KANSAS Species In Need of Conservation (SINC) A COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE TO SPECIES LISTED AS SPECIES IN NEED OF CONSERVATION IN KANSAS BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT. INCLUDES SPECIES DESCRIPTION, AND RANGE MAP. Edited and published by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks, Environmental Section. INTRODUCTION TABLE OF CONTENTS ALLIGATOR SNAPPING TURTLE Macroclemys temminckii RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Alligator Snapping Turtle is a secretive deep water turtle of large rivers, swamps, lakes and sloughs. It is active during the warmer months of the year, generally at an air temperature of 65 degrees F or above. Little is known of the daily habits of this large creature. They forage for food at night. They mate probably at any time during warm weather. The female lays a single clutch per season ranging in size from 15-50 round, white eggs and hatch in 3-4 months. They are carnivorous, eating anything they can overpower. Platt recommended close scrutiny of any pesticide use or flood control projects along rivers in southeastern Kansas which might seriously harm this turtle. In 1978, they were protected as a threatened species in Kansas. Historic specimens are documented from the Arkansas River drainage in Cowley County and from the Neosho River drainage in Labette and Lyon counties. Recent sightings have occurred in Montgomery and Sumner counties. They are probably restricted to the major rivers of southeastern Kansas. The population declines are due to exploitation by trappers and habitat alteration. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 3 Subject to future revisions BANDED DARTER Etheostoma zonale RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Banded Darter inhabits clear, permanently flowing streams of moderate size. They prefer deep riffles over a rocky bottom. It is found also in clumps of algae-covered debris where water flows slowly over smooth bottoms. They feed on larval insects and spawn in April or May in Kansas. They probably attach their eggs to strands of algae or other fibrous material on stones in flowing water. This species is common in Shoal Creek, Cherokee County and (less abundantly) in the neighboring Spring River. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 4 Subject to future revisions BANDED SCULPIN Cottus carolinae RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Banded Sculpin lives in swift riffles over rubble bottoms in clear, permanent streams. They eat the larvae of stoneflies, mayflies, and caddisflies, as well as amphipods, small mollusks, crayfish, and small fish. Little is known of the reproduction of this species in Kansas. Spawning probably occurs in March. Banded Sculpins are abundant in Ozark streams. The Sculpin enters Kansas only where reliable springs maintain a streamflow cool and clear enough to sustain the species through the summer. It is now known only from Shoal Creek, Cherokee County. If that stream should fail or be impounded, the Sculpin and other species would be lost from the state fish fauna. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 5 Subject to future revisions BLACK RAIL Laterallus jamaicensis RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Black Rail is usually found statewide in wet meadows or meadows near marshes, such as Cheyenne Bottoms Wildlife Management Area and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge and probably other wetlands in Kansas. It consumes insects and some seeds of water plants. This bird is shy and probably more common than data indicate, but populations are no doubt declining because of the disappearance of wetlands in Kansas. Apparently, this bird does not require large areas of marshland or wet meadows because several Kansas records are from areas with only a few suitable acres. While it may use cattails and similar habitats, shallow wetlands with short dense vege- tation is preferred. The major threat to the Black Rail is the disappearance of small shallow wetlands in Kansas. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 6 Subject to future revisions BLACK REDHORSE Moxostoma duquesnei RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION Black Redhorses live in streams that have gravel bottoms and permanent flow of clear, cool water. Usually they are found in deep- er “runs” (places where the water flows rapidly, but smoothly) rather than in quiet pools or turbulent riffles. They feed on aquatic insects, mainly fly larvae. Spawning occurs in April or May when water temperatures are above 60 degrees F. Eggs are deposited on clean gravel bottoms in the current, just upstream from riffles. The Black Redhorse is now confined to Spring River and Shoal Creek (Cherokee County) although nineteenth century reports sug- gest it occurred more widely in the Arkansas basin and possibly in the Marais des Cygnes. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 7 Subject to future revisions BLACK TERN Chlidonias niger RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Black Tern needs wetland marshes and shallow lakes and ponds, relatively large size, with approximately 50% emergent vege- tation. They require emergent vegetation of floating mats on which to build nests. The birds also need open water areas for foraging for insects and minnows, their main food source, and frequently forage over small ponds and open streams. The Kansas status and range of the Black Tern is statewide during migration; nesting has been confirmed at Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuges. They are usually a late April migrant but have seen as early as March 20. The normal arrival time is April to September. The nesting population is unknown, only that it occurs. The global decrease in population will effect the num- ber of migrants coming through Kansas. Large numbers can be seen at the central Kansas marshes, where apparently many nonbreed- ing birds remain during the summer; a few nest. Threats to the Black Tern include disappearance of suitable wetlands, and there is indication of organochlorine contamination with resulting eggshell thinning. Breeding bird surveys have shown a 7% annual decline in recent years. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 8 Subject to future revisions BLACKNOSE DACE Rhinichthys atratulus RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Blacknose Dace population in Kansas appears to be a remnant, but stable, population found only in areas where the last glacier extended. They prefer small, usually cool, gravelly streams of high to moderate gradient. They use pools, slower runs, and backwaters as microhabitats. Major threats to the Blacknose Dace include limited quality habitat left due to highly erodible soil, channelization, irrigation, herbi- cide and pesticide use, livestock pollution, and destruction of riparian buffer. The Blacknose Dace has only been found in five localities in Pole, Manley, and Clear Creeks of the Nemaha River system in north- eastern Kansas. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 9 Subject to future revisions BLUE SUCKER Cycleptus elongatus RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Blue Sucker concentrates in “chutes” or rapids where the water is deep and the bottom is rocky, wholly free of silt in the Neosho River. This species probably spawns in spring, scattering its eggs on rocky bottoms in the current often migrating upstream. In sum- mer, the young are found along gravel bars in slightly shallower water and less swift currents than adults. They feed off of insects and probably microorganisms including algae attached to stones on the bottom. Blue Suckers occur in the Missouri, Kansas, and Neosho Rivers, where they occupy swift currents in the main channels. Many have also been found in the stilling basin where water is discharged into the river from John Redmond Reservoir in Coffey County. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 10 Subject to future revisions BLUNTNOSE DARTER Etheostoma chlorosoma RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Bluntnose Darter inhabits small, slowly flowing creeks with bottoms of mud or clay in the eastern part of the Arkansas River system. The creeks may be intermittent during severe drought. This species is also found in oxbows and overflow pools, particularly if they remain clear and have aquatic vegetation. This fish probably spawns in April or May in Kansas. Little is known of its reproductive habits in the state. They feed off larval insects, especially midges, and microcrustaceans. Bluntnose Darters occur in only a few places in the Spring and Neosho River basins, always in small numbers. KANSAS DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND PARKS Effective January 2005 11 Subject to future revisions BOBOLINK Dolichonyx oryzivorus RANGE MAP STATUS KANSAS: SINC FEDERAL: NA MAP KEY Known Current Range Probable Historic Range Known Historic Range SPECIES DESCRIPTION The Bobolink prefers tall grasslands such as wet meadows, hayfields, and moist tallgrass prairie. Migrants frequently visit alfalfa fields. They nest on the ground in a shallow depression made of grasses and weed stems. The birds feed on beetles, grasshoppers, cater- pillars, and other small invertebrates as well as seeds of various grasses and weeds. In seasons other than summer, they feed primari- ly on domestic and wild grain and weed and grass seed.