Funding Source: U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Project Location: Lake Tahoe, California-Nevada
Project Duration: October 1994 - June 1997
Investigators:
Christine Gemperle
David A. Beauchamp
Technicians:
Brant Allen
Peter Bacon (Volunteer)
Goals and Objectives:
Kokanee salmon Oncorhynchus nerka are an important component of the aquatic
community in Lake Tahoe. Kokanees are the most important planktivorous fish
in the lake, are a popular gamefish, and are an important food resource for
lake trout and bald eagles. This study was designed to estimate egg deposition
by adult kokanees spawning in Taylor Creek, Lake Tahoe, determine stage-specific
survival of embryos through hatching and emergence, estimate the abundance
of fry entering Lake Tahoe, and describe their early life history characteristics
and distribution in the lake.
Progress to Date:
Kokanee spawning runs were measured for 1994 and 1995. Fry out-migration
and early lake residence were estimated for 1995 and 1996. In 1994, spawning
peaked on 17 October, and an estimated 20.9 million eggs were deposited in
Taylor Creek. A minimum estimate of 2,858,247 fry migrated to the lake during
April-May 1995, resulting in a minimum egg-to-fry survival rate of 13.6%.
This is comparable to estimates for other populations. In 1995, spawning
peaked on 2 October, and an estimated 11.4 million eggs were deposited. During
January-March, 168,053 fry emerged which resulted in a 1.5% survival rate.
Unseasonably warm temperatures persisting until early December resulted in
accelerated embryo development and caused peak fry emergence to occur in
early February 1996. Temperature may also have had an effect on survival
rates. During 1995 we found that most fry migrated downstream during the
first five hours of darkness, and most traveled in 25075% of the stream channel
depth. Of the fry that emerged it is estimated that beaver dams prevented
19.2% from entering the lake. Few fry were encountered in beach seines following
the 1995 out-migration compared to 1996. Stomach contents contained chironomids
in both 1995 and 1996 and diaptomus in 1996 only. Food availability may play
a role in littoral zone residence times.
Future Plans:
Although the field work for this project has been completed, analyses on
stomach contents and otoliths in lab still remain. We will also be examining
annual spawner index counts (conducted since 1960 by California Fish and
Game) and attempting to create a model using environmental parameters to
more accurately estimate spawner populations.
Funding Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Project Location: Southern Utah
Project Duration: March 1995 - March 1997
Investigators: Mark Ritchie
Goals, Objectives and Progress to Date:
Analysis of Utah prairie dog (Cynomys parvidens) population trends since
1976 showed large fluctuations in numbers over time, such that any local
colony was likely to go extinct within a twenty year period. Changes in prairie
dog numbers do not appear to be due to random fluctuations in environmental
conditions (e.g., precipitation, snow depth, etc.), but rather to interactions
among individuals within colonies, their food supply, and/or predators and
diseases (e.g., plague). A majority of colonies exhibit overcompensating
density dependance and experience frequent extinctions. The numbers of
extinctions for these colonies over eighteen years correlated positively
with maximum per capita growth rate but not with average colony population
size or variability in growth rate. Colonies with strong density dependence,
low population size, and low maximum growth rates were much more likely to
go extinct during 1976 - 1993 (61%). Thus, Utah prairie dogs appear to be
a true metapopulation composed of smaller local populations that periodically
drive themselves to extinction.
I am currently using these data to help design new strategies for recovery of the Utah prairie dog. The existing recovery plan for the species sets recovery goals according to total numbers of animals. Repeated and persistent crashes of local colonies have prevented the total population from achieving these goals. However, results from my analysis suggest that recovery goal need to be altered to specify a minimum number of colonies for species persistence. Working with the Utah Prairie Dog Recovery Team, I am developing GIS layers of suitable habitat and colony population dynamics (extinction rate, maximum size, maximum growth rate, etc.) to place these results in a spatial context.
Funding Source:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society
Project Location: Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Utah
Project Duration:September 1995 - December 1997
Investigators:
Dorie Stolley
John A. Bissonette
John A. Kadlec
Technicians:
Paul Bemis
Michele Colson
Goals and Objectives:
To determine, through experiment and observation, the effects of saline drinking
water on goslings as measured by mortality, changes in body mass and morphometic
measurements, feather development, activity level, and digestibility of feed.
(Experiment only).
To assess the effect of nutritional quality by comparison of Fish Springs
goslings to goslings from Cache Valley. We will examine body mass, morphometric
measurements and feather development.
To investigate the relationship between overland brood movement and gosling
mortality using homing radio-telemetry.
To measure egg volume, clutch size, hatching success, nesting success, and
fledging success, and to determine nest initiation times.
Progress to Date:
Our main objective for this year was to establish study protocol and to test
methods and equipment. Toward this end, a review of the literature was completed
and one field research season conducted. A trap for nesting females was designed,
tested, and evaluated. Artificial nesting platforms and ground nests were
monitored over the season. Twenty-six resident geese were collared, and body
mass and morphometric data collected from them. From observations, we determined
that coyotes were stalking and preying upon geese. We collected wild Canada
goose eggs, had them artificially incubated, and utilized them in a pilot
experiment on the effects of saline drinking water. We collected water from
Fish Springs to be used in 1997 during the full experiment, and built cages.
We determined nest initiation date, egg volume, clutch size, and hatching,
nesting, and fledging success for all nests.
Future Plans:
During the next (and final) field season, we will accomplish all of the
above-listed goals with adequate sample sizes. We are developing a predictive
model for hatch date using egg density. This will minimize the number of
times an individual nest must be visited. We will also use a new drug, propofol,
to prevent nest abandonment by trapped females.
Funding Source:
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
National Biological Service (1996)
USGS Biological Resources Division (1997)
Project Location: Idaho
Project Duration: May 1995 - September 1997
Investigators:
Thomas C. Edwards Jr.
Collin G. Homer
Technicians:
Steven Schell
Greg Crosby
Wendy Goetz
Eli Rodemaker
Goals,Objectives, and Progress to Date:
All mosaicking, standardization and clustering of the Landsat TM imagery
necessary for analysis have been accomplished. During the summer and fall
of 1995 and 1996 extensive field work was carried out. Approximately 10,000
training sites were collected and subsequently identified on the imagery
and cataloged for association to the spectral classification. Existing usable
training plots are being collected form USDA FS Region 4 inventory data,
individual forest data, the BLM and NPS. Steps completed so far include:
Funding Source: Nevada Division of Wildlife
Project Location: Southern Nevada
Project Duration: January 1995-December 1997
Investigators:
Edmund "Butch" Brodie
Thomas C. Edwards, Jr.
Paul Ustach, Department of Biology, Utah State University
Goals, Objectives, and Progress to Date:
The Federal Register lists the status of chuckwalla (Sauromalus obesus) in
Nevada as Category II. Large size, open habitat and a tendency to perch in
conspicuous places have rendered chuckwallas vulnerable to persecution by
commercial and non-commercial collecting. Unfortunately, no life history
information is available for chuckwallas in Nevada to aid in determining
it's actual status. Our objectives are to: (1) determine the historical
distribution of chuckwallas in Nevada; (2) develop a model for estimating
the spatial extent of potential chuckwalla habitat; (3) conduct surveys to
ascertain present chuckwalla distribution; and (4) develop an annotated
bibliography on chuckwalla distribution.
Two field seasons are now completed. Existing information on historical
distributions was gleaned from the literature and museum records and all
data entered in a GIS. A first-pass model for estimating chuckwalla habitat
was developed using known locations of chuckwallas. The logistic regression
model retained vegetation type, elevation, slope and aspect as predictors
of chuckwalla presence. From this model a 90% to 98% probability isolcline
of chuckwalla presence was developed and integrated into the GIS. A random
subset of the predicted spatial locations was tested during the 1996 field
season and the data are currently being analyzed. The model will be fine-tuned
and tested again in 1997.
Funding Source: Wildlife Conservation Society, UTCFWRU
Project Location: Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Utah
Project Duration: September 1995 - December 1997
Investigators:
Cathy Schloeder
John A. Bissonette
Progress to date:
January 1995 through November 1996 was the field phase of this project. During
this period data on climate, landform type, surface geology, patterns in
indigenous resource use, and plant species composition was collected from
275 sites. In addition, at each site soils were classified and 47 samples
were collected for analyses. The analyses will take place at the International
Livestock Research Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Due to technical
difficulties during the last year it was not possible to collect data from
the riverine area.
Future Goals:
The first goal of 1997 will be to enter all field data into a data base.
Following this, satellite data from the lower Omo valley will be purchased
and statistically analyzed along with all the field data. In addition, each
variable of data collected at each site will serve as a data layer in the
development of a composite map of the lower Omo.
A review and compilation of relevant literature will take place during this
same year and be used to compare and contrast with this studies results and
to develop the discussion section of the dissertation.
Two courses will be taken this year to fulfill my course obligations;
Classification and Identification of Soils and physics. This differs from
the Plan of Study I submitted in 1994 for the following reasons. Due to a
change in course scheduling no relevant courses in the Organismal category
are available this year. I have submitted the request that a course in animal
behavior that I took at the MS level be accepted to fulfill this category
since this is now allowed according to the more recent Ecology Center guidelines.
Furthermore, the course Biogeochemistry is now considered acceptable in the
Community/Ecosystem category. I propose to use this to fulfill my last course
requirement in this category rather than that previously proposed, Perturbation
in Forest Ecology. In addition, taking this latter course will conflict with
my taking the soils class next quarter.
If no major obstacles are met this year I expect to fulfill my graduate
obligations no later than March 1998. This would be 3 months earlier than
previously expected.
Funding Source:
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Berryman Institute
Boone and Crockett Club
Project Location:Cache Valley, Utah and adjacent mountains
Project Duration:January 1994 - January 1998
Investigators:
Mark McClure
John A. Bissonette
Michael R. Conover
Technicians:
Tim Veenendaal
Roy Fetzer
Goals and Objectives:
The purpose of this project is to provide information for wildlife managers
and practitioners regarding interactions between mule deer and suburbanization
in the Cache Valley and other urbanized areas along the Wasatch Front. We
used urbanized areas of the Cache Valley as a large experiment to formulate
hypotheses and test predictions regarding habitat perception and selection
across a range of scales. We will evaluate our models of how deer perceive
urban habitats compared to more natural habitats by linking our models to
a series of pragmatic objectives.These objectives include:
Progress to Date and Future Plans:
We have tagged and radio-collared approximately 85 deer in our two study
areas. We have collected approximately half of the data needed to develop
our models of habitat perception and response by deer living in urban and
rural habitats. We anticipate collecting the other half of these data by
March 1997. We also plan to finish the field work for these objectives by
March 1997. 1997.jkj
Funding Source:
Western Newfoundland Model Forest
Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Division
Project Location: Western Newfoundland Model Forest
Project Duration: March 1993 - March 1997
Investigators:
William Adair
John A. Bissonette
Technicians:
Keith Chaulk
Tina Newbury
David Balsam
John Gosse
Rina Nichols
Crista Didham
Matthew Graham
Sean Reid
Peter Wilson
Alvin Lambert
Sheryl Ross
Craig Park
Jason Little
Duane Winsor
Goals and Objectives:
Our primary goal is to develop an interactive computer model that predicts
the impacts of forest management on habitat for the Newfoundland marten (Martes
americana atrata), a listed threatened species in Canada. The model is based
on the habitat selection decisions made by individual denning marten. We
will use the model to assess hypotheses about the relative importance of
food availability, perceived predation threat, and thermal costs on marten
habitat selection.
Progress to Date:
The conceptual foundations for the model have been developed. We have addressed
marten metabolic response to temperature (the most basic component in an
energetics-based model) for each season in the year. We have completed 17,000
trap nights of small mammal sampling, and 1,200 microhabitat vegetation and
forest inventory plots. Results to date suggest that sparse prey populations
are closely tied to distinct microhabitat characteristics.
Marten tracking commenced in March 1996 and continued for the duration of
snow cover. Thermal sampling devices were distributed in March 1996 and retrieved
periodically through September 1996. Rest sites will be located for all animals
for the duration of the reproductive season. Natal and satellite den sites
were located for all reproductively active females.
Future Plans:
During the remainder of the project, computer code will be developed for
the spatially explicit combinatorial dynamic optimization (simulated annealing)
model that will form the basic framework for the habitat assessment model.
Funding Source: National Biological Service
Project Location: Logan, Utah
Project Duration: October 1992 - September 1998
Investigators:
Thomas C. Edwards, Jr.
Allan Falconer
Collin Homer
Scott Bassett
Gretchen Moisen
Technicians:
Brian Biggs
Mary Jane Crandall
Matthew McCune
Goals and Objectives:
The National Gap Analysis Center was established at the UTCFWRU in 1992 to
synthesize state-based gap analysis data sets into ecoregional coverages.
Objectives of the research are to (1) merge all U.S. state-based gap data
sets into ecoregions, (2) perform gap analysis by ecoregion, (3) provide
assistance to state gap analysis programs, and (4) facilitate linkages with
other federal, state, and NGO biodiversity programs. Edgematches are in process
for the Colorado Plateau and Mojave portions of the Great Basin ecoregions.
Considerable effort was expended on developing an "ecologically smart"
aggregation routine for stepping up cover-maps from ~1 ha to the GAP-specified
100 ha MMU. The routine has been applied to Utah and parts of Nevada and
Arizona. We also completed, in conjunction with UNEP, a GAP Analysis encyclopedia
accessible through the INTERNET via the World Wide Web using a hypermedia
viewer such as NCSA Mosaic. Its Universal Resource Locator (URL) is:
http://www.nr.usu.edu/gap/gaphome.htm
Efforts in 1996 focused on synthesizing the Mojave ecoregion from the Utah,
Nevada, Arizona and Californa Gap Analysis projects.
Future Plans:
Ongoing projects include creation of interactive querying capabilities of
Gap Analysis Information and edgematching between Utah and Wyoming.
Funding Source: U.S.G.S. Biological Resources Division
Project Location: Utah
Project Duration: September 1995 - August 1997
Investigators:
Thomas C. Edwards, Jr.
Scott D. Bassett
Goals and Objectives:
The overall plan is to make relative comparisons between different spatial
sampling strategies as it relates to reserve placement.
Progress to Date:
Data has been assimilated to assist in the modeling effort. The data consists
of GIS layers representing watersheds, hexagons, counties, and species
distributions. A total of 391, 368, and 30 sample units in the watershed,
hexagon, and county coverages, respectively, exist for analysis. The number
of sample units create an interesting modeling problem. The problem stems
from the amount of processing time required to analyze each individual sample
unit. Therefore, a linear integer programming technique has been derived
to model the optimal place of reserves on the landscape for both de novo
and existing reserve designation criteria.
Future Plans:
Home range estimate for each of the 525 species will be estimated to allow
for filters to be placed on top of existing distributions. Modeling will
commence in the nest year to include the linear integer programming algorithm
to meet the study objectives. The thesis should be in rough draft by July
of 1997.
Funding Source: U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Project Location: Northern Utah
Project Duration: September 1996 - June 1998
Investigators:
Thomas C. Edwards, Jr.
Gretchen G. Moisen
Tracey S. Frescino
Goals and Objectives:
Progress to Date:
Investigation and research for information related to spatial modeling of
vegetation and accuracy assessment techniques. Production of an annotated
bibliography of references for thesis.
Future Plans:
Prepare a proposal of the project by Spring of 1997, including a plan for
field work. Field work will include only one summer (1997) sampling aspen
stands of northern Utah forests. Beginning fall of 1997, the validation methods
and prediction models will be analyzed and interpreted in a final report.
Funding Source: National Guard Bureau through U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service
Project Location: Utah State University
Project Duration: August 1993 - September 1997
Investigators: Allan Falconer
Doug Ramsey
Dave Roberts
Research Associate:
Aaron Price, Captain, National Guard
Technicians: Brian Biggs
Merland Haliski
Kimberly Patraw
Richard Spencer
Project Status and Progress:
The goal is to build a GIS database for the National Guard Bureau Environmental
office (NGB-ARE).
Discussions about the use of the environmental data for training requirements
are underway. A prototype National Environmental Database (NED) structure
has been completed and partly populated with nationwide biophysical information
produced by various state and federal agencies. The database is hierarchical
and allows the user to quickly examine environmental data layers at the national,
ecoregion, state, and local levels. This structure allows cross-scale comparison
and evaluation of land information. The user can move from a national perspective
view to ground level field plot information and maintain proper geographic
and ecological relationships. A data analysis interface has been produced
to make use of the database as easy as possible. The system makes extensive
use of ARC/INFO macro and menu language to provide the user interface.
Data for the local level (training installation) has been compiled primarily
for the Orchard Training Area in Idaho and Camp W. G. Williams in Utah. These
data have been integrated into the system and work continues to develop
Land-Condition-Trend-Analysis (LCTA) tools to evaluate ecosystem health and
trend. Software has been developed for summarizing and presenting data collected
through the LCTA program. We are in consultation with camp environmental
officers to develop tools and collect data to address management problems.
Information about an additional 50 training camps located throughout the
U. S. and Puerto Rico has been received and is being entered into the
system.
Research continues to address questions of scale change and the proper
dissemination of the database through the Internet.
The vision for the national environmental database is a multiscale, analytical, environmental atlas of the nation that can be used by the NGB-ARE to evaluate their lands for training of National Guard Troops.
Funding Source:
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
National Biological Service
Project Location: Uinta Mountains, Utah
Project Duration: October 1991 - September 1997
Investigators: Thomas C. Edwards, Jr.
Kimberly Sullivan
Joshua Lawler
Technicians: Cathy Bischoff
Eric Cannon
Janene Shupe
Progress to Date:
Four of five field seasons exploring habitat and demographic relationships
of neotropical migrant birds in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, have been completed.
A total of 96 permanent census points, distributed across four habitat classes
in three watersheds, were sampled weekly from 1 May to 31 August. Presence
of each bird species was recorded. A total of 66 neotropical birds species
have been recorded in the study area. Presence/absence data will also be
used to estimate change in bird abundances through time.
In addition to bird presence/absence, effort is being placed into searching
for nests to estimate nest success. Based on the first three field seasons,
nest success estimates based on the Mayfield method ranged from 0.48 to 0.81.
Weather appears to be the most significant mortality factor in the study
areas.
Future Plans: Study will continue for one more summer.
Funding Source:
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
North Dakota Game and Fish Department
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Dakota Wildlife Trust
Delta Waterfowl Research Foundation
Project Location: Prairie Pothole Region of North Dakota
Project Duration: 1993 - 1997
Investigators: Dr. Terry A. Messmer
Charles Dixon
Scott Barras
Technicians: Brenda Dixon
Amy Barras
Paul Klimack
Bruce Bishoff
Rachel Pieterick
Monaca Noble
Mike Bigger
Stacy Kreister
Kathy Olstad
James McMillan
Theresa Olson
Rick Bohn
Sue Majors
Melissa Brown
Michelle Colsen
Curtis Hendricks
Matt Lucia
Anne Malan
Scott Kelly
Goals and Objectives:
Progress to Date:
We released 4,800 nasal-saddled leg-banded wild strain mallard ducklings
on 12 4-square mile sites in the prairie pothole region of North Dakota.
The release sites were randomly selected from 24 paired sites that exhibited
high quality wetland and upland waterfowl habitats. Each release site received
200 ducklings (100 male and 100 females). All ducklings were released at
4-5 weeks of age using a modified-gentle release technique. Each release
site was surveyed at three day intervals to determine duckling survival rates,
causes of mortality, and to refill feeders.
In 1994 and 1995, we returned to the release (treatment) and control sites
to monitor mallard breeding pairs numbers and relocate released birds. Annually,
three breeding pair counts were conducted on all sites using a variety of
ground and aerial survey techniques. The study sites were cover mapped using
aerial videography techniques to determine mallard pair-pond availability.
Systematic searches were conducted of the study sites to determine homing
rates and dispersal patterns. Band returns from the release birds are being
compared to return rates from a wild cohort to determine differences in survival
rates and migration patterns.
Future Plans: The field work has been completed and we are preparing the final report for submission to the collaborating agencies.
Funding Source:
U.S.D.A. Forest Service
Pacific Northwest Research Station
Project Location: Southeast Alaska
Project Duration: May 1993 - December 1996
Investigators: Margaret Cartwright
David A. Beauchamp
Goals and Objectives:
In April 1995, a hydroacoustic survey was conducted, completing the field
work segment of the Margaret Lake project. We used bioenergetics model
simulations coupled with directed field sampling of predator diet and
distribution, to quantify the intensity and duration of cutthroat trout (O.
clarki) predation on stocked sockeye salmon fry in Margaret Lake during 1993
and 1994. We then compared these simulation results to hydroacoutic estimates
of the number of sockeye salmon fry remaining in the lake at the end of the
growing season. Model results indicated that cutthroat trout consumed an
estimated 82,284 fry (range 67,431-100,423) of the 200,00 sockeye fry stocked
in May 1993. The September hydroacoustic survey estimated 31,099 (+ 5,567)
sockeye salmon fry remained in the lake after fry were no longer evident
in stomach samples of cutthroat trout. Mean annual cutthroat trout consumption
for 1994 was estimated to be 51,385 fry (range 32,123-130,282) of the 100,000
fry stocked 19 May. The September hydroacoustic survey estimated that 8,493
( + 1,063) sockeye salmon fry remained in the lake after cutthroat trout
stomach samples indicated a very low incidence of fry in their diet. We concluded
that cutthroat trout predation could account for the majority of stocked
sockeye salmon fry mortality in Margaret Lake. Quantifying the predation
loss of sockeye salmon fry is important for designing alternative stocking
regimes and evaluating the success of similar enhancement programs in the
future.
Future Plans:
Ongoing data analysis, evaluation, and write-up of the results from 1993
and 1994 will be pursued in the next year.
Funding Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Project Location: Bear Lake, Utah/Idaho
Project Duration: January 1991 - December 1998
Investigators: Wayne A. Wurtsbaugh
Chris Luecke
Clyde Lay
Alan Ward
Technicians: Todd Seamons
Phaedra Budy
Progress to Date:We are now in our sixth year of studying
the endemic Bear Lake forage fishes. Since 1991 we have conducted lake-wide
monitoring in July of the two important forage fishes in the lake, Bear Lake
sculpin and Bonneville cisco. Otter trawl catch rates in 1996 indicated that
sculpin populations increased nearly 100% above 1995 levels. Hydro acoustic
and mid-water trawling surveys indicated that the abundance of cisco increased
moderately. Catch rates of other benthic fishes captured in the bottom trawling
were also analyzed for the 6-year period. In 1996 we conducted parallel trawling
and Hydro acoustic surveys with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR)
so that we could establish calibration factors between their equipment and
ours. This will allow the DWR to take over the monitor activities in 1997
and maintain a consistent data set.
In concert with our fish survey work, we have also monitored limnological
parameters in the lake. Zooplankton analyses have indicated that the population
of the large cladoceran, Daphnia pulex, has blossomed during the past two
years. This increase is not consistent with the expanding population of
zooplanktivorous cisco, nor with the relative stable levels of chlorophyll
a that we have measured. It is consistent with increasing Secchi depth
transparencies observed in the past two years. Consequently, future analyses
will concentrate on the importance of carbonate precipitates in the water
column that may be decreasing and allowing the cladocerans to feed more
effectively.
We have continued working on life history studies of the sculpin in order
to understand factors controlling their populations. We are now investigating
the importance of food limitation for controlling sculpin populations. Benthic
invertebrates from dredge samples taken at different depths have been analyzed
to determine if the biomass of benthic invertebrate prey has decreased in
recent years. The spatial distribution of the prey and different size classes
of sculpin is also under investigation. We have also completed laboratory
studies to measure bioenergetic parameters of this species.
In 1996 a significant proportion of our work was directed at understanding the taxonomy of two (or three) poorly described endemic whitefish in the lake. Fish in each of the three groups were spawned and the progeny are being reared in our laboratory. The field-caught fish, and subsamples from those being reared, are being analyzed for morphometeric traits and mitochondrial DNA composition. Morphometric analyses suggest that one species, Prosopium spilonotus, is actually composed of a dwarf and a large form. The dwarf form, however, cannot yet be morphometrically diffferentiated from the other whitefish species in the lake, P. abyssicola.
Future Plans: In 1997 and 1998 our work will focus on understanding the taxonomy and ecology of the whitefishes in Bear Lake. Work will continue on the morphometrics and genetics of the species. In 1997 we will study the spawning ecology of the three taxa to determine possible niche segregation via different spawning habitats and/or spawning times. In 1998, when the taxonomic questions are hopefully resolved, we will beging work on the trophic relationships of the three groups. We will continue to monitor limnological parameters to help explain changes in the abundance of the endemic and sport fishes in the lake.
Funding Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
Project Location: Green River, downstream of Flaming Gorge
Dam
Project Duration: November 1993 - June 1997
Investigators:
Jeffrey L. Kershner
Charles P. Hawkins
Mark Vinson
Technicians: Dave Axford
Goals and Objectives:
The goal of this project is to determine the health and status of the aquatic
macroinvertebrate community in the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge
Dam. Our objectives are to (1) determine habitat specific production of
macroinvertebrate populations, (2) determine the longitudinal distribution
of macroinvertebrate taxa, (3) evaluate the effect of a large discharge event
on macroinvertebrate populations, (4) evaluate the historical changes in
the macroinvertebrate community since the original construction of Flaming
Gorge Dam in 1963 and later modification to install a multi-level intake
structure in 1979, and (5) determine what factors may be limiting
macroinvertebrate diversity by comparing the macroinvertebrate community
within the Flaming Gorge Dam tailwaters to other tailwater rivers in the
region.
Progress to Date: Consecutive monthly collections of aquatic macroinvertebrates, periphyton, benthic organic matter from major habitat types along the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam since December 1993. All macroinvertebrate samples are processed and the data entered into a computer database the same month they are collected. Seasonal collections of aquatic macroinvertebrates from two tributaries of the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam; Pipe Creek and Gorge Creek, and from 12 other regulated rivers and 23 natural springs and low temperature streams in the region. Three years of continuous monitoring of water temperature along the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam and one year of continuous water temperature monitoring has been done within the tributary streams and 12 other regulated rivers. Monthly nutrient concentrations from the Green River have been collected since November 1994. Single summer sample of nutrient concentrations from the tributary streams, 12 regulated rivers, and 23 natural springs. An analysis of the hydrologic and macroinvertebrate assemblage changes that have occurred in the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam since the 1950s has been completed.
The Glen Canyon Environmental Studies Group (GCES) completed the pre-flood
topographic mapping.
Future Plans: All current sampling operations on the Green River downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam will continue through April 1997. If a simulated flood does not occur this spring, I would like to continue sampling riffle locations every-other month. If a flood event does occur monthly sampling will continue through Spring 1998 and additional sampling will be conducted before, during, and after the high flow event. I would like to increase sampling of other regulated rivers and natural springs. This information is needed to understand why insect diversity in the Flaming Gorge tailwater section is so low. This project was not part of the initial study plan. I would like to acquire funding to expand this work.
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