Eastern Wisconsin Research Articles

The Dynamics of the Concentration and Speciation of Arsenic in Private Drinking Water Wells in Eastern Wisconsin, USA

About 2.5 billion people rely on groundwater as their main drinking water source, and arsenic pollution within the groundwater system can cause serious short- and long-term health issues. Within the natural environment, arsenic generally exists as oxyanions which have two oxidation states, As(III) and As(V). Under ambient pH conditions, As(V) is primarily present as an anion (i.e., H2AsO4−) while As(III) tends to be uncharged (i.e., H3AsO3), making it much more difficult to remove As(III) through existing treatment techniques such as adsorption and reverse osmosis (RO). In Eastern Wisconsin, the dolomite and dolomite/sandstone aquifers represent a major drinking water source and high arsenic concentrations have been observed. Previous studies showed that arsenic can be released into private drinking water wells due to the oxidation of sulfide-bearing minerals with arsenic impurities that are usually dispersed within the dolomite and sandstone bedrock. However, there is a lack of information on the concentrations of each arsenic species as well as arsenic dynamics during water pumping/usage. The primary goals of this research were (1) to quantify the baseline concentrations of each arsenic species within selected Eastern Wisconsin private drinking water wells, and (2) to determine how the arsenic concentrations and species could be affected by continuous water usage. Our results showed that As(III) was the dominant species of arsenic, and during continuous water usage, there could be an upward trend in arsenic concentration (there was minimal change in arsenic speciation). Upon the completion of water pumping, arsenic concentrations decreased over time and returned to pre-pumping levels. Our findings highlighted the importance of quantifying the speciation and dynamics of arsenic during water use to the assessment of public health risks and the design of appropriate water treatment techniques.

Controlling Proteocephalus ambloplites (Cestoda) Infections and Changing Fish Parasitic Fauna Following Post-Rotenone Rehabilitation of Lakes, With Light Microscopy

Efforts to establish desirable fish populations by rotenone treatment of lakes dominated by winter-kill resistant species, e.g., bullhead, and restocking have been attempted by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as well as by other agencies throughout the United States since the mid-1930s. Such efforts were performed in Little Elkhart Lake, eastern Wisconsin which was treated with rotenone (1.5 ppm) in 1981, to kill its rough fish and restock with desirable fish populations. Pre- and posttreatment samples of fish were examined for parasites in September 1981 and 1988, respectively. This is a revision and update of work originally published in 1993 with the addition of light microscope images of recovered parasites for the first time. Relatively heavy infections in largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides, (Lacépède) and sunfish in 1981 with Proteocephalus ambloplites (Leidy, 1887) (Cestoda) disappeared after the rotenone treatment. Infections with Neoechinorhynchus cylindratus Van Cleave, 1913 decreased but drastically increased with Leptorhynchoides thecatus (Linton, 1891) Kostylew, 1924 with changes in their fish and invertebrate host populations following rotenone use. Metacercariae of Posthodiplostomum minimum (MacCallum, 1921) (Trematoda) in sunfish and Hysterothylacium brachyurum Ward and Magath, 1917 (Nematoda) in largemouth bass were also present before and after the chemical treatment, respectively. The observed loss of P. ambloplites after 1981 points to a possible method for its control. The unusual presence of the leech Myzobdella lugubris in the anterior intestine of a yellow perch, Perca flavescens (Mitchill) was documented.

Association of Natural Waterways and Legionella pneumophila Infection in Eastern Wisconsin: A Case-Control Study.

Preliminary research has suggested possible associations between natural waterways and Legionella infection, and we previously explored these associations in eastern Wisconsin using positive L. pneumophila serogroup 1 urine antigen tests (LUAT) as diagnostic. This case-control study was a secondary analysis of home address data from patients who underwent LUAT at a single eastern Wisconsin health system from 2013 to 2017. Only zip codes within the health system's catchment area that registered ≥3 positive cases and ≥50 completed tests, as well as geographically adjacent zip codes with ≥2 positive cases and ≥50 tests, were included. A 1:3 ratio of cases to randomly selected controls was used. Home addresses were geocoded and mapped using ArcGIS software (Esri); nearest waterway and distance to home was identified. Distance to nearest waterway according to ArcGIS was verified/corrected using Google Maps incognito. Distances were analyzed using chi-squared and 2-sample t-tests. Overall, mean distance to nearest waterway did not differ between cases (2958 ± 2049 ft) and controls (2856 ± 2018 ft; P=0.701). However, in a subset of nonurban zip codes, cases were closer to nearest waterway than controls (1165 ± 905 ft vs 2113 ± 1710 ft; P=0.019). No association was found between cases and type of waterway. Further research is needed to investigate associations and differences between natural and built environmental water sources in relation to legionellosis.

Empowering those who seek to end hunger through collaboration and data science innovation

Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin (FAEW) distributed 81% more food to community members in need during the COVID-19 pandemic than in the prior year. Though systems were in place to manage food receipt and distribution data, social distancing requirements and technological barriers revealed inefficiencies in how these data were being utilized. In pursuit of data-driven decision making and in the context of a global pandemic, FAEW partnered with Marquette University data scientists through an industry supported grant. Applying newly learned skills in Business Intelligence, students have produced detailed reports of data cleanliness in FAEW’s source systems to improve underlying data quality and better support analytic efforts. Additionally, students have synchronized Human Centered Design Thinking and Visual Analytics to produce an interactive application that is being used to optimize inventory management, storage availability, and product distribution. Finally, students are utilizing Business Analytics techniques such as supervised and unsupervised data mining to provide new insights about food receipt and distribution patterns that will have a sustainable impact on FAEW operations. This unique partnership is providing experiential learning opportunities for students, tangible data science solutions that FAEW will use to ensure best practices, and real-world solutions to collaboratively end hunger in our communities.

The 6 May 1947 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Earthquake

AbstractThe State of Wisconsin is not known for earthquake activity. The authoritative public-facing U.S. Geological Survey Comprehensive Catalog of earthquakes includes only three small (magnitude < 2) earthquakes in the state, all instrumentally recorded. Although other catalogs include more events in Wisconsin, experience has shown that many types of events, such as explosions and cryoseisms, have made their way into earthquake catalogs in this region. In this short report, I summarize available information about an earthquake that was felt in eastern Wisconsin at 15:27 local time on 6 May 1947. As what appears to be the largest historical earthquake in the State of Wisconsin, it is of public interest, its modest size notwithstanding. It appears that no useful instrumental records exist, due in part to a teleseismic event that occurred approximately 3 min later, generating surface waves that were recorded on early long-period instruments in the region. Instrumental data may exist for this event but have not been found. Comparing the felt area with information from recent earthquakes in the region, I estimate an intensity magnitude of 3.8 for the event, with a subjectively estimated uncertainty range 3.5–4.1. Relatively strong effects, including reports of broken dishes in Milwaukee, and shaking described as short but especially sharp, suggest that the event may have been among the sprinkling of shallow earthquakes now known to occur in the upper Great Lakes region.

Social Vulnerability across the Great Lakes Basin: A County-Level Comparative and Spatial Analysis

Social vulnerability refers to how social positions affect the ability to access resources during a disaster or disturbance, but there is limited empirical examination of its spatial patterns in the Great Lakes Basin (GLB) region of North America. In this study, we map four themes of social vulnerability for the GLB by using the Center for Disease Control’s Social Vulnerability Index (CDC SVI) for every county in the basin and compare mean scores for each sub-basin to assess inter-basin differences. Additionally, we map LISA results to identify clusters of high and low social vulnerability along with the outliers across the region. Results show the spatial patterns depend on the social vulnerability theme selected, with some overlapping clusters of high vulnerability existing in Northern and Central Michigan, and clusters of low vulnerability in Eastern Wisconsin along with outliers across the basins. Differences in these patterns also indicate the existence of an urban–rural dimension to the variance in social vulnerabilities measured in this study. Understanding regional patterns of social vulnerability help identify the most vulnerable people, and this paper presents a framework for policymakers and researchers to address the unique social vulnerabilities across heterogeneous regions.

Correlating Bedrock Folds to Higher Rates of Arsenic Detection in Groundwater, Southeast Wisconsin, USA.

Arsenic in private drinking water wells is a significant problem across much of eastern Wisconsin, USA. The release mechanism and stratigraphic distribution of sulfide and iron (hydr)oxide sources of arsenic in bedrock aquifers are well understood for northeastern Wisconsin. However, recent geologic mapping has identified numerous small bedrock folds to the south, and the impact of these geologic structures on local groundwater flow and well contamination has been little studied. This paper examines the hydrologic and structural effects of the Beaver Dam anticline, southeast Wisconsin, on arsenic in groundwater in the region. Multivariate logistic regression shows wells near the Beaver Dam anticline are statistically more likely to detect arsenic in groundwater compared to wells farther away. Structural and hydrologic changes related to folding are interpreted to be the cause. Core drilled near the fold axis is heavily fractured, and many fractures are filled with sulfides. Elevated hydraulic conductivity estimates are also recorded near the fold axis, which may reflect a higher concentration of vertical fractures. These structural and hydrologic changes may have led to systematic changes in the distribution and concentration of arsenic-bearing mineral hosts, resulting in the observed detection pattern. For areas with similar underlying geology, this approach may improve prediction of arsenic risk down to the local level.

Epidemiologic Survey of Legionella Urine Antigen Testing Within a Large Wisconsin-Based Health Care System.

Legionella pneumophila pneumonia is a life-threatening, environmentally acquired infection identifiable via Legionella urine antigen tests (LUAT). We aimed to identify cumulative incidence, demographic distribution, and undetected disease outbreaks of Legionella pneumonia via positive LUAT in a single eastern Wisconsin health system, with a focus on urban Milwaukee County. A multilevel descriptive ecologic study was conducted utilizing electronic medical record data from a large integrated health care system of patients who underwent LUAT from 2013 to 2017. A random sample inclusive of all positive tests was reviewed to investigate geodemographic differences among patients testing positive versus negative. Statistical comparisons used chi-squared or 2-sample t-tests; stepwise regression followed by binary logistic regression was used for multivariable analysis. Positive cases identified by LUAT were mapped to locate hotspots; positive cases versus total tests performed also were mapped by zip code. Of all LUAT performed (n=21,599), 0.68% were positive. Among those in the random sample (n=11,652), positive cases by LUAT were more prevalent in the June-November time period (86.2%) and younger patients (59.4 vs 67.7 years) and were disproportionately male (70.3% vs 29.7%) (P<0.0001 for each). Cumulative incidence was higher among nonwhite race/ethnicity (1.91% vs 1.01%, P<0.0001) but did not remain significant on multivariable analysis. Overall, 5507 tests were performed in Milwaukee County zip codes, yielding 82 positive cases by LUAT (60.7% of all positive cases in the random sample). A potential small 2016 outbreak was identified. Cumulative incidence of a positive LUAT was less than 1%. LUAT testing, if done in real time by cooperative health systems, may complement public health detection of Legionella pneumonia outbreaks.

Cryptococcal Antigen Testing in an Integrated Medical System: Eastern Wisconsin

Cryptococcosis is a serious environmentally acquired endemic fungal infection commonly associated with immunocompromised hosts. Little is known regarding frequency or distribution in Wisconsin. We explored the geodemographic and clinical features of patients tested with cryptococcal antigen tests (CrAg) - previously shown to be >90% sensitive and >90% specific - within a large health care system located in eastern Wisconsin. To examine this, we retrospectively analyzed 1465 CrAg tests on 1211 unique patients (female: 50.2%; white race: 73.9%; mean age: 53.7 ± 16.5 years). At least one CrAg result was positive in 23 of 1211 patients (1.9%). From these, 21 of 23 were immunocompromised. Positive patients were disproportionately male (82.6%) and nonwhite (3.8% of those tested vs 1.2% of whites tested); P<0.01 for both. These associations remained in multivariable models. Positive patients were not significantly older (59.1 vs 53.6 years; P=0.07). Overall, 17 separate zip codes had at least one positive case. Positive patients were more prevalent in the zip codes that included the city of Milwaukee (11 of 377 [2.9% of those tested] vs 12 of 834 [1.4% of all those tested in the remaining area of the state]), but this difference was not statistically significant. No other case clustering or close proximity to waterways was observed (41% were <162 m from green space, similar to historical controls). Overall, male sex, nonwhite race/ethnicity, and immunocompromised status, not zip code, were statistically associated with positive CrAg.

Advanced Practice Providers:: How Do We Improve Their Organizational Engagement?

Advanced practice providers (APPs) are integral members of the multidisciplinary health care team, providing access to high quality and cost-effective patient care. Despite the consistent increase in demand for APPs, these practitioners often lack role clarity, frequently resulting in poor job satisfaction and retention. Establishing an advanced practice provider council within organizations is a positive step in providing APPs with a platform for increasing their visibility, peer support, and decision-making power, thereby improving their engagement within the organization. Advanced practice providers (APPs) are integral members of the multidisciplinary health care team, providing access to high quality and cost-effective patient care. Despite the consistent increase in demand for APPs, these practitioners often lack role clarity, frequently resulting in poor job satisfaction and retention. Establishing an advanced practice provider council within organizations is a positive step in providing APPs with a platform for increasing their visibility, peer support, and decision-making power, thereby improving their engagement within the organization. Molly Condit, DNP, APNP, CRNA, is the Assistant Director of the Nurse Anesthesia Emphasis Program at University of Wisconsin Oshkosh in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and a practicing CRNA at HSHS St. Vincent and St. Mary's hospitals in Green Bay, Wisconsin. She can be reached at [email protected] Paula Hafeman, DNP, RN, is chief nurse executive at Hospital Sisters Health System–Eastern Wisconsin Division in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

Land-use and climatic causes of environmental novelty in Wisconsin since 1890.

Multiple global change drivers are increasing the present and future novelty of environments and ecological communities. However, most assessments of environmental novelty have focused only on future climate and were conducted at scales too broad to be useful for land management or conservation. Here, using historical county-level data sets of agricultural land use, forest composition, and climate, we conduct a regional-scale assessment of environmental novelty for Wisconsin landscapes from ca. 1890 to 2012. Agricultural land-use data include six cropland types, livestock densities for four livestock species, and human populations. Forestry data comprise biomass-weighted relative abundances for 15 tree genera. Climate data comprise seasonal means for temperature and precipitation. We found that forestry and land use are the strongest cause of environmental novelty (NoveltyForest =3.66, NoveltyAg =2.83, NoveltyClimate =1.60, with Wisconsin's forests transformed by early 20th-century logging and its legacies and multiple waves of agricultural innovation and obsolescence. Climate change is the smallest contributor to contemporary novelty, with precipitation signals stronger than temperature. Magnitudes and causes of environmental novelty are strongly spatially patterned, with novelty in southern Wisconsin roughly twice that in northern Wisconsin. Forestry is the most important cause of novelty in the north, land use and climate change are jointly important in the southwestern Wisconsin, and land use and forest composition are most important in central and eastern Wisconsin. Areas of high regional novelty tend also to be areas of high local change, but local change has not pushed all counties beyond regional baselines. Seven counties serve as the best historical analogues for over one-half of contemporary Wisconsin counties (40/72), and so can offer useful historical counterparts for contemporary systems and help managers coordinate to tackle similar environmental challenges. Multi-dimensional environmental novelty analyses, like those presented here, can help identify the best historical analogues for contemporary ecosystems, places where new management rules and practices may be needed because novelty is already high, and the main causes of novelty. Separating regional novelty clearly from local change and measuring both across many dimensions and at multiple scales thus helps advance ecology and sustainability science alike.

(361) Acupuncture: Could this be a Non-Narcotic Option to Improve Pain?

Acupuncture has been used for centuries by practitioners around the world for treatment of a variety of conditions. Even so, limited studies have evaluated the patient population that utilizes acupuncture. We aimed to explore the associations between patient characteristics and utilization of acupuncture services, as well as treatment outcomes. We conducted an exploratory retrospective study of adult patients in a large, eastern Wisconsin medical system that either (1) received acupuncture referral and treatment, (2) received acupuncture referral only, or (3) received treatment only, during 1/2005 - 6/2016. Basic descriptive statistics were performed. Chi-square tests were used to analyze the categorical variables, and t-tests were used to analyze the continuous variables. Among the 1,161 patients identified, 1,057 were seen for a pain related diagnosis of which 93.4% (987) were referred to acupuncture services. The majority of referrals for pain were ordered by primary care (40.5%) and orthopedic (37.3%) physicians. Those who were referred and attended a visit for pain (375; 35.5%) in comparison to those referred only were more likely to be older (57.0 vs 51.9 years; p=

Assessing subsistence and its relationship to cultural complexity in the late prehistoric upper Midwest: A new perspective provided by dental health.

Previous researchers have assumed that the Late Prehistoric Oneota were less reliant on maize agriculture than their Middle Mississippian neighbors to the south. This assumption is based on the idea that intensive maize agriculture is related to sociopolitical complexity, and that the climate of the Great Lakes region was less conducive to full-scale agriculture than that of the American Bottom. Here, we assess the diet of the Oneota using dental pathology to test the hypothesis that the Oneota in Eastern Wisconsin were highly reliant on maize agriculture. To test our hypothesis, skeletal remains representing 187 individuals and 1,102 teeth were examined from nine Oneota sites from the Middle Fox and Koshkonong Localities, as well as the Late Woodland/Middle Mississippian site of Aztalan. Dental caries, antemortem tooth loss (AMTL), and dental abscesses were assessed for each individual in the sample. Dental pathologies in the Oneota groups were compared to each other based on Locality and to the Aztalan population using chi-squared tests. Dental caries rates for the Oneota, based on the tooth count approach, were observed at 16.8% for the Middle Fox Locality, and 49% for the Koshkonong Locality. Comparatively, the Late Woodland/Middle Mississippian population from Aztalan had a tooth count rate of 19.5%. AMTL rates were similar across samples. Dental abscessing was universally low. The relatively high rate of dental caries among the Oneota is comparable to Middle Mississippian populations from throughout the Midwest, suggesting similar reliance on maize between the groups.

Assessing the environmental and dispersal controls onFagus grandifoliadistributions in the Great Lakes region

AbstractAimThis paper assesses the relative importance of environmental filtering and dispersal limitations as controls on the western range limit ofFagus grandifolia, a common mesic late‐successional tree species in the easternUnited States. We also test for differences in species–environment relationships between range‐edge populations ofF. grandifoliain eastern Wisconsin and core populations in Michigan. Because environmental conditions between the states differ moderately, while in Michigan dispersal presumably no longer limitsF. grandifoliadistributions,F. grandifoliaoffers a classic case study for biogeographers, foresters, and palaeoecologists interested in understanding processes governing species range limits.LocationWisconsin and Michigan,USA.TaxonFagus grandifolia.MethodsThis study combines historical datasets ofF. grandifoliafrom the Public Land Survey, environmental covariates from soil maps and historical climate data, three spatial scenarios of dispersal limitation, and five species distribution models (SDMs). We test dispersal limitation and environmental filtering hypotheses by assessingSDMtransferability between core and edge populations, measuring the importance of dispersal and environmental predictors, and using a residual autocovariate model to test for spatial processes not represented by these predictors.ResultsFagus grandifoliapresence was best predicted by total snowfall in Michigan and by dispersal, summer precipitation, and potential evapotranspiration (PET) in Wisconsin. Following the addition of dispersal as a predictor, most Wisconsin models improved and spatial autocorrelation effects largely disappeared. Transferability between core and edge populations was moderate to low.Main conclusionsBoth environmental and dispersal limitations appear to govern the western range limit ofF. grandifolia. Species–environment relationships differ between range‐edge and core populations, suggesting either stronger environmental filtering at the range edge or fine‐scale, spatially varying interactions between environmental factors governing moisture availability in core populations. Although lakes, like Lake Michigan, both moderate regional climates and act as dispersal barriers, these effects can be disentangled through the joint analysis ofSDMs and historic observational datasets.

Prediction of starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa) invasion risk in upper Midwest (USA) lakes using ecological niche models

Starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa; Characeae) is a freshwater macroalga that is considered an invasive species in North America and has only recently been identified in the upper Midwest states of Minnesota and Wisconsin (USA). While the current known extent of N. obtusa invasion in the Midwestern U.S. is limited, there is significant potential habitat for continued expansion and thus a pressing need to target surveillance and response efforts to limit further spread. Here we use data on N. obtusa presence and lake-level environmental conditions from locations in New York state to train a set of ecological niche models using three separate algorithms: random forests, boosted regression trees, and ecological niche factor analysis. These models were then used to predict habitat suitability and potential invasion risk for a set of ∼900 lakes in the upper Midwest using publicly available lake-level water quality data. Based on a cross-validation study we found that the random forest method provided the most accurate predictions, though only marginally better than boosted regression trees. Ecological niche factor analysis, while offering better than random predictions, had the highest cross-validation error rates. Though there were some inconsistencies between modeling approaches, all three tended to agree on regions of relatively high risk in central Minnesota and eastern Wisconsin and relatively low risk in north-central Wisconsin. However, there are inherent limitations to developing ecological niche models with data from one geographical region and predicting into a different region, thus there is a need for additional efforts to validate model predictions.

Copper and sulfur isotope ratios in Paleozoic-hosted Mississippi Valley-type mineralization in Wisconsin, USA

We provide the first Cu-isotope data for chalcopyrite in Paleozoic carbonate-hosted Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) mineralization, along with corresponding sulfur isotopes, for eastern Wisconsin, USA. Chalcopyrite in this region occurs mainly as disseminated crystals and is associated with regionally extensive dolomite-hosted subeconomic MVT mineralization on the western edge of the ancestral Michigan Basin. A narrow range in δ65Cu values (0 ± 0.5‰) for chalcopyrite is observed along a large region (125 km) of the western margin of the basin that is consistent with a homogeneous Cu-source in the crust with a δ65Cu composition near 0‰, along with limited redox modification during regional flow or hydrothermal precipitation processes. Cu and S-isotope values, in conjunction with existing lead, strontium, and sulfur isotope data from other sulfide minerals in the region, are consistent with a Precambrian source similar to parts of the Midcontinent Rift System, but distinct from some other Precambrian deposits in the region.

Implementing a Virtual Health Telemedicine Program in a Community Setting.

Aurora Health Care in eastern Wisconsin has a clinical genetics program driven by genetic counselors in the cancer/adult and prenatal genetics settings. In 2015, the workforce shortage of genetic counselors left us with 4 open positions for genetic counselors that we were unable to fill. We explored many models of alternative service delivery, and determined virtual health (VH) via telemedicine to be the best option for our system. Historically, telemedicine technologies have been used to provide access to healthcare services to patients in remote areas. We, however, were struggling to find genetics counselors to staff both our remote clinics and urban clinics. To solve this problem, we recruited genetic counselors from across the country to work remotely from their current home or home office utilizing VH to staff our clinics. We then created clinical workflows and an implementation process of virtual health for 9 prenatal and cancer clinics across the eastern Wisconsin footprint of our healthcare system over the course of 12months. Here we provide our experience and process in establishing a VH program in order to help other institutions that have been affected by the workforce shortage of clinical genetics professionals.

Chill out: physiological responses to winter ice-angling in two temperate freshwater fishes.

A large body of research has documented the stress response of fish following angling capture. Nearly all of these studies have taken place during the open-water season, with almost no work focused on the effects of capture in the winter via ice angling. We therefore conducted a study to examine physiological disturbance and reflex impairment following capture by ice-angling in two commonly targeted species, bluegill Lepomis macrochirus and yellow perch Perca flavescens. Fish were captured from a lake in eastern Wisconsin (USA) and sampled either immediately or after being held in tanks for 0.5, 2 or 4 h. Sampling involved the assessment of reflex action mortality predictors (RAMP) and a blood biopsy that was used to measure concentrations of plasma cortisol and lactate. The capture-induced increase in plasma cortisol concentration was delayed relative to responses documented in previous experiments conducted in the summer and reached a relative high point at 4 h post-capture. Reflex impairment was highest at the first post-capture time point (0.5 h) and declined with each successive sampling (2 and 4 h) during recovery. Bluegill showed a higher magnitude stress response than yellow perch in terms of plasma cortisol and RAMP scores, but not when comparing plasma lactate. Overall, these data show that ice-angling induces a comparatively mild stress response relative to that found in previous studies of angled fish. While recovery of plasma stress indicators does not occur within 4 h, declining RAMP scores demonstrate that ice-angled bluegill and yellow perch do recover vitality following capture.

Novel and Lost Forests in the Upper Midwestern United States, from New Estimates of Settlement-Era Composition, Stem Density, and Biomass.

BackgroundEuroAmerican land-use and its legacies have transformed forest structure and composition across the United States (US). More accurate reconstructions of historical states are critical to understanding the processes governing past, current, and future forest dynamics. Here we present new gridded (8x8km) reconstructions of pre-settlement (1800s) forest composition and structure from the upper Midwestern US (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and most of Michigan), using 19th Century Public Land Survey System (PLSS), with estimates of relative composition, above-ground biomass, stem density, and basal area for 28 tree types. This mapping is more robust than past efforts, using spatially varying correction factors to accommodate sampling design, azimuthal censoring, and biases in tree selection.Changes in Forest StructureWe compare pre-settlement to modern forests using US Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data to show the prevalence of lost forests (pre-settlement forests with no current analog), and novel forests (modern forests with no past analogs). Differences between pre-settlement and modern forests are spatially structured owing to differences in land-use impacts and accompanying ecological responses. Modern forests are more homogeneous, and ecotonal gradients are more diffuse today than in the past. Novel forest assemblages represent 28% of all FIA cells, and 28% of pre-settlement forests no longer exist in a modern context. Lost forests include tamarack forests in northeastern Minnesota, hemlock and cedar dominated forests in north-central Wisconsin and along the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and elm, oak, basswood and ironwood forests along the forest-prairie boundary in south central Minnesota and eastern Wisconsin. Novel FIA forest assemblages are distributed evenly across the region, but novelty shows a strong relationship to spatial distance from remnant forests in the upper Midwest, with novelty predicted at between 20 to 60km from remnants, depending on historical forest type. The spatial relationships between remnant and novel forests, shifts in ecotone structure and the loss of historic forest types point to significant challenges for land managers if landscape restoration is a priority. The spatial signals of novelty and ecological change also point to potential challenges in using modern spatial distributions of species and communities and their relationship to underlying geophysical and climatic attributes in understanding potential responses to changing climate. The signal of human settlement on modern forests is broad, spatially varying and acts to homogenize modern forests relative to their historic counterparts, with significant implications for future management.

Proceedings of 2016 Aurora Scientific Day

This supplement includes select abstracts presented at the 42nd annual Aurora Scientific Day research symposium, held May 25, 2016, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Aurora Scientific Day provides a forum for original research conducted by faculty, fellows, residents, students and other allied health professionals affiliated with Aurora Health Care, a not-for-profit health system comprised of integrated hospitals and clinics across eastern Wisconsin and northeastern Illinois.