Life Sciences Commons^™

Ecological Factors Determining Nesting Habitat For American Avocets, Landon R. Jones

Student Works

The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a large shorebird that breeds and congregates in open, shallow, saline wetlands (Robinson et al. 1997). Its long, curved bill is well adapted for stirring up and feeding on invertebrates from the benthos. Because they fill such a narrow habitat niche, the majority of avocets concentrate in the thousands to breed in a few hot spots such as Mono Lake in California, and the Great Salt Lake in Utah (Robinson et al. 1997). Avocets arrive at the Great Salt Lake in late March and nest from mid-April to mid-July (Sordahl 1981). They require 15-20 …

Variables Associated With Northern Goshawk Nesting On The Dixie National Forest, J. Jorgensen, R. L. Rodriguez, Landon R. Jones

Student Works

The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter genii/is) is a large forest raptor in the northern hemisphere that preys on small to medium-sized birds and mammals in mature forests (Squires and Reynolds 1997). Because forest structure and composition in the southwest have undergone significant change since pre-settlement times due to fire suppression, timber harvesting, livestock grazing, mining, and recreational use (Reynolds et al. 1992), the goshawk has been listed as a Forest Service sensitive species for Region 4, which includes the Dixie National Forest in Utah. This ranking dictates that for all actions on the Forest, effects to the species must be addressed. …

Northern Goshawk Nest Activity As An Indicator Of Habitat Quality On Three National Forests In Southern Utah, K. S. Marvel, R. L. Rodriguez, Landon R. Jones

Student Works

The Northern Goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) has been a species of concern in the western United States since it was thought to be in decline in the 1970s. Loss of critical breeding and wintering habitat has contributed, in part, to this decline. In the U.S., the goshawk was listed in 1991 as a sensitive species for the Intermountain Region of the Forest Service. This region includes all National Forests in Utah. The goshawk also holds the status of a Management Indicator Species (MIS) on all six National Forests in Utah (USDA Forest Service 1999). The aim of the Forest Service was …

Mammals Of Utah County, James W. Bee

Student Works

Based on the premises that an accurate determination and description of the mammals of Utah County is a prerequisite for subsequent research in ecology, geographic distribution and evolutionary taxonomy, this thesis is submitted. While it is essentially taxonomic, there are included related subjects to permit a more thorough interpretation of the subject as a whole.

Summarizing, the objectives are:

• a. To list and key the known mammals of Utah County with descriptions and measurements.
• b. To ascertain their geographic range within the county.
• c. To present significant ecological and geological data for the proper appreciation of the problems of evolutionary …