Treesearch

Studies have used Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to evaluate habitat suitability for wildlife on a landscape scale, yet few have established the accuracy of these models. Based on documented habitat selection patterns of scaled quail (Callipepla squamata pallida), we produced GIS covers for several habitat parameters to create a map of potential habitat in southeastern Arizona. We found scaled quail coveys on 36% of surveys conducted inside of potential scaled quail habitat, and 80% of the scaled quail coveys found occurred within the potential habitat map. We developed a logistic...

The Guide to Fuel Treatments analyzes a range of potential silvicultural thinnings and surface fuel treatments for 25 representative dry-forest stands in the Western United States. The guide provides quantitative guidelines and visualization for treatment based on scientific principles identified for reducing potential crown fires. This fact sheet identifies the intended users and uses, required inputs, what the model does, and tells the user how to obtain the model.Other publications in this series

The Nez Perce National Forest and the Rocky Mountain Research Station are conducting a long-term study of road obliteration that includes measurements of sediment generated during obliteration activities. Three culvert locations in the Horse Creek drainage of Idaho were monitored during road obliteration activity. Sediment yields varied from 2 to 170 kg. Yields decreased rapidly downstream and at the mouth of each watershed sediment concentrations did not exceed 150 mg/L except during a precipitation event. Turbidity values exceeded the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality limit of 50...

The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management are testing a model that prescribed burns can be used to increase perennial grass cover, reduce shrubs in desert grassland, and improve watershed condition and aquatic habitat. Results of a prescribed burn in the Hot Springs Creek watershed on Muleshoe Ranch CMA demonstrated the predicted vegetation changes and watershed improvement. Since 1991, instream cover, aquatic habitat depth, and native fish density have increased in Hot Springs Creek. Our results suggest that prescribed fire is an important tool for managing grassland watersheds...

As the demographics of public land recreational visitors change, planners and managers of public lands face the challenge of protecting resources while providing high quality visitor experiences. Because our political environment demands ever more reliance on scientific data and transparent decisionmaking, planners and managers need better tools to help them understand current visitor use, analyze potential alternatives for future use, and communicate the implications of various alternative decisions in ways that are meaningful to the public.Individual papers from this publication

Advances in molecular techniques have facilitated use of genetic data in demographic wildlife studies. An important first step in genetic mark-recapture is selecting markers that uniquely ‘‘mark’’ and reliably ‘‘recapture’’ individuals. Markers should be tested on reliable DNA from known individuals (blood) before being used on non-invasively sampled DNA (hair, scat, or molted feathers). To evaluate whether Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis) can be uniquely identified by genotyping, 113 known (banded, sexed) goshawks from the Kaibab Plateau, Arizona, were genotyped using DNA from blood...

It is well understood that native grasses are ecologically important and provide numerous benefits. However, unfavorable economics, low seed yields for some species, genetic issues, and a lack of experience behind the production and establishment of most western Oregon native grasses remain significant impediments for their expanded use. By necessity, adaptation of standard practices used by the grass seed industry and grassland specialists for introduced species provides the starting point for determining agronomic increase and establishment methods. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation...

We used remote photography to assess the frequency of inter- and intra-specific kleptoparasitism and species richness at Mt. Graham red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis) middens. Remote cameras and conifer cones were placed at occupied and unoccupied middens, and random sites. Species richness of small mammals was higher at red squirrel middens than random sites. Abert’s squirrels, potential kleptoparasites, were recorded only at unoccupied middens and random sites. Non-resident red squirrels were most common at unoccupied middens and rare at occupied middens and random sites....

Estimation of fish abundance in streams using the removal model or the Lincoln–Peterson mark–recapture model is a common practice in fisheries. These models produce misleading results if their assumptions are violated. We evaluated the assumptions of these two models via electrofishing of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss in central Idaho streams. For one-, two-, three- , and four-pass sampling effort in closed sites, we evaluated the influences of fish size and habitat characteristics on sampling efficiency and the accuracy of removal abundance estimates. We also examined the use of...

Indigenous and traditional peoples worldwide have used fire to manipulate their environment for thousands of years. These longstanding practices still continue and have considerable relevance for today’s land managers. This discussion explores the value of documenting and understanding historic and contemporary fire use attitudes and practices of the varied cultural/ethnic groups that interact with land managers concerning fire and fuels management in the American Southwest. Current research with historic records and present-day communities is reviewed.