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Translating Failure into Success
Get PDFFailure plays a key part in our professional and personal development, but traditionally many of us have been inclined to sweep our failures under the rug. Librarian and blogger Steven Bell posits that perhaps we are embarrassed at our failures, instead of recognizing that sharing our blunders can be an opportunity to celebrate our creativity (2010). Some brave souls are doing just that, such as the librarians who are sharing their failuresthrough Twitter, using the hashtag #libraryfail. An enormously popular website has grown through shared failures, CakeWrecks(http://www.cakewrecks.com/). And a meme has been making the rounds on the internet for some time, titled “Nailed It,” in which people contrast their failed attempts at craft or baking projects with the original perfect creation
A message from the President
Get PDFWith every issue, PNLA Quarterly highlights the best of the region’s library professionals, and this issue is no exception. I hope you enjoy it, and consider contributing your talents to the next issue
Editor's Column
Get PDFThe PQ Editors chose creativity as the theme of this issue because it is central to ourprofession and particularly to writing about the work we do. In a sense, the theme ofevery issue of PQ is creativity. How else do we all come up with new programs, betterways of doing things, inventive outreach plans, or collections that serve the needsof so many diverse communities? The creative spark is behind all we do whether werecognize or name it as such
The Author: The Creative Wellspring
Get PDFJanet Fox is a Montana based author of books for young readers. Some of her books are set in mystical places. Her works include The Charmed Childern of Rookskill Castle (2016), and Sirens (2012). Find her at janetsfox.com
Effects of Standard Labor-Wear on Swimming and Treading Water
Get PDFWe tested the hypothesis that occupational clothing would impair performance during swimming. The sub questions included: (1) Will the standard work wear of a railway worker or laborer impede swimming ability? (2) Will this clothing impact the individual’s ability to tread water? We addressed the research questions with three hypotheses. Analysis showed statistically significant p-values and all three null hypotheses were rejected in favor of the three research hypotheses, showing strong evidence that standard labor wear had adverse effects on 11.43 meter/12.5 yard swim time, water treading time and rate of perceived exertion (RPE) during water treading. The mean swim time more than doubled when the subjects wore standard labor-wear and their average rate of perceived exertion increased from 11.6 in standard swim wear to 17.1 in standard laborwear. It may be beneficial for those workers who work near water to be exposed to educational programs that allow in-water experiences so they develop an understanding of their abilities in, and respect for, the water
Bio-Energetic Value of the Flathead and Smith Valleys in Northwest Montana for Spring Waterfowl Migration
Get PDFThe abundance of lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and agricultural lands of the Flathead and Smith Valleys in northwest Montana attracts a significant number of migratory waterfowl moving from wintering grounds to breeding habitats each spring. These diverse habitats provide food and resting areas for thousands of waterfowl and other waterbirds each year. These valleys are also undergoing rapid habitat transformation due to growth in human population with concomitant conversions from rural agricultural and riparian habitats to more residential and commercial development. To quantify the current extent, distribution, importance, and species that use this area as a spring stopover, we initiated a randomly stratified, weekly, simultaneous waterfowl survey of selected areas from early March through April. We began in spring 2010 and will continue through spring 2012. The data will be extrapolated to the entire study area and for the 2-month period to develop an estimate of total annual waterfowl feeding days by species. Habitat data are also being incorporated. Preliminary results from first 2 years of data indicate that the 4 most common migrant waterfowl species, in order of total numbers counted, are Mallard, Northern Pintail, Canada Goose, and American Wigeon. Preliminary extrapolations of waterfowl survey data in terms of bioenergetics will be summarized
Initiating GPS & VHF Telemetry Studies on Mountain Ungulates in the Greater Yellowstone Area
Get PDFTelemetry studies on bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) in the greater Yellowstone area (GYA) are relatively rare, especially in comparison to other large mammals. There is therefore a significant dearth of detailed information on mountain ungulate demographic and spatial ecology as well as competition dynamics between the non-native mountain goat and the native bighorn sheep. The Mountain Ungulate Research Initiative is seeking to gain this valuable management and conservation information by initiating GPS and VHF radio telemetry studies across the GYA. We have selected ten study sites that represent the varying ecological settings of this ecosystem with differences in climate, geology, herd size, disease history, land use and management, migratory and non-migratory herds, sympatric and allopatric herds, and high and low elevation ranges. In addition, we have developed a dual collar, multiple deployment strategy to efficiently maximize collection of ecological data and support long-term research goals. This includes the deployment of a GPS collar simultaneously with a VHF collar for each animal instrumented. After two years of fine spatial- and temporal-scale data collection the GPS collars will release for recovery while the VHF collars will remain on animals to obtain an additional five years of demographic data. The recovered GPS collars will then be refurbished and redeployed with new VHF collars on additional animals. The presentation will describe these telemetry studies and strategies, as well as report on the progress of current and planned telemetry study efforts
Population Trends of Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats in the Greater Yellowstone Area
Get PDFBighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis) and mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) are important components of the large mammal community in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) and are of considerable public interest. However, foundational ecological research concerning these species is limited. We analyzed historic bighorn sheep and mountain goat population counts collected by management biologists using ln-linear regression to estimate herd growth rates (?). The analyzed dataset consisted of 538 bighorn sheep counts since 1971 and 120 mountain goat counts since 1966. Most mountain goat count units experienced a positive growth rate and increased their distributions over recent decades. Bighorn sheep growth rates were more variable among the 26 recognized herd units in the GYA. We used the historic count data to evaluate the hypothesis that sympatry of non-native mountain goats with bighorn sheep adversely affected bighorn sheep populations. This was accomplished by comparing the growth rates of sympatric herds with that of allopatric herds. There was no evidence that sympatric herd growth rates were significantly lower than allopatric herd growth rates. We caution, however, that many counts in consecutive years suggested larger changes in abundance than what would be reasonable to expect from biological processes. We suspect that variability in counts likely reflects varying detection probability and the overall difficulty of counting mountain ungulates. Therefore, conclusions derived from these data should be further evaluated with more detailed demographic studies in the future
Use of a Human Disturbance Model to Assess Impacts of Anthropogenic Development on Wildlife
Get PDFIn an effort towards developing consistent and reliable methods for addressing the impacts of subdivision development and other anthropogenic disturbances on wildlife, I developed a GIS model to predict the extent and magnitude of human-caused disturbance. The model estimates cumulative disturbance from point and linear sources, produces output at a fine scale to provide comparisons of different development configurations, and allows variability of input parameters depending on the species of interest. Output can be used for a standalone analysis or used in conjunction with habitat models to assess reductions in habitat quality or connectivity value resulting from human disturbance. Examples of model output are presented to illustrate how the model has been previously used in the planning and assessment processes and how it can also be used to assess impacts of energy development
25 Years Of Aspen Wildlife Habitat Restoration on the Beartooth Ranger District, Custer Gallatin National Forest
Get PDFAspen (Populus tremuloides) is one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems in the Intermountain West. Aspen is an important wildlife habitat, providing forage, cover, shade, and nesting for birds, small mammals, big game, and forest carnivores. Upland game birds, particularly ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), are associated with aspen. Ruffed grouse are a habitat indicator species for aspen communities in the Custer National Forest Plan. Montana’s Comprehensive Fish and Wildlife Conservation Strategy (2005) identified aspen as a community type of greatest conservation need due to altered natural fire regimes. Although aspen is a rare vegetation component on the Custer Gallatin National Forest, the Beartooth Ranger District supports relatively large expanses of aspen along the Beartooth Mountain Face. Many of these aspen communities had converted to conifers, or were declining in health. In recognition of this opportunity to restore wildlife habitat, a management plan was developed in 1990, featuring ruffed grouse. Since 1990, crews have treated about 141 aspen stands on about 400 acres. Methods included prescribed burning and using chainsaws and other hand tools, resulting in the creation of a mosaic of aspen size and age classes and drumming logs that fulfill the yearlong habitat needs of ruffed grouse. Funding for these treatments came largely from a partnership between the Beartooth Ranger District and Montana’s Upland Bird Program. Wildlife observed using treated aspen stands included a diverse array of cavity and non-cavity nesting birds, including ruffed grouse, small mammals and big game, especially moose (Alces alces)