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Micro-Habitat Characteristics of Mountain Plover Nest Sites
Get PDFThis study was conducted on shortgrass prairie in northeast Colorado to determine micro-habitat characteristics of nest sites for mountain plover (Charadrius montanus Townsend). Vegetation and soil surface characteristics were sampled in the spring of 1996-97 at and near 16 nests to identify important micro-habitat characteristics for site selection. We collected data on plant structure and canopy cover near nests in the spring during 2 years. Mean bare ground within a 15 m radius of the nest was 24 percent and bare ground patch size was 29 cm2. Mountain plovers selected nest sites that had short plant structure and a mean visual obstruction reading (VOR) of 0.6 cm. Plant structure (VOR) from 4 m to 15 m was significantly greater than structure at 0 to 2 m from the nest
Navicula whitefishensis, a New Diatom (Bacillariophyta) From the Northern Rockies
Get PDFNavicula whitefishensis is described from two headwater lakes in the Northern Rocky Mountains of Montana. The new species is compared to two morphologically similar species that are common in the region: Navicula trivialis Lange-Bertalot and Navicula oligotraphenta Lange-Bertalot & Hofmann. Navicula whitefishensis is the eleventh new species in the genus Navicula to be described from the Northwest United States within the last year. All of these new species are local or regional endemics
Determining the Influence of Hunter Access on Antlerless Elk B License Harvest in Select Areas of Southwest, Central and Eastern Montana
Get PDFAntlerless elk hunting is a critically important tool for wildlife managers to help manage populations of elk. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) conducted a survey following the 2010 general big game hunting season to determine the effect that hunter access might have on Antlerless Elk B License utilization and associated harvest in select areas of the state where concerns have been expressed about hunting access. A mail-back survey was used to determine, the extent to which respondents were able to gain access to public and private lands to hunt antlerless elk, what types of properties respondents were able to secure permission to hunt, the extent to which respondents were able to successfully harvest antlerless elk, and respondent satisfaction with the Antlerless Elk B Licenses they received in 2010. Questionnaires were successfully mailed to a total of N = 5,297 Elk B License holders and there were a total of n = 2,954 survey respondents resulting in an overall response rate of 56 percent. Survey results revealed several key findings that have significant elk population management implications. While respondents used different hunting access or property types to varying degrees the type of property accessed played a prominent role in determining antlerless elk harvest success rates and antlerless elk harvest distribution. A majority of the survey respondents who hunted or attempted to hunt using their Antlerless Elk B License reported that they were satisfied with the license they received in 2010
Modeling Carnivore Sign Data: A Case Study with the Carnivore Guild in a Ranch in Eastrn Montana
Get PDFTrack deposition patterns by carnivores on a 54 km2 ranch in eastern Montana were recorded with a sand strip passive index survey method over the course of 33 days. Carnivore tracks identified included coyotes (n= 17), bobcats (n= 8), feral cats (n= 6), pumas (n= 1), and long-tailed weasels (n= 1). Using temporal, weather, and habitat covariates, coyote intrusions were modeled with generalized linear models using a negative binomial distribution and log link. An information theoretic approach using the Akaike information criterion adjusted for sample size (AICc) to compare the relative support of multiple models indicated that habitat type had a strong influence on coyote track deposition, and that weather and temporal covariates were comparatively poor descriptors of coyote track patterns. Autocorrelation functions revealed no evidence for daily temporal autocorrelation of coyote intrusion numbers in either habitat, and a Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient suggested little between-habitat daily intrusion correlation (r = -0.21). Use of open areas by coyotes has been well documented in the literature, and the data analyzed in this report are in agreement with said studies
Timing of Cattle Graze as a Management Tool for Plant and Invertebrate Communities in the Centennial Valley, Montana
Get PDFGrazing is an important natural disturbance in the western US. While many studies have focused on the effects of grazing intensity and frequency, little is known about the importance of graze timing and how it can affect plant and invertebrate community structure and productivity. Timing may be a critical factor for promoting ecological heterogeneity, biological diversity, and abundance of food resources for native birds. Our primary goal is to understand how timing of graze and climate variability interact to influence plant and invertebrate communities throughout the growing season in wet meadows and grasslands in the Centennial Valley of southwest Montana. In 2011, control (no graze), early graze (beginning June 15), and traditional late graze (beginning July 15) treatments were established and replicated in a heterogeneous, irrigated, wet meadow habitat. From June-September, plant and invertebrate communities were quantitatively sampled to examine dynamics of biomass and diversity. In 2012, a similar experimental design will be implemented in a less-disturbed and drier native grassland. A new component will examine interactions between climate variability and timing by incorporating a water-addition treatment to simulate the extra moisture resulting from a wet year. We predict that increased climate variability will likely impact wet meadow and grassland habitat plant and insect phenology, with timing of graze becoming particularly critical during dry years. We will discuss results from 2011 and where we plan to go in 2012 with the water-addition treatment
Using Occupancy Surveys to Assess Summer Resource Selection of Sympatric Bighorn Sheep and Mountain Goats in Northern Yellowstone
Get PDFBoth bighorn sheep and mountain goats are generalist herbivores that overlap extensively in broad food and habitat requirements, but there have been few studies examining the potential for competition between sympatric populations. One area in which native bighorn sheep are living in sympatry with non-native mountain goats is the southern Gallatin Mountain range within and adjacent to the northwest boundary of Yellowstone National Park. Existing data of bighorn sheep and mountain goat observations for the area vary in spatial precision and records of areas where observers looked for but did not detect animals are not available. To gain a better understanding of the relationship between bighorn sheep and mountain goats and their habitat, it is necessary to understand resource selection and the extent of overlap in resource use among sympatric populations on fine spatial and temporal scales. In order to meet this need we designed and implemented formal, ground-based occupancy surveys during the summer of 2011. A crew of four spent 113 observer days in the field and hiked approximately 210 miles recording presence-absence data for both mountain ungulates. A total of 6,932 sample units were surveyed, with 68 bighorn sheep and 95 mountain goat groups detected. Detection probabilities for bighorn sheep and mountain goats were 66.9% and 54.5% respectively. We summarize the objectives and field design of the project and report on our efforts to develop enhanced habitat models which will provide managers with additional ecological insights
2015 Wildlife Disease Retrospective
Get PDFMontana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is developing a Wildlife Health Program. One of the functions of the program is to integrate disease surveillance, population health monitoring, and wildlife health diagnostic services to provide information to the public and wildlife professionals on the dynamics, risk, and impacts of disease in Montana’s wildlife. The knowledge gained from this program is aimed at improving conservation efforts and the safety of both humans and domestic animals. The Wildlife Health Laboratory is a statewide lab that receives hundreds to thousands of biological samples each year for disease surveillance projects, epidemiologic and morbidity investigations, and forensics. An overview of notable zoonotic and non-zoonotic diseases detected from 2015 laboratory submissions will be discussed, providing relevance, repercussions and general background or recent history of the diseases in Montana
An Assessment of Current Statewide Avian Monitoring Programs in Montana
Get PDFBirds are a highly diverse group consisting of species that use a wide-range of available resources. Therefore bird communities are thought to represent the natural complexity of ecosystems. In recent years, groups of birds and individual species have been recognized as indicators of environmental change. Even with all the potential benefits of conserving bird populations, considerable declines of avian populations in the US have been well documented. These losses highlight the need for continued large-scale monitoring programs. The North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) and the Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) are independent large-scale programs conducted within the US to monitor populations of birds. Each of these programs is uniquely designed to provide different types of information to resource managers within the state of Montana. We examined the current products available from BBS and IMBCR programs and the methodology employed. We also compared how each monitoring program assesses population change at the Montana state level across a variety of species to investigate potential program inconsistencies. If programs work equivalently we would expect abundance trend estimates to be in the same direction (positive or negative) and of similar magnitudes. Preliminary results suggest 94% (104/111) of species analyzed exhibited some difference in their abundance trend estimates between monitoring programs. Inconsistencies found within our species comparisons reflect inherent differences in the programs. Our results reiterate the importance for users to carefully consider the unique design, intention, and sources of bias ascribed to each program before applying monitoring data to ecological questions
Current Status of Efforts to Restore Northern Leopard Frogs to the Flathead Reservation in Northwest Montana
Get PDFOne long term goal of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes Wildlife Management Program is to restore populations of native wildlife species on the Flathead Indian Reservation. In 2003 we embarked on a project to restore populations of northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens), a species not documented on the Reservation since 1980. Over the next 4 years, 26 egg masses were translocated from populations in eastern Montana to a release site on the Reservation. Although tadpoles developed and metamorphosed successfully, we could not document significant overwintering survival. In 2006 a second release site was chosen in a newly restored wetland along the Little Bitterroot River. A total of 128 egg masses have been translocated to this and surrounding wetlands since 2006. Overwintering survival was suspected in 2007 and confirmed in 2008. Adult leopard frogs were first heard calling at this release site in 2010. A significant milestone in the project was achieved when egg masses were documented in 2013. This represented the first documented breeding of northern leopard frogs on the Flathead Reservation in over 30 years. Since 2013, the number of egg masses documented at our release wetland has increased giving us guarded optimism. Future plans include continuing to translocate egg masses into the Little Bitterroot River release wetland and additional nearby wetlands in an attempt to diversify breeding sites within the localized population. Pilot releases will be made in other areas in an attempt to reach our ultimate goal of 5 breeding populations on the Flathead Indian Reservation
Habitat Selection, Movements and Survival of Dispersing Juvenile Beavers in Southwestern Montana (Oral and Poster)
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