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Predicting Habitat Suitability for Dusky Grouse in Montana (Poster)
No full textDusky grouse (Dendragapus obscurus), are a forest grouse species found throughout western Montana. Despite being a game species, there has been inconsistent monitoring and few surveys in recent years limiting effective management and knowledge of their ecology in Montana. Previous research indicates that dusky grouse use several different habitat types including conifer forest in the winter and shrub/steppe and grassland communities along the edge of coniferous forests during the breeding season. Our objective was to create a state-wide map predicting relative suitability for dusky grouse occurrence that could be used to identify locations for future surveys. We obtained dusky grouse observations collected during April-June, 2009-2018 from the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation (IMBCR) program and extracted habitat information for detected/not-detected locations using remotely-sensed data. We evaluated relative habitat use with resource selection functions calibrated using generalized linear mixed models. Candidate models representing hypothesized relationships among grouse detections/non-detections and habitat conditions (e.g. forest type and coverage, relative elevation, distance to road) were compared using multi-model inference based on information theory. Preliminary results indicate that relative use for dusky grouse was higher in areas with higher proportions of mixed conifer forest, especially areas with higher proportions of douglas fir and that relative use was lower in grasslands and decreased as the distance to the edge of conifer forest increased
Evaluating the Accuracy of Bloodstain Pattern Analysis Using Hemodynamic Factors
Get PDFThis comparative survey explores the relationship between the discipline of bloodstain pattern analysis (BPA) and hemodynamic blood properties, such as viscosity and hematocrit. In BPA, forensic scientists study the phase change of blood when in contact with air, but little forensic literature connects blood biomechanics, such as hematocrit levels, to BPA. Red blood cell count, or hematocrit, in females (37-48% of blood volume) is slightly lower than males (45-52% of blood volume) from menstrual red blood cell loss, etc. Strong evidence suggests that erythrocytes influence blood viscosity because of their high concentration (4-6 x 106 RBC/mm3 or 40-45% of blood volume in healthy individuals). When whole blood is altered by a disorder/disease or alcohol intake, hematocrit levels can be affected as well. With this knowledge, there is reason to believe that blood viscosity changes with individualistic hematocrit levels. Therefore, it is hypothesized that traditional BPA can produce inaccurate results. Intravenous blood samples were drawn from nine volunteers (all women, including eight with blood alterations and one healthy control) into collection tubes containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Each sample was tested for viscosity using a Cannon-Fenske viscometer and hematocrit levels using a ZipCombo centrifuge. Each sample was used to make several bloodstains at varying degrees of impact (10, 30, 60, and 90). ANOVA (α = 0.05) and Tukey HSD statistics were used to compare angle of impact variables against each other within the nine participants. This survey connects hemodynamic properties to angle of impact tests in BPA by significantly showing how bloodstains can be misinterpreted. By examining blood viscosity among several individuals, this research assesses the accuracy of BPA by comparing experimental and expected bloodstain angles and creates a predictive framework for analyzing bloodstains created by physiologically altered blood. In conclusion, hemodynamic factors among individuals were found to influence traditional BPA methodology and future research is recommended to better understand hemodynamic properties and fulfill the recommendations made by the 2009 National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Report
Student Technology Access at a Technical University
No full textIn Fall 2018 the Oregon Institute of Technology Klamath Falls Campus Library began a pilot project to check out laptops. While this may seem like a no brainer in the modern world of libraries and mo-bile access, the library was slow to adopt a laptop checkout program due to concerns about both the upfront cost of purchasing the laptops and charging cart and about the logistics of checkout. The deci-sion to begin the pilot was based on data from the Measuring Higher Education Library & IT Services (MISO) survey which measures how faculty, students, and staff view library and technology services (Bryn Mawr College, 2019), and the issues faced from hardwired technology aging out. This article looks at the reasons for implementing the pilot project and provides an analysis of the first term as well as future steps and recommendations
A Winter Energetics Model for Bobcats in Deep Snow Environment
No full textUnderstanding basic energetic requirements of wildlife species is critical to evaluate how individuals persist in their current environments as well as to forecast responses to changed climates or habitats. Indeed, northern range limits are often thought to reflect harsh abiotic conditions that exceed the capacity of individuals to stay in energetic balance. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) occur across much of North America; at northern latitudes, they face winter challenges such as deep snows, cold temperatures, and possible food scarcity. We developed an energetics model from field data on movements, body mass, and observed diet of bobcats in mountains of northwest Montana, then evaluated overwinter prey requirements that would enable bobcats to stay in energy balance in this difficult environment. Our model indicated average daily energy expenditures were ~1.41 × basal metabolic rate. For 90 days from December-February, a 10.5 kg bobcat consuming prey items in proportion with the observed diet for bobcats in this area would need about 2.1 kg of deer (Odocoileus spp.), 7 snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus), 155 red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), 9 woodrats (Neotoma cinerea), and 250 small rodents (Cricetidae). Bobcats have considerable flexibility in diet, movements, and both timing and duration of daily activity to adjust their energetic expenditures in winter
Free Lunch, May Contain Lead: Scavenging Shot Small Mammals
No full textScavengers are subsidized by hunting remains worldwide. While most studies focus on carcasses of large mammals, shot small mammals likely provide a significant food subsidy as well. Millions of small mammals are shot each year for damage control and recreation, many being left in the field. Despite this high prevalence of carrion, and the potential for scavengers to ingest residual lead from bullet fragments, the fate of these carcasses is largely unknown. We deployed remote cameras to observe which scavengers consumed shot ground squirrels (Sciuridae spp.) and black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) in 8 locations across Montana, USA. At least 5 species of mammals and 9 species of birds scavenged, including burrowing owls (Athene cunicularia). Scavengers fully consumed 67% of carcasses and partially consumed 9%. Carcasses lasted an average of 24.5 hours before the first scavenger arrived. Of carcasses that were scavenged, mammals ate 16% compared to 84% for birds, with corvids and raptors consuming an equal number of carcasses. Common ravens (Corvus corax) and black-billed magpies (Pica hudsonia) visited the most carcasses and were often the first to arrive. Overall, our results indicate that a diverse scavenger community consumes shot ground squirrels and black-tailed prairie dogs, and consequently, may be exposed to lead from bullet fragments
Improving Estimates of Wolf Abundance in Montana
No full textEstimating wolf (Canis lupus) abundance is a key component of wolf management in Montana. Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) has successfully implemented a Patch Occupancy Model (POM) to estimate area occupied and resulting wolf abundance for the past decade. Estimates of abundance, however, depend on assumptions that territory size is fixed, consistent statewide, and includes minimal overlap; additionally, these assumptions are based on data collected pre-harvest. In reality, territories vary spatiotemporally, and this variability may be even greater under harvest. This variability in turn could affect precision and accuracy of abundance estimates. Furthermore, MFWP requires tools to both keep POM calibrated into the future, and to predict how territorial behavior might change in response to changing environmental conditions or management actions. Critically, these tools must be useful with limited data because intensive monitoring efforts are no longer sustainable. We developed theoretical models of territorial behavior towards accomplishing this goal. Results demonstrate, for example, that territories are expected to be on average smaller where prey are more clumped and abundant, and larger where human influence is greater. Predictions from our models are supported empirically. This provides evidence for how territories will vary based on ungulate populations and human use, which in turn can help guide understanding of the effects of management decisions, e.g., degree of harvest pressure. We are currently parameterizing the models with field data and developing empirical models to contrast with the theoretical models. Altogether, this work will help keep POM calibrated into the future with limited data
Recent Trends in Ungulate Forage Inferred From Remote Sensing Datasets
No full textForage quality, quantity, and phenology play a large role in regulating the habitat use and population dynamics of wildlife populations. Assessing how forage has changed over time can help inform management decisions. Using several freely available remotely sensed and climate-based datasets, we calculated forage-related metrics such as the timing and duration of spring greenup on a pixel-by-pixel basis across Montana. We conducted trend analysis from 2000-2014, identifying areas of consistent change within the state and summarizing trends on a more local scale. We also assessed variability and consistency of estimates within and across datasets. In general, mountainous regions and adjacent lower elevations display somewhat opposing trends, highlighting the importance of understanding the changes for conservation of migratory ungulates which rely on greenscape gradients to optimize nutritional gain
Time-To-Event Density Estimation of Low Density Species with Remote Cameras
No full textAbundance estimates can inform management policies and are used to address a variety of wildlife research questions, but reliable estimates of abundance can be difficult and expensive to obtain. For low-density, difficult to detect species, such as cougars (Puma concolor), the costs and intensive field effort required to estimate abundance can make working at broad spatial and temporal scales impractical. Remote cameras have proven effective in detecting these species, but the widely applied methods of estimating abundance from remote cameras rely on some portion of the population being marked or uniquely identifiable, limiting their utility to populations with naturally occurring marks and populations that have been collared or tagged. Methods to estimate the abundance of unmarked populations with remote cameras have been proposed, but none have been widely adopted. Working with Idaho Department of Fish and Game, we used the time-to-event model (Moeller et al. 2018) to estimate the density of two cougar populations in Idaho. The time-to-event model uses observed encounter rates at randomly or systematically placed cameras to estimate the abundance of unmarked populations. Obtaining reasonable abundance estimates for cougars from the time-to-event model shows that remote cameras may lower the costs of abundance monitoring for low density, difficult to detect species and make monitoring programs using remote camera grids applicable to a broader array of species. Future work will compare estimates of cougar abundance from the time-to-event model to estimates obtained from concurrent genetic spatial capture recapture estimates
Using Ecological Site Condition to Evaluate Habitat Selection by Sharp- Tailed Grouse Broods (Poster)
No full textBrood survival, an important vital rate affecting population viability of sharp-tailed grouse, is largely determined by the selection of brood-rearing habitats by females. Both the quantity and quality of brood-rearing habitat are influenced by land management decisions, and therefore, improper rangeland management can lead to habitat degradation and have a negative effect on sharp-tail grouse populations. Many land management decisions affecting brood habitats (e.g., livestock stocking rates, prescribed burning) are based on metrics including the type and condition of ecological sites. However, associations between brood habitat use and these common rangeland assessment metrics have not been evaluated. We developed a method of delineating ecological sites and assessing vegetation condition by comparing current vegetation to the climax communities across our study area in eastern Montana and western North Dakota. We then evaluated selection ratios of radio-marked brood hens in relation to ecological sites and their relative condition. Our results should provide useful information on brood habitat selection relative to habitat assessment frameworks used by rangeland managers and have implications for the management of sharp-tailed grouse brood habitats in the northern mixed-grass prairie