Mud Lake marsh lies east of Utah Lake between the cities of Provo and Springville in Utah County. Since 1936 it has become a polluted, odiferous, silted area. A study was conducted on the aquatic invertebrates during the summer of 1962 (June 19 to September 20). An .01 meter2 bottom sampler was used at 30 random stations. Each station was sampled once a week. Water depth, mud, water and air temperatures were taken at each station. Dissolved oxygen (Winkler method) and ion resistance (Wheatstone bridge) were taken each day. The aquatic invertebrate community consisted of benthic (Diptera, Oligochaeta, Nematoda), interphashic benthic (Cou{ri}xidae) and planktonic (microcrustacae, rotifera, algae). The benthic portion of the community was adequately sampled, the other two portions were not. Dipteran populations were: Chironomidae larvae - numerous throughout season; Tabanidae larvae - found occasionally; Tipulidae - increased in late summer; Ephydridae - increased in late summer. The Chironomidae population increased slowly until the first week in August, then increased rapidly with peaks in late August and early September. The population numbers dropped when water levels were below .5{6}mm and temperatures dropped below freezing. It is supposed that the dissolved oxygen became the limiting factor in low water levels because of heat increases in bottom temperatures as the water level dropped. An experiment with an aerated control gave experimental evidence for this hypothesis. The Oligochaet population showed no close relation to these physical factors.

Fungi imperfecti were cultured from water and bottom sediment samples collected at four locations of Utah Lake. These study sites included: (a) The mouth of Provo River, the largest fresh-water tributary entering Utah Lake, (b) Mud Lake, a large shallow area known for its high nitrogen content, (c) the entrance of the Spanish Fork River into the lake, a large fresh-water tributary containing wastes from industry and agricultural enterprises, (d) Jordan River, the only natural outlet of Utah Lake. One hundred and thirty-eight species of fungi imperfecti were identified. A total of 89 species were isolated from the Spanish Fork River, 107 species from Mud Lake, 82 species from the Provo River, and 60 species from the Jordan River Outlet. Species that were restricted to a particular area included, 16 from the Spanish Fork River, 17 species from Mud Lake, 7 species from the Provo River and 6 from the Jordan River Outlet. The total number of fungi cultured from each station was in a direct relationship to the percent organic matter present. Seven species of Aspergillus which are potential human and animal pathogens were identified. Potential plant pathogenic fungi identified included 22 species.

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of History. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-164).

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of History. / Electronic thesis. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 159-164). Also available in print ed.

Thesis (M.A.)--Brigham Young University, Dept. of Political Science.

This study attempts to give a preliminary survey of the marsh habitat in Powell's Slough near Utah Lake. The following aspects are treated: seasonal waterfowl utilization of the slough, productivity of nesting water-fowl, description of the vegetation, invertebrate analysis, and analysis of environmental factors that may influence the habitat.

Research on the nesting of the Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus auritus) was undertaken to determine the nesting ecology of the bird on Utah Lake, Utah County, and the possible effects that diking Provo Bay would have on the cormorants breeding there. In 1973, two colonies in Provo Bay were visited weekly to determine laying dates, incubation period, clutch size, and hatching dates. Another colony, located on the dike of the Geneva Steel Reservoir, was visited daily during the spring and summer of 1973. At this colony, egg-laying occurred from 13 April to 17 May. The average clutch size was 3.8, and the egg length and width averaged 60.50 mm x 39.05 mm. An average egg volume of 49.0 cc is first reported for the subspecies. The average period of incubation was 28 days, and 29.5 percent of the eggs hatched, beginning on 20 May and ending 9 June. The young weighed an average of 36 gm at hatching with a beak length of 17 mm and tarsometatarsal length of 11 mm. These increased to 1543 gm, 73 mm, and 58 mm, respectively, in 23 days. The cormorant population on Utah Lake may be severely reduced by the diking of Provo Bay.

The reproductive biology of the brooding leech Helobdella stagnalis (Linnaeus) in Utah Lake was studied for an 18 month period from June 1970 to December 1971. In determining the annual reproductive cycle, the number of adult leeches carrying eggs or young were counted at weekly intervals during the reproductive season and monthly during the rest of the year. Gonadal staging data from histological sections were correlated with the field collection data. It was found that two broods of young were produced by the adult animals during the reproductive season. Continuous water temperatures were recorded at the study site throughout the period of this investigation. Temperature was found to have an effect on the rate of gametogenesis, development, and the number of broods produced. The gonads have an off-on type of activity. When the testes are active, the ovaries are dormant and vice-versa.

A survey of gastro-intestinal parasites in cattle and sheep in Utah Valley was conducted. Cattle in the valley were not seriously parasitized by helminths, whereas sheep usually had heavy helminth infections. Ten genera of helminths and 8 species of coccidia were identified in cattle in the valley, and 14 genera of helminths and 8 species of coccidia were identified in sheep. In conjunction with the survey, meteorologic studies were conducted May through September, 1909, to ascertain the effects which irrigation had upon micro-environments on grass pastures in relation to the development of free-Iiving stages of gastro-intestinal nematodes of ruminants. The effects of irrigation were such that soil moisture remained high throughout the pasture season, and moisture released from the soil to the atmosphere was redeposited as dew almost every night during the study period. Temperature and moisture conditions were conducive for development and survival of gastro-intestinal nematodes during the entire 1969 pasture season.

This study was conducted to augment the limited information available regarding the Snowy Egret in the Utah Lake area of Utah. Field observations included the following: nesting habits; egg and clutch sizes; sexual, defense, and feeding behaviors. Analysis was made of the distinguishing subspecies characteristics (culmen, tarsus, and wing length) of the Snowy Egrets and of the distribution of the birds. Field observations showed that growth measurements of the young varied from 16.75 g at hatching to 260.58 g after 17 days. Culmen and tarsus measurements were 15.41 mm and 14.12 mm to 53.18 mm and 62.18 mm, respectively, after 17 days. The average clutch size was 2.93 eggs per clutch. The average egg measured 43.85 mm by 32.44 mm. Hatching success was 50.85% in the two major periods of hatching noted. The lack of distinct lines of differentiation between existing subspecies leads the author to question the validity of the current subspecies designations.