University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring at The Emiquon Preserve: Preliminary Annual Report 2010

Hine, Christopher S.; Smith, Randolph V.; Stafford, Joshua D.; Yetter, Aaron P.; Horath, Michelle M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/38370

Description

Title
Waterbird and Wetland Monitoring at The Emiquon Preserve: Preliminary Annual Report 2010
Author(s)
  • Hine, Christopher S.
  • Smith, Randolph V.
  • Stafford, Joshua D.
  • Yetter, Aaron P.
  • Horath, Michelle M.
Issue Date
2011-01-14
Keyword(s)
  • Emiquon
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • waterbirds
  • waterfowl
  • wetlands
  • Forbes Biological Station
  • Illinois River
  • wetland restoration
Abstract
Historically, the wetlands of the Illinois River valley (IRV) provided extensive and valuable habitat to migrating waterbirds and other wetland-dependent wildlife in the Upper Midwest. Despite dramatic anthropogenic alterations, the IRV remains a critical ecoregion for migratory birds. Restoration and reclamation efforts are ongoing in attempts to return structure and function to backwater wetlands in the region. For example, The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Emiquon Preserve (hereafter, Emiquon) is the most substantial effort to date, directly restoring, enhancing, or protecting >2,700 ha of former wetlands and associated uplands in the central IRV. To guide the restoration process at Emiquon, TNC identified key ecological attributes (KEAs) of specific biological characteristics or ecological processes that would indicate restoration success (The Nature Conservancy 2006), and several KEAs were related to waterbird communities and their habitats. Thus, we monitored the response of wetland habitats and waterbirds to restoration efforts at Emiquon relative to desired KEAs during 2010. Specifically, we evaluated: 1) abundance, diversity, and behavior of waterfowl and other waterbirds through counts and observations; 2) productivity by waterfowl and other waterbirds through brood counts; 3) plant seed and invertebrate biomass for waterfowl during migration and breeding, and; 4) composition and arrangement of the vegetation community through geospatial wetland covermapping. Herein, we report preliminary results of our monitoring efforts during 2010. A final report is forthcoming upon completion of sample and data processing.
Publisher
Illinois Natural History Survey
Series/Report Name or Number
Technical Report INHS 2011 (07)
Type of Resource
text
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/38370
Sponsor(s)/Grant Number(s)
Nature Conservancy Grant/Contract No: C07-032
Copyright and License Information
This document is a product of the Illinois Natural History Survey, and has been selected and made available by the Illinois Natural History Survey and the University Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. It is intended solely for noncommercial research and educational use, and proper attribution is requested.

Owning Collections

Technical Reports - Illinois Natural History Survey PRIMARY
Reports produced by INHS staff, usually as deliverables for assessment projects funded by federal or state agencies or non-governmental organizations.