Science & Ecological Papers (SEPP)
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Wetland Science and Policy
by
Publication Date: 2019Wetlands are complex ecosystems that support wildlife and provide many important ecosystem services. This article provides information on the state of Illinois wetlands through the use of data collected by the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP). CTAP is an ongoing statewide survey of Illinois' natural resources that has been collecting data in Illinois wetlands since 1997. Topics that are covered in this article include: Descriptions of Illinois wetlands and their history, trends in wetland plant and arthropod communities, invasive species in Illinois wetlands, encroachment of woody plants into herbaceous wetland communities, and climate change. Recommendations for the conservation of wetlands in Illinois are also provided.
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Ecosystem Conservation and Management in an Era of Global Climate Change
Publication Date: 2017
This document discusses how a changing climate might affect natural ecosystems in Illinois, how changes might impact the ability of people to protect and manage ecosystems, how land managers might respond to a changing climate, and how biological data collected by the Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP) will help guide decisions to conserve and manage Illinois’ biodiversity. -
Grassland Conservation and Management
Publication Date: 2010
Once the dominant ecosystem in Illinois, prairie is largely forgotten and almost non-existent in our agricultural and urbanized landscape. This paper presents a brief history of prairie in Illinois, the current status of Illinois grasslands, and finally, some recommendations for grassland conservation and management. -
Forest Conservation and Management
Publication Date: 2009
Forests in our agricultural or urbanized landscapes are especially vulnerable to degradation. Since 1997, the CTAP biological monitoring program has systematically studied Illinois’ forests. This brochure summarizes the best science and data available regarding four major aspects of forest conservation and management. The last pages provide management recommendations.