Jackson Hole Research Station Annual Report

Front Matter and Table of Contents

Oscar H. Paris — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

This entry contains the front cover, front matter and back cover.

Report on the 1976 Study Phase of the Investigation of Communication Systems in Free-ranging Wild Ungulates

Margaret Altmann — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

Due to severe complications following major surgery of the principal investigator in the spring of 1976, the planned research program had to be curtailed.

Parasites of Ungulates in the Jackson Hole Area: Scarabaeoid Beetles Acting on Lungworm, Dictyocaulus viviparus, Larvae in Elk Feces Season of 1976

Robert C. Bergstrom — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

Prevalence of Dictyocaulus viviparus lungworm in elk was previously determined, (1968-74) by elk fecal analyses during spring, summer and winter of each year and by elk lung dissections during the fall hunting season. Percentages positive for and numbers of D. viviparus larvae in elk feces was monitored during the fall hunting season of 1975. Fifteen percent (5 to 33) of the elk checked were positive for D. viviparus according to lung dissections conducted during the period of November 15-18, 1975, in Teton Park.

Ecology of the Beaver in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Thomas C. Collins — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

This is a report of continued investigations of population characteristics and habitat relationships of beavers in Grand Teton National Park. This study was supported by the New York Zoological Society and the Northern Rocky Mountain Cooperative Park Study Project. I wish to acknowledge the valuable assistance of personnel of Grand Teton National Park and the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Dr. Oscar H. Paris, former Director of the Jackson Hole Biological Research Station from which this study was conducted, Dr. Jack C. Turner, and numerous friends and associates who aided in field investigations.

Social Dynamics of the Montane Vole, Microtus Montanus, and their Population Consequences November 1976

Frederick J. Jannett, Jr. — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

The social structure of a mammalian species is a basic feature of its life histoy. Although a knowledge of the social system is a prerequisite to understanding various reproductive and endocrinologic phenomena seen by other workers studying Microtus, Mus, and Peromyscus in the labrotory, behavior and sociality of Microtus in the field have been overlooked because they are difficult to study and because emphasis in microtine research has been placed on the microtine population "cycle". Project Number 183.

Trumpeter Swan Productivity in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming

Paul A. Johnsgard — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

This is a report of some of my activities carried out during the summers of 1974 through 1976 in Grand Teton National Park, which were associated with field work in the gathering of materials for a book on the ecology and behavior of sandhill cranes and trumpeter swans in the park. Only one month (May 22 to June 22) was spent in the park during 1976, and thus no data on swan productivity were obtained in that year. Data on the park's swan production for the years prior to 1974 were obtained from the card files of the National Park Service and have been organized in such a way as to make them comparable to similar data by J. Halladay from Yellowstone National Park (Proceedings of the Third Trumpeter Swan Society Conference, 1973), and published data from Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (North American Fauna No. 63, 1960) and from Alaska (Wildlife Monographs (No. 26, 1971), and R. Page's unpublished data from Red Rock Lakes (Ph. D. dissertation, University of Montana, 1974).

Analysis of Coyote Vocalizations

Philip N. Lehner — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

Research on coyote vocalizations have included McCarley's (1975) description of long-distance vocalizations and Lehnar's (1976) descriptive lexicon of vocalizations including a discussion of their behavioral context. The research reported on here is one phase of continuing research to determine the function of the lone howl, group howl and group yip-howl vocalizations.

Genetic Variability in Cutthroat Trout

Eric J. Loudenslager — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

During the summer of 1976 an investigation into the nature of genetic variability in the cutthroat trout (Salmo clarki) was initiated. The results presented here are the product of only one summer's data, and will be subject to rigorus testing in the next two summers. This project has been supported in part by a New York Zoological Society Scholarship and a National Science Foundation Energy-Related Traineeship. I wish to thank Pete Hayden of Grand Teton National Park, Max Rollefson, Jon Erickson, and John Kiefling, of the Wyoming Game and Fish Commission, and John Varley and Ron Jones of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for their cooperation in collection of cutthroat trout. I would also like to thank Drs. R .M. Kitchin, H. Bergman, and G. T. Baxter, of the Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming for their help in organizaing this research project.

An Evaluation of Elk and Cattle on the Chemical and Microbiological Water Qualify of Flat Creek, Teton County, Wyoming

Gordon A. McFeters, Sidney A. Stuart — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

The National Elk Refuge in Jackson Hole, Wyoming (administered by the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife) covers an area of 23,754 acres and provides winter range for approximately 60 percent of the Jackson Hole elk herd. When deep crusted snow prevents the elk from grazing normally, a supplemental feeding program is put into operation. In order for Teton County to meet the 1983 National Goal on water quality (PL 92-500) it is important to determine to what extent the winter feeding of elk is influencing the water quality of Flat Creek which flows through the National Elk Refuge.

Some Effects of Fire Suppression and Prescribed Burning on Birds and Small Mammals in Sagebrush

John M. McGee — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

Ecosystems in northwestern Wyoming have remained relatively unpertrubed by fire for the last 70-80 years. Recently a fire management plan was implemented in the Teton wilderness allowing natural fires to burn, and similar plans are being developed for other wilderness areas in Wyoming and central Idaho. Large portions of these areas consist of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) communities where natural fires frequently occur. Prescribed burning in sagebrush is also an expanding program in this region. Burning is often used to reduce sagebrush densities, increase forage production for livestock and improve certain wildlife habitat. Plans to use prescribed fire to simulate the ecological effects of a natural fire regime in Jackson Hole are also being developed. These plans are based on the contention that fires are necessary to maintain diversity within many ecosystems of the Jackson Hole region, and the exclusion of fire has resulted in increased areas occupied by sagebrush communities. Studies of the effects of fire in sagebrush on consumers, including both invertebrates and vertebrates, are virtually non-existent. Even for some of the more conspicuous groups like birds, the best available information on response to shrub habitat alteration comes from studies on the effects of herbicides. This study was designed to explore the response of bird and small mammal density and diversity to fire. Field operations were based from the JHBRS at Moran, Wyoming.

Effects of Environmental Variables on Some Physiological Responses of Microtus Montanus under Natural Conditions (summary for 1976)

Aelita J. Pinter — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

Multiannual cycles in population density are known for a number of microtine rodents. However, factors that govern various phases of the cycle are poorly understood. In other words, little is known to what degree environmental factors and physiological responses of the animals contribute to such cyclicity. The purpose of the present study was essentially fourfold: A. Characterization of environmental variables that might affect Microtus populations at three or four different times of the year. B. Investigation of growth, maturation, and reproductive activity of Microtus montanus under natural conditions. C. Study of maturation molts and seasonal pelage changes in Microtus montanus in relation to sex, age, and reproductive status. D. A correlation of the information obtained in #1-3 above. It is hoped that the results will help to elucidate causes underlying the multiannual fluctuations in population density of microtine rodents.

The Rocky Mountain Bighorn in Grand Teton National Park

Paul D Stoops — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

This is a summary of a preliminary survey of the bighorn sheep population of Grand Teton National Park during July, 1976.

The Perception of the Floating Experience by the Private Floater on the Snake River in Grand Teton, National Park, Wyoming

Donald S. Warder — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

In Grand Teton National Park, one of the most exciting experiences that a visitor can have is floating the Snake River; even though not far removed from the road while floating, one has the impression of being deep in the wilderness. In the past decade private floating within the Park boundaries has increased six-fold, and this use is expected to continue to increase in the future. This study is investigating the recreational social carry capacity, the amount and kind of use an area can support over time without causing an unacceptable change in the experience, of the Snake River by investigating the two user groups, the commercial floater and the private floater.

Summary of the 1976 Jackson Hole Archaeological Project

Gary A. Wright, Thomas E. Marceau, Susan B. Chernick, Stuart A. Reeve — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

During the 1976 field season, we continued the previous year's ethnobotanical and plant resource investigations, the site survey, and test excavated six archaeological sites.

List of Publications on Research at Jackson Hole Biological Research Station

University of Wyoming and New York Zoological Society — Thu, 01 Jan 1976 00:00:00 -0700

This section contians a list of publications on research at the Jackson Hole Biological Research Station.