Inventory & Monitoring at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield

Each park-specific page in the NPS Geodiversity Atlas provides basic information on the significant geologic features and processes occurring in the park.

To steward amphibians effectively, managers need basic information about which species live in parks. But species lists need constant maintenance to remain accurate. Due to recent efforts, the National Park Service now has an up-to-date amphibian species checklist for almost 300 parks. This information can serve as the basis for innumerable conservation efforts across the nation.

Deer are charismatic creatures at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield. Without natural predators, deer can become overpopulated and die of disease and starvation, as well as have a negative effect on trees and other plants by overbrowsing. The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network has monitored deer on the park since 2005 to help park managers manage deer, conserve park ecosystems, and assess safety risks to visitors.

At the time of the Civil War battle in 1861, Manley Woods at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield was probably a savanna or open woodland. The park uses prescribed fires and mechanical removal of trees to reduce tree canopy and maintain an open oak-hickory woodland. The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network monitors Manley Woods to understand how it might be changing over time.

At Wilson's Creek National Battlefield, we collect information on the cover and distribution of problematic plants, which include exotic, invasive, and weed species. We have found 53 problematic plant species at the park. Managers use the information from our surveys to develop treatment plans for these plants in park habitats.

Restoration of Wilson's Creek National Battlefield prairies began in the 1970s. Prescribed fire, mowing, and herbicide treatments help maintain prairie plant communities at the park. The Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network monitors the restored prairies to help park managers understand how the prairies may be changing over time.

Sherry Leis, a plant and fire ecologist, shares her story about being a scientist and her love of prairie ecosystems.

Heartland Network scientists began surveying for birds at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield in 2008. We have found 119 different bird species in 13 years of surveys. Unfortunately many bird species are in decline in the region. We measure changes in birds and their habitats to determine the health of bird communities and park ecosystems.

The water quality in Wilson's Creek has improved since the 1960s, but urbanization still threatens streams in the park. We monitor aquatic invertebrates at Wilson's Creek National Battlefield to understand water quality conditions in streams. They provide an early warning system for potential water quality problems. Some invertebrates can live in poor-quality water, while others need cleaner water to survive.

Scientists have been monitoring fish populations since 2006 in Wilson’s Creek and two tributaries. Fish are measured and inspected for diseases and abnormalities. Monitoring fish allows scientists to determine which species are in the park and how well they are doing in the streams.