September 1952

YOSEMITE NATURE NOTES VOLUME XXXI • NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER 1952

Ponderosa pines —Ansel Adams

Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River, Tuolumne Meadows. By Ansel Adams from "Yosemite and the Sierra Nevada. " Reproduction by kind permission of Houghton Mifflin Co. Cover Photo: Ponderosa pines. By Ansel Adams.

THE MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF

THE Yosemite NATURALIST division AND

THE YOSEMITE NATURAL HISTORY ASSOCIATION, INC.

I C. P. Russell, Superintendent D. E. McHenry, Park Naturalist D. H. Hubbard, Assoc. Park Naturalist N. B. Herkenham, Asst. Park Naturalist W. W. Bryant, junior Park Naturalist

VOL. XXXI SEPTEMBER 1952 NO. 9 HISTORY AND PRESENT STATUS OF GOLDEN TROUT IN YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

By Duane D. Jacobs, Assistant Chief Ranger Of the several kinds of trout which Lake, and the strain is believed have at one time or another been pure. Fletcher Lake was replanted introduced in the waters of Yosemite in 1936 and has some golden in it, National Park, none is more beautiful but they are in competition with fully colored, remotely located, nor eastern brook trout and seem to be tempting to the fisherman than the disappearing. golden trout. Because of its limited During the late twenties and early range this prized species (Salmo aquabonita) thirties, several other plants were is much less known than made in lakes and streams which other trout in the park, such as the already contained other species. rainbow (Salmo gairdneri irideus), These plants all failed to establish which is the only trout native to our waters and generally the best established throughout. The purpose in a few years. The Lyell Fork of The Tuolumne River was one of these of this article is to present the historical background of golden trout waters; it was planted twice with torical background of golden trout large numbers of golden without plantings in Yosemite and to show noticeable result. The principal competing species was eastern brook. distribution of this admired species. Reymann Lake, elevation 10,000 Golden trout were first introduced feet, was stocked with golden trout in Yosemite National Park in 1919. during this period. These did well This first plant was made in Adair until old enough to spawn, when Lake, elevation 10,000 feet. They bethey left the lake via the outlet came firmly established in the lake which drains into Nelson Lake, a and its outlet stream, which is steep distance of roughly one mile. In the and rocky, with falls preventing summer of 1936 the writer checked other trout from migrating upwards. these lakes twice, and at that time The stream fish population now exthere were no golden left in Reyceeds that of the lake. No replants mann Lake, the place of original have ever been necessary. plant, but some were found in the In 1920, plants of golden were stream and in Nelson Lake. One 17- made in Fletcher and Townsley inch golden was caught with hook Lakes. They have been and are at and line in the small stream between present doing well in Townsley the lakes. Several golden about 12

inches in length were found dead outlet of the lake. Has been realong the shores of Nelson Lake, planted since with rainbow, which which was well stocked with eastern predominate. brook at that time. The remaining 3. Table Lake, elevation 7,000 golden later migrated further down feet. Contained rainbow. No results stream from Nelson Lake into Echo Creek and crossed with resident ever recorded from plant. No rerainbow of this stream. The hybrid ports of golden being caught. Comspecies is to be found in Echo Creek plete failure. at the present time. The golden have B. Lakes devoid of fish vanished completely from both of at time of planting the above lakes. Mary Lake, elevation 9,600 feet, 1. Mattie Lake, elevation 9,400 and an unnamed lake near Dorothy feet. Golden did remarkably well Lake, elevation about 9,500 feet, first 2 years, attaining growth of were planted in 1930 with golden about 10 inches. Spawned the third trout. These lakes are in the extreme year, leaving lake by outlet stream, northern area of the park, and preswhich empties into Tuolumne River ent reports indicate that golden may gorge by steep bluffs and falls. One be fairly well established in both, or two very large golden were rewith natural reproduction supportported as being seen in this lake ing them. late as 1947. Natural reproduction In 1936, 98,000 golden trout were never occurred within the lake and planted in six lakes in widely separthe original plant was considered a ated areas of the Tuolumne Meadows complete failure as far as getting region, ranging in elevation from golden established in this lake. about 7,000 to 10,400 feet. Three of 2. Virginia Lake, elevation 9,200 these lakes were devoid of fish at the feet. An exact duplication of the re time golden were introduced, and suits shown for Mattie Lake was also three contained some rainbow. All observed in this lake. These fish, were typical Sierran glacial cirque spawning in their third year, left the lakes with live outlet streams, but lake by the outlet, which drains into insufficient inlets for spawning purthe Tuolumne River via Return poses. These six lakes were planted Creek, and for all practical purposes by and under the supervision of the were lost. No reproduction occurred writer, who checked the plants durin the lake. ing the ensuing 6 years for results, which briefly follow : 3. Unnamed lake, elevation 9,000 feet. Here again the golden thrived A. Lakes already containing trout very well the first 2 years on the at time of planting abundant feed present. Spawning the 1. Fletcher Lake, elevation 10,300 third year, they; too, left the lake via feet. Contained some golden and the outlet, which at the time (early probably eastern brook. Still has July) was already rapidly drying up, some golden, but these seem to be the water so shallow in places as disappearing. being insufficient to completely cover the fish. We picked up with 2. Vogelsang Lake, elevation our hands about a dozen 10 to 11 10,400 feet. Contained a few raininch golden from the rapidly dimin bow. Some golden still present, havishing pools. They were full of ing reproduced successfully in the spawn. No further evidence of fish,

except for an occasional report of Present status : Golden apparently a single large trout being seen in the disappearing, eastern brook in cornlake, was noted. No reproduction ocpetition. Fishing pressure moderately curred in the lake and this plant heavy. must also be recorded as a complete 4. Vogelsang Lake failure. Location : Headwaters of Merced Location and Present Status River. Stocked in 1930, 1936, and of Golden Trout 1938. Present status : Some reproduction. 1. Adair Lake and Gray Peak Lake also contains rainbow. Fishing Fork pressure moderate to heavy. Location : Headwaters of Merced River. Stocked in 1919. 5. Mary Lake Present status : Pure strain of golden. Location : Headwaters of Tuolumne Successfully established since 1919, River in northern portion of park. no replants. Stream population ex Stocked in 1930. seeds that of lake. Fishing pressure Present status : Reports indicate golden light due to difficult accessibility. are successfully reproducing here, and are established in the outlet 2. Townsley Lake stream, Tilden Creek. No late ofLocation : Headwaters of Merced ficial knowledge is available. FishRiver near those of Tuolumne River. ing pressure light due to remote loStocked in 1920. cation. Present status : Apparently maintaining themselves despite moderate 6. Unnamed lake near Dorothy fishing. Strain believed pure. No reLake plants. Location : Headwaters of Tuolumne River in northern section of park. 3. Fletcher Lake Stocked in 1930. Location : Headwaters of Merced Present status : Reports indicate sucRiver near those of Tuolumne River. cessful establishment of golden in Stocked in 1920. Replanted in 1936. this lake, but as in the case of Mary

Lake, no recent official reports are had replenished their numbers available. Fishing pressure light due naturally. to remote location. While the existing golden trout waters are considered a definite Management Problems, Present asset to the park 's trout population, and Future our past experiences with this fish do not encourage further attempts. In We do not feel that any special establishing such waters in Yosemite, management problems exist concerning the golden trout in Yosemite due to the following reasons: National Park. The present limit of 10 fish per day and 20 per week on 1. Golden trout are highly migratory all species is believed sufficiently upon reaching spawning age low for the protection of the golden. and are usually lost in the intermittent outlets.

2. They do not compete well with Should the few waters containing existing species already established a pure strain appear in danger of in most park waters. extermination through heavy fish3. Very few of our streams ing pressure, the most practical aplakes are suitable for establishing proach would seem to be a closure of golden, as already shown through fishing in these waters until they former plants.

SOME OBSERVATIONS ON SHOWY FLOWERS AND DECIDUOUS PLANT REPRODUCTION IN YOSEMITE VALLEY

By Emil F. Ernst, Park Forester Time and time again we receive Perhaps the answer can be obcomments on the lack of showy tained in some observations that flowers and deciduous brush and have been made in more than 20 tree reproduction on the floor of Yoyears of residence in the valley. In semite Valley. The advancing years that time the writer has been directly show a continued decline in the numinvolved in one way or another with bers of such plants. There is, in four different enclosed areas. marked contrast, no lack of reproducMaintenance of the first of these tion in coniferous species or the fenced areas was taken over in the noxious or unwanted flowering spring of 1938 following a previously plants. unknown period of maintenance by One naturally asks, "Why is this? " another person. For the following 11

years deer were kept out of this enclosure and each summer saw an abundant concentration of showy flowers. Practically no care other than a little watering and protection from grazing animals appears to have been sufficient to maintain a dense natural garden. Within the enclosure it was necessary occasionally to pull up many seedlings of California black oak (Quercus kelloggii), otherwise there would have been a thick stand of these deciduous trees. The second enclosed area was the community "victory" garden used by local residents for growing truck garden produce. Within this area showy flowers were able to maintain their status wherever they did not actually interfere with the gardening operations. Native species of flowers have appeared in the garden which were not present on the ground just outside of the protecting fence. The third enclosure was, and still, well known for the marvelous display of evening primrose (Oenothera hookeri) when in season in the valley. Prior to fencing and the introduction of a few parent plants the site which is now densely populated with the evening primrose was barren. The fourth protected plot with which the writer became well acquainted contained a great number of seedlings of California black oak, occurring in considerable density. Areas outside of this enclosure, though under the same ecological conditions as those within, fail to reveal any similar reproduction. The scarcity of oak reproduction in Yosemite Valley is a fact often commented upon by observant interested visitors. The only showy flowers able to maintain or improve their status are those plants which are unpalatable to grazing animals. The only animals Photo by Pillsbury, courtesy of Mrs. Mary C. Tresidder Dense stand of evening primrose in Yosemite Valley as it formerly occurred, 1916. permitted to graze in Yosemite Valley are the deer. The smaller animals that are seed or vegetation eaters apparently have not been sufficient in number or voracious enough to materially affect the aforementioned enclosed areas in producing noticeable stands of showy flowers or deciduous brush and tree species. Those plants which the grazing animals do not seem to relish include a number of pests such as the bull thistle, the Klamath weed, the tumbleweed, and the puncture vine. All of these noxious plants have been able to expand in their areas of occurrence and in density during the same period that the more desirable showy flowers and deciduous woody species have been waging a losing fight.

BALLS OF FIRE

By Douglass H. Hubbard, Associate Park Naturalist "Great Balls of Fire! " might well lightning struck, and looked back have been the expression of the time to see a cloud of feathers falling afternoon on September 26 this year, ing downward from the cedar. Upon returning to the base of the tree they

cedar tree directly behind the Yosemite Museum had no difficulty in locating the semite Museum at 4:20 p.m., causing pigeon, which apparently had been ing some rather unusual phenomena. sitting on one of the upper branches. Two others of the museum staff Indications from the clean and I were in the post office nearby "plucked" areas were that the elecwhen there occurred a blinding flash tricity had entered the bird's body of lightning, followed almost instantand traveled downward, removing ly by a heavy clap of thunder diall of the feathers from the neck, rectly overhead, from a storm which breast, left side of the abdomen, and had been moving down the valley left leg. At the time we reached the for about half an hour. We returned base of the tree the smell of burned to the museum, about one block from feathers was still in the air and the post office, not yet realizing singed feathers could be seen on the where the lightning had struck. A back of the pigeon's wings. Visitors group of excited people was clus- in the History Room claimed they tered on the back porch and under saw electricity running in and on the incense-cedar some 15 feet north the ventilating fan, while others in of the porch. The tree had been split the museum said that the floor for for about one third the way down glowed with the heavy charge. One from the top. One man was holding elderly lady stated that she had the a dead bird which closer examinasensation of numbness in her legs. tion showed to be a band-tailed Mr. Aretas Chamberlain, the mupigeon, partially devoid of feathers. seum janitor, was talking to the The visitors had different stories lady in the lobby at the time of the to tell. One couple had just walked strike and he described something out of the museum at the time the similar to a ball of fire running between them, from the rear of the building out the front door and in the direction of the Administration Building. That a portion of it reached there was evidenced by the fact that sparks jumped from the radiators and came out through the intercommunication system, causing local excitement. Only the pigeon appears to have suffered extensive damage, but residents who in the past have stated that lightning never strikes on the floor of Yosemite Valley because the higher walls surrounding it have had to revise their thoughts! Mr. Hubbard and lightning-killed pigeon.

A SAMPLING OF THE ALGAL FLORA OF YOSEMITE

By Sol A. Karlin, Ranger Naturalist Little study has been made as yet rials about them. The food-making of the cryptogams, or non-flowering process is dependent upon the pigplants of Yosemite. Among these ments contained within the protogroups of the plant kingdom, plasm, or "living stuff," of the algal the ferns and their allies are to cell. These pigments enable the plant be investigated by a member of the cell to capture the sun's energy for Yosemite naturalist staff as a basis the food-making process, called for a special issue of Yosemite Nature photosynthesis. Notes sometime in the future. Other The scientific grouping of the groups such as the algae, fungi, algae depends upon two features, lichens, mosses, and liverworts also namely, (a) the kinds of pigments require attention. present, and (b) the methods of re- The author (2)* in 1950 made an production. In the random sampling attempt at sampling the mosses and for Yosemite described herein, memliverworts of the region. Carl Sharsmith (3, 4) has reported on the members of four classes of algae were discovered. These are: (1) The bluegreen algae (Myxophyceae or Cyanophyceae), (II) the red algae (Rhodophyceae), (III) the diatoms (Bacillariaceae), and (IV) the green algae (Chlorophyceae). The diagnoses and determinations were made by using the author's own reference (1), and G. M. Smith's standard work (5) on the freshwater algae of the United States. It is hoped that this article on the algae of the region will awaken the curiosity of others with regard to the less conspicuous algae to be found in Yosemite National Park. The reader may ask, "Why study pond-scums anyway?" Let's stop a moment and consider what would happen if all plant life were suddenly Samples of the algae were taken to disappear. The food chain during the first two weeks of August would be broken and soon all animal this year. In all cases the material life would perish. Algae are was preserved in a weak formalin "simple" plants. They hold a key solution, and later examined microstone position in the balance of nature scopically within several days of in aquatic environments. The proto- collection. The sketches which apzoans (microscopic one-celled pear in this article were made from animals) devour a portion of the typical material found in the various pond-scums. The protozoans in turn temporary microscope slide mounts. come the prey of the small crus- Vials of the preserved material have taceans such as the waterfleas; the been deposited in the Yosemite Mucrustaceans in turn serve as food for seum for future reference. all fish. And, in this manner, the In the following annotated list the food chain goes on indefinitely. numbers correspond to those of the The main reason why the algae sketched figures appearing in the are so important to aquatic habitats illustrated plate. Numbers in parenis that they have the ability to make theses, such as (440x), indicate power their own food from the raw mate- of magnification. *Numbers refer to references listed at end of article.

Class I. Blue-green Algae 1. Oscillatoria limosa Ag. (440x). This specimen was found mixed in with Zygnema (No. 8) filaments from Yosemite Creek near the Tioga Road. 2. Phormidium autumnale (Ag.) Gem. (440x). This sample was taken from the Merced River near Camp 19. It formed dark green to rust-brown mats both near the sandy shore and on granite boulders. 2a, shows the thin sheath about the trichome; 2b, the peculiar apical cells. Class II. Red Algae 3. Lemanea annulata Kutz. (?) variety. Our specimens were growing in the splash water on granite boulders in Yosemite Creek near the Tioga Road. 3a, habit of plant (4x); 3b, detail of apical end of filament (440x); 3c, lower power view of a single filament (22x). \Fruiting bodies are borne internally. The structure of the thallus is very complicated. 4. Batrachespermum moniliforme Roth. Our specimens were collected in the rapids of the Merced River attached to boulders in midstream. 4a, habit (4x); 4b, simplified diagram to show the method of branching at the swollen nodes (100x); 4c, detail of one lateral branch showing sex organs and fruiting body (440x). Class III. Diatoms 5. Tabellaria flocculosa (Roth) Kutz. (440x). Our specimens were taken along with Zygnema filaments at Yosemite Creek. The zigzag chains are held together by colorless adhesive surfaces. Class IV. Green Algae 6. Cosmarium punctulatum. (Nordst.) Borgesen (440x). From specimens taken in a pothole filled with standing water along Cascade Creek near Gentry. 7. Rhizoclonium crispum Kutz. (440x). This bright green alga was taken from the Merced River near Camp 19. It grew in long streamers attached to any convenient place. 8. Zygnema peliosporum Wittr. (?) variety. This is the most widespread alga in the park. It was taken from the Merced River, Yosemite Creek, and the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River. 8a, vegetative cells with stellate chloroplasts (440x); 8b, resting spores (440x). 9. Mougeotia scabris Hass. (440x). This specimen was intermingled with the Zygnema samples of Yosemite Creek. 9a, view of broad surface of the chloroplast; 9b, view of chloroplast turned at right angles to view of 9a. 10. Microspora amoena (Kutz.) Rab. (440x). Our material was taken from Fern Spring where 3 was the dominant filamentous alga. 10a, vegetative cells; 10b, the remains of adjoining cells. 11. Scenedesmus obliquus (Turp.) Kutz. (440x). Taken from the same pothole as specimen No. 6. 12. Vaucheria hamata (Vouch.) DC. (440x).; Collected from the banks of Fern Spring where it grew in fine velvety patches resembling mosses in an early stage of development. It was only after a long search of the material that a fruiting body was found.

REFERENCES

1. Karlin, S. A. 1949. Preliminary survey of the filamentous algae of southern California. Master's thesis. Univ. of California at Los Angeles. 2. Karlin, S. A. 1950. Notes on bryophytes seen along Yosemite trails. Yosemite Nature Notes, 29(12):118-119. 3. Sharsmith, C. W. 1935. Red snow at Tioga Pass. Yosemite Nature Notes, 14(8):63. 4. Sharsmith, C.W. 1941. Observations on red snow. Yosemite Nature Notes, 20(2):9-10. 5. Smith, G. M. 1933. The fresh-water algae of the United States. McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., New York and London.

Microscopic views of some algae of Yosemite

Digitized by Yosemite Online Library Dan Anderson