We assessed Trichoptera diversity for 91 wadeable stream sites in eastern Texas, and caddisflies were found at 86 sites. Caddisfly larvae were collected separately from benthic samples and from snag habitat (woody debris). We collected 13 families and 28 genera from benthic samples and 9 families and 21 genera of Trichoptera from snag habitats, and there was broad overlap among taxa between the two habitat types. A significantly greater number of genera were collected from non-urban benthic samples (mean=4.29, range=1–11) than urban ones (mean=2.6, range 1–7) (t-test_α=0.05, t=3.57, P=0.0006) (Fig. 3A). We also found significantly fewer genera on snag habitats (mean=2.12) in urban streams compared to non-urban streams (mean=3.48) (t-test_α=0.05, t=4.14, p=0.0001). We used correspondence analysis to evaluate data from benthic and snag habitats in nonurban and urban locations. Several genera were more commonly associated with urban streams while other genera were more commonly associated with non-urban streams. Finally, we used Canonical Correspondence Analysis to evaluate more than two dozen water quality and habitat variables as environmental determinates of caddisfly diversity and distribution, and this analysis showed that the distributional relationships among genera are complex and often a function of multiple environmental factors.

Fish sampling was conducted over a two-year period (May to August, 2004 and 2005) in seven streams traversing the Little Missouri River National Grassland and Theodore Roosevelt National Park, western North Dakota. Fish communities of the two stream types in the region (rolling prairie and badlands) differed significantly despite their close geographic proximity, overlapping by only 18% in species composition and having only 8 of the 21 total fish species in common. As summer progressed, rolling prairie streams showed an increase in total fish density while total fish density in badland streams decreased. Badland and rolling prairie stream fish communities responded differently to the physical habitat variables of pool surface area, volume, mean depth, maximum depth, and width-to-depth ratio. Fish in badland streams appeared to be more susceptible to rapid physical habitat changes associated with late summer dewatering, while the more stable flows of rolling prairie streams prevented significant isolation of individuals in pools. Livestock grazing produced no significant detectable impacts to aquatic habitat availability. Streams within the region have always been subjected to contrasting natural periods of flood and drought, along with legacy effects of intensive domestic livestock grazing for more than a century. Conditions that impact fish assemblage structure, abundance, distribution, and survival are strongly influenced by changing physical habitat conditions such that the fish communities persist opportunistically within environmental instability. Naturally harsh, highly variable conditions and a lack of adequate experimental domestic livestock exclosures complicate proper evaluation of effects of land use practices. Establishment of some long-term, extensive exclosures over a period of years or decades would facilitate the evaluation of the roles of abiotic factors, biotic factors, and land use practices in shaping fish communities.

The Cylindrical Papershell (Anodontoides ferussacianus) is a fast-growing, short-lived freshwater mussel that occurs throughout the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada but appears to be declining in portions of its range. Its distribution in Kansas, once encompassing most of the Kansas and Missouri river basins, is now limited to the upper Saline and Smoky Hill rivers in the west-central portion of the state. We qualitatively surveyed freshwater mussels at 19 sites on both the Saline and Smoky Hill rivers, with emphasis on assessing the status of A. ferussacianus. We collected 28 live mussels in the Saline River, including eight A. ferussacianus, and 503 live mussels in the Smoky Hill River, including 12 A. ferussacianus. We also estimated mussel density at five sites with the highest relative abundances of A. ferussacianus. Densities of A. ferussacianus ranged from 0.01 to 0.03 individuals per m2. Most A. ferussacianus were collected in run habitats near riffles, beaver dams, and lowhead dams. In addition to A. ferussacianus, we collected three other mussel species in the Saline River, and six other species in the Smoky Hill River. Total mussel density ranged from 0.08 to 0.13 individuals per m² at sites in the Saline River, and 0.48 to 2.00 individuals per m² at sites in the Smoky Hill River.

Supplemental feeding has been used in attempts to improve sportfish populations; however, few studies have evaluated efficacy of this practice. I evaluated channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, growth, condition, size structure, and angler catch in McPherson State Fishing Lake during three multi-year periods of supplemental feeding rates (i.e., no feeding, 84 kg·ha·yr, and 336 kg·ha·yr). Growth of channel catfish was greater during years when supplemental feeding rate was low compared to years during high feeding rates. Condition of channel catfish was greater during years of high feeding rate, although contribution to the fishery that was attributed to increased condition was low. Inferences regarding size structure were unclear because of variable stocking rates and fishing regulations. Trends in angler harvest of channel catfish were variable; although, average size of harvested channel catfish was generally highest during years of supplemental feeding. These results indicate that overall effects of supplemental feeding were variable, and the funds associated with high feeding rates could be utilized to purchase commercially-grown fish approximately equal to channel catfish biomass harvested from the fishery in a given year.

In 1998, a 123-pound flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris) was captured by a recreational angler from Elk City Reservoir, Montgomery County, Kansas. This fish was recognized as the all-tackle world record, and the record has persisted through the time this article was published in fall, 2016. The fish was frozen after capture until it was presented to Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism in 2016 for further examination. It was concluded that the fish was at least 22 years old, grew rapidly, was most likely male, and had recently consumed a bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyprinellus). Results presented herein provide evidence of rapid growth possible in flathead catfish and help to foster a greater understanding of the species' natural history.

In late summer, 1893, Edward Drinker Cope (1840–1897) conducted an exploratory and networking expedition through the Dakotas, eastern Wyoming, Kansas, the Panhandle areas of Oklahoma and Texas, and the southwestern part Missouri. This was his last trip to the West. His itinerary, observations and activities were discussed in several letters home as well as in subsequent publications.

During the summer of 2009, researchers and students traveled to Nicodemus, Kansas to investigate a settlement home of African American pioneers. In the late 19^th century, new arrivals in the Midwest often constructed dugouts and sod houses to quickly build shelters. Although sod structures began to disappear in the 1900's, their decomposed remains left clues in the soil that would tell us the story of their existence. Our team sought to identify and define sod remains that were once a part of an early home. Specifically, we studied the remains of one hybrid dugout and sod home and our goal was to collect data that would support the identification of materials used and how the structure has decomposed over time. Soil color, particle size analysis data, and micromorphology were used to compare and contrast the sod blocks from with other soil materials at the site. Generally, there is now a thin mantle of soil that has eroded from an upper landscape position and that now buries the site; dark rectangular blocks of soil, thought to be the sod; a lighter colored, structureless soil that outlined the darker blocks (henceforth referred to as “mortar”); and light colored soil underlying the section of the sod block wall. The properties of the blocks were generally more similar to the overlying soil - a strong indicator that the composition of the blocks was derived from sod cut from the surrounding area. Similarly, the particle size distribution of the mortar resembled the underlying native subsoil of the site. Based on the evidence, this paper identifies sod blocks within a geoarchaeological context and describes insights gained from the macro and micro-analysis of the soil.

Kansas has played a significant role for the growth of wind energy in the United States. Kansas ranks sixth among states for wind-energy capacity, and is third in the nation for per-capita production of electricity from the wind. Wind farms are sited in topographically high positions on uplands, drainage divides, escarpments, and other rural sites in which there are few or no obstacles to interrupt near-surface wind flow. The best regions of the state include the High Plains, especially in southwestern Kansas, the Blue Hills and Flint Hills, and on the Missouri-Arkansas drainage divide in the Osage Cuestas. Rapid development of wind energy has taken place in these regions during the past few years, except for the Flint Hills, which is an exclusion zone for new wind farms. Bird and bat mortality remains an issue, but with appropriate wildlife mitigation much more wind energy could be developed in Kansas. Aesthetic issues include visibility and noise. Developing safe and renewable energy resources that have minimal environmental impacts is a priority in the twenty-first century. Wind energy from Kansas is part of the solution.

Below is a calendar of upcoming natural history related events and meetings in and near Kansas. It will be updated with each issue. For explanation and/or further information, please contact Stan Roth (sdroth@ku.edu). Also contact Stan, or the TKAS editors, if you know of other Midwestern science events of interest to Kansas biology teachers, naturalists, biologists, or other scientific disciplines. Please check with sponsors for addtional information on specific events.