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Do Languages Represent?: A Pilot Study on Linguistic Diversity and Library Staff
No full textThis paper aims to add to conversations on access, diversity, and representation in libraries by addressing the importance of language as a factor in library service and providing some of the first data on library workers’ language skills. Much of the literature on language in libraries focuses on issues of multilingual access and collection development, and there is less emphasis on the roles of staff and language skills in providing and mediating access. As well, while US librarians are less diverse than US library workers and the wider population in terms of gender and race, it has not been shown whether the same holds true in terms of language
Investigation of On-Site Wastewater Treatment System Suitability for Floodplains (Poster)
Get PDFGallatin is the fastest growing county in Montana, hence land with high groundwater, including property within the floodplain, is under increasing pressure for development. Homes and businesses without access to municipal wastewater service are required to have a permitted on-site wastewater treatment system (OWTS) that can remove solids, nutrients and pathogens from waste before releasing the effluent into the environment. Failing OWTS can create public health risks. While drain fields for septic systems can be adapted to high groundwater by installing them in a “sand mound,” limited literature indicates sand mounds cannot withstand flood events. The project goal is to determine whether sand mound systems or other OWTS have been proven to withstand flooding and hence would be appropriate technology for floodplain installation. Online and database literature searches were conducted regarding local health department regulations and policies regarding OWTS. Phone calls were also made to various health departments in the western part of the United States. There are articles from the EPA, the University of Wisconsin – Madison and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection stating that sand mounds should not be placed in floodplains. There are some OWTS that have potential to safely work within the floodplain, which are being investigated further. A failing or inadequate system can cause a variety of environmental and public health risks. Gallatin County is quickly growing, and it is imperative that the septic systems in floodplains will not adversely affect public health because of flood events
Metal-Microbe Interactions in Silver Bow Creek
Get PDFThis project studies the relationship between microbes and both metals and metalloids in Silver Bow Creek. Biotic manganese nodule formation in Silver Bow Creek was identified through previous studies. The formation of these nodules is of interest to Silver Bow Creek restoration since heavy metals can bind to the nodules and potentially lower contaminants of concern. The goals of this study were to identify the organism(s) involved in the formation of manganese nodules and to identify how the nodules were formed using proteomic analyses. In addition, water chemistry data was used to study relationships between several elements in the creek and the potential effect these factors have on the microbial life. A combination of microbial culturing and LC-MS was used in an attempt to isolate the microbes involved with nodule formation and identify the proteins produced by the microbes. Currently, this work is attempting to isolate a microbe in the creek and analyze metagenomic data to predict the proteins used in the formation of the nodules. Once the microbe has been isolated or the proteins predicted, proteomic analyses with LC-MS can proceed. This work, in its current phase, has implications upon the interactions of microbial communities with contaminants of concern in Silver Bow Creek
Synthesis and Characterization of [PD(PDCT)L] Coordination Compounds
Get PDF Carbon Tertrachloride (CT), a popular industrial solvent, and potential environmental contaminant of water and soil. An approximate ten square Kilometer plume of soil at the department of energy’s site in Hanford, Washington has been polluted with CCl4. Our research is based on the study of potential CT environmental remediation technologies. Furthermore, we are interested in 2,6-pyridinedithiocarboxylic acid, or PDTC, and the dechlorination properties of its copper based coordination compounds, [Cu(PDTC)L] X. We seek to understand the link between coordination compound electronic structure and reactivity. To further understand electronic structure and reactivity of these copper coordination compounds, we synthesized several Palladium-based (Pd) coordination compounds. In this study we present IR, UV-Vis, and NMR evidence for the successful synthesis of a series of [Pd(PDTC)L]X coordination compounds. Here L-Br, CN, PPh3 as well as the dimer species [Cu(PDTC)2]
Acoustic Detections of Uncommon Avian Migrants
Get PDFDuring migration, many bird species emit nocturnal flight calls that can be passively recorded, allowing great insight into avian migration ecology. Since 2012, we have used acoustic recorders to look at the composition, timing, and factors influencing avian migration in the Bitterroot Valley of western Montana. Hidden amongst the thousands of expected detections, we found evidence of many unusual or unexpected species. These species include: Barn Owl, LeConte’s Sparrow, Canada Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Upland Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Greater Yellowlegs. We reviewed observations from eBird, the Montana Natural Heritage Program, and published range maps to provide context for the rarity of detections. Our results suggest that acoustic monitoring may broaden the known distribution of migratory species in ways more traditional methods have not
Reduced Reproductive Success of Gray Catbirds in Western Woodland Habitats Dominated by Edge
Get PDFIn the western United States, relatively few studies have comprehensively examined songbird performance in fragmented habitat, particularly within naturally fragmented systems. For this study, we compared territory density and breeding success of Gray Catbirds (Dumetella carolinensis) from 2014-2016 in the Bitterroot Valley of Montana, between two woodland habitat types: floodplains and naturally fragmented draws. These two habitats fell within the same human-modified landscape, abutting mixed-use grasslands. Yet, they differed in configuration or their spatial distribution. When compared to floodplain birds, results showed that draw birds had larger territories, lower daily nest survival rates, delayed nest initiation patterns and reduced fledgling success. We also collected vegetation data around nests to see if this was a potential mechanism driving the differences across habitat types. We found the percentage of down woody debris and mid-shrub canopy cover were significantly higher in draws than in floodplains. However, neither vegetation variable significantly influenced catbirds’ daily nest survival rates. This excluded local vegetation as the driving mechanism behind differences and provided evidence toward configuration. Draws, as thin strips of corridor habitat, contain high amounts of edge and this configuration could lead to an increase in documented “edge effects”. Our results corroborate studies in the eastern U.S. which have shown negative impacts from high edge prevalence on songbird reproduction. Overall, this study’s results can assist managers in understanding that increasing the amount of edge habitat in human-altered landscapes could have negative consequences on songbird reproductive success
In Vitro Synthesis of Apatite Coatings on Titanium Alloy SP-700 to Improve Biocompatibility
Get PDFTitanium and its alloys are commonly used in the biomedical industry for their superior strength, corrosion resistance, machineability, fatigue resistance, elastic moduli, and biocompatibility; however, endosseous implants struggle with osteointegration due to poor adhesion between the implant and the receiver’s bone. It is known that by synthesizing a bone-like apatite surface coating, integration of the implant with surrounding bone is not only quicker, promoting shorter recovery times, but also reduces interface stress concentrators creating a more robust implant. This study focused on synthesizing an apatite coating via the sodium titanate method on the titanium alloy SP-700 which is a contender to be used as an implant material having a similar elastic modulus to bone. The synthesized coatings, which formed after treatment in simulated body fluid solution were characterized for topography and elemental composition using SEM/EDS analyses. The results of this study show that it is possible to synthesis thin apatite layers on the surface of SP-700 with a topography conducive to improving bone growth onto the surface of the implant
Snapping Turtle Populations and Movements in South-central Montana
Get PDFSnapping turtle (Chelydra serpentina) populations were surveyed on a number of tributaries and other water bodies in south eastern Montana along the Yellowstone River in 2016 and 2017. While records exist from incidental observations, systematic surveys for snapping turtles have not previously been conducted in Montana. Little is known about their population density and specific habitat requirements in northern parts of their range. Anthropogenic changes in land use and hydrology may affect nesting sites and hibernacula and thus snapping turtle vital rates, while also impeding metapopulation connectivity or recolonization after localized extinctions. Eighty two snapping turtles (including nine recaptures) were recorded primarily in small creeks, ponds and lakes. Only one snapping turtle was captured on the Yellowstone River though many were found in small tributaries. When analyzed separately capture success rates were significantly different amongst five creeks (p < .05) with a higher proportion of males in all populations (p < .05). Afteridentifying several creeks with larger numbers of snapping turtles present we fitted turtles over 8 kg with radio transmitters, beginning June 2017. Movements of radio-tagged individuals were recorded at least monthly to determine average distances moved. Maximum river miles moved per turtle were averaged (females = 0.83 miles and males = 1.21 miles). Low numbers of females could indicate higher female mortality related to risks during nesting such as crossing roads. Snapping turtle abundance was highest in creeks dominated by cattle grazing or agricultural uses. Creeks with lower abundance were dominated by urbanization and higher density of road crossings, potentially leading to increased mortality and lower hatchling success rates
Conservation Planning Tools; Free Resources to Facilitate Ecological Modelling and Stakeholder Engagement
Get PDFConservation management decisions are growing progressively more challenging, requiring consideration of ecological, social, legal, and economic factors. Land managers are expected to not only consider a diverse range potential influences and impacts, they are expected to analyze increasingly complex datasets and effectively present the results to a more exacting public audience. Numerous free, online, and open-source tools are available to help with this process, however many land managers are unaware of or unfamiliar with these resources. We present examples of three such tools and demonstrate how they can be integrated to assist with conservation planning, decision-support, and data visualization. Examples include aquatic intactness modelling in the Great Basin region, alternative energy planning in the Mojave Desert region, and forest resiliency modelling in the Sierra Nevada Mountains