Zoogeographic patterns and faunal change of South Dakota fishes

We summarized historic and recent fish distributions in South Dakota and analyzed fish faunal similarity at 2 spatial scales (geomorphic province and river drainage) for both historic (native) and recent (post-1990) faunas. We quantified zoogeographic patterns between geomorphic provinces and among neighboring river drainages for historic and recent faunas. We also quantified faunal change (species losses and additions) between provinces and among drainages. Ninety-seven fishes were native to South Dakota, but 111 fishes were present in recent collections because 8 native species were missing, and 22 nonnatives were present. There was high β diversity among historic and recent river drainage fish faunas, but there was between 22% and 56% faunal change between periods. Recent faunas were homogenized compared to historic faunas at both provincial and river drainage spatial scales. Patterns of nonnative species establishment were geographically distinct from patterns of native species loss. Most nonnative species additions were in cold-water or human-made habitats of the Great Plains. Most native species declines stemmed from warm water streams of the Central Lowlands and Missouri River valley. Conservation of rare and declining native species and containment of nonnatives are both necessary to preserve historical patterns of fish biodiversity in South Dakota.     

Investigating the influence of habitat type and weather conditions on the population dynamics of land snails Vertigo angustior Jeffreys, 1830 and Vertigo moulinsiana (Dupuy, 1849). A case study from western Poland

The conservation of land snails has become an urgent issue because of the current global decline of this group. Detailed knowledge of population dynamics is needed to develop an appropriate strategy for conservation. We investigated the population dynamics of two threatened European land snail species: Vertigo angustior and Vertigo moulinsiana. Although the species may be found at the same site, V. moulinsiana is more tolerant of wetter conditions than is V. angustior. Abundance data for the two species were collected at two sites (one drier and one wetter) in western Poland biweekly during the spring and summer months in 2008 and 2009. In the drier year, snail abundance was similar between the drier and wetter sites. In the wetter year, snail abundances were generally higher than in the dry year, except that the inundation-intolerant V. angustior became less abundant at the wetter site. We conclude that weather affects different species differently and therefore should be considered along with the habitat features in interpreting survey results for land snails.     

Stoneflies (Plecoptera) of the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming, USA: distribution and zoogeographic affinities

The Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming are an insular mountain range completely surrounded by the Great Plains. The stonefly (Plecoptera) fauna of the Black Hills was surveyed and zoogeographic affinities examined. Twenty-seven species representing 22 genera and 6 families were found. Fifteen new state records for South Dakota and 2 for Wyoming are presented. Two species are removed from the South Dakota list. An analysis of the North American distribution of each species showed a strong relationship between the Black Hills and the Rocky Mountains, with much weaker relationships between the Black Hills and eastern and northern regions. Results of a logistic regression analysis comparing factors contributing to long-distance dispersal ability against presence/absence in the Black Hills were inconclusive. However, other evidence suggests that the Black Hills fauna is a result of expansion and subsequent vicariance of stonefly populations during Pleistocene climatic oscillations.     

Late Pleistocene mollusks from the southern Black Hills, South Dakota

Pleistocene-age mollusks recovered from the Nelson-Wittenberg Site and Mammoth Site provide information on paleoenvironments of the southern Black Hills, South Dakota. New mollusk records for the Mammoth Site include Vertigo modesta, Catinella sp., and Gyraulus parvus . The presence of V. modesta, Columella columella alticola , and Pupilla muscorum at the Nelson-Wittenberg Site suggests cooler than modern conditions in the Black Hills during the Pleistocene. Although the majority of identified taxa are consistent with previous interpretations of an arid, shrubsteppe environment for the Black Hills during the Wisconsin Glaciation, V. modesta and C. c. alticola suggest the presence of at least some isolated, local mesic areas.     

Distribution records and comments on fleas in southwestern South Dakota

From October 2003 through April 2006, we collected 565 fleas incidental to a distribution survey of mammals in southwestern South Dakota. Sixty-one specimens, representing 18 species of mammals, possessed 20 species of fleas. The geographic distributions of these flea species revealed 8 new records for the Black Hills and its adjacent grasslands. Four species— Megarthroglossus divisus, Stenoponia americana, Odontopsyllus dentatus, and Amaradix euphorbi —constitute new records for South Dakota, thus increasing the state’s known flea fauna to 42 species. Hunters, trappers, and field biologists should be aware that serosurveillance during the 1990s revealed the presence of sylvatic plague and tularemia in the Black Hills area. Desde octubre de 2003 hasta abril de 2006, colectamos 565 pulgas de manera incidental durante un estudio de la distribución de mamíferos en el suroeste del estado de Dakota del Sur. Los 61 especímenes, que representaban 18 especies de mamíferos, albergaban 20 especies de pulgas. Sus distribuciones geográficas revelaron 8 nuevos registros para las Colinas Negras (Black Hills) y las praderas adyacentes. Cuatro de estas especies ( Megarthroglossus divisus, Stenoponia americana, Odontopsyllus dentatus y Amaradix euphorbi ) constituyen nuevos registros para Dakota del Sur. Esto aumenta el número de especies de pulgas conocidas del estado a 42 especies. Los cazadores, tramperos y biólogos de campo deben estar conscientes de que la vigilancia serológica durante la década de los 1990 reveló la presencia de la plaga silvática y la tularemia en el área de las Colinas Negras.     

Distribution records and comments on mammals in western South Dakota

The mammal fauna of western South Dakota is imperfectly known; in particular there is a notable paucity of data from Indian reservations in the region. We collected mammals from January 2003 through May 2006 using a variety of standard methodologies, including trapping with snap-traps and Macabee traps, shooting, and salvaging road- and hunter-killed animals. Herein we provide 23 specimen-based county records representing 17 species of mammals. In addition, a photo record constitutes the first report of Dasypus novemcinctus from South Dakota and the northernmost record in the United States. The possible local extirpation of Marmota flaviventris in the southern Black Hills is discussed.     

Agathoxylon lemonii sp. nov., from the Dakota Formation, Utah

Petrified wood specimens from the Dakota Formation of Utah are here described as Agathoxylon lemonii . This new species is characterized by having distinct growth rings, araucarian tracheary pitting, resin plates or plugs in its tracheids, abundant axial parenchyma, low uniseriate rays and 1–4 small, slightly bordered pits with circular to oval included apertures per crossfield. This is the first report of petrified wood from the Dakota Formation of the western United States and the first record of Agathoxylon from North America.     

Ecological review of black-tailed prairie dogs and associated species in western South Dakota

Black-tailed prairie dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) once occupied extensive areas throughout the Great Plains. In recent years massive control programs have been initiated to reduce prairie dog populations, primarily to benefit the livestock grazing industry. Currently in western South Dakota most prairie dogs are found on public lands. Control programs using toxicants for prairie dogs have been found to be economically unfeasible when not combined with reductions in livestock grazing. Control programs also have negatively impacted some nontarget species of birds and small mammals. Livestock grazing is directly related to prairie dog densities. Prairie dog and livestock grazing activities are responsible for keeping plant phenological development in a suppressed vegetative stage with higher nutritional qualities that attract greater herbivore use. Prairie dog colonies create and enhance habitat for many wildlife species; in western South Dakota 134 vertebrate wildlife species have been documented on prairie dog towns. Scientific evidence strongly suggests that prairie dogs are valuable components of the prairie ecosystem. They are responsible for maintaining, creating, and regulating habitat biodiversity through soil and vegetative manipulation for a host of vertebrate and invertebrate species dependent upon prairie dog activity for their survival.     

Evaluating lek occupancy of Greater Sage-Grouse in relation to landscape cultivation in the Dakotas

Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus ) have been declining in many states and provinces of North America, and North and South Dakota hold no exception to these declines. We studied effects of cultivated land on Greater Sage-Grouse lek abandonment in North and South Dakota. Landscape-level data were assessed using satellite imagery within a geographic information system. Comparisons were made of 1972-1976 and 1999-2000 percent cultivated and noncultivated land. These comparisons were made between land uses surrounding active leks versus inactive leks, active leks versus random locations, and abandoned regions versus active regions. The 1999-2000 imagery illustrated that percent cultivated land was greater near abandoned leks (4-km buffers) than near active leks in North Dakota or random sites, but this did not hold true in South Dakota. Comparison of an extensive region of abandoned leks with a region of active leks in North Dakota illustrated a similar increase as well as dispersion of cultivation within the abandoned region. However, 1972-1976 imagery revealed that this relationship between percentage of cultivated land and lek activity in North Dakota has been static over the last 30 years. Thus, if the decline of Greater Sage-Grouse is the result of cultivated land infringements, it occurred prior to 1972 in North Dakota.     

Diet and habitat of northern flying squirrels ( Glaucomys sabrinus ) in the Black Hills of South Dakota

During the summers of 2005 and 2006, northern flying squirrels ( Glaucomys sabrinus Shaw) were live-captured in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota from mixed deciduous/coniferous and coniferous habitats. Squirrel captures were significantly correlated with volume of downed wood and number of snags. Diets were examined from scat collections ( n = 40, deciduous/coniferous; n = 10, coniferous). Number of fungal spores in the scat was significantly correlated with number of snags. From each scat collection, the frequencies of plant, animal, fungal, and unidentified components were determined. Hypogeous fungi were a frequent component of the diet, being found in 98.3% and 78.8% of the scat observed in 2005 and 2006. In 2006, as the frequency of dietary fungi decreased, the frequency of plant material increased from <1.0% to 8.0% and frequency of unidentified material increased from 2.0% to 74.0%. Animal content in the scat was negligible (<1.0% to 1.0%). Rhizopogon was the most frequently occurring hypogeous fungus observed. Rhizopogon spores made up 97.9% of the spores counted in 2005 and 96.4% in 2006. Elaphomyces, Gautieria, Geopora, Hymenogaster, and Hysterangium were observed at much lower frequencies. Sporocarps were collected throughout the trapping periods. Fourteen were collected in 2005 and 12 in 2006. Of the 26 sporocarps collected, 11 were Rhizopogon, 4 Elaphomyces, 2 Gautieria, 1 Hymenogaster, 7 Hysterangium, and 1 Tuber. This study is the first to examine flying squirrel diets in the Black Hills and the first to report Elaphomyces, Gautieria, Hymenogaster, Hysterangium, Rhizopogon, and Tuber sporocarps from the South Dakota Black Hills.     

Spring and winter records of the eastern pipistrelle ( Perimyotis subflavus ) in southeastern New Mexico

Eastern pipistrelles ( Perimyotis subflavus ) were first documented from South Dakota, western Texas, and New Mexico during recent years, suggesting that the distribution of this species is expanding westward across central parts of North America. In New Mexico, only 2 records of P. subflavus previously were known—one from summer and one from autumn. Here we report on 3 new records of P. subflavus from southeastern New Mexico, including the first 2 records from winter and the first record from spring. One individual in winter was observed hibernating in a cave in Chaves County. Our records and previous ones from autumn and summer suggest that this species is resident throughout the year in New Mexico.     

Denning habitat and diet of the swift fox in western South Dakota

Swift fox ( Vulpes velox ) were investigated in western South Dakota to determine food habits and denning site characteristics. Over a three-year period food habits consisted of mammals (49%), followed by insects (27%), plants (13%), and birds (6%). Dens were located near hilltops within two habitat types, shortgrass and midgrass rairie; each type is characterized by differing plant species. Soil type was not a selective factor for den sites of swift fox. Management considerations for enhancing swift fox populations are presented.     

Relating soil chemistry and plant relationship in wooded draws of the northern Great Plains

Soils of the green ash/chokecherry habitat type in northwestern South Dakota were evaluated for 22 properties to determine whether any could be correlated with density of chokecherry ( Prunus virginiana ) and snowberry ( Symphoricarpos occidentalis ). Surface soils were moderately fertile, with high levels of all elements except phosphorus and nitrogen. Soils were fine textured with moderately high cation exchange capacity and saturation percentages. However, soils were nonsaline-nonalkaline with low amounts of exchangeable sodium. None of the soil properties showed good correlation with chokecherry and snowberry densities. Greatest correlations were found between each of the shrub species and grass.     

Survival and reproduction of translocated Eastern Wild Turkeys in a sparsely wooded landscape in northeastern South Dakota

We studied the survival and reproduction of a newly introduced population of Eastern Wild Turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo silvestris ) during 1999 and 2000 to determine the adaptability of this subspecies to a minimally wooded (<10%) region located north of their recorded historic distribution in South Dakota. During 1999 and 2000, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks (SDGFP) released 111 female and 25 male turkeys from Iowa and Kentucky onto a study area in northeastern South Dakota. We used radio telemetry to monitor survival and reproduction of the females for 2 years after their initial release. Annual survival for 71 females averaged 67%. Seasonal survival was lowest in fall and highest in winter. Mortality agents included avian and mammalian predators, haying equipment, automobiles, and unknown causes. Nesting rate for the 2 years averaged 93%, and renesting rate of turkeys with failed 1st-nest attempts averaged 45%. Nest success for all nests was 50%, and 62% of females attempting to nest each year were successful in at least 1 attempt. Predation was the primary cause of nest failure during both years. Overall, 72% of brooding females successfully raised ≥1 poult to 4 weeks post-hatch while individual poult survival to 4 weeks posthatch averaged 36%. Despite <10% woodland cover, Eastern Wild Turkeys appeared to thrive in a glacial escarpment topography north of their historic range in the northern plains.     

Avian use of harvested crop fields in North Dakota during spring migration

Broad-spectrum herbicide applications and improved harvesting efficiency of crops have reduced the availability of weed seeds and waste grains for game and nongame wildlife. Over the last decade, corn and soybean plantings have steadily increased in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North Dakota, while sunflower plantings have declined. The PPR is an important corridor for migratory birds, and changes in food availabilities at stopover habitats may affect how food resources are used. In early spring 2003 and 2004, we compared bird use of harvested fields of sunflower, soybeans, small grains, and corn in the PPR of North Dakota. Across both years and all crop types, we observed 20,400 birds comprising 29 species. Flocks of Lapland Longspurs ( Calcarius lapponicus ) and Horned Larks ( Eremophila alpestris ) and flocks of Red-winged Blackbirds ( Agelaius phoeniceus ) made up 60% and 15%, respectively, of the bird counts. We found that species richness and bird densities were higher in harvested sunflower fields and cornfields than in harvested small-grain and soybean fields, with soybean fields harboring the fewest species and lowest bird density. Blackbird densities tended to be lower in fields tilled after fall harvest than in fields not tilled. These results suggest that some granivorous bird populations in the Northern Great Plains could be positively affected by planting of row crops with postharvest vertical structure (e.g., sunflower, corn) and use of no-till land management practices.     

Oreohelices of Utah, II. Extant status of the Brian Head mountainsnail, Oreohelix parawanensis Gregg, 1941 (Stylommatophora: Oreohelicidae)

The Brian Head mountainsnail, Oreohelix parawanensis , is reported for the 1st time as a living species, and for the 1st time its habitat is described. Preliminary determination of the very limited distribution of this species (≤ 2.3 ha inhabited in ～ 11 ha overall area) is presented. Morphometric data previously had been reported only for the holotype and for 1 topotype; measurements from 37 new specimens as well as 20 paratypes are provided here, and these data show that the lost holotype was not typical of the species. Sizes of reproductive snails and of embryos are also reported.     

Biodiversity and biogeography of non-marine Mollusca on the islands of the Southern Ocean

There are no terrestrial and freshwater molluscs associated with Continental nor Maritime Antarctica. The malacofaunas of the cool-temperate and sub-Antarctic islands of the Southern Ocean are extremely depauperate, comprising a mere 68 site-records of 51 species from 27 genera in 13 families. The South Atlantic records are confined to the Falkland Islands, which harbour nine species (one bivalve, five pond snails and three terrestrial aliens), and South Georgia, where there is one Notodiscus sp. (Charopidae). The fauna of the South Indian Ocean islands of Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard, comprises two alien slugs and endemic Notodiscus hookeri (Charopidae). The majority of species occur on the South Pacific Ocean Islands of Macquarie, Campbell, Auckland, Snares, Antipodes, Bounty and Chatham to the south and east of New Zealand. The Chatham fauna is dissimilar to that on the other South Pacific Islands, though both represent vicariant remnants of common South Pacific Is./New Zealand Athoracophoridae, Charopidae and Punctidae. There is, other than the broad South Indian Ocean distribution of Notodiscus hookeri, little evidence of Holocene dispersal and colonization. Indeed the Southern Ocean is an effective barrier and the different regional (South Atlantic/Indian/Pacific) faunas are principally vicariant and derived from local survivors of Pleistocene glaciation.     

Activity and reproduction in Megalobulimus paranaguensis (Gastropoda,Eupulmonata): implications for conservation in captivity for a South American land snail

ABSTRACT

In South America, Megalobulimus includes a number of threatened species, as well the largest land snails on the continent. The activity patterns and reproductive aspects of this group have not been documented. This work describes the daily and seasonal activity patterns and reproduction of M. paranaguensis. We maintained specimens in the laboratory for one year, and we quantified their behaviour for one hour at four different times of the day (0 h, 6 h, 12 h and 18 h) during three days in four months (August, September, April and May). The number of postures, hatching rate, time of hatching since oviposition and mortality rate among juveniles for each month were also quantified. Megalobulimus paranaguensis was more active in August, and had a egg laying peak one month after. Fifty-one eggs were laid by 12 captive individuals throughout the year, with a mean value of 4.25 eggs per individual. The hatching rate was 80.39%, and the time of hatching since oviposition was 56.7 ± 4.3 days. In two eggs, we observed the presence of twins. The mortality rate among juveniles was low (9.30%) indicating that rearing land snails in captivity has the potential to be an important and viable tool for the management and conservation of these organisms.     

Selection and habitat-specific allozyme variation in the self-fertilizing land snail Cochlicopa lubrica (O. F. Müller)

Allozyme variation of aspartate-aminotransferase locus Aat 1 is analysed in the land snail Cochlicopa lubrica (O. F. Müller, 1774). Two alleles, denoted ‘20’ and ‘80’, have been found in 29 Central European populations investigated. This species reproduces under a high rate of self-fertilization. Only three out of 787 individuals were heterozygous (enzyme pattern Aat 1 ‘20’/‘80’). The homozygous individuals with Aat 1 ‘80’ were frequent in moist and shady habitats. In exposed and open habitats, however, the homozygous individuals with Aat 1 ‘20’ occurred frequently. These results give strong evidence for habitat-specific selection inferred from allozyme variation. Moreover, a tight interlocus correlation of isocitrate-dehydrogenase patterns (Idh 1) and Aat 1 patterns has been observed. Two groups of homozygous genotypes are commonly found: (1) the group Idh 1 ‘145’/Aat 1 ‘80’, and (2) the group Idh 1 ‘155’/Aat 1 ‘20’. The Aat data for Cochlicopa lubrica are complemented by morphometric measurements of the shells. The homozygous types of Aat 1 ‘20’ (common in exposed/open habitats) possessed, on average, slightly smaller shells than the homozygous types with Aat 1 ‘80’ (common in moist/shady habitats). This slight mean difference in shell size might be due to the living conditions in the habitats. In the last part of the study, the allozyme variation of snails was assessed for spatial selection processes, and a compilation of the available papers is shown.     

Winter stomach contents of South Dakota badgers

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Stomach contents of 33 hunter and trapper killed badgers, Taxidea taxus, from northeastern South Dakota were examined during the 1980&ndash;81 fur season. Mammal prey species made up the bulk of the ingested food, followed by plant materials. Approximately 40 percent of stomach contents were mammals, 35 percent were of plant origin, 10 percent were birds, 10 percent were insects, while the remainder was mostly inorganic materials. Little significant difference was found in variety of food items consumed by each sex. South Dakota badgers are opportunistic foragers in the wintertime when food is scarce. Individual food items are usually taken in quantity when encountered by badgers.