Plant nutrient levels on two summer ranges in the River of No Return Wilderness Area, Idaho

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Monthly percent nutrient and moisture levels of plant species on two summer ranges in the River of No Return Wilderness Area of Idaho were determined. Festuca idahoensis exhibited the highest average crude protein content of graminoids on both study areas. Achillea millefolium and Balsamorhiza saggittata at Rush Point and Trifolium spp. and Achillea millefolium at Cold Meadows possessed the highest mean crude protein content of the forbs examined. Grasses exhibited greater average seasonal levels of crude fiber, and forbs generally contained significantly larger levels of Ca, P, and moisture.     

Density, distribution, and habitat of Flammulated Owls in Idaho

From 1990 to 1992 we surveyed for Flammulated Owls ( Otus flammeolus ) in 3 areas in Idaho: Salmon National Forest (SNF), Payette National Forest and adjacent Hells Canyon National Recreation Area (PNF-HCNRA), and Nez Perce National Forest (NPNF). We also collected and summarized information on all historic and modern records of Flammulated Owls in Idaho. Flammulated Owls were detected on 65% of 68 routes (2-16 km in length) surveyed at densities ranging from 0.04 to 1.25 singing males/40 ha. Owls were detected on survey routes as early as 10 May and as late as 23 July. Mean percent canopy cover estimated at owl locations on the PNF-HCNRA and NPNF study sites ranged from 52% to 64%, while shrub cover ranged from 16% to 21% and ground cover was 39% to 49%. Our surveys and summary of distributional records indicated that Flammulated Owls occur throughout the montane forests of Idaho in old or mature stands of open ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa ), Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ), and stands co-dominated by those 2 species. Fire suppression and timber harvest activity in ponderosa pine forests represent 2 main threats to the species' future security in Idaho. More research on the effects of various silvicultural treatments on Flammulated Owl populations is warranted.     

Diatom flora of Mink Creek, Idaho, USA

Diatoms were collected from an open-canopy and closed-canopy site on Mink Creek, Bannock County, Idaho, a third-order Rocky Mountain stream. Ninety diatom taxa were identified. Achnanthes minutissima Kuetz. And Navicula lanceolata (Ag. ) Kuetz. dominated the open-canopy site, whereas Cocconeis placentula var. euglypta (Ehr.)CI. comprised greater than 40% of the diatom assemblage at the closed-canopy site. Seven of the 10 most important diatoms were present at both sites. A high degree of similarity was evident between natural and artificial substrates at both sites. Although most taxa were present at both sites, it is apparent from this study that differences in the abundance of taxa occur according to variations in light.     

Nesting ecology of waterbirds at Grays Lake, Idaho

Montane wetlands provide valuable habitat for nesting waterfowl and other waterbirds in the western United States, but relatively little information is available about the nesting ecology of their waterbird communities. We describe the general nesting ecology of breeding waterbirds at a large, shallow, montane wetland in southeastern Idaho during 1997-2000. Habitats include upland grasslands and intermittently to semipermanently flooded wetland habitats. We located a total of 1207 nests of 23 bird species: Eared Grebe ( Podiceps nigricollis ), Canada Goose ( Branta canadensis ), Mallard ( Anas platyrhynchos ), Gadwall ( A. strepera ), American Wigeon ( A. americana ), Green-winged Teal ( A. crecca ), Blue-winged Teal ( A. discors ), Cinnamon Teal ( A. cyanoptera ), Northern Shoveler ( A. clypeata ), Northern Pintail ( A. acuta ), Redhead ( Aythya americana ), Canvasback ( A. valisineria ), Lesser Scaup ( A. affinis ), Ruddy Duck ( Oxyura jamaicensis ), Northern Harrier ( Circus cyaneus ), American Coot ( Fulica americana ), Virginia Rail ( Rallus limicola ), Greater Sandhill Crane ( Grus canadensis tabida ), American Avocet ( Recurvirostra americana ), Long-billed Curlew ( Numenius americanus ), Wilson's Snipe ( Gallinago delicata ), Wilson's Phalarope ( Phalaropus tricolor ), and Short-eared Owl ( Asio flammeus ). Most nests were initiated in May-early June and were terminated (hatched or destroyed) by the 3rd week of June. Mean daily survival rate (DSR) for Canada Goose nests was 0.954 ± 0.005 ( s ￣x ; n = 127 nests), equivalent to Mayfield nest success of 21%. Mean DSR for dabbling duck nests over all 4 years was 0.938 ± 0.006 ( n = 41), equivalent to Mayfield nest success of 11%. For all other species where we found > 10 nests each year (Eared Grebe, Redhead, Canvasback, Coot, Sandhill Crane, American Avocet, and Wilson's Snipe), > 50% of nests found hatched at least 1 young. Success rates for geese, cranes, and ducks were lower than reported for Grays Lake during 1949-1951 and lower than most other wetlands in the region.     

Regional assessment of wadable streams in Idaho, USA

There has been a resurgence in applying bioassessment techniques for evaluating and monitoring the biological integrity of stream ecosystms. In all cases biological metrics have been refined to account for regional variation in aquatic habitats and fauna. This study evaluated environmental and macroinvertebrate properties for wadable streams in 3 major ecoregions of Idaho: Northern Basin and Range, Snake River Plain, and Northern Rocky Mountain. These 3 ecoregions constitute > 80% of the land area in Idaho. Reference streams were delineated from test streams in each ecoregion using standard habitat assessment protocols. (Plafkin et al. 1989). Multiple discriminant analysis effectively determined habitat (quantified measures) and macroinvertebrate differences between reference and test streams within ecoregions, although the results suggested that quantifiable habitat measures (e.g., water chemistry and nutrients) and biotic measures based on taxonomic groups (e.g., % Elmidae) improved the discriminatory power of evaluation procedures. Our results support the contention of a multi-metric approach for assessing differences among streams within an ecoregion. Lastly, individual metrics differed in their importance for evaluating stream condition among ecoregions, further emphasizing the importance of regionally stratifying metric selection or scoring procedures.     

Vascular flora of Kane Lake Cirque, Pioneer Mountains, Idaho

Kane Lake Cirque lies in the western Pioneer Mountains of south central Idaho. An inventory of the high elevation flora of the cirque revealed the presence of 180 vascular taxa representing 95 genera and 30 families. Five alpine taxa are here documented from Idaho for the first time: Carex incurviformis Mack., Draba fladnizensis Wilfen., Potentilla nivea L., Ranunculus gelidus Kar. & Kir., and Ranunculus pygmaeus Wahlenb. Kane Lake Cirque also contains populations of four additional alpine taxa considered to be of conservation concern in Idaho: Erigeron humilis Graham, Parnassia kotzebuei Cham., Saxifraga adscendens L., and Saxifraga cernua L.     

Distribution of sculpins in the Clearwater River Basin, Idaho

The distributions of Cottus bairdi, C. rhotheus, and C. beldingi exhibited a highly significant positive degree of association. Conversely, the distribution of C. confusus exhibited a highly significant negative association with the distributional complex, C. bairdi, C. rhotheus, and C. beldingi. These species of sculpins can be grouped into two assemblages; one based on the distribution of C. confusus and the other based on the combined distributions of the other three species. The factor or factors limiting the downstream distribution of C. confusus or the upstream distribution of the other three species could not be positively identified. However, we hypothesize that competition between C. confusus and one or more members of the C. bairdi, C. rhotheus and C. beldingi complex is involved. In the area of overlapping distributions among C. bairdi, C. rhotheus, and C. bairdi we hypothesize that resource partitioning is occurring. However, the data did not allow evaluation of this hypothesis.        

Records of exotic fishes from Idaho and Wyoming

One exotic poeciliid ( Xiphophorus helleri ) and two cichlids ( Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum and Tilapia mossambica ) are recorded as recently established in thermal springs and their outflows in southern Idaho. Misgurnus anguillicaudatus was collected and is considered as established in the Boise River system. Poecilia mexicana and juvenile hybrid tilapias are recorded from the Bruneau River at Bruneau Hot Springs, Idaho. A reproducing population of X. helleri was found in a spring within the boundaries of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. Poecilia reticulata , previously reported from one spring each in Idaho and Wyoming, is recorded from a second spring outflow in Idaho.     

Effects of grazing exclusions on rangeland vegetation and soils, east central Idaho

Nineteen exclosures on sagebrush steppe and shadscale rangelands, varying in age from 18 to 38 years, were sampled for plant species richness, plant composition, indicators of soil erosion, ground cover, vegetative cover, and herb-low shrub layer screening cover. Features within the exclosures were compared with adjacent sites of the same size that were open to grazing by livestock and wildlife. Species richness typically was slightly greater inside exclosures than in adjacent grazed sites (median = 2 more species inside exclosures), but the difference was not significant ( P = 0.16). Similarity of plant community composition between exclosures and adjacent grazed sites ranged from 45% to 82%. Evidences of soil movement, soil pedestals, and soil flow patterns were all more pronounced outside exclosures than inside ( P ≤ 0.02), even though many sites were on flat to mild slopes (median slope = 12%). Meta-analysis of the 19 exclosure sites indicated that grazing exclusion resulted in less bare ground cover compared with adjacent grazed sites ( P ≤ 0.05). The effect of grazing exclusion on visible soil surface cryptogams was significant ( P ≤ 0.05), with generally greater cover inside exclosures. Cryptogam cover differences between grazed sites and exclosures tended to increase with the number of years of grazing exclusion ( r = 0.64, P = 0.046). Pseudoroegneria spicata , a principal livestock forage, averaged greater basal cover inside exclosures than outside on 4 of 10 sites where it occurred, although no exclosure sites had greater P. spicata cover on grazed sites. Meta-analysis of the 10 sites indicated that grazing exclusion resulted in greater P. spicata cover compared with adjacent grazed areas ( P ≤ 0.05). Poa secunda , a short-growing grass that initiates growth early in the spring and is not important livestock forage, averaged greater basal cover outside exclosures on 5 of 15 sites where it occurred. Meta-analysis of the 15 sites indicated a significant treatment effect ( P ≤ 0.05), with greater Poa secunda basal cover outside exclosures. Grazing exclusion resulted in greater screening cover in the herb-low shrub layer (0-0.5 m height; P ≤ 0.05). These results indicate that despite improved livestock grazing management over the past half century, livestock grazing still can limit the potential of native plant communities in sagebrush steppe ecosystems, and that the health of semiarid ecosystems can improve with livestock exclusion in the absence of other disturbances. A few exclosure sites were similar for the measured parameters, suggesting that these sites were ecologically stable and that exclusion of livestock grazing was not sufficient to move succession toward more pristine conditions, at least within the time periods studied. Managed disturbance such as fire or mechanical brush treatments may be necessary to restore herb productivity on these ecologically stable sites.     

Second occurrence of the long-nosed snake, Rhinocheilus lecontei lecontei, in Idaho

A second record of the long-nosed snake in Idaho was taken at the entrance to Bruneau Dunes State Park, Owghee County     

Ecology of Celtis reticulata in Idaho

The small deciduous tree Celtis reticulata (neatleaf hackberry) reaches its northern limit in Idaho, where, contrary to most of its western range, it often occurs as an overstory dominantly. Two hundred fifty stands of this tree were sampled throughout Idaho. Celtis is slow-growing, averaging 4 m tall at 50 yr, and long-lived (to 300-400yr). It occurs in a variety of habitats, from riparian to rocky uplands. Trees grow best where topographically sheltered, such as in draws and narrow canyons, and were soils are loamy. Although plants grow more slowly as surface rock cover increases, stands are often associated with rock, with a mean surface cover of 39% rock. Differences in growth rates were unrelated to parent material and aspect. Most stands are reproducing, in spite of habitat degradation caused by overgrazing, alien plant invasion, and increasing fire frequencies. Stands are typically represented by one dominant cohort; however, young, even-aged stands are rare and are generally found along waterways on stream terraces or at the high-water line. Although slow growing, C. reticulata shows promise for land mangers interested in site enhancement. This native species is long-lived, produces fruit used by wildlife, and provides structural diversity in a semiarid landscape (with a maximum height o 12 m) in areas that are becoming increasingly dominated by exotic plant species.     

Classification and ordination of the alpine plant communities of Railroad Ridge, White Cloud Peaks, Idaho

Alpine vegetation of Railroad Ridge in the White Cloud Peaks, Custer County, Idaho, was investigated to ascertain native communities and describe their distribution with respect to important environmental factors. Percent cover of all species and environmental information were recorded for 69 plots. Data were analyzed by TWINSPAN and CANOCO, which provided a classification and an ordination, respectively. Predominant communities are dominated by (1) Phlox pulvinata , (2) Carex elynoides , and (3) Ceum rossii , and other communities of lesser importance are dominated by (4) Artemisia campestris , (5) Eriogonum ovalifolium and Silene acaulis , and (6) Ivesia gordonii . Although the Artemisia campestris community occupies a relatively small portion of the study area, it is noteworthy because it is a community type not previously known for Idaho. The community co-dominated by Eriogonum ovalifolium and Silene acaulis is also unique and has not been documented in other Idaho alpine studies. Community distribution showed the strongest correlation with exposure, substrate type, and slope. In general, the study area supports fellfield communities that are representative of alpine areas in Idaho and some Great Basin mountain ranges, and dense turflike communities similar to ones found throughout western North America's temperate alpine regions.     

Morphometry of sculpins ( Cottus ) in the Clearwater drainage, Idaho

The morphometry of four Idaho species of Cottidae were compared. Pectoral ray counts allowed separation of Cottus beldingi and C. confusus from C. bairdi and C. rhotheus but not from each other. Preopercular armature also allowed identification of the same two groups of two species. Palatine tooth development generally allowed separation of each species as did body prickle development. Body ratios involving caudal peduncle depth allowed separation of C. rhotheus and C. bairdi. Development of lateral lines allowed differentiation of C. rhotheus from the other three species. A key was developed based on the combination of characters studied.     

Some edaphic relations of southeastern Idaho wildlands

Soil samples from the Al horizon and dominant subsoil horizon at 190 sites were analyzed for Ca, Mg, K, P, and organic matter contents in conjunction with a soil resource inventory of the Caribou National Forest. Vegetative composition and production data were compared to the edaphic factors to derive relationships useful to the land manager. Organic matter was effective in distinguishing between soil orders and was positively correlated to vegetative production. Vegetative cycling of the nutrients P and K was most pronounced in soils of the order Mollisols, to a lesser degree in the Alfisols, and not at all in the Entisols. The K/Mg ratio of the soil showed a negative correlation to grass production and a positive correlation with shrub production. An interpretative table is provided to aid determinations of high versus low values for the edaphic factors studied.     

Size selection of food by cutthroat trout, Salmo clarki, in an Idaho stream

The mean size of food and amount of food consumed by cutthroat trout from Palisades Creek in southeastern Idaho increased with trout length. Number of organisms of terrestrial origin, number of aquatic larvae, number of ants, and number of berries from redstem dogwood were related to trout length. The size range and number of taxa consumed increased with trout size, indicating that as trout get larger, they broaden their feeding menu. The minimum size of food consumed was relatively constant for all trout, but larger trout appeared to feed more from the stream bottom. Trout may have a minimum length of food, below which items cannot be detected as food. Other possible factors affecting the feeding of cutthroat trout are mentioned.         

Blow flies (Diptera, Calliphoridae) of Idaho: an annotated checklist

A total of 33 species of blow flies (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are recorded from Idaho. They include 1 species each of Cochliomyia, Phormia, Protophormia, Trypocalliphora, Cyanus, Cynomya, and Melanodexia ; 12 species of Protocalliphora ; 5 species of Lucilia ; 6 species of Calliphora ; and 3 species of Pollenia . Other calliphorid species that may also occur in the state include 5 species of Protocalliphora and 3 species of Calliphora . Known distribution, periods of activity, abundance within the state, and biological notes are provided.     

Breeding birds at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory, 1985-1991

During the summers of 1985-1991, bird census were conducted along 13 permanent routes located at the 2315-km 2 Idaho National Engineering and Environmental laboratory (INEEL Sturnella neglecta ), Brewer's Sparrows ( Spizella breweri ), Sage Sparrows ( Amphispiza belli ), Horned larks ( Eremophila alpestris ), and Sage Thrashers ( Oreoscoptes montanus ) comprised 72% of all individuals. Almost half of all species were represented by fewer than 10 individuals. Bird density was significantly greater along facility complex routes. Moreover, because of human-constructed wetlands and structures of various types, facility complex routes had significantly more bird species per unit area, including more species of waterfowl and human associated species. Some year-to-year variation in bird density was related to weather. More individuals were recorded in cooler, wetter years, although such increases were reflected more along facility complex routes. Among sagebrush-obligate species, trend analysis suggest that both Brewer's Sparrows and Sage Sparrows increased significantly in abundance, which may be in contrast to regional trends for these species. Of 5 species of special concern observed, trend analysis could be performed for only 2: Ferruginous Hawks ( Buteo regalis ) and Loggerhead Shrikes ( Lanius ludovicianus ). Both species had more routes with negative regression coefficients and negative trend means, indicating that declines may have occurred, although the goodness-of-fit test for neither species was significant. These data from INEEL should be used for comparison with future studies at the site and other statues from throughout the Great Basin region.     

Contrasting movement and activity of large brown trout and rainbow trout in Silver Creek, Idaho

Recent radiotelemetry studies demonstrated that stream-dwelling trout are mobile, but few have compared sympatric species. We used radiotelemetry to simultaneously monitor positions of 20 brown trout and 21 rainbow trout from May or June 1994 to February 1995 in Silver Creek, a small spring-fed stream in south central Idaho. Our biweekly observations from May to September indicated that rainbow trout had larger home ranges (medians, 606 m v. 131 m) and moved greater distances (medians, 1109 m v. 208 m) than brown trout. Furthermore, rainbow trout used more positions than brown trout (means, 7 v. 3) over this interval. Hourly diel monitoring revealed no significant difference in 24-h home ranges of rainbow trout and brown trout (means, 77 m v. 105 m). However, activity patterns of the 2 species differed; rainbow trout activity was usually highest during the day, whereas brown trout activity tended to peak at night. Differences in foraging strategies and response to disturbance may be responsible for differences in mobility.