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CENTER FOR BIODIVERSITY

Description --- Public Service --- Special Recognition --- Project Summaries

The geographic and temporal distributions of organisms are the subjects of much of the research in the Center. Specimens in collections provide much of the distributional documentation upon which the research is developed. The Insect Collection is the largest with over 6 million specimens; the Fish Collection has 650,000 specimens; several other collections have between 100,000 and 200,000 specimens. On average, about 17,000 specimens are loaned each year to other institutions. Computerizing collection-associated data and making them available on the Internet is further increasing the accessibility of collection data.

With assistance from the National Biological Service, the Survey has established a home page on the World Wide Web. More than 250 files currently reside on the host. The third edition of the Directory of Illinois Systematists, Ecologists, and Field Biologists is available on Internet.

Center for Biodiversity staff members serve on a variety of boards and advisory committees, and participate in societies dedicated to the protection, management, and development of biotic resources in accordance with long-term environmental goals. Included among these boards, task forces, and societies are The Nature Preserves Commission; Illinois Endangered Species Technical Advisory committees on Plants, Fishes, and Invertebrates; Grand Prairie Friends of Illinois; the Illinois Native Plant Society; Upper Mississippi River Conservation Commission; Illinois Council on Forestry Development; the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Prescribed Burn Task Force; and the Indiana Mollusk and Crustacean Technical Advisory Committee.

Most members of the Center for Biodiversity are experts on certain groups of organisms and provide an identification service for other scientists, government agencies, and Illinois citizens. About 30,000 specimens are identified by Center scientists each year. In addition to identifications, information on distributions, long-term trends, and ecological requirements is provided on a daily basis. Each year, about 150 visitors examine specimens in the Survey's collections, and 15-20,000 specimens are loaned to other institutions.

As in past years, Center scientists gave a large number of professional and public presentations on various aspects of biodiversity. Dr. Joyce Hofmann and Ms. Ruth Green participated in a large number of presentations to school classes and meetings devoted to public understanding and appreciation of biodiversity. Dr. Hofmann is a member of the Board of Directors of the Grand Prairie Friends of Illinois. Dr. Kenneth Robertson presented several talks on native plants, served on the board of the Illinois Native Plant Society, and was an advisor to the Grand Prairie Friends of Illinois. Dr. Donald Webb gave presentations on forensic entomology, cave biology, and insect systematics. Mr. John Taft gave several talks at conferences and workshops on plant communities. Mr. Kevin Cummings gave several talks on aquatic biodiversity to citizens and professional groups. Dr. Christopher Phillips spoke to several groups on the status of Illinois amphibians and reptiles.

Offices in professional, national or international, scientific societies are generally elective and filled with scientists of high professional stature. Dr. Donald Webb is president of the University of Illinois Chapter of Sigma Xi, chairs the Literature Review Committee of the North American Benthological Society, and is a member of the Common Names and Computer Information committees of the North American Benthological Society. Dr. Leland Crane is a consultant to the Nomenclature Committee for the Mycological Society of America and a resource person for the International Association of Plant Systematists. Mr. Mark Wetzel is a member of the American Fisheries Society Committee on Common and Scientific Names of Aquatic Invertebrates and a member of the Literature Review Committee of the North American Benthological Society. Dr. Weidong Chen serves as chair of the Mycology Committee of the American Phytopathological Society. Dr. Geoffrey Levin is a research associate of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Dr. Christopher Phillips is coordinator for the Central Division of the Declining Amphibian Population Task Force. Mr. Kevin Cummings serves on the American Fisheries Society Endangered Freshwater Mussels Committee and the Conservation Committee of the American Malacological Union. Mr. Christopher Taylor serves as co-chair of the Crayfish Subcommittee of the American Fisheries Society Endangered Species Committee. Dr. Lawrence Page is a member of the board of governors and of the executive committee of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists, and is treasurer of that society. He also serves on the Governing Board of the North American Native Fishes Association, and is a delegate to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The past year was a productive one for scientists in the Center for Biodiversity, with a total of 33 papers published in peer-reviewed journals and books. This is in addition to unpublished reports, electronic files, and other products developed by our scientists. The H. H. Ross Memorial Fund, created to honor Dr. Herbert H. Ross, a distinguished entomologist at the Survey from 1929 to 1969, provided funds to Dr. Edward DeWalt for his research on stoneflies. The P.W. Smith Memorial Fund, created to honor a distinguished herpetologist and ichthyologist at the Survey from 1942 to 1979, provided funds to Ms. Jean Porterfield for her research on darters.

Biological Conservation and Ecology

Barrens burn study
J. Taft
Barrens, savanna-like openings in wooded landscapes, are gradually vanishing due to woody encroachment. This long-term study compares changes in the ground cover, shrub, and tree strata at a Pope County site treated with prescribed fire with a nearby fire-free control site. As predicted, ground-cover species richness and cover increase with fire and gradually decline at the control site. These changes are correlated to changes in density of woody plants. An emerging ground cover in closed barrens is a minor floristic subset of the open barrens, suggesting that species survival in the seed bank is selective. Unexpectedly, warm-season prairie grasses continue to decline at both study sites.

Flatwoods burn study
J. Taft
During periods of prolonged fire absence, many flatwoods undergo changes in composition and structure that result in lower vegetational diversity. High-quality remnants are rare. Many areas of degraded flatwoods remain but their restoration potential is uncertain. This long-term study measures the response of vegetative strata to the introduction of fire in a degraded remnant. Results following three burns indicate that considerable herbaceous species diversity native to the habitat resides in soil seed banks until stimulated by fire effects. Improved available light conditions with the reduction of sapling and shrub density appear to meet reproductive requirements for the emergent ground cover, ensuring population establishment and growth.

Diagnosis of soybean brown stem rot
W. Chen
Brown stem rot, caused by the fungus Phialophora gregata, is an important soybean disease in Illinois. Diagnosis of brown stem rot has been difficult and can take three or more weeks to complete. Other fungi living in the vascular tissue of soybeans greatly complicate the diagnosis process. Survey scientists, in cooperation with plant pathologists of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University, use specific molecular markers that allow researchers to identify the disease within hours. This identification process significantly accelerates the disease diagnosis and facilitates the selection of resistant cultivars in soybean breeding programs.

Macroinvertebrates and created wetlands
R. DeWalt, M. Wetzel
Created wetlands are designed to mimic the structure and function of natural wetlands that have been lost due to human development. Studies in northern Illinois employ long-term monitoring of aquatic macroinvertebrates (insects, crustacea, molluscs) to assess the structural and functional equivalency of created vs. natural wetlands. These macroinvertebrates constitute an important part of a wetland food web. Comparing macroinvertebrates in created vs. natural wetlands will provide a baseline for measuring the attainment of goals and may allow for fine tuning of created wetland construction in Illinois.

Fragmentation and aquatic organisms
L. Page, M. Pyron, K. Cummings
Fragmentation has been identified as a major cause of decline in species diversity for many terrestrial ecosystems, but less empirical information is available on the effects of fragmentation on freshwater species and communities. Fragmentation in streams, that is, a lack of connectivity between upstream and downstream populations, can be caused by many anthropogenic influences. Examples of stream modifications that cause fragmentation are impoundments, channelization, pollution, and introductions of exotic species. Freshwater organisms are declining as a result of factors that lead, initially, to fragmentation and, ultimately, to extirpation of populations.

Mating behavior of red-winged blackbirds
D. Enstrom, K. Yasukawa (Beloit College)
The effect of color on the mating behavior of red-winged blackbirds is being assessed in both field and lab experiments. In field experiments, red wing patches of males are being manipulated in order to assess the effect of color on male aggression, pairing success, and mating success. In lab experiments, the effect of color on male attractiveness is being assessed. These results are providing the first direct evidence of the importance of female mating preferences to the evolution of bright coloration in this common Illinois species.

Male attractiveness in song birds
D. Enstrom, E. Ketterson, V. Nolan, Jr. (Indiana University)
In a series of experiments on dark-eyed juncos, a monogamous sparrow, the hormone testosterone has been linked to behavioral changes that enhance the attractiveness of males to females. In another set of experiments, age-related differences in male attractiveness have been identified, and links between testosterone, age-specific behavioral differences, and male attractiveness have been established. Finally, the effect of plumage variation on male attractiveness has been assessed. Results address the nature of male attractiveness and mechanisms controlling the evolution of gaudy male characteristics. Currently, links between social interactions, hormones, and histological changes in males during the breeding season are being assessed.

Aphids and purple loosestrife
D. Voegtlin
Laboratory research has shown that large populations of an aphid of European origin can be detrimental to, and even kill, purple loosestrife, an exotic weed found in many areas of Illinois. A mass release of aphids was attempted last May along the Fox River in Lake County to see whether it was possible to generate a large enough population in the field to cause damage in a natural setting. Post-release data showed that although the aphids scattered throughout the area and began colonies on most of the plants, predators virtually eliminated the aphids by early summer. A repeat multiple release was made again last spring.

Cooperative prairie insect project
C. Dietrich, D. Voegtlin, K. Methven
Investigations of remaining tallgrass prairie that once blanketed the Midwest have often dealt only with vertebrates and plants. However, an essential component of what makes this ecosystem so rich, the insects, has been little studied. The insects dominate the prairie biodiversity and are the main herbivores, detrivores, and pollinators in this ecosystem. Entomologists from six midwestern states have joined together and have been inventorying and studying invertebrates of the tallgrass prairie ecosystem. They are also looking at the effect of current prairie management practices on invertebrates. In Illinois, the aphids, leafhoppers, and spiders at Twelve Mile Prairie are being studied.

Effects of habitat fragmentation on plants
K. Kramer
Conservation biology theory predicts that, over time in small habitat fragments, genetic variation may decrease within populations and species diversity may decline. Unfortunately, the remaining tallgrass prairie occurs only in small isolated fragments across the state of Illinois. Long-term persistence of these fragmented plant communities has not been studied. This project is documenting fragmentation effects at both the species and community levels. Seed production, viability, and establishment are being recorded in selected species, and community composition is being compared across sites of different sizes. The results should aid in understanding risks associated with conserving plant communities in small fragments.

Female mate choice in snubnose darters
J. Porterfield, L. Page
Darters are a speciose group of North American freshwater fishes, and species are often characterized by the brilliant breeding colors found in males; these colors may be sexually selected. Two species of snubnose darters, Etheostoma barrenense and E. rafinesquei, from Kentucky were tested in laboratory experiments. Results from two sets of experiments suggest that male color plays a role both in female choice of males and in male interactions. These two species are restricted to small ranges, and results from these species can be compared with wide-ranging members of the subgenus (e.g., E. zonale, an Illinois species).

Ecology of native medicinal plants
K. Kramer, K. Bauer
Several native Illinois plant species are utilized in herbal medicine markets. Two species native to Illinois, Echinacea purpurea and E. pallida, are used in treating colds and allergies. How the genetic composition and phenotypic expression of these species vary in relation to native habitiat type is being studied. Researchers anticipate that variation in the active ingredient of these species can be linked to particular ecological factors.

Ecology of migratory snails
M. Pyron
Freshwater snails in the genus Neritina (N. punctulata and N. clenchi) live and reproduce in freshwater streams. Eggs are deposited in egg-cases attached to boulders in the stream. When the egg-cases hatch, the snail larvae are washed downstream to the estuary where they metamorphose into small adults that begin an upstream migration. Surveys of snail size and abundance revealed that the smallest individuals are just upstream from the estuary, and snail size increases with distance upstream. Further studies will examine the food web interactions within these streams for comparison with temperate stream food webs.

Evolution of body size and rarity in fishes
M. Pyron
Previous studies have identified an ecological pattern: large-bodied species tend to have larger geographic range sizes and lower local abundances. Explanations for this pattern have been that larger animals have larger home range sizes and tend to be more general in their habitat and environment use. An ongoing study is designed to determine whether this pattern also occurs in two families of fishes. Such patterns can be important to managers making decisions related to conservation of biodiversity.

Spawning microhabitats of darters
J. Porterfield
The 23 species of snubnose darters, small freshwater fishes within the genus Etheostoma, are usually allopatrically distributed. However, occasionally two of these closely related species will be found living in the same stream. Two species of snubnose darters, Etheostoma flavum and E. simoterum, were observed and filmed in a Tennessee stream. These fishes spawn by attaching eggs individually to rock substrates. The two species were utilizing different substrates in different parts of the stream. These observations suggest that the use of different spawning microhabitats may be a mechanism of reproductive isolation among closely related fish species.

CTAP volunteer biomonitoring
M. Pyron, R. Blair (Miami University), M. Schwartz (University of California, Davis)
Illinois natural areas have been degraded by a large variety of human activities and are in need of monitoring. A series of protocols for volunteer groups and high school students to use in monitoring ecosystem quality is being developed. These protocols are directed toward specific habitats (forests, prairies, and wetlands) and will be used to establish permanent sampling regimes and permanent sites for long-term monitoring. This will provide evidence of the current quality of these sites and other similar Illinois sites, and whether these sites are changing over time.

Hill prairies
K. Robertson, M. Schwartz, J. Olson, B. Dunphy, A. Trame
Hill prairies are island-like patches of prairie vegetation occurring on otherwise wooded steep slopes that face south or southwest, especially along the Mississippi and Illinois rivers. Aerial photographs taken from 1940 to 1988 clearly demonstrate that hill prairies have been decreasing in size in Illinois. Nine hill prairies lost 63% of their area and became fragmented into smaller units. Analysis of biogeographical patterns showed that plant communities of hill prairies are more similar to those of sand/gravel prairies than to those of silt/loam (blacksoil) prairies. Most remaining hill prairies are small, less than five acres; however, small sites support nearly as many plant species as larger sites.

Tallgrass prairie mosaic
K. Robertson, M. Schwartz
"The Prairie State" is a nickname for Illinois, yet few people know what a prairie is or have visited one. The Survey has a long tradition of studying prairies, with publications going back to 1910. An article summarizing the tallgrass prairie soon will be published in a book on fragmented habitats in the Midwest. Topics include the original extent and recent loss of prairie habitat, the impact of this habitat loss on biodiversity, and suggestions for management of remaining natural prairies. Another article on the tallgrass prairie in Illinois was published electronically on PrairieNet.

Local movement of aphids
D. Voegtlin
The source of aphids landing in crop fields has been of interest for a long time. However, such small insects are virtually impossible to follow once they begin flight. Suction traps set in natural and adjacent cultivated fields collect aphids and other small insects. Comparisons of these catches can suggest whether the aphids landing in the fields are locally produced or migrants from farther downwind. Evidence so far suggests that some of our most important aphid pests are not locally produced or, at least, not produced locally early in the year.

Biotic Inventories

Botanical surveys
J. Taft
Botanical and natural area surveys throughout Illinois continue to be conducted as an aid to planning highway construction and repair as well as related habitat conservation. Each year, these inventories identify several new rare plant populations and high-quality habitats and contribute to the documentation of all the botanical resources of Illinois. Most recently, botanical inventories in a 160-acre tract in Lake County owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation have revealed about 80 acres to be a high-quality, floristically rich, wetland-prairie complex. This area contains populations of four threatened and endangered plant species.

Floristic quality assessment for Illinois
J. Taft, G. Wilhelm, L. Masters (Conservation Design Forum, Inc.), D. Ladd (The Nature Conservancy)
Floristic quality assessment is a method for evaluating the integrity of native plant communities. Coefficients of conservatism were assigned to each taxon in the Illinois flora. A mean value and site index indicative of relative floristic quality are derived from compiled species lists. These values are useful in the identification of both natural areas and the damaged remnant habitats that have potential for ecological recovery. Floristic quality assessment can be combined with quantitative data to provide a useful measure of vegetational changes over time. Such trends are valuable for assessing management effects and goals.

A latitudinal survey of ascomycetes
L. Crane, C. Shearer (University of Illinois)
About 300 collections of submerged plant debris were made from sample sites established along two gradients in North America. Ascomycetes were located, characterized, and isolated. Thus far, 262 different taxa spanning a broad taxonomic range of ascomycetes at the ordinal level have been identified with numerous taxa occurring repeatedly at different sites. A variety of morphological ascospore adaptations to the aquatic habitat were encountered. These include long filiform ascospores and ascospores with large, sticky gelatinous sheaths and appendages. A latitudinal pattern in species richness was observed with the greatest number of species found at latitudes between 40° and 44°N.

Freshwater mussels of Illinois
K. Cummings
A new Freshwater Mussels of Illinois (Mollusca: Unionacea) is being prepared. This monograph will reflect changes in nomenclature, provide keys for identification, include distribution maps, and update the biological literature since the 1967 publication of P.W. Parmalee's Fresh-water Mussels of Illinois. A computer database containing verifiable collections-based information on the distribution of Illinois mussels has been completed and includes data from the Survey, the University of Illinois Museum of Natural History, the Illinois State Museum, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Chicago Academy of Sciences, and eight out-of-state museums.

Mussel surveys in Illinois
K. Cummings
Status surveys for freshwater mussels in Illinois streams are being conducted in association with Illinois Department of Transportation bridge and highway construction projects. These surveys focus on sites that may provide habitat for endangered, threatened, or other rare mussels. Sites surveyed in 1995 included several locations on the drainages of the Fox, Illinois, Kankakee, LaMoine, Mackinaw, Mazon, Mississippi, Rock, and Vermilion rivers. These surveys document the occurrence and abundance of mussels in Illinois and provide current information on the mussel resources of the state.

Mackinaw River mussels
K. Cummings, C. Mayer, M. Retzer (The Nature Conservancy)
As part of an ongoing effort to develop a plan to protect the Mackinaw River drainage in Illinois, a survey of the freshwater mussels of the river was conducted. This survey, combined with a 1987 study, documented changes in the mussel fauna with particular emphasis on endangered species. The Mackinaw River drainage has undergone many recent changes. Although 31 species were known historically from the drainage, only 21 were found in the 1995 survey. Identifying areas where significant and diverse mussel populations occur will help resource managers protect remaining species.

Fauna and freshwater ecoregions
R. DeWalt
Since 1991 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality have funded sampling of least-impacted streams in four large, freshwater ecoregions (ecologically similar regions) across Louisiana. A similar program may be developed for Illinois. The Louisiana regions have been sampled repeatedly in a standard manner to characterize their macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages. Both assemblages have been found to be sufficiently different across ecoregions to warrant ecoregion-specific standards. It appears that ecoregions, established by using such simple parameters as topography, soil type, land use, and potential natural vegetation, produce a useful framework for reducing the variation in biological samples.

Bird surveys
D. Enstrom, S. Amundsen
Under contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), surveys of bird populations are conducted throughout the state. Surveys focus on endangered and threatened species, but also provide information on other species and on habitat quality. This information is used by IDOT to assess the suitability of proposed road construction sites. At present, surveys are under way in Cass, Christian, Cook, Franklin, Kane, McDonough, McHenry, Morgan, Jo Daviess, Johnson, Lake, Pulaski, Sangamon, St. Clair, Schuyler, Winnebago, and Woodford counties.

Biological resources in northwest Illinois
W. Handel
For the last three years scientists in the Statewide Biological Survey and Assessment Program have been conducting a biological study of a proposed U.S. 20 highway alignment. This study has covered approximately 66,000 acres (103 square miles), with the majority concentrated in the Wisconsin Driftless Division of Illinois. More than 300 areas were examined for potential wetlands, and 35 areas have been assessed for natural quality, including upland forest, prairie, wetland, and dolomite cliff communities. Over 70 occurrences of endangered, threatened, and watch-list species of flora and fauna have been recorded.

Mammal surveys
J. Hofmann
Under contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), mammal surveys are conducted throughout Illinois. Emphasis is given to surveys and habitat assessments for threatened and endangered species, including the federally endangered Indiana bat. Survey methods include live trapping of small terrestrial mammals and mist netting of bats. Project areas for 1995-1996 are located in Cass, Christian, Jo Daviess, Johnson, McDonough, Morgan, Pulaski, Sangamon, Schuyler, and Woodford counties. In addition to assisting IDOT in decisions about proposed highway and bridge construction projects, these surveys provide information on the current distribution and status of endangered and threatened mammals in Illinois.

Floristic inventory in Lawrence County
L. Phillippe, J. Ebinger (Eastern Illinois University), D. Ketzner, J. Tate
A list of plants and a forest survey of Chauncey Marsh within the Bottomland Section of the Wabash Border Division of Illinois is being prepared for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. A total of 351 species has been collected and deposited in the Survey's herbarium. No rare Illinois plants have been found in the study area. A map is being prepared outlining the existing natural communities, wet-mesic floodplain forest, wet floodplain forest, marsh, and shrub swamp. The wet-mesic floodplain forest community is the most extensive community and is dominated by Carya laciniosa (kingnut hickory), Liquidambar styraciflua (sweet gum), and Quercus palustris (pin oak).

Floristic inventory in Vermilion County
L. Phillippe
A list of plants of the Vermilion River Observatory, four miles southeast of Danville and within the Vermilion River Section of the Wabash Border Natural Division of Illinois, is being prepared for the University of Illinois. The natural communities are mesic-upland forest and dry-mesic upland forest and are primarily located within three ravine systems. The forest ranges in age from very young second growth (10-20 years) to mature second growth (40-90 years). No rare plants have been found in the study area.

Inventory of new DNR property
C. Phillips, J. Hofmann, W. Handel, S. Amundsen, J. Serb, J. Petzing
A biological survey is being conducted on a 900-acre tract along the Little Vermilion River in Vermilion County that has recently been acquired by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The area consists of a remote stretch of the river, surrounding beech-maple forest, numerous upland ponds, and fallow agricultural fields. The diversity of habitats suggests that a rich assemblage of plant and animal species occurs there. The survey is focusing on endangered, threatened, and rare species, including the federally endangered Indiana bat and uncommon species that reach the western limits of their range in extreme eastern Illinois.

Reptiles and amphibians of Illinois
C. Phillips, R. Brandon (Southern Illinois University), E. Moll (Eastern Illinois University)
A field guide to the reptiles and amphibians of Illinois is being prepared that will help wildlife managers, law enforcement officials, teachers, and professionals identify the herpetofauna of the state. The guide will include a section on collecting and conservation, a checklist of the species, an illustrated key, and a detailed account for each species. The latter will contain key characters, habitat, diet, conservation status, and a range map. This will be the first guide to the amphibians and reptiles of the state to include color photographs of all species.

Natural areas of Savanna Army Depot
K. Robertson, L. Phillippe, G. Levin, K. Kramer
The Savanna Army Depot in northwestern Illinois will be decommissioned in the next few years. Botanical surveys are being conducted to provide information to be used in plans for the preservation and development of the depot. An inventory and map of the natural communities, with quality ratings for each community and special reference to significant or sensitive areas, are being developed. Populations of endangered and threatened plant species are being located, and a checklist of vascular plants for the depot is being compiled.

Plant survey of Site "M"
K. Robertson, G. Levin, L. Phillippe
Site "M" is a large mosaic of cropland, pastureland, forests, and hill prairies in Cass County. It is being developed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources as a multi-use facility for both conservation and outdoor recreation. During 1995, scientists from the Survey completed a report that included a list of vascular plants (all vouchered with herbarium specimens), reports on populations of endangered and threatened species of plants, and assessments of the natural quality of habitats, especially the numerous hill prairies. This report has had a major influence on the development of management plans for this 15,000-acre area.

Springs of Illinois
D. Webb, M. Wetzel, L. Phillippe
The biodiversity, hydrogeology, and water quality of 10 karst springs in Monroe and St. Clair counties were examined. Of 40 water samples analyzed, nitrate nitrogen was detected in 100% of the samples, Atrazine in 73%, Alachlor in 27.5%, Cyanazine in 22.5%, and Metolachlor in 47.5%. Atrazine exceeded the EPA maximum containment level (MCL) three times, Alachlor once, and Cyanazine exceeded the EPA health advisory level (HAL) twice. Species richness of macroinvertebrates ranged from 18 to 82 taxa (average = 42), in comparison to a range of 11-46 taxa (average = 27) for seven springs in the Shawnee Hills. No state or federal threatened or endangered species of aquatic macroinvertebrates were found.

Stoneflies of Illinois
D. Webb, M. Harris
A reevaluation of the Illinois stoneflies (Plecoptera) was continued in 1995 to determine their spatial and temporal distributions relative to collections made by T.H. Frison during the 1920s and 1930s. Frison's stonefly collections provide a historical record prior to much of the environmental and agricultural changes in Illinois. An update of the species native to Illinois was published as a result of the reevaluation. Based on data gathered during intensive collecting from 1990 through 1994, it is evident that there has been a reduction in the number of species and in the spatial distributions of several species.

Plant surveys of rural bridge crossings
S. Hill
Under contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation, surveys for endangered and threatened plants of Illinois and significant natural plant communities have been conducted in several regions of the state at sites of old rural bridge crossings. Since many of these bridges, built in the early part of the century, are now deteriorating, several are scheduled to be replaced. Searches for plants at these crossings in infrequently visited out-of-the-way parts of the state have produced finds of several endangered plants, some in large populations. Most impressive are several new populations of an Illinois threatened species, large-seeded mercury (Acalypha deamii).

Beardstown area botanical surveys
S. Hill
A survey of plants in the Illinois River valley near Beardstown is being conducted as part of an Illinois Department of Transportation project to improve U.S. Rt. 67 between Jacksonville and Macomb. This area of sandy ridges, alluvial soils, and bordering loess hills has a great diversity of species. Previously unmapped hill prairies have been located along with the Illinois threatened plants pale false foxglove (Agalinis skinneriana) and Hill's thistle (Cirsium hillii). Areas along the river have been found to support the federally threatened decurrent false aster (Boltonia decurrens). This investigation is continuing, and more significant findings are expected.

Plant sampling for the Survey herbarium
S. Hill
The Plant Collection at the Survey has exceptional historical and botanical value to the people of Illinois. It is regularly used to map distributions, identify samples, and support other types of agricultural and botanical research. A series of trips to surrounding regions has been made to increase representation of species, including agricultural weeds that may be expanding their ranges into Illinois. A special effort is being made to document records of species not previously found in the state as part of an effort to better understand the effects of our changing land uses and climate.

Surveys for aquatic macroinvertebrates
R. DeWalt, M. Wetzel
Under contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation, INHS researchers conduct surveys for macroinvertebrates in aquatic habitats in Illinois. These surveys are conducted in association with highway and bridge construction projects, emphasizing areas that may provide potential habitat for endangered and threatened species as well as other species with restricted ranges in Illinois. One long-term study, begun in 1994, focuses on aquatic macroinvertebrates associated with calcareous seeps at the base of dolomitic bedrock bluffs along the north side of the Des Plaines River in Will County. This study, which also includes analysis of water quality, represents the first extensive investigation of this aquatic system.

Aquatic resources in western Illinois
K. Cummings, C. Taylor, R. DeWalt, M. Wetzel
Under contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation, INHS researchers are monitoring water quality and conducting surveys for fishes, unionid mussels, and other aquatic macroinvertebrates in Cass, McDonough, Morgan, and Schuyler counties. These surveys are being conducted in association with proposed highway and bridge construction projects, emphasizing areas that may provide potential habitat for federal and state endangered and threatened species as well as other species with restricted or declining ranges in Illinois. This project, begun in 1995, provides an opportunity to conduct the first comprehensive survey for aquatic resources of 15 Illinois River tributaries flowing through these four counties.

Surveys for aquatic resources in Illinois
K. Cummings, R. DeWalt, C. Taylor, M. Wetzel
Under contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation, INHS researchers are monitoring water quality and conducting surveys for fishes, unionid mussels, and other aquatic macroinvertebrates in Jo Daviess and Stephenson counties. Sampling sites are located within the Apple River, Galena River, Pecatonica River, and Rush Creek drainages. These surveys are being conducted in association with proposed highway and bridge construction projects, emphasizing areas that may provide potential habitat for federal and state endangered and threatened species as well as other species with restricted or declining ranges in Illinois. This study, begun in 1993, represents the first extensive investigation of aquatic resources in these two counties.

Systematics

New species of darters
P. Ceas, L. Page
Darters are small, freshwater fishes that are integral members in the ecology of eastern North American streams and are considered excellent indicators of stream health. Among the most interesting are the orangethroat darters of the Etheostoma spectabile complex. These fishes live primarily in headwater streams in the central Mississippi Basin. Isolation in headwaters has resulted in tremendous differentiation among populations, and an ongoing study has confirmed the existence of at least nine new species. Several species occur in unusual areas and may be useful in delineating future biosphere preserves.

Understanding species distributions
P. Ceas, L. Page
The highlands of Kentucky, Tennessee, southern Illinois, and southern Indiana escaped Pleistocene glaciation. Consequently, rivers draining these areas have been in existence for millions of years, with changes occurring mostly through a phenomenon known as stream capture. The native fish fauna in these rivers is quite diverse and has complex distributional patterns. Researchers are studying the "phylogeography," the combination of biogeographic and phylogenetic data, on the native fish fauna in an attempt to better understand how species came to exhibit their present-day distributions.

Evolution of aquatic ascomycetes
W. Chen, L. Crane, C. Shearer (University of Illinois)
The ascomycetious fungi found in freshwater streams, such as the Illinois and Sangamon rivers, are usually different morphologically from those found in the marine environment. Each taxonomic group of these fungi has a distinctive morphology. Although there are speculations about the ancestors of the marine fungi, their evolutionary relationships with other fungi is not clear. Researchers are comparing rDNA sequences to assess the evolutionary relationships of these fungi, which play important ecological roles including the degradation of organic matter and the synthesis of novel compounds.

Revision of the genus Boelagiomyces
L. Crane, C. Shearer (University of Illinois)
Members of the fungal genus Boelagiomyces have been difficult to assign to species. They are characterized by having fissitunicate asci, cellular pseudoparaphyses, soft membranous fruiting bodies, and large ascospores with both vertical and transverse septation. Five species are presently recognized in the genus. Boerlagiomyces velutinus and B. laxus are lectotyped, and the latter species, considered by some mycologists as a synonym of B. velutinus, is reinstated as a distinct species. Boerlagella effusa is transferred to Boerlabiomyces and B. macrosporus is placed in the genus Thaxteriella. Thaxteriellopsis bambusicola is moved to Boerlagiomyces while T. lignicola is considered to belong in Chaetosphaerulina.

World catalog of freshwater mussels
K. Cummings
A type catalog of freshwater mussels (Unionoida) of the world is in preparation. To date, over 1,900 nominal taxa have been entered into a computerized database. The database contains information on the original name, author, date, citation, page number, reference to figured specimens, type locality, deposition of type material, and names used in earlier monographs. Photographs of some of the types have been scanned and added to the database. The literature citations are linked to a bibliography containing over 9,000 references on freshwater mollusks. It is anticipated that the database will be placed on the INHS World Wide Web server in the coming year.

Status of the endangered clubshell mussel
K. Cummings, C. Mayer
Recent stream surveys throughout the U.S. have documented drastic declines in mussel populations. A grant from the Wildlife Conservation Check-off Program of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources provided funds to determine the status of the federally endangered clubshell (Pleurobema clava). Once widespread in the Midwest, this mussel now occurs in only a few streams in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. In Illinois the clubshell was once common in the Vermilion and Wabash rivers. A search for living clubshells was conducted in the North Fork River, and although no live clubshells were found, four other mussels listed as endangered in Illinois were present.

Systematics of Leuctra ferruginea
R. DeWalt
Stoneflies (Plecoptera) live in streams and are indicators of good water quality. The Leuctra ferruginea species-group contains several small species in eastern North America. Several undescribed species may await discovery in Gulf of Mexico drainages. Study of museum specimens, loans from colleagues, and newly collected material will result in a key to all known members of the group, a summary of their distributions, and an analysis of the members' relatedness. Additionally, the study will remove any doubt as to the identity and relatedness of L. rickeri, a species known only from the southern tip of Illinois.

Phylogeny of leafhoppers and treehoppers
C. Dietrich
Leafhoppers and treehoppers are among the dominant herbivorous insects in grassland and forest habitats, but their phylogenetic relationships remain poorly understood. Published morphology-based estimates of relationships among the major lineages of these insects imply alternative evolutionary scenarios regarding the role of behavioral and host-plant shifts in their diversification. Independent DNA sequence data may be useful for testing these alternative hypotheses. Several regions of the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes are being screened to determine which gene sequences will be useful for elucidating the phylogeny of these insects.

Higher classification of leafhoppers
C. Dietrich
Comprising over 25,000 described species, including 500+ in Illinois, leafhoppers (Cicadellidae) are among the largest families of insects. Despite their importance as vectors of plant disease and abundance in most terrestrial ecosystems, no comprehensive identification keys are available and no attempts have been made to classify the family as a whole using modern phylogenetic methods. Work is under way on a comprehensive phylogenetic analysis and reclassification of the subfamilies and tribes of this family. This will provide a framework for future ecological and systematic studies of leafhoppers.

Higher classification of treehoppers
C. Dietrich
Treehoppers, comprising nearly 2,500 described species (including 88 in Illinois), are a diverse group of plant-feeding insects. Although few species are economically important, the variety of bizarre morphological forms and behavioral traits found among treehoppers has long attracted the attention of ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Recently completed phylogenetic analyses of morphological data have elucidated the relationships among the major lineages in the group and provide a means for examining the evolutionary origins of unusual behavioral traits, such as ant-mutualism and egg-guarding. Work is now under way on a revised classification and illustrated identification key for the New World treehoppers.

Euphorbiaceae for The Flora of N. America
G. Levin
A multivolume publication, The Flora of North America, covering all the vascular plants in North America (north of Mexico) is being compiled with contributions from many botanists. The Survey's contribution will include treatments of two genera, Acalypha (three-seeded mercury) and Drypetes (Guiana plum). The former genus is well represented in Illinois, with 6 of the 19 North American species found in the state. These include the state-threatened large-seeded mercury (A. deamii). Drypetes occurs in North America only in southern Florida.

Systematics of three-seeded mercuries
G. Levin
A group of five species in the plant genus Acalypha (three-seeded mercury) has confused taxonomists for much of this century. Some of these species, all of which grow in Illinois, are widespread, but others are quite rare, including the state-threatened A. deamii (large-seeded mercury). Research now shows that taxonomic problems have not been the result of hybridization as often alleged, but instead reflect the use of unreliable characters to distinguish the species. These results also suggest that A. gracilens (slender three-seeded mercury) is not as common in Illinois as previously believed and should be evaluated for threatened status.

Phylogenetic analysis of continuous data
G. Levin
Considerable controversy has surrounded the use of continuous morphological data for phylogenetic analysis, the method used to reconstruct the evolutionary relationships among organisms. Many different procedures have been proposed to discern the evidence that this type of data provides. Application of these various procedures to the same data set shows that some methods provide much more reliable results than others. This research will be useful for taxonomists who use morphological data to interpret the evolution of biodiversity.

Systematics of tropical Euphorbiaceae
G. Levin
Acalypha (copperleaf) and Drypetes (Guiana plum) are large genera of mainly tropical trees and shrubs, though both genera reach the United States and six species of Acalypha grow in Illinois. Research is under way to update the taxonomy of both genera. This work will help biologists striving to conserve tropical forests and will also shed light on the distributional processes that have led to both genera being found on five continents. Taxonomic treatments will appear in various regional floras, including The Flora of the Venezuelan Guayana, Flora de Nicaragua, The Flora of the Greater Antilles, Flora Malesiana, and Flora de Ecuador.

Relationships of snubnose darters
J. Porterfield, L. Page
Snubnose darters of the subgenus Nanostoma comprise the largest subgenus within the genus Etheostoma, the largest genus of North American freshwater fishes. Relationships among the species are disputed, and past attempts at resolving relationships have used morphological and behavioral data. DNA sequence data from several mitochondrial and nuclear genes are being utilized in a cladistic analysis of the group. Results are used to study the evolution of male color and to clarify the taxonomy of the group, including the placement of Etheostoma zonale, an Illinois species whose taxonomic affinities are controversial.

Evolution of Acanthocephala
T. Near
Acanthocephala are obligate helminth parasites of arthropods and vertebrates. Most acanthocephalans parasitize fishes; however, others can cause serious damage in domestic livestock. Seventeen species of acanthocephalans have been reported from Illinois. Relationships among acanthocephalans remain unresolved but recent hypotheses of acanthocephalan phylogeny have been developed from analysis of nuclear DNA sequence data. The evolution of host preferences, habitat, and morphology have been examined by reference to the phylogenetic hypotheses. Understanding the evolution of acanthocephalans can aid the domestic livestock industry by contributing to the development of effective preventative and control practices.

Relationships among darters
T. Near, L. Page
Darters are a diverse group of fishes found only in North America, where they are common and important components of stream and lake ecosystems. Darters are currently classified into four genera, and one of the genera, Percina, is classified into nine subgenera. Phylogenetic relationships of Percina are being hypothesized from the analysis of mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. Once developed, these hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships will be used to assess the validity of the current classification and to examine evolutionary trends in ecology, morphology, and biogeography.

Contributions to Flora of North America
K. Robertson
Botanists from throughout North America are preparing manuscripts of their taxonomic specialties for a major new project that will cover all the flowering plants, conifers, and ferns for the North American continent (excluding Mexico). The Survey is contributing treatments of the Haemodoraceae (bloodwort family), the genus Erythronium (trout lily, dog-tooth violet) of the Liliaceae (lily family), and numerous genera of the Rosaceae (rose family). The multi-volume publication will be titled The Flora of North America.

Systematics of New World stiletto flies
D. Webb, M. Irwin
A revision of the New World stiletto fly genus Chromolepida was published and revisions of the genera Dichoglena, Pandivirilia, Tabuda,Tabudamima, and Viriliricta were completed as part of an ongoing study of the systematics, phylogeny, and zoogeography of the family Therevidae (Diptera). These revisions update the descriptions of valid species, describe the numerous new species found, clarify the nomenclature of the species, and provide keys for their identification. The ultimate objective is to revise all of the New World genera and to determine their phylogenetic associations with Old World and Australasian relatives.

The cotton family (Malvaceae) in Illinois
S. Hill
The Malvaceae is a plant family containing, among other species, cotton, hibiscus, and okra. Illinois has 24 species representative of the family, of which 9 are native. Of these 9, 2 are endangered in Illinois, Iliamna remota (Kankakee mallow) and Malvastrum hispidum (globe mallow). Several other species, such as Abutilon theophrasti (velvet-leaf), Hibiscus trionum (flower-of-an-hour), and Sida spinosa (prickly sida), are known as established agricultural pests. Herbarium and field investigations of these plants are ongoing to better understand their place in the ecology of Illinois plant communities, both natural and artificial.

Nomenclature of aquatic worms of America
M. Wetzel
The Committee on Names of Aquatic Invertebrates (CNAI) prepares checklists of names to achieve uniformity in vernacular and scientific nomenclature. Committee members M. Wetzel of the Survey and K. Coates of the Royal Ontario Museum, Canada, cochair the CNAI subcommittee on aphanoneuran and clitellate Annelida, and are responsible for compiling the list of scientific and common names of nonpolychaete annelids in North America north of Mexico. To date, over 830 species among 27 families and 195 genera have been included.

Systematics of aquatic worms in Illinois
M. Wetzel
The Annelid Collection at the Survey, consisting of about 284,000 specimens, includes members of the Aphanoneura, Branchiobdellida, Hirudinea, Oligochaeta, and Polychaeta. Although most of the material in the collection (74%) has been collected from Illinois over the last 23 years, specimens from 45 other states, 4 Canadian provinces, and 6 countries also are included. A computerized database, which can be searched and sorted by various criteria, is being compiled. In 1995, over 13,000 specimens were added to the Annelid Collection, representing 151 collections from Illinois, eight other states, and Sweden. Presently, 131 species of aquatic worms in 71 genera and 15 families are known to occur in Illinois.

Computerized Databases

Biodiversity Internet home page
T. Kompare
In helping to meet the Survey's mission of providing information to the public, the Center for Biodiversity has undertaken the task of disseminating biodiversity information via the World Wide Web. These Web pages are designed to provide information specific to each taxonomic discipline within the Center. Separate pages have been created to distribute information on the Center's scientific collections. Future plans for these pages include linking to scientific collections databases and other biodiversity information available on the Internet. The Center's home page is found at this Internet address: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/main/cbd_home.html

Computerization of collection localities
C. Mayer, T. Kompare
The Center has undertaken the digitizing of its scientific collection locations into the Survey's Geographic Information System (GIS). The fish, mollusk, crustacean, and amphibian and reptile collections are currently being digitized. This new layer of data creates a link between collections data and spatial information already available through the GIS. Collection points will be updated as new collections are made.

Amphibian and reptile database
C. Phillips, J. Serb
A database containing information on more than 26,000 museum specimens of amphibians and reptiles that have been collected in Illinois has been developed. Thirty museums and private collections provided information that was entered into a standardized computer format. This database will form the basis of an updated set of range maps for all species of amphibians and reptiles inhabiting Illinois. The maps will be published along with catalog numbers and county-level location information as soon as the identities of all 26,000 specimens have been verified.

Bibliography of darters
L. Page, J. Porterfield
Darters are a group of North American freshwater fishes that are scientifically important in many ways. They are small, benthic fishes, and fill a unique ecological role in most stream ecosystems as insect predators, fish and reptile prey, and as parasite hosts. Darters have also been subjects of many physiological and behavioral studies. All of the literature that focuses on or mentions darters published through 1995 has been compiled into a bibliography of almost 2,800 references. This bibliography provides a complete guide to the many studies and surveys that have included these important fishes.

Directory of systematists and ecologists
K. Robertson, J. Tate
Illinois is fortunate in having many biologists who have expertise in the systematics, ecology, or field biology of Illinois organisms and ecosystems. A computerized database is nearly completed giving information on 511 persons who returned a questionnaire from Survey resarchers that requested information about their systematic, ecological, and geographical areas of expertise. Of the respondents, 121 were from Champaign-Urbana, 75 from Chicago, and 30 from Springfield. A total of 312 indicated they had expertise in field biology, 295 in ecology, and 128 in systematics. In terms of systematic expertise, 157 worked with flowering plants, 122 with insects, 111 with birds, 103 with mammals, and 95 with fishes.

Digital flowers
K. Robertson
Many photographs of plants are used to illustrate the structural diversity of plants in the plant systematics course at the University of Illinois, co-taught by Dr. K. R. Robertson and Dr. S. R. Downie. To make these photographs available to students for review on computers, Dr. Robertson has worked with student programmer Ian Horn to develop Digital Flowers, which presents tutorials for the 50 plant families covered in the course. Digital Flowers is currently available only locally, but ways of making the program available through the World Wide Web are being investigated.

New list of Illinois organisms
S. Hill
Studies of the library archives and the extensive collections of the Survey have allowed the compilation of a new listing of all known vertebrates, flowering plants, ferns, mosses and liverworts, and many invertebrate groups for Illinois. Thus far, 5,250 plant records and 6,267 animal records have been entered into computer databases. Each record contains information on scientific names, common names, status (e.g., endangered or threatened), and important references. This list is being compiled in cooperation with computer specialists and will be made available to the public through the Internet.

Bibliography of aquatic worms of America
M. Wetzel
A bibliography of aquatic Annelida of North America, including the groups Acanthobdellida, Aphanoneura, Branchiobdellida, Hirudinea, Oligochaeta, and selected Polychaeta is being compiled. This annotated bibliography will include all references discussing aquatic worms. To date, over 3,000 citations have been entered into a computer database. These references include journal articles, books, scientific reports, meeting and symposium proceedings, and government documents. During 1995 a project was begun to transfer this bibliography to the World Wide Web.

Directory of annelid systematists
M. Wetzel
A directory is being prepared to provide a list of systematists, ecologists, and field zoologists who conduct research on freshwater, estuarine, marine, and terrestrial Annelida. Institutional affiliation, postal and electronic mail addresses, telephone numbers, and a summary of the researchers' areas of systematic, ecological, and geographical interests and expertise will be included. A directory distributed in 1982 includes over 250 scientists from 38 countries. During 1994 and 1995, a revised questionnaire was distributed to previous respondents, to researchers who have subsequently expressed interest in this directory, and to authors of articles discussing one or more aspects of annelid biology.

Freshwater mussel bibliography
K. Cummings, A. Bogan (Carnegie Museum), G. Watters (Ohio State University), C. Counts (University of Maryland)
A Bibliography of the Naiades or Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Unionacea) of North America North of Mexico is being prepared. The bibliography will contain references to books, book chapters, journal articles, obscure "gray literature" (government documents, reports, etc.), theses, and dissertations. Over 4,000 references have been compiled and entered into a database. It is anticipated that bound, floppy disc, and CD-ROM versions of the bibliography will be available to facilitate searching by various topics and make the information readily available to researchers.

Directory of mollusk collections
K. Cummings, A. Oleinik (Purdue University), T. Kompare
A searchable directory of museums with collections of recent and fossil mollusks has been compiled. The list includes over 50 museums in 30 states or provinces of the U.S. and Canada and 35 others from 25 countries in South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The list includes the name, address, phone, fax, and e-mail address of the curator and institutional acronym. Information is being added on the number of specimens and the geographic scope of each collection. The collections list is accessible via the INHS World Wide Web server at: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/main/misc/museum_list.html