Officials say 308 research projects currently are taking place in Yellowstone National Park at an estimated cost of $10.6 million.
That compares with about 100 projects in the park in 1983."More and more scientists are coming to all the national parks to conduct studies because they're the cleanest of what's left," said John Varley, Yellowstone's director of research.
He said the researchers can compare Yellowstone's environment with more heavily impacted areas.
For decades, researchers have been studying projects ranging from the analysis of invertebrates living in boiling water to studies of wildlife at the top of the food chain - the park's grizzly bears.
They also have been collecting data on the impact of tourists on park features, the effect of fishermen on park waters and the damage to aquatic life from acid mine drainage.
Some of the research is designed to allow park officials to better manage the wildlife and the range land, Varley said.
Other research is being conducted to gather basic scientific data and some to educate the public, he said.
One of the oldest ongoing projects was started by research geologist Rick Hutchinson, who began studying the park's thermal activity in 1970.
His study of changes in activity of the park's hot springs, geysers and mud pots could have a practical application.
Any change in the underground workings of a geyser due to geological stress might be an indication that an earthquake could occur, Hutchinson said. Intervals between eruptions of the park's most famous geyser, Old Faithful, shortened dramatically before the devastating 1959 earthquake, he noted.
Some researchers are studying the origin of life in Yellowstone's hot springs, which Varley calls "life's halfway house."
Understanding life in the boiling water is one of science's most difficult problems, he said.
A study of the ecology of microbial communities in Yellowstone's hot springs was begun by David Ward of Montana State University 15 years ago.
Yellowstone itself is funding a dozen studies on wolves at the request of Congress.
Park researcher Paul Schullery is compiling a historical record on the occurrence of the wolf, and Wayne Brewster is working on several wolf projects. One is assessing the aspects of capturing, transporting and confining wolves.
Research on grizzlies range from projects that look into the population dynamics of the big bears to their food habits. Dick Knight of Bozeman, head of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team, is main researcher for several projects.
Montana State University professor Ernest Vyse is studying the DNA fingerprinting of grizzly bears and coyotes. By looking at the animals' genetic codes, scientists can learn whether there is enough genetic variability in the grizzly and coyote population, Varley said.
Other ongoing studies involve antelope, bison, moose, ospreys, peregrine falcons, bald eagles, trumpeter swans and insects.
Hundreds of scientists gathered following the huge forest fires in Yellowstone in 1988 and have settled on about 60 post-fire related projects.
"If we don't learn from the fires of 1988, we all ought to be thrown in jail," Varley said.