North Fork Of White River Research Articles

Reassessment of the Turtle Community in the North Fork of White River, Ozark County, Missouri

In an effort to identify long-term changes in a river turtle community and its habitat, we reexamined the turtle community in a 4.6 km section of the North Fork of White River (NFWR), Ozark County, Missouri, that was previously studied between 1969 and 1980. We compared data collected in 2004 to data from 1969 and 1980 to determine if alterations in the habitat, community composition, or Northern Map Turtle (Graptemys geographica) population size and structure had occurred. Previous studies showed that the population of G. geographica declined between 1969 and 1980. Our results indicate that the population of G. geographica failed to rebound by 2004. The population of Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans) that established in the research section between 1971 and 1980 expanded their distribution between 1980 and 2004. Threats to the population of G. geographica included lack of basking sites, increased human recreational use of the stream, and water quality degradation.

Historical turtle population decline and community changes in an Ozark River

Turtle populations are declining worldwide yet few long term studies exist to confirm this trend. Mark-recapture data collected in 1969 and 1980 exist for the turtle community inhabiting a 4.6 km section of the North Fork of White River, Ozark County, Missouri. Using the available data, we compared the turtle communities and common map turtle (Graptemys geographica) populations observed in the research section in 1969 and 1980. Community composition changes indicated that red-eared sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), a native species that was not observed in the research section in 1969, became established in the research section by 1980. Population estimates for G. geographica indicated that the population declined significantly (N1969 = 274, N1980 = 139, z = 3.39, P < 0.001) between 1969 and 1980 and the decline was associated with a marked decrease in the number of large adult females. The loss of large adult female G. geographica suggested the decline may have been a result of targeted harvest for the food trade as females of this species attain much larger body sizes and would therefore be preferred for the food trade. The results of this study elucidate changes that occurred in a turtle community and provide a historical baseline for comparison with future studies of this community.

HEMATOLOGY AND SERUM CHEMISTRY OF OZARK AND EASTERN HELLBENDERS (CRYPTOBRANCHUS ALLEGANIENSIS)

Hellbenders are large aquatic salamanders. The Ozark subspecies is in decline through its range. This is the first comprehensive report on hematologic and serum chemistry for both Ozark and eastern hellbenders. Blood samples were analyzed for 25 parameters in 33 Ozark hellbenders from the North Fork of White River and the Eleven Point River in Missouri and 45 eastern hellbenders from the Davidson River- Looking Glass Creek in North Carolina and the Cooper Creek in Georgia. Each river was considered a population. In general, the majority of the blood parameters analyzed were similar between populations and subspecies for same-sex individuals, although a few significant differences were identified. The baseline data we acquired are important for future monitoring of hellbender populations, particularly as Ozark hellbender populations continue to age. HELLBENDERS (Cryptobranchus alleganien- sis) are large aquatic salamanders that inhabit cold streams and rivers of parts of the eastern United States. Two subspecies occur: eastern hellbenders (C. alleganiensis alleganiensis) and Ozark hellbenders (C. alleganiensis bishopi). The subspecies currently are distinguished by geographic region, with Ozark hellbenders only occurring in the White, Spring, Current, and Eleven Point Rivers and tributaries of south- eastern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas (Nickerson and Mays, 1973; Rogers, 2001). Ozark hellbenders have been declining with rare recruitment of young in the populations (Wheeler et al., 2003). A comparison of historical data from the late 1970s against more recent data from 1998 found a shift in size classes and a decline in population density in both rivers (Peterson, 1985; Wheeler et al., 2003). Though the causes of the decline remain to be elucidated, changes in abiotic and biotic factors have been observed in the hellbender habitat in some populations, including habitat degradation, erosion, chemical runoff, in- creased gigging activities (fishing with a pronged spear), heavy canoe traffic, and predation (Dundee, 1971; Humphries, 1999; Minton, 1972; Nickerson and Mays, 1973; Smith and

Noteworthy Records of Missouri Reptiles

Psegdemys cKJvcinna hieroglyphica (Holbrook), Slider X P. floridana hoyi (Agassiz), Missouri Slider. Two specimens were taken in Miller Co. during July, 1968. One (MAZG 1270) was collected within the city limits of Eldon near a drainage ditch; another (MAZG 1271) came from the Osage River near Tuscumbia. Two Ozark Co. specimens were collected in the North Fork of White River. One (MAZG 1272) was taken 23 July 1969 near the junction of Spring Creek; another (MAZG 1491) came from near Patrick Bridge ca. 4 mi. NW of Elijah in Aug., 1967. These specimens share characteristics of both P. f. hoyi and P. c hieroglyphica. Both Miller Co. specimens best fit ie description of the former. A large series of these turtles are needed to determine if Missouri's populations are not actually intermediate, i.e., P. c. hierogIyphica X P. f . hoRi as suggested by Crenshaw in Illincyis (Smii, 1961 ) . Turtles of this complex have been observed by one of us (Nickerson) in Camden Co. (Lake of the Ozarks near Lake Ozark) and Cole Co. (Osage River near Henley).

An Authentic “Problematical” from the Ozarks

In the spring of 1948 during an archaeological survey of the headwaters of the Lake Norfork Reservoir Area on the North Fork of White River in Ozark County, Missouri, an unusual flint object was found. This artifact, illustrated as Figure 35A, was picked up on the surface of a prehistoric Indian village on the left bank of the North Fork of the White River about 1/4 mile below Tecumseh, Missouri. The only other object found on this site, other than flint chips, flakes, and spalls, was what appears to be a long slender projectile point, B in Figure 35. The owner of the land, since deceased, had picked up a fragment of a full-grooved limestone ax while cultivating the field many years before.The problematical form appears to have been made from a short, stubby projectile point of quartzite, a stone commonly utilized by the prehistoric Indians of Ozark County.