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Contact Information:

photo of Tim Graham
Name:
Graham, Tim B.
Title:
Research Ecologist
Discipline(s):
Desert Ecology, Insect/Invertebrate Ecology, Pothole Ecology, Amphibian Ecology, Herpetology
Research Station:
CRS
Work Address:
2290 West Resource Blvd.
Telephone Number:
(435)719-2339
Email Address:
tim_graham@usgs.gov

Biographical Sketch:

Tim Graham received a Bachelor of Arts degree in marine ecology from The Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington, in 1977 after studying in Minnesota, California and Utah. He earned a Ph.D. in 1986 from Utah State University, Logan, Utah, in Biology-Ecology. His dissertation topic was grasshopper food preferences relative to photosynthetic pathway of grasses in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona.

Tim worked for the National Park Service on the Colorado Plateau from 1984 to 1993 at the Southeast Utah Group (Canyonlands and Arches National Parks, Natural Bridges National Monument), Capitol Reef National Park, and Curecanti National Recreation Area. Work ranged from designing and implementing long term monitoring programs for water quality, vegetation, birds and small mammals, to rattlesnake ecology, the effects of livestock on tinaja (waterpocket) ecosystems and susceptibility of pothole systems to acid deposition. He also taught desert ecology and pothole ecology for Canyonlands Field Institute, and natural history of the Colorado Plateau for Wildlands Research Institute during this time.

In 1993, Tim transferred to the Cooperative Park Studies Unit (CPSU) at University of California, Davis, and was incorporated into the National Biological Survey. His duties at the CPSU included providing scientific advice and expertise to California NPS units, and to conduct research addressing issues identified by Department of Interior agencies in California. He served on the California Bald Eagle Working Group and the Northern California Vernal Pool Recovery Plan Team. In addition, Tim conducted research on giant garter snake ecology in the Sacramento Valley and interactions between deer mouse population dynamics and Sin Nombre hantavirus prevalence on islands of Channel Islands National Park. He also studied the response of vegetation and soil biota to fire in a hanging garden at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

Dr. Graham moved back home to Moab, joining the Canyonlands Research Station as the NBS was absorbed into the USGS in 1996. Once back on the Colorado Plateau, he began a research program centered around community structure of various taxa, especially invertebrates, and changes in communities in response to disturbance, and implications of these changes for ecosystem functioning. Tim is very interested in assisting land management agencies in understanding how communities are structured and how ecosystems function, and how management decisions may affect these systems. He is dedicated to providing information to managers so their decisions are better informed, and sustainability of natural resources in the west is enhanced.

Project List

  • Pothole communities on the Colorado Plateau Studies are focused on determining the biological and physical correlates to large branchiopod occurrence, influence of human activities (including construction of additional water sources) on pothole communities, and biogeography of large branchiopods on the Colorado Plateau.
  • Amphibians and invertebrates in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument: changes related to cessation of grazing in the Escalante region The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument was established in 1996. In winter of 1999, grazing was retired on some allotments in the monument. In August 1999, research into how arthropod communities and amphibian populations differed in riparian zones and upland benches between retired and open allotments. This project is still active, with spring and fall field seasons every year.
  • Terrestrial (riparian) invertebrates and amphibians in Salt Creek, Canyonlands NP: differences between open-, closed- and no-road segments of the caZon Salt Creek is the only stream in Canyonlands National Park with extensive perennial segments. In 1998, the 4WD road up the middle portion of Salt Creek was closed. Beginning in 2000, in partnership with the Earthwatch Institute, studies of arthropod communities and amphibian populations were begun, comparing open-, closed- and no-road sections of Salt Creek. Sampling takes place every month from May through September, at 4 to 8 sites in the caZon.
  • Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative-Canyonlands Monitoring Area Protocol Development The Department of Interior established the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative (ARMI) in 2000 to provide a national framework for monitoring amphibian populations to provide a mechanism for identifying population declines, research into known and potential stressors, and where necessary, to develop methods for effective monitoring. The Canyonlands monitoring effort includes Canyonlands National Park and adjacent Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and BLM lands. Currently, work is focused on development of functional methods for monitoring amphibian populations in arid caZon country where habitat, and thus amphibian activity, is ephemeral in space and time.
  • Elk and cattle herbivory at the Valles Caldera National Preserve: do grasshopper community structure and consumption patterns alter ungulate effects on vegetation? The Valles Caldera National Preserve was established in 2000, primarily from land that had been a private ranch. Both native (mostly elk) and non-native (cattle) ungulates have grazed the valles (grassland valleys and meadows), but there is concern over impacts of these ungulates on the functioning of VCNP grasslands. Preparation for studies designed to determine relative impacts of elk and cattle highlighted the presence of a third group of potentially significant herbivores-grasshoppers. Densities of grasshopper communities are currently very high in the preserve (> 40 m-2 in places), thus the impact of their herbivory should also be assessed. This project include exclosures that prevent consumption by a) grasshoppers, elk and cattle; b) elk and cattle; c) cattle; and d) forage is available to all herbivores. Grasshopper community structure and densities will be determined and plant community productivity measured under each experimental treatment. This project is beginning in 2004.
  • Mormon cricket control in Utah's West Desert: impacts on non-target arthropod communities (and implications for vertebrate species at risk) Drought conditions in the Great Basin over the past six years have fostered large populations of Mormon crickets and some grasshopper species. Populations in some areas are large enough to cause concern over potential economic losses, and to trigger control efforts, including bait and aerial spray application of insecticides. These toxins can potentially affect species identified as being at risk of extinction, including western sage grouse, Columbia spotted frog, and least chub. Impacts may be direct, for example, carbaryl has been shown to affect other species of ranid frogs. More likely, effects will be indirect, via reduction of target and non-target arthropods that are eaten by these vertebrates. This study will address how terrestrial and aquatic arthropods respond in space and time to application of dimilin and carbaryl in Utah's West Desert, and what the implications of these response patterns are for vertebrate species of concern in these ecosystems. Water quality of occupied and potential spotted frog and least chub habitat will also be evaluated in relation to these insecticides.
  • Effect of conversion of native perennial grasslands to non-native annual or non-native perennial grasslands on grasshopper community structure on the Colorado Plateau The invasion of many grasslands on the Colorado Plateau by introduced grasses can affect naive herbivores and other animals. Abundance and composition of grasshopper communities on the Colorado Plateau are being compared among native perennial and non-native annual (Bromus tectorum, cheatgrass) and perennial (Agropyron cristatum, crested wheatgrass) grasslands. Implications of community changes include a loss of diversity of grasshopper species, increased population sizes of species that can affect overall range productivity, and that can migrate to crops and decimate agricultural fields.
  • Interactions of Cattle Grazing and Climate Change on Semi-arid Ecosystems: Rangeland Health and Biogeochemical Cycles How the interaction of livestock use intensity and different climate regimes affected physical, chemical and biological soil properties, vegetation, and arthropod communities in shrub steppe ecosystems was the focus of this collaborative study. Sites on the Colorado Plateau receive significant precipitation from summer thunderstorms, while Great Basin sites receive almost all their precipitation as winter snow. Livestock use varied across study plots at each site, as well as between sites; each site was centered at a discrete water source, which functioned to concentrate livestock use (both grazing and trampling). These climatic differences, and disturbance gradients were used to test for relationships between ecosystem parameters and current (livestock) and future (climate change) disturbances. Fieldwork for this project has been completed. Samples are being processed and data analyzed.
  • GLCA A similar project was conducted in grasslands Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, with only near water, and very far from water comparisons of soil, vegetation, grasshoppers, reptiles and small mammals. An added feature of this project was a temporal assessment of vegetation change provided by examining plant fragments in packrat middens near each study area. Conditions at near and far study plots were also compared with conditions on relict mesa grasslands, which were assumed to represent pristine, pre-European conditions. Fieldwork has been completed for this project, data are being analyzed.

Publications, Maps, and other Products

  1. Graham, T. B., and D. Wirth. 2008. Dispersal of large branchiopod cysts: potential movement by wind from potholes on the Colorado Plateau. Hydrobiologia 600(1):17-27. [Journal Article]
  2. Graham, T. B., A. M. D. Brasher, and R. N. Close. 2008. Mormon Cricket Control in Utah’s West Desert—Evaluation of Impacts of the Pesticide Diflubenzuron on Nontarget Arthropod Communities. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2008-1305: 92. [Open-File Report]
  3. Pech, L. and T. B. Graham. 2007. The first state record for Trichiorhyssemus riparius (Horn) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Utah. The Coleopterists Bulletin, 61(4): 567. [Journal Article]
  4. Jocqué, M., T. Graham, and L. Brendonck. 2007. Local structuring factors of invertebrate communities in ephemeral freshwater rock pools and the influence of more permanent water bodies in the region. Hydrobiologia 592(1):271-280. [Journal Article]
  5. Pech, L. I. and T. B. Graham. 2007. The first state record for Trichiorhyssemus riparius (Horn) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from Utah. The Coleopterists Bulletin 61(4): 567. [Journal Article]
  6. Clausnitzer, D., M. Huso, D. Pyke, J. Belnap, T. Graham, R.L. Sanford, S. Phillips. 2003. Interactions of cattle grazing and climate change: Hierarchical data analysis. In Proceedings of the VIIth International Rangelands Congress, 26th July-1st August 2003, Durban, South Africa. N. Allsopp, A. R. Palmer, S. J. Milton, K. P. Kirkman, G. I. H. Kerley and C. R. Hurt, Eds. Irene, South Africa, Document Transformation Technologies: 1062-1064. [Book Chapter]
  7. Hanna D. D., T. B. Graham. 2003. Chapter 9, Reptiles and Amphibians of the Piñon-Juniper Woodlands. pp. 151-165. in L. Floyd-Hanna and D. Hanna (eds.), Ancient Piñon-Juniper Woodlands: a natural history of Mesa Verde Country, University Press of Colorado, Boulder, CO. [Book Chapter]
  8. Platenberg R. J., T. B. Graham. 2003. Northern Colorado Plateau Herpetofauna Inventory 2002 Annual Report. Unpublished report to Northern Colorado Plateau Network, National Park Service. January 2003. [Technical Report]
  9. Graham, Tim and Renata Platenberg. 2002. Northern Colorado Plateau Herpetofauna Inventory 2001 Annual Report. Northern Colorado Plateau Network Herpetofauna Inventory. [Technical Report]
  10. Graham Tim B. 2002. Survey of ephemeral pool invertebrates at Wupatki NM: an evaluation of the significance of constructed impoundments as habitat. Hydrobiologia 486:215-224. [Journal Article]
  11. Graham Tim B., R. J. Platenberg. 2001. Northern Colorado Plateau Herpetofauna Inventory 2001 Annual Report. Unpublished report to Northern Colorado Plateau Network, National Park Service. January 2002. [Technical Report]
  12. Graham T. B. 2001. The Knowles Canyon hanging garden, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, eight years after burning: changes in vegetation and soil biota. submitted to Desert Springs Symposium Proceedings, to be published by University of Arizona Press, Jan. 2001. In press. [Book Chapter]
  13. Graham Tim B. 2000. Heat futures: the arid southwest United States. Earthwatch Institute Journal 2000 (November):28. [Journal Article]
  14. Graham Tim B. 1999. Life in the fast pool. Plateau Journal 1999/2000 (Winter):29-45. [Journal Article]
  15. Graham Tim B. 1997. The Knowles Cañon hanging garden, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, five years after burning: vegetation and soil biota patterns. pp. 173-190 in C. van Riper III and E. T. Deshler (eds. ) Proceedings of 3rd Biennial Conference of Research on the Colorado Plateau, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. [Proceedings]
  16. Graham Tim B. 1997. Reptiles. in Califorcia, Chapter 18 (S.D. Veirs, Jr. and P.A. Opler), in M.J. Mac, P.A. Opler, CE. Puckett Haecker, and P.D. Doran (eds.) Status and trends of the nation's biological resources, U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey, Washington D.C. [Book Chapter]
  17. Tuhy J. S., T. B. Graham. 1997. Ecological characterization of the canyon country region: a basis for sustainable land management. pp. 277-285. in L. M. Hill. Learning from the land: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Science Symposium proceedings, Cedar City, UT, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, BLM/UT/GI-98/006+1220. [Proceedings]
  18. Norton R. A., T. B. Graham, G. Alberti. 1997. A rotifer-eating ameronothroid (Acari:Ameronothridae) mite from ephemeral pools on the Colorado Plateau. pp. 539-542. in R. Mitchell, C. J. Horn, G. R. Needham and W. C. Welbourn (eds.) Acarology IX, Proceedings (IXth Inter. Congress of Acarology). Ohio Biol. Survey, Columbus, OH. [Proceedings]
  19. Graham Tim B., R. A. Norton. 1997. Uncharismatic microfauna of the Colorado Plateau: notes on distribution and ecology of an undescribed pothole-dwelling ameronothroid (Acari:Ameronothridae) mite. pp. 477-483. in L. M. Hill. Learning from the land: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Science Symposium proceedings, Cedar City, UT, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, BLM/UT/GI-98/006+1220. [Proceedings]
  20. Graham Tim B., B. B. Chomel. 1997. Population dynamics of the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and Sin Nombre Virus, California Channel Islands. emerging Infectious Diseases 3:367-370. [Journal Article]
  21. Graham Tim B. 1997. Grasshopper communities in native and non-native grasslands of the Colorado Plateau: differences in density and species composition. Abstract, pp. 173-174. in L. M. Hill. Learning from the land: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Science Symposium proceedings, Cedar City, UT, Bureau of Land Management, Utah State Office, BLM/UT/GI-98/006+1220. [Abstract]
  22. Graham Tim B. 1997. Climate change and ephemeral pool ecosystems: potholes and vernal pools as potential indicator systems. in Impacts of Climate Change and Land Use in the Southwestern United States. World Wide Web poster session. [Web Page]
  23. Campbell L. A., T. B. Graham, L. P. Thibault, P. A. Stine. 1996. The arroyo toad (Bufo microscaphus californicus): ecology, threats, and research needs. Technical Report NBS/CSC-96-01. California Science Center, National Biological Service, University of California, Davis, CA. [Technical Report]
  24. Graham Tim B. 1995. Sympatric occurrence of Eubranchiopoda in ephemeral pools: a comment. American Midland Naturalist 133:371-372. [Journal Article]
  25. Graham Tim B., T. Persons, W. Schaedla, D. Moore. 1995. Temperature patterns of rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) at natural Bridges National Monument, Utah. pp. 255-274 in C. van Riper III (ed.), Proceedings of 2nd Biennial Conference on Research in the Colorado Plateau Parks, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. [Proceedings]
  26. Graham Tim B., R. W. Meyer. 1995. Observations of a Great blue Heron rookery: changes in nesting effort over six years. pp. 285-292 in C. van riper III (ed.), Proceedings 2nd Biennial Conference on Research in the Colorado Plateau Parks, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. [Proceedings]
  27. Graham Tim B. 1994. Predation by dipteran larvae on fairy shrimp (Crustacea:Anostraca) in Utah rock pools. Southwestern Naturalist 39:206-207. [Journal Article]
  28. Graham, Tim B. 1993. Establishment of Cora ramosissima seedlings: impacts of substrate, seedling dispersion,. [Other]
  29. Gladney E. S., T. B. Graham, R. W. Ferenbaugh, M. G. Bell, C. E. Burns, J. D. Morgan, E. J. Nickell. 1993. Chemical Analysis of selected pothole water sources in Southwestern National Parks, Monuments, and Recreation Areas. Los Alamos National Laboratory Technical Report LA-12605-MS. [Technical Report]
  30. Graham Tim B. 1992. Ecology of potholes on the Colorado Plateau: sensitivity of pothole communities and ecosystems to acid deposition. Colorado Plateau 2(1):1&8. [Newsletter]
  31. Graham Tim B. 1991. Ecology of potholes on the Colorado Plateau: observations on community structure and ecosystem processes. Colorado Plateau 1(1):2&5. [Newsletter]
  32. Graham Tim B. 1991. Air Pollution and desert systems at risk: the susceptibility of pothole ecosystems on the Colorado Plateau to acid deposition. pp. 102-111 in D. Mangis, J. Baron, and K. Stolte (eds.) Acid rain and air pollution in desert parks, Proceedings of a workshop, May 1988 and management recommendations. Tech. Rep. NPS/NRAQD/NRTR-91/02. [Technical Report]
  33. Graham Tim B. 1991. Western rattlesnake ecology at Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah. Park Science. 11:10-11. [Journal Article]
  34. Graham T. B. 1990. Effects of acid deposition on the Colorado Plateau: acidification of potholes near Arches National Park, Utah. Paper presented at George Wright Society 1990 Conference, El Paso, TX, and at 1st Biennial Conference on Research in the Colorado Plateau Parks, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ. [Presentation]