Research Needs and Opportunities at Great Basin National Park

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1 Research Needs and Opportunities at Great Basin National Park Gretchen M. Baker Ecologist and Research Permit Coordinator

2 Research Overview ~25-30 permits/year One-day to multi-year Researchers from all over the world

3 Why do Research in GRBA? Protected land (77,000 acres) with few human impacts Rare habitats Road to 10,000 feet Trail network Elevational gradient

4 Why do Research in GRBA? Shelter Nest Temperature refuge Forage

5 Types of Research

6 Case Study: NevCan

7 Case Study: Ohio State University 1 week each year for 12 years 6-12 profs/students each year 1 Ph.D dissertation, 3 masters theses, 7 peerreviewed journal articles, 7 newsletter articles, ~25 presentations

8 GRBA Research Needs We encourage a wide variety of research at Great Basin National Park and would like to establish more working relationships with universities, organizations, and agencies. Below is a short list of some of the information we would like to know at this point. We welcome your ideas for other research. Vegetation Bristlecone genetics, how related to other ranges Aspen/bristlecone regeneration in high elevation burned areas Evapotranspiration studies of vegetation types found in the park Relationship of junipers in park and in Spring Valley Plant regeneration after disturbances such as avalanches Tree line movement correlated to climate Does evidence from pack rat middens in the South Snake Range agree with broader vegetation patterns across the region? Using data from packrat middens can we predict vegetation changes with climate change? How is the vegetation in Snake Creek affected by the pipeline? Specifically can we detect differences in water use and production between cottonwood stands above and below the pipeline? Do the different riparian plants (trees, shrubs, forbs, rushes, etc.) utilize different water sources? Do riparian ponderosa pines directly utilize stream water? Are sagebrush restoration projects effective in restoring sagebrush plant communities? How do restored sagebrush communities differ from non-manipulated sagebrush communities? How does the success of different seeding strategies vary with site and year? Can we develop a seeding strategy so that we understand the probability of success and failure?

9 GRBA Research Needs Wildlife Bat foraging study Presence/absence and identification of any fish disease Annual and seasonal movements of fish Quantifying riparian birds Migratory bird surveys Studies of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and algae Invertebrate resources within the park and their interaction with vegetation Animal/habitat interactions and relationships Marmot genetics between isolated populations- Are there genetic differences between isolated populations of marmots? Visitor interactions/impacts with habitats and animals Is there evidence for historical presence of beaver in the Snake Range? What is the extent of interactions between bighorn and domestic sheep? Is there interchange between bighorn on the north and south snake range? Is there any influence of desert bighorn on bighorn in the Snake Range? How many mountain lions utilize the south snake range? What are the movement patterns and predation rates of mountain lions?

10 Air quality GRBA Research Needs (continued) Air pollution source tracking Climate on south and west sides of the park Water Comparison of intermittent/perennial stream habitats Water chemistry effects on aquatic life along a spatial scale Extent of current rock glaciers and change in size; glacial movement Cave hydrology Effects of vegetative changes on water table- How does the pipeline in Snake Creek affect hydrologic patterns? If we reduce vegetation biomass (trees) how does surface flow change? Fire Fire effects, especially on high altitude vegetation Effects of Strawberry Creek Fire (and Black Fire) on revegetation, wildlife, hydrologic processes Other Effective monitoring for restoration of roads and mines Tour impacts in Lehman Cave

11 GRBA Research Needs (continued) Cultural Resources Baseline CR survey inventory & condition assessment CR Sample survey of park to provide baseline knowledge (potential multi-agency for entire South Snake range) Develop GIS base predictive model for Human settlement/use pattern changes through time (Potential Multi-agency) Inventory cave & shelter sites assessment for potential to inform cultural paleo- ecology from Pack rat midden analysis, pollen samples, test excavation (Potential multi-agency) Identification & documentation of historic & ethnographic cultural landscapes Comprehensive inventory historic CR and condition assessment for management planning Paleo-ecology Pack rat midden analysis to inform resource availability Paleo-ecology (multi-disciplinary) to inform human use and manipulation of landscape through time & LONG TERM history of climate change (Potential multi-agency) Ethnographic use study /cultural landscape studies Consultation NA tribes is required for federal land use actions & management decisions Historic Resources Historic mine inventory & evaluation to develop context for protection &management Assessment vulnerability of cultural sites in climate change & fire regimes CR historic resources, rock art Prehistoric material procurement, use, transport studies to inform inter/intra- regional interactions (Potential multi-agency) Ethnographic & Landscape studies Ethno botanical Native American, Pioneer use and historic introduction history for non-native species (multi-disciplinary) Oral history and ethnographic identification of Cultural Landscapes NA Traditional Cultural Properties & Sacred sites (management category)

12 What GRBA Offers Logistics Free camping Occasional help in the field Showers Opportunity to share research findings via The Midden, the resource management newsletter of the park, available on the park website

13 How to Get a Research Permit at GRBA

14 Funding Opportunities Western National Parks Association (WNPA) research grants (up to $7,500 for one year) Climate change with lake cores Mercury studies Red fox studies Ethnography studies Great Basin Heritage Area Partnership grants Glacial mapping Park will write support letters

15 More Information