Tracking the long-term decline and recovery of an isolated population

Science

Volumn 282, Issue 5394, 1998, Pages 1695-1698

  Westemeier, Ronald L ^a   Brawn, Jeffrey D ^a   Simpson, Scott A ^b   Esker, Terry L ^b   Jansen, Roger W ^c   Walk, Jeffery W ^d   Kershner, Eric L ^d   Bouzat, Juan L ^d   Paige, Ken N ^d  

^a UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS   (United States)

^b ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES   (United States)

^c Douglas Hart Nature Center   (United States)

^d UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA CHAMPAIGN   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

CONSERVATION; GENETIC VARIATION; ISOLATED POPULATION; POPULATION SIZE; VIABILITY;

ARTICLE; CHICKEN; DEMOGRAPHY; FERTILITY; GENETIC CONSERVATION; GENETIC VARIABILITY; HATCHING; NONHUMAN; POPULATION DENSITY; POPULATION STRUCTURE; PRIORITY JOURNAL;

ANIMALIA; AVES; CUPIDO; GALLUS GALLUS; TYMPANUCHUS CUPIDO;

EID: 0032573504     PISSN: 00368075     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1126/science.282.5394.1695     Document Type: Article

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21. Our field study focused on Jasper County, near Newton, Illinois, where grasslands were restored on scattered sanctuaries developed by The Prairie Chicken Foundation of Illinois, The Nature Conservancy, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Studies of lesser scope were conducted near Kinmundy in Marion County and annual spring surveys of prairie chickens were conducted in up to 23 areas of south-central Illinois. We used standard methods (9) to census prairie chickens during 1963-1997.
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27. From 1963 to 1991 this study involved the systematic efforts of 29 teams of 2 to 15 researchers and field assistants who searched on foot a cumulative total of nearly 4050 ha for nests of grassland birds; prairie chickens were the key species. Of 1125 prairie chicken nests examined, 1003 were from the focal population in Jasper County. A smaller sample of 99 nests was found in and near a study area in Marion County, 64 km of the primary study area. In 1993, 1994, and 1997, 23 additional nests were found in Jasper County, 17 of which involved radio telemetry-tagged hens from Minnesota and Kansas. To determine clutch size, fertility, and egg success, we used only nests with eggs or egg shells in good condition at the time of discovery and not those known to be partially or fully depredated. Searches were timed so that about 90% of nests were hatched, depredated, or abandoned upon discovery; about 10% were still active when found. Although researcher disturbance of 47 active nests was suspect in biasing egg success rates, a separate study of this possibility was inconclusive (7). Hence, we tested rates of egg success with and without the disturbed clutches. When only undisturbed nests were used the test statistic was still highly significant (φ = 2.95; P = 0.0016). Fertility and egg success were calculated by dividing the number of fertile (germinal discs or embryos evident but eggs not always hatched or fully incubated) or hatched eggs by the total number of eggs in unparasitized, fully incubated clutches. We excluded 38 successful nests parasitized by ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) in calculating egg success to avoid bias of low success in parasitized nests [R. L. Westemeier, J. E. Buhnerkempe, W. R. Edwards, J. D. Brawn, S. A. Simpson, J. Wildl. Manage. 62, 854 (1998)]. All tests (1963-1991 data) in Fig. 2 and for egg fertility were based on a nonparametric test for trend developed by E. L. Lehmann [Nonparametrics - Statistical Methods Based on Ranks (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1975)] using the normal approximation in all cases.
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38. A. O. Gross, Wis. Conserv. Comm. Bull. (1930); F. N. Hamerstrom Jr., Wilson Bull. 51, 105 (1939); C. W. Schwartz, Univ. Mo. Stud. 20, 1 (1945); W. B. Grange, Wis. Conserv. Dep. Publ. 328 (1948); M. F. Baker, Univ. Kans. Mus. Nat. Hist. Biol. Surv. Kans. 5 (1953); F. L. Arthaud, thesis, University of Missouri (1968); N. J. Silvy, thesis, Kansas State University (1968); R. D. Drobney, thesis, University of Missouri (1973); L. H. Sisson, The Sharp-Tailed Grouse in Nebraska, a Research Study (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, 1976); W. D. Svedarsky, dissertation, University of North Dakota (1979); L. A. Rice and A. V. Carter, Completion Report No. 84-11 (South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Pierre, SD, 1982); G. J. Horak, Kansas Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Bulletin No. 3 (1985); J. A. Newell, thesis, Montana State University (1987); D. P. Jones, thesis, University of Missouri (1988); J. E. Toepfer, dissertation, Montana State University (1988).
39. A. O. Gross, Wis. Conserv. Comm. Bull. (1930); F. N. Hamerstrom Jr., Wilson Bull. 51, 105 (1939); C. W. Schwartz, Univ. Mo. Stud. 20, 1 (1945); W. B. Grange, Wis. Conserv. Dep. Publ. 328 (1948); M. F. Baker, Univ. Kans. Mus. Nat. Hist. Biol. Surv. Kans. 5 (1953); F. L. Arthaud, thesis, University of Missouri (1968); N. J. Silvy, thesis, Kansas State University (1968); R. D. Drobney, thesis, University of Missouri (1973); L. H. Sisson, The Sharp-Tailed Grouse in Nebraska, a Research Study (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, 1976); W. D. Svedarsky, dissertation, University of North Dakota (1979); L. A. Rice and A. V. Carter, Completion Report No. 84-11 (South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Pierre, SD, 1982); G. J. Horak, Kansas Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Bulletin No. 3 (1985); J. A. Newell, thesis, Montana State University (1987); D. P. Jones, thesis, University of Missouri (1988); J. E. Toepfer, dissertation, Montana State University (1988).
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42. A. O. Gross, Wis. Conserv. Comm. Bull. (1930); F. N. Hamerstrom Jr., Wilson Bull. 51, 105 (1939); C. W. Schwartz, Univ. Mo. Stud. 20, 1 (1945); W. B. Grange, Wis. Conserv. Dep. Publ. 328 (1948); M. F. Baker, Univ. Kans. Mus. Nat. Hist. Biol. Surv. Kans. 5 (1953); F. L. Arthaud, thesis, University of Missouri (1968); N. J. Silvy, thesis, Kansas State University (1968); R. D. Drobney, thesis, University of Missouri (1973); L. H. Sisson, The Sharp-Tailed Grouse in Nebraska, a Research Study (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, 1976); W. D. Svedarsky, dissertation, University of North Dakota (1979); L. A. Rice and A. V. Carter, Completion Report No. 84-11 (South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Pierre, SD, 1982); G. J. Horak, Kansas Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Bulletin No. 3 (1985); J. A. Newell, thesis, Montana State University (1987); D. P. Jones, thesis, University of Missouri (1988); J. E. Toepfer, dissertation, Montana State University (1988).
43. A. O. Gross, Wis. Conserv. Comm. Bull. (1930); F. N. Hamerstrom Jr., Wilson Bull. 51, 105 (1939); C. W. Schwartz, Univ. Mo. Stud. 20, 1 (1945); W. B. Grange, Wis. Conserv. Dep. Publ. 328 (1948); M. F. Baker, Univ. Kans. Mus. Nat. Hist. Biol. Surv. Kans. 5 (1953); F. L. Arthaud, thesis, University of Missouri (1968); N. J. Silvy, thesis, Kansas State University (1968); R. D. Drobney, thesis, University of Missouri (1973); L. H. Sisson, The Sharp-Tailed Grouse in Nebraska, a Research Study (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, 1976); W. D. Svedarsky, dissertation, University of North Dakota (1979); L. A. Rice and A. V. Carter, Completion Report No. 84-11 (South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Pierre, SD, 1982); G. J. Horak, Kansas Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Bulletin No. 3 (1985); J. A. Newell, thesis, Montana State University (1987); D. P. Jones, thesis, University of Missouri (1988); J. E. Toepfer, dissertation, Montana State University (1988).
44. A. O. Gross, Wis. Conserv. Comm. Bull. (1930); F. N. Hamerstrom Jr., Wilson Bull. 51, 105 (1939); C. W. Schwartz, Univ. Mo. Stud. 20, 1 (1945); W. B. Grange, Wis. Conserv. Dep. Publ. 328 (1948); M. F. Baker, Univ. Kans. Mus. Nat. Hist. Biol. Surv. Kans. 5 (1953); F. L. Arthaud, thesis, University of Missouri (1968); N. J. Silvy, thesis, Kansas State University (1968); R. D. Drobney, thesis, University of Missouri (1973); L. H. Sisson, The Sharp-Tailed Grouse in Nebraska, a Research Study (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, 1976); W. D. Svedarsky, dissertation, University of North Dakota (1979); L. A. Rice and A. V. Carter, Completion Report No. 84-11 (South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Pierre, SD, 1982); G. J. Horak, Kansas Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Bulletin No. 3 (1985); J. A. Newell, thesis, Montana State University (1987); D. P. Jones, thesis, University of Missouri (1988); J. E. Toepfer, dissertation, Montana State University (1988).
45. A. O. Gross, Wis. Conserv. Comm. Bull. (1930); F. N. Hamerstrom Jr., Wilson Bull. 51, 105 (1939); C. W. Schwartz, Univ. Mo. Stud. 20, 1 (1945); W. B. Grange, Wis. Conserv. Dep. Publ. 328 (1948); M. F. Baker, Univ. Kans. Mus. Nat. Hist. Biol. Surv. Kans. 5 (1953); F. L. Arthaud, thesis, University of Missouri (1968); N. J. Silvy, thesis, Kansas State University (1968); R. D. Drobney, thesis, University of Missouri (1973); L. H. Sisson, The Sharp-Tailed Grouse in Nebraska, a Research Study (Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, Lincoln, 1976); W. D. Svedarsky, dissertation, University of North Dakota (1979); L. A. Rice and A. V. Carter, Completion Report No. 84-11 (South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks, Pierre, SD, 1982); G. J. Horak, Kansas Fish and Game Commission Wildlife Bulletin No. 3 (1985); J. A. Newell, thesis, Montana State University (1987); D. P. Jones, thesis, University of Missouri (1988); J. E. Toepfer, dissertation, Montana State University (1988).
46. L. L. McDaniel, unpublished material.
47. Our nest data were highly representative of the focal population because, on average during 1963-1991, total nests found represented 46% (range, 28% to 76%) and 77% (range, 39% to 188%) of the number of males and hens, respectively, censused on booming grounds in Jasper County.
48. J. L. Bouzat, H. A. Lewin, K. N. Paige, Am. Nat. 152, 1 (1998); J. L. Bouzat et al., Conserv. Biol. 10, 836 (1998).
49. J. L. Bouzat, H. A. Lewin, K. N. Paige, Am. Nat. 152, 1 (1998); J. L. Bouzat et al., Conserv. Biol. 10, 836 (1998).
50. Estimates of genetic variability were based on highly polymorphic type II markers (microsatellites), which are more sensitive for detecting potential changes in genetic diversity. The relatively small reduction in Illinois average heterozygosity (about 9%) results from the large numbers of alleles detected at the microsatellite loci. Estimates of genetic diversity based on type I markers (that is, markers associated with coding sequences of structural genes) would likely reveal a more drastic decline in average heterozygosity. The observed declines of fitness components in the Illinois population should not be attributed to the particular loci analyzed (which are noncoding and presumably neutral DNA sequences). The effects of inbreeding are probably more directly related to the expression of lethal recessive alleles at structural genes. Our results also indicate that allelic diversity is more drastically affected than heterozygosity, as is expected following population bottlenecks (M. Nei, T. Maruyama, R. Chakraborty, Evolution 29, 1 1975). Declines in fitness in the Illinois population probably result from a drastic decrease in heterozygosity at structural genes and the random extinction of critical alleles through the population bottleneck.
51. Illinois State Water Survey, Ill. Agric. Stat. Serv. (1993); ibid. (1994); ibid. (1997).
52. Illinois State Water Survey, Ill. Agric. Stat. Serv. (1993); ibid. (1994); ibid. (1997).
53. Illinois State Water Survey, Ill. Agric. Stat. Serv. (1993); ibid. (1994); ibid. (1997).
54. Factors other than inbreeding can cause fertility and hatchability problems. Other possible factors included competing species that may transmit disease (pheasants and waterfowl), pollutants (oil and pesticides), and human disturbances. However, egg success was declining about one decade before there was a large abundance of pheasants in the mid-1980s, researcher disturbance of active nests (mostly the mid-1980s to 1991) (7), a large increase in oil production (1983), and pesticides used for no-till farming. Similarly, waterfowl, mostly mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), did not feed or nest with prairie chickens until the late 1970s. Also, hatch rates of northern bobwhites (Colinus virginianus), pheasants, and other sympatric species in the study area have not declined.
55. M. E. Gilpin and M. E. Soule, in Conservation Biology: The Science of Scarcity and Diversity, M. E. Soule, Ed. (Sinauer Associates, Sunderland, MA, 1986), pp. 19-34.
56. A. O. Gross, Mem. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 6, 491 (1928).
57. E. A. Osterndorff, thesis, Texas A&M University (1995).
58. We thank the many field assistants who made this report possible and especially project assistants D. R. Vance and J. E. Buhnerkempe; R. J. Ellis led the project during 1963-1965. We appreciate technical reviews of the manuscript by K. M. Giesen, C. A. Phillips, and P. W. Brown and editing and figure graphics by T. E. Rice. J. E. Toepfer provided guidance in all phases of translocation efforts and, with P. S. Beringer, helped in securing birds from Minnesota for translocation to Illinois. Illinois wild turkeys were traded for Minnesota prairie chickens with the assistance of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources-Division of Wildlife Resources. Various other wildlife staff in Minnesota, North Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska supported translocation of prairie chickens. L. L. McDaniel provided unpublished egg success data from the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Nebraska. This is a contribution in part of Federal Aid Wildlife Restoration Project W-66-R, with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources-Division of Natural Heritage, U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Illinois Natural History Survey, The Nature Conservancy, Illinois Nature Preserves Commission, Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; cooperating. Funding for translocations of prairie chickens was provided by the Illinois Wildlife Preservation Fund and Natural Areas Acquisition Fund. Funding for locating nests in 1997 was provided by the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research (C-FAR).