Life Sciences Commons^™

Data From: Yellow Air Day Advisory Study, Arthur J. Caplan

Browse all Datasets

Using a dataset consisting of daily vehicle trips, PM2.5 concentrations, along with a host of climactic control variables, we test the hypothesis that “yellow air day” advisories provided by the Utah Division of Air Quality resulted in subsequent reductions in vehicle trips taken during northern Utah’s winter-inversion seasons in the early 2000s. Winter inversions occur in northern Utah when climactic conditions are such that PM2.5 concentrations (derived mainly from vehicle emissions) become trapped in the lower atmosphere, leading to unhealthy air quality (concentrations of at least 35 µg/m3) over a span of what are called “red air days”. When concentrations …

Dynamics Of Measured And Simulated Dissolved Phosphorus In Runoff From Winter-Applied Dairy Manure, Peter A. Vadas, Melanie N. Stock, Francisco J. Arriaga, Laura Ward Good, Krishnapuram G. Karthikeyan, Zachariah P. Zopp

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Agricultural P loss from fields is an issue due to water quality degradation. Better information is needed on the P loss in runoff from dairy manure applied in winter and the ability to reliably simulate P loss by computer models. We monitored P in runoff during two winters from chisel-tilled and no-till field plots that had liquid dairy manure applied in December or January. Runoff total P was dominated by nondissolved forms when soils were bare and unfrozen. Runoff from snow-covered, frozen soils had much less sediment and sediment-related P, and much more dissolved P. Transport of manure solids was …

Detecting Soil Macrofauna Using Ground-Penetrating Radar, Melanie N. Stock, David J. Hart, Nicholas J. Balster

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Fossorial amphibians spend up to ten months belowground, but research into this critical habitat has been impeded by a lack of noninvasive detection methods. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR), however, offers a promising tool because amphibians have theoretically strong electromagnetic (EM) contrasts relative to the soil matrix, and thus potentially high detectability. The objectives of this study were to (1) evaluate GPR by (2) experimentally-inducing three soil thermal regimes that promote stratification in the burrowing depths of 15 Eastern American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus americanus) during the winter of 2011–2012 in Madison, WI, USA. We calculated reflectability and established the unique …

Linking Nutrient Transport To Soil Physical Processes During Freeze/Thaw Events To Promote Wintertime Manure Management, Nutrient Use Efficiency, And Surface Water Quality., Melanie N. Stock, Francisco J. Arriaga, Peter A. Vadas, Laura Ward Good, K. G. Karthikeyan

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

The application of dairy manure to the landscape during winter is a longstanding practice for farms in the Midwestern United States and other temperate regions. Practical motivations behind winter spreading include affordability, availability of time, and the reduced risk of compaction from farm equipment on frozen soils. Wintertime manure applications, however, coincide with environmental conditions that are prone to runoff and accelerate nutrient losses from agricultural fields. Understanding the nutrient dynamics in response to winter-applied manure is especially important to Wisconsin, a leading state in dairy production, where up to 75% of annual runoff volumes occur on frozen and thawing …

Sagestep News, Winter 2016, No. 29, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Ungulate Reproductive Parameters Track Satellite Observations Of Plant Phenology Across Latitude And Climatological Regimes, David C. Stoner, Joseph O. Sexton, Jyoteshwar Nagol, Heather H. Bernales, Thomas C. Edwards Jr.

Wildland Resources Faculty Publications

The effect of climatically-driven plant phenology on mammalian reproduction is one key to predicting species-specific demographic responses to climate change. Large ungulates face their greatest energetic demands from the later stages of pregnancy through weaning, and so in seasonal environments parturition dates should match periods of high primary productivity. Interannual variation in weather influences the quality and timing of forage availability, which can influence neonatal survival. Here, we evaluated macro-scale patterns in reproductive performance of a widely distributed ungulate (mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus) across contrasting climatological regimes using satellite-derived indices of primary productivity and plant phenology over eight degrees of …

Experimental Evidence For Drought Induced Alternative Stable States Of Soil Moisture, David A. Robinson, Scott B. Jones, Inma Lebron, Sabine Reinsch, Maria T. Dominguez, Andrew R. Smith, Davey L. Jones, Miles R. Marshall, Bridget A. Emmett

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Ecosystems may exhibit alternative stable states (ASS) in response to environmental change. Modelling and observational data broadly support the theory of ASS, however evidence from manipulation experiments supporting this theory is limited. Here, we provide long-term manipulation and observation data supporting the existence of drought induced alternative stable soil moisture states (irreversible soil wetting) in upland Atlantic heath, dominated by Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull. Manipulated repeated moderate summer drought, and intense natural summer drought both lowered resilience resulting in shifts in soil moisture dynamics. The repeated moderate summer drought decreased winter soil moisture retention by ∼10%. However, intense summer drought, …

Sagestep News, Winter 2015, No. 27, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Sagestep News, Winter 2014, No. 23, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Winter Waterbird Ecology On The Great Salt Lake, Utah, And Interactions With Commercial Harvest Of Brine Shrimp Cysts, Anthony J. Roberts

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Interactions among commercial fisheries and birds have been studied in open ocean ecosystems and at aquaculture facilities. On the Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, USA, a commercial harvest of brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) eggs (i.e. cysts) occurs annually during fall and winter. Coinciding with commercial harvest is the use of the GSL by millions of waterbirds which has the potential to result in conflict among industry and birds. The objectives of my research were to examine fall and winter ecology of birds using the GSL and interactions with the brine shrimp cyst harvest. I examined the influence of temperature and …

Winter Habitat Use By Juvenile Greater Sage-Grouse On Parker Mountain, Utah: Implications For Sagebrush Management, Danny Caudill, Terry A. Messmer, Brent Bibles, Michael R. Guttery

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage-grouse) are entirely dependent on sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) for food and cover during winter. Loss or fragmentation of important wintering areas could have a disproportionate affect on population size. We radio-marked and monitored 91 juvenile sage-grouse in south-central Utah from 2008 to 2010. Thirty-four individuals survived to winter (January to March) and were used to evaluate winter habitat use. Resource use was calculated using kernel density estimation of radio-marked individuals and compared to available habitat using a G-test. We found that juvenile sage-grouse used winter habitats characterized by 0 to 5% slopes …

Sagestep News, Winter 2012, No. 17, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Sagestep News, Winter 2011, No. 14, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Reducing Reliance On Supplemental Winter Feeding In Elk (Cervus Canadensis): An Applied Management Experiment At Deseret Land And Livestock Ranch, Utah, Dax L. Mangus

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Wildlife managers have fed elk in North America for nearly 100 years. Giving winter feed to elk can compensate for a shortage of natural winter range and may boost elk populations while also helping prevent commingling with livestock and depredation of winter feed intended for livestock. In contrast to these benefits of supplemental feeding, there are economic and environmental costs associated with feeding, and elk herds that winter on feeding grounds have a higher risk of contracting and transmitting disease. Brucellosis is of primary concern now, and Chronic Wasting Disease may be in the future. Many see the discontinuation of …

Sagestep News, Winter 2010, No. 11, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Sagestep News, Winter 2009, No. 8, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Sagestep News, Winter 2007/2008, No. 5, Sagestep

Newsletters

Seasonal newsletter of SageSTEP.

Forage Kochia For Fall/Winter Grazing, D. R. Zobell, B. L. Waldron, K. C. Olson, R. D. Harrison, H. Jensen

All Current Publications

Winter feeding costs have often been cited as one of the most expensive aspects of beef cattle production in the Intermountain West. Research and rancher experience suggests that using forage kochia for fall/winter grazing may help reduce these costs.

Now That Cold Weather Is Approaching, Do You Have Tips For Keeping Bird Feeders Safe?, Terry Messmer

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Whack Your Weeds Before Winter, Dennis Hinkamp

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Can I Prune My Shrubs Or Flowers This Time Of Year?, Jerry Goodspeed

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Get Squashed Next Year, Dennis Hinkamp

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Primrose And Pansies Laugh At Winter, Dennis Hinkamp

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Winter Weed Whacking, Dennis Hinkamp

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

It Has Been A Restful Winter For Northern Utah Trees, Dennis Hinkamp

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Prepare Your Yard For Sleep, Dennis Hinkamp

All Archived Publications

No abstract provided.

Evaluation Of Low-Quality Forages In A Winter Dietary Regimen Of Western White-Face Ewes Used For Milk Production, Raúl Meneses

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

The evaluation of ammoniation of mature grass (1/3 Festuca sp, 1/3 Bromus and 1/3 Dactylis sp) as a basal diet for pregnant ewes and its effects on ruminal fermentation were studied. Ammoniation increased the forage dry matter intake (DMI), crude protein (CP), and gross energy digestibility. Ruminal pH and total volatile fatty acid were not affected by ammoniation (P > .05). Individual VFA concentrations were affected significantly.

In a third experiment, ammoniated wheat straw was evaluated as a basal diet for wintering pregnant ewes. Ammoniated straw replaced grass hay in the diet. Dry matter intake was not different (P > .05). Final …

Cold Tractor Operations, Von Jarrett

All Current Publications

No abstract provided.

An Apple Rest Model For Mild Winter Conditions, Jose Ignacio Del Real Laborde

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Two areas of research are reported: an experiment on the effects of warm temperature prestratification treatments on seed dormancy and a new chill unit model.

Crabapple seeds (Malus sargentii Rehd.) were allowed to imbibe water and were given warm pretreatments at temperatures of 16, 20, 24 and 28C for periods of 3, 10, 20 or 30 days before cold stratification at 4C for 20, 40, 60, 80 or 100 days. Pretreatments resulted in increased chilling requirements for seedling emergence. A short chilling period (20 days) also altered the leaf area, shoot length, internodal length and root/shoot ratio of the …

The Influence Of Winter Social Behavior On The Habitat Selection And Reproductive Success Of The Black-Billed Magpie, Kerry P. Reese

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

This study examined the influence of winter social behavior, particularly dominance relationships, on the subsequent nesting habitat selection and reproductive success of Black-billed Magpies (Pica pica hudsonia) on 2 areas in northern Utah. Hierarchical cluster analysis ordinated the habitats available to breeding birds and Chi-square and Bonferoni-z statistics were used to determine those habitat types the magpies seemed to prefer. Social status was determined by observing color-banded birds engaged in agonistic encounters at winter bait stations. Social dominance was evaluated by % dyads won, not by total % victories. Relationships between winter social status of magpies and their …