Natural Bridges National Monument Research Articles

Characterization and Comparative Analysis of Ancient Earthen Plasters from the American Southwest

ABSTRACT We have studied earthen plasters and wall materials from three ancient Native American sites in the American Southwest that include a twelfth-century, subterranean kiva used for textile production in Natural Bridges National Monument (Utah), a thirteenth-century, defensive, cliff dwelling at Montezuma Castle (Arizona), and a mid-fourteenth-century, puddled earth Great House at Casa Grande National Monument (Arizona). In each case, the data collected has been used to develop long-term preservation strategies and monitoring plans for each site. To understand the conservation issues, earthen materials were analyzed. Characterization included examination of BSE-SEM micrographs of polished thin sections prepared from a total of 36 samples from the three sites, and XRD of twelve samples. Research goals included: 1) determining the microstructure, micro-composition, porosity, mineralogy of aggregates and phases in the binding matrix for each sample; 2) reconstructing plaster technologies and their variation within and between sites, including material selection, preparation and application sequences, and; 3) identifying principal deterioration conditions and processes. Our findings support the idea that plaster materials were collected locally and manipulated to optimize their performance to suit the unique site conditions and needs of the ancient people using the structures.

Switch On the Night: Policies for Smarter Lighting

It was an August afternoon in 2003 when the lights went out on Broadway, and for that matter, throughout most of the Northeast, Midwest, and Ontario—a power blackout left 50 million customers in the dark overnight. Despite complaints about the inconveniences, the stranded commuters, and the food spoilage in restaurants and markets, many city dwellers were also awed; as evening came on, they gazed upward, and between the dark skyscrapers they could see something amazing—the starry night sky. The New York Times reported spontaneous stargazing gatherings in the usually electrified cities of the Northeast.

An Archeological Survey of Natural Bridges National Monument, Southeastern Utah. Janet L. McVickar, editor. 2001. Anthropology Projects, Cultural Resources Management, Intermountain Region, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Intermountain Cultural Resources Management Professional Paper No. 64. 413 pp.

An Archeological Survey of Natural Bridges National Monument, Southeastern Utah. Janet L. McVickar, editor. 2001. Anthropology Projects, Cultural Resources Management, Intermountain Region, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Intermountain Cultural Resources Management Professional Paper No. 64. 413 pp.

THE CYANOBACTERIAL FLORA OF MICROBIOTIC CRUSTS OF NATURAL BRIDGES NATIONAL MONUMENT, UTAH

Nagy, M. L. & Johansen, J. R.Department of Biology, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH 44118 USAWe examined the cyanobacterial flora of microbiotic crusts in two sites of Natural Bridges national Monument. Composite soil samples were subsampled, dilution plated on Z8 media, and incubated 3‐5 weeks. Cyanobacteria were characterized directly from plates, and isolations were made of all morphologically distinct strains. The cyanobacterial flora of soils of this site differed markedly from cyanobacterial floras observed elsewhere in the soils of the Colorado Plateau. Oscillatoriales were well represented, with Leptolyngbya (4 spp.), Microcoleus (3 spp.), Schizothrix calcicola, Phormidium rubroterricola, and Oscillatoria coerulescens all present. Coccoid cyanobacteria were notably absent, and heterocystous species were limited in number (only Scytonema javanicum and Calothrix elenkinii) and very rare. Nostoc species were unusually rare, and seen only in moistened soil samples. Tolypothrix was also seen in the moistened soils. Two especially interesting strains are likely new taxa. A Schizothrix morphospecies was recovered with distinctively constricted cells and a yellow‐brown calyptra that fits no description of Schizothrix or Leptolyngbya. An especially large form of Microcoleus vaginatus was found with a trichome width of 5‐9.6 m. Sequence of the 16S rRNA provides some evidence that both of these morphospecies may be distinct from other members in their genera.

Demography and Life History Characteristics of the Rare Kachina Daisy (Erigeron kachinensis, Asteraceae)

-Erigeron kachinensis is a rare endemic of the Colorado Plateau regions of southeastern Utah and southwestern Colorado. It occurs in small, isolated alcoves (recessed areas in canyon walls) at seeps arising along canyon walls in sandstone substrates. One hundred randomly selected individuals of E. kachinensis within each of six alcoves in Natural Bridges National Monument, San Juan County, Utah, were monitored for 5 yr (1990-1994). Survival of the 600 individuals was followed over the monitoring interval. Vegetative and reproductive parameters were assessed for the survivors each year. Mortality varied among the study alcoves and individual size-classes. Mortality was heavily concentrated in the smaller size-classes. Growth rate accelerated with increasing size-class. Survival rate also increased with increasing size-class. Plants are long-lived; however, longevity is still unknown since mortality was not observed in the largest size-class. Fecundity was greatest for the largest sizeclasses, yet over 80% of the annual seed production came from the three smallest size-classes due to abundance of individuals in these size-classes. Populations varied with respect to plant size and resistance to environmental stressors. Matrix analysis demonstrated a finite rate of population growth of 0.75. However, observed size-class distributions of the six study populations over 5 yr of observation have never been stable. Maintenance of viable populations of the Kachina daisy is dependent on management actions that minimize disturbances (natural or anthropogenic) in the fragile hanging gardens that support the species.

Biogeography of Invertebrates and Plants in Hanging Gardens of the Colroado Plateau

The field work portion of our research on the biogeography of invertebrates and vascular plants has been completed. The geomorphological, bumble bee pollinator and plant community models developed during the first two field seasons worked well when applied to new sites in Dinosaur National Monument (DINO), Canyonlands National Park CANY), Arches National Park (ARCH), and Natural Bridges National Monument (NABR). Our research objectives for the 1993 field season were to: (1) complete the survey of plant and insect communities of hanging gardens in DINO, ARCH, CANY, and NABR; and (2) determine the geographic distribution of endemic species identified and the level of endemism within and among parks; and (3) complete the Halls Creek area survey for hanging gardens in Capitol Reef National Park (CARE).

Man's Effects on Aquatic and Riparian Organisims in the Canyons of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and Natural Bridges National Monument

This is the third and final year of this project. In 1990 and 1991 we concentrated our efforts at Natural Bridges National Monument and Canyonlands National Park. In 1992, we performed work at Natural Bridges National Monument, and at Arches National Park. At Natural Bridges we sampled plant grids and small mammal grids along sections of canyon bottom containing or lacking a hiking trail to determine if the trail was influencing the distributions or abundances of plants or animals in the canyon bottom. We collected data in May and June. We sampled the area between Sipapu Bridge and Kachina Bridge (area containing the well used hiking trail), and an area about 3 kms long above Sipapu Bridge (area lacking a well used trail).

Die-Off of Utah Juniper Natural Bridges National Monument

Utah junipers (Juniperus osterosperma (forr.)) are the dominant trees in the landscape of the southwestern states (35 million hectares). In Utah, the pinyon-juniper woodland represents 28.6% of the vegetation and are an important part of the aesthetic value of the Utah national parks. Over the past several years, extensive foliar damage has occurred to Utah juniper, yet little foliar damage has been observed in Natural Bridges National Monument, Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Mesa Verde National Park and Colorado National Monument. The characteristic pattern is for the distal foliage to become chlorotic and die. Mortality progresses along twigs until whole branches or even the entire tree dies. The cause for the foliar damage is unknown. The loss of juniper trees in the national parks in southern Utah would have a dramatic ecological impact and would be an aesthetic blight in the parks. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the cause of the die-off of Utah junipers and suggest management options concerning the juniper die-off problem.

Die-off of Utah Juniper Natural Bridges National Monument

The pinyon-juniper woodland is a wide spread vegetation type in the southwestern United States that is estimated to cover from 30 to 40 million hectares. They pinyon-juniper vegetation provides a source of fuel, building materials, charcoal, pine nuts, christmas trees and folk medicines. About 80% of the acreage is grazed by livestock and wildlife. In Utah, this ecosystem is a large component (62,705 km2 or 28.6%) of the vegetation. Particularly in the Utah National Parks, the pinyon-juniper woodlands valued for their watershed, aesthetic and recreational values. Over the past several years extensive foliar damage to Utah juniper (Juniperus osterosperma (Torr.) Little) has been observed in the Natural Bridges National Monument. The characteristic pattern is for the distal foliage to become chlorotic and die. Mortality progresses along twigs until whole branches or even the entire tree dies. Reports of similar foliar damage has been reported in Canyonlands National Park, Arches National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado National Monument, areas near Cedar City in southwestern Utah and in eastern Nevada, which would indicate that the foliar damage is a widespread problem. The cause for the foliar damage is unknown. The loss of juniper trees in the national parks in southern Utah would have a dramatic ecological impact and would be an aesthetic blight in the parks. The purpose of this investigation is to determine the cause of the die-off of Utah junipers and suggest management options concerning the juniper die-off problem.

Human Effects on Aquatic and Riparian Organisms in the Canyons of Canyonlands and Arches National Parks and Natural Bridges National Monument

We made 1 trip to all three study sites to familiarize ourselves with the study areas and meet and discuss the project with the local Park Service personnel in charge of the project. While the canyon at Arches National Park was as we expected it to be, the canyons in Canyonlands and at Natural Bridges were quite different from other canyons in which we have worked. These later canyons were deeper, had steeper canyon walls, and had thicker vegetation than prior canyons in which we have worked. The tall canyon walls shade the canyon bottom creating great differences in temperature/light/moisture levels over very short distances. The vegetation can change radically just by going around one bend in the canyon bottom. The heterogeneous nature of the habitats in these deep canyons require us to subsample to a much greater degree than we proposed in the original proposal. The local Park Service staff had already anticipated this problem and had suggested in their review of our proposal that we subsample to a greater degree. We have taken our original sampling scheme and broken it into a series of smaller subsamples to solve the problem of heterogeneous habitat types in each treatment type (i.e., area with road, area with trail, etc.).

Summary of Research Activities within the National Park Service Areas Cooperating with the U.W.-N.P.S. Research Center, 1987

This section contains a summary of research activities within the National Park Service areas cooperating with the U.W.-N.P.S. Research Center, 1987 including Badlands National Park, Big Hole National Battlefield, Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Bryce Canyon National Park, Arches National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Natural Bridges National Monument, Capitol Reef National Park, Custer Battlefield National Monument, Dinosaur National Park, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, Glacier National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Grand Teton National Park, Grant-Kohns Ranch National Historic Site, Jewel Cave National Monument, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site, Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Wind Cave National Park, Yellowstone National Park and Zion National Park.

Extinct mountain goat ( Oreamnos harringtoni) in Southeastern Utah

The extinct Harrington's mountain goat ( Oreamnos harringtoni Stock) is predominantly known from dry cave localities in the Grand Canyon, Arizona, in addition to two sites in the Great Basin, Nevada, and from San Josecito Cave, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. A dry shelter in Natural Bridges National Monument, on the central Colorado Plateau, southeastern Utah, preserves numerous remains of the extinct mountain goat in addition to pack rat middens. Remains from a 100-cm stratigraphic profile indicate that O. harringtoni lived on the plateau >39,800 yr B.P., the oldest directly dated find of extinct mountain goat. Plant macrofossils indicate that Engelmann's spruce ( Picea engelmannii), limber pine ( Pinus flexilis), rose ( Rosa cf. woodsii), and Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii) grew during the late Pleistocene where a riparian and a pinyon-juniper ( Pinus edulis-Juniperus osteosperma) community now predominates; Douglas fir are found only in mesic, protected, north-facing areas. Limber pine, Douglas fir, bark, and grasses were the major dietary components in the dung. A springtime diet of birch ( Betula) is determined from pollen clumps in dung pellets.

Performance of Experimental Terrestrial Photovoltaic Modules

During the years 1977-1980, MIT Lincoln Laboratory (LL) placed over 11 000 photovoltaic (PV) modules at experimental PV power generating systems in a number of field test sites in the United States. Prominent among these are a 100 kW system at Natural Bridges National Monument in Utah, a 25 kW system at Mead, Nebraska, and a 15 kW system at Bryan, Ohio. The modules used in each of these systems were procured through the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Large Scale Procurement Program as part of the US Department of Energy's National Photovoltaic Program. Through a program of periodic surveillance, measurements, and inspections at the aforementioned sites, over 320 electrically failed modules have been located, removed, and analyzed during this 4-year period. The principal causes of failure were: 1) cells cracked due to weathering or internal module stresses; 2) failed solder joints; 3) interconnects not soldered to rear sides of cells at assembly; 4) cells or interconnects electrically shorted to metallic substrates; and 5) broken or split interconnects. Details and photographs of many of the different types of failures are presented and some of the analysis techniques used to locate the failures are described.

Effects of Livestock Grazing on Infiltration and Erosion Rates Measured on Chained and Unchained Pinyon-Juniper Sites in Southeastern Utah

Effects of Livestock Grazing on Infiltration and Erosion Rates Measured on Chained and Unchained Pinyon-Juniper Sites in Southeastern Utah