ILLINOIS NATURAL HISTORY R e p o r t s SURVE Y Spring 2004 No. 379 I N S I D E Prospects for Biological Control of Teasel in Highlights of the Long Illinois Term Resource Monitoring Program at the INHS Some plants that arrive in Illinois included cutting and Great Rivers Field from exotic homes lack natural herbiciding, but Station enemies to keep their popula- costs of labor and 2 tions in check and become inva- chemicals, as well sive. The teasel species as harm to nontarget INHS Researcher (Dipsacus fullonum [common plants from Named a Fellow by The teasel] and D. laciniatus [cut- overspray, have re- Wildlife Society leafed teasel]) are examples of sulted in reduced 4 such exotic plants. These Old effectiveness of World plants have been in North these methods. Bio- Channelization, a America since the 1800s and in logical control is one Major Factor Influenc- Illinois for a number of years. of the few remaining ing Stream Condition The first records of D. fullonum approaches possible. in Illinois (referred to as D. sylvestris) in Staff from the 5 the Illinois Natural History Sur- INHS Center for Critical Trends vey (INHS) Herbarium date to Ecological Entomol- Assessment Program 1934, but teasel recently has be- ogy have developed Web Page: come more visible along road- a partnership with AWindow into Illinois sides, pastures, and untilled scientists at the Habitats lands. USDA-ARS Euro- 8 Mowing is considered to be pean Biological one of the primary means of Control Laboratory Transmission Cycle of spreading teasel, and changes in near Montpellier, Neospora caninum: A mowing patterns may be respon- France, Millikin Brian Rector of the USDA-ARS European University, and the Biological Control Laboratory is dwarfed by a Single-cell Parasite at sible for the increased visibility. teasel in Greece. Photo by Rene Sforza, USDA-ARS the Interface Between Teasel species are monocarpic USDA-ARS Inva- European Biological Control Laboratory, Montpellier, France Domestic and Wildlife perennials, meaning they only sive Weeds Research Species flower and set seed once. Unlike Unit on the University of Illinois leafrolling tortricid moths 9 true biennials, a teasel can re- Urbana-Champaign campus. This (Cochylis roseana and main as a rosette for many years, partnership will, among other Endothenia gentianaeana), a Species Spotlight: until it reaches a size at which it activities, search for natural en- nymphalid moth (Euphydryas Devil Crayfish bolts, flowers, and sets seed. emies of teasel in its native aurenia), and an unidentified 10 Continual mowing likely had range. Exploration by USDA eriophyid mite have been found. kept teasel plants small enough scientists in southeastern Europe, Further exploration in Turkey, Naturalist's Apprentice: that they didn’t bolt; fewer southwestern Asia, and France Greece, and Bulgaria is planned Crayfish Word Search mowings (and occurring later in has already uncovered a few po- for the summer of 2004. 11 the season) have led to explo- tential arthropod agents that may Teasel offers a unique op- sions of populations of the plant prove useful in the fight against portunity for biological control. at many sites, giving the appear- teasel. To date, a flea beetle All species in the teasel plant ance that it recently had arrived. (Longitarsus strigicollis), a leaf Methods for fighting teasel have beetle (Galerucea pomonae), two Continued on back page 1 Highlights of the Long Term Resource Monitoring Program at the INHS Great Rivers Field Station The Illinois Natural Maher, Illinois Department of History Survey Great Natural Resources). Data from Rivers Field Station is the LTRMP fish component can one of six field stations provide managers with impor- that collect data on the tant information on the status Upper Mississippi and trends of fish populations in River System for the this reach of the Upper Missis- Long Term Resource sippi River, allowing for sound Monitoring Program management of this valuable (LTRMP). In the Wa- resource. ter Resources Develop- Fishery-independent data ment Acts of 1986 and from LTRMP can be directly 1999 (Public Law compared to commercial catch 99-662), the U.S. Con- data. Because effort is ac- gress recognized the counted for in LTRMP data, national significance of trends in these data should re- the Upper Mississippi flect actual population trends, River System (UMRS) whereas commercial catch data as both an ecosystem do not account for effort and can and a transportation vary with the market value of system. To ensure that fish. For several species, includ- river managers would ing channel catfish and common have access to the sci- carp, trends in LTRMP data and entific information commercial catch are similar needed to maintain the (Fig. 2). When trends in com- UMRS as a viable, mercial catch data do not corre- Figure 1. Map of the Upper Mississippi River System showing the six multiple-use ecosys- spond to trends in LTRMP data, LTRMP regional trend areas, including Pool 26. The Illinois Natural His- tem, Congress autho- this can be a cause for concern, tory Survey operates two field stations conducting LTRMP monitoring: rized the LTRMP as an especially when commercial the Great Rivers Field Station and the Illinois River Biological Station on element of the U.S. catch remains constant or in- the La Grange Reach of the Illinois River. Army Corps of Engi- creases at the same time that LTRMP trends are declining. neers’ Environmental Resources Critical Trends Assessment This is the case for buffalo (Ictiobus Management Program. The LTRMP is Program estimated that outdoors enthusi- spp.) in Pool 26 (Fig. 2), so it will be administered through the U.S. Geological asts in the Pool 26 area purchase approxi- important to continue monitoring the Survey in cooperation with the five UMRS mately 3.9% of all fishing licenses and abundance of these species. states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illi- 6.1% of all hunting licenses issued in the Because LTRMP data have been col- nois, and Missouri. Through this program, state of Illinois. Based on these license lected consistently for over 10 years, im- researchers at the Great Rivers Field Sta- sales and expenditure data from the an- portant insights into population and com- tion have monitored water quality, fish, nual National Survey of Hunting, Fish- munity dynamics of fishes can be gained macroinvertebrates, and aquatic vegetation ing, and Outdoor Recreation published by examining responses to significant communities in Pool 26, a 41-mile reach of by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we events within the time series. The Great the Mississippi River above Melvin Price estimate that hunters and fishers expend Flood of 1993, perhaps the most impor- Lock and Dam 26, and 10 miles of the about $50 million each year in the Pool tant event in this time series, allowed lower Illinois River, for over 10 years (Fig. 26 area (Illinois only). Fish populations greater access of fishes to the floodplain, 1). in the UMRS also are a resource for which can provide important reproduc- Pool 26 provides important resources to commercial fishers, with an average of nearby cities and towns in Illinois and Mis- 780,000 pounds of fish harvested each souri. The Illinois Department of Natural year from Pool 26 (data source: Rob Continued on next page. 2 LTRMP following the fate of these year classes. For example, despite the 1993 year class, the overall abundance of most continued from previous page centrarchids (e.g., largemouth bass, blue- tive and nursery habitats. By com- gill, and crappie) declined for several paring the abundance of age-1 fish years after 1993. We hope to identify (based on length) in 1994 with all environmental factors and ecological other years, we can look for evidence mechanisms with the potential to explain of increased reproductive success observed variation in fish communities associated with the 1993 flood. Sev- by further analysis of LTRMP fish, water eral fishes appear to have produced quality, and aquatic vegetation data. exceptionally strong year classes in John H. Chick, Eric J. Gittinger and Eric N. 1993, including common carp, large- Ratcliff, Center for Aquatic Ecology and mouth bass, and black crappie (Fig. Conservation 3). Further insights can be gained by Figure 3. Abundance of age-1 (age estimated based on Figure 2. Comparison of LTRMP data and commercial fishing length) common carp, largemouth bass, and black crap- harvest for channel catfish, common carp, and buffalo (Ictiobus pie from LTRMP data collected in Pool 26 of the Upper spp.) in Pool 26 of the Upper Mississippi River. Mississippi River. 3 INHS Researcher Named a Fellow by The Wildlife Society Dr. Stephen P. Havera, Director of the Dr. Havera received his B.S. in biol- • Distinguished Alumnus Award, Forbes Biological Station and the Frank C. ogy from Bradley University in Peoria, 2001, College of Liberal Arts and Sci- Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center of the and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in zoology ences, Bradley University. Illinois Natural History Survey, has been from the University of Illinois, Urbana- honored by The Wildlife Society (TWS) by Champaign. He served in the U.S. Army • The Centurion Award for alumni being named a Fellow at the Society’s an- Military Police from 1968–1970. Havera with significant professional career nual conference in Burlington, Vermont. lives with his wife Nancy and sons Steve achievements, 2001, Bradley Univer- Dr. Havera was the first North Central Sec- and David near Lewistown. sity. tion recipient of the Fellow Award. The TWS Fellows program recognizes society • The Upper Mississippi River Great members who have distinguished them- Lakes Region Joint Venture 2000 Pro- selves through exceptional service to fessional Award. their profession. Fellows are appointed for life. • President, 1994–95, Organization of The Wildlife Society, founded in Biological Field Stations 1937, is the association of professionals dedicated to excellence in wildlife stew- • Board of Directors, 1993–1994, ardship through science and education.