DOI: 10.18258/0226
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Abstract
Bison spp. (bison) fossils are scarce on the Colorado Plateau, especially within the greater Grand Canyon region. Because of the poor fossil record for the bison on the Colorado Plateau and in Grand Canyon National Park, various resource managers have surreptitiously designated bison a non-native and human-introduced species. The lack of evidence for bison seems to be a collection bias rather than a true lack of bison remains. Today, Grand Canyon National Park has a neighboring herd of 350 bison that have meandered unwantedly onto National Park lands from neighboring Forest Service and State of Arizona lands. This study spatiotemporally illustrates bison are recently native to the GGC based on misidentified specimens in archaeological collections. Finalized data may require resource managers to reconsider whether or not bison should be re-considered a native species to the Grand Canyon National Park and elsewhere on the Colorado Plateau.
Introduction to the Project
Bison are a common sight to see when you visit the American West. They use to be much more abundant in recent past. But what about the deeper past?
The Grand Canyon National Park has a neighboring herd of 300 bison (the House Rock bison herd) that have wandered into the National Park boundaries and will not leave. The herd was first introduced to the area in 1905 by Charles "Buffalo" Jones, to preserve and conserve the bison, but in doing so, crossing bison with cattle, resulting in a hybrid species.
The problem with having bison on the Grand Canyon National Park boundaries lies in policy. Bison are considered non-native to the Grand Canyon area, based on very little paleontological and archaeological research. I am investigating the deeper past record of bison between 22,000 and 500 years ago.
For a quick background on the House Rock Valley bison herd that have migrated onto the Kaibab Plateau, click the House Rock Bison Article button below.
Want to learn more or support my research?
The Grand Canyon National Park has a neighboring herd of 300 bison (the House Rock bison herd) that have wandered into the National Park boundaries and will not leave. The herd was first introduced to the area in 1905 by Charles "Buffalo" Jones, to preserve and conserve the bison, but in doing so, crossing bison with cattle, resulting in a hybrid species.
The problem with having bison on the Grand Canyon National Park boundaries lies in policy. Bison are considered non-native to the Grand Canyon area, based on very little paleontological and archaeological research. I am investigating the deeper past record of bison between 22,000 and 500 years ago.
For a quick background on the House Rock Valley bison herd that have migrated onto the Kaibab Plateau, click the House Rock Bison Article button below.
Want to learn more or support my research?
Methods of Research
Some goals of the project include obtaining accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates on bison bones from archaeological and paleontological sites across the Colorado Plateau and the Grand Canyon. These dates will then be imported into a data set that includes previously recorded fossil bison, and packrat middens. The packrat middens are important because they preserve climatic and environmental indicators that have been easily and accurately radiocarbon dated. The above factors, when combined, can be used in a geographic information system (GIS) to model where bison could have lived at certain times in the past. The importance of the dates is to make multiple ranges of ages in the past to create several models. Using GIS is the only means to really model the landscape of the Grand Canyon area and Colorado Plateau to see where bison could live sustainably based on packrat middens, and fossil sites containing bison.
Implications and Applications of Results
Studying the fossil record is important for conservationists, preservationists, and politicians to make educated policies for the protection of species in North America for future generations to enjoy. The only way to make educated policies, is to learn from the past. The past is the key to the present and future.
This Project is Supported by:
I'd like to thank my funders from Experiment.com: Pat Monaco, Aimee Finn, Jason P. Schein, Skander Mzali, user Hello World, Denny Luan, Amy Billings, Jeffrey Supplee, Carolyn Gilmore, Laura Gilmore and Evan Emmert, Nancy Greenwood, April Carr, Rachel Pike, Jennifer Barber, Linda Cox, Kimber Short, Andrew Joyner, Sandra Swift, Gail Griffin, Ginger Keller-Ferguson, and Kayla Badamo.
I also had support from the National Buffalo Foundation that provided $1,400 for the dedicated use of radiocarbon dating for some of my samples. I generously thank the National Buffalo Foundation for funding my research!
Additionally, ETSU Don Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology provided funding for travel to the Grand Canyon and other museums and collections, in addition to the ETSU Graduate School Graduate providing a Student Research Grant.
And of course, this project would not have been feasible without the consent and cooperation of the National Park Service at Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks, the Navajo Nation, and the Museum of Northern Arizona (especially Dave and Janet Gillette)! Thank you, everybody, for your assistance in making this an amazing experience!
I also had support from the National Buffalo Foundation that provided $1,400 for the dedicated use of radiocarbon dating for some of my samples. I generously thank the National Buffalo Foundation for funding my research!
Additionally, ETSU Don Sundquist Center of Excellence in Paleontology provided funding for travel to the Grand Canyon and other museums and collections, in addition to the ETSU Graduate School Graduate providing a Student Research Grant.
And of course, this project would not have been feasible without the consent and cooperation of the National Park Service at Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks, the Navajo Nation, and the Museum of Northern Arizona (especially Dave and Janet Gillette)! Thank you, everybody, for your assistance in making this an amazing experience!