13th Annual Wildland Resources Department Graduate Research Symposium

Friday, April 13, 2018 Huntsman Hall 320

Lacy Smith

Sebastian Lagrange

Cole Bleke Leah Delahoussaye

Kent Hersey PC: Steve Gray

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13th Annual

WILDLAND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM

College of Natural Resources

Utah State University 13 April 2018

WILDLAND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

elcome to the Thirteenth Annual Wildland Resources Department Graduate Research Symposium. Today we will have the opportunity to hear from 11 M.S. and 13 Ph.D. graduate candidates, as each presents the ideas that will

form the basis for their research during their tenure in our Department. Not all students today will be at the same stage in research development. Many are still thinking about how best to proceed; others have already determined how they wish to address their questions of interest. This diversity of talks you will hear reflects, in part, the many different approaches each is taking towards answering important natural resource management and conservation issues. This is their chance to publicly present their ideas, and request your feedback on how to improve their research. Remember, your comments and insights are welcome, and in one sense are expected. Enjoy today’s presentations, and please come join us for the social that will immediately follow today’s presentations.

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13th Annual WILDLAND RESOURCES DEPARTMENT

GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM College of Natural Resources, Utah State University

Huntsman Hall 320 13 April 2018

Time 8:15 Coffee / Opening Social AM 8:30 Opening Remarks 8:45 BLEKE, COLE (M.S. Wildlife Biology)

Advisor: E. Gese Pronghorn antelope population monitoring in Idaho

9:00 BIDNER, ROBERT (M.S. Ecology)

Advisor: K. Mock Suckering dynamics and gender distribution of aspen

9:15 DELAHOUSSAYE, LEAH (M.S. Wildlife Biology)

Advisor: M. Conover Use of habitat by Eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) on the Great Salt Lake

9:30 FOX, SCOTT (M.S. Wildlife Biology)

Advisor: D. Dahlgren Greater sage-grouse geophagy behavior during the winter, Pinedale, Wyoming

9:45 GUEVARA, RAÚL DAVID (M.S. Range Science)

Advisor: J. Villalba Productive, economic, and environmental assessment of legume- and feedlot-finished beef cattle

10:00 SCHWABEDISSEN, JUSTIN (M.S. Wildlife Biology )

Advisor: M. Conner Spatial ecology and conservation of long-distance mule deer migrations from Grand Teton National Park

10:15 Morning Break

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10:30 ROHDE, ASHLEY (Ph.D. Ecology) Co-Advisors: K. Mock, J. Strange Population genetic structure predicts gene flow barriers in bees of conservation concern

10:45 BRICE, LAINIE (Ph.D. Ecology)

Advisor: D. MacNulty Understanding the indirect influence of wolves on aspen (Populus tremuloides) growth in northern Yellowstone National Park

11:00 HERSEY, KENT (Ph.D. Wildlife Biology)

Advisor: T. Edwards Linking mule deer survival in Utah to body condition and habitat use

11:15 KOUTZOUKIS, SOFIA (Ph.D. Ecology)

Advisor: K. Veblen Preemptive restoration and the role of microenvironment in restoring the Intermountain West

11:30 BEERS, AIDAN (Ph.D. Ecology)

Advisor: S.N. Frey Sage grouse movement and habitat selection along a fragmented range margin

11:45 LANDRY, STEPHANIE (Ph.D. Ecology)

Advisor: D. Dahlgren Dusky grouse population ecology in the Schell Creek and Egan Ranges of White Pine County

12:00 Lunch (on your own)

1:00 LAGRANGE, SEBASTIAN (Ph.D. Range Science)

Advisor: J. Villalba Effects of forage diversity and tannin-containing legumes on beef cow performance and environmental impacts

1:15 FORERO, LESLIE (Ph.D. Ecology)

Advisor: A. Kulmatiski Using plant-soil feedbacks to predict community composition and productivity

1:30 COTTERILL, GAVIN (Ph.D. Ecology)

Advisor: J. du Toit, P. Gross Hidden costs of brucellosis infection in free-ranging elk; reduced pregnancy in mid-winter, not just reproductive failures in spring

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1:45 SPACKMAN, CASEY (Ph.D. Range Science) Advisor: J. Villalba Livestock grazing and disturbance as a tool for Medusahead control

2:00 SMITH, LACY (Ph.D. Ecology)

Advisor: D. MacNulty Selective predation mediates the strength of additive predation

2:15 GRENZER, JOSEPHINE (Ph.D. Ecology)

Advisor: A. Kulmatiski Introducing a spatial plant-soil feedback model: Modeling plant communities of a European grassland

2:30 Afternoon Break 2:45 LAZENBY, KADE (M.S. Wildlife Biology)

Advisor: D. Dahlgren Manipulating grouse populations: Translocation, reintroduction, and artificial insemination

3:00 OWEN, MERRAN (M.S. Ecology) Advisor: K. Veblen Native species establishment in an invaded salt desert shrubland: Effect of soil type and weed control

3:15 WALDEN, XAELA (M.S. Wildlife Biology)

Advisor: J. Young Evaluation of Utah’s predator control program

3:30 ZIMMER, SCOTT (M.S. Ecology)

Advisor: E. Schupp A vegetation inventory of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation

3:45 STOUT, CLAUDIA (M.S. Ecology)

Advisor: J. Burton Linking vertical and horizontal vegetation structure to determine the extent and distribution of Canada lynx habitat using Forest Inventory and Analysis data

4:00 TAMJIDI, JELVEH (Ph.D. Ecology) Advisor: J. Lutz Long term effects of fire on soil enzymes and soil hydrological properties in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA

4:15 Concluding Remarks

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5:30 Evening Social, The Italian Place (48 Federal Avenue, Logan)

Research Project Photos

Scott Fox

Janis Boettinger Scott Zimmer

Jessika Pettit

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Kendall Becker

Kent Hersey

Leslie Forero

Tucker Furniss Kent Hersey

PC: Steve Gray

PC: Steve Gray

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Dan MacNulty

Martin Holdrege

Gavin Cotterill

Ashley Rohde

Sarah Germain

Aidan Beers

Lainie Brice

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Abstracts BLEKE, C.A. Pronghorn antelope population monitoring in Idaho. M.S. student. Populations of pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) in Idaho have declined since their peak in the late 1980’s and have not rebounded since then, even after reducing the number of animals harvested. Much debate exists on how various factors regulate prey populations, including disease, juvenile survival and recruitment, resource limitations, predation, and climate. For my project I will investigate various factors that may influence pronghorn populations in Idaho, mainly population growth rates and fawn:doe ratios (i.e., recruitment). To do this, I will be conducting non-invasive fecal sampling within five populations across southern Idaho before and after fawning. Fecal sampling will provide a method of determining pregnancy rates via fecal hormone concentrations, measure physiological stress via cortisol levels, and metrics of nutritional condition via fecal nitrogen (FN) and fecal 2,6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPA). Additionally, I will conduct a fecal genetic mark-recapture study to validate survey efforts for estimating population size. Before determining pronghorn pregnancy via fecal hormone (progesterone and estradiol) concentrations, we will validate hormone levels of pregnant and nonpregnant individuals and validate the assay for precision. We will examine if nutritional condition and cortisol levels affect pregnancy rates. We will also be collecting fecal pellets from pregnant females to conduct a hormone degradation study of progesterone, estradiol, and cortisol to evaluate the degradation rate of these hormones. From this research, we will elucidate factors that may be limiting pronghorn populations, provide insight on the physiological measures influencing pronghorn productivity, and provide parameters useful for population modelling. Keywords: pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana); non-invasive fecal sampling; fecal hormone concentrations, pregnancy, nutrition Email address: bleke.cole@gmail.com Advisor: E. Gese Funding Source: Idaho Department of Fish and Game

BIDNER, R.J.J. Suckering dynamics and gender distribution of aspen. M.S. student. Aspen (Populus tremuloides) forests are biodiversity hotspots for both plant and animal species in the Intermountain West. Recent decline in aspen in the southern portion of its range has drawn concern from land managers and researchers. These declines have sparked renewed interest in understanding the basic biology of aspen. I propose to examine two separate questions relating to the health and distribution of aspen across the Intermountain West. My first question examines aspen suckering in a restoration setting, comparing regeneration potential predicted by above vs. below ground metrics. My study sites for this question will be located on Cedar Mountain, in southern Utah. My proxy for regeneration potential will be suckers per root surface area measured from sampled root segments in a greenhouse. I expect that these results will contribute to an improved

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ability to predict aspen suckering. My second question examines the distribution of male vs. female aspen clones throughout the Intermountain West with respect to elevation and climate water deficit. Leaf samples for this portion of my study were collected from 31 sites (1430 samples). Individual gender will be determined using genetic markers. I anticipate that the results of this study will show an excess of males in drier sites, consistent with findings in other dioecious tree species. Keywords: aspen regeneration; gender distribution; Intermountain West Email address: bidner1rjj@gmail.com Advisor: K. Mock Funding Source: USU Cedar Mountain Initiative Research Program

DELAHOUSSAYE, L.M. Use of habitat by Eared grebes (Podiceps nigricollis) on the

Great Salt Lake. M.S. student. The Great Salt Lake (GSL) is a vital staging area and breeding ground for waterbirds that migrate through the Pacific Flyway. Eared grebes breed on the freshwater marshes surrounding the Great Salt Lake; however, not much is known about their breeding ecology at this low of a latitude. I propose to investigate the factors that dictate where the eared grebes choose to establish their nesting colonies and their individual nests around the Great Salt Lake. I will be measuring variables, such as water depth, invertebrate densities, distances between nests, and distances from shore. I will also be measuring nest initiation date, clutch initiation date, clutch size, egg temperature, and nest substrate to compare the breeding strategies to others. After the breeding season, over half the North America population of eared grebes move to the Great Salt Lake, and during their 2-5 month stay, they undergo a complete molt that renders them flightless. I propose to investigate the movements of eared grebes on the Great Salt Lake during the months of October-December. I will do this by attaching GPS backpacks to the birds at the end of September. Though spatial analysis and modeling, I will determine what dictates the eared grebes locations within the lake by looking at water depth and substrate type. This study should provide managers a greater understanding of the needs of eared grebes during both the breeding season and the fall staging. Keywords: Eared grebes, breeding ecology, Great Salt Lake Email address: ldelah4@gmail.com Advisor: M. Conover Funding Source: Great Salt Lake Ecosystem Program

FOX, S.A. Greater sage-grouse geophagy behavior during the winter, Pinedale,

Wyoming. M.S. student. Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) have been documented consuming soil, i.e. geophagy, during the winter near Pinedale, Wyoming. My research will investigate the reasons for geophagy in this sage-grouse population. We will capture and

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mark approximately 30 sage-grouse with GPS radios across two areas with known geophagy sites near Pinedale. GPS radios will collect location data, up to 6 locations per day to record habitat use, use of known geophagy sites, and locate unknown geophagy sites. We will also conduct a nutrient preference study at geophagy sites in an attempt to determine whether sage-grouse are selecting for specific nutrients. We will use the following nutrients: sodium, calcium, and phosphorus. These were chosen due to their importance in biological function and limited availability in sagebrush systems and especially during the winter. Finally, samples of soil, sagebrush, and grouse feces will be collected and analyzed for nutrient content in order to compare relative levels of minerals in all strata to determine nutrient availability and use by sage-grouse. Keywords: Sage-grouse, geophagy, soil. Email address: scottfox24@gmail.com Advisor: D. Dahlgren Funding Source: Bureau of Land Management

GUEVARA, R.D. Productive, economic, and environmental assessment of legume- and

feedlot-finished beef cattle. M.S. student. Livestock sector produces 35.4% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions; beef cattle in US is the largest contributor to this problem. Beef cattle are ruminants typically finished on cereal grain-based rations in confinement. In contrast, legumes fix nitrogen and are productive for multiple years after establishment. Tannin-containing legumes like birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) and sainfoin (SF) are non-bloating and the unique tannins produced by these legumes, as well as their high fiber digestibility and high content of non-fibrous carbohydrates, enhance energy and protein use in ruminants relative to grasses and other legumes, with potential to reduce environmental impacts. I hypothesize that tannin-containing legumes will reduce cattle methane emissions relative to a grass-finishing system, and combinations of different tannin-containing legumes will be more effective. I further predict such reductions will lead to levels of methane production and productivity similar to feedlot-finished animals, with similar production costs. To test these hypotheses, I will: Determine enteric CH4 in cattle grazing monocultures BTF, SF and alfalfa (control) vs. cattle grazing 3-way combinations of these legumes (Experiment 1). Determine CH4 production in a feedlot system and compare emissions with cattle grazing cicer milkvetch (non-tannin containing legume; control), meadow brome (grass) and BFT (Experiment 2). Using budget tables for each system, I will compare production cost from both systems and develop economical models to forecast market prices for traditional and organic meats (legume finished) and compare income balances. It`s expected that CH4 emissions from tannin-containing legumes will be comparable to emissions observed in the feedlot system and that they will be lower than emissions observed for grass. It`s also expected that since tannins bind to protein in the rumen, the concentration of protein in feces will be the greatest for tannin-containing legumes. Finally, it`s expected that production cost will be lower for legume-finished than for feedlot-finished beef. Keywords: Plant secondary compounds, methane emissions, Tannin-containing legumes, feedlot.

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Email address: rdguevarab@unal.edu.co Advisor: J. Villalba Funding Source: USDA-NIFA. Award Number: 2016-67019-25086.

SCHWABEDISSEN, J.K. Spatial ecology and conservation of long-distance mule deer migrations from Grand Teton National Park. M.S. student.

The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) hosts several of the longest, fully intact ungulate migrations remaining in the continental United States. However, expanding development and an increasing human footprint continue to truncate migratory routes. While the endpoint is often a seasonal range on protected lands, these migration corridors frequently cross other jurisdictional boundaries, including large tracts of private or multiple-use lands, with varying levels of protection. Thus, it is critical that resource managers understand the dynamics of migratory movements to implement appropriate conservation strategies. Through a preliminary study, biologists with Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) have uncovered a network of long-distance mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) migration routes connecting summer ranges in the park with winter ranges throughout the GYE. I plan to analyze location data obtained from adult female mule deer equipped with GPS collars to examine the spatio-temporal characteristics of the migration network to model movements and identify potential barriers to future permeability. To bolster the preliminary sample size of 28 deer, I will capture 80 individuals on summer range in GTNP and winter ranges across eastern Idaho. With the use of statistical modeling methods, including the dynamic Brownian Bridge movement model, I will delineate and compare migration corridors as well as identify important stopover sites. Subsequently, I will employ a variety of remote sensing data products to describe the spatial traits of each corridor, such as elevational gradient, plant phenology, and local climate variables, in relation to trends in the timing and rate of individual movements. The goal of this study is to gain an understanding of this migration system to model how future changes across the landscape may affect the persistence of long-distance movements. The results will provide wildlife managers in Greater Yellowstone with a robust understanding of Grand Teton mule deer migrations to support long-term conservation endeavors. Keywords: mule deer; migration; movement ecology; Grand Teton National Park; Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Email address: jschwabedissen@aggiemail.usu.edu Advisor: M. Conner Funding Source(s): Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Knobloch Family

Foundation, Charles Engelhard Foundation, Meg and Bert Raynes Wildlife Fund, Cross Foundation, Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee, U.S. National Park Service, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game

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ROHDE, A.T. Population genetic structure predicts gene flow barriers in bees of conservation concern. Ph.D. student.

Bees are among the most important pollinators worldwide. However, recent decreases in the abundance and distribution of some bee species have been documented in Europe, Asia and, North America. Despite this, bees, especially species that are not domesticated for agricultural pollination, are understudied. Little is known about their evolutionary history or the drivers that are causing the decrease in their abundance and distribution. Landscape genetics is a growing field and its applications to conservation and restoration ecology have been demonstrated in multiple taxa. Measurements of population structure within species, in particular, is useful to determine the connectedness of populations within a species and to predict populations or species of conservation concern. I will apply landscape genetic techniques, measurements of geography, and measurements of current and past landscape and habitat variables to predict the variables associated with reductions in abundance and distribution in two common genera of bees in western North America, Bombus (bumble bees) and Osmia (mason bees). I will use maximum entropy modeling and electrical current modeling to estimate gene flow among populations of bumble bees potentially isolated by geographic barriers. I will use structural equation modeling to measure the influence of anthropogenic drivers, including climate change and land use change, on population structure of bumble bee species, with special focus on Bombus occidentalis, a species of conservation concern. I will compare the genetic structure of populations within 16 species of mason bees with distributions that vary in latitude, elevation, and extent to estimate their vulnerability to drivers of habitat change. Finally, I will measure the attitudes of four groups of stakeholders (researchers who use molecular techniques, researchers who use abundance-based techniques, land managers, and ecosystem service end-users) toward the molecular techniques used in conservation and restoration ecology. Keywords: Landscape genetics, bumble bees, mason bees, population genetic structure, conservation, land use change Email address: a.t.rohde@hotmail.com Co-Advisors: K. Mock, J. Strange Funding Source(s): Utah State University Ecology Center, USDA-ARS

BRICE, E.M. Understanding the indirect influence of wolves on aspen (Populus tremuloides) growth in northern Yellowstone National Park. Ph.D. student.

Wolves were extirpated from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) in the 1920s, leading to a boom in the elk population and a subsequent decline in several ecologically-important deciduous woody plant species, including quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). Upon reintroduction in the 1990s, the elk population declined, and scientists observed increased growth in the woody plant species that had long been suppressed. However, the extent that wolves triggered such changes in the ecosystem is still unclear after two decades of investigation. For my doctoral research, I aim to quantify the indirect link between wolves and aspen in northern YNP to determine how much of the increase in aspen height growth is attributable to wolves. My dissertation has four specific aims: (1) verify

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assumptions of trophic cascade research, (2) understand the influence of elk herbivory on aspen growth, (3) determine the causes of the decline in elk herbivory over the last two decades, and (4) develop a tri-trophic model of wolves, elk, and aspen in northern YNP. This research will be conducted using nearly 20 years of aspen height and browse data collected in northern YNP, as well as elk and wolf abundance and distribution data. I will use Bayesian models for my statistical analyses, as such models incorporate prior knowledge of the system and include unknown parameters as random variables, thus accounting for uncertainty. My research will advance understanding of the mechanisms producing YNP’s trophic cascade by determining the extent to which wolves influence aspen recruitment. Such knowledge is critical to understanding the role of top predators in structuring food webs. Keywords: Aspen, Elk, Wolves, Trophic Cascades, Yellowstone National Park Email address: elbrice92@gmail.com Advisor: D. MacNulty Funding Source(s): Quinney Doctoral Fellowship, Ecology Center Graduate Research

Award

HERSEY, K.R. Linking mule deer survival in Utah to body condition and habitat use. Ph.D. student.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) began monitoring adult female mule deer survival in 2009 on 7 management units representing the range of environmental conditions found across the state. Although this project provided valuable data on annual survival rates, specifics on factors influencing differences between units and among years were lacking. To address this question, I, in conjunction with UDWR, captured, GPS collared, and assessed body condition of adult female mule deer on 3 of those units in December 2014. We also recaptured a subsample of deer on each unit the following March to assess the rate of decline of body condition during winter months. Those captures were expanded to all 7 units in December 2015 and recaptures continued each December and March through 2018. In total, we captured 1281 deer during the 4 years, including 835 captures in December (515 initial and 320 recaptures) and 446 March recaptures. For this study, I propose to analyze these data to understand how body condition and habitat use impacts mule deer survival in Utah. Specifically, my objectives are to 1) determine the relationship between December and March body condition and overwinter survival of adult female mule deer, 2) examine the relationship between cause-specific mortality and December body condition, and 3) assess how mule deer use of habitat treatment areas influences overwinter body condition decline and survival. Results from this study will improve our understanding of factors influencing deer survival in Utah, provide tools to better predict survival, and allow managers to more effectively direct management actions. Keywords: Mule deer, Survival, Body condition, Habitat treatments Email address: kenthersey@utah.gov Advisor: T. Edwards

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Funding Sources: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Mule Deer Foundation, Safari Club International, Utah Archery Association

KOUTZOUKIS, S.G. Preemptive restoration and the role of microenvironment in

restoring the Intermountain West. Ph.D. student. Arid and semi-arid systems are spatially heterogeneous systems where islands of fertility, hotspots of germination and establishment, are interspersed with neighboring microenvironments that are unsuitable for establishment. In the Intermountain West, invasive annual grasses perpetuate a novel fire regime of frequent fires that remove shrub canopy, eliminating islands of fertility. Current revegetation techniques focus on post-disturbance landscapes with little to no canopy, and have notoriously low rates of establishment of desirable species, especially in lower elevation, drier, warmer areas dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis). The scientific literature indicates that islands of fertility and the microenvironment created by shrub canopies in the Intermountain West are crucial for plant recruitment, but does not explicitly test the necessity of shrub microenvironments for plant establishment, persistence, and growth. I am proposing to investigate, along a gradient of soil moisture and temperature, a) a novel preemptive restoration strategy that will take advantage of existing Wyoming big sagebrush canopy cover to facilitate growth of understory perennial grasses and forbs, and b) how the biotic and abiotic conditions associated with sagebrush canopies influences persistence and growth of native understory plants. To test the efficacy of preemptive restoration, I will plant 100 seedlings of four widespread species: Elymus elymoides (Bottlebrush Squirreltail), Pseudoroegneria spicata (bluebunch wheatgrass), Sphaeralcea munroana (globemallow), and Achillea millefolium (western yarrow) at three warm-dry and three cool-moist soil moisture-temperature sites across the Intermountain West. I will pair plantings with above and below ground microenvironment data to determine the efficacy of preemptive planting of seedlings as a large-scale restoration strategy. Because plant-plant interactions may shift from facilitation (in warm-dry regimes) to competition (in cool-moist regimes) I will plant seedlings and seeds in an increasing radius from the sagebrush canopy and track persistence and growth over time to better understand fine-scale spatial plant-plant interactions across a soil moisture-temperature gradient. Keywords: cheatgrass, microclimate, microenvironment, fire Email address: skoutzoukis@gmail.com Advisor: K. Veblen Funding Source: USDA NIFA: Agriculture and Food Research Initiative

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BEERS, A. Sage grouse movement and habitat selection along a fragmented range margin.

Natural and anthropogenic habitat fragmentation are important drivers of animal population decline and key issues of conservation concern. Fragmented populations tend to be smaller and more prone compounding negative impacts like habitat degradation and more vulnerable to effects of environmental stochasticity and climate change, especially when that at a species range margin with less suitable climate. While genetic diversity tends to be higher at the lagging range margin, low population density and poorer habitat quality means they are more vulnerable to further habitat loss. In order to predict how vulnerable species will respond to habitat, land use, and climatic changes, it is therefore critical to understand how individuals move between patches, what risks they face, how habitat needs vary throughout the year, and how many individuals a patch can sustain. Sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) are a potentially threatened species at risk due to habitat loss in the form of landscape change. They are relatively understudied at their southern range margin, where habitat is less contiguous, of lower quality, and supports low density, fragmented populations compared to much of their range. It is important to evaluate how this difference in habitat quality and contiguity affects grouse movements, seasonal habitat use, and spatial segregation. Using data from grouse with GPS transmitters in several valleys in southern Utah and Nevada, I will build dynamic Brownian Bridge Model utilization distributions and compare evaluate how they vary across individuals, sexes, and seasons. I predict impacts of terrain and climate, which I will detect with NDVI, snow cover, metrics of habitat fragmentation, topographic heterogeneity, and weather from PRISM. These models will inform predictions of current and future habitat suitability and drive our understanding of animal habitat use along fragmented range margins. Keywords: sage grouse, fragmentation, utilization distribution, range margin, movement, habitat use\ Email address: aidan.beers@aggiemail.usu.edu Advisor: S.N. Frey Funding sources: Bureau of Land Management, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources,

Nevada Department of Wildlife

LANDRY, S.M. Dusky grouse population ecology in the Schell Creek and Egan Ranges

of White Pine County, Nevada. Ph.D. student. We are interested in the breeding ecology and survival of Dusky Grouse in the Schell Creek and Egan Ranges of east-central Nevada. Vegetation surveys, call surveys, nest surveys, and brood surveys will be used to determine habitat selection during each stage of the breeding cycle for Dusky Grouse. Field seasons will run from mid-April to the end of brooding season in August over the 2018, 2019, and 2020 breeding seasons. Male call surveys will be conducted using point-counts at multiple stops in each macro-habitat type across our study areas. Similarly, line transect vegetation surveys will be conducted throughout the different macro-habitat types. Using dogs to locate grouse, we will trap the individual(s) using noose poles, drive-in traps, or mist-nets. Male and female grouse

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will receive aluminum leg bands, while only females will receive GPS collar or backpack transmitters. Females will be tracked on a weekly basis to determine habitat use, nesting site selection, nest success rates, brooding habitat use, and chick survival rates. Vegetation plot surveys will be conducted at all identified nesting and brooding locations to determine micro-habitat selection. Flyover surveys will collect data from the transmitters over fall and winter to determine habitat use and survival, especially over the harvest season. Data will be analyzed after each field season to determine micro- and macro-habitat use, resource selection, nesting success, chick survival, and adult survival. This is the first study on Dusky Grouse ecology and habitat use in arid, open habitat types as found in east-central Nevada. Keywords: nesting ecology; brooding ecology; forest grouse; habitat use. Email address: Stephanie.Landry@aggiemail.usu.edu Advisor: D. Dahlgren Funding Source(s): Nevada Department of Wildlife; Utah State University

LAGRANGE, S.P. Effects of forage diversity and tannin-containing legumes on beef cow performance and environmental impacts. Ph.D. student.

Tannin-containing legumes like birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) and sainfoin (SAIN) may enhance the efficiency of energy and protein use in ruminants relative to grasses and other legumes such as alfalfa (ALF). In addition, synergisms among diverse combinations of forages may further contribute to reduce the environmental impact compared with the use of monocultures. We tested the effects of grazing monocultures of sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil and alfalfa or the 2-way and 3-way choice of these legumes on cattle performance, intake, nitrogen and methane emissions. Twenty-one pairs of heifers grazed three replications of seven treatments in a completely randomized block design during 2016 and 2017. Animals grazed during 2 periods of 22-d each and composited forage, fecal and urine samples were collected to estimate apparent digestibility, fecal output and nitrogen emissions. Methane emissions were assessed using the sulfur hexafluoride technique. Results were analyzed as a repeated measures design with cows (random effect) nested within treatments, and period as the repeated measures. Daily gain for the 3-way choice averaged 1.26 kg/d, being 23% greater than 2-way choices and monocultures (P<0.05). Heifers grazing the three-way choice also showed greater intake (5.37 %BW) than animals grazing 2-way choices and monocultures (4.65 and 4.41 %BW) respectively, suggesting a synergism among pastures. In addition, methane emissions were lower in the 3-way-choice compared with the average of the 2-way choices (162 vs 226 g/kg of gain; P< 0.1), but just tended (P=0.16) to be lower than all monocultures with an average of 205g/kg. Cattle grazing tannin-containing legumes as monocultures or in combinations showed lower nitrogen concentrations (P<0.01) in urine and serum than animals under ALF monocultures (3.15 vs 6.01g/L and 0.15 vs 0.21g/L) respectively), suggesting a shift in the site of N excretion from urine to feces. In summary, diverse combinations of legumes have the potential to enhance livestock performance and increase intake over less diverse arrays of forages, yielding the compounded benefits of reduced methane and urinary N emissions per unit of BW gain.

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Keywords: Forage diversity, Plant secondary compounds, Tannin-containing legumes, Forage intake, Methane emissions.

Email address: sebastian.lagrange@aggiemail.usu.edu Advisor: J. Villalba. Funding Source: USDA-NIFA. Award Number: 2016-67019-25086.

FORERO, L.E. Using plant-soil feedbacks to predict community composition and productivity. Ph.D. student.

The ability of diverse plant communities to produce double the biomass of monocultures remains an unresolved problem in ecology despite decades of research. Although the hypothesis that diversity in plant communities allows species with different traits to access more resources is promising, the mechanism doesn’t fully explain the observed range of plant community responses to increasing diversity. Recent research has suggested soil pathogens may help explain why diverse communities tend to produce more biomass. Furthermore, important symbiotic relationships between soil organisms and plants can help to explain observed low-diversity high-productivity plant communities. Taken together, the effects of plant-pathogen and plant-symbiont interactions may explain both the general pattern of increasing productivity with diversity and also much of the variation that is commonly observed in diversity-productivity experiments. To describe the net effect of both positive and negative interactions between plants and soil organisms, we implemented a plant-soil feedback (PSF) experiment measuring the response of 16 different phytometer species to 16 different monoculture soil types at Cedar Creek Ecosystem Science Reserve. We used this data to parameterize a suite of models of plant communities, and compared the output of the models to observed growth in plant communities.

Keywords: Diversity-productivity relationship, plant-soil feedbacks, overyielding, underyielding. Email address: leslieeforero@gmail.com Advisor: A. Kulmatiski Funding Source(s): National Science Foundation and Ecology Center.

COTTERILL, G.G. Hidden costs of brucellosis infection in free-ranging elk; reduced pregnancy in mid-winter, not just reproductive failures in spring. Ph.D. student.

Factors affecting elk (Cervus canadensis) reproductive physiology in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) are the subject of much interest and debate. The reproductive effects of brucellosis (Brucella abortus) were thought to be limited to the disease-induced abortions that occur among some infected animals. Based on previous research efforts, we expected a lower probability of pregnancy in elk that were seropositive for brucellosis during mid- and late-winter, prior to when abortions occur. Banked blood samples were tested for pregnancy-specific protein B (PSPB) and the

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results analyzed in combination with serologic, ultrasound, and age data for female elk from feedgrounds in the southern GYE. We built Bayesian multilevel models to estimate the age-specific pregnancy probabilities of seronegative and seropositive elk and to assess relative support for some possible biological mechanisms underlying our results.

Probability of pregnancy was significantly reduced in seropositive elk prior to the onset of the disease-induced abortion period. Two-year-old seropositive elk were 31% less likely to be pregnant than seronegatives in their cohort independent of location and year (89% HPDI = 20-42%), while older age classes were less affected. Seropositive animals aged 3-9 years were only 7% less likely to be pregnant than seronegatives (89% HPDI = 2-11%). Accounting for abortions, our results suggest that seropositive elk have approximately ¾ the reproductive output of seronegative elk, but this assessment may discount the importance of the underlying mechanism. Because calf:cow ratios are uncorrelated with local seroprevalence, and elk numbers in the southern GYE have been stable during this same time period, there appears to be substantial compensatory survival of remaining calves in the feedground complex. Nevertheless, the fertility consequences of this disease should be considered together with other factors—such as climate and interactions with predators—in future studies of elk population dynamics in the GYE.

Keywords: Elk; Brucellosis; Disease Ecology; Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Email address: gavin.cotterill@aggiemail.usu.edu Co-Advisors: J. du Toit, P. Cross Funding Source(s): S.J. & Jessie E. Quinney College of Natural Resources, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center.

SPACKMAN, C. Livestock grazing and disturbance as a tool for Medusahead control. Ph.D. student.

Glyphosate-treated medusahead (Taeniantherum caput-medusae (L.) Nevski) has been shown to increase livestock grazing preference for an otherwise unpalatable plant. However, little is known about whether increased nutrition is the sole factor for preference or additional factors such as the glyphosate chemicals play a role. We hypothesized that the application of a glyphosate containing herbicide to medusahead stands would increase livestock use of the weed over that of the salt contained within. Six medusahead-infested plots (0.054 ha each) were divided into three 6 m by 30 m strips and randomly assigned to the following treatments: 1) application of glyphosate (RT 3; Roundup brand) at a rate of 394 g ae ha-1, 2) potassium chloride (KCl; salt in RT 3) at a rate of 174 g ha-1, and 3) Control (CTRL, no chemical application). Seven days after treatment, beef steers (n=12) were randomly paired and assigned to each of the six plots in a complete randomized design with repeated measures. Animals were allowed to graze from 0800 to 1700 from June 11 to June 18, 2016. Foraging events on medusahead (MH), other grasses (GR) and forbs (F) were measured using the bite count technique at successive five-minute intervals per steer for 5 h/d. Cattle preferred on average GR (11.6 ± 0.5 bites/min) over F and MH (2.7 ± 0.2 and 2.8 ± 0.3 bites/min, respectively). However, the proportion of medusahead biomass removed from RT3 (55.6 ± 16.3 kg/ha-

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1) was much greater than that removed for CTRL and KCl (28.0 ± 22.4 and -14.9 ± 28.5 kg/ha-1). The greater utilization of glyphosate-treated medusahead plants and strips suggests that an integrated approach of herbicide and grazing treatments is an efficient tool to control medusahead spread in rangelands. Keywords: livestock; grazing; medusahead; glyphosate; rangeland. Email address: Spackmankc@gmail.com. Advisor: J. Villalba. Funding Source: Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education (SARE).

SMITH, L.M. Selective predation mediates the strength of additive predation. Ph.D.

student. The effect of predation, whether additive or compensatory, is commonly assumed to be invariable within prey populations regardless of whether predators select certain individuals. However, little is known about how the strength of predation varies within a prey population exposed to selective predation. We used a competing risk mortality analysis with 13 years (2000-2006, 2011-2017) of data on wolves (Canis lupus) hunting adult female elk (Cervus elaphus) in Yellowstone National Park to evaluate the age-selective behavior of wolves and the strength of additive predation. We determined whether additive predation varied between selected and avoided prey and between time periods by regressing wolf predation risk against survival. During 1995-2009, the average (± SE) age of wolf-killed females was 14.5 (± 0.20) years-old, while the average age of females in the herd was 7.2 (± 0.02) years-old. The risk of wolf predation was low (0-0.28) for ‘young’ (2-14 years-old) females and high (0.35-0.71) for ‘old’ (15-24 years-old) females. The additive effect of wolf predation was stronger for old females than for young females. Wolves consistently selected old females, yet the strength of additive predation across the herd decreased between 2000-2006 and 2011-2017. While the frequency of old elk in the population fluctuated from 0.03 in 1995 to 0.26 in 2009, our findings suggest that the frequency of old elk has decreased in the latter half of our study period. Changes in the age distribution may be driven by recruitment pulses in the prior decade. Thus, changes in recruitment create a lag effect on population age structure and may contribute to fluctuations in the strength of additive predation through time. Further, our findings suggest that selective predation can constrain the effect of additive predation and allow top-down and bottom-up forces to act simultaneously on prey population dynamics. Keywords: wolf, elk, competing risks, cause-specific mortality Email address: lacymsmith@aggiemail.usu.edu Advisor: D. MacNulty Funding Source(s): National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

Program, National Science Foundation Long Term Research in Environmental Biology, National Park Service, USU Office of Research and Graduate Studies

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GRENZER, J. Introducing a spatial plant-soil feedback model: Modeling plant communities of a European grassland. Ph.D. student.

The positive relationship between diversity and productivity has been well established but the mechanisms explaining this relationship remain unresolved. Resource partitioning and sampling effects are known to be important, however they fail to explain the extent or variation of diversity-productivity relationships. In the past 10 years, plant-soil feedback (PSF) has gained attention as potential driver of plant community assembly and productivity. However, PSF studies are fairly new and most PSF experiments have been performed in greenhouse conditions. Here we use field-measured PSF data to parameterize a newly developed spatially-explicit PSF model and compared predictions to growth observed in plant communities. More specifically, nine species were grown for a two-year conditioning phase and a one-year response phase in a fully factor ial PSF experiment, Jena, Germany.

PSF values varied from negative to positive for different species. Consistent with theoretical predictions, the species with the most positive PSFs were underrepresented in communities (i.e., underyielded). However, the presence of the legume, Trifolium repens, mitigated this effect. Our PSF model based on only biomass production of monocultures on different soil types, predicted the dominant species, however the model was less successful at predicting the abundances of less productive species. Despite poor predictions for rare species, the spatial PSF model outperformed a null version of the same model that did not include PSF effects. The spatial model, however, did not outperform the non-spatial PSF model. Because the spatial model limited contact among species to several adjacent individuals, the spatial model tended to decrease PSF effects. We suggest that the exclusion of demographic factors, such as germination rate, survival and plant-plant interactions such as competition for light may explain this pattern. Including demographic characteristics and resource competition of each plant species and their variations among and within plant species, is an important direction for future research.

Keywords: plant-soil feedback, diversity-productivity, plant community, spatial plant community model Email address: josephinegrenzer@gmail.com Advisor: A. Kulmatiski Funding Source: National Science foundation

LAZENBY K. Manipulating grouse populations: Translocation, reintroduction, and artificial insemination M.S student.

Many grouse species around the world are considered imperiled. As populations decrease managers often attempt intervention methods such as translocations to arrest declines, increase numbers, or reestablish populations. Past grouse translocation projects have lacked intensive monitoring efforts necessary to provide key learning processes and adaptive management. To date, no published studies provide assessment of both the translocated and source populations. For those few projects that were monitored, often

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reproductive efforts, success, and survival of translocated females has been relatively low, especially the first breeding season post-translocation. We are currently participating with other partners to help develop protocols for sage-grouse translocations. Three different projects dealing with imperiled populations are occurring simultaneously in south-west North Dakota, west-central Utah, and the Bi-State population in California. All three studies are incorporating 1) population vital rate monitoring of the translocated and source populations, 2) artificial insemination of a sub-sample of translocated females with control, and 3) soft-release methods using remote release boxes. We propose to translocate 20 male and 40 female greater sage-grouse from the Stewart Creek population near Rawlins, Wyoming to historical lek sites in south-west North Dakota for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. All translocated birds will be radio-marked, with 20 females receiving necklace-style VHF and 20 females receiving GPS-PTT harness-style radios. Males will be fitted with VHF harness-style radios. We will artificially inseminate 1/3 of translocated grouse and perform a sham treatment on 1/3 leaving 1/3 of the translocated population as a control group. In the season of 2018 we will also translocate broods after hatch in the early summer. Keywords: Sage Grouse; Translocation; Artificial insemination; Brood Translocations. Email address: kadelazenby@gmail.com Advisor: D. Dahlgren Funding Source(s): North Dakota Game and Fish, Wyoming Game and Fish, USGS

OWEN, M.L. Native species establishment in an invaded salt desert shrubland: Effect of

soil type and weed control. M.S. student. In salt desert shrublands of the Great Basin, exotic annual plants have displaced native species. The low productivity and recruitment of these systems leaves them with limited resilience in the face of compounding, novel disturbances. Abiotic changes and shifting feedback mechanisms necessitate active restoration to restore function of ecosystem services. But restoration success often is very limited, and novel approaches are needed. First, I will experimentally modify soil surface conditions and reduce exotic species seed inputs as a precursor to facilitating establishment of native, perennial species. Second, I will test how differing levels of biological soil crust development influence the effectiveness of three methods of re-establishing native species: broadcast seeding and fall planting of seedlings and spring planting of seedlings. Experiments will be done in a degraded salt desert shrubland in southeastern Idaho, on salt-affected soils. I conducted soil and vegetation surveys in the summer of 2017 to identify appropriate field sites. In my first experiment, I will apply mechanical litter removal vs. no removal and glyphosate vs. no glyphosate in a factorial design to plots drill-seeded with a native species mix (four grasses, one shrub and one forb). Each of the four treatments will be replicated four times. Cover will be measured for seeded and exotic species. In my second experiment I will test three planting techniques (broadcast seeding vs. spring planting of seedlings vs. fall planting of seedlings) in areas of high vs. low crust development within an area of intact shrub cover. This 3 x 2 factorial design will be applied to each of four native species (three grasses and one forb). Survival and density will be assessed for all species.

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My results will demonstrate the effectiveness of these techniques for exotic annual suppression and re-establishment of native species in salt desert shrublands. Keywords: cheatgrass, restoration, salt desert Email address: merranowen@gmail.com Advisor: K. Veblen Funding Source: Bureau of Land Management

WALDEN, X.M. Evaluation of Utah’s predator control program. M.S. student. In 2012, Utah legislature passed two bills that allocate funding for the predator control program. This program, also known as a bounty, provides cash incentives for lethal removal of coyotes (Canis latrans) by members of the public. The ultimate goal of this program is to increase mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) productivity via reductions in coyote numbers. Participants must follow the program policies, which include taking an online education course, submitting samples of coyotes to the Utah Division of Wildlife, and recording accurate GPS locations of where coyotes are taken. The goal of this study is to determine if the program is meeting its stated goals. Specifically, I will evaluate whether the public has removed more coyotes in Utah because of the program, relative to coyote take before the bounty, and if the removals spatially match mule deer fawning grounds. Results of this study will be used to inform future management decisions for the bounty program. Keywords: Predator Control Program, Bounty, Coyote, Mule Deer, Predator-Prey Relationship Email address: xwalden@utah.gov Advisor: J. Young Funding source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

ZIMMER, S.N. A vegetation inventory of the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation.

M.S. student. Like many American Indian Reservations, the Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, in eastern Utah’s Uinta Basin, is poorly understood ecologically. The 1 million acres controlled by the Ute Tribe have not been researched scientifically, and access to outsiders is highly restricted. In this study I will complete cattle stocking rate surveys on 300,000 acres of unsurveyed Reservation lands, conducting standard vegetation sampling protocols to determine annual production by species, percent cover, species composition, and ecological site. Transects will be randomly generated, stratified by unique soil map units. I will compile these vegetation data with existing stocking rate surveys conducted on 700,000 acres of Reservation lands by the Bureau of Indian Affairs from 2010-2015.

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This substantial and unique dataset will provide valuable information that can be used to address many natural resources and ecology questions, and help guide the management of cattle production and wildlife on this understudied Reservation. For my thesis I will use these data to address two objectives. First, I will assemble a comprehensive report on grazing opportunities in the Reservation. This will allow the Ute Tribe and Bureau of Indian Affairs to make more informed grazing management decisions. Second, I will integrate these field-collected vegetation data with remotely-sensed satellite imagery, optimizing long term climate projections of forage quality, quantity and annual variability to the Reservation area in order to address future management challenges. Management of cattle and wildlife will change as climate changes, and forecasting these changes now will position the Tribe to more sustainably manage their land into the future. Keywords: Forage, grazing, Uintah and Ouray Indian Reservation, vegetation inventory. Email address: scottnzimmer@gmail.com Advisor: E. Schupp Funding Source(s): Bureau of Indian Affairs; NSF Research Traineeship

STOUT, C.J. Linking vertical and horizontal vegetation structure to determine the

extent and distribution of Canada lynx habitat using Forest Inventory and Analysis data. M.S. student.

The Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is a federally threatened species that is limited by the distribution of its primary prey species, the snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus). Southern Colorado is the southern edge of the range for both species and habitat is a limiting factor for survivability. Two of the major limitations in habitat monitoring are time and funding. Using data that has already been collected is a great way to save both. The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is a national program with plots that are evenly distributed across the country, re-measured a minimum of once every ten years, and strictly quality controlled. Each plot represents 6000 acres (2428 ha), and a wide range of variables are collected at each plot. One of these variables is the percent cover of vegetation. Dense horizontal vegetation cover is one of the major factors in characterizing suitable lynx habitat, and is typically measured in a separate survey using Eco plots. My research will determine whether vertical structure attributes collected on the FIA plots is related to cover metrics used to characterize the suitability of potential lynx habitat. I will test this hypothesis by surveying FIA plots in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forests that have been measured in the last five years for variables related to the suitability of lynx habitat and presence of snowshoe hares. Once the link between cover metrics has been established, I will then be able to determine the scope of inference, or the extent to which results can be extrapolated to a larger landscape. Specifically, I will use non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) ordination to test the null hypothesis that the structure and composition of high-elevation forests in the GMUG do not vary significantly from those distributed across the Intermountain West. Keywords: Vegetation cover; Canada lynx; Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA)

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Email address: distractedbynature@hotmail.com Advisor: J. Burton Funding Source: USDA Forest Inventory and Analysis program

TAMJIDI, J. Long term effects of fire on soil enzymes and soil hydrological properties

in the Sierra Nevada, California, USA. Ph.D. student. Fires can cause major changes in the soil properties in many forest types. Although many researchers have studied the effect of fire on microbial biomass, there is a limited number of researches focused on the impacts of fire on soil enzyme activities and the relationships between the soil enzyme and the soil hydrological properties. Generally, infiltration rate in undisturbed forest environments is high. Wildfires may significantly influence soil physical properties including porosity, texture, water holding capacity, and infiltration rate. These effects can last from a single season to many decades, depending on the fire severity, rate of recovery as affected by natural conditions, post-fire use, restoration, and rehabilitation actions. The objectives of this study are: (1) Examining the differences in soil infiltration rates, (2) Measuring and comparing the soil enzyme activities, and (3) Exploring the relationships between the soil infiltration and enzyme activities before and after a wildfire. To conduct the study, soil samples (0–10 cm) from Yosemite Forest will be collected from adjacent unburned and burned microsites, five years after a wildfire occurrence. Three enzymes specific for carbon (C), phosphorus (P), and nitrogen (N) sources will be examined (acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, and urease). We predict that C, N and P increase immediately after the wildfire occurrence, and that they then decrease to a level lower than in unburned soil. Infiltration rates may be changed due to the presence of ash on the soil surface. We expect that urease and acid phosphatase activities will decrease compared to activities in unburned soil. Moreover, β-glucosidase will be slightly different comparing unburned and burned plots. The outcomes of this study may provide a comprehensive understanding of possible wildfire effects on soil patterns. The outcomes of the study may be beneficial for the long-term forest management purposes. Keywords: Wildfire; Infiltration; Soil enzymes. Email address: jelveh.tamjidi@aggiemail.usu.edu Advisor: J. Lutz Funding Source(s): Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Ecology Center

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GRADUATE RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM Schedule at a Glance Friday, April 13, 2018

A.M. 8:15 Opening Social 8:30 Opening Remarks 8:45 BLEKE, Cole – 1st Year Student, M.S. 9:00 BIDNER, Robert – 1st Year Student, M.S. 9:15 DELAHOUSSAYE, Leah – 1st Year Student, M.S. 9:30 FOX, Scott – 1st Year Student, M.S. 9:45 GUEVARA, Raúl David – 1st Year Student, M.S. 10:00 SCHWABEDISSEN, Justin – 1st Year Student, M.S. 10:15-10:30 Morning Break 10:30 ROHDE, Ashley – 2nd Year Student, Ph.D. 10:45 BRICE, Lainie – 1st Year Student, Ph.D. 11:00 HERSEY, Kent – 1st Year Student, Ph.D. 11:15 KOUTZOUKIS, Sofia – 1st Year Student, Ph.D. 11:30 BEERS, Aidan – 1st Year Student, Ph.D. 11:45 LANDRY, Stephanie – 1st Year Student, Ph.D. 12:00-1:00 Lunch (on your own) P.M. 1:00 LAGRANGE, Sebastian – 4th Year Candidate, Ph.D. 1:15 FORERO, Leslie – 4th Year Student, Ph.D. 1:30 COTTERILL, Gavin – 3rd Year Candidate, Ph.D. 1:45 SPACKMAN, Casey – 3rd Year Student, Ph.D. 2:00 SMITH, Lacy – 2nd Year Student, Ph.D. 2:15 GRENZER, Josephine – 3rd Year Student, Ph.D. 2:30-2:45 Afternoon Break 2:45 LAZENBY, Kade – 2nd Year Student, M.S. 3:00 OWEN, Merran – 1st Year Student, M.S. 3:15 WALDEN, Xaela – 1st Year Student, M.S. 3:30 ZIMMER, Scott – 1st Year Student, M.S. 3:45 STOUT, Claudia – 1st Year Student, M.S. 4:00 TAMJIDI, Jelveh – 1st Year Student, Ph.D. 4:15 Concluding Remarks 5:30 Evening Social – The Italian Place, 48 Federal Avenue, Logan