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- Little Bear River (10)
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Executive Summary : A River Continuum Analysis Of An Anthropenically-Impacted System : The Little Bear River, Utah, Nick Heredia
Executive Summary : A River Continuum Analysis Of An Anthropenically-Impacted System : The Little Bear River, Utah, Nick Heredia
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
In September 2012 the Aquatic Ecology Practicum class from Utah State University studied the 51km river continuum of the Little Bear River located in northern Utah (Figure 1). The relatively pristine headwaters of the river begin in the Wasatch Mountain Range at an altitude of 1800 m. The river flows northward into Cache Valley where it terminates in Cutler Reservoir (1345 m elevation). Agricultural development and urbanization have modified the natural terrain and chemical characteristics of the river, and Hyrum Reservoir, located midway along the gradient causes a discontinuity in river processes. The results from analyses of stream condition indicators …
A Profile Of The Physical Attributes Of The Little Bear River In The Context Of The Serial Discontinuity Concept, Marc Weston
A Profile Of The Physical Attributes Of The Little Bear River In The Context Of The Serial Discontinuity Concept, Marc Weston
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
To study the Little Bear River’s physical characteristics in the context of the serial discontinuity concept, sites were sampled along a continuum from the headwaters to 51 km downstream, near where the Little Bear River flows into Cutler Reservoir. Samples were collected in September 2012 at base flow. To estimate sediment sizes along the transect pebble counts were conducted at six sites and where possible pebble counts were done in both pools and riffles. Sediment sizes showed a decrease in median size (D50 ) of 45 mm at the upper station to the lower station where the substrate was a …
Anthropogenic Impacts On The Longitudinal Gradient Of Nutrients In The Little Bear River, Jason Fuller
Anthropogenic Impacts On The Longitudinal Gradient Of Nutrients In The Little Bear River, Jason Fuller
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
I measured the anthropogenic impacts from land use on nutrient concentrations along the Little Bear River in Cache Valley, Utah. Water samples from twelve stations along the Little Bear River were collected and analyzed using an auto analyzer in order to determine conductivity and concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), ammonia (NH3), and nitrate (NO3-). Samples were collected at stations thought to reveal anthropogenically influenced nutrient loading. Some of the anthropogenic land usages that potentially impact the nutrient concentrations include agricultural land use, urban land use, Hyrum Reservoir, the Trout of Paradise fishing reserve located near …
Temperature And Discharge On A Highly Altered Stream In Utah's Cache Valley, Andy Pappas
Temperature And Discharge On A Highly Altered Stream In Utah's Cache Valley, Andy Pappas
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
To study the River Continuum Concept (RCC) and the Serial Discontinuity Hypothesis (SDH), I looked at temperature and discharge changes along 52 km of the Little Bear River in Cache Valley, Utah. The Little Bear River is a fourth order stream with one major reservoir, a number of irrigation diversions, and one major tributary, the East Fork of the Little Bear River. Discharge data was collected at six sites on 29 September 2012 and temperature data was collected hourly at eleven sites from 1 October to 20 October 2012. Discharge and temperature both increased as elevation declined to Hyrum Reservoir. …
Benthic Invertebrate Composition Along The Little Bear River Continuum, Jared Baker, Chance Broderius, Katie Fisher, Jason Fuller, George A. Papas, Christian Smith, Marc Weston
Benthic Invertebrate Composition Along The Little Bear River Continuum, Jared Baker, Chance Broderius, Katie Fisher, Jason Fuller, George A. Papas, Christian Smith, Marc Weston
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Benthic invertebrates were sampled at four stations along the Little Bear River continuum: Station 2 in the mountainous headwaters, at Station 4 in the transition area to the lowland valley, at Station 7 below Hyrum Reservoir, and at Station 11 in the low-gradient agricultural area near where the river flows into Cutler Reservoir wetland. At each station samples were collected with sweep nets in each of the habitats, with an effort made to sample each type of habitat in proportion to its abundance. Ethanol-preserved samples were counted utilizing 30X compound microscopes, with 2 or more students providing counts and taxa …
A Fisheries Investigation Of The Previously Un-Surveyed Little Bear River, Christian Smith
A Fisheries Investigation Of The Previously Un-Surveyed Little Bear River, Christian Smith
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
To evaluate the effects of human impacts on the composition and abundances of fishes on the Little Bear River, the 2012 Aquatic Ecology Practicum class conducted backpack electrofishing surveys in four sites of the river on 29 September and 4 October 2012. At these sites, species composition, biomass, and abundances were documented utilizing 2-pass electrofishing. In total, ten species were captured, with native species being represented by Bonneville cutthroat trout (Oncoryhnchus clarki Utah) and mottled sculpin (Cottus bairdii). Mottled sculpin comprised the majority of native fish captured (n= 241), while brown trout accounted for the majority of nonnatives …
Algal Nutrient Limitation Throughout The Little Bear River Watershed, Jared Baker
Algal Nutrient Limitation Throughout The Little Bear River Watershed, Jared Baker
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
The objective of this study was to use a 5 day bioassay experiment to assess whether nitrogen or phosphorus limited the growth of algae in the Little Bear River watershed. Four sites were sampled along the river in September 2012. The locations of the sites were south of Avon (Station 2), near Paradise, UT (Station 6), downstream of Hyrum Reservoir (Station 7), and downstream of the Waste Water Treatment Facility in Wellsville (Station 10). Chlorophyll a analysis was conducted prior to, after 2.5 days, and at the conclusion of the 5 days. Varying combinations of nitrogen and phosphorus were added …
Periphyton And Phytoplankton Chlorophyll A Levels In The Little Bear River And Hyrum Reservoir, Utah, Katie Fisher
Periphyton And Phytoplankton Chlorophyll A Levels In The Little Bear River And Hyrum Reservoir, Utah, Katie Fisher
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
This study was conducted to assess the applicability of the River Continuum and Serial Discontinuity Concepts to the Little Bear River, using chlorophyll a values along the gradient of the river and within Hyrum Reservoir. Periphyton was analyzed from seven sites and phytoplankton from nine sites (including Hyrum Reservoir) in September 2012. The lower parts of the Little Bear River is heavily influenced by agricultural and anthropogenic sources of nutrients and other pollution, creating poor water quality in its lower reaches. Periphyton levels in the river increased along the gradient, peaking just below Hyrum reservoir, and then decreased with distance …
Anthropogenically Altered Land And Its Effect On Δ15n Values In Periphyton On A Fourth Order Stream In Utah’S Cache Valley, Chance Broderius
Anthropogenically Altered Land And Its Effect On Δ15n Values In Periphyton On A Fourth Order Stream In Utah’S Cache Valley, Chance Broderius
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
The Little Bear River is a tributary to the Bear River that drains the south end of the Cache Valley in Northern Utah. The upper elevations are more pristine and are made up of mostly forested mountainous terrain with some grazing activity. The lower elevations are comprised of low gradient agricultural and urban parcels. Anthropogenically influenced landscapes can result in higher nitrogen inputs to streams, and these increases are often marked by an increase in the heavy-nitrogen isotope, δ15N. This study looked at the concentration of δ15N in periphyton on the river bed. These concentrations were then compared to anthropogenic …
A River Continuum Analysis Of An Anthropogenically-Impacted System: The Little Bear River, Utah, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Nick Heredia, Patsy Palacios, Jared Baker, Chance Broderius, Katie Fisher, Jason Fuller, G. Andrew Pappas, Christian Smith, Marc Weston
A River Continuum Analysis Of An Anthropogenically-Impacted System: The Little Bear River, Utah, Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh, Nick Heredia, Patsy Palacios, Jared Baker, Chance Broderius, Katie Fisher, Jason Fuller, G. Andrew Pappas, Christian Smith, Marc Weston
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
In September 2012 the Aquatic Ecology Practicum class from Utah State University studied the 51km river continuum of the Little Bear River located in northern Utah (Figure 1). The relatively pristine headwaters of the river begin in the Wasatch Mountain Range at an altitude of 1800 m. The river flows northward into Cache Valley where it terminates in Cutler Reservoir (1345 m elevation). Agricultural development and urbanization have modified the natural terrain and chemical characteristics of the river, and Hyrum Reservoir, located midway along the gradient causes a discontinuity in river processes. The results from analyses of stream condition indicators …
Elk And Fire Impacts On Mountain Big Sagebrush Range In Yellowstone, Carl L. Wambolt, Reyer J. Rens
Elk And Fire Impacts On Mountain Big Sagebrush Range In Yellowstone, Carl L. Wambolt, Reyer J. Rens
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Range recovery after fire has many implications for wildlife habitat. It was our objective to determine the effect of elk herbivory on recovery of mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata vaseyana) – bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) – Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) winter range a decade after a 1988 wildfire on the Black-tailed Deer Plateau of the Northern Yellowstone Winter Range. Our hypotheses were that shrubs and herbaceous plants will recover from fire equally with or without elk herbivory. Measurements were taken in and out of exclosures established in 1957 and 1962 on environmentally paired, protected and browsed-grazed sites (n = 12). …
Relationship Of Wyoming Big Sagebrush Cover To Herbaceous Vegetation, Bok F. Sowell, Carl L. Wambolt, Jennifer K. Woodward, Vanessa R. Lane
Relationship Of Wyoming Big Sagebrush Cover To Herbaceous Vegetation, Bok F. Sowell, Carl L. Wambolt, Jennifer K. Woodward, Vanessa R. Lane
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
We measured 328 sites in northern, central, and southern Montana and northern Wyoming during 2003 to test the relationship of herbaceous cover to Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis) cover. Long term annual precipitation at all sites was approximately 31 cm. Sagebrush and total herbaceous cover varied from 5 to 45 percent and 3.5 to 55 percent, respectively. Simple linear regression was the best fit model for predicting herbaceous cover from sagebrush cover using the highest Ra2 values as the model selection criteria. In northern Montana, herbaceous vegetation was predicted by sagebrush cover with the following model: Y = 37.4 …
Seeded Native Shrub Establishment On Disturbed Sites In Southwestern Wyoming, James S. Jacobs, Susan R. Winslow, Karen J. Clause, Roger Hybner
Seeded Native Shrub Establishment On Disturbed Sites In Southwestern Wyoming, James S. Jacobs, Susan R. Winslow, Karen J. Clause, Roger Hybner
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Critical wildlife habitat supporting mule deer, antelope, and sage grouse in high elevation rangeland and sagebrush ecosystems of southwest Wyoming is threatened by an expanding population and energy exploration and development. Our objective was to evaluate native shrub species establishment for restoration after disturbance. In October 2005, on a well-pad disturbance, 16 accessions of 12 native shrub species were drill-seeded in single species plots in a randomized complete block design with four replications. Also, two seed mixtures (Bridger and Shell) of grass, forb, and shrub species were broadcast- or drill-seeded, and one seed mixture (Shell) was hydro-seeded to separate areas …
Broom Snakeweed Increase And Dominance In Big Sagebrush Communities, Michael H. Ralphs
Broom Snakeweed Increase And Dominance In Big Sagebrush Communities, Michael H. Ralphs
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britt. & Rusby) is a native sub-shrub that is widely distributed on rangelands of western North America. It often increases to near monocultures following disturbance from overgrazing, fire or drought. Propagation is usually pulse driven in wet years, allowing large expanses of even-aged stands to establish and dominate plant communities. It can maintain dominance following fire, or can co-dominate with cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) on degraded sagebrush rangelands. State-and-transition models show that competitive grasses in the respective plant communities can prevent snakeweed dominance.
Evidence That Invasion By Cheatgrass Alters Soil Nitrogen Availability, Robert R. Blank, Tye Morgan
Evidence That Invasion By Cheatgrass Alters Soil Nitrogen Availability, Robert R. Blank, Tye Morgan
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
No abstract provided.
Native Annual Plant Response To Fire: An Examination Of Invaded, 3 To 29 Year Old Burned Creosote Bush Scrub From The Western Colorado Desert, Robert J. Steers, Edith B. Allen
Native Annual Plant Response To Fire: An Examination Of Invaded, 3 To 29 Year Old Burned Creosote Bush Scrub From The Western Colorado Desert, Robert J. Steers, Edith B. Allen
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Creosote bush scrub vegetation typically contains high diversity of native annual plants relative to shrubs, cacti, perennial herbaceous species, or other plant life forms. This vegetation type is also very susceptible to exotic, invasive annual plants, which promote fire by changing fuel properties. The impact of fire on most perennial species is severe but the impact on native annual plants is not well understood. We measured annual species composition in five sites that each contained paired burned and unburned stands in the western Colorado Desert, California. The burned stands at each site ranged in time since fire from 3 to …
Vegetation Dynamics At A Mojave Desert Restoration Site, 1992 To 2007, Jeffrey E. Ott, E. Durant Mcarthur, Stewart C. Sanderson
Vegetation Dynamics At A Mojave Desert Restoration Site, 1992 To 2007, Jeffrey E. Ott, E. Durant Mcarthur, Stewart C. Sanderson
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
The Twist Hollow restoration site on BLM land near St. George, Utah, had been badly disturbed by sand mining, rock quarrying, dumping, off-road vehicles and target shooting prior to its closure and treatment. In December 1992 the site was sculpted and drill seeded with Indian ricegrass (Stipa hymenoides), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), galleta (Hilaria jamesii), gooseberryleaf globemallow (Sphaeralcea grossulariifolia) Palmer penstemon (Penstemon palmeri), fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) and winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata) in an effort restore natural vegetation and desert tortoise habitat. Vegetation was sampled before and after treatment and subsequently monitored over a period of 14 years. With the exception …
Long-Term Browsing Impacts On Montana Ungulate Ranges, Scott K. Thompson, Carl L. Wambolt
Long-Term Browsing Impacts On Montana Ungulate Ranges, Scott K. Thompson, Carl L. Wambolt
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Ungulate impacts on woody vegetation have been a concern on Montana wildlife habitats for more than a half-century. Fenced areas restricting access of all ungulates (exclosures) were established between 1944 and 1988 on many habitats to evaluate ungulate impacts on shrubs. Our objective was to determine the effect of long-term browsing on big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), curlleaf mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) and horizontal juniper (Juniperus horizontalis). We hypothesized that the long-term effect of ungulate browsing would not impact these common shrubs. Canopy cover and density of shrubs were measured in and out of exclosures (n =14) on …
Effect Of Browsing Following Wildfire In The Missouri Breaks, Richard B. Keigley, Kent Undlin
Effect Of Browsing Following Wildfire In The Missouri Breaks, Richard B. Keigley, Kent Undlin
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
This study examined the effect of browsing on skunkbush (Rhus trilobata) and chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) following two wildfires in the Missouri Breaks region of Garfield County in east-central Montana, one fire in the 2003 the other in 2006. Study objectives included: 1) Determine the potential height to which skunkbush and chokecherry can grow under local conditions, and 2) Determine if browsing will prevent young plants from attaining that potential height. Because ungulates are attracted to recently burned areas it is important to monitor browse use and regulate browsing pressure to a benign level. We documented the effect of browsing by …
Examining Endophyte Interactions Within Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex Canescens), Mary E. Lucero, Jerry R. Barrow, Isaac Reyes-Vera, Ruth Sedillo
Examining Endophyte Interactions Within Fourwing Saltbush (Atriplex Canescens), Mary E. Lucero, Jerry R. Barrow, Isaac Reyes-Vera, Ruth Sedillo
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Cryptic endophyte consortia associated with embryonic tissues of fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) are believed to serve mutualistic functions. However, the complexity of these endophyte communities makes cause-and-effect relationships difficult to establish. In fourwing saltbush, cryptic endophytes are thought to enhance drought and salt tolerance, nutrient acquisition, germination, and establishment. Some of these traits can be conferred to alternate host plants by co-culturing seedlings in vitro with micropropagated fourwing saltbush callus. Here we describe an evolving process for; 1) identifying arrays of cryptic, seed borne endophytes associated with fourwing saltbush; 2) evaluating early vigor of grasses and other plants endowed with …
Big Sagebrush In Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands: Using Forest Inventory And Analysis Data As A Management Tool For Quantifying And Monitoring Mule Deer Habitat, Chris Witt, Paul L. Patterson
Big Sagebrush In Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands: Using Forest Inventory And Analysis Data As A Management Tool For Quantifying And Monitoring Mule Deer Habitat, Chris Witt, Paul L. Patterson
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
We used Interior West Forest Inventory and Analysis (IW-FIA) data to identify conditions where pinyon-juniper woodlands provide security cover, thermal cover, and suitable amounts of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata spp.) forage to mule deer in Utah. Roughly one quarter of Utah’s pinyon-juniper woodlands had a big sagebrush component in their understory. Security cover was the least abundant habitat component investigated and only an estimated three percent of Utah’s pinyon-juniper contained forage, security, and thermal cover concurrently. Area of potential mule deer habitat was generally distributed within ecoregion provinces in Utah in proportion to the spatial extent of each province. Quantile …
Long-Term Changes In Southern Utah Upland Shrub Communities: A Study In Repeat Photography, Charles E. Kay, Chad R. Reid
Long-Term Changes In Southern Utah Upland Shrub Communities: A Study In Repeat Photography, Charles E. Kay, Chad R. Reid
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
To evaluate long-term range conditions in southern Utah, 1,879 repeat photographs were made on the Dixie and Fishlake National Forests, and adjoining lower elevation BLM and private lands. Repeat photographs were also made in Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, and Bryce Canyon National Park where livestock grazing has been prohibited for many years. Of the total, 926 photo-pairs depict sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) communities and 471 depict mountain brush associations (Cercocaprus ledifolius, C. mountanus, Amelamchier utahensis, Quercus gambelii, Prunus virginiana). Sagebrush decreased in 261 photosets, increased in 386 and remained unchanged in 279, while mountain brush decreased in 10 …
Metric System For Evaluating Off-Site Mitigation For Ecosystem Services And Wildlife Habitat In Sagebrush Ecosystems, Jonathan B. Haufler, Lowell H. Suring
Metric System For Evaluating Off-Site Mitigation For Ecosystem Services And Wildlife Habitat In Sagebrush Ecosystems, Jonathan B. Haufler, Lowell H. Suring
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
A fundamental concept of mitigation is that it is possible to compensate for impacts to ecosystem services at one site (the impact site) by replacing or increasing the same services at another site (the mitigation site). A challenge in the use of off-site mitigation is assuring that ecosystem services, including wildlife habitat, produced by off-site mitigation are commensurate with on-site impacts. Recent increases in energy developments within the sagebrush biome have raised concerns about impacts associated with these activities and efforts to mitigate those impacts. To help address these concerns, we developed a metric system to quantify impact losses and …
Land Use And Habitat Conditions Across The Southwestern Wyoming Sagebrush Steppe: Development Impacts, Management Effectiveness And The Distribution Of Invasive Plants, Daniel J. Manier, Cameron Aldridge, Patrick Anderson, Geneva Chong, Collin Homer, Michael O'Donnell, Spencer Schell
Land Use And Habitat Conditions Across The Southwestern Wyoming Sagebrush Steppe: Development Impacts, Management Effectiveness And The Distribution Of Invasive Plants, Daniel J. Manier, Cameron Aldridge, Patrick Anderson, Geneva Chong, Collin Homer, Michael O'Donnell, Spencer Schell
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
For the past several years, USGS has taken a multi-faceted approach to investigating the condition and trends in sagebrush steppe ecosystems. This recent effort builds upon decades of work in semi-arid ecosystems providing a specific, applied focus on the cumulative impacts of expanding human activities across these landscapes. Here, we discuss several on-going projects contributing to these efforts: (1) mapping and monitoring the distribution and condition of shrub steppe communities with local detail at a regional scale, (2) assessing the relationships between specific, land-use features (for example, roads, transmission lines, industrial pads) and invasive plants, including their potential (environmentally defined) …
Effects Of Seismic Exploration On Pygmy Rabbits, Tammy L. Wilson
Effects Of Seismic Exploration On Pygmy Rabbits, Tammy L. Wilson
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
No abstract provided.
Impacts Of Fire On Sage-Grouse Habitat And Diet Resources, Jon D. Bates, Edward C. Rhodes, Kirk Davies
Impacts Of Fire On Sage-Grouse Habitat And Diet Resources, Jon D. Bates, Edward C. Rhodes, Kirk Davies
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
No abstract provided.
Range Management In The Face Of Climate Change, James C. Catlin, John G. Carter, Allison L. Jones
Range Management In The Face Of Climate Change, James C. Catlin, John G. Carter, Allison L. Jones
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
No abstract provided.
Selection And Vegetative Propagation Of Native Woody Plants For Water-Wise Landscaping, Larry A. Rupp, William A. Varga, David Anderson
Selection And Vegetative Propagation Of Native Woody Plants For Water-Wise Landscaping, Larry A. Rupp, William A. Varga, David Anderson
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Native woody plants with ornamental characteristics such as brilliant fall color, dwarf form, or glossy leaves have potential for use in water conserving urban landscapes. Individual accessions with one or more of these unique characteristics were identified based on the recommendations of a wide range of plant enthusiasts (both professional and amateur). Documentation of these accessions has been done through locating plants on-site where possible and then developing a record based on digital photography, GPS determined latitude and longitude, and place marking of Google Earth© images. Since desirable characteristics are often unique to a single plant, utilization of these plants …
Incorporating Historical Ecosystem Diversity Into Conservation Planning Efforts In Grass And Shrub Ecosystems, Amy C. Ganguli, Jonathan B. Haufler, Carolyn A. Mehl, Jimmie D. Chew
Incorporating Historical Ecosystem Diversity Into Conservation Planning Efforts In Grass And Shrub Ecosystems, Amy C. Ganguli, Jonathan B. Haufler, Carolyn A. Mehl, Jimmie D. Chew
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
Understanding historical ecosystem diversity and wildlife habitat quality can provide a useful reference for managing and restoring rangeland ecosystems. We characterized historical ecosystem diversity using available empirical data, expert opinion, and the spatially explicit vegetation dynamics model SIMPPLLE (SIMulating Vegetative Patterns and Processes at Landscape ScaLEs) for a landscape of approximately 946,000 ac in eastern Wyoming. We used SIMPPLLE to simulate plant community dynamics as a result of historical disturbance events (for example, fire, bison grazing, and prairie dog activity), climate, and landscape elements (for example, ecological site, proximity to water, and elevation) and their interactions to derive estimates of …
Yellowstone Sage Belts 1958 To 2008: 50 Years Of Change In The Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata) Communities Of Yellowstone National Park, Pamela G. Sikkink
Yellowstone Sage Belts 1958 To 2008: 50 Years Of Change In The Big Sagebrush (Artemisia Tridentata) Communities Of Yellowstone National Park, Pamela G. Sikkink
Natural Resources and Environmental Issues
In 1958, 13 belt transects were established within the ungulate winter range in the northern portion of Yellowstone National Park to study how shrub communities were affected by grazing from ungulate populations. Between 1958 and 2008, the belts have been measured and photographed by different researchers at least once per decade, which has resulted in a comprehensive 50 year time series of how these communities have responded to climatic change, herbivory, and natural disturbance. In this study, we compare the percent cover, seedling establishment, and plant survival in these communities at two points in time (1958 and 2008); and explore …