Do Small, Urban Restorations Create Habitat for Regionally Declining Plant and Animal Species?
.Keith Summerville, Bret Lang, Jamie Lane, Tayler Chicoine, and Margarita Diaz - Environmental Science and Policy, Drake University, Des Moines, IA 50311
Introduction
Collaborative efforts are often important in conservation
biology. We partnered with SE Polk High School to create a
peer-mentoring research program with three goals:
•Generate a set of baseline inventories for wildlife and plants in
restored habitats of MetroPark East.
•Assess whether federal- or state-listed animal species
maintained populations within restored wetlands and prairies.
•Provide a basic set of future management guidelines to be
implemented by students from Drake University and SE Polk
High School.
Research Site
In the summer of 2009, we sampled a 77-acre restored prairie
easement at Metro Park East. It consists of three different habitat
areas: wetland, woodland, and prairie.
Methods (continued)
Results (continued)
Drift fence
•To sample reptiles, mammals, and amphibians
Meander surveys
•To identify birds and make visual identifications of
mammal tracks and dens
Call recognition
•Identify birds that could not be seen
Results
13 mammal species
North American River Otter and Bobcat, both uncommon in
Iowa
40 different bird species
Six of which are of regional concern (Partners in Flight 2009)
Bobolink, Dickcissel, Grasshopper Sparrow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Sedge
Wren, and Yellow-billed Cuckoo
15 reptiles and amphibians
One of special concern
Ring Necked Snake and Bull Snake
23 butterflies
One of special concern
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Erosion Mapping
•We used a portable GIS tracking device to plot out areas that
were eroding
•We used ArcMap software to display the plots as points on a
map
Stewardship in 2010
We plan on implementing our management plans for 2010 by
starting an environmental summer camp that allows high school
student to gain a hands on experience with ecological
management.
Discussion
18 dragonflies and damselflies
Four uncommon species
Double Striped Bluet, Varigated Meadowhawk, Western Meadowhawk, Red
Damsel
Methods
Sherman live traps
•To observe small mammals
Animal track analysis
Ariel netting
•To sample odonates and butterfly species
Our research indicates that this area has high species diversity
despite its small size. Many species have made this site their home
because of the high quality of habit available. For example, the
Dusky Wing Butterfly has expanded its host plants to include
Crown Vetch, an invasive plant. Not only does this help
reestablish the Dusky Wing population, but it may reduce spread
of Crown Vetch in the area.
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank Tom Hadden, Tina Mowry, Mike Fairchild and Rebecca Nott at Metro
Waste Authority; and Daryl Howell at the DNR. We would also like to thank Steve Cullinan and
faculty at SE Polk High School for there involvement