The lilliput is listed as an endangered species in Michigan. - USFWS Photo by Steven F. Kahl

The round goby is an introduced aquatic nuisance species discovered in refuge waters in 2008. - USFWS Photo by Steven F. Kahl

A digiscoped picture of the black-bellied whistling-duck, facing right in center of photo, mingling with a flock of mallards. - USFWS Photo by David J. Peters

In many respects, Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge is like an ark for wildlife in Mid Michigan.  Indeed, an aerial view of the refuge reveals a large patch of habitat bounded by a sea of agricultural fields and residential development.  Staff, volunteers, and cooperative researchers found thirty-six species previously unknown on the refuge in 2008.  These plants and animals will continue to have a place to live as surrounding areas become less suitable to survive.

Many species were found incidentally while conducting refuge operations.  However, the refuge made a targeted effort to learn more about its freshwater mussels.  This effort yielded eighteen new species for the refuge, including lilliput (state-listed endangered), pink papershell (state-listed threatened), and ellipse (state-listed special concern).

Perhaps the most unusual new species was the black-bellied whistling duck.  One was seen for three days at the refuge by staff.  This is only the second record for this species in Michigan.  The very northern edge of its range is typically in southern Texas and Arizona.  The bird may have been caught in the remnants of Hurricane Ike which traveled from the Gulf Coast to the Midwest just prior to the bird being found.

One new species was found as a direct result of habitat restoration efforts on the refuge.  Two singing male grasshopper sparrows set up territories in a 110-acre field restored to native prairie vegetation.  This site was previously a soybean field.  The restoration was completed via a North American Wetlands Conservation Act Grant in partnership with Ducks Unlimited.

Most new discoveries were welcome additions to the list of plant and animal species that use the refuge.  However, five are nonindigenous invasives that compete with native species and degrade habitats.  The emerald ash borer has colonized the refuge and its impacts on green ash and forest health are spreading rapidly.  Two aquatic invaders, rusty crayfish and round goby, were found during a study of northern pike use of wetland impoundments.  Only one crayfish was found, but several gobies were captured, indicating they are here to stay.  Two other aquatic nuisance species, zebra mussel and Asian clam, were found during the mussel survey.

Altogether, 1,006 species of organisms have been identified on the refuge, including 27 fungi, 292 vascular plants, 311 invertebrate fauna, 47 fish, 10 amphibians, 10 reptiles, 280 birds, and 29 mammals.  The complete list of additions includes:

pin oak - Quercus palustris

predaceous diving beetle - Dytiscidae

emerald ash borer - Agrilus planipennis

mosquito - Aedes abserratus

mosquito - Aedes provocans

mosquito - Aedes punctor

mosquito - Orthopodomyia signifera

shaggy-legged gallinipper - Psorophora ciliata

hickory hairstreak - Satyrium caryaevorum

striped hairstreak - Satyrium liparops

common ringlet - Coenonympha tullia

powdered dancer - Argia moesta

green-striped grasshopper - Chortophaga viridifasciata

straight-lanced meadow katydid - Conocephalus strictus

mucket - Actinonaias ligamentina

spike - Elliptio dilatata

Wabash pigtoe - Fusconaia flava

plain pocketbook - Lampsilis cardium

fatmucket - Lampsilis siliquoidea

fluted-shell - Lasmigona costata

fragile papershell - Leptodea fragilis

pondmussel - Ligumia subrostrata

pink heelsplitter - Potamilus alatus

pink papershell - Potamilus ohensis

pimpleback - Quadrula pustulosa

lilliput - Toxolasma parvus

paper pondshell - Utterbackia imbecillis

ellipse - Venustaconcha ellipsiformis

rainbow - Villosa iris

fingernail clam - Sphaeriidae

Asian clam - Corbicula fluminea

zebra mussel - Dreissena polymorpha

rusty crayfish - Orconectes rusticus

round goby - Neogobius melanostomus

northern water snake – Nerodia sipedon

black-bellied whistling-duck – Dendrocygna autumnalis

northern saw-whet owl – Aegolius acadicus

grasshopper sparrow – Ammodramus savannarum