Standard Research Grant Recipients

The Mazamas Research Committee awards grants annually for scientific studies promoting wilderness ecology, mountain travel, and safety in the outdoors. Here is a listing of past recipients in the Standard Research Grant category from 2000 to the present:

2009 Standard Grant Recipients
2008 Standard Grant Recipients
2007 Standard Grant Recipients
2006 Standard Grant Recipients
2005 Standard Grant Recipients
2004 Standard Grant Recipients
2003 Standard Grant Recipients
2002 Standard Grant Recipients
2001 Standard Grant Recipients
2000 Standard Grant Recipients

2009 Standard Research Grant Recipients

Predation and a Declining Endemic: What is the Role of Climate Change?

Suzanne Griffin, Adjunct faculty at Western Washington University

Awarded $1,630

Proposal to study the Olympic marmot decline in recent years due to predation by coyotes. Coyotes have been present in the Olympic Mountains since the 1940’s. Why have they only recently become a threat to marmots? Suzanne will gather data and refine a conceptual model and develop mathematical models to predict how specific climate conditions will affect Olympic marmot population growth or decline.

Consequences of Conifer Encroachment for Mountain Meadows: A Long-term, Landscape-scale Analysis of Vegetation Change in the Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon

Charles Halpern, Research Professor of Forest Resources, University of Washington

Awarded $2,000

Proposal to study the encroachment of conifers on meadows. He will sample, for the third time, a series of permanent transects established in 1983 to quantify long-term changes in vegetation across forest-meadow boundaries (ecotones) in the Three Sisters Wilderness, Oregon.

Expanding Collections of the Threatened Whitebark Pine to Assess for Population Genetic Diversity

John Syring, Assistant Professor, Linfield College

Awarded $2,000

Proposal to study the whitebark pine, a keystone species of high elevation, mountainous ecosystems that is currently threatened by white pine blister rust, a fungal pathogen. Efforts to screen for rust resistant individuals are proceeding without input on where genetic diversity exists. Dr. Syring will use seeds obtained in northern Washington and British Columbia to attain DNA for molecular analysis of genetic diversity.

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2008 Standard Research Grant Recipients

Climate Change and a Declining Endemic: Can the Olympic Marmot Survive in a Warming World?

Suzanne Griffin, Adjunct faculty at Western Washington University

Awarded $1,500

Proposal to study the Olympic marmot decline in recent years due to predation by coyotes. She will study the relationship between climate variables and hibernation patterns, reproductive success and marmot exposure to risk while foraging. If the marmots are able to adjust their life-history to other species which can withstand predation pressure, then they may co-exist with coyotes in a functioning ecosystem.

Assessing Forest and Community Change in Wallowa County

Joel Hartter, Assistant Professor, Department of Geography, University of New Hampshire

Awarded $750

Proposal to develop an integrated methodology to detect social, ecological and economical changes in forest conditions and surrounding communities over time and to investigate their linkage. The study will examine change in forest area, health of these forests, and the extent of ecosystem fragmentation using satellite imagery analysis. Then, the study will determine if and how changes on private land holdings and the Eagle Cap Wilderness Area have impacted the community. Lastly, they will determine whether small-scale forest products enterprises can play a role in not only improving community health but also maintain or improve forest health.

Arterial Oxygen Saturation as a Predictor of Next-Day Acute Mountain Sickness or Summit Success

Dale Wagner, Assistant Professor of Health, Phys. Ed. and Recreation, Utah State University

Awarded $2,100

Proposal to study whether low arterial oxygen saturation upon arrival to altitude might be a predictor of impending Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) if the climber remains at altitude or continues the ascent, using a finger pulse oximeter on Pico de Orizaba in Mexico.

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2007 Standard Research Grant Recipients

Comparing Oregon Cascades glaciers from 1930 to today

Andrew Fountain, professor of Geology and Geography at Portland State University

Awarded: $3,200

Dr. Fountain proposes to acquire new aerial photographs of the Oregon Cascades to compare with similar photos funded by the Mazamas in the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s. He wants to quantify glacier change in an investigation of the effects of global warming.

Distribution of invasive weeds on the PCT in the Three Sisters Wilderness

Ronald Reuter, Assistant Professor of Natural Resources at Oregon State University

Awarded: $2,500

Mr. Reuter proposes to map the distribution of invasive weeds along a 50-mile section of the Paciifc Crest Trail in the Three Sisters Wilderness and to “investigate the relationship between recreational use patterns and weed distribution.”

DNA fingerprinting of Washington’s mountain goat populations

David Wallin, Professor of Environmental Sciences at Western Washington University

Awarded: $2,400

Mr. Wallin proposes to use DNA fingerprinting to identify the genetic health of Washington’s mountain goat populations, which have suffered a 70 percent decline since 1961.

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2006 Standard Research Grant Recipients

Did Magma Erupt From Mount Baker’s Sherman Crater in the 19th Century?

David Tucker, M.S., Western Washington University; Kevin Scott, Ph. D., U. S. Geological Survey (retired emeritus)

Awarded $3,475

Mount Baker is one of just two Cascades volcanoes, along with Mount St. Helens, considered active. This study proposes to investigate, for the first time, 19th Century ash deposits erupted from Mt Baker to help determine how active Mount Baker is likely to be in the future, and provide insights into the size and style of future eruptions.

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2005 Standard Research Grant Recipients

Microbial Diversity and ecology of Extremophiles in Hydrothermal Environments of Cold Areas

Dr. Robert Anitori, Australian Centre for Astrobiology, Macquarie Univ., Sydney, Australia

Awarded $3,500

In 2004 Mazamas members Tom Bennett and Steve Boyer assisted these researchers in gathering microbial specimens and soil samples from the fumaroles on Mt Hood. Very little is known about the microbial ecology of the hot acidic soils on Mt Hood. This research may identify unique and exotic bacteria with valuable characteristics. Preliminary data from DNA analysis of specimens obtained in 2004 suggest there are previously unknown species of bacteria at these sites on Mt Hood.

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2004 Standard Research Grant Recipients

Fish Bearing Estuarine to Marine Biostromal Devonian Strata at Borah Peak, Lost River Range, East-Central Idaho

George Grader Ph.D., University of Idaho , Dept. of Geological Sciences

Awarded $2,100

The proposed project will study Middle Devonian strata at elevations between 9000 and 11,000 feet at Borah Peak, a major Idaho landmark in the Lost River Range. The study will concentrate on about 200 m of key units that contain two episodes of channelization and accumulation of estuarine deposits containing rare phosphatic boney fish material. Species identification and dating of these spectacular creatures will be carried out by my field associate, paleontologist Dr. David Elliott. The stratigraphic context of these fossil beds will be studied by me. Depositional stacking patterns should closely compare with recent studies of stratigraphic geometries produced during global greenhouse climate modes (possibly containing subtle orbital-eustatic signals). The results of this project will test preliminary correlations of regional depositional sequences (Grader, 1998; Grader and Dehler, 1999).

Evolutionary and ecological forces tied ancient Devonian fishes to freshwater. Their association with brackish water depositional environments and peritidal flats is brilliant to view in outcrop. The fauna and flora of these transitional marine paleovalleys are rarely preserved and represent veritable ecological oases against more commonly occurring restricted marine environments. Dark biostromal units also occur and will also be studied. Concentrated lenses of fish fossils at Borah Peak (potentially containing new endemic species), and good lateral facies controls allow for a compelling paleontologic, sedimentologic and stratigraphic investigation.

Variables Contributing to Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS)

Daryl Parker Ph.D. and Dale Wagner Ph.D., California State University-Sacramento

Awarded $1,092

Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is a malady characterized by such symptoms as headache, nausea, and dizziness. It is thought to be a self-imposed syndrome brought on by gaining altitude too quickly without allowing adequate time to acclimatize; however, the pathophysiology of AMS and the factors that contribute the most to the onset of this syndrome are not clearly understood. No one is immune to AMS, and many hikers, trekkers, and climbers are affected. The aim of this study is to determine the percentage people reaching an altitude of 4418 m (14,494’) that experience AMS and identify which variables significantly contribute to the onset of this condition. Data will be collected over a 5-6 day period on the summit of Mt. Whitney. This location is likely to produce a diverse sample that varies greatly in age, physical characteristics, mountaineering experience, and previous altitude exposure.

Individuals reaching the summit will give a self-report of their physical characteristics (age, gender, height, weight, and smoking status), altitude history (altitude of residence, previous altitude illness, prior acclimatization, and training), and an account of their ascent (elapsed time and liquid and medication consumed). Additionally, pulse and arterial oxygen saturation will be measured. The self-report and measured data will be statistically analyzed to determine which variables contributed significantly to AMS as measured by the Lake Louise scale. By identifying which variables are most strongly associated with AMS, preventative steps may be taken to reduce these risk factors and lessen the incidence of AMS in the future.

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2003 Standard Research Grant Recipients

Community Ecology and Biogegraphy of High Elevation Small Mammal Faunas: Conservation priorities based on community dynamics and prevalence of zoonotic disease

Luis A. Ruedas, Department of Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Biology, Portland State University

Awarded $3,141

As human impact on natural resources increase there is also an increased need for conservation. However management decisions are often based upon conflicting interests and driven by many factors including economic ones. If the hypothesis of Dr. Luis A. Ruedas is correct, he will show that the well-being of humans is directly dependent on conservation and maintaining biodiversity. Dr. Ruedas would like to prove that there is an inverse relationship between biodiversity and the risk of human disease. When biodiversity is lost, small mammal disease can increase hence increasing the risk for human disease transmission. Dr. Ruedas has already established that the loss of biodiversity at five Portland parks has caused an increase in small mammal disease prevalence - specifically hantaviruses. Hantaviruses are carried by small mammals and may infect humans with Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome. In Oregon five cases of Hantavirus have resulted in three deaths. The funded proposal will expand Dr. Ruedas’ work into the Mount Hood and Deschutes National Forest. If successful this work can have a significant impact on habitat preservation and/or restoration.

The Effects of Fuel-Reduction Logging on Bat Activity

Burr J. Betts, Dept of Biology, Eastern Oregon University

Awarded $760

Increases in fuel loads in national forests have recently caused bad fire seasons. As a result, forest managers are looking for ways to reduce the fuel loads of their forests by removing standing and down dead wood. Some techniques can reduce the available fuel while having the least effect on wildlife. Bats use snags and dead wood for their nests and as a source of their insect diet. Bats, which benefit the forest by their consumption of insect pests, may be amongst the animals most affected by the removal of standing and dead wood. The Forest Service is using two different treatments to remove fuel. In his proposal, Dr. Burr J. Betts will determine the immediate effect of logging and fuel removal on bat activity. Dr. Betts has already collected data on bat activity prior to any fuel reduction. Dr. Betts will continue data collection at 5 and 10 years post-treatment to determine the long term changes in activity. The results of this study can then aid forest managers as they make management decisions.

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2002 Standard Research Grant Recipients

The Glaciers of Mt. Hood, Oregon: Historic Fluctuations and Relationship to Climate

Karl Liliquist, Ph.D, Geography and Land Studies Department and Resource Management Program, Central Washington University Ellensburg, Washington

Awarded $3,431

Glaciers are important tools for determining the direction, frequency and magnitude of past climate change. The overall objective of this research is to better understand Mt. Hood’s glacier fluctuations and their relationship to climate. This research proposes to determine changes in the Coe, Eliot, Ladd, Newton Clark and White River glaciers to determine changes in their termini during the past century and relate these fluctuations to historic climate patterns. To do so, the researcher will locate and obtain historical documents, identify previous terminus positions, document glacier change over time, and relate glacier fluctuations to climate patterns. It is expected that these glaciers retreated in recent years and that these fluctuations have mirrored temperature and precipitation accumulations over this period of time. The results of this project will enhance the scientific understanding of past and future northwest climate changes, provide educational opportunities for Pacific Northwest teachers and students, and develop an awareness of glacier-based environmental change in the general public.

The Origin of Northwest Mountain Floras: Phylogeography of the Synthyris missuilca Complex

Larry Hufford, Ph.D. Michael S. Webster, Ph.D. School of Biological Sciences Washington State University Pullman, Washington

Awarded $1,800

Phylogeography explores the geography of genetic variation among populations to infer evolutionary relationships within them. This project will examine the evolutionary history of the Synthyris rnissurica complex in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest. It will test$ hypotheses on refuges that have been important in the radiation of mountain floras following the Pleistocene glaciations and will explore the evolution of elevational differences. This research will have applications to the development of conservation strategies, especially those that can mitigate the consequences of human disturbance. Notably, one member of the S. missurica complex, subspecies stellata, is of conservation concern because of its narrow distribution in the Columbia Gorge, an area of intense recreational use. This research may differentiate subspecies of this complex and may provide data which will bear on taxonomic recognition and potential management plans to provide for the conservation of these flora.

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2001 Standard Research Grant Recipients

The Biomechanics of Walking Downhill with Trekking Poles

Julianne Abendroth-Smith, Willamette University

Awarded: $2,700

A current project of the Principle Investigator is examining the use of trekking poles on four downhill gradients, in terms of the resultant forces produced at the lower extremity joints. The purpose of the research project is to examine the effects (joint forces, moments, and gait patterns) of walking downhill at different gradients with one or two trekking poles. Specifically, the goal is to identify the gradient at which using two poles become more effective (if at all) and how one pole vs. two poles changes downhill walking patterns. Gender differences are of primary interest, and will be addressed. This information is important for designing equipment and strategies to reduce or eliminate hiking related overuse injuries.

Spatial Analysis and Source Tracing of Fecal Coliform Bacteria in an Alpine Lake Ecosystem

Guy R. Knudsen and Louise-Marie C. Dandurand, University of Idaho

Awarded: $2,818

For the protection of soils and water resources in mountain environments and other natural areas, improved methods are needed to identify and map sources of pollutants. This research focuses on methods to accurately identify sources of fecal coliform bacteria and their spatial distributions in relation to recreational usage in a series of alpine lake basins located in a mountain wilderness area, the Seven Devils Mountains in the Hells Canyon Wilderness of Central Idaho. Spatial patterns of fecal coliform bacteria, in relation to sites of different recreational usage, will be determined and modeled using geostatistics and GIS. This approach will lead to improved management of recreational usage in wilderness areas through accurate prediction, identification, and mapping of microbial contaminant sources.

The Effect of Supra-Glacial Debris on the Melting of Ice at Eliot Glacier, Mt. Hood, Oregon

Andrew Fountain, Ph.D., Portland State University and Robert Schlichting, Vancouver School of Arts and Academics

Awarded: $3,300

The terminus of many alpine glaciers is mantled with rocky debris. Thin layers of debris (typically

< 5 cm) accelerate glacier melting due to increased solar absorption and heat transfer to the ice. Thick layers (typically >

5 cm) insulate the underlying ice and reduce melting. Understanding the dynamics of debris-covered ice is gaining interest because of the response of these systems to global warming and local hydrology, as well as potential for enhancing understanding of similar systems in the Dry Valleys of Antarctica and on Mars. Eliot Glacier, on Mt. Hood, has a mantle of debris on its terminus and is in an ideal location to study the thermal properties of supra-glacial debris. This study will provide baseline data to evaluate the magnitude and variation of the thermal diffusivity of a debris cover on the melting of the underlying ice.

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2000 Standard Research Grant Recipients

Understanding Interactions among Winter Recreationists at Marble Mountain, Washington

Jennifer Gilden, Eric T. Jones, Rebecca McLain Institute for Culture & Ecology Portland, OR

Awarded: $3,500

This study uses social research methods to explore the human dimensions of recreational conflicts in the Marble Mountain area. During the past few decades, winter sports have become increasingly popular throughout the Pacific Northwest. Not surprisingly, conflicts have developed when one group’s actions have negatively affected other groups’ experiences. Successful co-management requires an understanding of users’ motivations, expectations, and values, the quality of their interactions, and their level of satisfaction with current management practices. This study will provide a description of problems and opportunities for cooperation, and an indication of users’ satisfaction with current conditions and management practices.

Alpine Glacial Chronology, Paleoclimatic Interpretations, and Erosive Effectiveness of Small Cirque Paleoglaciers, Enchantments Lakes Basin, WA

Eric L. Bilderback, Geology Department, Western Washington University Bellingham, WA

Awarded: $3,000

Alpine glacial deposits provide widespread and sensitive records of both past climatic change and glacial erosive power. Glaciers expand and contract in response to precipitation and, therefore, can be used as Paleoclimatic indicators. With the aid of the time scale provided by AMS-radiocarbon dating of lake sediments and the relatively new technique of paleomagnetic analysis of alpine lake cores, the project will quantify the erosional effects of small cirque glaciers by calculating total glacial sediment production in both moraine and lake systems.

Avalanche Prediction by Spatial Extrapolation of Study Plot Stability -Bridger Range, Montana

Christopher C. Landry, Earth Sciences, Montana State University

Awarded: $3,000

Avalanche forecasters routinely perform in-situ stability tests at safe and accessible study plots selected to approximate the geographic conditions in avalanche starting zones being forecasted. However, snowpack conditions are known to exhibit spatial variations. This study evaluates the spatial distribution of stability within study plots and the spatial relationship between stability at study plots and stability in nearby and distant avalanche terrain. A human forecaster will also predict, prior to the storm, the increment of storm loading which will initiate avalanching in starting zones near each study plot based on the initial set of stability test results from the study plot. The human forecast will be compared to the actual avalanches and the storm loading model’s predicted critical loading thresholds.

A Comparison of Non-Invasive Methods for Monitoring Carnivores in the Pacific Northwest

David A. Tailmon, Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, Kurt Jenkins, U.S. Geological Service Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Olympic Field Station, Port Angeles, WA

Awarded: $2,000

One of the biggest problems in trying to monitor ecosystem health is the difficulty in monitoring carnivores, which occupy a unique position at the top of the food chain. We propose to directly compare three non-invasive methods of monitoring carnivores in the Elwha River ecosystem of Olympic National Park. Specifically, we will use sign surveys (tracks and scats), motion-sensitive cameras, and DNA analysis of feces and hair to index and estimate carnivore diversity and abundance. The results will help guide monitoring efforts of terrestrial carnivore communities throughout the Pacific Northwest as salmon stocks are re-established and ecosystems restored.

Structural Investigations of Faults in the Island Mountain and Isabella Ridge Area, North-Central Washington

Eric Eddlemon, Dept. of Geology, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA

Awarded: $3,000

Much of the uncertainty concerning the tectonic development of western North America centers on discrepancies between interpretations of geologic and paleomagnetic data. Such discrepancies have resulted in two hypotheses for the tectonic development of western North America. Our knowledge of brittle fabrics and microstructures has increased greatly in the past decade. This study will increase our knowledge of north-central Washington geology and lend support to one of the two hypotheses of the tectonic development of this mountainous area of western North America.

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