ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF BISON ON THE NORTH RIM OF GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

The purpose of this study is to determine the impacts of American bison, a non-native large ungulate, on the Boreal Forest

ecosystem of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. The study measures the effects of bison on the soil surrounding

grazing locations, the water quality of springs and sinks holes bison use, species richness of vegetation in the areas, and

species richness of herpetofauna if present. This study will occur on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park at 80 site

locations based on a stratified random sampling of sinkholes used by bison and sinkholes with no documented evidence of bison

use. The variables tested in this study will be: infiltration capacity, presence of E.coli, inventory of species of vegetation, and

habitat assessment for herpetofauna. This data will then be applied to the groundwater models of the canyon to determine the

larger effects of the bison. This study will quantify the ecological impacts of the bison on the North Rim and influence future

management decisions.