Monitoring with a modified Robel pole on meadows in the central Black Hills of South Dakota

This study using a modified Robel pole was conducted in the central Black Hills, South Dakota. The objectives were to test the relationship between visual obstruction readings and standing herbage, develop guidelines for monitoring, and estimate sample size. The relationship between visual obstruction and standing herbage was linear with 2 segments in a piecewise model. Regression coefficients were highly significant ( P ≤ 0.001). Standard error of the estimate for a single mean was 373 kg ? ha –1 . Herbage ranged from 89 to 3821 kg ? ha –1 with a mean of 1416 kg ? ha –1 . The average number of visually obstructed bands was 6.4 and ranged from 0.21 to 20.4. Cluster analyses grouped the visual obstruction readings into 3 management categories: short, medium, and tall. A minimum of 3 transects (20 stations per transect) is recommended for monitoring areas ≤259 ha (1 section) to be within 20% of the mean at 80% confidence. The protocol developed to monitor standing herbage is accurate, precise, and easy to apply. This tool provides pertinent information for managers to develop guidelines based on the bands and/or standing herbage for monitoring livestock and wildlife use.     

Climates of fescue grasslands of mountains in the western United States

Climates of fescue grasslands were described by summarizing USDC Weather Bureau records of representative sites. Mean temperatures of the warmest month declined from 18 to 14 C, average annual precipitation increased from 40–50 to 170 cm, and the number of arid months in an arbitrarily defined dry year declined from 3 to 1–2 as one moves from Festuca arizonica (14 stations) to F. scabrella (15) to F. idahoensis (17) to F. thurberi (6) to F. viridula (9). Climates of the grasslands are sufficiently like those of the Pseudotsuga menziesii and Abies lasiocarpa zones of the northern Rocky Mountains to make one ask what factors—wind, snow duration, soil characteristics, or fire—allow the fescue grasslands to persist in a conifer climatic zone.     

Microhabitat selection by the johnny darter, Etheostoma nigrum Rafinesque, in a Wyoming stream

Microhabitat selection by the johnny darter ( Etheostoma nigrum ) was examined in the North Laramie River, Platte County, Wyoming, where it does not occur with other darter species in the same stream reach. Electivity indices based on microhabitat observations indicate that E. nigrum avoids riffles and selects certain microhabitats characterized by intermediate water depths in pools and slow-moving runs with a substrate composed primarily of silt and sand. Niche breadth and electivity values for total depth, bottom water velocity, and substrate measurements from this study indicate that E. nigrum is a habitat generalist, except at the extreme ends of the habitat gradient. Habitat use here is generally similar to other studies where E. nigrum occurred with one or more other darter species. This study found little evidence for competitive release in the absence of other darters.     

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.        

Bald eagle winter survey in the Snake River Canyon, Wyoming

A 5-year winter bald eagle survey was conducted along 22 km of the Snake River Canyon in northwestern Wyoming. Surveys were done on 94 days requiring 1,414 hrs and 1,888 km driving. In all, 220 (85 percent adults) bald eagles were seen. Seventy-seven percent of all eagles were perching, 15 percent were flying, 4 percent were feeding on road-killed mule deer, and 4 percent were flying low over water. Perching sites were identified as 32 percent cottonwoods, 30 percent spruce, 17 percent Douglas-fir, and 22 percent other. Eagles were somewhat clumped in distribution.     

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     

Plant composition and erosion potential of a grazed wetland in the salmon river subbasin, Idaho

Wetlands are dynamic habitats with many unique, important functions including filtering sediments and providing diverse habitats for fish and wildlife. Wetlands in the western United States are particularly important because they offer habitat for a number of protected runs of endangered fish species. Historically, livestock grazing has altered wetland and riparian area form and function by facilitating exotic species invasions, altering spatial heterogeneity of vegetation, and increasing erosion. In this study we examined vegetation structure and erosion potential in a wetland meadow exposed to unregulated grazing along Deer Creek in the Salmon River subbasin, Idaho. We characterized the vegetation composition and structure within the study area and attempted to assess potential erosion conditions using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), an empirical approach developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS). We found no significant spatial variability in species richness and noted a moderate number of exotic species in the total plant composition. Plant cover was higher near slightly entrenched banks, indicating that uncontrolled livestock were primarily occupying gently sloped streambanks and the interior of the meadow. Based on current vegetation composition and RUSLE results, uncontrolled grazing may be negatively impacting the study area. If uncontrolled grazing were excluded or carefully managed in the wetland meadows of the upper portion of the Deer Creek watershed, a reduction in excess sediments to Deer Creek may occur.     

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.     

Pinus longaeva in the Stansbury Mountains, Utah

A new record of Pinus longaeva D. K. Bailey in the Stansbury Mountains, north of the known range of the species, is reported.     

A checklist of the alpine vascular flora of the Teton Range, Wyoming, with notes on biology and habitat preferences

A checklist of the vascular flora of the alpine zone (treeless vegetation above 9500 feet or 2900 m) of the Teton Range is presented. For each of the 216 species, six attributes are listed: flower color and shape, pollination mode, life form, habitat preference, and whether each species is found in the Arctic. White and yellow flowered species are most common, and zoophilous species greatly predominate over anemophilous and apomictic species. Perennial/biennial herbs are the most common life form. Common habitats in the alpine zone include dry and wet meadows, bogs, debris accumulations, and cliffs and rock faces. Arctic species account for 25.9 percent of the flora. The 216 species are distributed among 111 genera and 36 families. The largest families, in order of size, are Asteraceae, Poaceae, Cyperaceae, Brassicaceae, Rosaceae, and Scrophulariaceae.     

Variation in Lewsia kelloggii (Portulacaceae) with description of a new species endemic to Idaho

Lewisia kelloggii has been understood as a rare plant with a disjunct range in California and Idaho. Examination of herbarium specimens and analysis of isozymes in 6 Idaho and 7 California populations revealed consistent differences between plants of the 2 states. Fixed differences in alleles at 2 loci (AAT2 and PGI1) distinguished Idaho from California plants. Genetic identities based on isozymes between Idaho and California populations averaged 0.58, lower than the average for congeneric plant species. Idaho plants were smaller than most California plants, but California plants were variable. The most consistent morphological difference between Idaho and California specimens was the difference in the number of glands on the margins of bracts and sepals. Idaho plants had 0 (-5) pink glands on each margin of these organs, all on teeth near the tips. In California plants these organs had 12-25 glands on each margin, the distal ones elevated on teeth and the proximal ones sessile. We recognize the Idaho plants as a new species, L. sacajaweana , and retain the name L. kelloggii for the California populations.     

Biochemical differentiation in the Idaho ground squirrel, Spermophilus brunneus (Rodenta: Scuridae)

Spermophilus brunneus is restricted to a 90 × 125-km area of west central Idaho, with two distinct (northern and southern) groups of populations within this limited range. Morphological differences in pelage length and coloration, external and cranial measurements, and bacula suggest that these groups are either very distinct subspecies or species. We used starch-gel electrophoresis to estimate the amount of genetic differentiation accompanying these morphological differences by assaying genetic variation at 31 loci in the two geographic groups. Fifteen loci were polymorphic (13 in the northern group, 12 in the southern), and mean heterozygosity (H) was high (12.3% northern and 10.8% southern). Nei's genetic distance (0.057) is in the range usually associated with subspecific differences. However, Jaccard's association coefficient (0.893) is about the same as that found between several ground squirrel taxa currently recognized as species. The high levels of heterozygosity suggest that S. brunneus is a neoendemic rather than a paleoendemic species.     

Successful nesting by a Bald Eagle pair in prairie grasslands of the Texas Panhandle

We observed a breeding Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus ) pair nesting in a short-grass prairie and agricultural community on the southern Great Plains of the Texas Panhandle in 2004 and 2005. The nesting eagles produced 1 fledgling in 2004 and 2 fledglings in 2005. Our assessment of landcover types within a 5-km radius of the nest indicated that grasslands accounted for most of the area (90%), followed by agricultural lands (8%). Black-tailed prairie dog ( Cynomys ludovicianus ) colonies occupied 2.5% of the area, and single human residences with associated structures (i.e., barns) occupied 2.5 ha in surface area was 51 km from the nest. An analysis of regurgitated castings collected near the nest revealed a mammalian-dominated, breeding-season diet with black-tailed prairie dogs occurring in 80.9% of the castings. Other identified prey included cottontails ( Sylvilagus spp., 15.9%), black-tailed jackrabbits ( Lepus californicus , 3.2%), pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana , 3.2%), and plains pocket gopher ( Geomys bursarius , 1.6%). Bird remains were also present in 34.9% of the castings. This is the first reported successful nesting of Bald Eagles in the panhandle region of Texas since 1916; the nest is particularly unique because of its distance from any substantial body of water.     

Seed and cone insects associated with Pinus monophylla in the Raft River Mountains, Utah

Yearly variation in numbers of cones produced by western white pine was found to affect the population level of the mountain pine cone beetle. In years when cone production is moderate to heavy, beetle populations increase. Increasing beetle populations are ultimately limited by poor cone crops, which increase competition for nutrients and oviposition sites. Variability in western white pine cone production is regarded as the most important factor regulating populations of the mountain pine cone beetle.        

High-elevation records for Neotoma cinerea in the White Mountains, California

New records for bushy-tailed wood rat ( Neotoma cinerea ) on the White Mountains of eastern California increase the elevation from which this animal is known on the White Mountains, outside of human habitation, from 3,120 to 3,648 m. These records, coupled with archaeological data, suggest that the isolated bouldery outcrops occupied by bushy-tailed wood rats above timberline here are true habitat islands, occasionally colonized by dispersing individuals and characterized by frequent local extinction.     

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

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Diets of nesting Northern Goshawks in the Warner Mountains, California

Diets of Northern Goshawks ( Accipiter gentilis ) in western and eastern North America show regional differences. This variation may be explained by the opportunistic feeding behavior of Northern Goshawks and the greater number of potential prey species in western North America. We predicted that a population of Northern Goshawks in the Warner Mountains of California would take significantly more mammals than birds as prey. Goshawk diet in the Warner Mountains was determined by pellet analysis and prey remains. A total of 33 samples from 23 nest sites was collected and analyzed. Diets were quantified by determining the minimum number of individuals per sample at each nest site. As predicted, Warner Mountain Goshawks preyed more heavily on mammalian than avian prey species. Of the 221 individuals identified, 126 (57%) were mammals, while 95 (43%) were birds. These results are in accord with the suggestion that there are potentially more mammalian prey species in western North America than in eastern North America.     

Distribution and abundance of birds in the White Mountains, California

This paper quantifies the distribution and abundance of birds in the White Mountains, Inyo and Mono counties, California, during spring-summer 1989-91, to establish a baseline for monitoring the area's avifauna. Overall 58 species were encountered in the single-leaf pinyon-Utah juniper ( Pinus monophylla-Juniperus osteosperma ) zone, and 61 species in the bristlecone-limber pine ( P. longaeva-P. flexilis ) zone. The bristlecone-limber pine zone had a significantly greater overall bird abundance relative to the pinyon-juniper. Both zones were characterized by few very abundant species, a few moderately abundant species, and numerous rare species. The Black-throated Gray Warbler (scientific names in tables), Gray Flycatcher, and Pinyon Jay were the most abundant species in the pinyon-juniper whereas the Clark's Nutcracker, Mountain Chickadee, and Cassin's Finch were the most abundant species in the bristlecone-limber pine. There were few ecological or taxonomic replacements of species between zones, with the differences in distribution and abundance related primarily to the interaction between elevation and vegetation. Significant inter-year variation in abundance was found for about 20 species in each zone—more species showed declining rather than increasing trends. The Mountain Chickadee and White-breasted Nuthatch declined, whereas the Gray Flycatcher and Rock Wren increased across years in both zones. Reasons for declines in some species might be the severe drought that continued throughout this study.