The biweekly diets of tame elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni) were established on a species dry-weight basis for different habitat segments of the lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) type, Principal species in the diets (5% or more) on each habitat segment were generally composed of preferred species. However, some highly abundant but non-preferred species took on principal dietary status, whereas some preferred species, scarce in the vegetation, contributed less than 5 percent to diets. Forbs contributed most to total consumption; grasses and sedges were the second largest contributors. Browse appeared to be of limited importance, but mushrooms had special significance in forested habitat segments. Preference changes were evident as forb species matured. Consumption rates were significantly higher in habitat segments having greater species diversity and forage density. The time tame elk spent grazing, ruminating, lying, grooming, traveling, standing, drinking, and playing was referenced to specific habitat segments in which each activity occurred. One thousand and eight hours of individual elk activity were observed over a series of six 24-hour periods. Wet meadows, dry meadows, clearcuts. and revegetated roads were preferred as grazing sites, while mature and stagnated forests were clearly non-preferred. Wet meadows, revegetated roads, and mature forest were preferred for resting and non-grazing activities. The distribution of pellet groups deposited by tame elk was determined with reference to habitat segment and form of activity at the time of deposition. Pellet group distributions thus obtained, were strongly unrepresentative of relative time spent in various habitat segments.

This research describes and analyzes the behavior of free-living Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus) temporally, spatially and with reference to differences in sex, age, population density and habitat. In addition, the relationships between local meteorological parameters and time spent above ground are described and analyzed. The frequency of eight behaviors, feeding, moving, encounters, upright, motionless, grooming, nest gathering and calling, among ground squirrels was found to be labile, varying in frequency with time of day, period of the season, sex, age, population density and habitat, and varying in spatial distribution within the home range. The dominant behavior, feeding, was most frequent during the first and last two hours of the day and tended to occur within the home range core during these hours. During the midday periods home range use became more general and the frequency of the other behaviors increased as feeding frequency decreased. During periods of sexual activity (the beginning and end of the homeothermic season), male ground squirrels displayed high frequencies of encounters, moving and calling behaviors.

Several previous Neoproterozoic microfossil diversity studies yield evidence for arelatively sudden biotic change prior to the first well‐constrained Sturtian glaciations. In an event interpreted as a mass extinction of eukaryotic phytoplankton followed by bacterial dominance, diverse assemblages of complex acritarchs are replaced by more uniform assemblages consisting of simple leiosphaerid acritarchs and bacteria. Recent data from the Chuar Group of the Grand Canyon (770‐742 Ma) suggest this biotic change was caused by eutrophication rather than the direct effects of Sturtian glaciation; evidence includes total organic carbon increases indicative of increasing primary productivity followed by iron speciation values that suggest sustained water column anoxia. A new data set (this study) suggests that this same eutrophication event may be recorded in shale units of the formation of Hades Pass and the Red Pine Shale of Utah’s Neoproterozoic Uinta Mountain Group (770‐742 Ma). Results of this study include a significant shift from a higher‐diversity (H’= 0.60) fauna that includes some ornamented acritarchs to a lower‐diversity (H’ = 0.11) fauna dominated by smooth leiosphaerids and microfossils of a bacterial origin (Bavlinella/ Sphaerocongregus sp.). This biotic change co‐occurs with a significant increase in total iii organic carbon values that directly follows a positive carbon‐isotopic excursion, suggesting increased primary productivity that may have been the result of elevated sediment influx and nutrient availability. Both the biotic change and period of increased total organic carbon values correspond with the onset of an interval of anoxia (indicated by total iron to aluminum ratios above 0.60) and a spike in sulfur concentration. Like those reported from the Chuar Group, these biotic and geochemical changes in the upper Uinta Mountain Group are independent of changes in lithofacies , and they suggest that either a eutrophication event or direct inhibition of eukaryotes by sulfide (or perhaps both) may have been the cause of the biotic turnover. These findings support current correlations between the Uinta Mountain and Chuar Groups, the idea that the biotic turnover preserved in both strata was at least a regional phenomenon, and current models of punctuated global ocean anoxia during mid‐ to late‐Neoproterozoic time. Whether or not this hypothesized eutrophication event was more than regional in extent remains a very interesting question and will certainly be a focus of future research.

The landscape evolution of the northeastern Uinta Mountains and the manner in which climatic and tectonic forcing have influenced it are not well constrained. Surficial deposits covering ~325 km2 below the glacial termini in the Henrys Fork and ~50 km2 along the Green River in western Browns Park were mapped at 1:24,000 scale to develop a Quaternary stratigraphic framework for the northeastern Uinta Mountains. The Henrys Fork mapping area spans from late Wisconsinan moraines to Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The Henrys Fork stratigraphy contains 10 mainstem gravels, six piedmont gravels, and landslide deposits. Terraces preserved along the Henrys Fork converge downstream and are strath terraces underlain by clast-supported, cobble gravel derived from the Uinta Mountain Group and Paleozoic limestone units. The Henrys Fork terrace stratigraphy was correlated to the Wind River terrace stratigraphy for age control, and incision rates were estimated at 80-110 m/m.y. The Browns Park mapping area includes Little Hole and continues through lower Red Canyon into westernmost Browns Park, ending at the Warren Draw-Swallow Canyon quadrangle boundary. The Browns Park stratigraphy includes eight mainstem gravels, five piedmont gravels, and various landslide, colluvial, and eolian deposits. A tuffaceous bed with Lava Creek Bash (640 ka) was identified near the top of a deposit at Little Hole that was previously mapped as Miocene basin fill. Minimum Green River incision rates were estimated between 90 and 115 m/m.y. using the Lava Creek Bash for age control. These rates are comparable to estimates for the Henrys Fork, but are about half of the rates reported for the south flank of the Uintas and other central Rocky Mountain ranges. A series of three distinct deposits in western Browns Park are interpreted as evidence for the landslide impoundment and subsequent outburst flooding of the Green River. These include slackwater deposits at Little Hole, an outburst flood deposit in western Browns Park, and a large paleolandslide deposit that lies between them. Estimates of sediment accumulation rates behind the paleolandslide dam suggest it was stable for ~605 years. Peak discharge estimates from impounded water volume estimates and paleoflow competence indicators suggest that the resulting outburst flood was ~22,000 m3/s.

A study was conducted on the North Slope of the Uinta Mountains from January, 1972 through June, 1974, to determine the effects of three simulated levels of moose utilization on the crude protein content, phosphorus content, digestibility and vigor of willow plants. A comparison was also made on the crude protein content, phosphorus content and digestibility of current year's versus past years' willow growth. Finally, the validity of direct and indirect population enumeration methods was compared for the possible development of a standardized moose survey technique. Clipping caused a highly significant increase in crude protein and phosphorus content between treatment levels. There was also a highly significant increase in digestibility between years. Plant vigor comparisons were confounded by additional sources of mortality and the effects of environmental variables. A comparison of the nutrient content and digestibility of 1 t o 5 year-old willow growth showed that crude protein content, phosphor us content and digestibility decreased with increasing twig age. Additional factors are discussed which indicate that the carrying capacity of the winter range is larger than previously described. A poor correlation was found be tween direct aerial moose observations and indirect population estimates from pellet-group counts.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Geology, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 75-88).

In this thesis, I examined the lives of my great-grandparents, Oscar and Emma Swett. Oscar began a homestead in the Uinta Mountains in 1909, which he successfully ran for nearly sixty years. My grandmother was born on the ranch, and my own father spent much of his time there. I look at how land policy changed from encouraging ranching and farming in the early 1900's to tourism and recreation in the 1960's, with the coming of the Flaming Gorge Dam. The lives of my great-grandparents and their children were shaped by these changes and they felt the consequences of the shifting values of the Forest Service and government. I used many primary documents in my research, from interviews given by the Swett children to photographs and documents. I also drew from literature and research by other western authors, such as Wallace Stegner, Mary Clearman Blew, and Steve Trimble. I connected my personal and family stories and memories with the larger framework of land policy in the West and the culture of ranching families similar to my own family. This enabled me to show how land policy affected many individuals and families on a personal level, looking through the prism of my own family and experiences.

Birds may have the ability to view their environments at a wide range of spatial scales; accordingly, they may make habitat-selection decisions at multiple spatial scales. I investigated the implications of hierarchy theory and a landscape perspective on nestsite selection in cavity-nesting birds in the Uinta Mountains in northeastern Utah. I used · three different approaches to address the concept of a multi-scaled nest-site selection Ill process. First, I conducted an exploratory study in which I investigated nest-site selection at three spatial scales for Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis), Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), and Mountain Chickadee (Parus gambeli). By conducting a hierarchically structured analysis, I was able to investigate the habitat relationships that might result from a hierarchically organized nest site selection process . I found that the four species were associated with patterns of vegetation at three spatial scales and that these associations combined in such a way as to imply a process of nest-site selection that may be more complex than that posited by the niche-gestalt concept. Second, I conducted an experiment in which I investigated nest-site selection at two spatial scales. I compared the use of four types of aspen stands in a two-by-two factorial design according to within-stand structure and landscape context. Stands were classified as either dense or sparse and as having predominantly meadow or forested edges. To address nest-site selection by secondary cavity nesters , who may be limited by cavity availability, I augmented the natural cavities with nest boxes. I found that birds predominantly nested in sparse stands and in stands with meadow edges. Although only five nest boxes were used for nesting, all five of these boxes were in sparse stands with meadow edges. The third way in which I investigated the process of nest-site selection was to build and test predictive models using associations between birds and landscape patterns. By using landscape patterns to predict habitat, I was able to build models that were easily applied ; predictions could be made without any additional data collection in the field. The models were very accurate for both Red-naped Sapsuckers and Tree Swallows (86- 98% and 53-93% nests correctly predicted, respectively) but were less accurate for Mountain Chickadees and Northern Flickers (33-42% and 19-37%, respectively) .

Uinta ground squirrels (Spermophilus armatus) were instrumented with ECG radio-transmitters. Heart rate and oxygen consumption were monitored for one hour at ambient temperatures above, within and below the thermoneutral zone. These measures were made at predetermined intervals throughout the active season of squirrels to determine if the heart rate-oxygen consumption relationship was a stable linear regression within and between squirrels during this period. Heart rate and oxygen consumption were also monitored for squirrels exposed to artificial and natural stressors. These squirrels were then released in an outdoor enclosure. Heart rate and behavior of animals were monitored simultaneously during above and below ground activity. Heart rate-oxygen consumption regressions were stable during measurements through a 25°C temperature range. Regressions of heart rate versus oxygen consumption did vary between and within squirrels over four days. Heart rate tended to decrease initially after presentation of natural stressors. Heart rate tended to increase when artificial stressors were presented. Regressions of heart rate versus oxygen consumption for these stressors tended to be linear, but heart rate would not be a good predictor of oxygen consumption during rapid heart rate changes because, in most cases, heart rate-oxygen consumption regressions were not statistically significant. In some tests with rapidly decreasing initial heart rates, the heart rate-oxygen consumption relationship was negative. that is, oxygen consumption remained constant as heart rate decreased. Possible causes of negative responses are discussed. Heart rate responses generated in laboratory stress tests were similar to semi free-living heart rate responses. During the major portion of time spent above and below ground, heart rate of squirrels was found to be quite stable. During these periods, heart rate should be a reasonable predictor of oxygen consumption. In summary, average heart rate should be a reasonable predictor of oxygen consumption of free-living squirrels over daily periods. In using this method, it would be necessary to calculate regressions of heart rate and oxygen consumption in the laboratory before and after free-living studies to examine the stability of the regression lines during this period. An average regression line could be used to compensate in part for a change of the heart rate-oxygen consumption relationship during study periods.

A study of the conccidia of the Uinta ground squirrel, Spermophilus (Citellus) armatus, was undertaken to determine the incidence of coccidia in a population of these ground squirrels, the life cycle and pathogenicity of the coccidia, and the host specificity of certain of the species of coccidia found in this and five other species of ground squirrels (S. richardsoni, S. variegatus, S. lateralis, S. columbianus, and S. beecheyi). Uinta ground squirrels were live trapped and their feces examined to determine the incidence of coccidian infection. Specimens of S. armatus were maintained in the laboratory and given a pure inoculum of Eimeria callospermophili, E. larimerensis, or E. bilamellata. The animals were then killed at 12 to 24 hour intervals, and tissues were prepared by routine histological methods for microscopical examination. Oocysts of these three species of coccidia from other species of ground squirrels caused patent infections in S. armatus. Spermophilus richardsoni could not be infected with E. larimerensis or E. bilamellata. The incidence of infection in each of the three species of coccidia was similar in adult and juvenile animals. Eimeria bilamellata had the lowest incidence of the three species, and was the only one that caused immunity or was pathogenic in experimental infections. Eimeria callospermophili was recovered from five of the six species of ground squirrels examined and from the prairie dog, Cynomys leucurus. This is evidently the first time that a specis of Eimeria has been found in two rodent genera. Eimeria larimerensis, a species previously reported from prairie dogs, was found in S. armatus. Endogenous stages of E. callospermophili were located above the host cell nuclei of epithelial cells on the villi of the small intestine. Two asexual stages preceded the sexual stages, and oocysts were first discharged five days after inoculation. The life cycle of E. larimerensis was similar to that of E. callospermophili, except that greater numbers of merozoites were produced during schizogony and the endogenous stages were located below the host cell nuclei. Developing macrogametes of these two species differed in that those of E. callospermophili contained basophilic plastic granules that later assumed eosinophilic properties. The plastic granules of E larimerensis were eosinophilic throughout the development of the macrogamets. Microgametocytes of E. callospermophili had a simple type of development, in which the microgametes were formed around the periphery of the gametocyte; the microgametes of E. larimerensis developed around internal formative areas of the gametocyte as well as peripherally. The asexual development of E. bilamellata was determined only in part. Mature schizonts were present on the seventh day after inoculation, and gametogenesis began at this time; oocysts were first discharged on the tenth day after inoculation. Eimeria bilamellata differed from the other two species in that gametocytes developed in epithelial cells, which became displaced, finally being located deep in the lamina propria of the mucosa. Macrogametes contained both basophilic and eosinophilic plastic granules. Microgametogony was more complex than in the other two species, and the microgametocytes were much larger, producing thousands of gametes. Excysted sporozoites of the three species of coccidia differed in morphology and staining properties. The sporozoites of E. callospermophili and E. E. larimerensis had unusually large posterior refractile bodies. Eimeria callospermophili was also unusal in that no PAS positive material was found in the sporozoites.