Are the Snowpack Structures Different Between the Riparian and Upland Environments? Allie B. Cunningham Winter Ecology Spring 2015 CU Mountain Research Station

Introduction Riparian Habitat: Ecosystems located along the banks of rivers or streams, or any other water networks. – (Freitag, 2014) Important habitats for an array of wildlife, both aquatic and terrestrial. Water/Streams: Less dense and warmer waters are on the surface of the streams during winter time. (Smith, 2013) Upland: Area inland from stream

Introduction Snowpack: All new and old snow and ice on the ground. Structure: Complex array of snow grains that are a product of present and past weather conditions. Rounds and Facets

Study Question When comparing snowpack in the Riparian (within 1 meter from stream) and Upland (50 meters away from the stream), are the snowpack structures different?

Hypothesis HO: The snow structure is independent of the riparian and upland areas near the stream. HA: The snow structure is not independent of the riparian and upland areas near the stream. If looking at the snow in the Riparian(distance of <1 m away) and Upland (50 m away) from the stream, then the snowpack structure will differ due to the various ecological systems in each area.

Methods West Lake Creek, Edwards, Colorado Find six study sites. ▫3 sites <1 m from lotic streams ▫3 sites 50 m from lotic stream ▫Each with equal open exposure Non-random Sampling

Dig a 2m x 3m plot, and as deep until soil/ice Take temperature for each 10 cm layer, the air temperature & the temperature of water surface. Observe snow crystals of each snowpack layer Record observations on Snowpack data profile sheet

Results - <1m Snow Profiles Z=70cmZ=64cmZ=67

Results - 50 Meter Snow Profiles Z=74Z=70

Results Moist vs Wet Liquid Water Content MoistWet <1 m03 50m20 P=.025

Results - Penetrability Top 2 Layers 4F1FF <1m222 50m022 Middle 2 Layers 4FF <1m33 50m22 Bottom LayerFIce < P=.435 P=1.o0 P=.025

Results- Crystal Shape Top LayersRoundCluster Rounds Shattered <1m231 50m211 Middle LayersFacet/RoundsFacet <1m42 50m22 Bottom LayerIceFacet <13o 50m02 P=.732 P=.598 P=.025

Results- Crystal Sizes (# of layers with size x) Size(mm)11.52 <1m084 50m334 P=.076

Limitations There was not enough time to run this study and gain the amount of data needed to make sufficient conclusions ▫Length of day, amount of days, amount of plots Only 2 plots for the Upland area were observed because of time restraint. Could not find depth of ice.

Discussions Water Content PenetrabilityCrystal Shape Crystal Size Between All Layers.025n/a.076 Top Layern/a n/a Middle Layern/a1.598n/a Bottom Layern/a.025 n/a Some parts of the snow structure did support the that they are dependent on location near stream. (In green) -water content -bottom layers of both penetrability and crystal shape Others snow structures were independent. (in red).

Discussion Near Stream- Snow more water saturated, less insulation properties. More wet on ground level=more vulnerable to becoming iced over. The animals underneath the snow can either drown, become hypothermic or famished. (Hull, 2010) Further Studies

Conclusions The different locations from the stream (upland verse riparian) can alter the snow pack in some ways, however there needs to be a more in-depth study to have significant results. With the wetter snowpack structure along the stream, it seems hard for animals to have a habitat in the subnivean.

Acknowledgments Special thanks to Dr. Tim Kittel !!!!!! My study partner And to all you folks that have helped/listened!!

Citations Smith, Walter. "Why Do Streams Not Freeze in Winter?" Appalachian Biodiversity and Society Lab. 8 Jan Web. 28 Feb "Metamorphism, Snow." National Avalanche Center. Web. 28 Feb Hull, Jeff. "Packed to the Hilt." Audubon Nov/Dec2010, Vol. 112 Issue Nov Web. 28 Feb Preacher, K. J. (2001, April). Calculation for the chi-square test: An interactive calculation tool for chi-square tests of goodness of fit and independence [Computer software]. Available from