Levi Solomon, and Andy Casper (IL NHS).
American Water Resources Association (AWRA) Specialty Conference
KathiJo Jankowski (UMESC) presented results of an ongoing Upper Mississippi River Research-Long Term Resource Monitoring research project evaluating connectivity among habitats in the Upper Mississippi River, at the AWRA conference, “Connecting the Dots: The Emerging Science of Aquatic System Connectivity,” April 30-May 4, in Snowbird, UT. Jankowski’s presentation discussed linking landscape metrics of connectivity to limnological conditions in backwater habitats. These results are intended to inform our understanding of how the physical river template is linked with ecological conditions across the Upper Mississippi River (KathiJo Jankowski, kjankowski@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
- How well do simple metrics of hydrologic connectivity explain limnological conditions in backwaters of the Upper Mississippi River?, by Jankowski, K.J., J.T. Rogala, J.N. Houser, and N.R. De Jager.
Training
Social Ecological Systems Training and Education Program
Kristen Bouska (UMESC) participated in the Center for Resilient Communities' (University of Idaho) Social Ecological Systems Training and Education Program (SESTEP), April 3-7, 2017, in Moscow, ID. The SESTEP training, which consists of both in-person and virtual modules, provides a framework for understanding the complex social and ecological interactions that affect and shape natural resource use and management (Kristen Bouska, kbouska@usgs.gov, Ecosystems).
Acronyms
AC – Alternating Current
AWRA – American Water Resources Association
BSBO – Black Swamp Bird Observatory
CO2 – Carbon Dioxide
DEQ – Department of Environmental Quality
DNR – Department of Natural Resources
eDNA – environmental DNA
IALE – International Association for Landscape Ecology
LTRM – Long Term Resource Monitoring
NHS – Natural History Survey
NPS – National Park Service
NWQMC – National Water Quality Monitoring Council
PDC – Pulsed Direct Current
SESTEP – Social Ecological Systems Training and Education Program
SIU – Southern Illinois University
UMESC – Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center
UMRR – Upper Mississippi River Restoration
USFWS – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
USGS – U.S. Geological Survey
UWL – University of Wisconsin at La Crosse
WIU – Western Illinois University
WSC – Water Science Center
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Page Last Modified: September 28, 2017