Geology topics

Research about Cherry County, Nebraska

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Cherry County, Nebraska.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2026

Population dynamics of Northern Pearl Dace Margariscus nachtriebi in anthropogenically altered headwater streams of the Nebraska Sandhills Ecoregion

Empirical evidence of population demographic responses to environmental perturbations is a major knowledge gap for aquatic vertebrate populations. Extensive habitat alteration including channelization of headwater streams influences the habitat template on which small-bodied fish are dependent to carry out distinct life stages and maintain or increase population growth. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine differences in geomorphic characteristics, and instream habitat (i.e., mesohabitat availability, water depth, and macrophyte coverage) in channelized and unchannelized stream sites, and (2) estimate survival of Northern Pearl Dace Margariscus nachtriebi in channelized and unchannelized stream sites. A capture-mark-recapture robust design study was conducted where a total of 1994 Northern Pearl Dace were double tagged and 853 were recaptured over the 374-day field study. Geomorphic characteristics and instream habitat in channelized and unchannelized stream sites differed (Pillai's Trace = 0.950, F (8, 6) = 14.228, p = 0.002). Specifically, mean sinuosity index ( F (1, 13) = 20.723, p = 0.0005) and the percentage of pool mesohabitat ( F (1, 13) = 4.929, p = 0.045) were both reduced in channelized versus unchannelized stream sites. Northern Pearl Dace seasonal survival was lower in channelized sites (Ŝ Spring to Summer = 0.34; SE = 0.06) compared to unchannelized sites (Ŝ Spring to Summer = 0.93; SE = 0.03) during spring to summer. Annual survival differed between channelized sites (Ŝ = 0.001; SE = 0.009) and unchannelized sites (Ŝ = 0.047; SE = 0.024). Channelization in headwater streams influenced population demographic parameters of stream fish. Northern Pearl Dace exhibited reduced survival in channelized sections of headwater streams flowing through the largest intact grassland ecosystem in North America. Mitigating channelization in streams may benefit persistence of native prairie fishes by increasing survival and subsequently aid in the restoration of headwater streams that flow through grassland ecosystems in North America.

Nebraska↗

USGS2022

Heterogeneity of recreationists in a park and protected area

Limited information and resources have caused many parks and protected areas (PPAs) to functionally manage recreationists as a single homogeneous group, despite potential negative social and ecological consequences. We aimed to evaluate the homogeneity of recreationists at the Valentine National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) by 1) quantifying frequencies of consumptive (i.e., hunting), intermediate-consumptive (i.e., fishing), and non-consumptive recreational-activity groups (e.g., wildlife viewing), and 2) evaluating sociodemographic differences among these groups. We used onsite surveys to determine that Valentine NWR supports heterogeneous groups of recreationists. The intermediate-consumptive group was most frequent (77% of all parties). All three recreational-activity groups varied in party size, distance traveled, household income, population type (urban or rural residence), and vehicle type (two-wheel or four-wheel drive). Tracking and accounting for diverse recreationists will equip managers with the ability to sustain recreational activities while also preserving ecological systems.

Nebraska↗

USGS1970

Late Miocene nonmarine diatoms from the Kilgore area, Cherry County, Nebraska

The Valentine Formation of A. L. Lugn, which is of late Miocene and early Pliocene age, contains diatomaceous and plant-bearing sediments at a locality on the north bluff of the Niobrara River, about 10 miles south of Kilgore, Cherry County, Nebr. The fossil flora has been studied by H. D. MacGinitie, who concluded that the deposit is of late Miocene age. Correlative strata near Valentine, Nebr., several miles east of this locality, are reported to contain a vertebrate fauna of late Miocene age. The Kilgore diatom assemblage consists of 45 taxa of nonmarine diatoms. Of these, four species are herein recorded as new, one species has been previously reported from the middle Pliocene of France, and the remaining 40 taxa are identified as still living in modern nonmarine environments. The diatom assemblage suggests deposition in a relatively shallow, small lake. The waters of this lake were probably hard, and perhaps at times somewhat alkaline or saline. It is difficult to separate the influences of ecology and geologic age on the composition of the diatom assemblage, but this problem should be resolved as other Tertiary assemblages are studied. The five presumably extinct species may prove to be useful for stratigraphic correlation when their geologic ranges are better known. The composition of the assemblage, the relative number of taxa, and the absence of several widespread modern genera and species of nonmarine diatoms should be of value in identifying other late Miocene assemblages and in distinguishing them from assemblages of different age.

Nebraska↗