christmas mountains research symposium 2018

CHRISTMASMOUNTAINSRESEARCHSYMPOSIUM

2018

TerlinguaRanchHeadquartersBrewsterCounty,Texas

May21–23,2018

SponsoredbytheTexasStateUniversitySystem,theTSUSFoundation,andtheTexasStateUniversityDepartmentofBiology

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TerlinguaRanchHeadquarters

BrewsterCounty,TexasMay21st–23rd,2018

Monday,May21st5:00pm Informalsocialformeetingparticipantsonthepatiobythecafé6:00pm DinnerformeetingregistrantsattheBadRabbitCafé(buffetavailableforattendeeswhodid

notpreregister,$11)Tuesday,May22nd8:30am FieldtriptoChristmasMountainsoverlook(meetintheparkinglotoutsidethebunkhouse)1:00pm Papersession(inthebunkhousebeneaththeBadRabbitCafé)4:30pm Smallmammaltrappingfieldtrip,part1(meetintheparkinglotoutsidethebunkhouse)6:00pm DinnerformeetingregistrantsattheBadRabbitCafé(buffetavailableforattendeeswhodid

notpreregister,$16)Wednesday,May23rd8:30am FieldtriptoChristmasMountainsoverlook(meetintheparkinglotoutsidethebunkhouse)8:30am Smallmammaltrappingfieldtrip,part2(meetintheparkinglotoutsidethebunkhouse)8:30am Geologystroll(meetonthepatiooutsidethecafé)1:00pm Afternoonpapersession(inthebunkhousebeneaththeBadRabbitCafé)6:00pm DinnerformeetingregistrantsattheBadRabbitCafé(buffetavailableforattendeeswhodid

notpreregister,$16)

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FIELDTRIPS

ChristmasMountainsOverlookTripleader:DaveLemkeTuesdaymorningat8:30–meetintheparkinglotoutsidethebunkhouseParticipantswillcarpooluptheOldMineRoadtoascenicoverlookattheroad’send.WewillmakeseveralstopsalongthewaytoexaminethegeologyandvegetationoftheareaandtotakeinviewsoftheRosillosMountainsanddesertflatstotheeastandtheChisosMountainstothesoutheast.Theoverlook,atanelevationofapproximately1640m(5370ft),providesstunningviewsoftheregiontothesouthandwest,andparticipantswillhavetheoptionofmakingtheshortbutruggedhiketothesummitat1746m(5728ft).PleasenotethattheOldMineRoadrequireshigh-clearancevehiclesand,consequently,thenumberofparticipantsonthistripwill,ofnecessity,belimitedbythenumberofvehicleswehaveatourdisposal.SmallMammalTrappingTripleaders:ScottWalterandLeahCuddebackTuesdayafternoonat4:30/Wednesdaymorningat8:30–meetintheparkinglotoutsidethebunkhouseTheTrans-Pecosishometoavarietyofsmallmammalsuniquetoitsdryandruggedlandscapes.OnTuesdayafternoonwewillsetover100smallShermantrapsandahandfulofmedium-sizedTomahawktrapsinafewlocationsontheeastsideoftheChristmasMountains.OnWednesdaymorningwewillcheckthetrapsandparticipantswillhaveachancetoobservethecapturesupclose,whichcouldincludetheMerriam'skangaroorat(Dipodomysmerriami),Nelson'spocketmouse(Chaeotodipusnelsoni),andthesilkypocketmouse(Perognathusflavus).Settingandcheckingtrapswillonlyentailshortwalks,butoccasionallyupanddownsteepslopes.Plantocarryatleastaliterofwaterwithyou.ChristmasMountainsOverlookTripleader:DaveLemkeTuesdaymorningat8:30–meetintheparkinglotoutsidethebunkhouseParticipantswillcarpooluptheOldMineRoadtoascenicoverlookattheroad’send.WewillmakeseveralstopsalongthewaytoexaminethegeologyandvegetationoftheareaandtotakeinviewsoftheRosillosMountainsanddesertflatstotheeastandtheChisosMountainstothesoutheast.Theoverlook,atanelevationofapproximately1640m(5370ft),providesstunningviewsoftheregiontothesouthandwest,andparticipantswillhavetheoptionofmakingtheshortbutruggedhiketothesummitat1746m(5728ft).PleasenotethattheOldMineRoadrequireshigh-clearancevehiclesand,consequently,thenumberofparticipantsonthistripwill,ofnecessity,belimitedbythenumberofvehicleswehaveatourdisposal.

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GeologyStrollTripleader:JimChudeWednesdaymorningat8:30–meetonthepatiooutsidetheBadRabbitCaféJoinJimChudeforashorthiketotheoverlookeastoftheheadquartersareawherehewillprovideanintroductiontosomeofthemajorsedimentaryrockformationsandigneousintrusionsthatcharacterizethegeologyoftheChristmasMountainsarea.Thehikewillinvolveashort,mostlyuphilltrekoveragravelroadanddirtpath,aswellasthepossibilityofsomescramblingoveropen,rockyareas.Thisisamoderatelyeasyhike,althoughsinceweareinthedesert,plantocarryatleastaliterofwaterwithyou.

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2018CHRISTMASMOUNTAINSRESEARCHSYMPOSIUM

Tuesday,May221:00 WelcomeandIntroductions1:15 AnintroductiontotheChristmasMountains–asiteforeducationandresearch DavidE.Lemke,TexasStateUniversity1:30 InventoryandanalysisofArbutusxalapensisinTexas:geospatialandsoildata MirandaGilbert,SulRossStateUniversity1:45 CactaceaeinthevicinityoftheChristmasMountains,BrewsterCounty,Texas JimWeedin,SulRossStateUniversity2:00 Mescalinecontentinover-the-counteranti-rheumaticspresumedtocontainpeyote(Lophophora

williamsii) RobertLeBlancandMartinTerry,SulRossStateUniversity2:15 Interactiveeffectsoffire,drought,andsoilfertilityonherbaceouscommunitiesinasemi-aridsavanna HeatherJ.Hannusch,WilliamE.Rogers,andSaschaLodge,TexasA&MUniversity,andDougTolleson

andHeathSterns,TexasA&MAgriLifeResearchStation–Sonora2:30 Break3:00 Asurveyofinsectpollinatordiversityandotherassociatesonsaltcedar(Tamarix)andnativeplant

species,usingcoloredpantraps,alongtheRioGrandeinPresidioCounty,Texas AlexandriaM.HassenfluandChristopherM.Ritzi,SulRossStateUniversity3:15 Surveyandnaturalhistoryofbeeflyparasitoids(Diptera:Bombyliidae)ofnativebeesandwaspswithin

BrewsterandJeffDaviscounties,Texas LaurenG.GarrettandChristopherM.Ritzi,SulRossStateUniversity3:30 Ahistoricalandpreliminarysurveyofthefreshwaterbivalves(Mollusca,Unionidae)ofnorthern

Coahuila,Mexico MaryP.Jones,HowardCollege,NedE.Strenth,AngeloStateUniversity,andRobertG.Howells,

Biostudies3:45 Gastropodsontheedgeofextinction:latestMiddlePermiangastropodsfromGuadalupeMountains

NationalPark,Texas RebeccaPercoco,SulRossStateUniversity4:00 CombatinglightpollutionintheBigBend AmberHarrison,TexasParksandWildlifeDepartment

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Wednesday,May231:00 Abriefoverviewofplant-basedsubsistenceintheBigBendofTexas TimGibbs,TexasParksandWildlifeDepartment1:15 Howdoesyourgardengrow:strengtheningthefoodwebofthedesertborderlands JennySchooler,TerlinguaCommunityGarden1:30 Waterrelationsinthedesertresurrectionplant,Selaginellalepidophylla FrankHorne,TexasStateUniversity1:45 Influenceofblack-tailedprairiedogsontheabundanceofsmallmammalsintheMarathonBasin,Texas JulieR.Schmidt,CullomS.Simpson,ThomasS.Janke,andWhitneyJ.Gann,SulRossStateUniversity2:00 Break2:15 Beetles,weevils,andscales,ohmy!MonitoringofthreebiocontrolsforsaltcedarinTrans-PecosTexas

andsoutheastNewMexico ChristopherM.RitziandAlexandriaM.Hassenflu,SulRossStateUniversity2:30 AreviewofthecurrentstatusoftheRioGrandeMonkeyface(Quadrulacouchiana;Bivalvia,Unionidae)

fromTexas,NewMexico,andnorthernMexico NedE.Strenth,AngeloStateUniversity,MaryP.Jones,HowardCollege,andRobertG.Howells,

Biostudies2:45 Movementpatternsoftheredswampcrayfish(Crustacea:Decapoda)intheSouthConchoRiverof

west-centralTexas MichaelLuceroandNedE.Strenth,AngeloStateUniversity3:00 GeologicfieldandremotesensingstudiesoftheChristmasMountainscomplex JoshuaKrnavek,TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville3:15 Break3:30 AssessingthestructuralhistoryoftheChristmasMountainsinrelationtothegreaterTrans-Pecosregion VeronicaSanchezandJoshuaKrnavek,TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville3:45 GeomorphicchangealongasectionofAlamitoCreek KevinUrbanczykandDavidHallum,SulRossStateUniversity4:00 FaciesanddepositionalenvironmentsoftheLowerCretaceousPresidioFormation,CiboloCreekRanch,

PresidioCounty,Texas MahmoudMohamedandElizabethMeasures,SulRossStateUniversity4:15 AstudyofleucobandsintheWaxFactoryLaccolith,BigBendRanchStatePark,Texas OliviaEnriquezandKevinUrbanczyk,SulRossStateUniversity

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ABSTRACTS

TuesdayAfternoonIntroductiontotheChristmasMountains–asiteforeducationandresearchDavidE.Lemke,DepartmentofBiology,TexasStateUniversity,SanMarcos,TXThispresentationwillprovideabriefoverviewofthegeology,ecology,andhistoryoftheChristmasMountainspropertyfromitsinclusionaspartofthemassiveG4RanchinthenineteenthcenturytoitsrecenttransfertotheTexasStateUniversitySystem.Geologically,theapproximately4000hectarepropertyischaracterizedlargelybymarinesedimentaryrocksofCretaceousagethathavebeenintrudedbymuchyounger(44–40millionyearold)igneousrocksformingacomplexcalderasystem.Atpresent,theareasupportsawell-developeddesertgrasslandecosystemcomprisingseveraldistinctplantcommunitytypesandmayrepresentoneofthebest-preservedexamplesofChihuahuanDesertgrasslandintheState.Overthepastseveralyearsthepropertyhasbeenusedasafieldsitebyanumberofcollegeanduniversityclasses,aswellasaresearchsiteforbothstudentsandfaculty.PlansbytheTexasStateUniversitySystemtoenhancetheutilityofthesiteforeducation,outreach,andresearchwillbepresentedanddiscussed.InventoryandanalysisofArbutusxalapensisinTexas:geospatialandsoildataMirandaGilbert,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXArbutusxalapensis(TexasMadrone)isanuncommontreenativetotheChihuahuanDesertregion.Mixedreportsandsuccessratesoftransportation,propagation,andconservationacrossTexasimplytheneedforalarger-scalequalitativeandquantitativeanalysisofthefactorsthatinfluencemadrones.Thisprojectseekstocreateapublicaccessmulti-data-setinventorytounifyobservationsacrossTexasforlaterinterpretationandpractice.ThestartingobjectiveforthisprojectisdocumentationofgeospatialandsoildatarelativetoArbutusxalapensis.Geospatialdatamayincludeelevation,hydrologiczones,atmosphericconditions,andlocationcoordinates.Soildatamayincludemineralogy,provenance,andorganics.CactaceaeinthevicinityoftheChristmasMountains,BrewsterCounty,TexasJimWeedin,A.MichaelPowellHerbarium,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXTheCactusFamilyrepresentsoneofthemostdistinctiveplantfamiliesintheChihuahuanDesert.Approxi-mately120taxaofcactiareknowntooccurintheTrans-Pecosand,ofthose,40+taxaoccurinthevicinityoftheChristmasMountains.Thevariedgeologyoftheregionshouldprovidesignificantopportunityforecologicalnicheandbiogeographicdiversity.PolyploidymaybeasignificantfactorinOpuntiaandEchinocereus,withtheoccurrenceofhybridOpuntiaadistinctpossibility.

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Mescalinecontentinover-the-counteranti-rheumaticspresumedtocontainpeyote(Lophophorawilliamsii)RobertLeBlancandMartinTerry,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXThisstudyinvestigatedsamplesofcommercialover-the-counterproductsthatwerepurportedtocontainpeyote(Lophophorawilliamsii),avulnerableover-harvestedspeciesofcactus.ThepurposeofthisinvestigationwastoindicatethepresenceorabsenceofLophophorawilliamsiiintheproducts.Sampleswereextractedwithorganicsolventandacid-basewashedtoremoveimpurities.Thealkaloidswerethenseparatedthroughsilicagelpreparatorycolumnsandanalyzedwithhighpressureliquidchromatography(HPLC)andmassspectrometry(MS).Thishasindicatedthepresenceorabsenceofthestableandabundantalkaloidmescaline(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenethylamine)insamplesofostensiblyLophophorawilliamsii-infusedoils,gels,andointmentsthatweredistributedastopicalremedies.Ifdetectablelevelsofmescalinewerefoundinagivenextract,thenitwasinferredthatLophophorawilliamsiiwaspresentinthecorrespondingtopicalproduct.ResultsfromtheHPLCandMSanalyseswillbepresentedanddiscussed,aswellastheimplicationsforconservation.Interactiveeffectsoffire,drought,andsoilfertilityonherbaceouscommunitiesinasemi-aridsavannaHeatherJ.Hannusch1,WilliamE.Rogers1,SaschaLodge1,DougTolleson2,andHeathSterns2,1DepartmentofEcosystemScienceandManagement,TexasA&MUniversity,CollegeStation,TXand2TexasA&MAgriLifeResearchStation,Sonora,TXUnderstandingtheresponseofsavannavegetationtodisturbanceandalteredresourceconditionswillgainimportanceunderclimate-changeinducedmodificationstoprecipitationandnutrientcycling.Thisstudywillinvestigate1)howanherbaceouscommunitywithinasemi-aridsavannawillrespondtoprescribedfire,drought,andsoilfertility,and2)howthesefactorswillinteracttomediatethoseresponses.ThestudysiteisattheTexasA&MAgrilifeResearchStationontheborderoftheTrans-PecosandEdwardsPlateauregions(lat31°N,long100°W).Sixty-four5x5mgrass-dominatedplotshavebeenestablished.Eachoftheplotshasreceivedarandomlyassignedprescribedfiretreatment(burnedorcontrol),precipitationtreatment(rainfallexclusionorambient),andnutrienttreatment(Nadditionorcontrol),ina2x2x2fullfactorial.TheDrought-Net(www.drought-net.colostate.edu)protocolwillbefollowedtomonitorthedifferentialresponsesincommunitycomposition,primaryproductivity,andsoilpropertiesovertime.Comparisonsbetweentreatmentswillnotonlyenabletheidentificationoftheindependenteffectsoffire,drought,andsoilfertility,butwillalsodemonstratehowthesefactorsmayinteractinachangingclimate.WepredictthatspringfireswillincreasetherelativedominanceofnativeC4grasses(dormantattimeofburn).SimulateddroughtisalsoexpectedtoincreasetherelativedominanceofnativeC4grasses(thatarewell-adaptedtowaterlimitation)butdecreaseoverallbiomassproduction.Finally,nitrogenadditionisexpectedtodecreasespeciesrichnessbutincreaseoverallbiomassproduction.Theseresultswillprovideinsightsintohowmanagersandecologistscanusethefeedbacksbetweenprescribedfire,drought,andsoilfertilitytoachieveherbaceousmanagementgoalsandprotectsemi-aridsavannasystemsfromdegradation.

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Asurveyofinsectpollinatordiversityandotherassociatesonsaltcedar(Tamarix)andnativeplantspecies,usingcoloredpantraps,alongtheRioGrande,inPresidioCounty,TexasAlexandriaM.HassenfluandChristopherM.Ritzi,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXTamarixwasintroducedtoNorthAmericainthe1800sandhasbecomeanecologicaldilemmaduetoitsrapidspread.Manystudieshavelookedatthenegativeeffectsofsaltcedarfromanecologicalstandpoint,butnotspecificallyatitseffectsonpollinators.Aspartofthisstudy,acombinationofpantrappingandobservationaltechniques,supplementedwithsweepnettingandhandcapturingtechniques,wasusedtoassessthepollinatorsassociatedwithsaltcedarandnativeflora.Atotaloftwelvetrees,sixsaltcedarandsixnative,weremonitoredalongtheRioGrandeinPresidioCounty.Eachtreehadthreedifferentlycoloredpantrapsplacedatitsbasefor24hoursandwasobservedforpollinatoractivityfor15minutesatthetimeofpantrapplacement.SamplingbeganinAprilandwasconductedbiweeklyatthebeginningandendoftheprojectandweeklyduringthesummermonthsconcludinginNovember2016.Approximately6,816insects,belongingtoseventeenorders,werecollected,withHymenopterabeingthedominantgroup.AllspecimenswerereturnedtotheJimV.RichersonInvertebrateCollectionforsorting,pinning,andidentification.Statisticalanalyses,includingShannon-Weinerindices,wereruntodeterminethesignificanceofpantrapcolorandhostenvironmentoninsectcollection.Surveyandnaturalhistoryofbeeflyparasitoids(Diptera:Bombyliidae)ofnativebeesandwaspswithinBrewsterandJeffDaviscounties,TexasLaurenG.GarrettandChristopherM.Ritzi,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXBeefliesofthefamilyBombyliidaearepollinatorsandparasitoidsfoundtoparasitizenofewerthansixinsectorders.OverhalfofbeeflygeneraknowntoinhabitTexasexploitbeesandwasps.However,thespecificlifehistoriesofmanybombyliidgeneraandspeciesfoundwithinfarwestTexasareheavilylackingornon-existentindescription.Giventherecentriseinconcernforpollinatorsandnativebeepopulations,expandingknowledgeintobeeflylifecyclesandhostusagemayhelpilluminatesomeofthecomplexecologicalinteractionsandfluctuationswithinthesefragileinsectcommunities.ThisstudywasconductedtodeterminetheprevalenceanddiversityofbeefliesexploitinghymenopteranswithinBrewsterandJeffDaviscounties,usingtrap-nestsandsandpitstoattractlocalnestingbeesandwasps.Anovelpantrappingmethodwasalsoemployedtopotentiallyincreasebeeflycapturewithinourthreestudyareas:theChihuahuanDesertResearchInstitute,DavisMountainsPreserve,andTerlinguaRanch.Theresultsofapreliminarystudyusingthesamenovelpantrappingmethodologyin2017attheSulRossStateUniversityRanchandVineyard,willalsobediscussed.Ahistoricalandpreliminarysurveyofthefreshwaterbivalves(Mollusca,Unionidae)ofnorthernCoahuila,MexicoMaryP.Jones1,NedE.Strenth2andRobertG.Howells3;1HowardCollege,SanAngelo,TX;2DepartmentofBiology,AngeloStateUniversity,SanAngelo,TX;and3BioStudies,Kerrville,TX

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Multiplefactors,includingexcessivegroundwaterpumping,habitatalterationanddestruction,arethoughttohavecausedpopulationdeclinesofmultiplefreshwaterbivalvespeciesinTexas.Recently,therehasbeenanincreaseinfreshwatermusselresearchthroughoutTexasincludingintheRioGrandeanditstributaries.However,verylittleworkhasbeendoneintheRioGrandedrainagesofnorthernCoahuila,Mexico.AbaselineforthehistoricalstatusoffreshwatermusselpopulationsinnorthernMexicohasproveddifficulttoestablishduetothelackofstudiesorcollectionsfromthisregion.ThereareveryfewrecordsinthemalacologicalcollectionsofMexicoandtheUnitedStates.ThepurposeofthisstudyistoexaminethehistoricalrecordsoffreshwaterbivalvesofnorthernCoahuilaandevaluatelocalitiesforfuturesurveyefforts.RecentvisitstoseverallocalitiesontheRíoSanRodrigo,RíoSanDiego,RíoSabinas,andRíoSaladohaveshownpotentialhabitatforextantmusselpopulations.Evidenceofthesepopulationsincludesacombinationofbothlong-deadvalvesandwhatappeartobefresh-deadspecimensatvariouslocations.Shellmaterialfromthefollowingspecieshasbeenidentified:TampicoPearlymussel(Cyrtonaiastampicoensis),SalinaMucket(Potamilusmetnecktayi),TexasHornshell(Popenaiaspopeii),YellowSandshell(Lampsilisteres),TexasLilliput(Toxolasmatexasiense),Pondhorn(Uniomerusspp.),PaperPondshell(Utterbackiaimbecillis)andRioGrandeMonkeyface(Quadrulacouchiana).Futuresurveyeffortstofurtherelucidatethestatusoffreshwatermusselpopulationsareplanned.MaterialcollectedwillbedepositedinmajormuseumsinbothMexicoandtheUnitedStates.Gastropodsontheedgeofextinction:latestMiddlePermiangastropodsfromGuadalupeMountainsNationalPark,TexasRebeccaPercoco,DepartmentofBiology,GeologyandPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXAlargecollectionofmicro-gastropodswasrecoveredfromthelatestMiddlePermianageReefTrailMemberoftheBellCanyonFormationinGuadalupeMountainsNationalPark,westTexas.Thediverse,small(<5mm),silicifiedgastropodspreservefinedetailssuchasornamentationandprotoconchswhenexaminedunderascanningelectronmicroscope.Thechallengesofimagingthesedelicatespecimenswillbedemonstrated.CombatinglightpollutionintheBigBendAmberHarrison,TexasParksandWildlifeDepartment,BigBendRanchStatePark,TXBigBendRanchStatePark(BBRSP)wasdesignatedasanInternationalDarkSkyParkbytheInternationalDark-SkyAssociation(IDA)inOctober2018.ItisthefourthTexasstateparktoreceivethehonor,joiningneighboringBigBendNationalPark(BBNP),whichreceivedIDAaccreditationin2012.Together,theseparksformoneofthelargestcontiguousareasunderdark-skiesprotectionintheUnitedStates.Thisachievementisanimportantstepforwardintheconservationofsomeofthedarkestnightskiesremaininginthelower48states.AlongwithneighboringBBNP,wehavesecuredtheprotectionofnaturalnighttimedarknessoveranarealargerthantheU.S.stateofRhodeIsland.Thispresentationwillprovideanintroductiontotheinternationaldarkskymovementanditssignificancetoourcommunity.NightskydatarecentlycollectedatBBRSPandTerlingua/StudyButteprovidesabaselinebywhichtomonitorskyqualityovertimeandspaceaswecontinuedevelopandgrowinpopulationsize.ThisoverviewservestoinformthepublicaboutthedarkskyinitiativeandisacalltoactiontocombatlightpollutionintheBigBend.

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WednesdayAfternoonAbriefoverviewofplant-basedsubsistenceintheBigBendofTexasTimGibbs,TexasParksandWildlifeDepartment,BigBendRanchStatePark,TXHumanpopulationshaveoccupiedtheBigBendregionforatleast12,000years,andtheunderlyingsecretstothissuccesshaveonlybeenpartiallydecoded.ThistalkwillprovideabriefoverviewofregionalNativeAmericansubsistencepatternsanddiscusstheevidencethatsupportsourlimitedunderstandingofhowthesedesertspecialiststhrivedinthishostileenvironment.Howdoesyourgardengrow:strengtheningthefoodwebofthedesertborderlandsJennySchooler,TerlinguaCommunityGarden,Terlingua,TXThepeoplewhoresideinthesparselypopulatedcommunitiesinnearproximitytotheRioGrandeliveinadesert:theChihuahuanDesertthathasexistedovercenturiesandthefooddesertthathasformedoverthelastfewdecades.Thegreatchallengesoffoodproductioninthisregionhavebeenaddressedbythosepeoplewhocamebeforeus.Muchofthatknowledgeisgonebutsomepiecesremain,includingcentury-oldsurvivingcultivars.Thispresentationwilladdressouruniqueenvironmentandhistoryasitrelatestofoodproduction,provideinsightintoinnovativetechnologiesthatpreviousinhabitantstotheregionusedtoproducefood,highlightcurrentresearchintoexistingcultivars,andaddresshowmuchfartherwehavetogotosecureourlocalfoodweb.Waterrelationsinthedesertresurrectionplant,SelaginellalepidophyllaFrankHorne,DepartmentofBiology,TexasStateUniversity,SanMarcos,TXSelaginellaplants,oftenreferredtobytheircommonnameasresurrectionplantsorspikemosses,representanancienttaxonwithanalmostcosmopolitandistribution,theplantsoccurringinNorthandSouthAmerica,Asia,China,Japan,SouthAfricaandAustralia.OurcommonnativewestTexasspecies,S.lepidophylla,inhabitsdesertandsemi-desertregionssuchastheBigBendarea.Plantsgoinandoutofdormancybasedonwateravailabilitylikeotherpoikilohydricplants.Whenplantsdonotreceiveenoughwater,leavesrollintoatightbrownballandtheplantbecomestotallydormant.Oncedormantplantsencounteradequatemoisture,leavesopenup,turngreen,andtheplantstartstogrowagain.Becausedry,brown,balled-upplantstransformintoagreenleafyplant,Selaginellalepidophyllaiscommonlycalledthe“resurrectionplant.”Plantshydratewithinafewhours.Theleavesunfoldatrelativehumiditiesgreaterthan90%.Expansionoftheleavesdependsonhygroscopicmovementsandturgorpressureandwatercontentquicklyequilibrateswiththeenvironment.Respirationbeginsquicklyuponhydration,whereasphotosynthesisisdelayedfor5–6hours.Retoolingforphotosynthesisisapparentlymorecomplicatedthangearingupforrespiration.Photosynthesisrecoveryismaximumatabout25°C,muchslowerat15°Cor35°C.At45°Ctherespiratoryrateisgreaterthanthephotosyntheticrate–nocarbondioxidefixationoccurs.Theoptimumphotosynthetictemperaturerangeis20–32°C.Sucroseisthemostimportantphotosyntheticproduct,constituting5%ofdryweightoftheplant.Starchisabsentfromtheleaves.Photosynthesisandrespirationvirtuallyceaseoncedryingleavesaretightlyrolledinwards.Onrehydration,therespirationraterisesquickly,providingenergytorepairandretool

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chloroplastsforphotosynthesis.Thephotosyntheticratesfollowingrehydrationdeclinethelongerthedehydrationperiod.Influenceofblack-tailedprairiedogsontheabundanceofsmallmammalsintheMarathonBasin,TexasJulieR.Schmidt,CullomS.Simpson,ThomasS.Janke,andWhitneyJ.Gann,BorderlandsResearchInstitute,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXBlack-tailedprairiedogs(Cynomysludovicianus)playavitalroleingrasslandecosystems.Theyalterthelandscapethroughsoilaeration,seeddispersal,andgrazingvegetation.InMay2017,Shermanlivetraps(n=108)wereusedtotrapsmallmammalsintheMarathonBasinGrasslandPreserve,located16kmnortheastofMarathon,Texas.Thetrapsweredividedevenlybetweenthelocalprairiedogcolonyandtheadjacentgrasslands,withtwotransectlinesoftrapsonthecolony,andtwooffthecolony.Eachtransectlineincluded26trapsset12mapart,formingatransectwithatotallengthof312m.Trapswereseteachnight(n=4)withbirdseedandcheckedthefollowingmorning.Ifasmallmammalhadbeencaptured,thelocationandspecieswerenotedandtheanimalwasphotographed.Duringthisstudy(432totaltrapnights),8smallmammals(fourdifferentspecies)werecapturedontheprairiedogcolony,and12individuals(threedifferentspecies)werecapturedoffoftheprairiedogcolony.Beetles,weevils,andscales,ohmy!MonitoringofthreebiocontrolsforsaltcedarinTrans-PecosTexasandsoutheastNewMexicoChristopherM.RitziandAlexandriaM.Hassenflu,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXSaltcedar(Tamarixspp.)isadeciduousshruborsmalltreethatwasintroducedintotheUnitedStatesfromEurasiaintheearly1800stostabilizeriverbankerosion,serveasawindbreak,andasanornamental.However,duetoahighreproductivepotential,saltcedarhasbecomeinvasiveonmanyriversystemsinthewesternUnitedStates.SomeofthedensesttamariskinfestationshaveoccurredinthesouthernareasoftheRioGrande,andinanattempttocontrolthisplantbybiologicalmeans,aconsortiumconsistingoftheUSDA,NRCS,andSulRossStateUniversityreleasedseveralspeciesoftamariskleafbeetle(Diorhabdaspp.)insouthernBrewsterandPresidiocountiesinTexas.Thesuitabilityofthespecieswasevaluated,anddatasuggestedthattheTunisiansubtropicalspecies(D.sublineata)wasbestsuitedtothisregion.Observationshavealsoshownthatthetamariskleafbeetlesarecapableofestablishingonacloserelativenon-targetspecies,theatheltree(T.aphylla).SixsitesalongtheRioGrande,fromLajitastoCandelaria,Texas,havebeenroutinelymonitoredtodeterminethelong-termimpactofleafbeetledefoliationonsaltcedarandthenon-targetatheltreesintheregion.WhiledefoliationbyD.sublineatahasbeensporadicthispastyear,activitybyotherbiocontrols,namelythesplendidtamariskweevil(Coniatussplendidulus)andthetamariskscale(Chionaspisspp.),hasbeenincreasing.Effortsweremadetobroadenthesearchforallthreebiocontrols,documentingactivityacrossTrans-PecosTexasandsoutheasternNewMexico.AreviewofthecurrentstatusoftheRioGrandeMonkeyface(Quadrulacouchiana;Bivalvia,Unionidae)fromTexas,NewMexico,andnorthernMexicoNedE.Strenth1,MaryP.Jones2andRobertG.Howells3,1DepartmentofBiology,AngeloStateUniversity,SanAngelo,TX;2HowardCollege,SanAngelo,TX;and3BioStudies,Kerrville,TX

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TheoriginaltypeseriesoftheRioGrandeMonkeyface(Quadrulacouchiana)wascollectedbyJeanBerlandierduringtheearly1800sfromtheRíoSaladoinNuevoLeóninnorthernMexico.ThesespecimenswerelaterobtainedbyLt.DariusCouch(U.S.Army)duringtheSmithsonianExpeditionof1853/54toMexicoandtransferredtotheUnitedStates.Basedupon“halfadozenoddvalves,”thisspecieswasformallydescribedbyIsaacLeain1860.Possiblyfewerthan30specimensfromTexasandNewMexicoareknownfrommalacologicalcollectionshereintheU.S.anditremainsquestionablewhetherthisspecieshaseverbeenobservedalivebyamodernworker.Whilenevercommon,thespeciesisnowpresumedextinctbytheTexasParksandWildlifeDepartmentandUnitedStatesFishandWildlifeService.RecentfieldworkinthestateofCoahuilahasproducedaseriesofvalvesthatsupportthepossibilityofamorerecentexistenceofthisspeciesintheregionofthewesterndrainageoftheRíoSalado.Areviewoftheresultsoftheserecentcollectionsfromlate2017(onevalve)andearly2018(fourvalves)willbepresented,aswellasourfutureplansforthecontinuationofthisproject.Movementpatternsoftheredswampcrayfish(Crustacea:Decapoda)intheSouthConchoRiverofwest-centralTexasMichaelLuceroandNedE.Strenth,1DepartmentofBiology,AngeloStateUniversity,SanAngelo,TXTheredswampcrayfish(Procambarusclarkii)isacommonandwidespreadspeciesthatisextensivelyusedinaquaculture,whichhasledtoitsintroductionworldwide.ThisstudywasperformedatAnsonSprings,theheadwatersoftheSouthConchoRiver,inTomGreenCounty,Texas,andrepresentsthefirstuseofradiotelemetrytodeterminethemovementpatternsofP.clarkiiwithinitsnativerangeinthesouth-centralUnitedStates.Eightspecimenswerefittedwithradioreceiversandtheirlocationsweretrackedin-streamsixtimesaday,fromAugust10–23,2017,weatherpermitting.Resultssuggestthatreproductivemalesundertakemovementslessoftenthanfemales.Resultsalsosuggestthatthemajorityofmovementsforbothmalesandfemalesoccursafter6:00pmwhenthecrayfishleavetheirdaytimerefugiatoforageormate.GeologicfieldandremotesensingstudiesoftheChristmasMountainscomplexJoshuaKrnavek,DepartmentofPhysicsandGeosciences,TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville,Kingsville,TXTodayintheChristmasMountainscomplexthereistopographythatshowsevidenceofacollapsedcaldera.Thisisdifferentthanmostduetoitsdevelopmentoveraratherthinlaccolithasopposedtooveradeepplutonofmagma.Thisstructureiscalledalaccocaldera.ThegeologyoftheareaconsistsofTertiaryvolcanicsthatincludevarioustuffsandigneousintrusionsandalsotiltedCretaceouslimestones.Overthelast42millionyearstheChristmasMountainshavegonethroughseveralgeologicevents.Togetherinthisregion,RioGranderifting,BasinandRange,andOuachitastructuresarepreservedinthelandscape.Theareainthecomplexhasbeenextremelyfracturedduringperiodsofdeformation.DatawerecollectedduringanexpeditiontotheChristmasMountainsinthespringof2017thatwereusedtoconstructageologicmapwhilegatheringvarioustypesofcontactandfracturedata.ThefieldmapwaslaterdigitizedinGIS-ArcMap.Fracturedatawereplottedonstatisticalsoftwaretoidentifytrends.FielddataareconsistentwithBasinandRangeandRioGranderiftingevents.OurresultssuggestfracturedatamayberelatedtotheTascotalMesafault,whichisthoughttoberelatedtotheRioGrandeRift.Wecanalsoobservewithinthestudyareathedome-likegeometrythatcanbeseeninthetiltedlimestoneandotherfield-relateddata.CurrentlyIamcontinuingmyresearchusingremotesensinganalysesofsatellitedatatolookmorecloselyatchangesinmineralizationandfaulting.Ihavealsoworkedwithdigitalelevationdatatobetterunderstandthegeometryofthedomethatweseetoday.

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AssessingthestructuralhistoryoftheChristmasMountainsinrelationtothegreaterTrans-PecosregionVeronicaSanchezandJoshuaKrnavek,DepartmentofPhysicsandGeosciences,TexasA&MUniversity–Kingsville,Kingsville,TXTheirregulardomeweseetodaymakingupthehightopographyoftheChristmasMountainsispartofacomplexgeologichistoryinvolvingvolcanism,intrusionsofmagmabodiesandfaulting.Inthispresentationwewilldiscussmajorstructural-geomorphologicfeaturesofthegreater“tectonicallyactive”westernUnitedStates,butcenteronthegeologyoftheChristmasMountains.Inmorerecenttimes,thetopographyoftheTrans-PecosregionhasbeensubjectedtofaultingassociatedwithBasinandRangedeformation,butwealsoarguethatthereisevidenceforfaultingorcomplexfracturingrelatedtotheRioGrandeRift.WewillposequestionsregardingthenatureofriftingincontinentalsettingsandpresentourrecentresultsfromgeologicfieldmappingtosupportourhypothesisthatsignaturesoftheRioGrandeRiftmaybefoundinthisregionandperhapsasfarsouthasnorthernMexico.Wehypothesizethatthestructuresinvolvedareinheritedinnature,meaningtheywerefirstinitiatedperhapsasfarbackasPrecambriantimes.OurresultscomplementtheoverallunderstandingofrelationshipsbetweenstructureandigneousactivityinthewestTexas/Trans-Pecosregion.GeomorphicchangealongasectionofAlamitoCreekKevinUrbanczykandDavidHallum,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXAspartofageologic,hydrologic,andgeomorphicassessmentofasectionofAlamitoCreeklocatedontheDixonWaterFoundationAlamitoCreekproperty,wehavecollecteddataforadetailedgeomorphicchangedetection(GCD)analysis.Thepropertyislocatedapproximately51kmsouthofMarfa,Texas,immediatelynorthofwherehighway169crossesthecreek.AlamitoCreekisanintermittentstreamwithheadwatersintheDavisMountains30kmnorthofMarfa.Fromhere,itflows130kmsouthtotheconfluencewiththeRioGrande8kmeastofPresidio.Analysisofavailableorthophotoimagery(1994to2016)revealsasignificantlateralmigration(~40m)ofaselectedsectionofthecreekattheexpenseofa~6metercutbankcomposedoffinegrainedfluvialsediment(partoftheAltar-Bodecker-Riverwashassociation).Tostudythisphenomenonindetail,wecollectedhighresolutiontopographicdataandorthophotoimageryofthisareaonanannualbasisinspring2016,2017and2018usinganunmannedaerialvehicleandstructurefrommotion(SFM)technology.Resultsincludetheobservationof30mofcutbankmigrationbetween1996and2004,anadditional5mfrom2006to2008and4mbetween2012and2014.WeusedtheGCDtechniquetocalculatevolumesofsedimentgained/lostusingeachofthehighresolutionSFMdatasets(0.05mgridcellsize).Inthelocalstudyareathatincludeda200msectionofthecreek,weobservedanoveralllossof388m3(555m3loss,167m3gain)between2016and2017andanoveralllossof5m3(225m3loss,220m3gain)between2017and2018.Thesevolumescorrespondtofairlysmalllateralchangesofthecutbankofupto2mandsuggestthatthelargermigrationsfrompreviousyearslikelyinvolvedmuchlargerchangesinsedimentvolume.ThisunderstandingofgeomorphicchangeandsedimentmobilityisimportantintrackingsedimentcontributionstotheRioGrandeandinplanningforfuturerestorationactivitiesaimedatimprovingwaterretention.

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FaciesanddepositionalenvironmentsoftheLowerCretaceousPresidioFormation,CiboloCreekRanch,PresidioCounty,TexasMahmoudMohamedandElizabethMeasures,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXTheLowerCretaceousPresidioFormationwasdepositedduringtheZunitransgressionintheChihuahuatroughandrecordsthefirstdepositionontoerodedPermianBasinrocks.Inthestudyarea,locatedonCiboloCreekRanch,thePresidioFormationunconformablyoverliesthePermian-ageCiboloFormation.ThePresidioFormationconsistsof109mofinterbeddedsiliciclasticandcarbonatestrata.Thebaseoftheformationisprimarilyconglomerateandsandstoneandthetopoftheformationisadistinctivecapofrudistfloatstone.Themiddleoftheformationhasalternatingclastic-richunitsandcarbonate-richunits.Theformationiscomposedofsixlithofacies:1)conglomeratelithofacies,2)sandstonelithofacies,3)wackestone/packstonelithofacies,4)limemudstonelithofacies,5)grainstonelithofaciesand6)floatstonelithofacies.Mostbedsarenotlaterallycontinuousandthereforethelithofaciesinterfinger.Theformationrepresentsdepositioninmarginalmarine(clastic-dominatedbase)toshallowmarineenvironments(carbonate-dominatedtop).Clasticsedimentswerebroughtinbyfluvialsystems.Carbonatesedimentswereproducedoffshoreinashallowshelf/lagoonalsetting.Waves,tidesand/orcurrentsmixedthesedimentsinazonebetweenthetwosourceareas.Sealevelfluctuationsduringdepositionwereprobablyresponsibleforthealternationofclasticunitsandcarbonateunits.Theclastic-richbedspossiblyindicateshort-termsealevelfallandprogradationofmarginalmarineconditionsintothebasin.Thecarbonate-richbedspossiblyindicateshort-termsealevelriseandtransgressionofshallowshelfmarineconditionsontothecontinent.Overall,thePresidioFormationrecordsthelong-termtransgressionoftheCretaceousseaontothecontinent.AstudyofleucobandsintheWaxFactoryLaccolith,BigBendRanchStatePark,TexasOliviaEnriquezandKevinUrbanczyk,DepartmentofBiology,Geology,andPhysicalSciences,SulRossStateUniversity,Alpine,TXTheWaxFactoryLaccolith(WFL)islocatedinBigBendRanchStatePark,TX.Alaccolithisanintrusiveigneousrock.TheWFLisapproximately32MainageandispartoftheTrans-PecosMagmaticProvince(TPMP),whichwasformedbetween48and17Ma.TheWFLiscomposedmostlyofmonzonite,buthasnumerouslightcoloredbands(“leucobands”)ofsyenitewithvariousshapesincludingirregular“blebs”upto2metersinsizeandhorizontalbandsapproximately10cmthick.Priorstudiesofthelaccolithlackedanadequateinterpretationofthelightcoloredbands.Aprevioushypothesissuggestedthatthebandswerecausedbyalterationoftherockbylocalspringwater.Scanningelectronmicroscopyandx-rayfluorescenceanalysisconductedontheleucobandsrevealsthatthesyeniticleucobandshaveanoverallsimilarmineralogytothemonzonite,butadistinctdifferenceinmineralcomposition,contradictingtheearlierhypothesis.Weconcludethatthevariationhasbeencausedbycrystalfractionation,aconclusionconfirmedbymajorandtraceelementmodels.Themodelsuseaparentmonzonitecompositionthatevolvestothesyenitecompositionwiththeremovalofapproximately50%bymassoftheobservedmineralsplagioclase,pyroxene,Fe-Tioxidesandapatite.Inthismodel,thehostmonzonitemagmaformedoriginallyandcrystallizedtoapartiallysolidcrystalframework.Subsequently-evolvedsyenitemagmaintrudedintothisframeworkintheformoftheblebsandhorizontalbands.ThisstudycontributestoourunderstandingofthepetrogenetichistoryoftheWFLandouroverallunderstandingoftheTPMP.

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Makeplanstojoinusnextyear


2019

TerlinguaRanchHeadquarters

May20th–22nd,2019

Frontcoverillustration:Mottledrockrattlesnake(Crotaluslepidus)atthebaseofacandelillaplant(Euphorbiaantisyphilitica).Usuallynon-aggressive,rockrattlerstendtorelyontheircamouflageforprotectionandwilloftennotstrikeorevenrattleunlessphysicallyharassed.Thecolorpatternofthesesnakesvariesgreatly,butusuallyreflectsthecoloroftherocksintheirenvironment.Snakesfoundinareasoflimestonetendtobegrayish;thisspecimen,fromanareaofigneousoutcroppings,wasmoreorange-brownincolor.OriginalphototakenbyD.LemkeintheChristmasMountains.

christmas mountains research symposium 2018

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