WILDLIFE USE OF GIANT CANE HABITAT IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Author

• Thanchira Suriyamongkol, Southern Illinois University CarbondaleFollow

Date of Award

5-1-2026

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

Agricultural Sciences

First Advisor

Groninger, John

Second Advisor

Nielsen, Clayton

Abstract

Arundinaria gigantea (Walter) Muhl. (giant cane) is a bamboo species native to the United States and was a prominent feature of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley landscape. Over 70 wildlife species are associated with stands of giant cane (canebrakes). However, canebrake cover has drastically declined to < 2% of its pre-settlement extent. The loss of canebrakes could negatively impact many wildlife species that utilize canebrakes as refuge, nesting sites, and foraging habitat. In addition, although anecdotal historical records suggested canebrake importance for wildlife, systematic study and quantitative analyses of the influence of canebrake on wildlife habitat use is lacking. I conducted wildlife surveys for herpetofauna, mammals, and birds during 2022–2024 at 32 canebrakes and 32 forested sites across Jackson, Union, Alexander, and Pulaski Counties in southern Illinois, USA, and examined the influence of fine-scale vegetation structure, particularly giant cane, on habitat use of wildlife using occupancy modeling techniques. At canebrake sites, 17, 12, and 78 species of herpetofauna, mammals, and birds, respectively, were detected. At non-canebrake sites, 22, 14, and 74 species of herpetofauna, mammals, and birds, respectively, were detected. For herpetofauna, reptile occupancy was higher in denser, larger, and shorter canebrakes, while amphibian occupancy was higher in denser, smaller, and taller canebrakes, although the relationships were not statistically significant. In addition, reptiles occupied open canopy areas that facilitated thermoregulation activities, while amphibians occupied areas with high tree density that better retained moisture. For mammals, the relationships between occupancy and vegetation characteristics were species-specific. Although I did not find any significant associations between mammal habitat use and canebrake presence, high species diversity of mammals was observed at canebrake sites. For birds, responses to vegetation structure (tree density and size) and canebrakes varied among species and nesting guilds (overstory, understory, and ground). Occurrence probability of 54% of the bird species increased with the presence of canebrake. Overall, remnant canebrake structure (sparse) and distribution (fragmented) might explain the lack of significant influence of canebrake presence on wildlife communities. However, a high number of species observed in canebrakes emphasizes their importance in enhancing floodplain landscape complexity and the value in further restoring this cover type beyond its presently diminished status. Re-establishment of dense, contiguous stands of canebrakes may improve wildlife habitat quality. In addition, maintaining habitat heterogeneity and managing vegetation diversity, including variations in canopy cover and structure, may benefit a wide range of wildlife species in southern Illinois landscapes.