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Anthropogenic Factors Affecting Common Raven Occurrence And Depredation Of Artificial Nests Within Greater Sage‐Grouse Habitat In Southern Utah, Zoë S. Moffett

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Certain species of wildlife are more generalist and adaptive than others. These species often flourish when supported by human activities that provide additional food and habitat for them. The common raven (Corvus corax; hereafter raven) is one such species; their populations have risen and spread throughout the Intermountain West. As generalist scavengers and predators, ravens have been found to pose a severe threat to several threatened or sensitive species, including the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter sage-grouse). The purpose of my research was to determine the specific anthropogenic and habitat factors that may increase the threat …

Forest Grouse Ecology And Management In The Bear River Range Northern Utah, Skyler Y. Farnsworth

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

To better manage dusky grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) and ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), hereafter forest grouse, managers require better information on forest grouse population status and habitat selection. To address this need, from 2015-2017, I conducted research on a sympatric populations inhabiting the Bear River Range of northern Utah to develop a breeding survey protocol, assess habitat selection, evaluate dusky grouse response to livestock grazing, and determine hunter harvest rates.

The breeding census protocol that I developed compared listening intervals with and without electronic playback calls at designated survey stop locations. Using digital mapping software, I plotted …

Winter Ecology Of Waterfowl On The Great Salt Lake, Utah, Josh L. Vest

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I designed a suite of studies in coordination with Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) to evaluate waterfowl use of the GSL in winter and ecological aspects associated with GSL use. These studies provided insight into key information gaps previously identified by UDWR regarding management of GSL resources. Population surveys indicated total duck abundance was low when GSL surface elevations were low and wetland resources diminished because of persistent drought in the system. Also, ducks appear to use hypersaline parts of GSL more when freshwater habitats are limited from either drought or ice conditions. Common goldeneye, northern shoveler, and green-winged …

Assessing Vehicle-Related Mortality Of Mule Deer In Utah, Daniel D. Olson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Roads are essential in modern societies, but as populations grow and traffic volumes rise, roads will continue to be built and expanded. As a result, the effects that roads have on wildlife will likely intensify, making it imperative that managers understand those effects so mitigation can be directed accordingly. In Utah, considerable areas of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) habitat have been bisected by roads. Mule deer are commonly involved in vehicle collisions and there is concern that roads and vehicle traffic are impacting populations. This project was conducted to determine the number and demographic effects of deer-vehicle collisions, …

Habitat Characteristics And Occupancy Rates Of Lewis's Woodpecker In Aspen, Amy M. Vande Voort

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Lewis‘ woodpeckers (Melanerpes lewis) are generally associated with open ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), open riparian, and burned pine habitats in the West; however, this species has recently been found to nest in aspen (Populus tremuloides) stands in Utah. This study describes the habitat characteristics of Lewis‘ woodpecker nest sites in aspen and investigates how well aspen stand characteristics predict Lewis‘ woodpecker occupancy. I surveyed for Lewis‘ woodpeckers at previously occupied nesting locations in aspen and took habitat measurements at nest sites. In addition, nest-centered Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)-type plots provided stand-level habitat characteristics. I used logistic regression to …

Greater Sage-Grouse Response To Sagebrush Reduction Treatments In Rich County, Utah, Roger Blair Stringham

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Management of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the west has changed over the last several decades in response to environmental and anthropogenic causes. Many land and wildlife management agencies have begun manipulating sagebrush with herbicides, machinery, and fire. The intent of these manipulations (treatments) is to reduce sagebrush canopy cover and increase the density of grass and forb species, thus providing higher quality sage-grouse brood-rearing habitat. However, monitoring of sage-grouse response to such manipulations has often been lacking or non-existent. The objective of our study was to determine the response of sage-grouse to sagebrush reduction treatments that have …

The Influence Of Landscape And Weather On Foraging By Olfactory Meso-Predators In Utah, Rebekah E. Dritz

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Predation by olfactory meso-predators has a large impact on avian nest success, particularly for ground-nesting waterfowl. Olfactory predators rely on odors to locate their prey. Weather conditions (e.g. wind speed, humidity, and temperature), vegetation, and landscape features affect the dissipation rate of odors and could affect the foraging efficiency of olfactory predators. I conducted 2 studies to determine if weather and landscape impact predator foraging ability and behavior: a predator survey study and an artificial nest study. The objective of the predator survey was to investigate how landscape and weather conditions interact to influence the distribution of olfactory meso-predators [e.g. …

Factors Influencing Epiphytic Lichen Communities In Aspen-Associated Forests Of The Bear River Range, Idaho And Utah, Paul C. Rogers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In western North America, quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) is the most common hardwood in montane landscapes. Fire suppression, grazing, wildlife management practices, and climate patterns of the past century are some of the threats to aspen coverage in this region. Researchers are concerned that aspen-dependent species may be losing habitat, thereby threatening their long-term local and regional viability. Though lichens have a rich history as air pollution indicators, I believe that they may also be useful as a metric of community diversity associated with habitat change. To date, few studies have specifically examined the status of aspen's epiphytic lichen …

Wildlife-Vehicle Collisions In Utah: An Analysis Of Wildlife Road Mortality Hotspots, Economic Impacts And Implications For Mitigation And Management, Christine A. Kassar

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In the US, the roaded landscape has had serious ecological effects. We studied wildlife-vehicle collisions occurring on the 248 state routes in Utah from 1992 to 2002. We tracked trends and patterns in deer-vehicle collisions, evaluated all routes for frequency of deer kills, and identified "hotspots" (segments of road with high concentrations of collisions per mile). We found pronounced patterns: e.g., 61.15% of all collisions occurred on only 10 routes. We studied the effects of posted speed limit and annual average daily traffic flow and found that no relationship existed between traffic volume and/or posted speed limit and the number …

Assessment Of Kokanee Salmon, Oncorhynchus Nerka, Genetic Stocks In Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah-Wyoming, Michael F. Canning

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I investigated the relative abundance, spatial distributions, return to the creel, and growth rates of two genetic stocks of kokanee salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka, in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah-Wyoming. The two genetic stocks consist of fish from the two major spawning populations of kokanee in the reservoir. One population, Shore Spawners, spawns along the eastern shoreline of the Open Hills area of the reservoir. The other population, Sheep Creek, spawns in Sheep Creek, a tributary located in the Canyon area of the reservoir.

Mitochondrial DNA of kokanee from each population was analyzed to determine haplotype differences between stocks. These haplotype …

Physical Factors Influencing Survival To Emergence And Time Of Emergence Of Shoreslope-Spawned Kokanee Salmon In Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah-Wyoming, Randall J. Jeric

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I used incubation baskets containing viable eggs and spawning substrate to estimate the survival to emergence and time of emergence of kokanee salmon Oncorhynchus nerka at depths to 20 m in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Utah-Wyoming. Traps on the incubation baskets captured fry emerging from a known quantity of eggs. Water drawn into a syringe from an intragravel pipe buried near each incubation basket was used to determine intragravel dissolved oxygen concentrations throughout the intragravel period. Water from control baskets without eggs did not have significantly greater dissolved oxygen concentrations than adjacent water. A jar associated with each incubation basket collected …

Investigations Of Forage Fish And Lake Trout Salvelinus Namaycush Interactions In Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming-Utah, Daniel L. Yule

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I investigated the interaction of lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) and their dominant forage fish populations, Utah chub (Gila atraria) and kokanee salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka), in Flaming Gorge Reservoir, Wyoming-Utah. Through bioenergetics modeling, I quantified the consumption dynamics of the lake trout population. From hydroacoustics analyses, I quantified the density and biomass of the two dominant forage fish populations.

In Chapter II, I report the results of the energetics analysis. The objective of this chapter was to understand the role of lake trout predation in recent changes in fish assemblage structure of the reservoir. Through …

Nitrogen And Energy Budgets Of Production Ewes On Summer Range In Southwestern Utah, John W. Halpop

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Nitrogen (N) and energy budgets for free-roaming ewes were quantified on mountain summer range in southwestern Utah in 1986 and 1987. Diet quality (%N), in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and energy were estimated with the use of five esophageally fistulated ewes. Excretion rates of N and energy to feces and urine were measured by total collection from five nonfistualted ewes.

Total intake N(gN/(MBW*d^-1) tracked intraseasonal changes of dietary N percent but was apparently buffered by fluctuations in dry matter intake. In each year, total urine N was closely related to dietary N concentration, r²=0.97 (1986) …

Investigation Of Selected Aspects Of Kokanee (Onchorhynchus Nerka) Ecology In Porcupine Reservoir, Utah, With Management Implications, Paul Joel Janssen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Several aspects of kokanee (Onchorhynchus nerka) ecology were studied in the fluctuating, 80ha Porcupine Reservoir, Utah in order to determine optimum management strategies. In 1981, escapement was enumerated and estimates of egg deposition were made. An estimate of the resulting fry recruitment was also attempted and was successful up to the arrival of spring runoff. In 1982, escapement was enumerated and estimates of egg deposition were made, with subsequent estimates of egg deposition and percent survival to the advanced eyed stage. Age and growth rates were determined and survival rates estimated.

Escapement for 1981 and 1982 was 5,463 …

Evaluation Of Six Strains Of Rainbow Trout (Salmo Gairdneri) Stocked As Fingerlings In Porcupine Reservoir, Utah, Mark Hudy

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Different strains of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri), Ten Sleep, Sand Creek, Beitey, Shepherd-of-the-Hills, New Zealand, Fish Lake-Desmet, Desmet, were compared for survival to the creel, growth and catchability after being stocked in a fluctuating 80 ha Utah reservoir. Fish were stocked in the spring and fall as fingerlings and monitored by creel censusing, gill netting and electrofishing. Fish were tagged with coded wire snout tags prior to stocking. An angler opinion survey was conducted to determine angler satisfaction with numbers and size of fish caught.

Regardless of strain, spring stocking was superior to fall stocking in survival to …

The Horse Population Of Utah And Its Impact, Scott Stewart Mckendrick

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

PART I

The horse numbers of Utah had not been accurately counted since the early 1960's. It was estimated that horse and pony numbers were reaching heights as recorded before the age of tractors and automobiles. Horsemen in Utah were asking for financial assistance for public horse facilities from the Utah legislature. The first part of this study was to survey the horse population to determine an accurate count of Utah horses.

PART II

In order to be satisfied that the horse industry deserved the spending of public funds, it was necessary to know the economic contribution of the horse …

Impact Of The Black-Tailed Jackrabbits (Lepus Californicus) On Vegetation In Curlew Valley, Northern Utah, Mark Westoby

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The interrelations of black-tailed jackrabbits and the desert-shrub vegetation on which they were feeding were studied in Curlew Valley, Northern Utah. The vegetation was described as a three-cornered continuum, the corners being types dominated respectively by Artemisia tridentata, Atriplex confertifolia, and Sarcobatus vermiculatus.

Jackrabbit diet was studied by microscopic analysis of plant fragments in stomachs from shot animals. The method was inaccurate, apparently because the ratio of identifiable tissues to all ingested tissues was very low, and varied between plant taxa, and seasonally. This problem seems intractable for desert shrub vegetation.

The diet was similar to that …

Ecology Of Aroga Websteri Clarke In Curlew Valley, Utah-Idaho, Reed L. Kirkland

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The ecology, life history, and population dynamics of the sagebrush defoliator, Aroga websteri Clarke, were studied in the field and laboratory. The defoliator has one generation a year at the Curlew Valley site. It overwintered in the egg stage and passed through five larval instars. Ten parasite species attacked the defoliator at the study site. Four species, Orgilus ferus, Phaeogenes sp., Spilochalcis leptis, and Apanteles cacoeciae, contributed over 75 percent of the total incidence of parasitism. Parasitism ranged from 20 to 76 percent in 1971, but only ranged from 6 to 29 percent in 1972. This decrease …

Carrying Capacity Of The Key Browse Species For Moose On The North Slopes Of The Uinta Mountains, Utah, David E. Wilson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The Shiras moose, Alces alces shirasi, and its winter habitat on the north slopes of the Uinta Mountains in Utah were studied from August, 1969, to July, 1971 to determine the food requirement for moose, the key browse species during the winter months, the acreage, density and utilization of the key browse species, and their carrying capacity for moose.

It was determined that an average adult moose had a daily food requirement of 19,133 kilocalories. The key browse species for moose were Salix drummondiana and S. geyeriana. These two species accounted for 92.0 and 4.7 percent respectively of …

An Economic Analysis Of Contour Furrows And Gully Checks On The Frail Lands Of Southeastern Utah, Karl A. Simonson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The upper Colorado River drainage system yields approximately 104,000 acre-feet of silt annually to the Colorado River. In an attempt to reduce the silt load, federal land management agencies have installed numerous land surface treatments. A study was conducted to measure the economic benefits of the land treatments near Cisco, Utah, and to compare them to the treatment costs and to develop predictive criteria for estimating the optimum intensity of treatment.

The economic evaluation was done in a benefit-cost framework and the criteria for estimating optimum intensity of treatment was done in a production-function framework.

The land treatments were found …

Comparisons Of Phytoseiid Predator Populations In Sprayed And Unsprayed Apple Orchards In Cache Valley, Utah, Yeboa A. Dodoo

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A comparative study of phytoseiid populations was made of two well-cultivated and regularly sprayed apple orchards with two unsprayed orchards in Cache Valley, northern Utah.

Two phytoseiid species, Typhlodromus mcgregori Chant and T. occidentalis Nesbitt were observed on the apple leaves, under the bark, and occasionally in the litter and soil. Amblyseius cucumeris (Oudemans) occurred in the soil and litter and occasionally under bark. T. mcgregori was dominant in the unsprayed orchards, and T. occidentalis in the sprayed.

Of the phytophagous mites, which served as food for the phytoseiids, the two-spotted mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch was dominant. Other phytophagous mites …

Relationship Of Certain Environmental Factors To Benthic Fish Densities In Bear Lake, Idaho-Utah, Thomas J. Hassler

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The project was initiated in June of 1958 and financed by the National Science Foundation and the Wildlife Management Department of Utah State University.

The broad aspects of the study were to determine if a relationship exists between certain physical and biological factors and benthic fish densities. The project vas divided into two parts: (l) to determine the time and extent of thermal stratification, zooplankton densities, conductivity changes within the lake and conductivity differences between the lake and its tributaries; (2) to determine it a relationship exist between benthic fish densities, temperatures, depths, conductivities and benthic zooplankton densities. The data …

Limnological Studies On Hyrum Reservoir, In Northern Utah, Royal A. Rich

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

With an ever increasing fishing pressure on our natural and artificial lakes every measure possible must be taken to preserve the sport for its many thousands of participants.

Hyrum Reservoir is easily accessible to the fishermen of northern Utah. In recent years the lake has offered little in the way of fishing. It is hoped that the information accumulated in this study will help pave the way to a successful stocking program and that Hyrum Reservoir will be one of the productive fishing areas available to Utah anglers.

The objectives of this investigation were:

1. To determine the extent of area …

The Natural Reproduction Of The Cutthroat Trout, Salmo Clarki Richardson, In Strawberry Reservoir, Utah, William S. Platts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Strawberry Reservoir, Utah is an 8,000 acre lake at the elevation of 7,550 feet; it has a maximum depth of 52 feet and an average depth of 18 feet. The supply of cutthroat trout eggs used to replenish and distribute this trout throughout the state are taken from two spawning traps located on reservoir tributaries. Because it has not proven economical to raise cutthroat to a larger size than newly hatched fry, it is at this stage they are planted. Because of competition, predation, and lack of space the planting back of fry to maintain the fishery and spawning run …

An Evaluation Of Methods Of Concentrating And Counting The Phytoplankton Of Bear Lake, Utah-Idaho, William J. Clark

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The phytoplankton, or plant plankton, live in the open water throughout their life cycle and obtain the necessary nutrients from the water. They are important contributors to the total plant production of lakes and ponds.

Factors In The Development And Restoration Of Waterfowl Habitat At Ogden Bay Refuge Weber County, Utah, Noland F. Nelson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Millions of acres of marshland have been destroyed by the industrial and agricultural development of this continent. Drainage, water diversion, land leveling, and some other factors which destroyed waterfowl habitat were in most instances essential steps in man's progress; but water pollution, unwise drainage, and other soil and water abuses were tragic and unessential steps in our history of land exploitation that have destroyed vast acreages of habitat. The future of waterfowl on this continent hinges upon the success of restoration or new marsh development to replace this destroyed habitat.

Age And Growth Of The Utah Chub, Gila Atraria (Girard), In Panguitch Lake And Navajo Lake, Utah, From Scales And Opercular Bones, John M. Neuhold

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Previous literature indicates the opercular bone as a useful tool for the determination of age and growth of fish. The reliability and validity of this method is tested for two populations of Utah chub. Age and growth are calculated for 222 Utah chub collected from Panguitch Lake and 212 Utah chub collected from Navajo Lake, southern Utah, in 1952-1953 from both scales and opercular bones. Scales are measured with the aid of a projector. Opercular bones are measured directly. The center of growth of the opercular bone is posterior to the posterior lip of the fulcrum. Correction for curvature is …

Factors Affecting The California Quail Populations In Uintah County, Utah, R. Lynn Nielson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The California Quail is native to the coastal and semi-arid regions of California extending north into Oregon. Two subspecies are commonly recognized. the California Quail (Lophortyx californica brunnescens Ridgway), and the Valley Quail (Lophortyx californica californica Shaw). The two forms are very similar in coloration and habits and, for the purpose of this study, no effort is made to distinguish the two.

Life History Of The Utah Sculpin Cottus Bairdi Semiscaber (Cope) In Logan River, Utah, William M. Zarbook

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The study of the Utah sculpin in Logan River was based on 801 specimens collected during 1949 to March 1951. Numbers of fish examined for various catagories of the study wares length-frequency, 495; aging by vertebrae, 407; length-weight relationship, 601; and food habits, 275.

Fish were collected by use of an electric shocking machine generating 600 watts and 220 volts. Numbers of fish occurred as high as 150 per tenth mile of stream. Preferred habitats occurred in areas of coarse gravel and small rocks.

Vertebrae dissected from the fish were used in age determination. Length-frequency proved to be a general …

The Introduced Fishes, Game Birds, And Game And Fur-Bearing Mammals Of Utah, Boris Hewitt Popov

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

For a number of years wildlife workers have realized the importance of the past histories of introduced species. Emphasis in recent years has been directed toward introductions because of the tremendous hunting and fishing pressures. Yearly increases in numbers of hunters and fishermen have been noted in Utah for the past forty years. It is hoped that this compilation of the histories of the introduced game and fish species of Utah will be of value to sportsmen and wildlife managers alike in planning future introductions.

The material included in this paper was obtained from United States Government reports, Utah Territorial …