Applicability of the universal soil loss equation for southeastern Idaho wildlands

Soil physical and chemical properties were studied to identify habitat differences among 15 sagebrush dominated plant community types of the Great Basin. The sagebrush taxa studied followed an apparent gradient of increasing soil fertility, with Artemisia nova commonly occupying the lowest fertility sites. Sites of moderate soil fertility tended to support A. arbuscula , A. longiloba , and A. tridentata ssp. Wyomingensis . Artemisia tridentata ssp. Tridentata and A. tridentata ssp. Vaseyana were commonly found on sites with the highest soil fertility levels as indicated by maximum organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus levels within such soils. Mollic epipedon depth, total depth, and water-holding capacity of the soil also increased as the dominant sagebrush taxon of a community type changed from A. nova to A. tridentata ssp. Vaseyana . Data from this study provide information concerning soil relationships within relatively undisturbed rangeland communities. Such data are required if future soil sampling efforts within the Great Basin are to have a basis for comparison.     

Computer analysis of cross sections of leaves of Chrysothamnus taxa and their relation to environmental conditions

Thirty-eight accessions of 20 taxa (species and subspecies) of Chrysothamnus from a range of environments were grown in a uniform garden. During mid-June, terminal and lateral leaves were removed, fixed, and processed for light-microscopy studies. Area and perimeter measurements of ink tracings of midleaf vein cross sections were measured using computer-scan techniques. Leaf area and perimeter were compared with vein perimeter and area measurements. Area and perimeter of these Chrysothamnus leaves varied in response to the environment at the collection location. Plants native to hot, dry conditions had small, thick leaves, whereas plants native to cooler, more mesic conditions had relatively large, thin leaves. Similarly, leaves with round veins were adapted to hot, dry environments and leaves with elliptical veins were adapted to cooler, more mesic environments. Both terminal (young) and lateral (older) leaves were sampled. Terminal leaves showed significant (p < .05) correlational responses to environmental parameters, whereas the lateral leaves, while fronding in the predicted morphological directions, did not generally show significant responses. The different responses of terminal and lateral leaves may have been due to canopy position and uniform environmental conditions of the garden. Leaves with large cross sections characteristically had large veins, and leaves with small cross sections characteristically had small veins. Large leaf cross sections were normally flat. Small leaf cross sections were normally round. Decreasing leaf size and increasing leaf thickness were correlated with aridity.     

Checklist of Recent Mollusca of Wyoming, USA

Wyoming lacks a rich molluscan fauna due to its considerable elevation, extremes of temperature, the short period between killing frosts, scanty, moisture, and intermittent creeks. Recent mollusks found in the state total 42 genera (109 species), including 6 genera (23 species) of bivalves, 15 genera (42 species) of freshwater gastropods, and 21 genera (44 species) of land gastropods. Synonymy, the counties in which each species was collected, and habitat notes are given.     

Forage quality of rillscale ( Atriplex suckleyi ) grown on amended bentonite mine spoil

At peak standing crop, rillscale ( Atriplex suckleyi ) foliage grown on amended bentonite mine spoil contained adequate digestible energy, crude protein, and all mineral elements except phosphorus necessary for cattle, sheep, antelope, and deer. Amendments (sawdust, NPK, gypsum) generally did not affect forage quality. Iron, manganese, aluminum, sodium, and potassium concentrations were high and may have adversely affected forage quality. Forage utility would be limited to a few months during the growing season.     

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.     

A small carnivore survey technique

Thirty-nine previously unpublished reports of the endangered black-footed ferret from Wyoming are listed with dates, locations, number of animals, sources, and comments.     

Microbial spatial heterogeneity in microbiotic crusts in Colorado National Monument. I. Algae

Spatial heterogeneity in visually similar sites under Utah juniper canopy in Colorado National Monument was examined. Sample sites were arranged in a transect 24 m long, such that distances between samples were 0.013 m, 0.03 m, 1.0 m, 12 m, and 24 m. Twenty-five taxa of algae were observed, mostly belonging to Cyanophyta. Algal density varied by more than an order of magnitude within the 46 samples examined. The coefficients of variation for each distance class were very similar, demonstrating that algal patchiness can be as significant on a scale less than 0.013 m as it is on a scale of 24 m. Goodall's random pairing analysis of spatial pattern supported this conclusion by indicating that the minimal area for sampling soil algal crust populations at this site was equal to or less than 0.013 m. Because of the microscale heterogeneity in algal communities in this study, we recommend that future researchers take composite samples if they wish to quantify algae of microbiotic crusts.     

Distribution records and comments on fleas in southwestern South Dakota

From October 2003 through April 2006, we collected 565 fleas incidental to a distribution survey of mammals in southwestern South Dakota. Sixty-one specimens, representing 18 species of mammals, possessed 20 species of fleas. The geographic distributions of these flea species revealed 8 new records for the Black Hills and its adjacent grasslands. Four species&mdash; Megarthroglossus divisus, Stenoponia americana, Odontopsyllus dentatus, and Amaradix euphorbi &mdash;constitute new records for South Dakota, thus increasing the state&rsquo;s known flea fauna to 42 species. Hunters, trappers, and field biologists should be aware that serosurveillance during the 1990s revealed the presence of sylvatic plague and tularemia in the Black Hills area. Desde octubre de 2003 hasta abril de 2006, colectamos 565 pulgas de manera incidental durante un estudio de la distribuci&oacute;n de mam&iacute;feros en el suroeste del estado de Dakota del Sur. Los 61 espec&iacute;menes, que representaban 18 especies de mam&iacute;feros, albergaban 20 especies de pulgas. Sus distribuciones geogr&aacute;ficas revelaron 8 nuevos registros para las Colinas Negras (Black Hills) y las praderas adyacentes. Cuatro de estas especies ( Megarthroglossus divisus, Stenoponia americana, Odontopsyllus dentatus y Amaradix euphorbi ) constituyen nuevos registros para Dakota del Sur. Esto aumenta el n&uacute;mero de especies de pulgas conocidas del estado a 42 especies. Los cazadores, tramperos y bi&oacute;logos de campo deben estar conscientes de que la vigilancia serol&oacute;gica durante la d&eacute;cada de los 1990 revel&oacute; la presencia de la plaga silv&aacute;tica y la tularemia en el &aacute;rea de las Colinas Negras.