New grass distribution records for Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas

New distribution records are given for seven grass species now found in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas.       

Soil algae of cryptogamic crusts from the Uintah Basin, Utah, U.S.A.

The algal flora of selected soils in the Uintah Basin, Uintah County, Utah, was studied. A total of 45 species was identified from the top soils of three different vascular plant habitats. The soil algal flora was dominated in biomass by filamentous Cyanophyta, including Microcoleus vaginatus, Phormidium minnesotense, and three species of Nostoc . These algae formed the algal matrix of the soil within which other Cyanophyta as well as Chlorophyta, Bacillariophyta, and Euglenophyta occurred.         

Second nesting record and northward advance of the Great-tailed Grackle ( Quiscalus mexicanus ) in Nevada

The second nesting record for the Great - tailed Grackle ( Quiscalus mexicanus ) in Nevada is reported from the central part of the state approximately 240 km north of the previous record. Since 1912 this species has undergone a dramatic northward extension of its previous range in the United States, presumably as a result of increased agricultural irrigation in areas that were previously desert or short - grass prairie.         

Grass spider microhabitat use in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona

The grass spider ( Agelena naevia ), commonly found in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, uses rodent burrows located under a shrub canopy more frequently for web construction than burrows located in the open. The average number of prey available in canopy microhabitat was greater than in open microhabitat, and unequal prey abundance may explain spider microhabitat use.        

Three new records for diatoms from the Great Basin, USA

Three diatom species recently collected from Great Basin localities represent new records of these taxa from this region of western North America. Cocconeis scutellum   Ehr. and Melosira dubia   Kuetz. were collected from a thermal spring in Tooele County, Utah. Nitzschia hustedtiana   Salah was collected from newly flooded marshes at the south end of the Great Salt Lake, Tooele Countv, Utah.     

Ecological investigation of a suspected spawning site of Colorado squawfish on the Yampa River, Utah

On 5 July 1981, 13 adult Colorado squawfish were found in spawning condition at river mile 16.5 in the Yampa River, a major tributary to the Green River. An investigation was undertaken to quantitatively describe this section of the river to gain insights on the spawning requirements of this endangered species. The substrate at the suspected spawning site was cobble with large interstitial spaces devoid of organics, silts, or clays. It appeared that larvae of several fish species utilized these cobble areas and the associated voids. Diurnal sampling indicated that larval drift occurred between 0100 and 0125 hours. Substrate size also appeared to be a dominant factor in fish distribution. Feeding intensities of these fish corresponded to macroinvertebrate drift.         

Succession in pinyon-juniper woodlands following wildfire in the Great Basin

Twenty - one areas in pinyon ( Pinus monophylla ) - juniper ( Juniperus osteosperma ) woodlands burned by wildfire from approximately 1 to 60 years prior to sampling and adjacent unburned mature woodland stands were studied in Nevada and California to determine successional patterns and individual species responses to burning and to changing plant communities through time. One year after burning, all late successional woodland species were present in postburn plant communities except tree species. Increases in both cover and occurrence of annual and perennial forbs resulted in their dominance on early successional sites. Shrubs and annual grasses dominated midsuccessional sites, subsequently giving way to tree, shrub, and perennial grass dominance in late succession. North and east slopes generally supported high cover and occurrence of shrubs, perennial grasses, and perennial forbs, and south and west slopes generally supported high cover and occurrence of annual forbs and annual grasses. The ability to group species according to preferential occurrence on various aspects and successional stages can be used to predict plant community composition in time and space in the pinyon - juniper woodlands.         

Tundra vegetation of three cirque basins in the northern San Juan Mountains, Colorado

The vegetation of three alpine cirque basins in the northern San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado was inventoried and analyzed for the degree of specificity shown by vascular plant communities for certain types of habitats identified as representative of the basins. A total of 197 vascular plant species representing 31 families was inventoried. Growth forms of all species were noted and a growth form spectrum for all of the communities was derived. The caespitose monocot and erect dicot growth forms are the most important growth forms among the community dominants. The most common growth form among all species is the rosette dicot.           

Aquatic birds of the White River, Uintah County, Utah

Abundance, seasonal use, and species composition of waterfowl and other aquatic birds are described along a 32.8 km stretch of the White River, Uintah County, Utah, at the site of the proposed White River Dam. Fourteen species of waterfowl and eight other species of aquatic birds were recorded. Waterfowl populations along the river were highest in April, but densities were much lower than on lakes and reservoirs at nearby Ouray National Wildlife Refuge.         

Annotated key to Eriogonum (Polygonaceae) of Nevada

Seventy - three species of Eriogonum (Polygonaceae) are reported for Nevada. A key is provided for the identification of these species along with brief notes on their distribution in the state and elsewhere.         

Helminth parasites of the white-tailed jackrabbit, Lepus townsendi, from northwestern Colorado and southern Wyoming

Helminth parasites of white - tailed jackrabbits, Lepus townsendi , were surveyed from southern Wyoming and northwestern Colorado. A total of eight helminth species were identified, including two species of adult cestodes, Mosgovoyia pectinata and M. varabilis ; three species of larval cestodes, Multiceps serialis , Taenia pisiformis , and Taenis sp. ; and three species of nematodes, Dermatoxys veliger , Passalurus ambiguus , and a filariid, Micipsella brevicauda . In addition, eggs of an unidentified species of Nematodirus were found in pooled fecal samples. The cysticercus larva of Taenia sp. is a species new to science and will be reported elsewhere. Mosgovoyia varabilis and Micipsella brevicauda are new records for the white - tailed jackrabbit.         

Bristlecone pine and Clark's Nutcracker: probable interaction in the White Mountains, California

Many bristlecone pines in the White Mountains, California, are members of multistem clumps. We propose that these clumps have arisen by multiple germinations from seed caches of Clark’s Nutcracker, as occurs in several other pine species. The commonness of nutcrackers and their caching of singleleaf pinyon seeds in the study area provide supporting evidence. Other vertebrates appear unlikely to be responsible for the stem clumps. Seed burial may be required to establish regeneration on these adverse sites where bristlecone pine attains great longevity.        

Species composition, distribution, and phytosociology of Kalsow Prairie, a mesic tall-grass prairie in Iowa

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Miscellaneous plant novelties from Alaska, Nevada, and Utah

Described as a new species is Oreoxis trotteri Welsh & Goodrich from Utah.      

New Astragalus (Leguminosae) from the Goose Creek Drainage, Utah - Nevada

A new species, Astragalus anserinus Atwood, Goodrich, & Welsh, is described from specimens taken from tuffaceous outcrops in the Goose Creek drainage of Box Elder County, Utah and Elko County Nevada.        

New species of Astragalus (Leguminosae) from southeastern Utah

Named and described is Astragalus piscator Barneby & Welsh, a species of sect. Argophylli subsect. Missourienses. The species occurs in Grand and San Juan counties, Utah.         

Two new varieties of Eriogonum (Polygonaceae) from the intermountain region

The types and type specimens of Nevada species and varieties of Eriogonum  (Polygonaceae) are alphabetically listed. Appropriate lectotypes are selected as necessary.         

Types of Nevada buckwheats ( Eriogonum: Polygonaceae)

The types and type specimens of Nevada species and varieties of Eriogonum  (Polygonaceae) are alphabetically listed. Appropriate lectotypes are selected as necessary.         

Diatoms of the Middle Fork of the Salmon River drainage, with notes on their relative abundance and distribution

A total of 145 species of diatoms was collected from 13 sites in the Middle Fork of the Salmon River drainage, Idaho, USA. Achnanthes minutissima was the prevalent species with an importance index of 19.25. Cluster analysis revealed 2 main site groupings, sites above the entrance of Loon Creek and sites below. The entrance of Loon Creek (6th order) increases the Middle Fork of the Salmon River to a 7th order stream. Shannon-Weiner diversity values were generally high.        

Pollinators of Astragalus monoensis Barneby (Fabaceae): new host records; potential impact of sheep grazing

Important bee species inhabiting the study area are listed, including those observed and collected foraging on Astragalus monoensis , a California rare plant. The significance of each species as a potential pollinator is assessed, based on frequency of occurrence in collecting, observed and published host plant records, and morphology. Three pollinator categories are proposed: observed and/or collected on the plant, probable visitors, and possible visitors. New host plant records for these species are listed. Current sheep grazing practices in the A. monoensis habitat endanger pollinators in four ways: (1) destruction of potential nest sites, (2) destruction of existing nests and contents, (3) direct trampling of adult bees, and (4) removal of food resources. Exposure of the major bee species to each of these factors is assessed utilizing experimental data and published information.