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- Anthropogenic effects (1)
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- Freshwater ecosystems (1)
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Articles 1 - 6 of 6
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Ecology Of Greater Sage-Grouse Inhabiting The Southern Portion Of The Rich-Morgan-Summit Sage-Grouse Management Area, M. Brandon Flack
Ecology Of Greater Sage-Grouse Inhabiting The Southern Portion Of The Rich-Morgan-Summit Sage-Grouse Management Area, M. Brandon Flack
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) are sagebrush obligates and are therefore considered to be key indicators of sagebrush ecosystem health. Sage-grouse populations have declined range-wide over the last century due to loss and fragmentation of sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) habitats. Sage-grouse populations found in large intact sagebrush landscapes are considered to be more resilient, however, some small isolated populations persist and thrive in fragmented landscapes. Because of Utah’s unique topography and geography, sage-grouse habitat is discontinuous and populations are naturally dispersed throughout the state in suitable intact blocks or in disconnected islands of sagebrush habitat. Thus, Utah populations …
Natural And Anthropogenic Effects On Life History Characteristics In The Side-Blotched Lizard (Uta Stansburiana), Geoffrey David Stuart Smith
Natural And Anthropogenic Effects On Life History Characteristics In The Side-Blotched Lizard (Uta Stansburiana), Geoffrey David Stuart Smith
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Survival is a prerequisite for successful reproduction, and is thus intertwined with fitness. Some physiological systems can improve survival, like the immune system, but compete with other processes for resources. Because animals evolved with resource limitation, it is important to understand how these resource-allocation decisions are made. To meet this end, I performed four investigations addressing how life-history characteristics shift in side-blotched lizards (Uta stansburiana) using laboratory studies and multi-year field sampling. First, I measured metabolic rates in response to different immune challenges and different energy states in male lizards. I found that, surprisingly, cutaneous biopsies were associated …
A Comparison Of Five Statistical Methods For Predicting Stream Temperature Across Stream Networks, Maike F. Holthuijzen
A Comparison Of Five Statistical Methods For Predicting Stream Temperature Across Stream Networks, Maike F. Holthuijzen
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
The health of freshwater aquatic systems, particularly stream networks, is mainly influenced by water temperature, which controls biological processes and influences species distributions and aquatic biodiversity. Thermal regimes of rivers are likely to change in the future, due to climate change and other anthropogenic impacts, and our ability to predict stream temperatures will be critical in understanding distribution shifts of aquatic biota. Spatial statistical network models take into account spatial relationships but have drawbacks, including high computation times and data pre-processing requirements. Machine learning techniques and generalized additive models (GAM) are promising alternatives to the SSN model. Two machine learning …
Bridging Post-Wildfire Communication Gaps Between Managers, Researchers, And Local Communities, Including A Biological Soil Crust Case Study, Hilary Louise Whitcomb
Bridging Post-Wildfire Communication Gaps Between Managers, Researchers, And Local Communities, Including A Biological Soil Crust Case Study, Hilary Louise Whitcomb
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Immediately after a wildfire land managers act quickly to protect water supplies, soil stability, habitat, and forage. We don't currently understand how managers make trade-off decisions between social, political, and ecological factors in these tight timelines or if they are able to use new science. We do know ecosystems often benefit from local engagement, and new, scientifically-grounded methods that improve restoration efforts are needed. As post-wildfire timelines don’t often allow for outside input, I asked managers what they and stakeholders think about post-wildfire projects and what managers think about new science. I asked local citizens what they think about postwildfire …
Spatial And Temporal Study Of Heat Transport Of Hydrothermal Features In Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Ruba A. M. Mohamed
Spatial And Temporal Study Of Heat Transport Of Hydrothermal Features In Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park, Ruba A. M. Mohamed
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
Monitoring thermal activity in Yellowstone National Park is required by the United States Congress to maintain the safety of the visitors and park service personnel and to protect the integrity of the park. This dissertation is part of a study initiated in the early 2000s to monitor the thermal activity in the park with focus on Norris Geyser Basin, the hottest geyser basin in the park. The study is considered the first multiple-year study in the basin which took place between August 2008 and October 2013. In this study, at least one thermal infrared image was acquired every year using …
The Influence Of Wind Energy Development On Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus Phasianellus Columbianus) Breeding Season Ecology In Eastern Idaho, Matthew C. Proett
The Influence Of Wind Energy Development On Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus Phasianellus Columbianus) Breeding Season Ecology In Eastern Idaho, Matthew C. Proett
All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023
The Columbian sharp-tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus; CSTG) has experienced range-wide population declines, primarily as a result of habitat loss or degradation, and currently occupies <10% of its historic range. Expansion of wind energy developments across the remaining occupied CSTG range has been identified as a potential threat to the species. To assess the potential influence of wind energy development of CSTG breeding season ecology, I captured and radio-marked 135 female CSTG drugin 2014-2015 at leks located between 0.1-13.8 km from wind turbines in restored grassland habitats. Using radio-telemetry, I monitored 147 nests and 68 broods and developed models to assess the influence of wind turbines, roads, habitat features temporal factors, and precipitation on CSTG nest site selection, nest survival, brood success, and chick survival. Female CSTG in my study selected nest sites in grassland habitats where >30% of the canopy cover in the nesting core use area was composed of forbs (i.e., broadleaf plants). The strength of selection for this habitat type increased as its availability increased on the landscape. Nest survival increased with higher visual obstruction readings (i.e., concealment) at the nest bowl and in grassland habitats where forb cover exceeded 30% in the nesting core use area. I did not detect an influence of wind turbines or …