Event Title
Habitat Prediction for Graham's Columbine, a Plant Species Endemic to Uintah County, Utah
Presentation Type
Oral and/or Visual Presentation
Presenter Major(s)
Natural Resource Management
Mentor Information
C. Griffin
Department
Biology
Location
Kirkhof Center 1142
Start Date
10-4-2013 12:00 AM
End Date
10-4-2013 12:00 AM
Keywords
Environment
Abstract
Geobotany describes the relationships of soil, bedrock, and groundwater to plant species occurrence. For exploration geologists, geobotany can be a useful tool to map substrata rich in economically desirable elements and minerals. Geobotany can also be a valuable resource in delineating and predicting habitat for species whose populations are in jeopardy. Graham's columbine (Aquilegia grahamii) is endemic to an oil-bearing shale member of the Green River Formation within Uintah County, Utah. Increasing threats of oil development within the Formation and its present listing of critically imperiled make conservation efforts necessary to increase the range of this species. I will map additional suitable habitat for Graham's columbine along outcrops of oil-bearing shale of the Formation in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. I expect to find habitat outside Uintah County that would be sufficient for the expansion of Graham's columbine, which would aid in future management of this species.
Habitat Prediction for Graham's Columbine, a Plant Species Endemic to Uintah County, Utah
Kirkhof Center 1142
Geobotany describes the relationships of soil, bedrock, and groundwater to plant species occurrence. For exploration geologists, geobotany can be a useful tool to map substrata rich in economically desirable elements and minerals. Geobotany can also be a valuable resource in delineating and predicting habitat for species whose populations are in jeopardy. Graham's columbine (Aquilegia grahamii) is endemic to an oil-bearing shale member of the Green River Formation within Uintah County, Utah. Increasing threats of oil development within the Formation and its present listing of critically imperiled make conservation efforts necessary to increase the range of this species. I will map additional suitable habitat for Graham's columbine along outcrops of oil-bearing shale of the Formation in Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. I expect to find habitat outside Uintah County that would be sufficient for the expansion of Graham's columbine, which would aid in future management of this species.