A Natural Areas Inventory of the - Kansas Natural Heritage Inventory ...

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Past Records. Least terns nest in riparian and wetland areas with large patches of bare soil or sparse vegetation. Nesting colonies are found along the Kansas River in northeastern Kansas (Busby et al. 1997) and along the Platte River in Nebraska (Sidle and Harrison 1990). Least terns nested historically on sandbars along the Missouri River, but most of this habitat has been compromised due to alteration of the river’s hydrology. The species was observed on FLMR in the late 1980s when low water in the Missouri River exposed many sandbars (J. Schukman personal comm.), but there are no known nesting records. Available Habitat and Surveys. The Missouri River provided ideal nesting habitat prior to hydrological modifications. Construction of large reservoirs upstream and channelization of most of the river reduced breeding habitat for least tern. Among the changes was a reduction in the extent of sandbars and open, sparsely vegetated sites frequented by this and other species for nesting (Haig et al. 1988). Good nesting sites currently do not exist on FLMR, and no breeding colonies are present on or near the installation. No systematic surveys were conducted during this study, and no least terns were seen during other field work on FLMR. Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. Least terns wander widely during the spring and late summer, and probably migrate along the river near FLMR. Nesting along the Missouri River on or near FLMR is unlikely given current river management. Recommendations. The absence of suitable habitat is due largely to hydrological changes in the Missouri River. Restoration of habitat will require modifications in the way the river is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If future management changes result in the production of large sandbars in the river, these should be monitored during June and July for least terns. Piping plover: Charadrius melodus Ord Past Records. This small shorebird breeds in the central and northern Great Plains; it is a rare spring and fall migrant in Kansas (Thompson and Ely 1989). Piping plovers routinely nest along the Platte River and upper Missouri River (Haig et al. 1994). Small numbers of individuals also nest along the upper Kansas River (Busby et al. 1997). Available Habitat and Surveys. Similar to the least tern, piping plovers breed on sparsely vegetated sandbars along rivers, along sandy shores of marshes and lakes, and on open flats (Collins et al. 1995). Formerly, the Missouri River provided suitable nesting habitat. However, channelization and reservoir construction has altered the river’s hydrology, resulting in fewer sandbars and open, sparsely vegetated sites that might be used by nesting individuals (Haig et al. 1988). No nesting habitat currently exists on FLMR, and no breeding colonies are present on or near FLMR. Systematic surveys were not conducted during this study, and no piping plovers were seen during other field work on the installation. Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. Migrating birds may fly over the area and occasionally may stop to forage along the Missouri River. NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 54
Recommendations. The lack of suitable habitat on FLMR is due largely to hydrological changes in the Missouri River. Restoration of habitat will require modifications in the way the river is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Future surveys should be conducted if changes in river management result in the creation of suitable nesting habitat. Whooping crane: Grus americana (Linnaeus) Past Records. Whooping cranes migrate through Kansas during spring and fall on their way between wintering grounds on the Texas coast and breeding grounds in Canada. Most cranes migrate through central Kansas, but individuals occasionally are reported farther east in the state (Thompson and Ely 1989). Recent records exist for Jefferson and Douglas counties. Available Habitat and Surveys. This large bird feeds mostly in wetlands, such as exist along the central Platte River in Nebraska and at Cheyenne Bottoms in Kansas. During migration; however, small groups of birds or single individuals may stop to roost overnight at farm ponds and other aquatic sites that are not used for foraging. Whooping cranes generally pass quickly through Kansas. Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. Individuals occasionally may migrate through extreme eastern Kansas, as happened at Clinton Lake Wildlife Area in November 1996. However, habitat at FLMR is marginal, and the probability of visits by whooping cranes is remote. Recommendations. None. Species Accounts–State-listed Species Eastern spotted skunk: Spilogale putorius interrupta (Rafinesque) Past Records. The eastern spotted skunk historically was common throughout Kansas and Missouri. Brumwell (1951) wrote in his annotated list of mammals of Ft. Leavenworth, “The spotted skunk is a common inhabitant of woodland and broken terrain about ledges, and railroad ballast. Evidence of this skunk was found in every association except prairie. From the number of dens found occupied there could not be more than one Spilogale for every twenty or thirty acres.” The species has declined markedly during the past three decades (Collins et al. 1995), and there are no recent records from northeast Kansas. Available Habitat and Surveys. This species inhabits a wide range of habitats. It frequented forest margin and upland prairie environments in eastern Kansas, especially where rock outcrops, abandoned buildings, and other cover existed (Bee et al. 1981). Suitable habitat exists on FLMR, but no trapping was conducted because of its rarity in eastern Kansas. Davis (2003) found no evidence of spotted skunk during his work at FLMR. Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. The potential for eastern spotted skunks to occur on FLMR is considered to be low. NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAVENWORTH II 55
Page 1 and 2:
A NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF THE FT
Page 3 and 4:
TABLE OF CONTENTS List Of Figures .
Page 5 and 6:
LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE 1.1. Locatio
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LIST OF TABLES TABLE 2.1. Summary o
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This work was carri
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1.1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 1. BACKGR
Page 13 and 14: intentionally or accidentally from
Page 15 and 16: east toward the Missouri River. Two
Page 17 and 18: Agriculture figures (1874), there w
Page 19 and 20: examined the status and ecological
Page 21 and 22: NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAV
Page 23 and 24: CHAPTER 2. NATURAL COMMUNITIES 2.1.
Page 25 and 26: TABLE 2.1. Summary of natural commu
Page 27 and 28: TABLE 2.3. Locations of vegetation
Page 29 and 30: green ash seedlings, and silver map
Page 31 and 32: Genus Species Common Name 1995-‘9
Page 33 and 34: ounding. Genus Species Common Name
Page 43 and 44: Phryma leptostachya American lopsee
Page 45 and 46: 1 2 3 4 5 Family Scientific name Co
Page 47 and 48: 1 2 3 4 5 Family Scientific name Co
Page 49 and 50: annuals initially. Eventually, herb
Page 55 and 56: TABLE 3.1. Animal species protected
Page 57 and 58: September. On 8 September, four tra
Page 59 and 60: warbler, ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapi
Page 61 and 62: TABLE 3.4. Carrion beetles (Coleopt
Page 63: Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. B
Page 67 and 68: suggests that practices that degrad
Page 69 and 70: 1996, Freeman et al. 1997). Availab
Page 71 and 72: Potential for Occurrence on FLMR. R
Page 73 and 74: FLMR is the only site in northeast
Page 75 and 76: A Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypte
Page 77 and 78: Species Old-growth Mid- Early- Succ
Page 79 and 80: (68%) have been confirmed since 199
Page 87 and 88: 4.1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 4. PLANTS
Page 89 and 90: Date Location Time Notes 39.3611°N
Page 91 and 92: plants (including all infraspecific
Page 93 and 94: TABLE 4.3. Number and cumulative pe
Page 95 and 96: limestone derivation. After the 200
Page 97 and 98: ock outcrops; it is often found wit
Page 99 and 100: hickory Forest on FLMR. Observation
Page 101 and 102: Scientific Name Carex crus-corvi Sh
Page 103 and 104: epresenting 5 families, 13 genera,
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NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OF FT. LEAV
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with other considerations, includin
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existing natural areas information.
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these areas would enhance the prair
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Other trails and paths on the insta
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FIGURE 5.1. One of the small remnan
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While FLMR supports a diverse flora
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Sorghum halepense, previously repor
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Brumwell, M. J. 1951. An ecological
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Kansas State Board of Agriculture.
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Schwartz, C. W. and E. R. Schwartz.
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APPENDIX A. Directions to vegetatio
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The GPS reading is the SE corner of
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APPENDIX B. Checklist of vertebrate
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ORDER Species Common Name Presence
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Equisetum ×ferrissii Clute (Equise
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Daucus pusillus Michx. southwestern
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Aster oolentangiensis Riddell var.
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[Solidago nemoralis Ait. var. longi
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Thlaspi arvense L. field pennycress
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Commelina communis L. Asiatic dayfl
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Carex vulpinoidea Michx. fox sedge
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Dalea candida Michx. ex Willd. var.
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56. Hydrophyllaceae, the waterleaf
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Nothoscordum bivalve (L.) Britton y
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Spiranthes lacera (Raf.) Raf. slend
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Echinochloa muricata (P. Beauv.) Fe
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misidentified specimen of Sporobolu
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91. Rhamnaceae, the buckthorn famil
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99. Scrophulariaceae, the figwort f
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Phryma leptostachya L. American lop
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Net sets 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, and 11
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However, Anabat recordings indicate
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APPENDIX E. Report on a 2003 field
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TABLE E.1. Reptiles and amphibians
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APPENDIX F. Exotic and Invasive Pla
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TABLE F.2. Life forms (habit) of ex
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are in bloom. Fire has not been pro
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Euonymus fortunei (Celastraceae; Ch
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disperse their seeds. They are foun
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Reed canary grass can become highly
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References Information on exotic an
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