Projects

In the spring and early summer of 2023, the Missouri Department of Conservation interviewed mill owner/operators from a random-sample of primary wood processors throughout the state, asking for information on their firms from 2022. In this report we present forest industry trends, harvest levels and other details. Such detailed information is necessary for intelligent planning and decision making in wood procurement, forest resources management, and forest industry development. Likewise, researchers need current forest industry and industrial roundwood information for planning projects.

Widespread use of neonicotinoid insecticides in North America has led to frequent detection of neonicotinoids in surface waters. Despite frequent surface water detection, few studies have evaluated underlying sediments for the presence of neonicotinoids. Thus, we sampled water and sediments for neonicotinoids during a one-year period at 40 floodplain wetlands throughout Missouri. Analyzed for six common neonicotinoids, sediment samples consistently (63% of samples) contained neonicotinoids (e.g., imidacloprid and clothianidin) in all sampling periods. Mean sediment and aqueous neonicotinoid concentrations were 1.19 μg kg–1 (range: 0–17.99 μg kg–1) and 0.03 μg L–1 (0–0.97 μg L–1), respectively. We used boosted regression tree analysis to explain sediment neonicotinoid concentrations and ultimately identified six variables that accounted for 31.6% of concentration variability. Efforts to limit sediment neonicotinoid contamination could include reducing agriculture within a wetland below a threshold of 25% area planted. Also, prolonging periods of overlying water >25 cm deep when water temperatures reach/exceed 18 °C could promote conditions favorable for neonicotinoid degradation. Results of this study can be useful in determining potential routes and levels of neonicotinoid exposure experienced by nontarget benthic aquatic invertebrates as well as potential means to mitigate neonicotinoid concentrations in floodplain wetlands.

Environmental Science & Technology 2019 53(18),10591-10600.

The Great Flood of 1993 created 466 new wetlands along the Missouri River floodplain between Kansas City and St. Louis, providing an opportunity to see how wetland dependent species use these newly created habitats. This study focuses on the occupancy and fate of amphibians using new and existing floodplain wetlands after this flood event.

Zoonotic disease emergence is not a purely biological process mediated only by ecologic factors; opportunities for transmission of zoonoses from animals to humans also depend on how people interact with animals. This paper proposes an expanded “One Health” conceptual model for human-animal exposure that accounts for social as well as epidemiologic factors.

Opened to the public in 1993, Runge Conservation Nature Center (RCNC) has 3000 square feet of indoor exhibits, 112 acres, and 5 trails. Programming at RCNC is targeted at all age groups. As part of a visitor use survey at RCNC focus groups were held with lapsed visitors to explore past visitation patterns, attitudes, reasons attendance had lapsed, and what might entice them to return.

Data form to be used by volunteers working on the Missouri Eagle Watch program.

An overview of the current status of Bald Eagle protection and things to be aware of when observing and approaching eagles to reduce disturbance.