The snowmelt season for water years 2001 to 2003 were modeled for the Salt, Tonto, and Verde basins in Arizona using the Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM). The SRM is a degree-day-driven snowmelt model. The purpose was to assess how well the SRM could simulate the snowmelt runoff conditions in Arizona, an arid subtropical environment that was also experiencing severe drought. Arizona's snowmelt season is characterized by multiple accumulation periods and near complete melt off periods that often occur during midwinter. Successful simulation of the streamflow would necessitate defining the proper values and patterns of the SRM parameters and assessing how this parameterization differs from other basins where the SRM has been run.

Correlation coefficient values for modeled and measured streamflow on the Salt, Tonto, and Verde basins were 0.89, 0.89, and 0.91, respectively. Index of agreement values were 0.93, 0.94, and 0.95, respectively. Runoff coefficients increased during the snowmelt season until the end of March and beginning of April. Coefficients had a more typical behavior for the remainder of the season as they decreased through June. The magnitude of the runoff coefficients was relatively low due to the dry atmosphere and drought conditions. Degree-day factors for all basins were constant. The x and y parameters associated with the recession coefficients had the effect of increasing the slope of the recession limb of the hydrograph.

Native Colorado River fishes in Grand Canyon are studied extensively using Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags. Since 1991 over 7,000 bluehead suckers (Catostomus discobolus) have been PIT tagged in Grand Canyon, but few of these fish are ever recaptured. The combination of low recapture rates and no previous studies on tag retention or tag induced mortality led us to evaluate tagging methods for bluehead suckers. We held 18 bluehead suckers in a net pen for 2-6 days after PIT tagging to evaluate capture and tag-induced mortality. No tag loss was observed and only one fish died during the holding period. Lack of information on the life history of this species makes interpretation of low recapture rates difficult, but current handing and PIT tagging practices for bluehead sucker in Grand Canyon do not appear to be causing delayed mortality.

Fixed stations versus automobile transects were compared for a 27-day period between July and November 2001 to investigate urban, residential, and rural temperatures and dew points post-sundown for a sub-region in the metropolitan area of Phoenix, Arizona. Temperature and dew point differences were determined among urban (urb), residential (res), and rural (rur) from the fixed sites (fix) and the mobile transect route (tran). On average, transects revealed a mean ΔT_{(urb-rur)tran} of 7.3°C (standard deviation, σ, of 2.02°C) and ΔT_{(res-rur)tran} of 3°C (σ = 1.09°C); whereas the fixed site results were ΔT_(urb-rur)fix of 4.8°C (σ = 2.78°C) and ΔT_(res-rur)fix of 2.3°C (σ = 1.81°C). Comparisons of dew points for ΔT_{d(urb-rur)tran} and ΔT_{d(res-rur)tran} were −3.21°C (σ = 4.56°C) and −1.0°C (σ = 1.44°C), respectively; whereas the ΔT_{d(urb-rur)fix} and ΔT_{d(res-rur)fix} values averaged 1.27°C (σ = 2.85°C) and −0.10°C (σ = 2.75°C), respectively. The use of a Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI) assists in interpreting the overall results of the differences among sites and highlights the important role of surface vegetation and moisture in reducing temperatures in this desert urban setting. An ongoing mobile climate sampling system is planned within the Central Arizona-Phoenix Long-Term Ecological Research program (CAP LTER) to maintain seasonal and long-term climate sampling in order to determine local details linking urban ecology and land cover change to climate change in this metropolitan region.

Geologic variation has important influences on habitat quality for species of concern, but it can be difficult to evaluate due to subtle variations, complex terminology, and inadequate maps. To better understand habitat of the Apache trout (Onchorhynchus apache or O. gilae apache Miller), a threatened endemic species of the White Mountains of east-central Arizona, we reviewed existing geologic research to prepare composite geologic maps of the region at intermediate and fine scales. We projected these maps onto digital elevation models to visualize combinations of lithology and topography, or lithotopo types, in three-dimensions. Then we examined habitat studies of the Apache trout to evaluate how intermediate-scale geologic variation could influence habitat quality for the species. Analysis of data from six stream gages in the White Mountains indicates that base flows are sustained better in streams draining Mount Baldy. Felsic parent material and extensive epiclastic deposits account for greater abundance of gravels and boulders in Mount Baldy streams relative to those on adjacent mafic plateaus. Other important factors that are likely to differ between these lithotopo types include temperature, large woody debris, and water chemistry. Habitat analyses and conservation plans that do not account for geologic variation could mislead conservation efforts for the Apache trout by failing to recognize inherent differences in habitat quality and potential.

The Smoking Hazards Scale (SHS) is a 12-item questionnaire with four scales designed to assess respondent perceptions of obvious health risks due to smoking, subtle health risks due to smoking, health risks not associated with smoking, and risks for stressful life events. The SHS focuses on risk perceptions for objective consequences and can be used to test causal pathways in behavioral treatment programs for smoking cessation. Reliability and validity information are presented from a sample of 215 smokers in the precontemplative and contemplative stages of change. While these smokers see themselves at an increased risk for the obvious health risks due to smoking, they are unaware of the subtle risks of smoking.