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CENTER FOR BIODIVERSITY

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

Most of the Survey's scientific collections are maintained by Center staff. Specimens in the collections provide invaluable documentation of the geographic and temporal distributions of organisms. The INHS Insect Collection is the largest with over 6 million specimens; the INHS Fish Collection has 712,000 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.

The Center for Biodiversity has been deeply involved with the Critical Trends Assessment Project (CTAP) since its inception more than five years ago. A pioneering effort to study changes in the state's natural resources, this project has now moved from general assessments to monitoring trends both statewide and in areas where partnerships among state agencies, local governments, and citizen groups have been formed to manage the resources. Center staff have devoted much of their time this year to compiling baseline data on these partnership areas, developing monitoring methods that can be applied in both these areas and statewide sampling, and to producing materials that volunteers can use to learn and apply monitoring techniques.

Public Service

Center for Biodiversity staff members serve on a variety of boards, advisory committees, and other organizations dedicated to scientifically based conservation of biodiversity. Among these groups are the Illinois Nature Preserves Commission; Illinois Endangered Species Technical Advisory committees on Plants, Fishes, and Invertebrates; Grand Prairie Friends of Illinois; Illinois Native Plant Society; Upper Mississippi River Conservation Commission; the IDNR Prescribed Burn Task Force; Indiana Mollusk and Crustacean Technical Advisory Committee; and the Fish Specialist Group and Declining Amphibian Population Task Force of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature Species Survival Commission.

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.

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. Kenneth Robertson presented several talks on native plants. Dr. Donald Webb gave presentations on forensic entomology, cave biology, and insect systematics. Mr. Kevin Cummings gave several talks on aquatic biodiversity to citizens and professional groups. In addition to these public presentations, the following staff presented research papers in their specialties at professional society meetings or scientific conferences: Dr. Weidong Chen, Mr. Kevin Cummings, Dr. Christopher Dietrich, Dr. David Enstrom, Dr. Joyce Hofmann, Dr. Geoffrey Levin, Dr. Lawrence Page, Dr. Mark Pyron, Dr. Kenneth Robertson, Mr. John Taft, Mr. Christopher Taylor, and Dr. Donald Webb. Staff also contributed to the training of other scientists, with Mr. Mark Wetzel presenting a four-day workshop on aquatic worms to the U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory and Dr. Geoffrey Levin presenting a one-day workshop on phylogenetic data analysis software at Indiana University.

Special Recognition

Offices in professional scientific societies, national or international, are generally elective and filled with scientists of high professional stature. Dr. Donald Webb 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 serves on the Literature Review, Common and Scientific Names, and Computer Information committees of the North American Benthological Society. Dr. David Voegtlin is program chairman for the Entomological Society of America. Dr. Weidong Chen is a member of the Mycology Committee of the American Phytopathological Society and the North Central Regional Committee on Diseases of Landscape Plants. Dr. Geoffrey Levin is a research associate of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 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 of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists and is treasurer of the same society. Dr. Christopher Dietrich is a member of the International Auchenorrhyncha Congress Organizing Committee. Dr. Kenneth Robertson is newsletter editor for the American Society of Plant Taxonomists.

Two staff members received special honors this year. Dr. Kenneth Robertson received the Outstanding Service Award from the University of Illinois International Agriculture Association in recognition of many enthusiastic years as the association's faculty advisor. Dr. Lawrence Page was named Principal Scientist at the Survey, an honor awarded in recognition of his outstanding scientific contributions.

The past year was a productive one for scientists in the Center for Biodiversity, with a total of 27 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 Ms. Jeanne Serb for her work on the Illinois mud turtle and to Mr. Thomas Near for his research on darters. The P.W. Smith Memorial Fund, which honors a distinguished herpetologist and ichthyologist at the Survey from 1942 to 1979, provided funds to Dr. Christopher Dietrich for his research on prairie insects and to Mr. John Armbruster for his studies of armored catfish.

Biological Conservation and Ecology

Mating behavior of Redwinged Blackbirds
D. Enstrom, K. Yasukawa (Beloit College, Wisconsin)
The effect of color on the mating behavior of Redwinged 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. This four-year project ends in 1997.

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 have been developed. These protocols are directed toward specific habitats (forests, riparian 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 similar Illinois sites, and whether these sites are changing over time.

Macroinvertebrate and fish assemblages
R. DeWalt
Louisiana has no biological criteria for rating stream health. Since 1991 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality have funded sampling of least-impacted streams in four freshwater ecoregions (ecologically similar regions) across Louisiana. Sampling data demonstrate that the regions are sufficiently different to warrant ecoregion-specific criteria, and support the use of ecoregions as frameworks for minimizing variation of biological attributes.

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. Researchers are continuing to investigate links between social interactions, hormones, and histological changes during the breeding season.

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. Researchers are continuing to investigate links between social interactions, hormones, and histological changes during the breeding season.

Effects of fire on prairie insects
C. Dietrich, M. Harper, P. Tessene
Anecdotal evidence suggests that frequent prescribed burning of remnant prairies can be devastating to insect populations. To assess the relative contributions of in situ survival versus recolonization to the overall postburn survivorship of various insect groups, Survey researchers are conducting an exclosure study on two remnant prairies to determine which groups of insects (if any) survive fire in situ and to examine recolonization rates for groups extirpated by fire. By monitoring variation in burn intensity in our study plots, we may also be able to determine the conditions under which insects can survive prescribed burns.

Essential habitat for marsh-nesting birds
D. Enstrom, M. Ward
The state of Illinois has adopted the term "essential habitat" to describe "...the physical and biological environment that is required to maintain viable populations of a listed species in order to ensure the survival and recovery of the species." Researchers are beginning a long-term project to develop guidelines for delineating essential habitat for all Illinois endangered and threatened wetland bird species. The first step in this process is to gather data sets that will allow us to model the use of the wetland landscape by these species. The ultimate goal of INHS scientists is to improve the biological basis of habitat assessment for endangered and threatened species in the state.

Prairie and oak forest restoration
W. Handel
An effort to restore several prairie and dry open oak forests is under way in the Wisconsin Driftless Division of northwestern Illinois. Several such forests occur in Palisades State Park. Preliminary observations are promising with several conservative plant species returning to the disturbed habitat. The goal is to get baseline data from adjacent areas prior to burning to determine the effects of fire on species composition.

Sexual selection in darter mating systems
J. Porterfield, L. Page
Brilliant male breeding colors of darters are among the gaudiest of North American freshwater fishes. These colors are sexually selected. Laboratory experiments with Etheostoma barrenense from Kentucky suggest that color is important in male competition for mates and may also influence female choice of mates. Additional experiments suggest that males preferentially court larger females, and females may prefer to mate with larger males. Both color and size appear to be significant factors in the mating system of this species, and these characters may have played a role in the speciation events leading to the tremendous diversity of darters.

Minnow hybridization
M. Sabaj
Hybrid minnows exhibit characteristics that are intermediate to those used to distinguish their parental species. As a result, hybrids often have been mistakenly reported as distinct species. For example, Stephen A. Forbes described the minnow Oxygeneum pulverulentum from a hybrid (stoneroller minnow x southern redbelly dace) collected in the Illinois River. An investigation of the morphological and genetic characteristics of another putative species of North American minnow, Rhinichthys bowersi, has revealed that it also is based on a hybrid and is not a valid species. This distinction is important because, although rare, hybrids do not merit the same conservation efforts as rare species.

Federally threatened decurrent false aster
S. Hill
The decurrent false aster (Boltonia decurrens), listed both as nationally and state threatened, has been located in several large populations along the Illinois River during the course of botanical surveys in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation. New populations have been found at two sites near Mossville, Peoria County; one large site at Spring Bay, Woodford County; and a large population at Beardstown, Cass County. This species is virtually unknown outside of Illinois, but appears to do well after the disturbance of sandy floodplains along the Illinois River where it has probably increased in numbers in the past decade.

Documentation of darter behavior
J. Porterfield
One potential criticism of observations conducted in artificial settings is their applicability to natural systems. Many descriptions of fish spawning behaviors have been written from aquarium observations. Data on natural spawning behaviors of six species of darters were collected and compared with data from published descriptions as well as data from recent aquarium observations. Courtship and spawning behaviors are identical in field and aquarium conditions for the darters compared; slight differences exist in substrates chosen for egg deposition. This study supports the existing literature on darter spawning behavior and the use of aquaria for observations and experiments.

Status of the cricket frog in Illinois
J. Petzing, C. Phillips
The cricket frog (Acris crepitans) is presumed extinct in Ontario and Minnesota and has suffered major population declines in Wisconsin and Michigan. A statewide survey of historic localities is being conducted to determine presence/absence and relative abundance of cricket frogs at these sites. This survey will provide a basis for evaluating the status of the cricket frog in northern Illinois as well as provide baseline data for future field surveys of cricket frogs in Illinois. If the cricket frog is indeed declining in the northern third of Illinois, it may be indicative of a more widespread environmental problem.

Golden shiners spawn in bowfin nests
L. Page, R. Katula (Cochrane, Wisconsin)
Nest association, the spawning of one species of fish (an associate) in a nest guarded by one or more breeding males of another species of fish (the host), is widespread among North American fishes. Small minnows are the most common associates but larger fishes, such as gars, also are known to spawn in nests of other fishes. The recent discovery that golden shiners spawn over nests of bowfin, a large piscivore that frequently feeds on minnows, including golden shiners, emphasizes the extraordinary relationship that can develop between predator and prey during the spawning season.

Larval mimicry
M. Sabaj, J. Armbruster, L. Page
Egg mimicry is a mating strategy known for several species of North American darters, three of which occur in Illinois. Males use knoblike modifications on their fins to mimic the presence of eggs in their nests, which normally are attractive to females ready to spawn. A similar strategy has been proposed for a unique modification on a group of South American catfishes. The catfish males develop elaborate tentacles on their snouts, perhaps to mimic a school of larvae being guarded by a male. This new strategy, termed larval mimicry, may have evolved in response to a female's preference for males guarding larvae.

River cooter life history and genetics
M. Dreslick, C. Phillips
Recent work concerning the ecology of a population of river cooters from a series of floodplain lakes in southeastern Gallatin County will be utilized to analyze the genetic integrity of this isolated population. Survey researchers plan to determine the rates of gene flow among the lakes using genetic markers and mark-recapture techniques. Also, a detailed study of the reproductive ecology of this species will begin at the main lake, Round Pond. The results of this study will allow more precise conservation recommendations for the recovery of this species in Illinois, and will advance the knowledge of turtle life history and genetics.

Prairies
K. Robertson
Two book chapters dealing with prairies were published in 1997. The first, co-authored with M.W. Schwartz, J.W. Olson, B.K. Dunphy, and A.M. Trame, documented the loss of hill prairies in Illinois. Most remaining hill prairies are very small, less than 5 acres, yet small sites support nearly as many plant species as larger sites. The second, co-authored with M.W. Schwartz, summarized the tallgrass prairie mosaic 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.

Abundance patterns of New Jersey tea
J. Taft, J. Dawson (University of Illinois)
New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus) is a native shrub that forms an association with a bacterium that fixes atmospheric nitrogen in root nodules. It is unclear what ecological impact this relationship has in the prairie community. Goals of this study are to 1) determine whether the pattern of occurrence of New Jersey tea in tallgrass prairie is random or clumped, 2) determine if New Jersey tea makes a significant contribution towards soil nitrogen content at a local scale, and 3) determine if there are associational differences among Ceanothus plants compared with prairie vegetation away from Ceanothus.

Local movement of aphids
D. Voegtlin
In the continuation of a long-term study on the local movement of aphids, two additional sites of paired suction traps have been added, one at Rutan Woods in Champaign County and a second at Richardson Wildlife Foundation in Lee County. Traps at both of these sites have shown major differences in species present and number of individuals of species collected over the same time period in adjacent cultivated and natural habitats. The role of uncultivated areas as sources of potential crop pest aphids will become clearer as each year's varied catches are analyzed.

Gibbons Creek Barrens burn study
J. Taft
Barrens, savannalike communities in a forested landscape, are one of the rarest and least studied community types in the Midwest. They are gradually vanishing due to fire absence. This study measures the response of ground cover, shrub, and tree strata to prescribed fire in a barrens remnant in southern Illinois. Fire is excluded from a nearby barrens providing a control site. The response to fire includes an increase in herbaceous species density, cover, and diversity. This study will contribute to understanding the structural dynamics of barrens and the influence of fire on species diversity patterns.

Status of U.S. and Canada crayfishes
C. Taylor
Numerous North American crayfish species are known to have extremely small ranges. These species are vulnerable to decimation and possible extinction. Recent work done in collaboration with crayfish researchers from around the U.S. has suggested that over 45% of the crayfish fauna of the U.S. and Canada is in need of protection and monitoring. In 1996 a manuscript listing conservation status and state distributions for all of the 338 crayfish species currently known from the U.S. and Canada was published. Efforts are now directed towards maintaining a computer database of state distributions and up-to-date conservation statuses of North American crayfishes.

Status of Gammarus acherondytes
D. Webb, L. Page, S. Taylor, J. Krejca
Gammarus acherondytes is a state-endangered amphipod in Illinois subterranean streams. It previously was recorded from five cave streams in Monroe and St. Clair counties. An examination of 164 caves from 1986 to 1995 produced only one new record. Recent collections have documented a large population of G. acherondytes in Illinois Caverns, a moderate population in Fogelpole Cave, and a small population in Krueger-Dry Run Cave. Pautler Cave, a previously known locality, has been bulldozed shut by the landowner. No specimens of G. acherondytes have been collected in Stemler Cave since 1965, and no specimens were collected in Madonnaville Cave in 1995.

Flatwoods burn study
J. Taft
Flatwoods, woodlands with a claypan that occur on level sites, appear to be dependent on periodic fire for the maintenance of compositional and structural stability. This study of a post oak flatwoods near Mt. Vernon, Illinois, examines the response of ground cover, shrub, and tree strata to prescribed fire. Permanent plots were established and baseline data were gathered prior to the first management fire. A fire-free unit serves as a control for this study. This study will help determine the degree to which post oak flatwoods can be restored following an extended fire-free interval.

Life history of Cambarus diogenes
C. Taylor
Recent studies at Stephen A. Forbes State Park in Marion County have revealed that two very closely related (but yet undescribed) forms of the crayfish Cambarus diogenes occur in the same habitats. A newly initiated study, in collaboration with researchers from the Center for Aquatic Ecology, is attempting to examine differences in life history parameters between the two forms. It is hoped that this study will enable us to better understand how species with similar habitat requirements can successfully coexist.

Leafhoppers and treehoppers of Illinois
C. Dietrich
Many Illinois species that occur beyond the state's borders are recorded from a single Illinois locality. Field surveys are under way to determine 1) whether such species are truly restricted in their distributions or whether their apparent rarity is due to inadequate sampling, and 2) whether species last recorded in the 1930s and 1940s still occur in the state. Information gathered will clarify the conservation status and significance of native leafhoppers and treehoppers and the impacts of exotic species on them. Surveys in Illinois this year led to the discovery of at least one undescribed endemic leafhopper species and new state records for six introduced grass-feeding European species.

Survey of freshwater Ascomycetes
L. Crane, C. Shearer (University of Illinois)
About 406 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, 315 different taxa spanning a broad taxonomic range of ascomycetes at the ordinal level have been found with numerous taxa occurring repeatedly at different sites to yield 921 collections. 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 that are either hyaline or colored. A latitudinal pattern in species richness was observed with the greatest number of species found at latitude 40-44.

Ecosystem partnership area assessments
K. Cummings, S. Hill, J. Hofmann, C. Mayer, L. Page, L. Phillippe, C. Phillips, K. Robertson, J. Taft, D. Webb, M. Wetzel
As part of the Critical Trends Assessment Project, summaries of current knowledge regarding the natural and human resources of 15 resource-rich regions of Illinois are being prepared. These assessments will serve to guide ecosystem monitoring and habitat restoration efforts undertaken in partnership among state government, local governments, and citizen groups. The first six assessments were completed this year. Center for Biodiversity staff contributed summaries on plants, fish, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and aquatic macroinvertebrates.

Floristic quality assessment for Illinois
J. Taft, G. Wilhelm, L. Masters (Conservation Design Forum, Inc.), D. Ladd (The Nature Conservancy)
A method is being developed to aid in qualitatively discriminating remnants of native vegetation. The method is based on the premise that taxa sort into disturbance niches and that species assemblages are informative in regard to interpreting habitat natural quality. Each taxon in the Illinois flora was ranked on a scale of 0-10 in regards to observed behavior in native plant communities. Species known only from highly disturbed habitats were ranked with 0 values while taxa known only from natural areas received a coefficient of 10. Floristic inventory data are used to make comparisons among sites and time intervals.

Reevaluation of the stonefly fauna of Illinois
R.E. DeWalt
Stoneflies are the most pollution sensitive of aquatic insect groups. A World Wide Web-linked database of stonefly distributions in the state allows for comparison of stoneflies collected before streams were polluted with contemporary stoneflies. This long-term project has begun with sampling in the bluffs above the Rock and Mississippi rivers of northwestern Illinois. Other areas of the state will be added as funding becomes available. Already, vast differences between the stoneflies found in 1930 through 1950 and the present are evident. This study will probably demonstrate that stoneflly populations have been dealt a severe blow in Illinois streams and rivers since early 1900.

Statewide monitoring
Center Staff
The next phase of the Critical Trends Assessment Project involves monitoring ecosystem indicators throughout the state. This pioneering long-term project will provide extensive scientifically valid data on the status of the state's natural environment. For most organisms, almost no reliable data are available to determine trends in population size or distribution. Intensive efforts by many staff members have produced statistically sound protocols for monitoring organisms in both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Site selection and data gathering are now under way.

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. Surveys are under way in Christian, Cook, Grundy, Kane, Lake, Madison, McDonough, McHenry, Morgan, Peoria, Sangamon, St. Clair, Will, Winnebago, and Woodford counties.

Botanical surveys
W. Handel
Conducting botanical surveys for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for future road developments provides valuable documentation and protection of high-quality natural communities and rare plant populations throughout the state. During an IDOT study of a 20,000-acre corridor in the Wisconsin Driftless Division, a total of 31 populations of endangered, threatened, and watch-listed plant species was found. During the survey several high-quality habitats including seeps, mesic upland forests, and a cemetery prairie were also discovered.

Plant collections
W. Handel, S. Hill, G. Levin, L. Phillippe, K. Robertson, J. Taft
INHS plant collections are regularly used to map plant distributions, identify unknown samples, and support other types of agricultural and botanical research. Trips throughout Illinois and surrounding regions continue to increase our knowledge of the state's flora. Special efforts are being made to collect in poorly known regions of the state, document species never previously seen in the state, better understand changing land uses, and document climatic changes. Collections in nearby states allow better understanding of our flora and facilitate identification of plants, including agricultural weeds, that may yet be found in Illinois or may be expanding their ranges into Illinois.

Natural areas of Savanna Army Depot
K. Robertson, L. Phillippe, G. Levin
The Savanna Army Depot in northwestern Illinois will soon be decommissioned. To provide information needed for planning and management, the Survey conducted field work during the 1996 growing season to delineate and rate the quality of natural communities. The Depot contains perhaps the largest amount of sand prairie left in Illinois, about 4,500 acres of Grade C prairie. A total of 617 different kinds of vascular plants was observed, including three species new to Illinois, as well as one lichen species not previously known from Illinois. Extant populations of 12 state-endangered or threatened species were located.

Twelve Mile Prairie
W. Handel
A study of the flora and plant communities along Twelve Mile Prairie in Effingham, Fayette, and Marion counties is being conducted. The goal is to gather enough biological information to determine if protected status is warranted for the area, one of the last extensive prairie remnants in the Southern Till Plain Division of Illinois.

Fish surveys
C. Taylor
Under contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation, researchers conducted fish surveys in streams and rivers throughout Illinois. Emphasizing endangered, threatened, and rare species, these surveys were done in association with future roadway or bridge construction and included sites on the Embarras, Kankakee, Rock, and Vermilion rivers as well as over 30 streams in the Fox, Illinois, Mississippi, Ohio, and Saline drainages. The surveys documented the continued existence of several species with restricted or declining ranges in Illinois and provided up-to-date information on the fish fauna of Illinois streams.

Richardson Wildlife Foundation survey
W. Handel, L. Phillippe
Richardson Wildlife Foundation is a large tract of native and reconstructed sand pond, sand prairie, and sand dune habitat in Lee County. A floristic survey and vegetation analysis is being conducted on the native prairie remnants to determine species composition and distribution.

The flora of Dominica, Lesser Antilles
S. Hill
Ongoing research on the tropical island nation of Dominica has resulted in the discovery of at least 86 species not previously documented to occur there. Of these, 47 were intentionally introduced by people, 23 were accidentally introduced weeds, and 16 are native species that were overlooked by previous botanists. The dynamic interactions among plants and the additions of new plants to the island helps us to understand factors determining the ability of plants to migrate and become established in new habitats. Monitoring a well-defined flora also allows researchers to gather data on possible local and world climatic changes.

Prairie insect inventory
D. Voegtlin, C. Dietrich, K. Zeiders, J. Bouseman
The focus of this project was on a 40-acre native prairie at Richardson Wildlife Foundation in Lee County. Many of the restored prairies on site were also sampled using a variety of methods. The composition of the insect and spider fauna is quite different from Twelve Mile Prairie, the site of focus during 1995-1996. By concentrating on one site for a full year, it is possible to see a distinct seasonal change in the faunal composition, that is, the insects of a prairie in June are very different from the insects of that same site in July, August, or September.

Surveys for aquatic resources in 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 throughout the state. These surveys are completed in association with highway and bridge construction projects as well as wetland mitigation sites. In particular, these surveys focus on areas that may provide potential habitat for endangered and threatened species listed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, and species with unique, restricted, or declining ranges in Illinois.

Vermilion County flora vegetation analysis
L. Phillippe
A 460-acre site in Vermilion County is being examined for its floristic diversity. The site is an impressive western extension of the eastern deciduous forest. The area is farmed on the uplands, but within the drainage systems are two floristically rich ravine systems. Besides its rich spring flora, the site contains three state-endangered species, all members of the sedge family. The site is known as the Vermilion River Observatory and belongs to the University of Illinois.

Macomb area botanical surveys
S. Hill
A survey of plants in the La Moines River valley near Macomb 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 and a very large population of Hill's thistle (Cirsium hillii) have been located. This investigation is continuing, and more significant findings are expected.

Physical qualities of Illinois karst springs
D. Webb, M. Wetzel, L. Phillippe
INHS researchers completed a study of the biodiversity, hydrogeology, and water quality of 10 karst springs in Monroe and St. Clair counties. This study identified 141 aquatic macroinvertebrate taxa. Aquatic oligochaetes, amphipods, isopods, and turbellarians were the most abundant organisms. Aquatic insects (80 taxa), although comprising the most diverse group of macroinvertebrates, were generally low in abundance. Oligochaete worms (33 taxa) represented the most diverse and often most abundant group of non-insectan aquatic macroinvertebrates. A report abstract is available via the INHS World Wide Web server at http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu:80/~mjwetzel/Spoil.2.html.

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 during 1995-1996. This survey, combined with a study conducted in 1987, documented changes in the mussel fauna with a particular emphasis on endangered species. The Mackinaw River drainage has undergone many changes in historic times. Although 31 species were historically known from the drainage, only 21 were found living during these studies. Identifying areas where significant and diverse mussel populations occur will help resource managers protect remaining populations and possibly restore areas where mussels have been eliminated.

Springs of the Lincoln Hills Region
D. Webb, M. Wetzel, L. Phillippe
INHS researchers completed the first of a two-year study of the biodiversity, hydrogeology, and water quality of numerous springs in the Lincoln Hills region of western Illinois. Surveys for fauna and flora associated with this unique habitat were conducted at over 50 springs located in Adams, Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Pike, and Scott counties. As the final part of this long-term study, at least 50 additional springs located in northwestern Illinois will be surveyed. Of particular interest during this current study will be the monitoring of spring outflow for the presence of agricultural pesticides.

Mammal surveys
J. Hofmann
Mammal surveys are conducted throughout Illinois under a contract with the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Emphasis is placed on 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 1996-1997 are located in Cass, Grundy, Henderson, McDonough, Peoria, Sangamon, Schuyler, and Warren 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.

Classification of leaf- and treehoppers
C. Dietrich
Comprising over 25,000 described species, leafhoppers and treehoppers are among the dominant herbivorous insects in grassland and forest habitats throughout the world. Work is under way on a phylogenetic analysis of the major lineages of leafhoppers and treehoppers that will lead to improved classification and identification aids for the group. The analysis combines morphological and molecular data in an attempt to arrive at the best possible estimate of phylogeny.

A new fungus from sphagnum bogs
P. Fallah, C. Shearer (University of Illinois), W. Chen
During a study of freshwater ascomycetes, a fungus was found on submerged stems and leaves of Carex limpsa collected from sphagnum bogs. This species is characterized by thin-walled unitunicate asci lacking an ascus apparatus and one-celled hyaline, rhomboid ascospores surrounded by a tetraradiate sheath that stains in India ink. It is distinctly different from other genera of unitunicate ascomycetes. The nuclear small subunit rDNA sequence of this fungus was compared with other known fungi. It was found that this fungus is a member of the family Lasiosphaeriaceae. A new genus, Ascovaginospora, was created for this fungus.

Two new species in Genus Ascotaiwania
L. Crane, C. Shearer, P. Fallah (University of Illinois)
Two new species of ascomycetes were encountered on submerged wood that belong in Ascotaiwania, a genus previously known from Taiwan and Japan. This genus appears to be restricted to wood from aquatic habitats and is characterized by immersed fruitbodies, asci with an elaborate method of spore discharge, and ascospores that are brown with clear end cells and three to eight cross-walls depending on species. The ascospores of Ascotaiwania are forcibly discharged and adhere to each other and to the substrates they come in contact with. Both new species are reported from cold-water environments in Manitoba and Wisconsin.

Phylogeny of the fish genus Ammocrypta
T. Near, J. Porterfield, L. Page
The sand darters (genus Ammocrypta) are a group of six species that have evolved translucent bodies and reduced scalation as adaptations to life in sandy runs of streams. The morphology of sand darters is characterized by a reduction of characters, which has confounded efforts to infer evolutionary relationships among these species. To remedy this problem, complete sequences of the mitochondrial encoding cytochrome b and 16S ribosomal DNA are being utilized to estimate phylogenetic relationships. Such assessments can potentially aid management of the two state-endangered species of sand darters found in Illinois by identifying ecological factors important in their evolutionary history.

Group I intron in rDNA of an Illinois fungus
W. Chen, L. Crane, C. Shearer (University of Illinois)
While studying the evolutionary relationships of freshwater and marine ascomycetes from Illinois and elsewhere using rDNA sequences, an intron was found in the small subunit rDNA of the Illinois freshwater fungus Pseudohalonectria lignicola. The intron is 865 basepairs-long and is located in the highly conserved sequence region of the rDNA. The intron has all the conserved sequence elements and a secondary structure that is characteristic of group I introns. Sequence analysis of all available group I introns in small subunit rDNA showed that introns located at the same location are more closely related than introns at different locations.

Systematics of a stonefly
R.E. DeWalt
Stoneflies live in streams, and the presence of several species usually indicates good water quality. The Leuctra ferruginea species group contains several small species in eastern North America. New species may await discovery in the Gulf South region. Study of museum and newly collected specimens will result in a key to all known members, a summary of their distributions, and an analysis of the members' relatedness. The study also will remove any doubt as to the identity of relatedness of our own member of this group, L. rickeri, found in the Shawnee Hills region in southern Illinois.

Darter relationships of the genus Percina
T. Near, L. Page
Darters are a diverse group of fishes (175 species) found only in North America and currently classified into four genera. The genus Percina contains 40 species placed in nine subgenera. Eight species are known to have occurred historically in Illinois, but two species are extirpated. Evolutionary relationships among species and subgenera of Percina are unclear but are being investigated using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequence data. Hypotheses of phylogenetic relationships among Percina species will be used to assess the validity of the current classification and to examine evolutionary trends in ecology, morphology, and biogeography.

Evolution of spiny-headed worms
T. Near
Spiny-headed worms, or acanthocephalans, are obligate parasites of arthropods and vertebrates. Most acanthocephalans parasitize fishes. Other species cause serious damage in domestic livestock. Seventeen species of acanthocephalans have been reported from Illinois. Relationships among them generally have been unresolved, but hypotheses of relationships recently have been produced from the analysis of nuclear DNA sequence data. The evolution of host preferences, habitat, and morphology has been examined in relation to the phylogenetic hypotheses. Understanding the evolution of acanthocephalans can aid in their control by contributing to the development of effective preventive and control practices.

Egg mimics in darters
L. Page
Studies have suggested that sexually selected traits of males evolve to exploit preexisting preferences of females; however, all tests of this hypothesis have been plagued by uncertain phylogenetic support. The phylogeny of darters suggests that egg mimics have evolved four times on males of egg-clustering species in response to the preference of females for eggs in the nest. Multiple evolution within a single clade eliminates the single gain-single loss problem plaguing other tests and strongly supports the hypothesis that preexisting preferences are a causal force in evolution. Understanding the significance of species traits is fundamental to understanding ecology and developing management strategies.

Evolution of the subgenus Catonotus
J. Porterfield, T. Near, L. Page
Unique nesting sites, breeding behaviors, and morphologies make the darters in the subgenus Catonotus (genus Etheostoma) particularly fascinating. In order to examine the evolution of these traits, a knowledge of the evolutionary history of the group is needed. Complete mitochondrial cytochrome b DNA sequences for seven species support the earlier hypothesis, based on morphological characters, of three species groups within the subgenus. Survey researchers are currently sequencing the other 11 species in the subgenus as well as related taxa in order to identify the closest relatives to Catonotus.

Relationships of Illinois mud turtle species
J. Serb, T. Near, C. Phillips
INHS researchers are investigating the relationships among populations of the yellow mud turtle, Kinosternon flavescens. Sand prairies in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri are the habitat of this state-endangered turtle. Subspecific status of K. f. spooneri will be addressed using mitochondrial DNA sequences. If evidence supports the evolutionary distinctness of the Illinois mud turtle, it may be considered as a candidate for listing under the Federal Endangered Species Act. New legal status would increase federal protection, with the possibility of generating new funding for conservation programs and research, supplementing Illinois' efforts to protect this endangered turtle and its habitat.

Phylogenetic history of snubnose darters
J. Porterfield, L. Page
Snubnose darters form a large group within Etheostoma, the most speciose genus of North American freshwater fishes. Snubnose darter taxonomy has been one of the most controversial subjects in darter systematics; debate concerns the placement of Etheostoma zonale, an Illinois species, with snubnose darters. Previous morphological characters used to address this problem are few and variable. DNA sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene are being investigated to assess the evolutionary history of the snubnose darters and their close relatives. Results from complete cytochrome b sequences for 14 taxa suggest that E. zonale is not most closely related to snubnose darters.

Catalog of INHS fish types
M. Sabaj, K. Cummings, L. Page
The most valuable specimens in biological collections are type specimens. When a species is described as new to science, the author designates type specimens to serve as physical representatives of the species' scientific name. The INHS Fish Collection contains 967 type specimens representing 73 nominal species and two subspecies. Included are types of species described by Stephen A. Forbes in the late 1800s. A photographic catalog of type material in the INHS Fish Collection was recently completed to serve as a resource for ichthyologists working on the taxonomy of fishes.

Contributions to Flora of North America
G. Levin, K. Robertson
Botanists from throughout North America are preparing manuscripts on their taxonomic specialties for a major new project that will cover all the flowering plants, conifers, and ferns of the North American continent (excluding Mexico). Survey staff members are contributing treatments of the Haemodoraceae (bloodwort family), Erythronium (trout lily, dog-tooth violet) of the Liliaceae (lily family), Acalypha (mercury) and Drypetes (Guiana plum) of the Euphorbiaceae (spurge family), Amaranthus (pigweed) of the Amaranthaceae (pigweed family), and numerous genera of the Rosaceae (rose family). The multi-volume publication will be titled The Flora of North America.

Revision of the subgenus Erebicambarus
C. Taylor
The subgenus Erebicambarus (genus Cambarus) currently contains seven members, one of which, Cambarus tenebrosus, occurs uncommonly in southern Illinois. A taxonomic study of populations of Erebicambarus occurring east of the Mississippi River using external morphology indicates that species assigned to Cambarus laevis and Cambarus ornatus from the Ohio River drainage are actually Cambarus tenebrosus. A revised identification key is being developed that will enable biologists unfamiliar with crayfishes in the subgenus Erebicambarus to correctly identify specimens.

Systematics of aquatic worms in Illinois
M. Wetzel
Although the majority (74%) of the material in the INHS Annelid Collection comes from habitats in Illinois, specimens from 45 other states, 4 Canadian provinces, and 6 countries also are included. A computerized database of the collection is being compiled. Over 3,200 specimens were added to the INHS Annelid Collection in 1996 from Illinois, 8 other states, and Sweden. A summary of the INHS Annelida Collection is available via the INHS World Wide Web server at: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu:80/~mjwetzel/INHS.AnnelColl.html.

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 this type of data provides. Application of these 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 try to understand the evolution of biodiversity.

Systematics of New World stilettoflies
D. Webb, M. Irwin
Revisions of the genera Pandivirilia, Tabuda, Tabudamima, and Incoxoverpa were completed as part of an ongoing study of the systematics, phylogeny, and zoogeography of the stilettoflies, family Therevidae (Diptera). These revisions update the descriptions of valid species, describe the numerous new species found, clarify the nomenclature of the various species, and provide keys for their identification. The ultimate objective is to revise all of the New World genera and to determine their phylogenetic relationships with Old World and Australasian relatives. In an effort to determine Old World and Australasian associations with New World genera, material was collected from New Caledonia, Australia, and South Africa.

Systematics of three-seeded mercuries
G. Levin
Two species in the plant genus Acalypha, A. gracilens (slender three-seeded mercury) and A. monococca (one-seeded mercury), occur throughout the eastern United States, including Illinois. Taxonomic distinctions within this group have been perplexing. Research including extensive field studies now shows that although A. gracilens is widespread and variable, it is quite distinct from A. monococca. This study also shows that A. gracilens is native to Illinois, despite prior allegations to the contrary, and because of its growing rarity should be evaluated for threatened status.

Systematics of tropical Euphorbiaceae
G. Levin
Acalypha (copperleaf) and Drypetes (Guiana plum) are large genera of mainly tropical trees and shrubs, though both 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 working 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.

N. American aquatic worm nomenclature
M. Wetzel, K. Coates (Bermuda Biological Station for Research, Inc.)
The Committee on Names of Aquatic Invertebrates (CNAI) prepares checklists of names to achieve uniformity in vernacular and scientific nomenclature. A list of scientific and common names of nonpolychaete annelids in North America north of Mexico is being compiled. To date, over 830 species among 27 families and 195 genera are included. This list will soon be published, and is available via the INHS World Wide Web server at: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu:80/~mjwetzel/mjw.inhsCAR.html#AoNA.

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 Freshwater 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.

N. American aquatic worms bibliography
M. Wetzel
A bibliography of aquatic Annelida of North America, including the groups Acantho-bdellida, Aphanoneura, Branchiobdellida, Hirudinea, Oligochaeta, and selected Polychaeta, is being compiled. This annotated bibliography will include journal articles, books, scientific reports, meeting and symposium proceedings, and government documents that address the systematics, ecology, taxonomy, distribution, and physiology of aquatic worms. During 1996, database entries for the years 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996 were posted to a Web site. This list of recent citations is accessible via the INHS World Wide Web server at: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu:80/~mjwetzel/mjw.inhsCAR.html#BIBannel.

Biodiversity Internet home page
T. Kompare
To meet the Survey's mission of providing information to the public, the Center for Biodiversity has continued to disseminate biodiversity information via the World Wide Web. These award-winning 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. Information regarding our Center's activities, research, and publications has also been added. The Center's home page is found at this Internet address: http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/

List of Illinois organisms
S. Hill
A new on-line list of all known vertebrates, flowering plants, ferns, mosses and liverworts, and many invertebrate groups of Illinois has been compiled. Currently the database contains more than 11,000 records. Each record contains information on scientific names, common names, synonyms, status (for example, endangered or threatened in Illinois), important references on the organism, and a review of its placement in the classification hierarchy. An early version of the list is now available on the Internet for many kinds of searches on the biota of Illinois. The Internet address is: http://ibis.inhs.uiuc.edu:7998/ows-bin/owa/inhs_web.collections

Directory of annelid systematists
M. Wetzel
A directory of systematists, ecologists, and field zoologists who research freshwater, estuarine, marine, and terrestrial Annelida is being prepared. Institutional affiliation, postal and electronic mail addresses, Web sites, telephone numbers, and a summary of each researcher's areas of interest and expertise will be included. Recently, a revised questionnaire was distributed to previous respondents, to researchers who have subsequently expressed interest in this directory, and to authors of journal articles discussing one or more aspects of annelid biology. When complete, this directory will be available via the INHS World Wide Web server at
http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu:80/~mjwetzel/ISAOBdir.html

Prairie remnant database
W. Handel
The Illinois Department of Transportation has requested the creation of a database for roadside prairies. The prairie ecosystem is one of the rarest habitat types in Illinois, and a large percentage occurs along roadside and railway rights-of-way. Their position in the landscape makes them vulnerable to such human disturbances as pesticide spraying, mowing, and cultivation. It is hoped that the database can be used by state agencies to locate prairie remnants and minimize impact by human activity.

Plant data on the World Wide Web
K. Robertson
The Survey has extensive unpublished information that can be valuable to many persons outside the Survey. Several vascular plant lists have been placed on the World Wide Web, including the master list for Site M in Cass County, a combined list for three central Illinois black soil prairies, a hill prairie list, and a list of native and naturalized woody plants of Illinois. Two electronic articles, one on the tallgrass ecosystem in Illinois and the other documenting 50 years of change in Illinois hill prairies, also have been placed on-line.

Computerization of collection localities
C. Mayer, T. Kompare
Collection localities from some of the Survey's scientific collections are being entered into the Geographic Information System (GIS). The INHS Fish, Mollusk, and Crustacean collections have been digitized and the Amphibian and Reptile Collection will follow shortly. The collection points will be linked to species data at each site. The points will be updated as new collections are made. This new layer of data creates a link between collection data and spatial information already available through the GIS.

Freshwater mussel/host database
K. Cummings, G.T. Watters (Ohio Biological Survey), C. Mayer
A database of freshwater mussels (Unionoida) and their hosts has been compiled and hopefully will be placed on the INHS World Wide Web server in 1997. To date, over 1,000 mussel/host relationships have been entered. Information with each record includes the species and family of both mussel and host, evidence for the host relationship (field identification, lab transformation, etc.), and the literature citation and page number for the original work.

Directory of freshwater mussel researchers
K. Cummings
A searchable directory of freshwater mussel researchers has been compiled. The list includes over 400 individuals from throughout the U.S. and Canada and from various countries in South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The list includes the name, institution, address, phone, and e-mail address. Plans for the coming year include adding information on specific research interests of each researcher. The list is accessible via the INHS World Wide Web server at http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/cbd/collections/mollusk_links/uniopeoplelist.html

Mollusk collections of the world directory
K. Cummings, A. Oleinik (Purdue University), J. Slapcinsky (Field Museum), 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 institutional acronym and the name, address, phone, fax, and e-mail address of the curator. 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/collections/mollusk_links/museumlist.html

Freshwater mussel bibliography
K. Cummings, A. Bogan (North Carolina State Museum of Natural Sciences), G.T. Watters (Ohio Biological Survey), C. Mayer
A Bibliography of the Naiades or Freshwater Mussels (Mollusca: Bivalvia: Union-oida) is being prepared. The bibliography will provide a comprehensive list of references to freshwater mussels with an emphasis on North America. It will contain references to books, chapters, journal articles, obscure "gray literature" (government documents, reports, etc.), popular articles, theses, and dissertations. In addition to title searches, the bibliography can be searched by numerous topic areas or geographic regions. The compilers anticipate that the searchable database will be accessible over the Web to make the information readily available.

Type catalog of world freshwater mussels
K. Cummings
A type catalog of freshwater mussels (Unionoida) of the world is in preparation. To date, over 2,600 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 computerized bibliography containing over 6,700 references on freshwater mussels. The database eventually will be placed on the INHS World Wide Web server.