Multiple Species Inventory & Monitoring

The wildlife diversity program frequently takes on special projects usually focused on research and data collection or the conservation of an imperiled species. 

Some of these projects are short-term and volunteer-driven like the five-year Breeding Bird Atlas project while others are long-term and require a lot of staff and time such as the Multispecies Inventory and Monitoring (MSIM) Project

There are also projects with a primary focus on a particular species such as the Peregrine Falcon Restoration, Osprey Restoration, Trumpeter Swan Restoration, and the Prairie Chicken Project. The ultimate goal of all these projects is the conservation of Iowa’s natural resources.

Birds

Iowa's Breeding Bird Atlas

Explore Iowa's Breeding Bird Atlas (BBA) data and learn more about Iowa's birds through the species accounts!

Explore the BBA
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About the MSIM Program

Recent wildlife monitoring efforts within Iowa have centered primarily on either game species or been conducted by individuals and groups interested in a specific type of wildlife. These surveys are important and will continue but Iowa also needs efforts on other, less visible species as several of these surveys are either out of date and/or limited in scope. Long-term monitoring programs give the best picture of the status of wildlife populations over time. Well-designed short-term surveys and inventories can indicate the current status and distribution of wildlife but are often valid only in the area where they are conducted and may quickly become obsolete if habitat or other critical factors change.

The lack of species specific information on the abundance and distribution of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) was one of the concerns highlighted in the Iowa Wildlife Action Plan. The Multiple Species Inventory and Monitoring Program (MSIM), therefore, is a standardized, statewide survey which will provide a basic inventory of Iowa's wildlife. These surveys will serve as a baseline for long-term monitoring of Iowa wildlife populations. Since it is not possible survey wildlife in every piece of available habitat in Iowa, a randomized sampling design will be used to select representative habitats from which statewide inferences can be made about wildlife in Iowa. 

Program Design

The Iowa MSIM program is designed to sample as many species as can be found, including those that are currently considered 'common'. In having unbiased, representative, random samples, the status and trends if all species can be described to the best extent possible. There is no way to predict which common species will be rare in the future, nor which rare species may or may not be common in the future.

Sampling

The inventory monitoring program incorporates permanent sampling areas on public (federal, state, and county owned) as well as private (CRP, WRP, NGO, etc.) lands. As funding becomes available, the program outlined in Iowa's MSIM Technical Manual will be implemented on additional areas. The program will focus on public lands and private lands and is designed to aid in monitoring private lands enrolled in conservation programs (CRP, WRP, LIP, etc.). 

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) has the primary responsibility for coordinating the program, but the program is designed so that partners (County Conservation Boards, USFWS, NGO's, etc.) can participate fully in the process.

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MSIM Manual

The Iowa Multiple Species Inventory and Monitoring Technical Manual is presented in 2 formats. The first format is as a complete manual for those interested in the entire program. The second format is as individual protocols for each taxonomic group. The same information is presented in each format. The manual, however, is 229 pages with all 5 appendices, which may be too cumbersome for those interested in only 1 or 2 taxonomic groups.

With the exception of Appendix 1 Tables of Iowa Wildlife, information for all relevant appendices is included in the individual monitoring protocols.

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