The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming

A team of researchers from Colorado State University study fish diets on the Conservancy's Red Canyon Ranch.
© Kerry Brophy Lloyd/TNC

Publications

See a list of peer-reviewed papers published by staff at The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming.

Our Science in the News

• Wyoming computer program to help wildlife habitat (1/9/09)
Wyoming Energy News

• Biologists trying to keep wildlife out of "ER" (11/21/08)
Casper Star Tribune

Meet Our Science Team

Read about our dedicated team of staff scientists at The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming.

Energy by Design
Scientists at The Nature Conservancy in Wyoming are testing frameworks that will balance the biological impacts associated with energy development with conservation goals. Called Energy by Design, this science-based process works through pilot projects with industry and federal partners. The goal is to identify, implement, and adapt the highest priority mitigation opportunities for a project by looking at habitat conservation across a region and/or for a particular energy development site, based on goals for and potential impacts to species and habitats.

Conservation Easements
Conservation easements are the principal tool that land trusts such as the Conservancy use to preserve habitat and open space. In an easement, some or part of the development rights (i.e. subdivision) are voluntarily sold or donated by the landowner limiting certain uses or activities in perpetuity. Despite the widespread use of easements, few studies have quantified the degree to which easements have actually reduced development or influenced biological conditions. Our research is addressing these gaps in knowledge, including how the placement of easements influences residential development and conservation across entire landscapes.

Future Oil and Gas Development Impacts on Sage-Grouse
Oil and gas development throughout the Intermountain West is occurring at unprecedented rates, and scientists have documented numerous impacts to wildlife (e.g. sage-grouse, mule deer, pronghorn antelope). Our research focuses on understanding where we anticipate future oil and gas developments and calculating what the likely impacts to sage-grouse would be if we continue to develop all resources without excluding key habitats for sage-grouse and other sagebrush species.

Human Footprint Studies
Numerous human features dot the Western US (e.g. oil and gas wells, mines, roads, pipelines, urban areas). These features can be mapped in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and analyzed for their impact to biodiversity. We have developed a human footprint map for Wyoming, and are examining how the low and high-density footprint areas in our map correspond to vegetation health and wildlife population density. In 2008, we began a field study to collect and analyze data from 46 sagebrush sites in high and low footprint classes.

Native Plant Resilience to Invasion
Many hypotheses exist regarding plant communities' susceptibility to being invaded by non-native species, but it is increasingly apparent that truly resistant communities exist. Remnant native plant populations often persist within dense non-native invasions. This research indicates that such remnant populations may be adapting to coexist with non-native weeds and, in fact, may be more competitive than the same native species that were never exposed to weed competition. Such competitive native plants may be an important source plant materials to use in restoration of weed-infested rangelands. We continue to evaluate source populations for competitive ability with weeds and to understand mechanisms leading to post-invasion adaptation of recipient native plant communities.

Post-fire Invasion Dynamics at High Elevation
Invasive annual brome grasses are often credited with broad-scale alteration of ecological processes, especially in areas like the Great Basin of Western North America. Less is known about invasion dynamics of higher elevation ecosystems of the Rocky Mountain Region. This research uses experimental sampling protocols (very-large scale aerial imagery) to document the establishment and subsequent spread of annual grasses one- and five-years following a wildfire at the Conservancy's Red Canyon Ranch and accompanying federal grazing allotments.

Wyoming Wetlands Characterization
Wetlands are a scarce but vital resource that serves many functions, including: wildlife and fisheries habitat, and enhancing water quality and riparian health. Conservancy scientists worked in a multi-agency partnership of wetland biologists and planners to conduct an assessment and prioritization of wetlands in Wyoming. We mapped the highest density wetland sites and developed a model to quantify and characterize wetlands and their distribution by factors such as biodiversity, integrity and vulnerability. In addition to a peer-reviewed publication, this wetlands assessment will be incorporated into the upcoming revision of Wyoming's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy.