25Jan2017
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WildlifeandSoil/WaterManagement
Lec03
ReadChapter17
(butjustskim17-2.6)
(seelastslidefornextreadingassignment)
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34
Question?
?Canconservationpractices(wetalkedabout
allsemester)benefitaquaticandwildlife?
?YES,forthemostpart
?However,needtorecognize…
5
Wildlifeisaresourcebut….
?Somefarmers,don’tcareaboutwildlife.
?Mostfarmershavesomeinterest(liketosee
them,liketowatchthem).
–Somedon’twanttomaketheefforttomanagefor
them
–Somefarmersdowanttomanageforwildlife.
?Somefarmersdon’tcareaboutsoil
conservation
?Mostfarmersdon’twanttoseetheirsoil
eroded
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?Alsorecognizethatafarmwithgoodsoiland
waterconservationandmanagementwill
almostalwaysbenefittheaquaticspecies,but
terrestrialwildlifemaynotbeasplentifulas
forafarmeralsotryingtomanageforwildlife.
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?Farmersthathaveminimalinterestinwildlife
aremorelikelyto:
–HarvestALLcrops,notleaveanyforwildlife.
–Remove/cleanup“grownup”areassuchasodd
cornersandfields,fencerows,controlallweeds…
–Farmasmuchasfeasible
?Takeoutwoodsforpasture
?Takeoutnativeprairiesforcropland
–Plantsspeciesofconservationplantsnotsuited
forwildlife.
?Isthisbad?
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Todoboth:startwithanunderstandingof
wildlifeneeds(andsoil/watermanagement.)
?Dependsonthewildlifespecies
?Usuallylargeopenfieldsnotdesirable
–Smallerbroken-up(fragmented)fields
–Broken-upbydiversecover
?Notbaresoilsubjecttoerosionbut…
–Coverprovidedbygrass,shrubs,cropresidue,
weeds,trees
–Rareexceptions
910
Goal:meethabitatrequirements,while
conserving/managingsoilandwaterAND
makingalivingofftheland.
?Food
?Water
?Cover
–Nesting
–Resting/Sleeping/Roosting/Bedding
–Escape
–Rearingyoung
?Throughouttheyear
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Deer
?Mixture/diversity
?Browsers
–Leaves,grasses
–Acorns,corn,soybean
(hostas)
?Woodlots
–Oaks
–Brush
–Evergreens
?Permanentwater
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Turkeys
?Differenthabitats
duringdifferentpartsof
year
?Needopenareasplus
forests(50%mature)
?Food
–Acorns,fruits,seeds,
greens,insects
?Nesting-edges,brush,
hayfields
?Water-surfacewater
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Quail
?Sensitive
?Diversehabitat
requirements
?Food
–Seeds,insects
?Broodhabitat
–Semibareground
?Nesting:openclumpy
grasses,undisturbed
?Escape:brushy,shrubby
cover
?Allinadjacentareas
?Water:dew,seeds14
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TallFescuewildlifedetriment
?“KY31”tallfescue(Loliumarundinaceum,a.k.a.
Festucaarundinacea)releasedin1943and
widespreadindistributionanduseby1970
(1998estimatesat120-140MacresinUSA)
?Tallfescueprovidespoorcover,littlevisual
obstruction(predators),poorbrooding/
movementforNorthernbobwhitequail
(Colinusvirginianus)aswellasendophyteissues
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USGSNorthAmericanBreeding
BirdSurvey
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1960197019801990200020102020
MissouriData
17
Index
SurveyYear
Sourceofdata:
http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/bbs.html
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Shrubbycover
?Smallblocksofshrubs/brush,brushpiles
–Wildplum,blackberry,sumac,hazelnut,
roughleafdogwood…
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PrairieChicken
?Sensitive
?Opengrasslandareas
–Notrees
?Nativegrasses
?Food
–Seeds,insects
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?Somespeciesmaybemoresensitivethan
otherstopoorermanagement/habitat:
–Moresensitive:Quail,Rabbit,Pheasant
?Morediverse,uniquehabitatrequirement
–Lesssensitive:Turkey,Deer
?Thriveinbestconditions,butexistinmarginal
–Moresensitive:Trout,SmallmouthBass
?Habitat,Foodsource,betterwaterquality
–Lesssensitive:Catfish,Perch,Carp
?Withstandpoorwaterquality
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ConflictbetweenSoilandWater
Conservation/ManagementandAquaticspecies
management…
?Usuallynone.Ifyouimprovewaterqualityof
therunoff,almostalwaysimprovethe
environmentfordesirableaquaticspecies
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AquaticSpecies
?Sedimentisbad!
?Coversgravelbedsneededbyfishandinsects
?Clogsgills
?Cloudswater,reducessunlightpenetration,
thusreducingphotosynthesisofsubmerged
plants/algae.
?Disruptsfoodchain
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AquaticSpecies
?PhosphorusandNitrogen:Allsources
–Highlevelscanleadtoexcessiveplantand
algaegrowth.Needbalance.
–Duringalgaedecomposition,oxygenlevels
drop,toolowtosupportaquaticorganisms
–Highammonialevelsaretoxic
?Highlevelsoforganicwaste,samedeal.
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AquaticSpecies
?Pesticidesfromfields
–Herbicides,insecticides,fungicides
–Ifaninsecticidecankillabugonacornplant,
coulditkillanaquaticbug(afteraheavyrunoff
event)?Specificityofinsecticidesisa
considerationoffarmerswhomanagewildlife.
–Asamixinwater,whatimpactdotheyhaveon
aquaticspp.?
–Bio-accumulation?
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?OtherPollutants
–Livestockantibiotics,insectcontrol,medicinesin
wastecanbecomerunofftostream
–Whatgoesonyourlawnorthegolfcoursethatis
gettinginthewater?
–Fromindustry
–Trash
–Humans:whatgoesinyourbodythatgoesinthe
sewersystemandtotherivers?
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FeminizedFish
?UK,Minnesota,walleyeinMSriver.
?Theories:
–lowlevelsofestrogenhormonessuchas
"Ethinylestradiol”,theactiveingredientinthe
birthcontrolpillornaturalfemalehormones
–estrogen-mimickingdegradationproductsof
alkylphenolethoxylatesurfactants(compounds
usedinsuchthingsaspesticides,detergents,and
cosmetics)andplasticizers.
–WhataboutPAHsfromcoaltarsealants?
?http://www.springfieldmo.gov/2144/Coal-Tar-Sealants
?NoticenewURL!
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Themostpopulartheoriesareenvironmentalestrogens,increasing
levelsofUVlight,otherpollutants,andmicroscopicparasites.
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ConflictofSC/WQmeasures
withTerrestrialspecies…
?Manytimesnone.Improveconditionofcover
(tocontrolerosion),canimprovethehabitat
forterrestrialspecies.
?Exceptions:
–Takingoutabrushydrawtoinstallagrassed
waterway
–Selectionofgrassspeciesforconservation.
?Mostallpracticeswewilltalkabout!
–Farminglargeopenfieldswithlittlediversity
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PerennialVegetation(grasses)
andWildlife
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Grassspeciesselection:
?Sod-forming
grasses,notthe
bestforwildlife
?Toothick
?Canbedecent
habitatif
managedfor
wildlifebutmay
beatexpenseof
production.
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GrassspeciesnotwellsuitedforWildlife
?TallFescue
?Bluegrass
?Bermudagrass
?Reedcanarygrass
?Caucasionbluestem
?Allmaybeutilizedtosomeextentbywildlife(deer
andrabbitbrowse,turkeynesting)
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Grassspeciesselection:
?Bunchgrasses-
bestforwildlife
?Travelbetween
clumps
?Nesting
?Broodrearing
Easterngamagrass
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NativeWarmSeasonGrassspeciesbetter
suitedforwildlife
?Easterngamagrass
?Littlebluestem
?Bigbluestem
?Indiangrass
?Switchgrass
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3738
CoolSeasonGrassesandlegumes
?Orchardgrass
?Timothy
?Redtop
?Virginia/Canadawildrye
?Mostalllegumes
–Lespedeza
–Clovers
–Alfalfa
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Conservationpracticeswheregrasses
applicable
?Filterstrips
?FieldBorders
?GrassedWaterways
?Grassedback/Narrow-Basedterraces
?Pasture/Haylandplantings
?However…
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?Forerosioncontrol,thesod-forminggrasses
usuallydoabetterjobthanthebunchgrasses.
–Erosionbetweentheclumps.
?Mostofthenativewarmseasongrasses:
–Moreexpensivetoestablish
–Toughertogetastand(take2Xaslong)
–Tallfescuegivesarelativelyquickstand.Relatively
cheapseed.
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VegetativeBarriers
?Someolder(e.g.1940s)extensionpublications
recommendplantingNWSGindensestripsalongcontour
toreduceoverlandflow
?Recentresearchshowsthecombinationofcool-season
filterstripsandvegetativebarrierstobeeffectivein
reducingsedimentmovement
?Stiff-stemmedgrassesnotyetpopularinMOnor
specificallylistedinUSDAtechnicalguidesasapractice–
insteadrelyuponherbaceous/woodyspecies(e.g.
blackberry,shrubs,etc.)
?Potentialwildlifeandwaterqualitybenefits?
?SeeMUExtGuideG1653
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VegetativeBarrier(grass)
NRCS-PA43
Largeopenfields
“Edge”
?Forspeciesdiversityandhighnumbersof
wildlifeintheOzarks,managetocreate
“edge”
?“Edge”=wheredifferenthabitattypesmeet
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BRUSH
WOODSCROP
PASTURE
4546
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ForestOpeningbetweentwoopenfields.
Mixedhabitat
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Impactofdifferentpracticesandon
aquaticandterrestrialwildlife
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Croplandpractices
?CropRotation-
–Goodrotationhelpsreduceaverageannual
erosionandrunoff
–Goodrotationhelpsprovidediversitytothe
dietofwildlife.
–Includeforage(clovers/alfalfa)andsmall
grainsinrotation,alongwithgraincrops
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Corn-Soybeans-Wheat-Clover
CropRotationyear1
SOYBEANSSOYBEANS
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CropRotationyear2
CORNCORN
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CropRotation-better
CORN
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SOYBEANS
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Idealifwildlifemajorobjective
?Leavesomestandingcrop(notharvested)for
wildlife
??acreforeach40acres
–Planted(grassfarms)orleftstanding
?Leaveinpatchesorstripsneargoodcover
(brush,weedy,grasses,forest)
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CROPLEFTSTANDINGAFTERHARVESTFORWILDLIFE
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?ConservationTillageorNo-Till
–Themoretillage,themoreerosionand
runoff.
–Themoretillage,themoregrainand
residuethatisburied,thuslessfoodand
coverforwildlife.
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Effectoftillageonwildlife
Foragingtimeneededforaquailchicktoobtain
minimumdailyrequirementofinsects:
?Conventionally-tilledsoybeans:22hrs
?No-tillsoybeans:4.2hrs
?Naturalareas(“idealquailhabitat”):4.3hrs
No-tillresultedinhigherdensityofbirdsand
nests,greatervariety
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?Terraces
–Reduceerosionandrunoff
–Helpswaterqualityandaquaticspecies.
–Helpsterrestrialspeciesbyimproving
ecosystem.Reallyhelpsif:
?Narrow-baseorgrassed-backterracesused
insteadofbroad-based,BUTonlybeneficialif
grassesare“wildlifefriendly”
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Canprovidehabitat
diversitywithinlargecrop
field:
escapecover,
nestingcover,
bedding…
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Sameistruewith:
?Strip-croppingandcontourbufferstrips
63Productionisthegoalonthisfarm64
Productionprobablyisnotthemaingoalonthisfarm!65
?Grassedwaterways
–Excellentforcontrollingerosion(gully),excellent
forwaterquality
–Goodforwildlifeasfood,escapecover,
resting/beddingcover.Maynotbethatgoodfor
nestingcover.Why?
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?FieldBorders
–Goodforerosion,runoffcontrol
–Goodforwildlife
?Asourceofinsectsandseedsforanimals
?Asourcefornesting,resting/beddingcover
–Iftherightspeciesofgrassused
?30’minimumforwildlife
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?FilterStrips
–Grassedareabetweenstreamandproduction
fields.
–Excellentsediment/nutrient/pesticidecontrol.
–Excellentforwildlife,especiallynexttoacropfield
andwoodedriparianforestbuffer.
?Usewildlifefriendlygrass
?30’minimum
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Nativewarmseasongrasses
Shrubbycover
Existingtrees
Diskedstrip/foodplot
Stream
PastureorHay
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?RiparianForestBuffer
–Againexcellentallaroundpracticeforall
resources
–Aquaticspecies
?Rootwadsandfallenlimbsforfishcover
?Insectsforfishofftrees
?Leavesandorganicmaterialforaquaticinsects
–Detritis
?Shadewater-lowertemperatures
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Forterrestrials:
?Food,shelter,
roosting,nesting,
dens,travellanes,
bedding,resting
?Almostallspecies
benefit
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StreambankStabilization
Waterquality,fish/aquatichabitat
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?ErosionControlStructures
–Excellenterosioncontrol
–Waytoincreasewildlifeandaquatics
(ifdesignedtoholdwater)
?Fisheriesresource,waterfowl
–Watersourceforwildlife-drinking
–Mink,raccoons,muskrats,beaver
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Wetlands
?Goodforwater
quality;good
forwildlife
–Especially
waterfowl.
?Provideswater
neededfor
survivalfor
otherspecies
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?GrasslandSystemsforlivestock
–High-DensityandManagementIntensive
Grazing
?excellenterosion/runoffcontrol
–Wildlifewillincreaseifmanagedproperly
?Promotingdiversepopulationofplants
?Providingcoverandfood.
?Iffarmisallfescue,wildlifediversitydecreases
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?GrasslandSystemsforlivestock2
–Incorporatemixtureofnativewarm-seasongrass
andcool-seasongrassinthesystem.
?i.e.nomonoculturestands
–Ifhay,leaveunmowedstripsalongedge,
especiallyaroundcover.
–Iffarmisallgrass,plantannualfoodplotsfor
winterfood
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Grassmanagementandwildlife
?Mustbemanaged
(pasture,waterways,filter
strips,fieldborders…)
?Don’tallowtogrowtoo
thickandrank
–Prescribedburning
–Lightdisking
?Promotesopenground,
weed(seed)production
–Herbicidesforgrass
suppression
–High-densitygrazing?
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Grassmanagementandwildlife
?Donotmow/clipMay1-July15.
–primarynestingseason
?Maintainlegumecomponent
–Seedmoreifneeded
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ExcludeLivestockfromstreams/woods
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Forestrymanagementpractices
?Timberharvests
?Ifdoneright,shouldimprovewildlifehabitat.
–Openupcanopyforgrowth,seedproduction,
grasses,understory
–Selectiveharvest
–Leavedentreesandbetterseedproducers
–Makebrushpiles
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Howtomakesoilandwaterconservationwork
togetherforwildlife
?Implementthepracticesneededtokeepthe
soil,nutrient,pesticides,manureonthefield,
withinthefield
–Considerationforgrass,shrub,treespecies
?Breakuplargefieldsbyprovidingmore
diversecover
?Breakuplargefarmswithadiverseoperation
(crop,livestock,forestry)
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Howtomakesoilandwaterconservationwork
togetherforwildlife2
?Leaveoddly-shapedareasstrictlyforwildlife
(toohardtogettowithequipment,poorsoil,
pooryield,inacorner,etc.)
–Again,creatingdiversity
?Leave
–Weeds(ragweed,blackberry,foxtails,
smartweeds…)
–Brushyfencerows
–Woods
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Poorwildlifecommunity(640acres)
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Better(640acres)
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Conclusion
?Cansoilandwaterconservationpractices
benefitfishandwildlife?
–Yes,butifwildlifeisahighpriority,itwillrequire
additionaltime,effort,money
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WaterErosion&Sedimentation
Lecture03
ReadCh4,8-3thru8-6.4,
and15thru15-3.4
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