Kansas Fish Research Articles

Mercury in Kansas Fish: Levels, Patterns, and Risk-Based Safe Consumption Limits for Mercury Sensitive Individuals

In wet environments a portion of ambient inorganic mercury (Hg) is transformed to methylmercury (MeHg); a neurotoxin that readily concentrates in fish. Public health entities monitor Hg levels in fish to inform consumers of the types and amounts of fish that are safe to eat. In this study, monitoring data collected from stream and lakes across Kansas were used to summarize fillet tissue total mercury (THg = MeHg + Hg) levels in 36 fish species and hybrids. Data associated with eleven food fish taxa (genus and species) were presented in detail and statewide risk-based monthly safe consumption limits (SCLs) protective of Hg sensitive individuals were calculated, including two size categories (< or ≥ 508 mm) for larger growing taxa. Linear mixed effects models (LMEMs) were used to generate least squares (LS) mean fish THg values for between habitat (lakes and streams) and within habitat (waterbody size, ecoregion, and major river basin) categorical variables, and for individual sample sites. Sample site LS means were used to identify potential fish THg hotspots among lakes (LS means ≥ 90th percentile) and streams (Getis-Ord Gi* statistic). Across all samples (n = 2,106) a more than 200-fold difference existed between the highest (2.1 mg/kg) and lowest THg (0.01 mg/kg) concentrations, but most samples were below the Kansas Department of Health and Environment's (KDHE) human health screening level (HSL) (0.23 mg/kg). Statewide safe consumption limits ranged from 1 meal/month in ≥ 508 mm flathead catfish to 8 meals/mo. in crappie spp. Least squares mean fish THg was significantly higher in streams than lakes, and significantly higher in small lakes (< 10 surface acres) than larger lakes. Stream size did not affect fish THg levels. In both lakes and streams, ecoregion and major river basin significantly affected fish THg levels with higher levels more prevalent in eastern geographic areas. Lakes identified as potential fish THg hotspots were widely distributed throughout the study area, but all stream hotspot sites were clustered in the southeast portion of the state.

Lost from Oz? Status of the Sunflower State's Ozarkian Fish Fauna

There are 10 native Kansas fish species that occur only in the Spring River subbasin (SRS) and nowhere else in the state, which we term Kansas` Ozarkian fish fauna. Eight of these fishes are listed as species in need of conservation (SINC), highlighting their conservation value. The temporal trends and current statuses of Kansas` Ozarkian fishes is unclear, and as such our objective was to assess the historic and current prevalence of these species. We accomplished our objective by compiling historic data from three datasets distributed across three time periods (i.e., 1962-1964; 1993-1995; 1995-2013), which we then compared to data we collected in the SRS during 2017-2020. We calculated occupancy and relative abundance for each species during each of the four time periods, then we visualized changes in prevalence over time. We found that all species were a relatively rare component of the SRS fish assemblage as indicated by their low occupancies and relative abundances across all four time periods, yet some species were rarer than others. Among Kansas's Ozarkian fishes, the Spotfin Shiner and Northern Hog Sucker were the most prevalent and exhibited stable trends. The Banded Sculpin, Sunburst Darter, and Striped Shiner were the rarest and exhibited declining trends, and the Highland Darter and Ozark Minnow exhibited intermediate prevalence and stability. Finally, the Black Redhorse was always rare across all four time periods, and the Least Darter and Plains Topminnow had not been detected in Kansas since 1963. Even though Kansas` Ozarkian fishes currently have a similar conservation listing of SINC or not listed, our research indicated that the Black Redhorse, Highland Darter, and Ozark Minnow may require uplisting to threatened, and that the Banded Sculpin, Striped Shiner, and Sunburst Darter may require uplisting to endangered. Taking action by propagating and repatriating the remaining Ozarkian fishes to their historical ranges in Kansas, coupled with other conservation measures, may help prevent these fishes from ending up like the fictional character, Dorothy, such that they are not in Kansas anymore.

Impact on Base Population Density and Hunter Performance of Stocking with Pen-Raised Bobwhite

In 1962, the Kansas Fish and Game Commission initiated an investigation to determine the effect of semiannual releases of pen-raised bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) on population densities of native wild quail populations, on availability of birds to hunters, and on hunter success.Stocking during spring resulted in 7% fewer birds in the fall population on the stocked area than on the control area. Stocking during fall resulted in 14% more birds, at the time hunting season began, on the stocked area than on the control area. Neither of these differences were statistically significant, and it is concluded that there was no significant difference attributable to stocking between population densities of stocked and control areas. On the stocked area, however, there was a significant net increase of 25% in population density between the fall census period and the preseason census period. It is concluded that the density-depressing influence of spring stocking combined with the density-elevating influence of fall stocking, on the stocked area, produced a significant increase, attributable to stocking, between the population density preceding fall release and the population density preceding the hunting season. It is further concluded that in the comparison of preseason population densities for the treatment and control areas, the depressing effect of spring stocking and the elevating effect of fall stocking resulted in a treatment-area population that was significantly larger than that found on the unstacked control area.Some pen-raised birds established themselves as a part of the population on the stocked area, but there was not a proportional increase in population density. There were fewer native quail on the area when treated with semiannual stocking than when under control condition. The difference in density of native birds between stocked and control areas was not statistically significant. Stocking significantly increased hunter success by 30% and 35% on areas in Cherokee and Linn Counties, respectively, but the number of coveys flushed per hour was not significantly increased by stocking pen-raised quail.

Current status of native fish species in Kansas

A re-evaluation of the status of fishes in Kansas suggests that 54 of the 116 native species should be assigned special conservation status due to substantial declines in distribution or abundance and/or their rarity in the state. Nine species are recommended for retention in their existing status of endangered, threatened, or species in need of conservation. We recommend elevated conservation status for 44 additional species, and provide information on trends in distribution and abundance for these taxa. A single species, the Arkansas River Shiner, Notropis girardi, is considered to be extirpated recently from Kansas.

Recent Surveys of Fishes from Western Kansas

Twenty-four species of fishes are reported from qualitative surveys of rarely collected streams in the Republican River basin of Cheyenne County, the Smoky Hill River system of Wallace County, the Salt Fork Arkansas River drainage of Barber and Comanche counties, and a pond in the Saline River basin of Trego County in Kansas. Special reference is made to protected species in Kansas, distributional records, and future considerations. Few comprehensive surveys of the fishes from streams in western Kansas have been conducted and reported in the literature. Surveys by personnel of the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks (Kansas Fish & Game Comm., 1977, 1978, 1979a, 1979b) provide most of the recent information available for the stream systems included here, but there were a limited number of collection sites in some drainages and voucher specimens are lacking. In addition to these studies, Cross et al. (1985) thoroughly summarized the known collections from the Arkansas River and its tributaries. General compilations of previous collections from the areas of western Kansas sampled by us in 1986-1988 can be found in Cross (1967), Cross and Collins (1975), and supplements by Collins and Caldwell (1978) and Collins (1981). From 1986 through 1988, qualitative surveys of fishes were conducted from six sites in the Upper Republican River drainage of Cheyenne County, three sites in the Smoky Hill River drainage of Wallace County, ten sites in the Salt Fork Arkansas River drainage of Barber and Comanche counties, and one site in the Saline River basin of Trego County (Fig. 1). MATERIALS AND METHODS Collections were made with single-panel seines of several lengths with 6.49.5 mm ace mesh and a 14 m bag seine with 6 m panels (9.5 mm mesh) This content downloaded from 157.55.39.224 on Sat, 27 Aug 2016 06:06:36 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Arikaree R. Saline R. Pond* WaKeeney Cherry Cr. El St. F ancis Ellis

Prevalence of Rabies in the Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in Kansas from 1966 to 1986

Prevalence of Rabies in the Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis) in Kansas from 1966 to 1986

Distributional Records of Some Kansas Fishes

Collections from a series of aquatic surveys and other recently curated specimens in the Museum of the High Plains at Fort Hays State University included noteworthy records of the distributions of fishes in Kansas. Range extensions (RE) expand the known range of a species, and in this account, range confirmations (RC) redocument the presence of threatened, endangered, or rarely collected taxa. Voucher specimens are housed in the Fort Hays State University Museum of the High Plains (MHP) and the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History (KU). The proposed 1987 revision of the list of species considered to be endangered, threatened, or in need of conservation in Kansas was used to denote those species in this account.

New Distributional Records of the Rosyface Shiner and Slender Madtom in Kansas

A new distributional record in Geary County for the slender madtom (Noturus exilis) was documented by Layher and Wood (1986). That record consisted of one specimen (KU 21086) captured on 18 May 1984 from East Branch Humboldt Creek. A second specimen (KU 21424) was taken on 22 April 1986 by Layher and Wood from Davis Creek, Geary County, E 1/2 Sec. 2, T13S, R6E. This collection contained five other species: central stoneroller, Campostoma anomalum, (1 specimen; KU 21417); common shiner, Notropis cornutus (1 specimen; KU 21418); southern redbelly dace, Phoxinus erythrogaster (3 specimens; KU 21422); creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus (1 specimen; KU 21423); and orangethroat darter, Etheostoma spectabile (1 specimen; KU 21425). The collection from Davis Creek also included three specimens of the rosyface shiner (Notropis rubellus) (KU 21420), and one hybrid, N. rubellus x N. cornutus (KU 21419). These represent the first record of the rosyface shiner in Geary County. Another collection on 22 April 1986, from Dry Creek in Sec. 17, T16S, R7E, Geary County, also contained rosyface shiners (2 specimens; KU 21413). Other fishes in that collection were the topeka shiner, Notropis topeka (1 specimen; KU 21414); redfin shiner, Notropis umbratilis (1 specimen; KU 21415); and orangethroat darter (1 specimen; KU 21416). Collections from numerous other streams in Geary County during the same week did not include either the rosyface shiner or the slender madtom. Previous stream surveys by the Kansas Fish and Game Commission, chiefly in the 1970's, provided no evidence of the occurrence of either species in Geary County (Layher and Brunson, 1986). The rosyface shiner and slender madtom normally inhabit permanently flowing, clear, upland streams with alternating pools and limestone riffles. In the Kansas River basin, both species are most abundant in Flint Hills streams, especially those of the Mill Creek drainage in Wabaunsee County (Metcalf, 1965; Cross, 1967). The Geary County sites are farther west in the Kansas River basin than any localities previously known for either species, but are within the Flint Hills upland; populations of both may long have

New County Records for Fishes in Kansas

In 1984, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) initiated a two year pilot study of fish communities in Kansas streams to evaluate the utility of fish community data as an indicator of both water quality and attainable use of these streams. Cross and Collins (1975) summarized the distribution of fish in Kansas. This report lists 26 new county records which are documented by the collections made in 1984, the first year of the KDHE study. Voucher specimens are deposited in the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence. Listings include the scientific and common names of species, locality of collection and the KU Museum catalogue number.

The Kansas Black Bass Tournament Monitoring Program

The Kansas Black Bass (Micropterus spp.) Tournament Monitoring Program was begun by the Kansas Fish and Game Commission in 1977 to collect black bass catch information from bass clubs in the state. Data from approximately one-quarter of all club tournaments held each year in Kansas were voluntarily reported by bass club anglers. This information has been collected at little expense to the agency and has proven reliable for documentation of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) structure and density. These data have been used to monitor statewide trends in largemouth bass populations, to document population trends in individual impoundments, and to determine the impacts of management efforts. This program has also facilitated communication with bass clubs, benefitting the agency in the process.

Summary of Reported Fish Kills in Kansas during 1983

Sixty-five fish kill incidents were reported to the Kansas Fish and Game Commission during 1983. These involved nearly a quarter million individual fish mortalities representing a monetary worth of about $160,000. The mean number of mortalities per incident was 1608 with an associated mean loss value of $1,150. Pond kills comprised the most frequent water body class investigated with 35 reports being received. Streams suffered the most significant fish mortalities with two reaches in western Kansas sustaining estimated losses of nearly 370,000 fish because of water depletion. This constituted over 80 percent of all fish mortalities from all reported fish kills in 1983. Natural phenomena exceeded all other sources in causing fish kills. Problems stemming from agricultural origins contributed to a large majority of total fish mortalities. INTRODUCTION AND PROCEDURES The Kansas Fish and Game Commission (KFGC) and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) cooperate in investigating and reporting fish kill and water pollution incidents. Procedures for this interagency coordination are described in a memorandum of understanding signed by both agencies on 22 July 1982. This document outlines specific responsibilities of KFGC staff to estimate fish mortalities in the event of natural or man-caused fish kills. The primary responsibility of KDHE staff is to obtain necessary evidence and conduct sufficient investigations to determine the cause of the fish kill. The KFGC has collected and maintained yearly information on fish kills since 1960 with summaries of pertinent data being provided to KDHE and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for their respective reporting needs. Field techniques for estimating fish mortalities and corresponding monetary values followed procedures described in "Monetary Values of Freshwater Fish and Fish-Kill Counting Guidelines" (American Fisheries Society, 1982). Suspected causes and pollution sources are based on best available This content downloaded from 157.55.39.163 on Wed, 21 Sep 2016 04:39:03 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Table 1. Summary of 1983 fish kills in chronological order. Severity Numbers of Source Body of water County Date Miles or acres affected of kill fish killed Value of fish killed category" Specific cause of fish kill Pomona Reservoir Osage 1-24 NAb NA 300 NA O Reservoir releases stilling basin Lake Waltana Sedgwick 2-14 NA NA NA NA N Normal gizzard shad die off Coffee Creek Johnson 2-14 NA NA NA NA I Discharge of crude oil by vandals Fourmile Creek Butler 3-13 5 miles moderate 420 $ 185.70 A Feedlot discharge Chase State Fishing Chase 3-14 109 acres light 10,051 2721.33 N Winter kill Lake Pond (Anschutz) Russell 4-15 NA total NA NA I Brine from disposal well Pond (McMurry) Crawford 4-25 1 acre moderate 260 296.73 I Mined land drainage Pond (Sump) Clay 4-25 3.80 acres light 36 150.58 A Pesticide (atrazine) Ponds (Turnes) (2) Reno 5-1 0.25 acres moderate 201 83.30 N Overstocked Pond (Cedar Lake Sedgwick 5-3 1.50 acres heavy 510 424.32 U Unknown Townhouses) Pond (Porter) Cheyenne 5-6 NA NA NA NA N Disease (fungus infection) Pond (golfcourse) Cheyenne 5-6 NA NA NA NA U Unknown Neosho River Morris 5-7 1 mile light 35 9.50 U Unknown Pond (Christiansen) Cherokee 5-7 4 acres light 97 73.58 U Unknown Pond (Pitts) Reno 5-16 1 acre moderate 200 814.00 U Unknown Lake Jivaro Shawnee 5-16 50 acres NA 2000+ NA N Disease (bacterial or fungus infection) Pond (Wise) Miami 5-18 0.80 acre moderate 225 915.75 N Overstocked and disease (Ich) Sarcoxic Lake Leavenworth 5-20 27 acres light 190 285.15 N Disease (bacterial infection) Augusta City Lake Butler 5-24 180 acres light 135 144.50 U Unknown ,? 0 C? t"l

Aquatic Macroinvertebrates and Fishes of Big Creek in Trego, Ellis, and Russell Counties, Kansas

Seven taxa of aquatic invertebrates and 27 species of fish are reported from a biological survey of Big Creek in Trego, Ellis, and Russell counties, Kansas conducted during 1983 and 1984. The present fauna is compared to previous faunal surveys. A biological survey of Big Creek was conducted in Trego, Ellis, and Russell counties, Kansas during 1983 and 1984. The objective of the study was to determine the species of fish and selected taxa of aquatic invertebrates that inhabit the stream and to compare this information with previous accounts published since 1870. The channel of Big Creek originates in northwestern Gove County and courses to the southeast through Trego, Ellis, and southwestern Russell counties where it joins the Smoky Hill River. The portion of the channel that normally has flowing water in the spring extends from central Trego County through Ellis County to the confluence with the Smoky Hill River. Big Creek is an intermittent stream, and during the summer, fall, and early winter, the stream often is composed of isolated pools throughout most of its length. The bottom substrate is sand, silt, or gravel. The pH varies from 7.0 to 8.5 and specific conductance usually is between 280 and 2150 micromhos per centimeter at 25 degrees C (U.S. Geological Survey, 1964-1975, 1970-1983; Kansas Fish and Game Comm., 1979). A relatively large dam at Ellis in western Ellis County impounds approximately 100 surface acres of water when the pool is full and provides a unique habitat on the stream for some species of fish and other aquatic organisms that would otherwise be absent from Big Creek. Smaller dams and low-water bridges have been built in the area from Hays, in central Ellis County, to southwestern Russell County. These structures create pools of water in the summer and fall which enable fish and other organisms to survive in the creek as water levels decline, but the dams also have the This content downloaded from 157.55.39.231 on Wed, 05 Oct 2016 04:30:18 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms VOLUME 89, NUMBERS 3-4 147 Table 1. Species of macroinvertebrates from Big Creek previously reported and collected during the 1983-1984 survey. Previous reports 1983-1984 survey

Collections of Threatened, Endangered, and Unique Fish Species in Kansas Streams: Year 1982

Collections of threatened, endangered and unique species are discussed along with general habitat characteristics at collection sites. Documentation of locations of collections of threatened and endangered species is necessary to properly administer laws and regulations governing protection of those species and their habitats. Personnel of the Kansas Fish and Game Commission's Environmental Services Section routinely conduct environmental reviews of various developmental projects. Such projects include, but are not limited to: bridge repair or replacement, pipeline alignments, hydropower projects, transmission line routings, stream channel modifications, and stream bank stabilization efforts. An important part of the environmental review, is an on-site assessment of proposed projects that occur within the probable range of state threatened or endangered species as listed in K.A.R. 23-17-1. Projects that impact listed species or their habitats must be issued a special permit as required by K.A.R. 23-17-2. For proper enforcement of laws and regulations pertaining to state-listed threatened and endangered species, up-to-date knowledge of their distribution is required. Current Fish and Game Commission records and Cross' 1967 publication on Kansas fishes form the basis for determining need for on-site assessments. Specimens of listed fish species, as well as other unique species, are often collected, when local populations will not be affected, and delivered to the University of Kansas Museum of Natural History for verification of identification and placement in the state collection housed there. In addition to distributional information obtained during on-site assessments, specific habitat data recorded where fish collections are made will eventually lead to improved impact analyses of proposed development projects. Habitat requirements for many of the state's threatened, endangered, and unique species are not well known. All information obtained concerning habitat requirements will aid the Commission in providing input to projects

New Distributional Records for Some Kansas Fishes

The physical, chemical, and biological natures of streams are constantly changing. Along with these transformations, fish communities shift over time, favoring species more adaptable to new environments. Probably more important than short-term disruptions of native stream fish populations are major ecosystem alterations, for example, extensive channel and flow modifications, or long-term subtle disturbances such as water quality degradations due to nutrient loading and suspended solid concentrations. From a biological and historical viewpoint, it is important to document changes in the fish fauna of streams that may be because of these disturbances. This article presents new fish species distributional accounts as a result of completion of a long-term survey of most of the streams in Kansas by the Kansas

Distribution and Status of Strecker's Chorus Frog (Pseudacris streckeri streckeri) in Kansas

Distribution and Status of Strecker's Chorus Frog (Pseudacris streckeri streckeri) in Kansas

Calculation of Stock Density Indices Based on Adjustments for Efficiency of Gill-Net Mesh Size

Abstract This project was designed to allow adjustment in length-frequency calculations for walleye (Stizo-stedion vitreum), white bass (Morone chrysops), and gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum), based on the efficiency of the gill-net mesh size. Such adjustments in length frequency have effects on calculation of Proportional Stock Density (PSD) and Relative Stock Density (RSD). Mesh-size efficiencies of the standard gill-net complement used by the Kansas Fish and Game Commission were determined by plotting absolute catch of these three species in 25-, 38-, and 64-mm mesh (bar measure) monofilament gill nets. Catches in 19-, 32-, and 51-mm nets also were plotted to ensure that fish were available at lengths in the valleys between the peaks (effective catch) of the standard complement catch. An adjustment line was plotted from peak to peak of absolute catch in the three mesh sizes (adjusted for effort). Correction factors up to this adjustment line were developed by centimeter length groups for all three sp...

County Records for Two Mustelids in Kansas

Southward dispersal of the least weasel in Kansas has been well documented (Choate et al., 1979). No previous specimens have been reported from Rooks County (Bee et al., 1981). On 23 April 1982, a female least weasel was obtained by Mr. Phil Hinger at a place 51/2 mi N, 41/2 mi E Plainville (W1/2 sec. 34, T.8S, R.17W) between Elm Creek and Medicine Creek, both tributaries of the Kansas River System. Mr. Hinger stated that he had taken the weasel from his dog. The specimen was given to Ron Little and Scott Hanzlicek of the Kansas Fish and Game Commission, who subsequently gave it to the Museum of the High Plains, Fort Hays State University (MHP 20931). External measurements (in mm) of the specimen are: total length, 186; length of tail, 27; length of hind foot, 20; length of ear from notch, 10. The animal was in summer pelage. The nearest other records of occurrence are approximately 30 mi N, 6/2 mi E in Phillips County, and 71/2 mi N, 151/2 mi E in Osborne County (Choate et al., 1979). This specimen represents not only the first occurrence of this species in Rooks County, but also the westernmost locality of record for this species in the state.

New County Records for Kansas Fishes and Amphibians

A survey of fishes and amphibians in, and adjacent to, the western portion of the Arkansas River in Kansas was conducted for the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque (contract DACW 47-80-M-0605) in July 1980. Several new county records and one range extension (based on Collins, 1982, and Cross and Collins, 1975) for fishes and amphibians are given below. All of these specimens have been deposited in the Museum of Natural History, University of Kansas, Lawrence (KU). The number of individuals of each species and the KU number are indicated in parentheses following the locality.

Zooplankton Changes in a Kansas Lake 1963–1981

ABSTRACT The limnetic microcrustacean fauna of Lake Reading, located near Emporia, Kansas, now consists of 11 species of copepods and 18 species of cladocerans, with the Copepoda usually constituting at least 70 % of the adult and immature individuals observed in samples. The average annual standing crops from April 1979 to August 1981 ranged from 11.1 to 18.6 individuals per liter for the copepods compared to 5.4 to 7.7 cladocerans per liter. Leptodora kindti and Daphnia galeata mendotae have become established in the lake since 1975, and the abundance of Bosmina longirostris has declined markedly since the appearance of L. kindti. Trial stocking of the threadfin shad by Kansas Fish and Game fisheries biologists during the last two years of this study was accompanied by severe reductions in zoo-plankton abundance by late summer.

Diet of Pronghorn in Western Kansas

Pronghorn were common throughout most of Kansas before settlement of the region by European man. They had begun to decline in numbers, even in sparsely populated western Kansas, by 1877, and were nearly extirpated in the state by 1915. However, small herds of pronghorn persisted along the Kansas-Colorado state line, and these were augmented by herds introduced into several regions of Kansas during the years 1964-1979. The diet of the most successful population of pronghorn in western Kansas was found to consist largely of forbs in late spring, summer, and early autumn, of forbs supplemented with wheat and other dicots in late autumn and early spring, and of wheat in winter. Pronghorn are able to live and reproduce where 30% of the land is used for cultivated crops at least in part because they are able to use those crops as food during months when native foods are in short supply. The pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) was a characteristic inhabitant of the High Plains of Kansas before settlement of that region by European man (Brennan 1932). Early biologists (Allen 1874, Knox 1875) and professional trappers (Mead 1899) commented on their distribution, abundance, and seasonal movements on the plains of Kansas. However, records kept at the Fort Hays Military Reservation (Choate and Fleharty 1975) suggested that pronghorn had begun to decline in number by 1877. This decline continued until, in 1905, Lantz noted that the species was Fast disappearing in spite of a law to protect it. By 1912 the only report of pronghorn in Kansas was of three individuals seen in the southwestern corner of the state (Kellogg 1915). For the next 50 years, pronghorn were considered extirpated or extremely rare in Kansas (e.g. Cockrum 1952) although small herds periodically were seen in western counties (Nelson 1925). In 1962 the Kansas Fish and Game Commission conducted a census and located 37 pronghorn in Wallace and Sherman counties near the Colorado state line. This discovery led to formulation of plans to reestablish breeding populations of pronghorn in the state. Subsequently, the Kansas Fish and Game Commission introduced herds from Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana. However, much of the prairie in Kansas had been either fenced for livestock grazing or plowed for crop production, and it thus was questionable whether the dietary and habitat requirements of pronghorn could be met in a patchwork of rangeland and cultivated crops. Although the introductions have proven successful (Choate and Sexson 1980), at least in westernmost Kansas, it still is not known how the available habitat has satisfied the dietary requirements of pronghorn. The objectives of the study, therefore, were to determine the diet of the most successful population of pronghorn in Kansas, and to speculate regarding the prospect for pronghorn in the state. Authors, when the research was conducted, were graduate student in the Department of Biological Sciences, Director and Curator of Mammals for the Museum of the High Plains, and associate professor of botany, Fort Hays State University, Hays, Kansas 67601. Sexson is presently wildlife biologist for the Kansas Fish and Game Commission, Garden City, Kansas 67846. Partial financial support for this study was provided by the Kansas Fish and Game Commission. E. Swortz and F. Goodwin allowed access to their land; B.E. Dahl and G. Scott of Texas Tech University performed fecal analyses; and S.B. George, M.D. Engstrom, R.C. Dowler, and D. Price assisted with fieldwork. Manuscript received February 4, 1980. 100 97 I-----------~-----r---n--n-----------r-