Great Plains in Nebraska

What factors determines the location of species?

soil type, terrain, water conditons

What is the best way to identify a grass?

Seed head

Andropogon gerardii

Big bluestem

Sorghastrum nutans

Indian grass

Bromus inermis

Smooth brome

Juniperus virginiana

Eastern red cedar

Elaeagnus angustifolia

Russian olive oil

Populus deltoides

Cottonwood

Prunus americana

Wild plum

What is the best way to identify trees and shrubs?

Thorns, leaf shape, bark pattern

What characteristics can be used to identify flowers?

Habitat, season, petals, leaves, presence of liquid(?), presence of hair(?)

Erigeron annuus

Fleabane

Verbena stricta

Hoary vervain

Packera plattensis

Prairie ragwort

Helianthus pauciflorus

Stiff sunflower

Callirhoe involucrata

Purple poppy mallow

Monarda fistulosa

Wild bergamot

Solidago rigida

Stuff goldenrod

Dalea purpurea

Purple prairie clover

Grassland birds choose their habitat based on…

Availability of food and water, protection from predators and weather

Sturnella spp.

Meadowlark

Spiza americana

Dickcissel

Agelaius phoeniceus

Red winged blackbird

What characteristics are used to identify raptors?

Head shape, crown markings, eye ring or line, chin color, beak color, and shape; breast color and markings (clear, streaked or spotted); wing bars, patterns, length, and color of underside if flying; tail length, shape, and pattern; size, average length from bill to tip of the tail; behavior and flight pattern

What characteristics of scat help you determine the animal's diet?

Size, shape, location, content

Moisture content of animals scat…

Dries from the inside out

Chauliognathus spp.

Soldier beetle

Oncopeltus fasciatus

Large milkweed bug

Tibicen dorsata

Bush cicada

Chrysochus auratus

Dogbane leaf beetle

Microcentrum rhombifolium

Katydid

How do you tell the difference between a katydid and grasshoppers?

longer antennae

Thomisidae spp.

Crab spider

Argiope spp.

Garden spider

Lycosidae spp.

Wolf spider

Tetragnatha spp.

Long jaw orb weaver

What differentiates a damselfly from a dragonfly?

more slender, close their wings at rest, often closer to water

Enallagma spp.

Blue damselfly

Libellula luctuosa

Widow skimmer

Celithemis eponina

Halloween pennant

Characteristics of a bee

fuzzy, four wings, long antennae, females have depressions or sacs on hind legs

Bombus spp.

Bumblebee

Sphecodes spp.

Sweat bee

Characterics of a fly

Short & fat turned down antennae, two wings, sparsely hairy bodies

Syrphid spp.

hover or flower fly

Archytas spp.

Trachinid fly

Enstalis spp.

Drone fly

Bombylius spp.

Bee mimic

Characteristics of a butterfly

brightly colored, fly during the day (diurnal), antennae single filament with a club like tip, "taste" with feet

Characteristics of a skipper

Small, brown/dark colored with fuzzy bodies

Characteristics of a moth

Coloring is muted, nocturnal, those that are diurnal are colorful, plump furry bodies, hold wings flat, males have feathered antennae

Papilio glaucus

Eastern tiger swallowtail

Vanessa atalanta

Red admiral

Speyeri idalia

Regal fritillary

Papilio polyxenes

Black swallowtail

Catocala spp.

Underwing moth

Hyles lineata

White lined sphinx

Sceloporus spp.

Fence lizard

Plestiodon septentrional

Juvenile prairie skink

Thamnophis sirtalis

Garter snake

Characteristics of toads

Dry bumpy skin, found away from water

Characteristics of frogs

Smooth clammy skin, more dependent on water but can be found away form it

Anaxyrus woodhousi

Woodhouse toad

Litobates pipies

Northern leopard frog

Hyla chrysoscelies

Copes gray tree frog

Lithobates catesbeianus

Bull frog

Terrapene ornata

Ornate box turtle

Chelydra serpentina

Snapping turtle

Chrysemys picta

Painted turtle

Apalone spinifera

Soft shell turtle

Why is fire and grazing management necessary for grasslands?

Without management a select few plant species would dominate the landscape

What do prescribed fires do?

Suppresses invasive species, trees, & forbs, removes thatch buildup

Characteristics of growing season fires

Slower moving, less likely to burn large areas, suppress warm season plants & favor cool season, strong impact on woody plants

The salt marshes of eastern Nebraska have been fragmented into areas typically smaller than

20 acres

Salt Lake (Capital beach) was decreased in size because of

Interstate 80 construction

Salt Creek was channelized and straightened to

reduce flooding

Name to larger tracts of salt marshes managed by Nebraska Game and Parks Comission

Arbor Lake Wildlife Management Area & Jack Sinn W.M.A.

Salt marsh areas are threatened by

development & ability to support endangered populations

bio-indicator species can be used to

indicate the presence quality, successional stage, and alterations to a habitat

Cicindela nevadica lincolniana, Salt creek tiger beetle

Found the wettest & saltiest regions with running water, occurs only in Lancaster County, one of the most endangered insects in the US

Cicindela togata globicollis, White cloaked tiger beetle

Most common & widespread of tiger beetles, found on salt flats in the summer

Cicindela circumpicta johnsonii, cream edged tiger beetle

Quick & aggressive, may attack and eat other tiger beetles, occurs mainly on salt flats

Cicindela fulgida, crimson salt flat tiger beetle

Earliest tiger beetle species in the spring, found on open salt flats & creek banks

Cicindela splendida, splendid tiger beetle

found along clay/loess banks, peak numbers in April & September

Cicindela limbalis, common claybank tiger beetle

Cicindela sexguttata, six spotted tiger beetle

Prefers paths in deciduous woods, areas with sparse vegetation along banks, never have more than two spots

Cicindela repanda, bronzed tiger beetle

found along creeks and rivers, peak populations during June & September

Cicindela duodecimguttata, twelve spotted tiger beetle

Found along creeks but uncommon, spring-fall species

Cicindela tortillas shelfordi, hairy necked tiger beetle

Found on gravel bars and sandy shores of lakes, found most in June and July historically

Cicindela punctulata, punctured tiger beetle

Most common tiger beetle in Nebraska, found in creeks and parking lots, emit a sweet odor when handled

Tetracha virginica, Virginia big headed tiger beetle

Found on salt flats within salt marsh, large nocturnal hunter

Salt Creek

A watershed that flows SW-NE, roughly 52 miles long with 1627 square mile drainage, merges with the Platte River near Ashland

What are the perks of wetlands?

Filter water of pollutants & convert to less harmful substances, control flooding, slow runoff, recharge water tables & aquifers

When did official efforts begin to conserve saline wetlands in Nebraska?

1980s

What makes tiger beetles a good bio-indicator species?

Quick recovery from temporary population loss, natural flooding events, & pesticides

The salt creek tiger beetle was listed as an endangered species in Nebraska in…

2000

The salt creek tiger beetle was listed as a federally endangered species in…

2005

How does one conserve habitats?

Build intimate relationships with the land by building trust with land owners, educating the public, & joining organizations to assist with the protection of land

Raptors are defined by

curved beaks, sharp talons, and excellent eyesight

How does one differentiate raptors?

Head shape, crown markings, eye ring or line, chin color, beak color, and shape; breast color and markings (clear, streaked or spotted); wing bars, patterns, length, and color of underside if flying; tail length, shape, and pattern; size, average length from bill to tip of the tail; behavior and flight pattern