Montana State University Library Open Journal Systems
Not a member yet
2608 research outputs found
Sort by
Investigating the Effects of Bison Grazing on Grassland Songbirds
Get PDFThe National Bison Range (NBR) in the Mission Valley of Montana manages a herd of 325-350 bison (Bison bison). Bison are rotated through eight grazing pastures, which consist mostly of intermountain grassland. This creates different grazing intensities, based on length of time grazed, season grazed, and density of bison. Grazing is considered to be an important source of disturbance in grassland systems. However, different grazing intensities may create more or less favorable conditions for grassland breeding songbirds, a suite of birds that has declined drastically over the last few decades. This research investigates the interaction between bison grazing and songbird abundance. We used double-dependent observer transects to record grassland songbird observations during the pilot season of 2015. We present preliminary results from the pilot season of grassland songbird abundance and density. The outcomes will culminate into a concrete, local monitoring program for the NBR to support conservation of grassland songbirds, and will allow them to adjust management activities to maintain suitable grassland songbird habitat. Furthermore, the research will illuminate the relationship between a native grazer and grassland birds. While domestic livestock have largely replaced native grazers on grasslands, numerous reintroduction efforts of bison have been proposed. This study will help inform the expected outcomes and management objectives of those reintroduction efforts
Is Fall Green-Up Significant?
Get PDFFall green-up does not occur every year. Methods have been developed to determine whether or not fall green-up occurs at each SNOTEL and Climatological site in the Greater Yellowstone area. It is based on climatic conditions after the first killing frost (daily Tmin of 220 F or less) and growing degree days and precipitation that occur after that point. Green-up vegetation may be available into January or February if snow covers the vegetation before another Tmin of 220 F or lower occurs. Crude protein of cured grasses is about 3 to 7 percent. Ungulates need crude protein of about 6-8 percent in order to maintain fat reserves. Green vegetation has a crude protein of about 10 to 13 percent. Years with no fall green-up can make winter survival difficult for males, especially bull elk trying to recover from the rut. Winters that are more severe can further affect survival. Predators may capitalize on animals in poorer physical condition. Methods and procedures used to determine which years fall green-up occurs will be presented and possible impacts of fall green-up will be discussed
Assessing Age Structure, Winter Ticks and Nutritional Condition as Potential Drivers of Fecundity in Montana Moose
Get PDFFecundity in ungulates is an important component of population dynamics, and itself can be driven by differences in the age and nutritional condition of females. As one element of a larger research project focused on moose (Alces alces) population dynamics and ecology, we examined nutritional condition, pregnancy rates, and litter sizes for moose in three Montana moose populations. During the winters of 2013–2015 we captured 100 female moose ? 1 year old and assessed pregnancy status using assays of both serum (pregnancy specific protein B [PSPB]) and feces (fecal progesterone). After calibrating the relationship between these two assays, we subsequently monitored pregnancy with feces alone for additional winters following capture. Coincident with captures, animals were aged using tooth extraction and cementum analysis, nutritional condition was assessed using ultrasonography of rump fat thickness, and winter tick loads were estimated by counting ticks along transects of the rump and shoulder. Additionally, the concentrations of nitrogen and neutral detergent fiber of winter pellets were measured during each winter as indices of dietary quality. Here, we assess the importance of environmental and demographic factors in limiting moose productivity in Montana by examining the interdependence of forage, parasites, nutritional condition, age structure, and ultimately fecundity for female moose. We then place these findings in context of fecundity rates observed for moose elsewhere within neighboring US Rocky Mountain populations and across North America
Habitat Selection, Movements and Survival of Dispersing Juvenile Beavers in Southwestern Montana
Get PDFThe natural activities of beavers (Castor canadensis) effectively create or expand, and maintain, healthy riparian and wetland areas. Therefore, interest has increased among land and wildlife managers in the reintroduction of beavers into degraded riparian habitats as a proactive management option for natural restoration of these areas. However, there is a need for information regarding habitat selection by beavers in novel habitats to increase the likelihood that reintroduced beavers will colonize the area targeted for restoration. We are using cable snares to capture and radio tag dispersal age beavers in headwater streams of the Madison and Gallatin River drainages. We will relocate tagged beavers via handheld telemetry to obtain movement data from the moment the beavers leave their natal colony in the spring until they settle in a new location in the late summer and fall. Habitat characteristics representing vegetation, hydrology and geomorphology will be assessed at settlement locations as well as locations encountered but not settled to make inference on habitat conditions most important to dispersing beavers in selecting settlement sites. Eighteen beavers were radio tagged in the fall of 2015 representing 6 different streams in the study area. The 18 tagged beavers will be tracked through the spring and summer of 2016 and habitat conditions will be assessed based on their movements before another season of beaver trapping in the fall of 2016. Our analysis of habitat selection by juvenile beavers will guide future beaver restoration projects in this region by identifying release sites with the highest probability of success
Montana’s Greater Sage Grouse Conservation Strategy: All Hands Across All Lands
Get PDFThe greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) was once a candidate for listing under the federal Endangered Species Act across its range. Unprecedented efforts by states, federal agencies, private organizations, and private landowners led to adoption of conservation strategies to address threats caused by habitat fragmentation, development, and loss of sagebrush. Montana’s Conservation Strategy is based on the collaborative work of a governor-appointed advisory council, the Montana Sage Grouse Stewardship Act passed during the 2015 Legislative Session, and Executive Orders 12-2015 and 21-2015. Montana’s Strategy has three parts. First, Executive Orders 12-2015 and 21-2015 establish regulatory mechanisms to guide development in designated habitats. The Orders require consultation to assess potential impacts caused by activities requiring a state permit, involving state grant funds or technical assistance, or resulting from the state’s own work. Federal agencies will align project review with the Orders. Specific parameters and disturbance thresholds apply, particularly for human activities near leks. Second, the Stewardship Grant Fund serves to maintain, enhance, restore, expand or benefit sage grouse. The Fund facilitates free-market mechanisms for voluntary, conservation on private lands by funding projects that produce credits. Credits can then be purchased by developers in a habitat exchange. Third, the habitat exchange establishes a compensatory mitigation framework to address impacts which cannot avoided, minimized, or restored and replacement is required. Montana’s goal is to maintain viable sage grouse populations and conserve habitat and maintain Montana’s flexibility to manage its own lands, wildlife, and economy. Success requires collaboration across all landownerships to address all threats
Effects of Hunter Access on Hunting Season Elk Distributions in the Missouri River Breaks
Get PDFIncreasing harvest of adult female elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) is the primary management tool for curtailing elk population growth and reducing elk populations. However, this tool is not effective when elk are located on private properties that restrict hunter access to elk during the hunting season. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effects of hunter access and other landscape factors on elk resource selection during the archery and rifle hunting seasons in the Missouri River Breaks area. We sampled 46 adult female elk for 2-years in 2 adjacent populations: the Missouri River Breaks (MRB) population and the Larb Hills population. The MRB archery and rifle season elk population ranges were 97% accessible to hunters. Several large properties in the center of the Larb Hills range restricted or did not allow hunter access, and the archery and rifle season elk population ranges were 79% accessible to hunters. To quantify the effects of hunter access and other factors on elk selection of home ranges and elk selection of locations within their home range, we conducted a resource selection modeling exercise. Second-order population-level selection coefficients showed that elk in both MRB and Larb Hills selected home ranges in areas with no hunter access, and hunter access was the strongest predictor of second-order selection. Similarly, third-order population-level selection coefficients showed elk in both populations selected locations within their seasonal home range with no hunter access, and the strength of selection for locations with no hunter access was stronger in the archery season than the rifle season. However, individual models revealed that although third-order population-level selection for no hunter access was strong, only 43% of MRB elk selected for no hunter access during the archery season and 18% of elk selected for no hunter access during the rifle season. Additionally, the majority of all MRB elk locations (i.e., 68% of archery locations and 91% of rifle locations) occurred in areas accessible to hunters. In Larb Hills, individual models confirmed results of the population-level analysis, and 76% and 60% of elk selected for locations with no hunter access during the archery and rifle seasons. Even if hunter access is restricted or in a relatively small geographic area within an elk population range, elk refuge situations may have a disproportionate affect on elk distributions and prevent effective harvest of female elk to maintain elk populations at objective levels. Working cooperatively with stakeholders to minimize these situations is necessary for curtailing further elk population increases and maintaining a distribution of elk across public and private lands. If elk refuge situations cannot be resolved, stakeholders may need to choose between allowing some level of hunter access to harvest female elk or accepting higher numbers of elk, and associated property damage issues
ISOLATION OF ESSENTIAL OILS FROM INDIGENOUS MONTANA FLORA AND THEIR ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECTIVENESS AS A NON-TOXIC STERILIZING REAGENT AGAINST BACTERIA THAT CAUSE FOOD BORNE ILLNESS
Get PDFBacterial resistance and the negative effects of chemicals used to kill them have become a growing worldwide public health concern. The widespread use of antibiotics in medicine and animal husbandry have caused bacteria adaptation to antibiotics. New drug discovery has become vital in fighting the war against drug-resistant bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella epidermis, which have posed considerable medical problems. Essential oils are a safe, generally non-toxic and relatively inexpensive alternative to synthetic chemical based antibiotics. Essential oils hydro-distilled from indigenous Montana flora will be explored for their antimicrobial effectiveness as a non-toxic sterilizing reagent against bacteria. We hypothesis that the oils of Lomatium dissectum, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (L.), Chimaphila umbellate (L.), W. Bart Prunella vulgaris L , Artemisia dracunculus L, Spreng Medicago lupulina L., and Balsamorhiza sagittata will have significant anti-bacterial properties and variability that works to reduce bacterium’s resistance
Information Technology use at Montana Tech
Get PDFIn today’s world, there is something very valuable that is ever changing and advancing every single day. That is technology. More specifically, the use of technology in educational settings, such as colleges and universities, has advanced phenomenally in the last fifteen years. Students, along with faculty/staff alike have been branching out and exploring new advances in technology for both personal and educational use. The purpose of our project was to find a connection between educational and personal usage of technology in students along with faculty and staff. With that, we plan to create an annual survey issued to both students and faculty, to ultimately find better ways to utilize technology in education for the population at Montana Tech
The Effects of Climate-Driven Phenological Shifts on Plant-Pollinator Interactions and Plant and Pollinator Reproductive Success
Get PDFClimate-warming is causing shifts in seasonal flowering periods and pollinator emergence dates (i.e., phenologies) that are species-specific in magnitude and direction, which has altered the amount of phenological overlap between coevolved plant and pollinator species. The objective of this project was to experimentally investigate the effects of such phenological shifts on plant-pollinator interactions and plant and pollinator reproductive success. To achieve this, I controlled the phenologies of forbs and solitary bees such that spring and summer flowering forb species flowered at the same time and spring and summer emerging bees emerged at the same time. Blooming forbs and emerged bees were then placed in mesh-sided enclosures following a factorial design based on their phenological life histories (i.e., spring or summer). Forb-bee interaction patterns were assessed by conducting bee visitation observations and documenting the quantity and duration of bee visits to flowers. Plant reproductive success will be determined by quantifying the number and mass of seeds produced for each plant species. Bee reproductive success will be assessed by determining the identity and quantifying the number of offspring produced in bee nests housed within each enclosure. Empirical evidence generated by this study will elucidate underlying mechanisms driving the effects of climate change on plants and pollinators and will help pinpoint plant and pollinator species most vulnerable to the negative effects of climate change. Results will contribute to a better understanding of the ecological effects of climate change on species interactions and inform conservations strategies
Relationship of Athletic Injuries to the Sport's Season (Poster)
Get PDFThere are many factors that contribute to a college athlete's risk for injury. Previous studies have shown that life stress can be a predictor for injury. The current study investigated if academic stress plays a role in athletic injury rate. Data collected from the university athletic trainer between 2012 and 2015 on athletic injuries was analyzed. Results indicate that season start and end dates play a role in when injuries occur. No evidence was found for academic events such as mid-terms and finals influencing the rate of injury. These findings suggest that the rate of injury for a given sport may be classified as being predominantly early-season, predominantly late-season, or predominately mid-season. Further research is needed to determine the individual factors for each sport that may explain the changes in rate of injury