 February 2008
Associate Research Scientist
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Ph.D. in Zoology May 1996. Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois; Dr. J. E. McPherson, Chairman. M.S. in Biology August 1987. Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas; Dr. Merrill H. Sweet, Chairman. B.A. with Distinction in Biology 1983. Hendrix College, Conway, Arkansas.
 Top of pageAQUATIC BIOLOGIST/AQUATIC ZOOLOGY COORDINATOR for the Statewide Biological Survey and Assessment Program, Illinois Natural History Survey. Assistant Research Scientist: January 2000-August 2001; Associate Research Scientist: September 2001-present. AQUATIC ENTOMOLOGIST, Illinois Natural History Survey. Assistant Research Scientist: July 1997 - December 1999. FIELD ASSISTANT, Illinois Natural History Survey. Performing a status survey of an Illinois endemic cave amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes. May-June 1995. SCIENTIST, Engineering Science, Inc. Examining caves north of Nashville, Tennessee, looking for federally endangered bats along proposed interstate highway alignments. April-May 1994. RESEARCH ASSISTANT, Department of Cinema and Photography, Southern Illinois University. Assisted Charles Swedlund in grant funded photographic research on historical names in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky. Summer 1994. ENTOMOLOGIST, Illinois Natural History Survey. Field team leader on a two year (1992-1993) grant surveying the biota and water quality of Illinois caves and other subterranean habitats. FIELD TECHNICIAN, Performing an inventory of bats at Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. June 1993 - August 1993. FIELD ASSISTANT, Illinois Natural History Survey. Performing a status survey of an Illinois endemic cave amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes. May 1993 - September 1993. DATA ANALYST, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University. Carried out computer analysis of distributional patterns of decapod crustaceans of the west coast of the America's for Dr. Mary K. Wicksten. Spring 1985 SEASONAL AGRICULTURAL TECHNICIAN, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas. Field work on cotton pest insecticide resistance, curated insect collection. Summer 1986 SOFTWARE DEVELOPER, Department of Biology, Hendrix College. Designed and wrote software to analyze field data on forest succession and composition for Plant Ecology class. Fall 1982 RESEARCH ASSISTANT, American Museum of Natural History's Southwestern Research Station, Portal, Arizona. Assisted Dr. Pete Blancher in collection of field and laboratory data on the food supply and breeding biology of Western and Cassin's Kingbirds. Summer 1979
Top of pageINSECT IDENTIFICATION COURSE, Illinois Chapter of the American Fisheries Society. Taught in collaboration with Drs. R. Edward DeWalt and Don Webb. Allerton Park, Champaign County, Illinois. 25-27 August 1998
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Department of Zoology - Laboratory
Instructor:
Texas A&M University, Department of Biology - Laboratory Instructor:
Hendrix College, Department of Biology - Laboratory Assistant:
Habitat preferences, species assemblages, and resource partitioning by Gerromorpha (Insecta: Heteroptera) in southern Illinois, with a faunal list and keys to species of the state. Ph.D. Dissertation in Zoology, Zoology Department, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois. 1996. xviii + 345 pp.
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ABSTRACT:
A list of, and keys to, the 5 families, 14 genera, and 51 species of Gerromorpha possible in Illinois are presented. Included are illustrations, a synopsis of the biological literature for each species, and distribution maps. The Illinois fauna includes 43 species of Gerromorpha (19 Gerridae, 6 Hebridae, 2 Hydrometridae, 3 Mesoveliidae, and 13 Veliidae). Eight of these species are new records for the state. Information on seasonal occurence, habitats, and wing morphs are presented for many of the species. Species assemblages at 86 sites in southern Illinois were studied in relation to types of habitats. Assemblages varied in size and composition, with the largest assemblage found in clear, rocky, permanent streams. Field life history studies were conducted for Neogerris hesione, Mesovelia mulsanti, Microvelia pulchella, Microvelia hinei, and Merragata brunnea at a single pond in Jackson County, Illinois. Mesoveila cryptophila, Microvelia austrina, and Microvelia pulchella were reared in the laboratory. A detailed study of the fauna of a single pond in Jackson County, Illinois, was conducted to examine resource partitioning among the most abundant gerromorphans at that site (Neogerris hesione, Mesovelia mulsanti, Microvelia pulchella, Microvelia hinei, and Merragata brunnea). Species were found to differ in seasonal peaks of abundance. Other factors, such as duckweed cover, distance from shore, and temperature also were found to be important for some species. Within species, differences between generations in most habitat and weather variables, and between instars in most habitat variables, were found for Neogerris hesione, Merragata brunnea, Mesovelia mulsanti, and Microvelia pulchella, but few differences were found for Microvelia hinei. Laboratory experiments with two species (Neogerris hesione and Mesovelia mulsanti) examined the effects of population density, food, and presence of competitors on habitat choice. These tests demonstrated that Mesovelia mulsanti is associated more closely with duckweed than is Neogerris hesione. |
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Ecology, biology and coexistence of four species of Aradidae from the southeastern
United States. M.S. Thesis in Zoology, Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College
Station, Texas. 1987. ix + 102 pp. |
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| ABSTRACT: Four species of common southeastern Aradidae (Neuroctenus simplex, Mezira sayi, Mezira granulata, and Aradus acutus) occur together in similar habitats, occasionally even on the same tree. Field studies determined that there are some differences in the moisture levels preferred by the different species, and in laboratory experiments the larger species, A. acutus, selects larger crevices than the other three species. Differences between heights of collection sites on host trees and differences between circumference of host trees provided further evidence of habitat partitioning by the four species. The two Mezira species were found to be associated with fungi of the genus Stereum. Some differences in preferences for light/dark, narrow/wide, or moist/dry conditions were detected. Orientation towards a dark object was recorded for several of the species. An undescribed scelionid wasp was reared from the eggs of N. simplex. The first observation of predation upon aradids in North America is reported. Information on the life histories of the four species, including data on seasonal occurrence, eggs, mating, and host tree species is presented. |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter) and R. L. Lampman. 2008. Overwintering mosquitoes in Illinois stormwater tunnels & caves. Poster presentation, The 100th Annual Meeting Illinois State Academy of Science (4-5 April, Champaign, Illinois).  View poster as 8.5x11 inch PDF file (97 kb). |
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| ABSTRACT:Mosquitoes in temperate areas of North America typically survive the winter in either a facultative reproductive diapause in the adult stage (Culex, Culiseta, Uranotaenia, and Anopheles species) or as dormant, desiccation resistant eggs (Aedes, Ochlerotatus, and Psorphora). Pathogens like West Nile virus may utilize the winter behavior of the mosquito as a means of surviving in an area; that is, maintain itself in the over-wintering vector and re-emerge the following season. Adult mosquitoes require areas that remain above freezing and have high relative humidities, such as natural caves. Our goal is to survey various winter hibernacula for mosquitoes to determine which species are found in different types of natural and anthropogenic structures. We collected mosquitoes from several natural caves and found Culex erraticus, Cx. pipiens complex species, Anopheles species, and Uranotaenia sapphirina. All of these species have been reported in some state as associated with West Nile virus. Interestingly, humans create hibernacula for some vector species by building vast underground stormwater systems that mimic a large, interconnected underground system. Our data compare mosquitoes in natural caves to storm water tunnels. |
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Tinerella, P.P. (presenter) and S. J. Taylor. 2008. From Days of Oar: Preliminary Results of a Survey of the Water Bugs of Illinois (Insecta: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha). Poster presentation, The 100th Annual Meeting Illinois State Academy of Science (4-5 April, Champaign, Illinois). View poster as 8.5x11 inch PDF file (501 kb). |
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| ABSTRACT:The results of an ongoing statewide survey of aquatic true bugs (Heteroptera: Nepomorpha) are presented. No such published investigation exists, although Lauck in 1959 reported on the state's water bug fauna in an unpublished Master's thesis. Aquatic bugs are common in a wide variety of habitats throughout Illinois and form an integral component of aquatic ecosystems. Eight families, represented by 16 genera and 40 species have been recorded from Illinois. Herein we report several additional species and assess the distribution of Nepomorpha in Illinois, as well as the potential for additional taxa from ongoing intensive survey efforts directed at the state's water bug fauna. |
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Randrianandrasana, M. (presenter) and S. J. Taylor. 2007. Feeding habits of immature stages of Isoperla nana (Insecta: Plecoptera: Perlodidae) in Jordan Creek (Vermilion County, Illinois). Poster presentation, 55th Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (9-12 December, San Diego, California). View poster as 8.5x11 inch PDF file (104 kb). |
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Taylor, S. J., C. A. Phillips, J. K. Krejca (presenter), and M. J. Dreslik. 2007. Population estimates and age class structure of the salamander Plethodon albagula (Plethodontidae) at Fort Hood, Texas. Texas Herpetological Society, Fall 2007 Symposium (3 November, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas). |
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ABSTRACT:Populations of geographically disjunct, morphologically unique Plethodon albagula salamanders, which along with a population in Williamson County, is genetically divergent from other P. albagula, occur at Ft. Hood (Coryell and Bell counties), Texas. This study examines population size, age class structure and growth at two of the 30+ known localities at Fort Hood, using timed area searches, morphological measurements, and mark-release-recapture methods. Time-constrained sampling at Bear Spring and Estes Cave on 15 occasions each yielded 749 salamander encounters. Schnabel and Schumacher- Eschmeyer estimates of population sizes were 795 and 1077, respectively, for Bear Springs, and 89 and 97, respectively, for Estes Cave. Salamanders from the cave were significantly larger than the spring based on four size metrics (snout-vent length, total length, mass and volume). The size class distribution at Bear Springs suggests that hatching may occur in November through January. The salamanders reach sexual maturity after four years and may live for five or more years. The population at Estes Cave had a dissimilar pattern, with no obvious hatching time and salamanders were less abundant in the smaller size classes.
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Taylor, S. J.(presenter), J. K. Krejca, and J. Jacoby. 2007. Assessing biological resources of caves in Lava Beds national Monument, California. Special Session on Cave Research in the Western United States, Ninth Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau, (29 October-1 November, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona). |
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ABSTRACT:Lava Beds National Monument contains more than 500 lava tube caves and features, with more than 28 miles of passages that are home to a variety of cave-adapted organisms. We studied cavernicolous invertebrates in twenty-nine (29) caves between 2 June and 4 August 2005. Most of these caves had a dark zone varying from just above freezing to about 12 ºC, where relative humidity varied from about 85 to 100%. In 193 biological samples, 1,511 specimens were recorded. Of the animals recorded, 22.6% were flies (Diptera), 19.3% were springtails (Collembola), 16% were spiders (Araneae), 12.2% were millipedes (Diplopoda), 11.7% were mites (Acari), and 5.3% were diplurans (Diplura). A variety of other animal taxa make up the remaining 12.9%. Two common, large troglobitic invertebrates are the millipede Plumatyla humerosa and the dipluran Haplocampa sp. Common and nearly ubiquitous springtails of the family Tomoceridae (probably Tomocerus spp.) are important members of the Lava Beds cave community, and account for more than half of all springtails. Woodrats (Neotoma spp.) and bats (Vespertilionidae) are especially important in bringing nutrients into these caves, and bacteria and fungi growing on their feces provide energy to other cave animals. Notable undescribed taxa include an terrestrial troglobitic isopod (Trichoniscidae: Amerigoniscus n. sp.) which was rarely encountered, a psocopteran (Psyllipsocidae: Psyllipsocus n. sp.), a blind linyphiid spider, and a troglobitic pseudoscorpion (Arachnida). Richness of the taxa showed no discernable patterns with respect to their association with different lava flows, vegetation zones, or elevation.
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), J. K. Krejca, and M. E. Slay. 2007. Preliminary results of a cave bioinventory at Great Basin National Park. Special Session on Cave Research in the Western United States, Ninth Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau, (29 October-1 November, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona). |
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ABSTRACT:Great Basin National Park, Nevada, is located in one of the numerous mountain ranges in the Great Basin. A variety of rock types are present in the Park, and caves can be found at various elevations wherever large units of limestone are exposed at the surface. Notable among these caves is Lehman Caves, which is accessible to the public via guided tours. Here we report preliminary findings from an ongoing bioinventory of these caves, begun in January 2003, and concluding in March 2008. Undescribed, cave-limited species in the Park include a previously known dipluran (Campodiidae), along with three taxa we have discovered: two millipedes and a globular springtail (Arrhopalites n. sp.). One of the millipedes, Idagona lehmanensis Shear (Conotylidae) was described this year. The geographic distribution of two known troglobites, Microcragris grandis, a pseudoscorpion (Neobisiidae), and Cryptobunus ungulatus ungulatus, a harvestman (Triaenonychidae), have been expanded, and C. u. ungulatus was recorded from caves near the base of the mountain range as well as caves near timberline. We have found several troglophilic taxa which may be new species, including a third millipede found primarily in high elevation caves. An ongoing evaluation of the biological impacts of visitation on Lehman Caves includes timed bioinventories throughout the year at bait stations near to, and far from, the tour trail in different parts of the cave which vary in levels of human impacts. In the course of the ongoing study we have also trained Park personnel, produced photographs for interpretive use, identified potential threats to the caves, recommended monitoring techniques, and identified areas for future research.
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Slay, M. E. (presenter) and S. J. Taylor. 2007. Preliminary results on habitat use and density of the Foushee cavesnail, Amnicola cora (Hydrobiidae). Poster presentation. National Cave and Karst Management Symposium (8-12 October , St. Louis, Missouri). View poster as 8.5x11 inch PDF file (645 kb). |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), J. K. Krejca, and J. Jacoby. 2006. A biological assessment of caves in Lava Beds National Monument, California. National Speleological Society Convention (August 11, Bellingham, Washington). |
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ABSTRACT:Lava Beds National Monument contains more than 500 lava tube caves and features, with more than 28 miles of passages that are home to a variety of cave-adapted organisms. We studied cavernicolous invertebrates in 29 caves between 2 June and 4 August 2005. Most of these caves had a dark zone varying from just above freezing to about 12 ºC, where relative humidity varied from about 85 to 100%. In 193 biological samples, 1,511 specimens were recorded. Of the animals recorded, 22.6% were flies (Diptera), 19.3% were springtails (Collembola), 16% were spiders (Araneae), 12.2% were millipedes (Diplopoda), 11.7% were mites (Acari), and 5.3% were diplurans (Diplura). A variety of other animal taxa make up the remaining 12.9%. Two common, large troglobitic invertebrates are the millipede Plumatyla humerosa and the dipluran Haplocampa sp. Common and nearly ubiquitous springtails of the family Tomoceridae (probably Tomocerus spp.) are important members of the Lava Beds cave community, and account for more than half of all springtails. Woodrats (Neotoma spp.) and bats (Vespertilionidae) are especially important in bringing nutrients into these caves, and bacteria and fungi growing on their feces provide energy to other cave animals. Notable taxa include a terrestrial troglobitic isopod (Trichoniscidae), which was rarely encountered, and a troglobitic pseudoscorpion (Arachnida), which is almost certainly new to science. Richness of the taxa showed no discernable patterns with respect to their association with different lava flows, vegetation zones, or elevation.
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Slay, M. E. (presenter), S. J. Taylor, S. R. Ahler, and W. C. Handel. 2006. Patterns of cavernicole diversity and abundance in Pulaski County, Missouri. National Speleological Society Convention (August 11, Bellingham, Washington). |
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ABSTRACT:Fort Leonard Wood, a military base on the Ozark Plateau, contains more than 65 caves, springs, and rock shelters. We inventoried the biota of 64 sites between March 2003 and September 2005, recording microhabitat, temperature, light, and relative humidity data, and inventorying plants near many of the cave entrances. Patterns of cavernicole distribution in relation to cave length and ecological classification were examined. We made 2,259 cave fauna observations during 108 site visits, documenting the presence of 13,975 animals belonging to 155 taxa in 89 families, 42 orders, and 13 classes. Nearly 64% of the taxa occurred at five or fewer sites, while only 8.4% (12) taxa occurred at more than 25 of the 64 sites. Many of the taxa showed a tendency to be associated with mammal scat, especially raccoon feces and bat guano. Substrate and moisture also proved to be important. Large and medium length caves had significantly higher cavernicole richness than did smaller caves, shelters, and springs. Using various richness estimators, we attempted to determine what portion of the fauna we had recorded. Overall, we documented 79.6% (Jackknife 2 estimator) to 94.4% (Chao 1 estimator) of the cavernicole fauna. Among the organisms encountered were a troglobitic isopod (Trichoniscidae) formerly thought to be a single cave endemic in extreme south-central Missouri, and a new species of subterranean Diacyclops (Crustacea: Copepoda) that is presently being described. Other taxa awaiting analysis include globular springtails, Arrhopalites sp., cave millipedes, an undescribed dipluran (Campodeidae), and rhagidiid mites.
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), M. E. Slay, S. R. Ahler, and W. C. Handel. 2006. Patterns of cavernicole diversity and abundance in Pulaski County, Missouri. Poster presentation, Missouri Academy of Science (21-22 April 2006, Kirksville, Missouri). View poster as PDF file (2.4 Mb).
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Taylor, S.J. (presenter), K. Hackley, J. K. Krejca, S. E. Greenberg, and M. L. Denight. 2005. Stable isotopes (delta13C, delta15N) as indicators of trophic structure in central Texas (USA) cave ecosystems. 14th International Congress of Speleology (21-28 August, Athens-Kalamos, Greece). |
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ABSTRACT:
Caves in central Texas (USA) harbor numerous rare and endemic invertebrate species, some of which are listed as federally endangered species. The various cave invertebrates, including species of spiders, millipedes, and beetles appear to be threatened by the invasive Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Solenopsis invicta), which forages within the caves. We briefly review the biology of typical cave communities of central Texas, with emphasis on the role of surface foraging Ceuthophilus (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) species, then present results of a study of carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios (delta13C, delta15N) s of the cave communities. We studies three caves at Fort Hood, a military installation in Bell and Coryell counties, Texas. More than 70 samples, representing 18 cave-inhabiting invertebrate species, were collected from two caves in November 2003, and two caves in May 2004, along with more than 100 samples of a plants growing around the cave entrances. Dried samples were analyzed for nitrogen and carbon isotopes using a mass spectrometer with an attached elemental analyzer. We found some isotopic differences between caves and between sampling seasons. In addition, the differences in delta15N between two co-occurring Ceuthophilus species provides evidence that they function at differing trophic levels. Our data suggest many of the cave taxa feed at more than one trophic level, and thus source partitioning of isotope fractionation appears to reflect complex trophic relationships. Many of the taxa feed within a single food chain, and thus all are dependent on a single energy source. Protection of rare or federally species, then, depends on maintaining the entire cave ecosystem to protect top predators (e.g., Cicurina spiders). Knowledge gained regarding trophic relations can facilitate development of management plans for central Texas caves, and is applicable to the management of the federally endangered cavernicoles.
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Taylor, S. J., M. L. Denight (presenter), A. V. Suarez, C. H. Dietrich, and K. Ramsdell. 2005. Monitoring terrestrial insect biodiversity on forested & cleared land at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Poster presentation, 14th Annual Integrated Training Area Management (ITAM) workshop (1-4 August, Indianapolis, Indiana).
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), M. E. Slay, and S. R. Ahler. 2005. A biological survey of caves at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. National Speleological Society Convention (July 8, Huntsville, Alabama). |
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ABSTRACT:We surveyed the aquatic and terrestrial fauna of 74 sites, mostly caves, at Fort Leonard Wood, a 71,000 acre (28,700 hectare) military installation located near the northern boarder of the Ozark Plateau (Pulaski County) in central Missouri in 2003 and 2004. All but one of the known caves were sampled, and all taxa, including entrance taxa, accidentals, troglophiles, and vertebrates were noted, thus providing a fairly complete picture of the cave fauna of the northern Ozarks. Using a variety of sampling methods (pitfall trapping, baited aquatic traps, hand collections, vacuum samples, leaf litter samples, and sight records) we recorded more than 2,200 taxon occurrences, representing almost 14,000 specimens. Using species accumulation curves we examine the extent to which our sampling protocol sampled the taxa within the caves. Substrate temperature, relative humidity, and substrate type are correlated with the presence of particular taxa, such as diplurans. Several interesting taxa were recorded including cave-adapted flatworms, terrestrial isopods (Brackenridgia sp.), Symphyla, and sometimes quite abundant diplurans. In combination with a concurrent archeological study and cave mapping, the results of this study facilitate informed management of caves by military natural resources personnel.
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Krejca, J. K. (presenter), S. J. Taylor, C. A. Phillips and M. L. Denight. 2005 Management concerns for cave ecosystems in central Texas. Strategic Environmental Research & Development Program, Technical Symposium & Workshop: Threatened, Endangered, and at-Risk Species on Department of Defense and Adjacent Lands (7-9 June, Baltimore, Maryland). (7-9 June, Baltimore, Maryland). |
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ABSTRACT:Fort Hood, Texas has over two hundred documented cave and karst features which contain endemic arthropods and an undescribed species of Plethodon salamander. Management concerns for these organisms center around land use and the introduced red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta. To address the issue of land use buffers, we asked the question: How far from entrances do cave crickets, a keystone species in the cave community, forage at night? Using UV fluorescent paint, foraging distances were found to be up to 105 m (the maximum area searched) with fairly uniform densities out to 80 m from cave entrances. A follow-up study using radio transmitters revealed differences in foraging by sex and also showed movement between caves. Another question asked was: To what extent do fire ants forage in caves? Baiting as well as quadrat counts showed that in-cave foraging by fire ants was much less than on the surface and primarily in the shallow entrance areas (<18m distance, <7m depth). In our sample of six caves, presence of fire ants in caves was negatively related to species richness, but not significantly (p=0.075). Fire ants were dominant (>2%) in 3/6 sites, and their presence in caves had seasonal and microclimatic patterns. A final question currently being addressed is: Are there patterns between fire ant and Plethodon sp. distribution or population size? An initial study showed no significant relationship between distribution of fire ants and Plethodon, and ongoing work is documenting population size at two localities.
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Taylor, S. J., M. E. Slay (presenter), and S. R. Ahler. 2005. Development & field-testing of base-line inventory & monitoring protocols for cave biota at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Missouri Academy of Sciences Annual State Meeting (15-16 April, Lincoln University of Missouri, Jefferson City, Missouri).
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Venarsky, M. P. (presenter), F. M. Wilhelm, F. Anderson, and S. J. Taylor. 2005. Life history and reproductive timing of the endangered Illinois cave amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes. Joint Assembly Meeting (23-27 May, New Orleans, Louisiana). |
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ABSTRACT:To aid the recovery of endangered species requires an understanding of their basic biology. Armed with such knowledge, meaningful management plans with realistic objectives can be established. We examined the life history and reproductive biology of Gammarus acherondytes, a federally endangered cave amphipod, in Reverse Stream, Monroe Co., Illinois. The population was sampled non-destructively at monthly intervals from October 2003 to February 2005. The density of gravid females peaked twice annually, (November-December and June-July) indicating major reproductive events. Gravid females also occurred at other times of the year but at low densities. Two major peaks in the density of newborn young were also observed, which lagged the density of gravid females by approximately 1-2 months. We believe this reproductive pattern is related to the influx of organic matter from mid summer storm events and leaf abscission in autumn. Young grew at a rate of 0.034 mm/day and likely reach reproductive size in one year. Adults are iteroparous and may live for several years. Our results suggest that limiting cave access in highly visited caves during peak reproduction may be a simple strategy to increase the abundance of G. acherondytes.
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), J. K. Krejca, M. L. Denight, K. Hackley, S. E. Greenberg, M. J. Dreslik, J. E. Smith, and M. Muyot. 2005. Structure of cave communities and cave cricket foraging behavior at Fort Hood, Texas. Department of Defense Natural Resources Training Workshop, National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Meeting (14-17 March, Arlington, Virginia). |
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ABSTRACT:Caves at Fort Hood, Texas harbor several endemic invertebrate species of concern which are congeneric with federally endangered species found around Austin and San Antonio, Texas. These invertebrates, including species of spiders, millipedes, and beetles are threatened by the Red Imported Fire Ant (Hymenoptera: Formicidae, Solenopsis invicta), which forages within the caves. We present an overview of several projects which begin to characterize the structure of this community, including data on the distribution and abundance of cavernicoles, isotopic (d13C, d15N) studies of the trophic structure of the community, and studies of the foraging range of a key species, the cave cricket Ceuthophilus secretus (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), which forages outside of caves in the same habitat as S. invicta. Knowledge gained regarding spatial and temporal aspects of community structure, trophic relations, and spatial habitat use by C. secretus facilitate development of management plans at Fort Hood and have obvious applications to management of federally endangered cavernicoles in other karst areas.
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Smith, J. E. (presenter), S. J. Taylor, C. W. Whelan, M. L. Denight, and M. M. Stake. 2004. Fire ant impacts on avian species nest predation and energetic costs to the Black-capped Vireo. Brain and Behavior Group (October), Michigan State University.
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Whelan, C. J. (presenter), J. E. Smith, S. J. Taylor, M. L. Denight, and M. Stake. 2004. Evaluating impacts of red imported fire ants on an endangered bird species. National Military Fish and Wildlife Association Meeting, (15-19 March, Spokane, Washington). Invited Presentation.
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Venarsky, M. P. (presenter), F. Anderson, F. M. Wilhelm, and S. J. Taylor. 2004. Population genetics of the endangered Illinois cave amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes. Midwest Ecology and Evolution Conference (11-13 March, Carondale, Illinois).
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Taylor, S. J., M. J. Wetzel (presenter), D. W. Webb, and S. V. Panno. 2003. Caves and springs of Illinois and southeast Missouri: Aquatic biota and groundwater contamination. Poster Presentation, 9th International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaete Biology (6-10 October 2003, Wageningen, The Netherlands). |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), J. K. Krejca, and M. L. Denight. 2003. The foraging range of a central Texas cave cricket, Ceuthophilus secretus (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae). National Cave and Karst Management Symposium (13-17 October, Gainesville, Florida). |
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ABSTRACT:We documented the nocturnal foraging range of the cave cricket Ceuthophilus secretus (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae) at a cave in Coryell County, Texas. During 17 nights between 8 May and 10 July, 2003 we marked more than 1000 emerging crickets at the cave entrance with UV-bright paint. Using battery powered ultraviolet lights, we searched the area around the cave logging our search path with a GPS receiver. Over the course of this study, 291 marked crickets were located. Preliminary analyses show that the crickets were found at 38.5 meters from the cave on the average, with distances varying from 2.3 meters up to 105.7 meters. Ninety percent of the crickets were found within 72 meters of the cave entrance. Crickets were active from about 9 pm to at least 3 am. Ceuthophilus secretus is important in central Texas cave communities because it brings significant energy into the cave through its' surface forays. On the surface, the Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, is an important introduced predator. Possible interactions (competition and/or predation) between cave crickets and RIFA could, therefore, have significant impacts on cave communities. Thus, the foraging range of the cricket has significance for land managers who may wish to control RIFA populations around caves that contain federally endangered terrestrial cave invertebrates.
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), F. M. Wilhem, M. P. Venarsky, and G. L. Adams. 2003. Oxygen consumption / body mass relationships of Gammarus acherondytes and G. troglophilus (Amphipoda) in an Illinois cave. National Speleological Society Convention (August 4, Poterville, California). |
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ABSTRACT:Cave stream faunas typically occur in low densities, with species adapted to low levels of available nutrients. Contamination of cave streams with increased nutrients from surface runoff allows stygophilic species to become more dominant in the stream community, potentially displacing stybobitic species which have lower metabolic rates. In Illinois Caverns, as in several other caves in Illinois' Salem Plateau, Gammarus troglophilus, a stygophilic amphipod, co-occurs with the federally endangered G. acherondytes, a stygobite. It has been suggested that G. troglophilus is displacing or out-competing G. acherondytes as a result of nutrient enrichment. To test the hypothesis that G. troglophilus has a higher metabolic rate than G. acherondytes, we measured the seasonal basal metabolic rates of both species in the laboratory. Slopes of the rate of oxygen consumption versus amphipod body mass differed. The relationship for G. troglophilus was steeper than for G. acherondytes indicating that the larger G. troglophilus have a higher mass-specific respiration rate than G. acherondytes. Gammarus troglophilus may have a further competitive advantage because of their larger adult body size, which may facilitate greater reproductive capacity than for G. acherondytes. Reversing the current trend of habitat degradation will require a concerted effort on the surface to mitigate land use practices responsible for degradation cave streams water quality.
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Wilhelm, F. M. (presenter), S. J. Taylor, M. P. Venarsky, and G. L. Adams. 2003. Oxygen consumption of Gammarus acherondytes and G. troglophilus, two cave amphipods from Illinois Caverns. The Crustacean Society Annual Conference (June 1-5, Williamsburg, Virginia). |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), J. K. Krejca, M. L. Denight, and V. Block. 2002. Investigation of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) impacts on karst invertebrate communities at Fort Hood, Texas. Poster Presentation, Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (17-20 November 2002, Fort Lauderdale, Florida). |
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ABSTRACT:Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, predation upon karst invertebrate communities in central Texas has been previously reported in studies by Elliott, Reddell and Cokendolpher. We are conducting a year-long study of six caves to quantify aspects of this phenomenon. The study sites are at Fort Hood (Bell and Coryell counties, Texas), near the northern limit of the Edwards Plateau, where caves harbor a variety of troglobitic macroinvertebrates - including several narrowly endemic taxa. Above ground, we use timed bait censusing to measure RIFA foraging activity on a grid of points centered over cave entrances and conduct mound counts within the study plots. Inside the caves, timed RIFA bait traps are placed along an in-cave transect. Visual censusing in a 0.1 m
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), J. K. Krejca, M. L. Denight, and V. Block. 2002. Preliminary report on investigations of Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) impacts on karst invertebrate communities at Fort Hood, Texas. National Speleological Society Convention (24-28 June, Camden, Maine). |
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ABSTRACT:Red Imported Fire Ant (RIFA), Solenopsis Invicta, predation upon karst invertebrate communities in central Texas has been reported in studies by Elliott, Reddell and Cokendolpher. We have begun a year-long study of six caves that seeks to quantify aspects of this phenomenon. The study sites are at Fort Hood (Bell and Coryell counties, Texas), near the northern limit of the Edwards Plateau. Caves there harbor a variety of troglobitic macroinvertebrates, including several narrowly endemic taxa. Above ground, we use timed bait censusing to measure RIFA foraging activity on a grid of points centered over cave entrances, and conduct mound counts within the study plots. Inside the caves, timed RIFA bait traps are placed along an in-cave transect. Visual censusing in a 0.1 m2 quadrate frame quantifies diversity and abundance of cavernicoles along the in-cave transect. Preliminary results corroborate earlier observations, in that RIFA mound density and foraging activity are higher at disturbed, open sites. RIFA foraging on the trogloxene Ceuthophilus secretus in and outside of caves suggests that the interactions between these two species could have a negative impact on cave communities. We have observed an active RIFA foraging trail in the dark zone of a cave (2 cm soil temperature 17.0o C [62.6o F]) while epigean 2 cm soil temperatures were too low for surface foraging by RIFA (average 12.8o C [55.0o F]), demonstrating that RIFA can use the cave community as a food source when temperatures near the surface are too low for foraging.
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), M. J. Wetzel, and D. W. Webb. 2001. Freshwater oligochaetes (Annelida) in fine sediments of cave streams and sediment chemical composition. National Speleological Society Convention (23-27 July, Mount Vernon, Kentucky). |
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ABSTRACT:We report on quantitative collections of aquatic oligochaetes from fine sediments of eight cave streams in Illinois and Missouri, USA. Four of these streams were sampled monthly for one year. Eight annelid genera (Haplotaxis, Dero, Pristina, Pristinella, Limnodrilus, Rhyacodrilus, Tubifex, Varichaetadrilus) were collected. Some of the species identified are associated with more pristine conditions and others with organic enrichment. Measuring slide mounted specimens, we estimate the minimum volume of worms per unit volume of fine sediment in the caves streams. Examination of monthly samples did not reveal any statistically significant seasonal patterns in worm density or diversity. Sediment samples were analyzed for a variety of chemical constituents. We expected these would be positively correlated with the same constituents in water samples, but no such trend was detected for calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. Metals in sediment sample showed some tendency to co-vary. For example, elevated iron levels sediment samples were typically associated with increased lead and nickel levels in the sediments. Mercury was detected twice as often (6 of 12 monthly samples) in sediment samples from one wild cave that experiences heavy visitation as it was in three less frequented caves (3 of 12 monthly samples each). Lead was present in most sediment samples but only a few water samples, while Atrazine was detected in few sediment samples, but was more common in water samples.
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Taylor, S. J., D. W. Webb, M. J. Wetzel (presenter), and S. V. Panno. 2001. Caves and springs of Illinois and southeast Missouri: Aquatic biota and groundwater contamination. Poster Presentation, Special Session: Understanding karst is key to protecting Florida's springs - a Symposium, Florida Academy of Science Meeting, Saint Leo University (8-10 March, Saint Leo, Florida). |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), D. W. Webb, S. V. Panno, and R. N. Lerch. 2000. Microbial contamination of shallow karst aquifers in Illinois and southeastern Missouri. 27th Annual Natural Areas Conference (Session: Conserving Caves and Karst Communities), St. Louis, Missouri, October 16-20, 2000 |
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ABSTRACT:Spring and cave waters in Illinois and southeastern Missouri karst regions are typically contaminated with high levels of bacteria. Fecal coliform and fecal streptococcus bacteria have been identified in water from many springs and caves in Illinois and southeastern Missouri. Among the taxa commonly encountered are Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus facium, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Sinkholes and relatively porous, fractured calcareous bedrock provide a setting where contaminants enter the groundwater with little or no filtration. Sources of water borne fecal bacteria can include native wildlife, livestock, and private septic systems. Use of contaminated groundwater as a drinking water source may pose health risks, as can visiting caves with extremely high fecal coliform counts. Fecal coliform contamination is indicative of possible nutrient enrichment which can adversely affect aquatic cave community structure and, at high levels, may result in reduced availability of dissolved oxygen. An overview of microbial contamination across several karst regions in Illinois and southeastern Missouri is presented, and seasonal fluctuations in microbial contamination and potential sources are discussed.
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Taylor, S. J., D. W. Webb, M. J. Wetzel (presenter). 2000. Aquatic Biota and Water Chemistry of Illinois Caves and Springs: Problems and Management. Poster Presentation, 8th International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaeta (18-22 July, Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbao, Spain). |
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Wetzel, M. J. (presenter), D. W. Webb, and S. J. Taylor. 2000. Diversity and Abundance of the Aquatic Oligochaeta in Illinois (USA) Springs and Caves. 8th International Symposium on Aquatic Oligochaeta (22 July, Universidad del País Vasco / Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbao, Spain). |
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ABSTRACT:The biodiversity, hydrogeology, and water quality of 75 Illinois springs were studied from February 1991 through January 2000. Oligochaete worms (6 families, 25 genera, 37 species) represented the most diverse and often most abundant group of non-insectan aquatic macroinvertebrates in springs. A similar study, begun in 1998, identified oligochaetes occurring in four cave stream systems in the karst region of southwestern Illinois. Fewer oligochaete taxa (3 families, 8 genera, 13 species) were collected from subterranean cave streams, but still were among the dominant groups of organisms. Spatial differences in the diversity and abundance of aquatic oligochaetes of springs and caves in Illinois are examined in relation to physical and chemical variables of the groundwater. Significant differences in species richness are evident among spring and cave communities. We are currently exploring multivariate approaches to analyzing physico-chemical and biological data collected from spring and cave study sites.
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Krejca, J. K. (presenter), D. A. Hendrickson, and S. J. Taylor. 2000. Using Stygobites to Follow Groundwater in Texas and Mexico. National Speleological Society Convention (June 27, Dailey, West Virginia). |
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ABSTRACT:The limestone that makes up the Edwards Plateau of Central Texas and Northern Mexico is known for complex and little understood subsurface drainage and consequentially complicated water management issues. To understand patterns of aquifer connectedness, standard hydrologic techniques are used, but techniques such as well drilling are very expensive, and dye tracing is difficult due to the desert environment (too little water to push dye through) and the large size of the aquifer (dilution). This study proposes to use intraspecific molecular phylogenies of populations of stygobite taxa as a measure of hydrologic interconnectedness in order to augment data from standard hydrologic techniques. The first stages of this project will be presented, including a description of the hydrogeologic setting, identification of appropriate taxa and localities (including the cave-dwelling Cirolanid isopod Cirolanides texensis), and some population size data on Mexican blindcat, Prietella phreatophila, using mark-recapture techniques. Hypotheses about subterranean connections and the use of phylogenetics to analyze them will be presented.
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), D. W. Webb, and S. V. Panno. 2000. Microbial and water-quality variation in caves within the range of Gammarus acherondytes. Midwest Cave Ecology Meeting (February 11-12, Kirkwood, Missouri). |
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Krejca, J. K. (presenter), D. A. Hendrickson, and S. J. Taylor. 1999. Using Prietella phreatophila (Ictaluridae) and other cave organisms to follow groundwater in Texas and Mexico. 31st Annual Meeting of the Desert Fishes Council (18 to 21 November, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico). |
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ABSTRACT:
The limestone that makes up the Edwards Plateau of Central Texas and Northern Mexico is known for complex and little understood subsurface drainage and consequentially complicated water management issues. The cave conduits of this type of drainage are inhabited by stygobites; organisms restricted to the subterranean aquatic environment. This study proposes to use genetic relatedness of populations of stygobite taxa as a measure of hydrologic interconnectedness in a regional desert aquifer where standard hydrologic techniques are difficult to use. The first stages of this project will be presented, including a description of the hydrogeologic setting of karst, identification of appropriate taxa and localities (including the cave-dwelling Cirolanid isopod Cirolanides texensis), and some population size data on Mexican blindcat, Prietella phreatophila, using mark-recapture techniques. Hypotheses about subterranean connections across the US-Mexico border and the use of phylogenetics to analyze them will be presented.
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), S. V. Panno and D. W. Webb. 1999. Groundwater quality in the caves and karst of Illinois' Salem Plateau. 14th National Cave and Karst Management Symposium. (October 19-22, Chattanooga, Tennessee). |
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ABSTRACT:
Several factors (e.g., row crop agriculture, livestock, private septic systems, and urbanization) have been identified as potential contributors to groundwater contamination in the karst of Illinois' Salem Plateau. We review some of the potential problems and present data from recent and ongoing studies of the groundwater in this area, with an emphasis on four major caves within the range of the federally endangered Illinois Cave Amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes, (Amphipoda: Gammaridae). Information on microbial contamination, basic water chemistry, and agricultural chemical use are presented. Potential impacts of these contaminants on humans and the Illinois Cave Amphipod are discussed. In water samples collected monthly from four caves, spring fecal coliform counts were high (some samples with more than 4800 colony forming units per 100 ml), but dropped during the summer months. Microbial taxa associated with both human and livestock waste were common in groundwater samples. In Stemler Cave, where the Illinois Cave Amphipod has not been found since 1965, dissolved oxygen levels are typically lower than at the other three caves. Agrichemicals have been detected in base level flow groundwater samples mainly during the spring application of agricultural pesticides. Together, these data suggest that several types of human impacts are having a negative impact on groundwater quality in the Salem Plateau.
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Toomey, R. S. (presenter), S. J. Taylor, D. Tecic, D. S. Newman, and C. Hespen. 1999. The potential
use of data-logging light intensity and light on/off meters in mapping visitor use of wild caves. 14th National Cave and Karst Management Symposium. (October 19-22, Chattanooga, Tennessee). |
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ABSTRACT:
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Illinois Nature Preserves
Commission manage several caves that contain the Illinois Cave amphipod
(Gammarus acherondytes) which was recently added to the Federal Endangered
Species list. One of the potential threats to the survival of the amphipod
cited by the US Fish and Wildlife Service is visitation. Unfortunately, we have very little real data on the patterns of visitation for these caves. The best data is available for the most visited cave (Illinois Caverns). The main entrance of this cave is owned and managed by IDNR. Current policy allows open visitation by groups of under 25 people with an exploration permit, issued at the cave site. Because of this permitting process, we have a good estimate of the number of people entering the cave. However, we have no information on which portions of the cave are visited or on how many groups visit various areas. Three other IDNR/INPC managed caves have poorer information on the number of visitors, but they are much less visited. For this reason we have proposed using a series of light intensity loggers and light on/off state loggers to determine usage patterns for the caves. We are proposing using approximately 20 StowAway Light Intensity Loggers combined with a few HOBO H6 Light on/off Loggers (both from Onset Computer Corporation) to study patterns of visitor activity in the caves. We have not yet begun this monitoring and are seeking advice and information to help do so us successfully.
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Kath, J. A., J. E. Hofmann, and S. J. Taylor (presenter). 1999. The current status of bat monitoring studies in Illinois. National Speleological Society Convention (July 14, Filer, Idaho). |
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| ABSTRACT: Bat monitoring efforts have been conducted regularly in Illinois since the mid-1980's. Of the twelve bat species that occur in the state, nine (including two federally endangered species and two state-endangered species) depend on caves or abandoned mines during at least part of the year. Two Priority II hibernacula for the federally endangered Indiana bat were discovered in Illinois during the 1990's. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has established a schedule for conducting regular winter censuses at several caves and mines used by bats. There has been an increased focus recently on gating important cave and mine entrances, both on public and private land, and several significant sites also are protected as state nature preserves. In 1985 the Division of Natural Heritage and Illinois Natural History Survey (supported by the Illinois Department of Transportation, Shawnee National Forest, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) began a cooperative program to study the summer distribution of bats throughout the state, with an emphasis on the Indiana bat. Radiotelemetry identified numerous roost trees used by this species, including maternity colonies. |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), D. W. Webb, and S. V. Panno. 1999. Groundwater chemistry and bacterial fauna of four large caves in Illinois' Salem Plateau. National Speleological Society Convention (July 13, Filer, Idaho). |
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| ABSTRACT: As part of a biological evaluation of the federally endangered Illinois Cave Amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes, (Amphipoda: Gammaridae), we are examining groundwater and sediment chemistry and groundwater bacteria in four caves in Illinois' Salem Plateau. Results from the first four months of this study are discussed in light of potential sources of human impact on the amphipod populations (e.g., row crop agriculture, livestock, and urbanization). During high flow periods (February-April), fecal coliform counts were highest in water from Stemler Cave where the amphipod has not been found since 1965, and water from this cave tended to be more turbid than water from the other three caves. To date, agrichemicals have not been detected in water samples or sediments prior to the spring application of agricultural pesticides. High fecal bacterial counts in all four caves, and the abundance of taxa associated with both human and livestock waste, along with heavy sediment loads in Stemler Cave, suggest that several types of human impacts are having a negative impact on groundwater quality. |
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Taylor, S. J., D. W. Webb, and M. J. Wetzel (presenter). 1999. Aquatic Biota and Water Chemistry of Illinois Caves and Springs: Problems and Management. Poster Presentation, 47th Annual Meeting of the North American Benthological Society (May 25-28, Duluth, Minnesota). Taylor, S. J., D. W. Webb, and M. J. Wetzel (presenter). 1999. Aquatic Biota and Water Chemistry of Illinois Caves and Springs: Problems and Management. Poster Presentation, Spring meeting of the Florida Association of Benthologists. (April 29-30, Suwannee River Management District, Live Oak, Florida).
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), R. E. DeWalt, and D. R. Lenat. 1999. Comparison of the ability of family, genus and species level biotic indices to distinguish among groups of North Carolina macroinvertebrate collection sites. 47th Annual Meeting of the North American Benthological Society (May 25-28, Duluth, Minnesota), Special Session (26 May): Effects of Family-Level vs. Genus/Species-Level Taxonomy I (invited paper). |
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| ABSTRACT: The relative efficacy of family, genus, and species level indices of biotic integrity in differentiating among groups of sites is examined using benthic macroinvertebrate data collected from more than 1400 stations in montane, piedmont and coastal plain ecoregions of North Carolina between 1985 and 1998. Species level tolerance values previously developed for North Carolina's fauna were used to generate genus and family level tolerance values. Sites were grouped into five water quality categories based on EPT richness and into nine clusters based on a multivariate clustering procedure. The ability of the indices, at differing taxonomic levels, to distinguish among groups of sites was assessed using two-way ANOVA's. The biotic indices at different taxonomic levels showed no differences in their ability to distinguish among group means for the EPT water quality categories, but the ability of these indices to distinguish among the nine groups created by a multivariate clustering procedure decreased with decreasing taxonomic resolution. Our data suggest that when differences among groups of sites are small, a biotic index with a higher degree of taxonomic resolution can more effectively identify group differences. |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), D. W. Webb, M. J. Wetzel. 1998. Aquatic Biota and Water Chemistry of Illinois Caves and Springs: Problems and Management. Poster Presentation, Illinois Water '98 (November 16-17, Urbana, IL). |
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| ABSTRACT: Groundwater in Illinois' karst areas contains a wide array of troglobitic and phreatobitic organisms. Three of these species are endemic to Illinois and six are classified as state endangered; several other species are restricted primarily to cave or spring habitats. The Illinois Cave Amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes, is being considered for listing as a federally endangered species. During several studies (1990-present) of Illinois caves and springs, extensive collections of water chemistry data and aquatic macroinvertebrates were made. Various water samples contained trace amounts of heavy metals, Atrazine, Alachlor, Cyanazine, Metolachlor, or persistent breakdown products of Aldrin and DDT. Elevated levels of nitrate-nitrogen were detected in many water samples. In addition, analyses of amphipod and isopod tissues revealed traces of some of these contaminants. Few samples exceeded the Illinois Pollution Control Board maximum contaminant levels or U.S. EPA maximum allowable contaminant levels for drinking water. However, the widespread occurrence of these contaminants and the potential for synergistic effects are reasons for concern. Furthermore, the potential for increased concentrations of contaminants during flood pulses is enhanced by the conduit flow and poor filtration of surface runoff associated with these karst systems. Increased bacterial contaminants of karst aquifers in the past ten years has also heightened our concerns about water quality in this environment. In recent years the Salem Plateau of southwestern Illinois, home to the endemic and state endangered Illinois Cave Amphipod, has experienced a marked increase in residential development. Our current research examines spatial and temporal variations in water and sediment chemistry and microbial levels in the habitat of the Illinois Cave Amphipod. Continuous and monthly monitoring of water chemistry parameters in four caves will be used to detect and characterize flood pulses and estimate contaminant loading. Results from this research will be used to develop resource management and recovery strategies for the Illinois Cave Amphipod, and provide additional impetus to improve groundwater quality in the Salem Plateau. |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), R. E. DeWalt, and D. R. Lenat. 1998. Comparison of family, genus and species level biotic indices across North Carolina ecoregions. 1998 Annual Meeting of the Entomological
Society of America (November 8-12, Las Vegas, Nevada), Formal Conference: Aquatic Insects: Importance of
Species-Level Data in Biomonitoring and Management of Aquatic Systems (invited paper). |
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| ABSTRACT: The relative efficacy of family, genus, and species level indices of biotic integrity in differentiating high versus low quality sites is examined using benthic macroinvertebrate data collected from multiple sites in montane, piedmont and coastal plain ecoregions in North Carolina. Species level tolerance values previously developed for North Carolina's fauna will be used to distinguish high and low quality sites across ecoregions. The ability to distinguish high and low quality sites using previously published family level tolerance values will be assessed. |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), D. W. Webb, and J. Bade. 1998. The Illinois Cave Amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes, status and concerns. National Speleological Society Convention (August 4, Sewanee, Tennessee). |
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ABSTRACT:
Gammarus acherondytes Hubricht and Makin is a rare troglobite endemic to subterranean streams in Illinois' Salem Plateau. It previously was recorded from five caves in Monroe and St. Clair counties, Illinois. An examination of 164 Illinois caves (1986-1995) added one new record, a single specimen from Madonnaville Cave collected in 1986. These recent surveys documented a large population of G. acherondytes in Illinois Caverns, a moderate population in Fogelpole Cave, and a small population in Kreuger-Dry Run Cave. Pautler Cave, a previously known locality, has been bulldozed shut by the landowner. Gammarus acherondytes has not been collected in Stemler Cave since 1965, and none were collected in Madonnaville Cave in 1995. Groundwater of this karst area has deteriorated in quality over the last 10 years. This is correlated with increased rural development, use of aeration systems in private septic treatment, and agricultural chemical Through the collaborative efforts of a variety of organizations, a multifaceted approach to karst problems and management in this area provides some hope that G. achrondytes may eventually receive protection sufficient to allow humans and the amphipod to coexist. Current efforts focus on a variety of issues including: 1) educational programs, 2) dye tracing, 3) changes in local karst regulations, 4) formation of the Mississippi Karst Resource Planning Committee and the Sinkhole Plain Ecosystem Partnership, 5) well monitoring, 6) geological investigations, 7) establishment of nature preserves and other protected lands, 8) proposed listing of this amphipod as federally endangered, and 9) further biospeleological studies. |
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Toomey, R., and S. J. Taylor. 1998. Cave species common to Illinois Caverns. Advanced Project
Wet-N-Wild Workshop, Illinois Caverns State Natural Area (June 24, Waterloo, Illinois). [not a
professional presentation] |
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Webb, D. W., S. J. Taylor (presenter), and J. K. Krejca. 1997. Illinois Biospeleology.
Presented at the National Speleological Society Convention, Biospeleology Section
(May 26, Sullivan, Missouri). |
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| ABSTRACT: The results of a two year biological inventory of Illinois caves are being compiled. Specific identifications of aquatic and terrestrial troglophiles and troglobites are overlaid with microhabitat and water quality data. Special attention is given to the state endemic troglobitic amphipod, Gammarus acherondytes, that is up for consideration as a federally listed species. Threats to Illinois cave fauna are addressed along with management considerations for public and privately owned caves. |
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Taylor, S. J. (presenter), J. K. Krejca, D. W. Webb, and J. E. Gardner. 1994. A biological inventory and water quality analysis of Illinois caves and other subterranean
environments. Presented at the Missouri Academy of Science annual meeting
cosponsered by the Missouri Speleological Survey. Cape Girardeau, MO. April 29-30. |
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ABSTRACT:
Throughout our two year biological inventory approximately 100 of the over 390 known caves in Illinois were examined. This project expands on earlier studies, providing valuable baseline data on Illinois cave fauna. In addition, a variety of water quality parameters are being measured, with emphasis on pesticides and fertilizers. Creating a detailed cave database for the state is another important product of this study. Specific identification of many invvertebrates awaits determination by taxonomic specialists. Thus far the water quality analysis has not revealed any caves or springs with contaminant concentrations which exceed state or federal maximum contaminant levels. We have detected the presence of the persistent breakdown products of DDT and Aldrin in both water samples and aquatic cavernicolous invertebrate tissues. Because of the increasing human impact on the karst regions of the state the main goal of this project is to serve as a management tool. The inventory will be useful for future monitoring of Illinois' cave life and karst groundwater, and will aid in understanding human impacts on karst areas. Supported by ILENR/1-5-39610. |
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Taylor, S. J., J. K. Krejca, D. W. Webb, J. E. Gardner. 1993. Poster session entitled: Caves and Bats: fragile resources of the Cache River basin. Presented at the Cache River Workshop, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Taylor, S. J. (presenter), J, K. Krejca, and D. W. Webb. 1993. Biological resources of Illinois' caves and other subterranean environments. Presented at the National Speleological Society Convention, Biospeleology Section (August 2-6, Pendleton, OR). Taylor, S. J., and J. K. Krejca. 1993. The fauna of Illinois caves. Mississippi Karst Tour, Waterloo, Illinois, April 1993. Krejca, J. K., and S. J. Taylor. Illinois Caves and Cave Life. Presented 4 April, 1992 at Staerkel Planetarium, Parkland College, Champaign, Il, as part of the World of Science Lecture Series. [not a professional presentation] Keffer, S. L., S. J. Taylor (presenter), and J. E. McPherson. 1991. Laboratory rearing and description of immature stages of Curicta howardi Montandon (Heteroptera: Nepidae). Paper presented by SJT at annual meeting of the North Central Branch of the Entomological Society of America, March 19, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Taylor, S. J. 1985. Notes on the biology and ecology of Aradidae. Informal conference on the Ecology of the Heteroptera, annual meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Hollywood, Florida.
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INVITED SEMINARS/GUEST LECTURES: Taylor, S. J. 2006. Invertebrates in Karst Resource Management. Invited Seminar, Illinois Natural History Survey (28 November, Champaign, Illinois). Taylor, S. J. 2006. Cave Conservation in Illinois. Invited Seminar, Biology Department, Southwestern Illinois College (17 February, Belleville, Illinois). Taylor, S. J. 2005. Cave Crickets and Cave Communities in Central Texas. Invited seminar, Estación de Biologia Tropical "Los Tuxtlas", Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (11 August, San Andrés Tuxtla, Veracruz, Mexico).
Taylor, S. J. 2005. Cave Crickets and Cave Communities in Central Texas. Invited seminar, Department of Biological Sciences, Texas Tech University (6 April, Lubbock, Texas).
Taylor, S. J. 2004. Cave Crickets and Cave Communities in Central Texas. Invited seminar, Biology Department, University of Arkansas (11 November, Fayetteville, Arkansas). Taylor, S. J. 2003. Cave Invertebrates: Biology, Conservation, and Management. Invited seminar, Department of Entomology, University of Illinois (3 February, Urbana, Illinois). Taylor, S. J. 2002. Cave Invertebrates: Biology, Conservation, and Management. Invited seminar, Department of Entomology, Iowa State University (16 September, Ames, Iowa). Taylor, S. J. 2001. Cave biology and human impacts on karst groundwater communities. Invited seminar, Department of Entomology, Clemson University (9 April, Clemson, South Carolina). Taylor, S. J. 2001. Caves and cave biology. Guest lecture in 'Introduction to Cave Science' class, Zahniser Institute for Environmental Studies, Greenville College, (10 January, Greenville, Illinois). Taylor, S. J. 2000. Caves, Critters, and Contamination. Invited seminar, Zoology Department, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale (March 9, Carbondale, Illinois).
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Barnes, J. K., M. E. Slay, and S. J. Taylor. Adult Diptera from Ozark Caves. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. (submitted 11 April 2008). |
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Taylor, S. J. and S. A. Gil. State records and confirmations of Aradidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from Louisiana, U.S.A. The Florida Entomologist (submitted 11 August 2007). |
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Kathirithamby, J., S. J. Taylor, and R. Lareau. 2007. New state record and northeastern range extension for Caenocholax fenyesi sensu lato (Strepsiptera: Myrmecolacidae). Florida Entomologist 90(4): 762. |
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View document as PDF file (320 kb). |
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Kathirithamby, J., S. J. Taylor, E. Valenzuela, J. Gómez, and J. F. Berrera. 2007. A light-trapped ant, Dolichoderus bispinosus (Formicidae) with evidence of stylopization by male Caenocholax fenyesi waloffi (Strepsiptera: Myrmecolacidae). Entomological News 118(3):279-282. |
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Taylor, S. J. and J. E. McPherson. 2007. Gerromorpha (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) in southern Illinois: species assemblages and habitats. The Great Lakes Entomologist 39(1-2):1-26. |
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ABSTRACT:
Gerromorphan species assemblages in southern Illinois were studied at 86 sites representing eleven habitat types (pond, lake, swamp, temporary pool, large river, small river, muddy eutrophic permanent stream, clear rocky permanent stream, clear rocky temporary stream, roadside ditch, and spring) from mid-May 1988 through late July 1991. Assemblages varied in size and composition, with the most diverse found in clear rocky permanent streams. Phenograms tended to cluster major habitat types (e.g., ponds, lakes) based on taxon presence/absence and to cluster the more commonly co-occuring species based on their presence/absence at collection sites. These phenograms indicated the presence of natural guilds of species in different habitat types. Some taxa were generalists based upon their widespread occurrence in a variety of both lentic and lotic habitat types, whereas others exhibited a narrower range of habitat use. Collections included 32 species in five families (Gerridae, Hebridae, Hydrometridae, Mesoveliidae, and Veliidae), which represented 91.4-95.2% of the estimated actual species present based on the species accumulation curve and four species richness estimators. These data demonstrate the presence of distinctive guilds of gerromorphans in different habitats in southern Illinois. View document as PDF file (1077 kb). |
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Smith, J. E., C. J. Whelan, S. J. Taylor, M. L. Denight, and M. M. Stake. 2007. Novel predator-prey interactions: is resistance futile? Evolutionary Ecology Research 9:433-446. |
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McPherson, J. E. and S. J. Taylor. 2006. Notes on the field life history of Steinovelia stagnalis (Hemiptera: Veliidae) with a survey of the biological literature. Entomological News 117(4):399-405. |
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ABSTRACT:
The field life history of Steinovelia stagnalis (Burmeister) was studied in southern Illinois from 1983 through 1986. This species overwintered as adults, which became active in late March and were last collected in late October. Early instars (1sts-3rds) were found from early May to early September, and late instars (4ths-5ths) from late May to mid-September, but the occurrence of each instar was not continuous. The sequences of peaks of the five instars suggest that this species is bivoltine in southern Illinois. A survey of the biological literature is included. |
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Cai, W. and S. J. Taylor. 2006. Lentireduvius, a new genus of Peiratinae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) from Brazil. Zootaxa 1360:51-60. |
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ABSTRACT:
Lentireduvius Cai & Taylor, new genus, and one new species, L. brasiliensis Cai & Taylor, are described in the subfamily Peiratinae based on a single male specimen from Brazil. The dorsal habitus, antennal segments, male genitalia, and other diagnostic morphological features are illustrated with 25 figures. A key to the genera of Peiratinae of the Western Hemisphere is provided. |
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Panno, S. V., K. C. Hackley, W. R. Kelly, H. H. Hwang, F. M. Wilhelm, S. J. Taylor, B. J. Stiff. 2006. Potential effects of recurrent low oxygen conditions on the Illinois Cave Amphipod. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 68(2):55-63. |
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ABSTRACT:
The caves of Illinois’ sinkhole plain are the sole habitat of the Illinois Cave amphipod (Gammarus acherondytes), a federally endangered species. The sinkhole plain is a hydrologically-connected sequence of karstified limestone that constitutes an extensive karst aquifer which serves as an important source of potable water for area residents. During this investigation, we examined the ground-water quality in caves within two ground-water basins: 1) Illinois Caverns, where the amphipod is now present after previously reported to have been extirpated from the lower reaches, and 2) Stemler Cave, where the amphipod is reported to have been extirpated. The chemical composition of cave streams in Illinois Caverns and Stemler Cave were compared to determine which parameters, if any, could have contributed to the loss of G. acherondytes from Stemler Cave. Stream water in Stemler Cave contained higher concentrations of organic carbon, potassium, silica, chloride, fluoride, sulfate, iron and manganese than Illinois Caverns. Perhaps most importantly, dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in Stemler Cave were, during periods of low flow, substantially lower than in Illinois Caverns. Based on land use, there are probably at least eight times more private septic systems in the Stemler Cave ground-water basin than in the Illinois Caverns ground-water basin. Low DO concentrations were likely the result of microbial breakdown of soil organic matter and wastewater treatment system effluent, and the oxidation of pyrite in bedrock. The near-hypoxic DO in Stemler Cave that occurred during low-flow conditions, and, we speculate, a limited range of G. acherondytes within the Stemler Cave ground-water basin due to a metabolic advantage of the stygophilic aquatic invertebrates over the stygobitic G. acherodytes, resulted in the apparent loss of G. acherondytes from Stemler Cave. |
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Wilhelm, F. M., S. J. Taylor and G. L. Adams. 2006. Comparison of routine metabolic rates of the troglobite, Gammarus acherondytes (Amphipoda: Gammaridae), and the troglophile, Gammarus troglophilus. Freshwater Biology 51:1162-1174. |
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SUMMARY: 1. Reduced metabolic rate among cave organisms compared with surface species has long been suggested as an adaptation to food shortage in cave environments. However, comparisons of metabolic rates between species have not often included closely related surface and cave species. By measuring metabolic rate across three seasons and over a range of body sizes, we examined the hypothesis that the routine metabolic rate of Gammarus acherondytes, a federally listed stygobitic amphipod, is lower than that of the closely related stygophilic Gammarus troglophilus. To determine if human activities increased the supply of organic matter to caves, we also examined the relationship between residential development and bacterial contamination in water wells. 2. For G. acherondytes, the slope of the overall relationship between oxygen consumption and body dry mass did not differ from zero and did not vary seasonally, whereas for G. troglophilus it was positive and higher in summer than in winter and spring. These results provide insights into a potential novel metabolic adaptation among stygobites. Higher metabolic rate in young G. acherondytes would allow efficient use of typically transient energy sources and a low metabolic rate at larger body sizes would increase survival through periods of food scarcity. 3. The number of wells with faecal coliform contamination was weakly but positively correlated with the number of residential building permits, indicating that surface landuse changes probably increase the availability of energy in groundwater systems inhabited by G. acherondytes. This may give stygophilic animals, with higher metabolic rates, a competitive advantage in the caves, thus reducing the abundance of stygobites such as G. acherondytes. |
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Ramsdell, K. M. M. and S. J. Taylor. 2006. A new state record for Olixon banksii Brues (Hymenoptera: Rhopalosomatidae) in Indiana. Entomological News 117(3):351-352. |
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McPherson, J. E., S. J. Taylor, S. L. Keffer, and J. T. Polhemus. 2005. Life history and laboratory rearing of Macrovelia hornii (Hemiptera: Macroveliidae). Entomological News 116(4):217-224. |
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ABSTRACT:
The field life history of Macrovelia hornii Uhler was studied periodically from 1990 through early 1994 in central Colorado near Waterton in Douglas County. The bug also was reared in the laboratory from egg to adult. Adults of this apparently univoltine species overwintered and became active in late January. Copulation was noted occasionally from early March to early June. Eggs were found periodically from mid-February to mid-August and always were glued to moss attached to damp or dry rocks. First through third instars were collected first in early May, fourth instars in early June. Higher percentages of later instars were found as the season progressed. The bug was reared in the laboratory on adults of Drosophila melanogaster Meigen under a 14L: 10D photoperiod at 18.3 ± 1.5 C. The incubation period averaged 17.4 days. Durations of the four subsequent stadia averaged 8.3, 7.9, 8.5, and 13.1 days, respectively. |
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Kathirithamby, J. and S. J. Taylor. 2005. A new species of Halictophagus (Insecta: Strepsiptera: Halictophagidae) from Texas, and a checklist of Strepsiptera from the United States and Canada. Zootaxa 1056:1-18. |
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ABSTRACT:
A new species of Halictophagidae (Insecta: Strepsiptera), Halictophagus forthoodiensis Kathirithamby & Taylor, is described from Texas, USA. We also present a key to 5 families, and a check-list of 11 genera and 84 species of Strepsiptera known from USA and Canada. View document as PDF file (558 kb). |
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Taylor, S. J., J. K. Krejca, and M. L. Denight. 2005. Foraging range and habitat use of Ceuthophilus secretus (Orthoptera: Rhaphidophoridae), a key trogloxene in central Texas cave communities. American Midland Naturalist 154:97-114. |
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ABSTRACT:
Cave invertebrate communities are dependent upon exogenous energy sources because their environment generally lacks primary producers. In small caves of central Texas, endemic terrestrial cave invertebrates often rely in part on the energy brought into caves by cave crickets (Ceuthophilus spp.), which forage above ground at night and roost in caves during the daytime. Knowledge of cave cricket foraging range is needed to effectively protect invertebrate communities that include federally endangered species. We marked approximately 2000 C. secretus emerging from Big Red Cave (Coryell County, Texas) with UV bright paint and located 291 previously marked crickets over 17 nights. Crickets foraged up to 105 m from the cave entrance and were present in relatively uniform densities out to 80 m. While 51.1% of the crickets were found within 40 m, 8.1% were found at 80 m or beyond. Relocated crickets were predominantly found in grasses (30.7%), leaf litter (22.4%) and herbaceous vegetation (20.4%) and were found close to ground level (mean=0.49 cm). Our results show that C. secretus can forage at much greater distances than previously reported. The new data from our study should assist in the development of effective preserve design and management strategies for caves with endangered species in central Texas. |
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Smith, J. E., S. J. Taylor, C. J. Whelan, M. L. Denight, and M. M. Stake. 2004. Behavioral interactions between the Red Imported Fire Ant (Solenopsis invicta) and vertebrate nest predators of the Black-Capped Vireo (Vireo atricapillus). Wilson Bulletin 116(2):163-166. |
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ABSTRACT:
We report on behavioral interactions between fire ants (Solenopsis invicta) and vertebrate predators at two Black-capped Vireo (Vireo atricapilla) nests at Fort Hood, Texas. In the presence of fire ants, an eastern woodrat (Neotoma floridana) failed to depredate a clutch of vireo eggs at one nest, while a rat snake (Elaphe obsoleta lindheimeri) depredated nestlings at another nest, despite fire ants swarming the nest. Neither nest was successful. Direct and indirect effects of interactions among nest predators on avian nesting success need further assessment. |
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Taylor, S. J. and J. E. McPherson. 2004. Voltinism and laboratory rearing of Microvelia hinei (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Veliidae). Great Lakes Entomologist 36(1-2):1-9. |
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ABSTRACT:
Voltinism in Microvelia hinei was studied in southern Illinois during 1989
and 1990. This species apparently overwintered as adults, which became active
in late April; adults were last collected in late September. First instars were
found from mid-May to late June, second instars from early-May to late October,
third instars from mid-May to mid-July, fourth instars from mid-May to
mid-August, and fifth instars from mid-May to mid-August. The sequences of
peaks of nymphal instars and adults indicate that this species is at least bivoltine
in southern Illinois. This species was reared from egg to adult at 26.7 ± 0.6 C
and under a 14L:10D photoperiod. The incubation period averaged 6.41 days;
and the five nymphal stadia, 4.28, 2.76, 2.52, 3.00, and 4.08 days, respectively.
Total developmental time averaged 25.00 days. |
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View document as PDF file (320 kb). |
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Wilhelm, F. M., M. P. Venarsky, S. J. Taylor and F. E. Anderson. 2003. Survival of Gammarus troglophilus (Gammaridae) after leg removal: Evaluation of a procedure to obtain tissue for genetic analysis of rare and endangered amphipods. Invertebrate Biology 122(4):375-379. |
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ABSTRACT:
Amphipod survival after the removal of a leg (pereiopod) has not been studied. If they survive, limbs could be removed to obtain tissue for genetic analyses without sacrificing individuals, an important asset when working with species which are endangered or for which population sizes are very small. We used a laboratory experiment to test the hypothesis that survival of amphipods is unaffected by the removal of legs. Surviaval of Gammarus troglophilus was similar (P = 0.74) between control (unmanipulated) and experimental (one or two of pereiopods 5 through 7 removed) groups. After 42 days, 25 of 26 amphipods in the experimental group had regenerated limbs that were half the size of the original. We recommend limb removal as a suitable method to obtain tissue for genetic analysis of rare or endangered amphipods. |
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View document as PDF file (500 kb). |
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Taylor, S. J., C. A. Phillips and M. L. Denight. 2003. Geographic distribution, Graptemys pseudogeographica kohnii. Herpetological Review 34(3):261. |
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Taylor, S. J. and J. E. McPherson. 2000 [published April 2002]. Comparison of two population sampling methods used in field life history studies of Mesovelia mulsanti (Heteroptera: Gerromorpha: Mesoveliidae) in southern Illinois. The Great Lakes Entomologist 33(3-4):223-230. |
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ABSTRACT:
A field life history study of Mesovelia mulsanti was conducted in southern Illinois, the results of which are compared with those from an earlier study also conducted in southern Illinois. The two studies differed in the collecting techniques used (quadrat sampler versus aquatic net). Results of the present study give a clearer picture of the life history of this insect because the quadrat sampler collected representative samples of nymphs and adults more effectively than the aquatic net and, thus, the quadrat samples more accurately represented the actual chronology of the annual generations. View document as PDF file (504 kb). |
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Wetzel, M. J. and S. J. Taylor. 2001. First records of freshwater oligochaetes (Annelida, Clitellata) from caves in Illinois and Missouri, USA. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 63(3):99-104. |