Wildlife Insider Spring Summer 2010 - Louisiana Department of ...

will be used to guide our forest managementdecisions.To accomplish this objective, LDWFoperates bird banding stations during birdbreeding seasons. The banding stationsare located at Sherburne and Pearl RiverWMAs, which offer superb habitat formany nongame bird species. Fourteen speciesof nongame birds listed in the WAP asspecies of conservation concern regularlyutilize both WMAs (e.g., yellow-billedcuckoo, wood thrush, prothonotary warbler,Swainson’s warbler, painted bunting)(Figure 1).In 2010, LDWF is completing the seventhyear of the MAPS study. A minimumof 10 years of MAPS banding is desirableto determine avian population response.In addition to assessing local populationtrends, we participate in the nationwideMAPS program, which also allows researchersto assess regional breeding landbirdpopulation trends.“Locality Data for Bats in NortheasternLouisiana”(SWG No. T-10-3 – Completed in 2009)Rafinesque’s big-eared bat and the southeasternmyotis are two species of concern,both in Louisiana and the southeasternUnited States. From July 2008 throughJune 2009, 15 sites within Louisiana wererepeatedly searched for bats and signs oftheir presence. During these surveys, 63new roost sites were discovered in Union,Ouachita and Caldwell parishes. Althoughone roost was discovered in an abandonedwell, roost sites were typically found inwater tupelo and bald cypress tree cavities.The information gathered about these roostsites helps the LDWF further understandthe population status, distribution and habitatrequirements of these species in Louisiana.This study was part of an ongoing,long-term project conducted by the LouisianaNatural Heritage Program to inventorymany rare species throughout the state.“A Survey of Fishes Inhabiting the Pearl,Tchefuncte and Tangipahoa River Systemsin Louisiana”(SWG No. T-49 – Completed in 2009)Of the 41 species of fishes listed as speciesof conservation concern in the WAP, 14occurred historically in river systems locatedin the Southeastern Plains and SouthernCoastal Plain ecoregions of southeasternLouisiana (including all or parts of Livingston,St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoaand Washington parishes). In order todocument the current distribution and statusof these species, the Tangipahoa, Tchefuncte,Pearl, Bogue Chitto, Pushepetapaand Bogue Lusa rivers were sampled usingseines and electro-fishing gear in 2007 and2008. A total of 74 species were capturedand identified. Four of the species collectedare listed as species of conservation concern:gulf sturgeon in the Bogue Chitto;Spring/Summer 2010blue sucker in the Pearl River; frecklebellymadtom in Pushepetapa Creek; and flagfinshiner in Bogue Lusa Creek and tributariesof the Bogue Chitto River (Figure 2).“Herpetofaunal Surveys on Wildlife ManagementAreas”(SWG Nos. T-03, T-05, T-06, T-17, T-24,T-26 – Completed between 2005-2008,SWG Nos. T-78, T-85 – Current)Six SWG projects have included herpetofaunal(i.e., reptiles and amphibian species)surveys of bottomland hardwood ecosystemson WMAs. A total of 20 WMAswere surveyed from 2003 to 2006. Mostof these projects gathered baseline surveyinformation essential to the developmentof the WAP. The common objectivesof these projects were to estimate relativeabundance, species composition and habitatutilization of amphibians and reptiles onWMAs. The projects also resulted in newspecies occurrence records for several parishes.The studies utilized several surveyand sampling methods, including visual encounters,Anuran call surveys, drift fences,pitfall traps, funnel traps, cover board surveysand aquatic trapping (Figure 3).In 2010, we have begun two new studiesfocusing on herpetofaunal diversitythrough much of Louisiana. Researchersplan to sample aquatic herpetofauna invarious wetland types on Boeuf WMA toevaluate species diversity as it relates tohabitat type and quality. In another study,LDWF will sample a range of reptiles andamphibians from various sites throughoutcentral and eastern Louisiana, developinglong-term monitoring stations to help usevaluate any changes in diversity and richnessas relatively unaltered landscapes areexposed to development or fragmentation.ConclusionSince its start, the State Wildlife GrantProgram has funded more than 80 projectsin Louisiana. The initial years of theprogram have provided much informationconcerning species about which we previouslyknew very little. That knowledge laidthe foundation for the Wildlife Action Plan.With the plan in place, an outline now existsthat will guide research and managementdecisions with the ultimate purposeof preventing wildlife and fisheries speciesfrom becoming endangered.LDWF’s mission is to manage, conserveand promote wise utilization of Louisiana’srenewable fish and wildlife resources andtheir supporting habitats for the social andeconomic benefit of current and futuregenerations. State Wildlife Grants and theWildlife Action Plan have become an increasinglyimportant part of that missionduring this first 10 years of research andconservation, and LDWF only anticipatesgreater achievements through SWG as thisprogram continues in the years to come.Photo courtesy of Grant TherkildsenPhoto courtesy of Ryan DanielPhoto courtesy of Ben ThatcherFigure 1. A white-eyed vireo waits to beremoved from a MAPS mist net. Mist netsare made of fine thread which makes thenets essentially invisible to flying birds,ensnaring those that attempt to fly throughthe nets.Figure 2. LDWF Inland Fisheries Divisionhoop net sampling.Figure 3. The Gulf Coast mud salamander,uncommon throughout its range, is listedas a species of conservation concern in theWAP. A new herpetofauna survey (T-85)will include known areas of occurrence tofurther document its population status inLouisiana.For More InformationFor further information, pleasecontact LeAnne Bonner at 225-765-0239 or visit LDWF’s websiteat the following address:http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/experience/wildlifeactionplan/.11