Digital Commons Network^™

Stem Growth And Longevity Dynamics For Salix Arizonica Dorn, Vicki L. Taylor, Kimball T. Harper, Leroy L. Mead

Great Basin Naturalist

Diameter-age relationships of Salix arizonica (Arizona willow) stems were investigated for 5 populations on the Markagunt, Paunsaugunt, and Sevier plateaus in southern and central Utah. Of the 430 stems studied, none exceeded 26 mm in diameter at ground level (estimated age of 19 yr). Equations developed for predicting age from stem diameters consistently accounted for over 90% of the observed variation. Slopes of predictive equations were homogenous across the 3 sites considered in detail. At 2 sites 46% and 38% of the stems exceeded 10 mm (~7 yr old) diameter at ground level. At a 3rd site, no stems survived …

Juvenile Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen Texanus) In A Managed Wetland Adjacent To The Green River, Timothy Modde

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Species-Environment Relationships Among Filter-Feeding Caddisflies (Trichoptera: Hydropsychidae) In Rocky Mountain Streams, Timothy B. Mihuc, G. Wayne Minshall, Janet R. Mihuc

Great Basin Naturalist

Species-environment relationships were determined for filter-feeding macroinvertebrates from 55 Rocky Mountain stream sites to establish species distribution patterns. Species abundance and 20 environmental variables were measured at each site with species-environment relationships determined using canonical correspondence analysis and stepwise multiple regression. Results suggest that the distribution of several taxa was strongly related to upstream-downstream environmental gradients. Arctopsyche grandis abundance increased with stream size (width and depth) and decreased with increasing turbulence (Reynolds number). Brachycentrus abundance also increased with stream size (depth). Hydropsyche abundance increased with increasing baseflow. Parapsyche elsis abundance also increased with stream size (depth). Hydropsyche abundance increased with …

Sources Of Variation In Counts Of Meristic Features Of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarki Bouvieri), Carter G. Kruse, Wayne A. Hubert, Frank J. Rahel

Great Basin Naturalist

We determined variability in counts of meristic features (pyloric caecae, vertebrae, pelvic fin rays, gillrakers, basibranchial teeth, scales above the lateral line, and scales in the lateral series) of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri) by 3 independent readers, by the same reader on 3 different occasions, and among fish from 12 sampling sites within a 650-km² watershed. Genetic purity of the cutthroat trout was determined by electrophoretic analysis. Significant differences in meristic counts were observed among 3 readers and among sampling sites, but not among 3 occasions by a single reader. Scale counts were within the …

Diurnal Aboveground Activity By The Fossorial Silvery Legless Lizard, Anniella Pulchra, David J. Germano, David J. Morafka

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Vol. 56 No. 4

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Bighorn Sheep Response To Ephemeral Habitat Fragmentation By Cattle, John A. Bissonette, Melanie J. Steinkamp

Great Basin Naturalist

We studied seasonal cattle grazing as an agent of ephemeral habitat fragmentation on a newly reintroduced population of California bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana) in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Idaho, 1988–89. We evaluated the hypothesis that bighorn sheep avoid cattle. We documented sheep response to the proximity to cattle by direct observation. The core areas used by bighorn and distances to escape terrain generally decreased as cattle moved closer to sheep. Likewise, sheep moved from cattle as cattle approached them. Severity of response we observed is in marked contrast with that reported for established bighorn populations, suggesting that newly …

Studies On Nearctic Negastrius (Coleoptera: Elateridae), Samuel A. Wells

Great Basin Naturalist

New species descriptions of Negastrius rupicola from California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia; N. stibicki from California, Montana, and British Columbia; N. solox from Arizona and New Mexico; and N. atrosus from Ontario and Quebec are given. Negastrius colon is returned to species status, and a neotype is designated for N. choris. Fleutiauxellus extricatus is a new combination. A key is provided to Neararctic species of Negastrius.

Western Balsam Bark Beetle, Dryocoetes Confusus Swaine, Flight Periodicity In Northern Utah, E. Matthew Hansen

Great Basin Naturalist

The flight periodicity of western balsam bark beetle (Dryocoetes confusus Swaine) in Big Cottonwood Canyon, Utah, was studied during the summer months of 1992, 1993, and 1994. Contents of baited funnel traps were tallied by species up to 3 times weekly. Two main periods of flight activity were observed each year. The first and, generally, largest occurred in early summer soon after flight was initiated for the season. A 2nd period was observed in late summer, generally August. Timing of the 2 periods was influenced by unusually warm or cool weather in each study year. The 1st period had …

Procedurally Rational Decision-Making And Control, Richard L. Frost, Michael A. Goodrich, Wynn C. Stirling

Faculty Publications

Substantive rationality requires a decision-maker to be a utility maximizer; under this paradigm, the decision is paramount, and not dependent on the computational process used to obtain it. Procedural rationality is dependent on the method used to make the decision; reasonableness of the procedure is paramount. Well-formed problems are amenable to substantive rationality; ill-formed problems are not, but are amenable to procedural rationality. To qualify as being procedurally rational, a methodology must possess a sound epistemological basis, it must be amenable to a formal design synthesis procedure, and it must be consistent with substantive rationality. Epistemic utility theory forms the …

Pelage Coloration In Oldfield Mice (Peromyscus Polionotus): Antipredator Adaptation?, Mark C. Belk, Michael H. Smith

Faculty Publications

Reflectance spectra (in full light and moonlight) of dorsal pelage of 469 adult oldfield mice (Peromyscus polionotus) comprising nine regional samples were compared to reflectance spectra of corresponding surface and subsurface soil samples to test for a selective effect of predation on color of pelage. Mice were slightly more reddish in hue, generally had more chroma, and were less reflective than soil at all locations. Color of pelage within locations was not significantly correlated with color of soil. Among all locations, brightness of pelage and soil were significantly positively correlated. Among mainland locations, there was a significant positive …

Distribution And Ecological Characteristics Of Lewisia Longipetala (Piper) Clay, A High-Altitude Endemic Plant, Anne S. Halford, Robert S. Nowak

Great Basin Naturalist

Lewisia longipetala (Piper) Clay is a high-altitude endemic found in the northern Sierra Nevada. The characteristics of 12 sites with L. longipetala, which represent all known populations, were studied to define habitat requirements of the species. Meso- and microscale characteristics of the habitat were examined, including characteristics of the associated plant community. Average plant size and plant density of L. longipetala were also determined for each population. Similar measurements were made on 6 populations of Lewisia pygmaea (A. Gray) Robinson, a more common Lewisia. Populations of L. longipetala that had larger plants and higher plant density were associated …

Potential For Controlling The Spread Of Centaurea Maculosa With Grass Competition, John L. Lindquist, Bruce D. Maxwell, T. Weaver

Great Basin Naturalist

Spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa Lam.) is a major rangeland and roadside weed of the northern Rocky Mountains. It is often found in plant communities dominated by Pseudoroegneria spicatum or Festuca idahoensis, but it rarely invades roadsides dominated by Bromus tnermis Leyss. Aboveground biomass of the 3 grass species grown in mixture with Centaurea was compared to growth in monoculture at a range of nitrogen input levels. The results suggest that Bromus is capable of suppressing the growth of Centaurea with the degree of suppression increasing with increasing nitrogen levels. The 2 native grasses had no impact on Centaurea …

Indicators Of Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus) Abundance In The Whitebark Pine Zone, David J. Mattson, Daniel P. Reinhart

Great Basin Naturalist

We investigated occupied squirrel middens and squirrel sightings and vocalizations as indicators of red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) abundance in the high-elevation whitebark pine (Pinus albicaulis) zone. Data were collected 1984–1989 from line transects located on 2 study sites in the Yellowstone ecosystem. We evaluated the performance of each measure on the basis of precision and biological considerations. We concluded that, of the 3 measures, active middens were the best indicator of red squirrel abundance. We also observed that the density of active middens dropped by 48%–66% between 1987 and 1989, following a severe drought and extensive …

Perceptions Of Utah Alfalfa Growers About Wildlife Damage To Their Hay Crops: Implications For Managing Wildlife On Private Land, Terry A. Messmer, Sue Schroeder

Great Basin Naturalist

We conducted a survey of Utah alfalfa (Medicago sativa) growers in 1993 to identify wildlife damage problems to bay crops. Such surveys can provide wildlife managers with important insights regarding landowners' wildlife damage management concerns and needs. Pocket gophers (Thomomys spp.) and mule deer (Odecoileus hemionus) were perceived by growers as causing the most damage. Respondents reported a total annual loss of $350,000 or $24.79/ha (2.8% of the total crop value) because of wildlife damage in alfalfa crops. Decreased hay quantity was the most frequently cited problem caused by wildlife. Compensation and incentive programs were …

Spatial Relationships Among Young Cercocarpus Ledifolius (Curlleaf Mountain Mahogany), Brad W. Schultz, Robin J. Tausch, Paul T. Tueller

Great Basin Naturalist

This study analyzed spatial location patterns Cercocarpus ledifolius Nutt. (curlleaf mountain mahogany) plants, classified as current-year seedling, established seedling, juvenile, and immature individuals, at a central Nevada study site. Most current-year seedlings were located in mahogany stands in which large, mature individuals had the greatest abundance. These stands had greater litter cover and a thicker layer of litter than areas with few current-year seedlings. Most established young Cercocarpus were located in adjacent Artemisia tridentata spp. vaseyana (mountain big sagebrush) communities, or in infrequent canopy gaps between relatively few large, mature Cercocarpus. We discuss potential roles of plant litter, root …

Front Matter, Vol. 56 No. 3

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Full Issue, Vol. 56 No. 3

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Dam-Forming Cacti And Nitrogen Enrichment In A Piñon-Juniper Woodland In Northwestern Arizona, Molly Thomas Hysell, Charles C. Grier

Great Basin Naturalist

In a piñon-juniper woodland in northwestern Arizona, connected basal cladodes of a prickly pear cactus (Opuntia littoralis var. martiniana) form check dams that cause deposition of N-rich detritus interspaces otherwise lacking litter. Seventy-eight percent of connected basal cladodes measured in transects grew at an angle (with respect to the slope contour) ≤ 45°—an orientation facilitating deposition of flood-borne debris.

Soil total N was significantly greater (P < 0.01) and organic C was greater, but not significantly, above cactus dams compared to below cactus dams. Soil total N and organic C both above and below cactus dams were significantly greater (P = 0.0001) compared to adjacent interspaces. Soil total N and organic C above cactus dams were equal to areas beneath canopies (tree and shrub combined). Net NO₃⁻ (0–5 …

Roost Sites Of The Silver-Haired Bat (Lasionycteris Noctivagans) In The Black Hills, South Dakota, Todd A. Mattson, Steven W. Buskirk, Nancy L. Stanton

Great Basin Naturalist

We investigated the roosting ecology of silver-haired bats (Lasionycteris noctivagans) in the Black Hills of western South Dakota. Using radiotelemetry, we located 39 roosts, 10 of which were maternity aggregations containing 6 to 55 bats. The roosts were mostly in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) snags that averaged 39 cm diameter at breast height. Solitary bats preferred roosting under loose bark or in crevices in trees, regularly moving among trees. All maternity aggregations were found in tree cavities, primarily those created by woodpeckers. Roost trees were located in patches of forest with relatively high snag densities, about …

End Matter, Vol. 56 No. 3

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.

Biogeographic Significance Of Low-Elevation Records For Neotoma Cinerea From The Northern Bonneville Basin, Utah, Donald K. Grayson, Stephanie D. Livingston, Eric Rickart, Monson W. Shaver Iii

Great Basin Naturalist

The existence of low-elevation populations of Neotoma cinera in the northern Bonneville Basin shows either that these mammals can survive thousands of years in xeric habitats or that they can move across xeric lowlands far more readily than has been appreciated, or both. Current models of Great Basin small mammal biogeography are far too static to encompass properly the interaction of the wide range of geographical and biological variability that has produced the modern distribution of those mammals that have, for several decades, been treated as "montane" within the Great Basin.

Thermal Characteristics Of Montain Lion Dens, Vernon C. Bleich, Becky M. Pierce, Jeffrey L. Davis, Vicki L. Davis

Great Basin Naturalist

We used radiotelemetry and searched with a trained hound to locate the dens of 3 recently parturient mountain lions (Felis concolor). These dens were located in dense riparian vegetation along the same stream in the bottom of a steep canyon. We monitored circadian temperatures of 2 dens at 1-h intervals and compared them to ambient temperatures recorded simultaneously. We found mountain lion dens to effectively moderate high ambient temperatures, but these dens failed to provide a thermal advantage at the lowest ambient temperatures recorded in this investigation. We conclude that mountain lion dens provide effective protection from thermal …

Variation In Bitterbrush (Purshia Tridentata Pursh) Crude Protein In Southwestern Montana, Carl L. Wambolt, W. Wyatt Fraas, Michael R. Frisina

Great Basin Naturalist

The objective of this study was to determine if crude protein varies significantly during late summer and midwinter among stands of bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata Pursh) in southwestern Montana. A secondary objective was to determine if leaves, when present, contribute significant additional protein in the region. Nine sites with different environmental conditions within a radius of 14.5 km were studied. Bitterbrush leaves and leaders collected in August 1990 and 1991 and February 1991 were used for crude protein and leaf-to-leader ratio determinations. Crude protein differed (P < 0.001) among sites for both leaves and leaders on individual collection dates. Crude protein in leaves was nearly twice the level found in leaders. Because few leaves were present in February, they increased crude protein in total foliage by only 0.3% over twigs alone. February crude protein levels averaged 6.8% for total foliage, which is below the estimated requirement for wintering deer.

Privatizing Public Lands, B. Gardner Delworth

Faculty Publications

The federal government owns and controls more than 4 7 percent of the land in the Western United States'. The Interior department has jurisdiction over approximately 450 million acres, most of it used primarily for livestock grazing and is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The federal forests, managed by the Forest Service in the Department of Agriculture, contain about 325 million acres and include some of the prime timbergrowing lands in the world. Vast acreage's are also found in the national parks and Indian reservations. Most of federal land is used by recreationists of many types and is …

Nutrient Distribution In Quercus Gambelii Stands In Central Utah, A. R. Tiedemann, W. P. Clary

Great Basin Naturalist

Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) is increasingly recognized as a valuable fuelwood throughout Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah. Knowledge of distribution of nutrients among biotic and abiotic components is an important step in developing prescriptions for managing these stands for sustainable productivity.

Eight Q. gambelii stands were sampled for concentrations (%) and accumulations (kg ha⁻¹) of total nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), and sodium (Na) among aboveground and belowground biomass components and the upper 30 cm of soil. Highest concentrations of N, P, and S occurred in oak leaves, …

Effects Of Turbidity On Feeding Rates Of Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus Clarki Henshawi) And Lahontan Redside Shiner (Richardsonius Egregius), Gary L. Vinyard, Andy C. Yuan

Great Basin Naturalist

The spawning of Lahontan cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) in Summit Lake, Nevada, has reportedly declined since the early 1970s, coincident with the appearance of Lahontan redside shiner (Richardsonius egregius) in the lake. We investigated the relative predatory abilities of the 2 fish species foraging on live Daphnia magna in turbidity conditions commonly observed in Summit Lake. Experiments were performed under controlled light and temperature condition. In separate trials we fed trout and shiner 1 of 3 size classes of D. magna (1.7 mm, 2.2 mm, and 3.0 mm) at 6 levels of turbidity ranging from …

Field Measurements Of Alkalinity From Lakes In The Uinta Mountains, Utah, 1956–1991, Dennis D. Austin

Great Basin Naturalist

Data collected from alpine lakes in the Uinta Mountains during fishery surveys by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources indicate alkalinity has decreased in some drainages since the mid 1950s. Implications for continued monitoring, as well as environmental and recreations values, are discussed.

Saltcedar (Tamarix Ramosissima), An Uncommon Host For Desert Mistletoe (Phoradendron Californicum), Sandra L. Haigh

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.

End Matter, Vol. 56 No. 2

Great Basin Naturalist

No abstract provided.