Kootenay National Park Research Articles

A study of the Hepaticae of Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada

A study of the Hepaticae of Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada

An arctic-alpine flora at low elevations in Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

An arctic-alpine flora at low elevations in Marble Canyon, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

Changes in forest fire frequency in Kootenay National Park, Canadian Rockies

Time-since-fire distribution analysis is used to estimate forest fire frequency for the 1400 km2 Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, located on the west slope of the Rocky Mountains. The time-since-fire distribution indicates three periods of different fire frequency: 1988 to 1928, 1928 to 1788, and before 1788. The fire cycle for the park was > 2700 years for 1988 to 1928, 130 years between 1928 and 1788, and 60 years between 1778 and 1508. Longer fire cycles after 1788 and 1928 may be due, respectively, to cool climate associated with the Little Ice Age and a recent period of higher precipitation. Contrary to some fire history investigations in the region, neither a fire suppression policy since park establishment in 1919, nor the completion of the Windermere Highway through the park in 1923 appear to have changed the fire frequency from levels during pre-European occupation. Spatial partitioning of the time-since-fire distribution was unsuccessful. No relationship was found between elevation or aspect and fire frequency. Key words: fire cycle, Rocky Mountains, climate change.

Oxygen- and sulfur-isotope geochemistry of acidic groundwater discharge in British Columbia, Yukon, and District of Mackenzie, Canada

The Paint Pots in Kootenay National Park (British Columbia) appear to derive the Fe, Zn, Pb, and [Formula: see text] contents of their water from sulfide mineralization in Lower and Middle Cambrian carbonates. The Fe, Zn, Ni, and [Formula: see text] contents of groundwater discharging into a tributary of Engineer Creek (Yukon) are likely derived from sulfide mineralization in Devonian or Ordovician black shales exposed in the area. The high Fe and [Formula: see text] contents of a natrojarosite deposit northeast of Fort Norman (Northwest Territories) are probably derived from pyritiferous Cretaceous shales in that area. Isotope analyses of water and of dissolved and precipitated sulfur species from these three sites where acidic, heavy-metal-bearing groundwater is being discharged revealed that between 38 and 74% of the oxygen used in the subsurface oxidation of metal sulfides is supplied by H2O molecules rather than by molecular (dissolved) oxygen. The available data also suggest that lower percentages of water oxygen in the secondary sulfates reflect increasing activity of Thiobacillus ferrooxidans or similar bacteria in the oxidation process.

Bats of Kootenay, Glacier, and Mount Revelstoke national parks in Canada: identification by echolocation calls, distribution, and biology

We studied the behaviour, echolocation calls, and distribution of bats in Kootenay, Glacier, and Mount Revelstoke national parks in British Columbia, Canada. Presented here are keys for identification of nine species of bats by their echolocation calls as rendered by two different bat-detecting systems. The species involved include Myotis lucifugus, M. evotis, M. volans, M. septentrionalis, M. californicus, Lasionycteris noctivagans, Eptesicus fuscus, Lasiurus cinereus, and L. borealis. The distribution of these species within the three parks was assessed by capturing bats in traps and mist nets and by monitoring of their echolocation calls. Most of the species exploited concentrations of insects around spotlights, providing convenient foci of activity for assessing distribution. Although most species of Myotis were commonly encountered away from the lights, Lasiurus cinereus in Kootenay National Park was only regularly encountered feeding on insects at lights. This species was not detected in Glacier National Park, and although we regularly encountered it in the town of Revelstoke, it was rarely encountered in Mount Revelstoke National Park. Another focus of bat activity was small pools in cedar forest in Mount Revelstoke National Park. This involved high levels of Myotis spp. activity at dusk as the bats came to the pools to drink.

The Ice River Complex, British Columbia, is Precambrian Basement

ABSTRACT The Ice River complex, in Yoho and Kootenay National Parks, consists of plutonic basement rocks of Precambrian age (Gussow and Hunt, 1959), brought to the surface in two thrust sheets as a result of the Rocky Mountain orogeny. The basement rocks consist of nepheline and sodalite syenite, paragneisses, and crystalline limestones, which unconformably underlie rocks of Upper Cambrian age. The strata immediately overlying the basement are dove-gray limestones containing boulders and pebbles of basement rocks, and locally have a thin basal conglomerate or grit. The limestones thin by onlap on basement topography (, ). In recent years, other workers have postulated carbonatites, magmatic differentiation, and liquid immiscibility for their origin (Gussow, 1977).2 The Ice River controversy is dealt with in detail, by documenting the evidence for the true age of the complex, and reinterpreting the data of others in the light of this evidence.

Contagious ecthyma in bighorn sheep and mountain goat in western Canada.

Contagious ecthyma (CE) is reported in bighorn sheep (Ovis c. canadensis) from several national parks in western Canada and in moutain goat (Oreamnos americanus) from Kootenay National Park, British Columbia. (This is the first report of CE in mountain goat.) Diagnosis was based on clinical signs, histopathology, transmission experiments and the demonstration of a proxvirus with the electron microscope. The infection was transmitted from wild to domestic goat, but not to domestic sheep. Most infections, some of them severe, were found in lambs and kids. Clinical signs of disease were similar to those seen in domestic sheep and goats. General body condition was poor and animals had difficulty feeding normally. All infected herds had prolonged contact with areas where salt was provided artificially (i.e., salt blocks, highways and campgrounds). Fewer infected sheep were observed annually when salt blocks were removed from Jasper National Park.

Trichuris oreamnos sp. n. from the Mountain Goat, Oreamnos americanus (Blainville), in British Columbia, Canada, and a Key to Trichurids in North American Ruminants

The new species, from the cecum of 2 mountain goats killed on Wardle Mountain, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada, is characterized by males with spicules 3.17 to 4.27 mm long which are acutely pointed, an ejaculatory duct which is longer than the vas deferens, and a spinous spicular sheath which has an expansion near its center. Females have a spinous vulva, not everted, a large expansion of the posterior vagina just before the uterine sphincter, and a nearly straight posterior portion. This constitutes the 5th species of Trichuris recovered from ruminants in North America, and a key is presented to facilitate differentiation of the 5 species. This paper is the result of a study of whipworms sent to the writer by Dr. W. M. Samuel, The University of Alberta, Edmonton 7, Canada. The worms were collected from the ceca of two mountain goats, Oreamnos americanus, killed on Wardle Mountain in the Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, Canada, by W. M. Samuel and J. Stelfox in 1972. Twentysix males and 45 females were recovered, 53 from one goat and 18 from the other. The worms had been preserved in alcohol and were in good condition, except for many missing anterior portions. Since the whipworms fit no known description, they are considered a new species, and the name Trichuris oreamnos is proposed for them. MATERIALS AND METHODS The whipworms were cleared in lactophenol for study and were measured by means of an ocular micrometer. Twenty-six adult male and female worms were studied and measured (Table I). Certain characters could not be seen in some specimens; for these, the averages are based on fewer than 26 measurements. Two females were cut to free their eggs; 25 were measured from each worm. Twenty-four male and 20 female characters were used to describe the species. All measurements are presented in microns unless stated otherwise. Trichuris oreamnos sp. n. (Figs. 1-4) Description Males Length of body, 38.6 to 59.0 mm; of anterior esophageal portion, 23.9 to 42.7 mm; of posterior Received for publication 27 September 1973. *Animal Parasitology Institute, ARS, Beltsville, Maryland 20705. portion, 13.3 to 20.5 mm. Anterior portion 240 to 310 wide at level of junction of esophagus and intestine; posterior portion 420 to 590 wide at level of junction of vas deferens and ejaculatory duct. Cuticular vesicles begin 540 to 740 from anterior end and extend 1.40 to 2.35 mm posteriad along edges of bacillary band. Spicule 3.17 to 4.27 mm long, proximal portion expanding into a flare 25 to 55 wide, whereas spicular shaft measures 15 to 25; distal end of spicule acutely pointed (Fig. 4). Testis originates near beginning of cloaca, 1.30 to 4.44 mm from posterior end of body; proceeds forward straight and uncurved 1.21 to 3.23 mm, then rapidly becomes tightly convoluted anteriad. Testis 10.3 to 16.5 mm long; at anterior end narrows and becomes straight to form vas efferens 0.40 to 1.04 mm long, which turns posteriad about level of beginning of intestine. Shortly after this turn, expands to form vas deferens, 2.37 to 5.02 mm long. Vas deferens with thin walls separated from ejaculatory duct by a variably sized constriction with heavily muscular walls 260 to 430 long. Ejaculatory duct with thick muscular walls, 7.32 to 11.51 mm long. Ratio of ejaculatory duct to vas deferens from 2.08 to 4.22:1. Cloaca 1.98 to 4.07 mm long; spicular pouch opens in dorsal wall of cloaca 1.02 to 3.29 mm from cloacal opening and proceeds anteriad a variable distance depending upon distance spicule is extruded. Everted spicular sheath 30 to 43 wide at cloacal opening, proceeds with a uniform width for a distance, then expands to a maximum width 80 to 140 wide. Sheath distal to expansion tapers to a diameter comparable to cylindrical portion proximal to expansion (Fig. 2). Sheath covered with spines past expansion. No sheath seen completely everted. Cloaca opens terminally or subterminally, on either side large caudal papilla, 15 to 20 wide.

Coccidia of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Western Canada.

A survey of coccidia in the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis. c. canadensis) in Alberta and Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, was conducted from the winter of 1967 to the spring of 1969. Ninety percent of 510 fecal samples examined were positive for coccidia. The species recovered, in order of prevalence, were Eimeria ovina (syn., E. arloingi) (56%), E. parva (35%), E. crandallis (34%), E. ahsata (33%), E. ninakohlyakimovae (19%), E. faurei (6%), E. intricata (5%) and E. granulosa (1%). Coccidiosis was not encountered in the field; however, evidence which suggests the magnitude of pathogenic infections is presented.

Helminths of the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in Western Canada.

Thirty-six Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep (Ovis c. canadensis), 33 from four areas in Alberta and 3 from Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, were examined for helminths. Data from these examinations were supplemented by examination of 462 fecal samples from the same areas.Seventeen species of helminths were recovered: 3 cestodes, Moniezia expansa and Wyominia tetoni and the cysticerci of Taenia hydatigena; and 14 nematodes, Capillaria sp., Marshallagia marshalli, Nematodirus archari, N. davtiani, N. maculosus, N. oiratianus, N. spathiger, Ostertagia circumcincta, O. occidentalis, Protostrongylus rushi, P. stilesi, Skrjabinema ovis, Teladorsagia davtiani, and Trichuris ovis. The records of Capillaria sp., Nematodirus maculosus, and Teladorsagia davtiani are apparently the first from bighorn sheep. Nine other records are new for bighorn sheep in Canada.Total numbers of helminths (excluding lungworms) per bighorn ranged from 36 to 8345. There was little variation in the prevalence or the relative abundance of the different species in the areas sampled.

The Paint Pots, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia—acid spring water with extreme heavy-metal content

The Paint Pots, a group of mineral springs in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia, produce acid water (pH = 2.5 to 3.5) with a high content of Fe, Zn, Mn, and Pb, derived from sulfide mineralization in the Cambrian rocks of the area. Oxidation of the Fe++ in the water and hydrolysis of the resulting Fe+++ produce a still lower pH in the water, a high redox potential, and a deposit of ferric (oxy) hydroxide. Less than half the available iron, approximately three-quarters of the manganese and zinc, and most of the lead are discharged into the Vermilion River. The strong dilution provided by the high flow rate of the Vermilion River prevents any serious pollution. A simple laboratory test shows that circulation of the acid spring water through crushed limestone will remove all the iron, introduce some oxygen, and reduce both the acidity and the redox potential to normal surface water values. Zinc, manganese, and lead are probably removed incompletely.

Observations of Rocky Mountain Goats on Mount Wardle, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

Observations of Rocky Mountain Goats on Mount Wardle, Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

Kootenay National Park, Canada

Kootenay National Park, Canada

Succinylcholine Chloride for Immobilization of North American Elk

Neuromuscular blocking action of succinylcholine chloride has been reported by Castillo and de Beer (1950). Buechner, et al. (1960) have discussed the use of succinylcholine chloride in immobilizing wild ungulates. The purpose of this paper is to report findings concerning doses of succinylcholine chloride suitable for immobilizing North American elk (Cervus canadensis). Charles Jonkel, Montana Department of Fish and Game, administered succinylcholine chloride to two penned Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus canadensis nelsoni Bailey) in March 1960, and kindly provided the authors with his results. We treated 101 free-ranging Rocky Mountain elk with this drug in Banff National Park, Alberta, and adjacent Yoho and Kootenay National Parks in British Columbia between June 1960 and December 1961. One of the 101 animals was treated twice and 10 escaped into the forest before the effect of the drug could be ascertained. Buechner, with E. Reade Brown, George Schrindel, and Ellis L. Bowhay of the Washington State Department of Game, and Jack Aldrich of the Weyerhaeuser Company, treated three free-ranging Olympic elk (Cervus canadensis roosevelti Merriam) and five trapped Rocky Mountain elk between September 1960 and February 1961.

A Lark Bunting in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

A Lark Bunting in Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

Notes on the Lodgepole Needle Miner, Recurvaria milleri Busck (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae), and Its Parasites in Western North America

The lodgepole needle miner, Recurvaria milleri Busck, was discovered in 1903 in the Yosemite National Park, California, and was described as a new species by Busck (1914). The infestation has persisted in that area, with irregular periods of abundance and scarcity. The latest heavy infestation was reported (G. R. Struble, in litt.) to have started in 1947, and has continued to intensify. The history of the outbreak to 1919 was reported by Patterson (1921).In 1942 a second important infestation was reported in the Banff National Park, Alberta. Details concerning the area of infestation and life-history notes were given by Hopping (1946). This infestation has continued to spread and has reached Yoho, Kootenay, and Revelstoke National parks.

Preliminary Report on the Birds and Mammals of Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

Preliminary Report on the Birds and Mammals of Kootenay National Park, British Columbia

Experiences with Treating Dwindling Water Supplies in Northwestern Minnesota

During the last few months most of you have undoubtedly been reading about the returning of North Dakota to the desert state in which it is supposed to have been at some time in the past. You have read of the efforts on the part of public works committees, governors, public officials of different capacities, and committees of all sorts in their attempts to secure public works money for the Missouri River Diversion project. You have heard of the rapidly lowering lake and ground water levels, the burning up of crops, and undoubtedly some of you have wondered what effect these conditions have had on some of your fellow-men in the waterworks industry. Unfortunately the state boundary lines do not entirely separate the conditions of one state from those of another, but there is an overlapping, and such is of course the case along the Red River of the North. In other words, portions of western Minnesota are facing the same problem as the eastern cities in North Dakota on the Red River. The rapidly dwindling river flows of the past few years have brought about some unusual conditions in a great many waterworks plants because of the tremendous concentration of pollution that has developed in very short periods of time. During the past winter, things happened that heretofore had been regarded as very improbable if not impossible. The cities of Wahpeton and Breckenridge deriving their water supply from the Ottertail river found their intakes high and dry one morning in December with a temperature close to 20 degrees below zero, and not much to do about it except to hope that in some way or other water might come down the river. This condition had been talked of in years prior to this, but from year to year nothing happened and it began to look as if nothing ever would happen. Last year was the first time in the history of their waterworks systems, that this condition came about. I shall not attempt to go into detail covering the unusual happenings that took place when several thousand