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The Mentor: Landing that First Job without Library Experience
Get PDFSo you have a brand new MLS/MLIS or you’re working on one. You’ve started looking at position ads and most require library experience. You don’t have library experience. How can you get your first library job if no one will hire you before you have library experience
Rainbow Trout Spawning Characteristics and Relation to the Parasite Myxobolus cerebralis in the Missouri River, Montana
Get PDFThe myxosporean parasite Myxobolus cerebralis is responsible for significant declines of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) populations in several western states, including Montana. Despite a high prevalence of the parasite in Montana’s Missouri River, there have been no apparent impacts to the rainbow trout population. This study examined long-term M. cerebralis monitoring data from the Missouri River system below Holter Dam and evaluated rainbow trout spawning characteristics such as migration distance, spawning location, site fidelity and amount of spawning in the Missouri River and tributaries over three years in an attempt to explain why the population has not declined in the presence of M. cerebralis. Over 13 years of monitoring, a mean 5.3 percent of rainbow trout handled during population estimates had clinical signs of M. cerebralis infection. In experiments using sentinel fish 53 percent of the spawning habitat had high severity of M. cerebralis, 38 percent had low to moderate severity, and 9 percent had no infection. Radio telemetry showed spawning locations varied among years and tagged fish lacked spawning site fidelity. The distance that radio-tagged rainbow trout migrated to spawning locations was significantly different among river sections of the study area. Twenty-eight percent of the spawning redds were found in the Missouri River and 72 percent in the tributaries. Relative to previous studies, we found less tributary spawning and an increase in Missouri River spawning, where M. cerebralis infection severity is lower. Our findings suggest that diverse spawning behaviors may contribute to rainbow trout population stability by spreading the risk of M. cerebralis impact over spawning locations that have a broad range of infection severity
BLM’s National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy — What it Means for Montana
Get PDFThe Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for managing over 50% of the remaining Greater Sage-Grouse habitat throughout their range. In July, 2011 the BLM National Greater Sage-Grouse Planning Strategy was released as a supplement to the 2004 BLM National Sage-Grouse Habitat Conservation Strategy and the 2006 Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Greater Sage-Grouse Comprehensive Conservation Strategy. This was in part due to the March 2010 petition decision by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as “Warranted but Precluded” and settlement discussions between the FWS and Nongoverment Organizations (NGOs) over candidate species. The listing decision identified inadequate BLM regulatory mechanisms as a major factor in this decision. Principle regulatory mechanisms are conservation measures in Resource Management Plans (RMPs). Habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse is found within five planning units in Montana. In December 2011 BLM issued instruction to offices on; 1) how BLM is to manage activities occurring within habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse until RMPs amendments or revisions are completed, and 2) management actions and conservation options to be considered when developing RMP amendments or revisions. RMPs are to be completed or revised by December, 2014. This direction identifies actions for BLM programs with the potential to impact Greater Sage-Grouse. BLM is committed to reducing threats to Greater Sage-Grouse habitat on BLM lands in Montana through changes in management
Hierarchical Foraging Ecology of Yellowstone Bison and Development of Remote Sensing Techniques for Management of Bison and Other Herbivores Across the Intermountain West
Get PDFTo help address the controversy concerning movement of bison outside Yellowstone National Park and identify potential areas for bison relocation, we determined seasonal foraging habitat selection by bison at 4 hierarchical levels, the dominant hierarchical level of selection by Yellowstone bison, inter-annual consistency of use of grazing locations, and developed remote-sensing techniques for determining spatio-temporal estimates of herbaceous vegetation availability and forage utilization at a landscape scale. Without accounting for differences in sward biomass among vegetation types, selection of vegetation types was inconsistent among hierarchical levels. However, development and use of a biomass index accounted for differences in offtake rate among vegetation types that resulted in consistent selection across hierarchical levels for upland vegetation types over mesic lowland types. Monitoring of known feeding sites over successive years further indicated preference of upland vegetation types. Results suggest the feeding site level as the dominant level of selection and that Yellowstone bison exhibit behavior expected of energy maximizers in both the short- and long-term. Remote sensing techniques providing spatially-explicit estimates of standing crop of herbaceous vegetation were developed at 4 locations across diverse habitat in MT and Yellowstone Park, WY. Estimates of forage utilization were developed for the Yellowstone Park location. Results of this project increase our understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of bison foraging ecology both inside and outside Yellowstone National Park and offer remote-sensing techniques relevant to the management of all grazing herbivores throughout the intermountain west
Redistribution, Human Shields and Loss of Migratory Behavior in the Crown of the Continent
Get PDFRedistribution of wildlife resulting from human alteration of environments is of growing management concern in North America. Habituation, which can coincide with redistribution, seems to be particularity prevalent in national park systems because millions of visitors interact with wildlife. For example, Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana, USA, receives approximately 2.2 million visitors over the months of June, July, and August each year—with the majority of their activity concentrated along the Going-to-Sun Road. The Going-to-Sun Road corridor is well-known for its habituated mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus). Habituation, however, was identified as a priority management concern in Glacier National Park. Successful management actions require a clear understanding of the causes and consequences of complex ecological issues such as habituation. Through experimental and observation effort this project has identified human-created predation refugia, or human shields, where mountain goats are escaping predation through interaction with people. Reductions in predation risk have resulted in mountain goat redistribution and changes in behavior. We found mountain goats using sites with human shields were less vigilant and were found in smaller groups. Furthermore, goats in areas with human-mediated predation refuge had reduced use cliff security terrain. Additionally, mountain goats that exploited people as shields from predators showed a weakened response to an experimentally presented predator model. Reductions in predator risk appear to be the primary driver of mountain goat redistribution and the use of humans as buffers from predation has led to close contact between people and wildlife, resulting in compromised safety and altered ecological interactions
Fine Scale Nest Site Selection of Greater Sage-Grouse In The Centennial Valley, Montana
Get PDFThe purpose of this study was to determine fine scale nest site selection of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in the Centennial Valley, MT. A total of ninety nests were found during 2014-2015 using radio-collared sage-grouse. Vegetation surveys were conducted at nests and random sites that measured the nest shrub and the cover available within 3m of the nest. Length of the branch over the nest (Lgth.LB), average axis width of the nest shrub (AvgAxis), lateral cover of the nest shrub (LCShrub), aerial cover of the nest shrub (ACShrub), and height of the lower branch over the nest (Ht.LB) were the habitat variables that received the most support. All habitat variables that were included in the top model were nest shrub morphological characteristics and cover provided by the nest shrub. Therefore, there is strong support that sage-grouse in the Centennial Valley are selecting nest sites based on the morphology of the nest shrub and the cover provided by that nest shrub. None of the habitat variables associated with herbaceous cover received much support for inclusion in our models. On average, residual cover (i.e. grass from previous year) provided concealment for only 4% of the nest bowl. The relative probability of a shrub being selected for a nest site is maximized when Lgth.LB >75cm long, AvgAxis >130cm wide, LCShrub >80%, and ACShrub > 70%. Managers should focus on conserving mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) and three-tip sagebrush (Artemisia tripartita) habitats because they were more likely to meet those shrub characteristics
Diet Composition and Body Condition of Northern Continental Divide Grizzly Bears, Montana
Get PDFFrom 2009–2013, we documented apparent population health by investigating food use and physiological condition of grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE), Montana. We used stable isotope analysis upon hair and blood tissue to obtain information on percent terrestrial meat and plant matter in the diets of NCDE bears. We also assessed body fat content of grizzly bears via bioelectrical impedance analysis. Adult females used less meat compared to subadults and adult males (P < 0.0001). Bears within regions on the southwestern, southern, and eastern periphery of the ecosystem consumed a significantly higher proportion of meat than those in the interior or northwestern periphery (P < 0.0001). Diets of bears in the Whitefish Mountains and North and South Fork of the Flathead River were, on average, composed of 70% less meat than those on the East Front. Adult males had significantly higher den entrance body fat contents than adult females and subadults (P < 0.0001). Average body fat of adult females varied significantly between those in areas of high consumption of meat and those otherwise. However, we find adult females across all regions enter dens at mean fat levels above those thought to be critical for cub production (i.e., > 20%). We conclude that, within each region, the quantity and quality of foods appear adequate to meet the needs of reproductively-active adult females. As truly opportunistic omnivores, grizzly bears in each region of the NCDE exploit diverse combinations of food items to arrive at productive body conditions
Montana’s Bat Acoustic Surveillance Efforts: an Update (Poster)
Get PDFMontana’s bat species face a wide array of conservation issues that threaten their long-term viability. A collaborative effort was initiated in 2011 to document year-round activity patterns of Montana’s bats prior to the arrival of White-nose Syndrome as mortality has exceeded 95% for some bat populations effected by this disease in eastern North America. In the last 5 years, we have deployed a network of over 76 Song Meter ultrasonic acoustic detector/recorder stations programmed to record bat passes from sunset to sunrise year-round. Through late December 2015, these recording stations have resulted in more than 7.2 million full spectrum sound files containing nearly 13 terabytes of information. Processing and automated analyses have been completed for all sound files and over 43,000 bat passes have been reviewed by hand using an updated Montana bat call characteristics key to definitively confirm the presence of species during each month of the year, identify the lowest temperatures at which individual bat species are active, and track overall bat activity, regardless of species, at each station. Highlights to-date include: 2,104 new records of monthly species presence in various landscapes across the region, numerous first records of species’ activity during the fall, winter, and spring months, numerous first records of species in regions with previously limited survey effort, documentation of nightly activity patterns throughout the year, regular winter activity for a few resident species, the year-round presence of species previously considered migratory, and exciting patterns of activity relative to temperature, wind speed, barometric pressure, and moonlight
Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting System
Get PDFThis project investigates the behavior of two types of piezoelectric harvester in response to different applied strains. Three tests are performed: two Deflection Amplitude vs. Voltage Generation tests and an Energy Charging Rate test. The two deflection tests are done on a Volture energy harvester and a piezoelectric disk. The energy charging rate test is done on a pair of piezoelectric disks. The strain test on the Volture energy harvester show inconsistent relationships between a piezoelectric harvester’s natural frequency and its ability to generate voltage. The strain test on the piezoelectric disk are also not clear either since the voltage generated varies greatly after each tap. The results from the energy charging rate test indicate that a piezoelectric harvester generates energy at a higher rate when subjected to a higher-frequency vibration source than to a lower-frequency one. Future studies are recommended to make comprehensive conclusions regarding the relationships between a piezoelectric harvester’s natural frequency and its ability to generate voltage. Further researches regarding vibration sources are also recommended as finding a suitable vibration source is found to be the most challenging part of this project
Snorkel Research on Anadromous Fishes (Poster)
Get PDFDam construction has had a large impact on anadromous fish in the Pacific Northwest. All anadromous salmonids in the Pacific Northwest have been deemed as endangered species. In addition, climate change, and commercial and sport fishing have also had an impact on the anadromous populations. As a result, state and federal organizations have made an effort to augment populations with hatcheries, habitat restoration, and improved fish passages through dam systems. In efforts to understand the tributaries and spawning grounds used by chinook salmon and steelhead trout, the Idaho Department of Fish and Game has created population research groups in the form of snorkel crews. One goal of the snorkel crew was to gain a better understanding of which tributaries are frequented by each species of fish. Snorkel transects consisted of regular sites that were snorkeled annually, as well as sites chosen at random. Transects were lengths of water from 65 to 200 meters long. Snorkelers moved in a serpentine pattern through the stream to cover maximal area. Fish size, number and species were recorded only after fish were passed by a snorkeler. Periodically, the snorkeler would relay data to a person nearby designated to data collection. Sites were chosen at random to be evaluated using a mark re-sight method to estimate efficiency. Anglers fished an area, caught fish were marked and recorded and then released. After fishing the site was left untouched for at least 24 hours before it was snorkeled. After snorkeling an in depth habitat evaluation was conducted