Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Wetland Program Development Grant No. CD-00E00963-0

In order to evaluate overall ecological health and function of seasonal and semi-permanent wetlands in Illinois, we will sample 240 wetlands distributed across 60 state managed lands over three field seasons (2012-2014; see attached map for preliminary site locations). During each field season, we will conduct sampling on 20 state managed properties and 4 wetlands will be sampled at each site (n = 80 wetlands per season). At each wetland surveys will be conducted during four time periods over a five month span (February-June) to increase the probability of species detection. Additionally, due to fluctuations in population sizes, variability in breeding phenologies, and suspected detection rates between taxonomic groups (i.e. rare species have lower detection rates than common species), wetlands will be sampled for three nights per period (n =12 total samples in a season). By repeatedly sampling wetlands during the field season, we can estimate occupancy and detection rates using program PRESENCE 3.1. Each state managed property (and associated wetlands) will be sampled during only one field season to increase the number of overall sites sampled during the study and all wetlands will be located on Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) managed properties to ensure accessibility. Wetland health and function will be assessed by examining three critical components of wetlands ecosystems: 1) Amphibian diversity and abundance; 2) Reptile diversity and abundance; and 3) Macroinvertebrate diversity and abundance. Each of these primary components will Date: 04 January 2012 Revision 0 9 be incorporated into an index of biological integrity (IBI) to determine how well the wetland is functioning within the ecosystem.