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Effect Of Altitude On The Peripheral Degradation Of Thyroxine In The Uinta Ground Squirrel (Citellus Armatus), Stuart K. Ware

Theses and Dissertations

Various methods were employed to detect changes in the peripheral degradation of thyroxine (T4) in adult Uinta ground squirrels (Citellus armatus) collected at two different altitudes (5400 and 9000 feet.) Plasma half-life of injected T4-125I (tl/2) was significantly decreased with altitude, as was T4-125I distribution space (TDS) and T4 degradation and secretion rate (TSR). In vitro deiodination of T4-125I by heart homogenates was not affected, while urinary excretion of thyroxine derived iodide was increased at high altitude 44-70 hours post-injection. Both total and free serum T4 concentrations were reduced at high altitude, although not significantly. The cause of the reduced …

The Cryptogamic Flora Of Desert Soil Crusts In Southern Utah, Davic C. Anderson

Theses and Dissertations

The cryptogamic flora of several soil crusts of arid regions in southern Utah was determined. Twenty-two lichens, Six mosses and fifty-four algal species were identified and their relative abundance estimated.

An Economic Analysis Of Sprinkling For Bloom Delay And Freeze Protection Of Apples In Farmington, Utah, Jay Val Anderson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The major purpose of this study is to analyze the economic feasibility of bloom delay by sprinkling as a means of protecting delicious apples from frost. The framework of this study is based on decision making theory under uncertainty. It demonstrates the usefulness of the Bayesian approach to determine optimum action to take in face of uncertain climatic conditions. The economic analysis was conducted for Farmington, Utah, where significant relationships were found between the end of winter rest (end of chill-unit accumulation) and time of full bloom of red delicious apples.

A posteriori probabilities for the state of nature were …

Reproduction By Adfluvial Salmonids In Spawn Creek, Cache County, Utah, David R. Bernard

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The migration and production of indigenous populations of brown, brook, and cutthroat trouts in Spawn Creek, Cache County, Utah, were studied in 1973 and 1974 to elucidate the role of this stream vis-a-vis the rest of the watershed. Spawn Creek and its watershed were described climatically, hydrologically, geologically, vegetatively, recreationally, and chemically. The prevalent, aquatic taxa of fauna and flora were also listed. The equipment and techniques used in the study to collect data, including a two-way fish trap and electro-fishing gear, were delineated. The collected data consisted of periodic estimates of mean weight and density stratified by year classes. …

Riparian Environmental – Vegetation Interrelationships Along The Lower Escalante River Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Utah, James R. Irvine

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Studies of environmental and riparian vegetation interrelationships along the lower Escalante River were conducted during 1974 and 1975. The study area included the Escalante River flood terrace between Harris Wash and Coyote Gulch.

Methods were developed compatible for wilderness use. Sixty-nine 1 x 10 meter macro-plots were taken at 23 locations. Measurements were taken of major environmental parameters thought to influence riparian vegetation: stratigraphy, soil texture and moisture, river bank angle and aspect, and height and width of flood terraces.

Canyon profile was found to be strongly influenced by geologic strata. Resistance to erosion by these strata determines canyon fluctuations …

Consumer Profile Differences Among Utah And Idaho Boaters, Thomas D. Singleton

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to describe and evaluate the consumer characteristics of boaters in Utah and Idaho. This has entailed a descriptive analysis of boater's socio-economic profiles, facilities and equipment, preferences and attitudes, and activity patterns.

Concomitantly a test of the hypothesis that boating is not a homogenous recreational activity was attempted. Two statistical analyses were carried out. The first test was to determine whether the profiles of boaters having different activity specialities differed. This was accomplished by finding the means of selected boater characteristics (i.e., income, children, length of boat) for each boating speciality. The L.S.D. multiple …

Selected Vitamin Status Of Elderly People In Southern Utah Measured Biochemically And Dietarily, And Correlated To Their Perceived Status, Karen Sims Faddis

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of this study was to analyze the diets of elderly people in southern Utah. Three types of information were used in the analysis: biochemical, dietary, and the subject's analysis of his diet. Four vitamins were studied: vitamin A, ascorbic acid, thiamin, and riboflavin.

Dietary data was obtained on the four vitamins and compared by sex and by age. Thiamin and riboflavin dietary levels were evaluated using the Index of Nutritional Quality (INQ), to determine the quality of the diet according to the total calories consumed. Seasonal differences between fall and spring data were evaluated.

Plasma vitamin A, plasma …

Migration Patterns Of High School Vocational Agricultural Graduates Of Utah In 1949 And A Comparison With Ohio Graduates, Keith L. Smith

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The purpose of the study was to determine the migration patterns of vocational agricultural graduates in Utah during the first 5 years following their high school graduation in 1969, and compare these patterns with Ohio graduates of 1963. Former graduates of 23 of the qualifying 28 departments were included in this study. A random sample of students were surveyed.

Forty percent of the 1969 graduates were engaged in agricultural occupations or agricultural study in college. A total of 30.6 percent of the graduates had moved from their home communities since graduating from high school. More than 88 percent of the …

Plant Demographic Studies Of A Desert Annuals Community In Northern Utah Dominated By Nonnative Weedy Species, David R. Duba

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Field and laboratory investigations were conducted relating to factors controlling distribution and abundance of annual species growing in a disturbed portion of the salt desert shrub zone on fine-textured soils. Dominant species on the site in the two study years were the nonnative, Halophytic, late-summer maturing, Halogeton glomeratus (Bieb.) C.A. Mey., and Bassia hyssopifolia (Pall.) Kuntze. Contrasting amounts of precipitation were received in the two years; in 1974, spring conditions were so dry that two early-maturing, sub-dominant annuals, Descurainia pinnata (walt.) Britton, and Lepidium perfoliatum L. were essentially absent. They successfully reproduced under more favorable 1975 conditions.

Studies on species …

Demographic Analysis Of A Utah-Idaho Coyote Population, Jeffrey J. Knudsen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

I estimated various demographic parameters of the coyote population in Curlew Valley, northern Utah and southern Idaho, during the period August 1972 through September 1974. Field work provided estimates of relative and absolute coyote densities and established causes of coyote mortality. Laboratory analyses of 866 coyote carcasses supplied information on sex and age ratios, ovulation frequencies, pregnancy rates, and litter sizes.

Annual ovulation frequencies and pregnancy rates for the entire population varied from 70 to 92 percent and 57 to 88 percent respectively. Age-specific ovulation frequencies varied from 63 to 91 percent, respectively, for pups and adults. Similarly, age-specific pregnancy …

Insect Consumption Of Seeded Rangeland Herbage In A Selected Area Of Diamond Fork Canyon, Utah County, Utah, Diane M. Bowers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study compares insect and cattle consumption of crested wheatgrass (Agropycon spp.) on a site in Sterling Ranch, Utah County, Utah. The hypothesis tested is that insect consumption in general, and specifically consumption by Labops hesperius Uhler, significantly reduces total available cattle forage.

Labops and grasshoppers were probably the major cause of secondary damage at the study site, while the impact of thrips is unknown. A detrimental impact on range was suggested by the data, as insects consumed forage equivalent to 2.8 animal units per month, while cattle consumed forage equivalent to 2.1 animal units per month at the …

Nesting Ecology Of The Redhead Duck On Knudson Marsh, Utah, Thomas Claud Michot

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Redhead duck (Aythya americana) nesting and habitat change was studied in Knudson Marsh, Utah, in 1974 and 1975, and compared with earlier studies from 1950 and 1955 on the same marsh. Water conditions in 1975 were found to be similar to those in 1950, both years of favorable habitat, yet there was a decline in numbers of redheads from 500 pairs in 1950 to 50 pairs in 1975. The number of nests found also declined from 151 in 1950 to 49 in 1975. Water conditions were poor in 1955 and slightly more favorable in 1974, but there was …

Productivity Of Two Utah Deer Herds As Related To Nutrition, Clarence Leon Pack

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

A study of mule deer occupying deer management units 53 and 54 in south central Utah was conducted from August, 1971 to May, 1974 to determine food habits, caloric requirements, dietary nutritional levels, and productivity. Transects, fecal analyses, weight data, classification counts, and forage analyses were used to accomplish these objectives.

Food habits of deer on the two units were similar, except for higher use of scrub oak on unit 53 and higher use of snowberry on unit 54.

Deer on unit 54 were significantly larger than those on unit 53. Thus, their caloric requirements also were significantly higher.

Deer …

Population Dynamics And Age Determination For Five Utah Deer Herds, David L. Beall

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Ages of 213 deer killed during the 1972 hunting season were determined by: (1) eruption-replacement and wear criteria in the field: (2) employing the tooth eruption-replacement and wear criteria under optimum laboratory conditions; and by (3) cementum-annulation counts. Incisors collected for cementum-annulation counts were decalcified in 5 percent nitric acid, sections 16-18 microns were cut on a cryostat and stained in hematoxylin for 18 ± 2 minutes. Age determinations by cementum-annulation counts showed 87 percent agreement with the results obtained by eruption-replacement and wear criteria in the laboratory.

Survival rates were estimated from the age distribution of 740 teeth aged …

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 …

The Incidence And Life Cycle Of Diplostomum Spathaceum In Utah, R. Scott Evans

Theses and Dissertations

Diplostomum spathaceum (Rudolfi 1819), (Diplostomidae) the fish eye fluke which causes the disease diplostomatosis, was reported in Utah by the Division of Wildlife Resources in 1974. Previous to this date diplostomatosis was suspected to occur in three reservoirs in the state. Diplostomatosis, whi.ch is due to the presence of the metacercarial stage of this parasite, causes cataracts of the lens. The incidence of the disease in Utah has generated public and academic concern.

Modeling Studies Of Small Mammal Trapping Phenology, And Plant Succession In The Kaiparowits Region, Kane County, Utah, James A. Raines

Theses and Dissertations

This study makes use of simple statistical models which may be manipulated for projection of changes in the Kaiparowits Region of Southern Utah. A method of determining habitat preferences of small rodents from capture-recapture trapping data is proposed. It is suggested that some aspects of animal behavior regarding trapping may also be explained. Timing of flowering of Oryzopsis hymenoides and Hilaria jamesii as related to enviromental conditions was investigated, and models of the requisite conditions proposed. It is suggested that similar models may be used to describe the timing of other phenological events. Succession on disturbed sites is considered to …

Ecological Investigations In Cercocarpus Ledifolius Nutt. Communities Of Utah, James Newton Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Cercocarpus ledifolius communities of Utah were sampled to determine which measured environmental characters were influential in determining community structure and dynamics. Nineteen, one-tenth acre stands were sampled by 25 equally spaced .25m2 quadrats. Plant frequency, cover, density, height, diameter, age, elevation, slope and exposure were determined for curl-leaf mahogany within the study area. Soil depth and soil samples were analyzed for texture, pH and soluble salts. Curl-leaf mahogany is found almost entirely on arid rocky slopes, canyon ledges, and plateaus at relatively high elevations on all exposures. The soils were invariably shallow and slightly acidic with sandy loam soils being …

A Revision Of The Genus Ranunculus (Ranunculaceae) For The State Of Utah, Margaret Doherty Palmieri

Theses and Dissertations

This study is a taxonomic revision of the genus Ranunculus for Utah. Twenty-five species and 4 varieties are recognized, and are separated by means of a comprehensive key. A list of pertinent synonyms and types, a morphological description, habitat preference and a discussion are presented for each species and variety. Distribution maps and photographs are included. The basis of this study has been morphological comparison of herbarium specimens and collections and observations by the author throughout Utah.

Effect Of Supplemental Food On Population Estimates And Mortality Rates Of Desert Rodents In Utah, J. Steven Thiriot

Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this research is to assess the effects of various quantities of supplemental food (seed) on population estimates and mortality rates of desert rodents . The supplemental food is meant to stimulate natural vegetational productivity. If food availability significantly affects the population parameters methods of population estimators previously used may be in error. Hopefully this study will aid small mannnal research by designating whether, in part, population estimates and mortality rates are in error because of high vegetational productivity. The hypothesis of this study is that supplemental food in the natural environment decreases population estimates and mortality rates …