Hikers Impact on the North Fork of the Virgin River, Zion National Park, Utah

2009 ◽  
Vol 161 (2) ◽  
pp. 392-400
Author(s):  
Thomas Smith
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
The North ◽  
Zion National Park ◽  
North Fork ◽  
Virgin River

scholarly journals An Investigation into Marmot Migration in Grand Teton National Park

1996 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
pp. 78-82
Author(s):  
George Montopoli ◽  
Nick Visser ◽  
Hank Harlow
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Movement Patterns ◽  
Snow Melt ◽  
Marmota Flaviventris ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
The North ◽  
North Fork ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Long Distance Movement

In 1994 and 1995, a high abundant winter snowfall at higher elevations appeared to result in long distance movement patterns by yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris) over snow to lower, snowfree elevations where food was more available. As the snow melted and food became abundant, the marmots return to higher altitudes. In 1996, we continued to investigate the potential for migrational movements, by studying two study sites at different elevations in the North Fork of Cascade Canyon. Four marmots at each site were implanted with intraperitoneal tracking transmitters. Of eight marmots that were equipped with intraperitoneal transmitters, six demonstrated significant movements of greater than 0.5 km, one did not, and one most likely died as a result of predation before any movement could be observed. Of the six that demonstrated significant movements within the canyon, only one moved distances greater than 1 km. Marmots, after emerging from hibernation, migrated down canyon to snowfree areas as they become available. With progressive snow melt, most marmots move upward to higher elevations, but not to the extent originally expected. Instead, they moved to the first available habitat where food was obtainable, and other (dominant) marmots accepted their presence. This movement is exhibited in both males and females, yearlings and adults, and melanistic and normal colored marmots.

Context dependence of elk (Cervus elaphus) vigilance and wolf (Canis lupus) predation risk

2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (8) ◽  
pp. 727-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Eisenberg ◽  
David E. Hibbs ◽  
William J. Ripple ◽  
Hal Salwasser
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Group Size ◽  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
Canis Lupus ◽  
National Park ◽  
Forest Edge ◽  
The North ◽  
Edge Group ◽  
North Fork ◽  
Complex Picture

To assess the relationship between predation risk perceived by elk (Cervus elaphus L., 1758) as evidenced by vigilance, we conducted focal animal observations in elk winter range. We stratified our observations in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA, and Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta, Canada, in valleys with three wolf (Canis lupus L., 1758) population levels (Saint Mary Valley: no wolf; Waterton Valley: moderate wolf; North Fork Valley: high wolf). Although the lowest elk vigilance occurred in Saint Mary and the highest in the North Fork, our analysis revealed a complex picture. Our model included distance to forest edge, group size, distance to road, social class, and impediments to detecting and escaping wolves. In Saint Mary, none of the variables were significant. In Waterton, vigilance decreased as elk group size increased (p < 0.00001) and increased as impediments increased (p = 0.0005). In the North Fork, vigilance increased as group size increased (p = 0.03), bulls were more vigilant (p = 0.02), and the interaction between group size and impediments was significant (p = 0.03). Where a high wolf population existed, elk did not exhibit uniform or expected response to predation risk factors. High wolf presence may necessitate adaptive elk behaviour that differs from response to moderate wolf presence.

Impacts of Hikers on Aquatic Invertebrates in the North Fork of the Virgin River, Utah

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 551-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea M. Caires ◽  
Mark R. Vinson ◽  
Anne M. D. Brasher
Keyword(s):  
Aquatic Invertebrates ◽  
The North ◽  
North Fork ◽  
Virgin River

scholarly journals Virgin River Spinedace Habitat Preference Study

1987 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 189-190
Author(s):  
James Deacon ◽  
Anga Rebane
Keyword(s):  
River System ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Sampling Techniques ◽  
Habitat Conditions ◽  
Winter Habitat ◽  
The North ◽  
Beaver Dam ◽  
North Fork ◽  
Virgin River ◽  
Preference Study

Thus far in the study, 4 species of endemic fishes and 2 introduced trout species have been collected, measured for total length, and in some cases, weighed, and then released. Sampling has been accomplished by electroshocking on 6, 7, 8, and 9 July, 1987, at 4 sites on the East and North Forks of the Virgin River, as well as 1 site on the Santa Clara River, and 1 site on Moody Wash near Mogatsu Creek, a tributary of the Santa Clara River. Seining, measuring, and releasing was done on 3, 4, and 20 September, 4 and 10 October, and on 9 and 10 January, 1988, at five sites on the East and North Forks of the Virgin River. Electroshocking was used on 9 January, 1988 at one of the North Fork sites, utilizing a backpack electroshocker unit borrowed from Donna Withers, of the Nevada Department of Wildlife. On 24, 29, and 30 August, fish were surveyed by seining or dip netting at Lytle Ranch, on Beaver Dam Wash, a tributary of the Virgin River, for purposes of determining favorable habitat conditions under a different regime. Electroshocking was determined to be limited in use in the Virgin River system, due to the frequent turbidity of the water, and the depth of the pools. In winter we have not collected substantial numbers of any species, with either electroshocking or seining techniques. It is possible that the fish are located in places unaccessible to our sampling techniques, or possibly they have undertaken significant migration to other locations, most likely towards the warmer waters of lower elevations. Mass mortality can be ruled out due to the fact that all fish species have been observed to reappear in early spring. We need to revise our sampling techniques, and are working on a variety of different procedures to be able to collect fish in winter, or find out where they live. The limitations of the winter habitat may prove to be an important factor in the continued success of the spinedace in the Virgin River in Zion. The borrowed electroshocking equipment seems marginally successful in sampling fishes in the highly conductive water of the Virgin. A more powerful unit needs to be procured. When the water is clear, shocking works well because the fish can be visualized and netted while immobilized by the shocker, but the frequent turbidity of the water would make any fish not surfacing impossible to see and catch, even though it was immobilized.

Fire regimes of western larch – lodgepole pine forests in Glacier National Park, Montana

1991 ◽  
Vol 21 (12) ◽  
pp. 1711-1720 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen W. Barrett ◽  
Stephen F. Arno ◽  
Carl H. Key
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Lodgepole Pine ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Glacier National Park ◽  
Western Larch ◽  
The North ◽  
North Fork

We conducted a detailed investigation of fire frequencies, patterns of fire spread, and the effects of fire on tree succession in the western larch – lodgepole pine (Larixoccidentalis – Pinuscontorta var. latifolia) forests west of the Continental Divide in Glacier National Park, Montana. Master fire chronologies for 1650 to the present were constructed based on tree fire scars and fire-initiated age-classes. Two kinds of primeval fire regimes were identified: (i) a mixed-severity regime ranging from nonlethal underburns to stand-replacing fires at mean intervals of 25–75 years and (ii) a regime of infrequent stand-replacing fires at mean intervals of 140–340 years. The former regime is characteristic of the North Fork Flathead valley and appears to be linked to a relatively dry climate and gentler topography compared with the McDonald Creek – Apgar Mountains and Middle Fork Flathead areas, where the latter fire regime predominates. Fire frequency in the entire North Fork study area was 20 fire years per century prior to 1935 and 2 per century after 1935. In the other two study areas it was 3–5 per century both before and after 1935. We suggest that fire suppression has altered the primeval fire regime in the North Fork, but not in the central and southern areas.

scholarly journals Gray Wolf Prey Base Ecology in the North Fork of the Flathead River Drainage

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 51-54
Author(s):  
C. Marcum ◽  
Daniel Pletscher ◽  
Michael Bureau
Keyword(s):  
Cervus Elaphus ◽  
National Park ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Gray Wolf ◽  
Research Information ◽  
River Drainage ◽  
The North ◽  
North Fork ◽  
Flathead River

The overall objective of this two-year investigation is to study gray wolf (Canis lupus): ungulate interrelationships in a multi-prey system. This study focuses on elk (Cervus elaphus), and is being conducted in the North Fork of the Flathead River drainage, in Montana and British Columbia, the main area of grey wolf recovery.We address questions that resource managers will be asked as wolf recovery occurs. From a National Park Service perspective, the results could be used to educate the public about the role of predation in natural systems. Glacier National Park has the opportunity to lead the way in conducting research on this keystone predator and its prey, and to demonstrate the role biosphere reserves can play in ecological research. Information that will be important for future informed resource management is being gathered. Management of public lands might require a balance accommodation between wolves, their prey, and sport hunting, along with other forms of recreation. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks needs information on the impacts of wolves on game populations in order to maintain numbers and recreational opportunities. As reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone National Park is considered and debated, knowledge gained from this study will be helpful. Finally, this study can expand ecological knowledge of the role of a major predator on the prey population dynamics and interrelationships. To expand knowledge of the study area prey base available to wolves, these specific parameters will be addressed: 1. Age and cause-specific mortality of elk. 2. Seasonal distribution and key elk seasonal use areas. 3. Age, sex distribution/composition of the elk population. 4. Long-term elk abundance and distribution monitoring plan.

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