I studied four areas in south Mississippi from 2009-2010 to examine habitat conditions and faunal communities associated with presence of black pine snakes (Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi), a candidate for federal listing. Field studies included vegetation sampling, small vertebrates trapping, and fire ant (Solenopsis invicta) mound densities estimation. Areas that supported black pine snakes exhibited vegetation communities that differed from areas that did not support pine snakes. Presence of black pine snakes was influenced by ground cover vegetation and stump hole densities. Greatest densities of ant mounds were detected in areas that supported pine snakes and gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus). Species associates of black pine snakes included coachwhips (Coluber flagellum flagellum), scarlet snakes (Cemophora coccinea), six lined race runners (Aspidoscelis sexlineata sexlineata), and gopher tortoises. Findings of my study are being used to address creation of habitat corridors for black pine snakes and species associates within the Mississippi longleaf pine belt.

The southeastern part of the Black Pine Mountains is located in the southeastern part of Cassia County, southern Idaho. The Utah-Idaho state line is three miles south of the studied area and the Cassia-Oneida county line bounds it on the east. The area is nearly square and encompasses about 30 square miles. Devonian, Mississippian, Pennsylvanian, Permian, Tertiary and Quaternary sedimentary rocks are exposed within the area. Limestone, dolomitic limestime, quartzite, and beeded chert represent the Jefferson Formation of Devonian age. It is 400 feet thick, however, the base is not exposed. The Milligen Formation is Early Mississippian in age and is black argillite with interbedded orthoquartzite. The Milligen is about 1,850 feed thick. The Late Mississippian White Knob Formation is 2,400 feet thick and has two members. The lower member is limestone interbedded with calcareous siltstone. Massive blue-gray limestone with some chert nodules characterizes the upper member. The undifferentiated Pennsylvanian-Permian unit is 1,800 feet of mostly sandy limestone. Quartzite and calcareous sandstone are also present. Tertiary rocks are present in the form of an orangish-white tuff which is considered part of the Salt Lake Formation. Lake Bonneville Group, alluvial, and landslide deposits represent the Quaternary System. Most of these are unconsolidated silt, sand, and gravel deposits. However, the Lake bonneville Group displays a tightly cemented shore-line deposit in places. The effects of metamorphism are common in the area. The Milligen shows signs of contact and tectonic metamorphism. In places it has been bleached or altered to slate and phyllite. The White Knob Formation has been marblized at several locations. Igneous activity has emplaced two small dikes on the eastern flank of the Black Pine Mountains. Although they are highly altered, the original rock was apparently a diabase. The structure of the area is complex. Three low-angle thrust faults are present which are generally situated along bedding planes. The lower thrust fault separates the Jefferson and Milligen formations. The middle thrust fault intervenes at the Milligen-White Knob contact, Locally, this thrust fault has cut out the lower member of the White Knob. The upper thrust fault is present at the base of the undifferentiated Pennsylvanian-Permian strata. The upper thrust fault overlies the White Knob and, locally, the Milligen. Several high-angle faults are present which displace the low-angle thrust faults. A major range-front fault is present on the southeastern side of the range. Displacement on it may be as much as 6,500 feet. Mineralization in the area occurred during two episodes. The first was guided by fractures related to Laramide structure. This episode was characterized by mesothermal deposits of sphalerite, tetrahedrite, and jamesonite. Following the first mineral deposition Basin-.and-Range faulting began. New fract!lres provided a locus for mesothermal and epithermal deposits of the second episode. Calcite, barite, and gold were deposited at this time. Emplantation of the dikes probably accompanied this episode. (81 pages)

Extensive deer migrations have been observed for many, years in western mountain regions. More recently several complex interstate migrations have become the objects of careful study and the subjects of special wildlife movement programs. The interstate deer migrations between the Sublett-Black Pine, Idaho, areas and the East Raft River Mountain, Utah, area are not exceptional. These migrations are now of such a magnitude that they are creating management problems of increasing importance to the 2 states involved.

Magistro darbe vertinami introdukuotų pušų rūšių Kuršių nerijos nacionaliniame parke būklė ir statusas, pažeidimų priežastys, dendrometriniai rodikliai, estetiškumas. Darbo objektas –Kuršių nerijos nacionalinio parko kalninės, juodosios, Bankso ir paprastosios pušų sklypai, kurie įveisti 1896 m. – 1962 m. Juodkrantės (kv.38 skl.29, 39; kv.39 skl.6, 12) ir Smiltynės (Kv.36 skl. 14,16) girininkijose. Darbo tikslas – įvertinti introdukuotų pušų rūšių želdinių būklę ir statusą Kuršių nerijos nacionaliniame parke. Darbo metodai –instrumentinis denrometrinių rodiklių nustatymas, vizualinis medžių įvertinimas, literatūros šaltinių ir dokumentų analizė Darbo rezultatai. 2010 metai medynams nustatyti šie dendrometriniai rodikliai: kalninė pušis Dvid=7.7cm, Dmax=19.5cm, Hvid=6.2m, Hmax=7.5m, tankumas 6000 vnt/ha; Bankso bušis Dvid=10,1cm, Dmax=18cm, Hvid=9.2m, Hmax=12,5m, tankumas 3500 vnt/ha; juodoji pušis Dvid=23,2cm, Dmax=40cm, Hvid=15,1m, Hmax=17,5m, tankumas 931 vnt/ha. Sąlyginai sveiki individai kalninės pušies medynuose nerijos palvėje, sudaro 45%, įvairiu laipsniu pažeisti – 27,92%, o sausuoliai ir virtėliai – 27,08% , Bankso pušies medynus Didžiojo kopagūbrio viršuje, sudaro - sveiki 48,57%, įvairiu laipsniu pažeisti – 45,71%, o sausuoliai ir virtėliai – 5,72% , juodosios pušies medynuose Didžiojo kopagūbrio rytiniame šlaite - sveiki 42,96%, įvairiu laipsniu pažeisti – 50,38%, o sausuoliai ir virtėliai – 6,66% . Visų tirtų introdukuotų pušų rūšių želdinių sanitarinė –... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Master’s work evaluates the invasive pine species in Curonian spit national park, its state and status, causes of damages, tree measurement indicators, aesthetic state. Job object – Curonian spit national park plots of mountain, black and Banks pines, planted 1896 – 1962 in Juodkrante (kv.38 plot.29, 39; kv.39 plot 6, 12), Smiltyne (Kv.36 plot. 14,16) forestries. The aim of the study – to evaluate invasive pine species state and status in Curonian spit national park. Working methods – instrumental tree measurement indicators, visual status evaluation, analyzes of literature and document. Study results – 2010 invasive species the following tree measurement indicators: mountain pine Dvid=7.7cm, Dmax=19.5cm, Hvid=6.2m, Hmax=7.5m, density 6000 units/ha; Banks pine Dvid=10,1cm, Dmax=18cm, Hvid=9.2m, Hmax=12,5m, density 3500 units/ha; black pine Dvid=23,2cm, Dmax=40cm, Hvid=15,1m, Hmax=17,5m, density 931 units/ha. Conditionally healthy individuals in trees of mountain pine that are located in spit palve are 45 %, damaged in different degree – 27,92 %, deadwoods – 27,08 %. Banks pine trees on the top of Huge Dune Ridge : healthy – 48,57%, damaged in different degree - 45,71%, deadwoods - 5,72%. Black pine trees: on the east side of Huge Dune Ridge: healthy 42,96%, damaged in different degree – 50,38%, deadwoods – 6,66 %. Sanitary – higienic state of all evaluated invasive pine species is 3. The second class of aesthetic quality corresponds only Black pine stands on the east on... [to full text]