Illinois Natural History Survey News
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INHS Molecular Ecologist John Epifanio was asked to testify before congress about the environmental impacts and safety issues involved with production and introduction of genetically engineered salmon.
The hearing can be viewed on the website of the US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. (Due to delays, the hearing begins at time 28:30).
Website of Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation -
Kendall Annetti, an undergraduate student at University of Illinois, has been working on a research project surveying game birds for blood parasites. Under the guidance of INHS Wildlife Epidemiologist Dr. Nohra Mateus-Pinilla, Kendall is completing the research portion of her James Scholar Program experience.
The invaluable experiences gained by the many students mentored here at the Illinois Natural History Survey help prepare them for careers in science and beyond.
Article in Trib Local -
Aerial surveys this November showed 20 times more ducks on Lake Chautauqua than during the same period last year. The Green-winged Teal made up the majority of those waterfowl, with conditions on the lake this year being favorable. INHS Waterfowl Biologist Randy Smith said, "Green-winged teal like it when the water is so shallow that they can stand up, just an inch or two deep with lots of vegetation"
This year's surveys have found that Lake Chautauqua has more than one third of all the ducks at the 16 sites sampled in the Lower Mississippi River Valley.
Daily Register ArticleINHS Stephen A. Forbes Biological Station Frank C. Bellrose Waterfowl Research Center
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During the years following the discovery of West Nile Virus in Illinois, Crow populations dropped from 300,000 to 110,000 birds. According to INHS Ornithologist Mike Ward, crows were highly susceptible to West Nile Virus, possibly because of their specialized immune systems and social lifestyle. The cause of the rebound is not fully understood, but Ward stated that antibodies to fight off the virus have been discovered recently. Wet conditions during the summer may have also decresed breeding of the mosquito species that carries West Nile Virus.
Trib Local Article -
A paper on fossil Schizodactylidae (Insecta: Orthoptera) by INHS entomologist Dr. Sam Heads ranked in the Top Ten most accessed papers in the journal ZooKeys by its editors in a recent review (link: Zookeys article). Sam's paper, co-authored with La Leuzinger of the University of Fribourg in Switzerland, was ranked #9 out of the 780 papers published in the journal to date and can be downloaded here.Newsfeed article from February 2011
INHS Entomologist Sam Heads published a paper in the 26 January, 2011 issue of Zookeys on an insect fossil found in limestone in Brazil. This fossil was determined to be the ancestor of the modern day carnivorous splay-footed crickets found in Southern Asia.
"Splay-footed crickets, are an unusual group of large, fearsome-looking predatory insects related to the true crickets, katydids and grasshoppers. They get their common name from the large, paddle-like projections on their feet, which help support their large bodies as they move around their sandy habitats, hunting down prey."
This fossil reveals that though different, this group of crickets have evolved very little over the past 100 million years, even inhabiting similar environments. The Economist reminds us of the oft forgotten first rule of natural selection: “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
For a more complete story, check out MSNBC's "Meat-eating crickets on snowshoes? You bet!"
Read the University of Illinois press release
Read the paper in ZookeysThe Economist Splay-footed, not flat-footed: A new fossil shows that evolution does not always mean change
Yahoo News: Ancient Carnivorous Insect Sported Snowshoes
Softpedia: Species Found Unchanged After 100 Million Years
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Scott Saffer, teacher at Tri-Point Junior High School and former employee at INHS, seeks out opportunities for his students to be engaged in actual science. His students have participated in bird research, studied insects, and cruised the Illinois River looking for Asian carp. This year the students are working on filling in the gaps in our knowledge of reptile and amphibian species in Livingston and Ford County. With the help of INHS Herpetologist Andy Kuhns verifying identifications and occurrence records, the students are documenting the species found in these two under-surveyed areas.
Pontiac Daily Leader
Pantagraph -
INHS Ornithologist T.J. Benson was featured in an article about the Southern White Pelicans currently being seen in large numbers at Rend Lake. Unlike the Brown Pelicans, which dive into the water for food, White Pelicans align themselves in a circle and scoop up the fish.
Benson stated that in the spring the birds might migrate through more quickly needing to get to the breeding grounds, the fall migration can be more spread out, with birds lingering in places with good resources.
Asked about the number of birds, he stated that "Anecdotally, you're definitely seeing more and more. It's kind of true that wetland birds in general are tending to do better over time. Some of that is habitat restoration and cleaning up waterways."
The Southern -
INHS Affiliate and former director of the Illinois River Field Station was featured on CBS Sunday Morning in a story about invasive species. On the Asian Carp, Sass stated "We've seen explosive population growth, a population that has almost doubled every year. We're fairly confident we have the highest wild densities of Asian carp anywhere in the world."
David Lodge of Notre Dame says studies estimate that invasive species cost the US Economy on the order of at least $120 billion annually. There are 30 federal agencies involved in the fight against invasive species, with about $1.5 billion spent annually. Education and prevention are key to warding off the invasive species.
Link to CBS Sunday Morning -
According to the latest aerial inventories there were 63,225 ducks at Emiquon on Oct. 17. At the same time last year there were 50,775 ducks. Emiquon is a 6,900 acre Nature Conservancy reclamation along the Illinois River, established in 2005.
Peoria Journal Star Article
Map
Link to Aerial Surveys -
U of I Entomology professor and INHS Associate Research Scientist James Whitfield was recognized by the Entomological Foundation for his significant and outstanding work in insect systematics and evolution. His research has focused on parasitoid wasps, especially microgastrine Braconidae. Dr. Whitfield will be presented the Thomas Say Award at this year's Entomology Conference. -
This year, INHS Ornithologist Kevin Johnson was elected as a Fellow of the American Ornithologists' Union. Fellows are chosen for their exceptional and sustained contributions to ornithology and service to the Union. Johnson's work has included Systematics and the Coevolution of Host-Parasite Relationships.
American Ornithologists' UnionUniversity of Illinois News Bureau articles about Johnson's research:
Long-extinct passenger pigeon finds a place in the family tree
Did dinosaurs have lice? -
INHS Entomologist David Voegtlin sampled soybean aphids this fall and found levels that could lead to higher densities of aphids on crops in 2012. In 2009, fall densities were extremely high and fungal infection wiped out large numbers of the aphids. This fall's lower humidity and lower density of aphids could lead to greater survival of overwintering aphids.
The Bulletin -
The Green Book Festival is an annual competition honoring books that contribute to greater understanding, respect for and positive action on the changing worldwide environment.
INHS publication "Canaries in the Catbird Seat: The Past, Present, and Future of Biological Resources in a Changing Environment" received an Honorable Mention in the 2011 festival.
Published in celebration of our 150th anniversary, this book summarizes the important work done by INHS scientists over the years and integrate that with the work done by scientists elsewhere. Written in language accessible to the broad audience of citizens interested in our shared natural heritage and in context with the wider scientific community.
More information on the book
Complete list of winners for 2011 -
INHS Wildlife Veterinary Epidemiologist Nohra Mateus-Pinilla and her research on lyme disease vectors were featured in an article in the Danville Commercial News and also discussed in a segment on Chicago Tonight about Science in Illinois. Deer ticks have been spreading and are now found in 26 Illinois counties. Mateus-Pinilla's study at Allerton park showed high numbers of infected individuals in prairie habitats, rather than the typical forest habitat. Based on the study, it appears that Lyme disease and deer ticks may be more adaptable than previously known. With regards to the lack of studies on ticks and lyme disease, Mateus-Pinilla said, "There are a lot of unknowns. It seems like we have very little work on the ground being done."
Click to read the entire articleClick to watch the Chicago Tonight clip on Science in Illinois (lyme disease story starts at 3:05, but other interesting things before and after)
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INHS Entomologist Gail Kampmeier had the title of Honorary Member of the Entomological Society of America bestowed upon her this year. The purpose of Honorary Membership is to acknowledge those who have served the ESA through significant involvement in the affairs of the Society that has reached an extraordinary level. The number of Honorary Members cannot exceed 1% of the membership and thus, this is a great honor.
Gail is joined in recognition this year by INHS Affiliate Kevin L. Steffey.
Entomological Society of America Press Release -
Illinois Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey Coordinator Kelly Estes is sampling black walnuts across the state to monitor for the potential of Thousand Canker Disease. If you have black walnut stands on your property or know of stands, ICAPS asks that you submit that information for mapping purposes. For more information, contact:
Kelly Estes
State Survey Coordinator
Illinois Cooperative Agriculture Pest Survey
Illinois Natural History Survey
1816 S. Oak St.
Champaign, IL 61820
kcook8@illinois.edu
Phone: (217)333-1005
Illinois CAPS Blog
Illinois CAPS Website
Illinois Invasive Species Awareness Month
More on Thousand Canker Disease from APHIS - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service -
INHS Malacologists Sarah Bales, Josh Sherwood and Amy Stultz were featured in an article in the Rockford Register Star. The team is one of three teams conducting statewide mussel surveys, documenting the location, size, age, sex and species of mussels they find. Mussels are an important part of the ecosystem, filtering pollutants, providing shelter to small organisms, as well as food for larger organisms such as raccoons and muskrats. By understanding the mussel populations in a location, biologists are better able to determine the health of that river.
Rockford Register Star -
The often overlooked early Illinois botanist H.S. Pepoon is the subject of a recently published book, which includes some of his early essays on the flora, terrain and natural history of northwest Illinois. In his essays, which predate Leopold, Carson and others "Pepoon limns the passion and conviction of Ralph Waldo Emerson in conveying the sense of mourning at the passing of the Illinois prairie, a victim of “soulless corporations,” of industry, of aggressive agriculture and public apathy." In addition to his floristic studies and writings, Pepoon was instrumental in the creation of Apple River Canyon State Park. 
The foreword for this book, written by INHS Plant Ecologist Bill Handel, has been described by one reviewer as "informative, luminous" and "presents Pepoon in full character and joie de vivre."
For more information on this book:
Prairie Works Review
Announcement of Book
Buy the book -
The Prairie Research Institute and the Surveys have been the subject of articles in several newspapers over the past few weeks, not for the valuable work that is done by the Surveys, but because of a glitch in the State budget for FY2012.
Approximately 20% of funding for the Surveys comes from the State budget through the budget implementation bill. Due to disagreements over other items in the bill and lack of time to resolve those issues before summer recess, the bill was not passed for FY2012.
The legislators and Governor's office have made assurances that this will be remedied in the fall veto session, and in the interim, University of Illinois is providing the missing funding to keep operations running and staff paid. The remaining 80% of funding comes from Grants and Contracts obtained by the scientists at the Surveys.
Brian Anderson, Director of the Illinois Natural History Survey is concerned that the uncertainty might result in scientists seeking other employment. "We've got world-class scientists that are getting job offers," he said. "It is a possibility that is making me uneasy."
News Gazette ArticleAn article by Chris Young of the State Journal Register was picked up by several outlets:
McDonough Voice
Prairie State Outdoors
Rockford Register Star
Carmi Times -
Although there is widespread concern about the spread of Asian Carp, for some people, they represent a new industry and economic boon. Asian Carp harvest has increased thirtyfold in the past ten years. In 2010, a fisheries company in Thomson IL sold 20 million pounds of Asian carp to consumers globally.
According to Greg Sass, director of the INHS Illinois River Biological Station, that while Asian Carp represent 80% of fish in parts of the Illinois River, scientific research has not yet established a direct connection between the presence of Asian Carp and the decline of native species.
New York Times article -
Entomologist Rich Lampman was interviewed by Chicago's CBS affiliate WBBM about mosquitoes. According to Lampman heavy rains in northern Illinois in July may have flushed out larvae in standing water. Unfortunately, any puddles left over will be colonized by new mosquitoes. Dumping standing water every couple of days can help keep mosquito numbers down.
Link to WBBM website -
INHS Medical Entomology Program confirmed the presence of West Nile Virus in a mosquito sample from the Champaign Department of Public Health. Champaign is the 12th county to have positive mosquito samples this year. No human cases have been reported yet this year, but the CDPH recommends dumping standing water and taking general precautions.
WILL News -
Environmental Almanac writer Rob Kanter wrote "Freshwater mussels: overlooked, under appreciated residents of Illinois streams" earlier this month, referencing the INHS publication Field Guide to Freshwater Mussels of the Midwest.
Malacologist Kevin Cummings was consulted for the post and reported that North America has the greatest diversity of freshwater mussels, with nearly three hundred species and subspecies. Illinois is/was home to eighty of these species, but only about half of them are currently found with regularity.
Environmental Almanac -
INHS Plant Ecologist Greg Spyreas was cited in an article about Invasive Bush and Japanese Honeysuckle. Based on his previous research, establishment of Japanese Honeysuckle decreases the value of an area for wildlife by crowding out native plants. These invasive species of honeysuckle sprout earlier and keep their leaves longer, which shades out other plants. The best method of control is early detection and eradication.
Farm Bureau ArticleFor more information on Honeysuckle and other invasive pest species:
Japanese Honeysuckle Fact Sheet
Amur Honeysuckle Fact Sheet
Tatarian Honeysuckle Fact Sheet
Illinois CAPS Invasive Pest Species Information -
Asian Carp are in the news again after three Environmental DNA samples at Lake Calumet came back positive for Asian Carp DNA. The presence of eDNA is not proof that live Asian Carp are in the area, as tissues of dead fish can be transported in bilge water or on other sources. Three consecutive positive tests triggers intensive monitoring by the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee.
Biologists from INHS, US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Army Corps of Engineers, Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Southern Illinois University will spend 4 days sampling throughout Lake Calumet. Half-mile long seine nets will be used to sweep large portions of the area. Electrofishing boats will sample fish in shoreline areas and drive fish towards the nets.
Read more about Asian Carp Control
Chicago Now article
Northwest Indiana Times article