Project Title: Evaluating the Status of Cicadas in Illinois and Their Importance as Indicators for Grassland Conservation
Community and/or Species Focus: Cicadas
Goals/Objectives:
- Continue development of habitat assessment tools from project T-92-R1
- Utilize aforementioned tools to assess recent and long-term restorations of prairies
- Identify current status of cicada species in Illinois
- Determine habitat connectivity between potentially isolated populations of cicadas using genetics and other measures
- Develop cicada identification and monitoring resources for land managers and the public
Achievements:
- Establishment of useful habitat assessment tools from previous project T-92-R1, including a Butterfly Quality Index and habitat heterogeneity structural quality index
- Test studies that assess remnant, recent, and long-term restorations of prairies
- Current status of cicada species in Illinois
- Data on habitat connectivity and population size among potentially isolated populations of 3 focal cicada species found in prairies
- Documents including identification tools and images of all cicada species, their temporal activity, call pattern, and maps of their distribution
Post-Project Survey (if applicable): n/a
Project Period: 9/1/18 - 8/31/21
Principle Investigator(s): Sam Heads (Illinois Natural History Survey)
Final Report: Project is currently underway; "Achievements" are projections of what is to be accomplished.
