v o l u m e 1 5 • n u m b e r 3 • 2 0 0 7 A “Who’s Who” of Bats Lichens in Yellowstone National Park Who Are Yellowstone’s Backcountry Users? Yellowstone Denied NPS/HARLAN KREDIT A backcountry campsite (since removed) on the southeast arm of Yellowstone Lake, 1976. Celebrating the Less Noted HIS ISSUE OF YELLOWSTONE SCIENCE highlights a Lichens are partnerships of algae and fungi, and Sharon few less-noted park species, visitors, and historical per- Eversman shares results from various studies on these often Tsonalities. To enjoy such species, one needs to stay up overlooked organisms in her article. Besides being of interest a little later or get up a little earlier, and look a little closer. To for their symbiotic system and their many colors and shapes, understand the preferences of a small subset of park visitors, their presence is an indicator of environmental condition. one must seek them out and ask a lot of questions. And to Tim Oosterhous et al. surveyed those who choose a dif- appreciate one of these eccentrics from Yellowstone’s past, one ferent experience than most of the park’s three million annual needs to delve a little deeper into Yellowstone’s history. visitors—overnight backcountry recreationists. The results of Doug Keinath’s article on bats delights us with some this social science study will be of interest to park managers in incredible photos of these nocturnal animals. Until recently, defining a typical backcountry user and what kind of experi- no one really knew which species occurred in Yellowstone, but ences they are seeking. at the prompting of the National Park Service Greater Yellow- Leslie Quinn invites us to explore a back corner of the stone Inventory and Monitoring Network, this comprehensive park’s past by reading Kim Allen Scott’s book, Yellowstone inventory was completed. Besides giving us a better understand- Denied: The Life of Gustavus Cheyney Doane. Doane strove ing of species richness, abundance, and distribution in Yellow- futilely throughout his life to gain the superintendency of the stone and Grand Teton national parks and Bighorn Canyon park and public recognition as the “discoverer” of Yellowstone. National Recreation Area, this study establishes a benchmark In Scott’s book, Doane may finally be getting his due. for future monitoring efforts and management actions. We hope you enjoy the issue. sharon E V ers M an a quarterly devoted to natural and cultural resources volume 15 • number 3 • 2007 TAMI BLACKFORD Editor MARY ANN FRANKE Associate Editor VIRGINIA WARNER Peltigera aphthosa, wet on the left (green) and dry on the right Graphic Designer (tan), is a species of lichen that lives in relatively moist habitats. CECILIA LAWSON Small dark spots on the top of the thallus contain cyanobacteria Assistant Editor which fix nitrogen. ARTCRAFT PRINTERS, INC. Bozeman, Montana Printer FEATURES 3 Yellowstone’s World of Bats A “who’s who” of bats in Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, and Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. Yellowstone Science is published quarterly. Douglas A. Keinath Support for Yellowstone Science is provided by the Yellowstone Association, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to serving Lichens in Yellowstone National Park the park and its visitors. For more information 14 about the association, including membership, Lichen species in the park, their distribution and roles, and or to donate to the production of Yellowstone Science, visit www.yellowstoneassociation.org what they can tell us about environmental conditions. or write: Yellowstone Association, P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. The opinions expressed in Yellowstone Science Sharon Eversman are the authors’ and may not reflect either National Park Service policy or the views of the Yellowstone Center for Resources. 20 Yellowstone’s Backcountry Experience Copyright © 2007, the Yellowstone Association This survey explores the importance to visitors of various factors for Natural Science, History & Education. For back issues of Yellowstone Science, please see related to their backcountry experiences in the park. www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/yellsciweb.htm. Tim Oosterhous, Mike Legg, and Ray Darville Submissions are welcome from all investigators conducting formal research in the Yellowstone area. To submit proposals for articles, to subscribe, or to send a letter to the editor, please write to the following address: DEPARTMENTS Editor, Yellowstone Science, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. You may also email: [email protected]. 2 News & Notes Yellowstone Science is printed on recycled paper with a soy-based ink. Do Pronghorn Eat Lichen? • Bison Held at and Released from Stephens Creek facility on the cover: 24 Book Review Pallid bat (A. pallidus). Yellowstone Denied, The Life of Gustavus Cheyney Doane Photo by Douglas A. Keinath. by Kim Allen Scott Leslie J. Quinn NPS/J I M P eaco NEWS & NOTES Do Pronghorn Eat Lichen? After reviewing research on prong- horn in Yellowstone dating back to During the nine winters that Yellow- 1924, the Caslicks found no reference stone National Park volunteers Dr. to pronghorn use of lichens. However, Jim and Edna Caslick have been doing biologists Allan Thomas and Roger Xanthoparmelia wyomingica. weekly ground surveys to map prong- Rosentreter of the Bureau of Land horn on their winter range, they’ve Management, Idaho State Office, often wondered what pronghorn could have reported that these vagrant (non- wild bison population while protecting be finding to eat on the open and attached) forms of lichens are common Montana’s brucellosis-free status. The almost bare-ground areas where they on windswept ridges and may be an five cooperating agencies operating feed. One winter, the Caslicks took extremely important winter forage for under the IBMP are the National Park a pronghorn’s eye view of the ground pronghorn. They also reported that one Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the and found that even in January and rumen (stomach) sample of a prong- Animal and Plant Health Inspection February, there’s lots of bright green horn wintering there was 51% lichen. Service, the Montana Department of lichen—combinations of fungus and They further reported that wildlife Livestock, and the Montana Depart- algae clumped together and living in biologists in the Bureau of Land Man- ment of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. harmony. Although hundreds of other agement and USDA Forest Service in Among the bison captured and kinds of lichens grow on rocks and in Nevada and New Mexico have used the shipped were 24 adult cows, 16 bulls trees, this particular lichen grows on presence of X. chlorochroa as an indica- under two years old, and 12 calves. bare ground in loosely attached lumps tor of excellent pronghorn range. Consistent with operation of the facil- that look like branched green coral, Please help us find out by reporting ity and actions called for under the popcorn size. pronghorn carcasses from which we IBMP, juvenile bulls may be held at Dr. Sharon Eversman of Montana might sample the stomach contents. the capture facility when they are not State University (see her article, page If you hear about or see a dead prong- considered to be a significant threat to 14) ran chemical tests on a sample and horn between Mammoth and Reese other animals or to personnel manag- identified it as probably “Xanthoparme- Creek (just west of the park’s bison ing the operation. At the facility, the lia wyomingica, (PD yellow) but very management facility), please phone bison were held, fed, and watered, then close to X. chlorochroa.” Dr. Eversman park wildlife biologist P. J. White at released on June 10. Rangers on horse- feels that pronghorn in Yellowstone 307-344-2442. back guided the herd around roadways may have the digestive enzymes to and developed areas until they reached handle this lichen during the winter. Bison Held at and Released the Blacktail area east of Undine Falls. P A On June 20, the park prepared to U from Stephens Creek Facility L S ch accept another mixed group of five U llery On June 8, Yellowstone National bison, consisting of a young bull, Park accepted 52 bison at the Inter- three cows, and a calf, which were also agency bison capture facility at Ste- outside the Yellowstone National Park phens Creek near Gardiner, Montana. boundary in the West Yellowstone The bison were captured by the area. The same transport and release Montana Department of Livestock strategy was used with this group. after a mixed group of approximately This adaptive management strategy 50 bison left the Cougar Meadows resulted from discussions between area and crossed the park boundary Yellowstone National Park and the into the West Yellowstone area. They Montana Governor’s Office and was were shipped to the Stephens Creek designed to address a unique set of facility, which is operated under the circumstances involving bison outside Interagency Bison Management Plan the park at that time of year. Future (IBMP). The IBMP is a cooperative instances will be handled case by case. plan designed to conserve a viable, Yellowstone Science 15(3) • 2007 Yellowstone’s World of Bats Taking Inventory of Yellowstone’s Night Life Douglas A. Keinath Figure 1. A Townsend’s big-eared bat (Corynorhinus townsendii) about to drink from the surface of a small pond. ELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK is known for diverse 200 little brown bats respectively (Bogan and Geluso 1999), and abundant wildlife. Ask the typical visitor about are some of the few places in the park where the paths of bats YYellowstone’s wildlife and you’ll hear glowing stories and humans regularly cross. about wolves, bear, bison, and elk, among others, but you are From such interactions, folks have long known that little not likely to hear much mention of bats.