Wisconsin's Strategy for Wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Prepared by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources with Assistance from Conservation Partners Natural Resources Board Approved August 2005 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Acceptance September 2005 Wisconsin’s Strategy for Wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need Governor Jim Doyle Natural Resources Board Gerald M. O’Brien, Chair Howard D. Poulson, Vice-Chair Jonathan P Ela, Secretary Herbert F. Behnke Christine L. Thomas John W. Welter Stephen D. Willet Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Scott Hassett, Secretary Laurie Osterndorf, Division Administrator, Land Paul DeLong, Division Administrator, Forestry Todd Ambs, Division Administrator, Water Amy Smith, Division Administrator, Enforcement and Science Recommended Citation: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 2005. Wisconsin's Strategy for Wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Madison, WI. “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” – John Muir The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources provides equal opportunity in its employment, programs, services, and functions under an Affirmative Action Plan. If you have any questions, please write to Equal Opportunity Office, Department of Interior, Washington D.C. 20240. This publication can be made available in alternative formats (large print, Braille, audio-tape, etc.) upon request. Please contact the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707 or call (608) 266-7012 for copies of this report. Pub-ER-641 2005 Cover Photos Western Meadowlark , John and Karen Hollingsworth Blanding’s Turtle, ÓA.B. Sheldon Karner Blue Butterfly, John and Karen Hollingsworth Wisconsin’s Strategy for Wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Foreword ...............................................................................................................................i Acknowledgments .................................................................................................................ii Executive Summary .............................................................................................................iii Chapter 1. Introduction and Purpose 1.1 Background ..........................................................................................................1-1 1.2 Overview of Wisconsin’s Strategy .........................................................................1-3 1.3 The Results and Benefits of Wisconsin’s Strategy ...................................................1-4 Chapter 2. Approach and Methods 2.1 Organizational Structure .........................................................................................2-1 2.2 Ecological Framework............................................................................................2-5 2.2.1 Overview of the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin ........................................2-5 2.2.2 Overview of the Natural Communities in Wisconsin ..........................................2-6 2.2.3 Ecological Landscape Descriptions ...................................................................2-7 2.2.3.1 Superior Coastal Plain Ecological Landscape.........................................2-11 2.2.3.2 Northwest Lowlands Ecological Landscape ...........................................2-14 2.2.3.3 Northwest Sands Ecological Landscape.................................................2-17 2.2.3.4 North Central Forest Ecological Landscape ...........................................2-19 2.2.3.5 Northern Highlands Ecological Landscape ............................................2-22 2.2.3.6 Forest Transition Ecological Landscape.................................................2-24 2.2.3.7 Northeast Sands Ecological Landscape..................................................2-27 2.2.3.8 Northern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape .........................2-29 2.2.3.9 Central Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape............................2-32 2.2.3.10 Western Prairie Ecological Landscape .................................................2-35 2.2.3.11 Western Coulee and Ridges Ecological Landscape ...............................2-37 2.2.3.12 Southwest Savanna Ecological Landscape ...........................................2-40 2.2.3.13 Central Sand Plains Ecological Landscape ...........................................2-43 2.2.3.14 Central Sand Hills Ecological Landscape.............................................2-46 2.2.3.15 Southeast Glacial Plains Ecological Landscape ....................................2-49 2.2.3.16 Southern Lake Michigan Coastal Ecological Landscape .......................2-52 2.3 Methodology for Determining Species of Greatest Conservation Need.....................2-55 2.3.1 Methodology for Determining Vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need ................................................................................................................2-56 2.3.1.1 General Introduction ............................................................................2-56 2.3.1.2 Method Used to Identify Vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Wisconsin .............................................................................................2-56 2.3.1.3 Selected Method for Categorizing Vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Wisconsin ................................................................................2-61 Table of Contents Page xiii Wisconsin’s Strategy for Wildlife Species of Greatest Conservation Need Page 2.3.1.4 Vertebrate Species Not Identified as Vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need in Wisconsin............................................................2-62 2.3.2 Methodology for Determinin g Invertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need ....................................................................................................................2-65 2.3.2.1 General Introduction ............................................................................2-65 2.3.2.2 State of Scientific Knowledge and Process Used to Identify Invertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need...................................................2-65 2.3.2.3 Invertebrate Taxa Considered/Not Considered in the Current Strategy.....2-70 2.3.2.4 Important Invertebrate Data Sources .....................................................2-71 2.3.2.5 Categorizing Invertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need...........2-72 2.3.2.6 Rationale for Inclusion of Invertebrate Species as Species of Greatest Conservation Need................................................................................2-74 2.4 Methodology for Identifying Habitat Associations of Species of Greatest Conservation Need....................................................................................................................2-80 2.5 Methodology for Identifying Habitat and Species Threats, Issues, and Conservation Actions ................................................................................................................2-85 Chapter 3. Vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need: Assessments and Conservation Strategies 3.1 Vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need....................................................3-1 3.1.1 Description of Vertebrate Species Summaries ...................................................3-3 3.1.1.1 Species Ranking Criteria Scores..............................................................3-3 3.1.1.2 Ecological Landscape Association Scores................................................3-6 3.1.1.3 Landscape-community Combinations of Highest Ecological Priority.........3-7 3.1.1.4 Threats, Issues, and Priority Conservation Actions ...................................3-7 3.1.2 Bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need .....................................................3-9 3.1.2.1 Overview ..............................................................................................3-9 3.1.2.2 General Threats, Issues and Conservation Actions..................................3-11 3.1.2.3 Individual Bird Species of Greatest Conservation Need Summaries.........3-15 3.1.3 Fish Species of Greatest Conservation Need.................................................. 3-172 3.1.3.1 Overview .......................................................................................... 3-172 3.1.3.2 General Threats, Issues and Conservation Actions................................ 3-173 3.1.3.3 Individual Fish Species of Greatest Conservation Need Summaries....... 3-175 3.1.4 Herptile Species of Greatest Conservation Need............................................ 3-217 3.1.4.1 Overview .......................................................................................... 3-217 3.1.4.2 General Threats, Issues and Conservation Actions................................ 3-217 3.1.4.3 Individual Herptile Species of Greatest Conservation Need Summaries . 3-222 3.1.5 Mammal Species of Greatest Conservation Need........................................... 3-269 3.1.5.1 Overview .......................................................................................... 3-269 3.1.5.2 General Threats, Issues and Conservation Actions................................ 3-269 3.1.5.3 Individual Mammal Species of Greatest Conservation Need Summaries ......................................................................................................... 3-274 3.2 Vertebrate Species of Greatest Conservation Need by Ecological