The Wind River Ranch Foundation is proud to sponsor and facilitate academic research.
Current research:
The lab of Dr. Jesús Rivas (New Mexico Highlands University) – Effects of bullfrogs on native fauna.
Professor Edward Martinez (New Mexico Highlands University) – River restoration and monitoring.
Previous research:
Roger Griego – Graduate Research/The Effects of Bison Horning and Thrashing on Pinon and Juniper Tree at the Wind River Ranch, Watrous, NM.
The lab of Dr. Jesús Rivas (New Mexico Highlands University) is conducting a genetic analysis of the bison on the Wind River Ranch.
Dr. Edward Martínez (New Mexico Highlands University) and staff of the Wind River Ranch have four years of data on mowing and snakeweed.
Staff at the Denver Zoo will start analyzing the effects of bison on flora and fauna during the summer of 2011.
Upcoming Research:
Jairo Mendoza and Alejandra Vega, two veterinary students from LaSalle University in Bogota, Columbia, will spend 6 weeks at the Wind ruiver to conduct research on wildlife diseases of the region.
Jennifer Runnels will begin a graduate project on the relationship of grassland birds and bison. Jennifer is an MS student at New Mexico Highlands University.
Potential Graduate Research Projects:
Please see Restoration and Research for information about these projects.
- Quantifying the changes that occur following the placement of rock dams in arroyos and canyons
- Removing piñon and juniper from grasslands and changes in native grass cover, sheet erosion, changes in soil chemistry, and compare methods of dealing with slash such as effects on soil of mulching, lopping and scattering, or removal for firewood
- Soil moisture / water table changes due to tree removal
- Bison and increased grassland health increasing carbon sequestration at a level that will mitigate the effects of climate change
- Changes in vegetation density and diversity where bison and fire interact, bison graze alone, and fire occurs without grazing
- Monitor changes in flora and fauna that come with the wetland restoration
- Detailed survey of flora and fauna that are present today
- Following changes in the river channel after we induced meander