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In comparison to the volumes of research conducted in the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) assessing habitat characteristics and the effects on waterfowl productivity, relatively few studies have been conducted on the periphery of the PPR. This project focused on Western South Dakota, an area where agricultural fragmentation has only recently expanded. The effects of local- and landscape-level characteristics on waterfowl pair and brood density and rates of productivity (broods/100 pairs) were evaluated in 1999 and 2000 in western South Dakota. Waterfowl use and productivity were assessed relative to 105 semipermanent class stockponds located in fragmented and unfragmented landscapes in 52, 10-mi2 cells using a standard protocol for surveying waterfowl. Eleven species of waterfowl occurred on stockponds, the most common being mallard, blue-winged teal, and gadwall. Overall productivity was 50 broods/100 pairs for both landscapes with data combined for mallards, blue-winged teal, and gadwalls. Waterfowl productivity was significantly higher in fragmented landscapes (58 broods/100 pairs) than in unfragmented landscapes (40 broods/100 pairs). Waterfowl pairs per hectare of water for the three most common breeding species were significantly higher on small stockponds (1 ha or smaller) than on medium (1.0 to 2.0 ha) (P = 0.001) or large (P = 0.001) stockponds. Waterfowl broods per hectare for the three most common breeding species did not significantly (P = 0.510 and 0.103) differ by wetland area. While both fragmented and unfragmented landscapes in western South Dakota have fewer basins to attract breeding waterfowl than most areas in the PPR, the unfragmented landscapes have significantly fewer natural seasonal and temporary wetlands than fragmented areas. Thus, stockponds in fragmented landscapes have a higher abundance of seasonal and temporary wetlands to attract breeding ducks. Secondly, stockponds in fragmented landscapes currently have vegetation characteristics that are more attractive to greater waterfowl pair and brood densities, resulting in higher productivity. Prioritized restoration and preservation of large tracts of grasslands in areas that hold the highest numbers of seasonal and temporary wetlands should be an important conservation goal in order to maintain the high level of waterfowl productivity in western South Dakota. If the amount of tilled cropland continues to increase in this portion of western South Dakota the amount of fragmentation will become similar to that in the prairie pothole region, and, as such, waterfowl productivity will decrease considerably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information about the 93rd annual meeting of the South Dakota Academy of Science (SDAS), which was hosted by the Mount Marty College held at Cedar Shore Resort in South Dakota from April 5-6, 2008. The meeting's discussions involved the issue of increasing the visibility of SDAS in the state in the areas of science and technology by increasing visibility in Pierre during the legislative season. The keynote address by Scott Harper was focused on nanomedicine.

Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) populations are declining largely due to wide scale habitat loss. Habitats used by the burrowing owl are variable across its range, and knowledge of its specific needs in different regions is necessary for its conservation. In South Dakota, burrowing owls are associated with black-tailed prairie dog colonies, but it is unclear why owls select certain colonies over others as nest sites. We surveyed prairie dog colonies in 25 western South Dakota counties from May through July 2010 for burrowing owls using a standardized point count method. We classified each surveyed prairie dog colony into one of three classes (unoccupied, single occupied, or multiple occupied) based on the number of breeding pairs of burrowing owls in the colony. We used ArcGIS to calculate the area of each colony and to estimate the percent cover of trees, grassland, and cropland within 800 m and 1600 m of each colony. Occupied colonies were significantly larger than unoccupied colonies. Larger colonies typically provide more potential nest burrows and perhaps better foraging opportunities. Percent tree cover was the only landscape factor that differed among the three colony classes. At both the 800 m and 1600 m levels, occupied colonies had less tree cover in the surrounding landscape than unoccupied colonies, indicating that burrowing owls avoid nesting near wooded areas. During the next phase of this study, we will construct models using various combinations of nest-, colony-, and landscape-level habitat characteristics to determine the most important factors impacting nest site selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]