Wildlife/Fish-related Functions NEDC Conservation Buffers Course

1. United States Department of Agriculture Wildlife/Fish-related Functions NEDC Conservation Buffers Course

2. Activity Identify basic ecological conditions and functions desired in agricultural and other landscapes: 8. Improve aquatic habitat, 9. Improve terrestrial habitat, 14. Enhance habitat for marketable wildlife. Description: During this activity, the basic ecological conditions desired in agricultural and other landscapes identified in Table 2-1 in the student handbook will be presented. Buffer impacts and purposes related to functions listed above will be discussed.

3. Conservation Buffers and Fish and Wildlife From the standards….

4. Conservation Buffers and Fish and Wildlife From the standards….

5. 5

6. O R C A C r a t e r L a k e S y c a n R . A g e n c y L a k e U p p e r K l a m a t h L a k e M e d f o r d L a k e E w a u n a K l a m a t h F a l l s L o s t R . G e r b e r R e s e r v o i r C o p c o L o s t R i v e r R e s e r v o i r D i v e r s i o n O r e g o n # 1 & # 2 C h a n n e l J C B o y l e R e s e r v o i r C a l i f o r n i a T u l e L a k e L o w e r K l a m a t h R . I r o n G a t e K l a m a t h R e s e r v o i r L a k e C r e s e n t C i t y C l e a r L a k e Y r e k a D w i n n e l l R e s e r v o i r N W E S T r i n i t y L a k e 0 2 0 4 0 6 0 M i l e s E u r e k a R e d d i n g K l a m a t h R i v e r B a s i n

7. Fish and wildlife survival depends on: HABITAT Species-specific requirements for survival and reproduction

8. Habitat Basics Cover Food Water

9. Juxtaposition By Space By Season

10. Improve Aquatic Habitats Riparian Buffers

11. Shading Riparian Buffers

12. Organic Matter Input Riparian Buffers

13. Large Wood Material Riparian Buffers

14. Minimize Sediment Input Riparian Buffers

15. Nutrient Assimilation Riparian Buffers

16. No. Virginia Stream Restoration Project Riparian Buffers 2002 2000

17. Stream Reach Improvement in fish community Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) following restoration 2002 2001 2000

18. Improve Terrestrial Habitat

19. Buffers Provide PhysicalHabitat Structure

20. Buffers: Provide Habitat Structure Within the Agricultural Matrix

21. Buffers: Provide movement corridors for dispersal and migration Species-specific

22. Effects of Habitat Fragmentation: Detrimental to “Area-sensitive” species Reduced patch size Loss of original habitat

23. Effects of Habitat Fragmentation: Increase edge Favoring “edge-generalist” species Detrimental to “edge-sensitive” species

24. Effects of Habitat Fragmentation: Increased Isolation

25. Effects of Habitat Fragmentation: Loss of natural disturbance regime

26. Buffers: Corridor/conduit function is very important in fragmented landscapes

27. Linkages between habitat patches

28. Linkages between habitat patches

29. Factors Affecting Upland Buffer Habitat Function

30. Factors Affecting Buffer Habitat Function Type and structure of vegetation within the buffer Wildlife value Monoculture No. of plant species Many Simple Vegetation structure Diverse

31. Bobolink Dickcissel Species-specific Response All grass Grass-forb mix

32. Most native wildlife Species-specific response by wildlife to vegetation species established Non-native Native Vegetation

33. Factors Affecting Buffer Habitat Function Type of vegetation adjacent to the buffer

34. Factors Affecting Buffer Habitat Function Surrounding land uses

35. ONSITE Watershed Land-use & Physical Characteristics Terrestrial amphibian populations barriers Amphibian abundance biomass species richness Local Habitat, Water Quality & Food Availability Fish abundance biomass species richness passage barriers distance to perennial water Downstream fish populations

36. Other fish and wildlife topics to consider

37. Migratory Pollinators Declines due to: 1. Exposure to pesticides & herbicides 2. Reduced availability of nectar 3. Competition from exotic plants 4. Destruction of roosting habitat

38. Migratory Pollinators Nectar Corridor “The sequence of flowering plants that provides migrants with sugars and amino acids to fuel their long distance flights. By doing so, they incidentally transfer pollen from one plant to another thus increasing the probability of genetic mixing, seed set, and reproduction for their floral hosts.”

39. Pollinators North American flowers used by bees Many, many more!

40. Pollinators Common host plants of caterpillar and adult listed inButterfliesleaflet (handout)

41. Bats Number of bat species 45 U.S species

42. BATS • 920 species Worldwide • - 1/4 of all mammals • Important for pollination and insect control • 40% of North American bats are in decline or listed as T or E • Decline has negative economic impact on agriculture Bat Conservation International

43. BAT HABITAT NEEDS Roosts - Tree cavities - Exfoliating tree bark - Artificial roosts - Caves - Mines - Cliff and rock crevices - Tangled hedgerows and thickets - Under bridges - Attics and roofs Bat Conservation International

44. BAT HABITAT NEEDS Foraging Grounds - Woodlot canopy and understory - Open fields - Over streams - Agricultural lands Bat Conservation International

45. Bats See handout materials for more information on bats and bat management. Bat Conservation International

46. Reptiles and Amphibians (Herps) • Healthy populations of Herps can benefit Farm Operations: They prey on insects, rodents, and other pests. • Most Herps are in decline because of loss and degradation of their habitats. • The fate of Herps is in the hands of landowners who install conservation buffers, and other key habitat features in the landscape. • Conservation Buffers can develop and connect corridors used to move to various habitats used during life history. • Herps do not fly; they generally move slowly!

47. Reptiles and Amphibians (Herps) OF INTEREST: • Benefit agricultural operations -- feed on insects, rodents, etc. • Snakes can go months without eating • Turtles can live for more than 50 years • Some frogs can survive being frozen for long periods

48. Reptiles and Amphibians (Herps) • Most herp species are in decline • Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation • Future depends on private land management • - Development of corridors to connect habitat patches • - Conservation of existing habitat patches of less disturbed areas • - Integration of natural features on agricultural lands (e.g., buffers) help support herps that persist on ag landscape.

49. Reptiles and Amphibians (Herps) Habitat Management Guidelines for Amphibians and Reptiles of the Midwest

50. Reptiles and Amphibians (Herps) REPTILES MORE