Yellowstone Center for Resources 2009 Annual Report

Yellowstone Center for Resources

Introduction Yellowstone’s unique geological and biological resources inspired its creation as the world’s first national park in 1872. The National Park Service (NPS) is legally responsible for preserving, unimpaired, the park’s natural and cultural resources and values for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Yellowstone Center for Resources (YCR) works to fulfill these responsibilities for the resources we are mandated to manage and protect. Although dozens of researchers have studied Yellowstone’s charismatic megafauna and life in its unusual geothermal features, little is known about most of the thousands of species in the park. As a start in filling that gap, more than 125 volunteer scientists participated in the park’s first “bioblitz” during a 24-hour period starting on August 28, 2009. While the number continues to grow as additional specimens are identified in the lab, their fieldwork has resulted in the identification of more than 1,100 species, including 80 bird species and the discovery of a previously unreported graminoid, little ricegrass (Piptotherum micranthum). The University of Montana Archeological Field School inventoried several areas along the north shore of Yellowstone Lake. Archeological sites and hearth features in this area have been eroding as a result of water level changes, and portions of terraces above the lakeshore are expected to be disturbed during future utility work. In September, YCR staff arranged a two-day workshop to help park staff identify ways for Yellowstone to develop an effective tribal relations program and make the park a place that is welcoming to American Indian peoples and cultures. In addition to cataloging almost 68,000 items from the museum collections backlog, Heritage and Research Center staff processed 33 new accessions in 2009, including natural history specimens collected during the park’s first bioblitz, several early park souvenirs, and 42 bison mandibles. YCR staff began planning the 10th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem to be held October 11–13, 2010, at the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. The conference theme, “Questioning Greater Yellowstone’s Future: Climate, Land Use, and Invasive Species” was developed by the program committee after consultation with the park superintendent. In 2009, more than 100,000 nonnative lake trout were removed from Yellowstone Lake. The northern portion of the lake experienced a swarm of more than 800 earthquakes with magnitudes up to 4.1, the second such swarm in as many years. Many of the 218 known, established nonnative plant species continued expanding their ranges, and 1,825 hazardous trees were removed. The estimated population of grizzly bears in the GYE was 582, one year after the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service removed this population from threatened status under the Endangered Species Act. A large interagency operation moved bison back within the park and no bison had to be removed to meet brucellosis risk management goals in 2009. One bison was harvested outside the park in Montana by a licensed hunter. The population size was estimated at 3,300 during the summer of 2009. The year-end wolf population declined to 96 wolves with 11 of the 14 packs producing pups. The YCR’s partnerships and agreements with other federal and state agencies, academia, and public organizations continued to be critical to our successes in stewardship. The YCR also continued to benefit from the hard work of many volunteers and cooperators. Research Permit Office staff authorized almost 200 research permits to investigators from across the U.S. and foreign countries. For more information, readers may contact us at (307) 344-2203, visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/yell, or visit the Greater Yellowstone Science Learning Center website at www.greateryellowstonescience.org. Linda Mazzu Acting Chief, Yellowstone Center for Resources