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Evaluating Elk Summer Resource Selection and Applications to Summer Range Habitat Management
Get PDFIn much of the west, National Forest lands are managed in part to provide and protect elk (Cervus elaphus) habitat needs, and summer elk habitat is managed with consideration to motorized routes. We evaluated the relative importance of nutritional resources, access routes and other landscape attributes on elk summer resource selection at multiple spatial scales. Resource selection models for 9 different western Montana elk populations, as well are regional models using data from all 9 herds, were compared to determine the applicability of resource selection models for informing habitat management recommendations. We found thatin all populations nutritional resources, best represented using NDVI metrics, were the most important factors associated with elk summer resource selection. Access route disturbances, best represented by the density of all routes (i.e., routes open and closed to motorized use), affected resource selection in all populations, however, the influence of access routes was relatively small as compared to nutritional resources. Regional models of resource selection predicted resource selection across populations better than population-specific models, thus we recommend these types of models be used to inform regional habitat management. Our results suggest that managers should expand the current management paradigm for elk summer habitat to also consider nutritional resources as an important component of elk summer habitat. Time-integrated NDVI, an easily accessible and free data source, may be useful as an assessment tool to identify areas of optimal elk nutrition
Citizen Scientist Monitoring of Osprey Distribution and Reproductive Success Along the Yellowstone River, MT
Get PDFThe Yellowstone Valley Audubon Society monitors ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting along the Yellowstone River 1) to increase science literacy by engaging volunteers and undergraduate interns in conservation, 2) to reduce conflicts between utility companies and ospreys nesting on power poles, and 3) to rescue nestlings entangled in baling twine used in nest construction. Trained volunteers surveyed the study area and determined reproductive success for occupied nests from April through August 2012-2015. All nests were located on anthropogenic substrates: platforms on poles, bridge spans, power poles, and cell towers. Mean (SE) number of young fledged per occupied nest was above that needed to sustain the local population: 1.87 (0.22) in 2012 (n = 30 nests), 1.35 (0.18) in 2013 (n = 48 nests), 1.51 (0.16) in 2014 (n = 55 nests), and 1.48 (0.17) in 2015 (n = 62 nests). Although some nest sites consistently produced more fledglings than others, reproductive success was unrelated to distance to nearest neighbor, density of breeding pairs within 5 km, and location along the river. From 2012-2015, 11 nestlings and one adult became entangled in baling twine: three died, one was euthanized, and eight nestlings fledged normally after being freed. A disease of unknown etiology appeared to affect nearly 50% of nestlings in 2015. Carcasses tested by the National Wildlife Health Center were negative for Avian Influenza, West Nile Virus, and Newcastle Disease. The discovery of new nests annually, robust reproductive success, and relatively low density suggested the population was in the growth phase
Trapping Methods of the Feral Pigeon in the Central Business District of Butte, Montana
Get PDFThe purpose of this study is to illustrate innovative trapping methods for the successful capture of feral pigeons (Columba livia). Our results highlight unique characteristics of the pigeon’s behavior that, when harnessed, increase success in trapping frequency and bird numbers and underscore the importance of understanding a species behavior when conducting biological research. Our results came about when conducting a population study of pigeons throughout the central business district (CBD) of Uptown Butte, MT. Through a succession of trial-and-error trapping efforts, we identified two aspects of trapping our target species: 1) minimal information exists on effective trapping protocol for pigeons, and 2) effective trapping protocol was closely tied to specific adjustments that prove effective in a number of different pigeon colonies. While pigeons differ from truly wild animals, insofar as they are a Eurasian species and feral, free-roaming colonies of pigeons offer excellent ecological models for studies that include population models, behavioral studies, handling protocol, and, of course, trapping. Our methods address conventional trapping and tagging techniques as well as innovative procedures and traditional urban point-count surveys. These innovative procedures would help with re-sighting tagged birds within the survey routes. All these methods will collectively provide insight into dispersal, recruitment, foraging and abundance of pigeons
Forty-Five Years of Grizzly Bear Mortality in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem
Get PDFWithin the last 10 years, the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) population in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem (NCDE) has increased in size and doubled its range. Understanding the changes in mortalities is important to guide management of the population. Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks has maintained a record of documented grizzly bear mortalities since 1971. During this time there were a total of 650 human-caused, independent-aged (?2 years old) bear mortalities recorded. We reviewed the last 45 years of human-caused grizzly bear mortalities in the NCDE, to determine any changes in mortality demographics, mortality causes, and spatial distribution. During 1975–1992, a quota of 25 human-caused mortalities was in effect and a slight temporal decline in total mortality was observed. Since 1992, the trend in total mortalities has been increasing at approximately 3%/year. Agency removals comprised 24% of human-caused mortalities. Previously, removals were largely associated with anthropogenic foods, but livestock depredations have been the primary cause for removals during the last two decades. Among public-caused mortalities (76%), legal hunting (during 1971–1991) and poaching/malicious kill have been the most dominant causes of death. Defense of life kills and automobile and train collision deaths have increased over time. During the last decade, there was an increase in the number of females with young present that were killed by the public. Whereas most mortalities occurred inside the Recovery Zone during the 1970s and 1980s, >50% now occur outside of it. Wildlife managers can use this information for developing strategies for managing grizzly bear mortality and improving bear-human coexistence
Accessing Information on Montana’s Animals, Plants and Biological Communities Through the Montana Natural Heritage Program’s Web Applications: Recent Updates (Poster)
Get PDFThe Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) was established by the Montana State Legislature in 1983 and charged with statutory responsibility for acquisition, storage and retrieval of information documenting Montana’s flora, fauna and biological communities (Montana Code Annotated 90-15). Information managed by MTNHP includes taxonomy, biology, ecology and conservation status information for nearly 8,000 plant and animal species and nearly 150 terrestrial and aquatic communities, nearly 1.7 million animal observation records, over 182,000 locations where a formal structured animal survey protocol has been followed, predictive distribution models for animal and plant species, species occurrence and wetland and riparian mapping polygons that are used in environmental reviews, land cover mapping and land management information. We deliver this information via staff facilitated requests and web applications that include the Montana Animal and Plant Species of Concern reports, the Montana Field Guide, the Natural Heritage MapViewer and the Species Snapshot. In this presentation we will provide a brief overview of how biologists and natural resource managers can access information via our websites. We will focus on recent updates to our Species Snapshot and Montana Field Guide applications that allow users to create custom species summaries and field guides using spatial, taxonomy and conservation status filters and our vision for the development of an environmental review tool that can be used by agency resource managers, planners and consultants to speed environmental reviews
18-Beta-Glycyrrhetinic Acid Causes Increased Pigment Production and Decreased Adherence in Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Biofilms
Get PDFInfections caused by Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are an ever growing concern in the health care field. While MRSA is most known for its resistance to beta-lactams (i.e. penicillin), it has also acquired resistance to a number of other antibiotics. MRSA plays a major role in chronic wounds due to its ability to form a biofilm, resulting in severe infections. Biofilms are naturally more resistant to antibiotics than planktonic cells which can be due to their extracellular polymeric substance and slow growing nature, as well as metabolic differences. This has resulted in biofilms becoming a major focus in the biomedical field. As MRSA rapidly acquires resistance to currently available antibiotics, there is an urgent need to develop novel antimicrobials. 18?-Glycyrrhetinic acid (GRA) is a compound isolated from Glycyrrhiza glabra and has been shown to be an effective antimicrobial against Staphylococcal planktonic cells; however, investigations on biofilm activity appear to be lacking. Our studies show GRA to have minimal to no effect on biofilm bacterial counts; however, post-treatment observations included an increase in yellow pigment and decreased adherence of biofilms. S. aureus pigments play an important role in virulence, including oxidative stress that may be introduced by antimicrobials like GRA. Crystal violet staining of GRA treated biofilms showed a quantified reduction in adherence compared to controls. This suggests that GRA may cause biofilm dispersal and therefore increased susceptibility to current antimicrobials. 1H NMR metabolomics is being conducted to investigate these results and other metabolic changes in GRA treated biofilms
Toxicity of Ammonia and Nitrite to Aquatic Macroinvertebrates
Get PDFThe acute toxicity of ammonia was studied for six aquatic macroinvertebrate species (mayfly, stonefly, and caddisfly families). Two partial-chronic (24- and 30-day) tests were conducted on Pteronarcella badia. The acute toxicity of nitrite was studied for seven species, including one Diptera species; the mitigating effect of chloride ion on nitrite toxicity to two species was also investigated. For 6 tests on ammonia the median lethal concentration (96-hour LC50) values ranged from 1.8 to 5.0 mg/L un-ionized ammonia (NH3); in 19 tests less than 50% of the larvae died at the highest test concentration, so an LC50 could not be calculated. In the partial-chronic tests on P. badia, food consumption was not affected at concentrations up to 6.9 mg/L NH3, but concentrations in excess of 3.4 mg/L NH3 adversely affected nymphal survival rates and emergence of adults. For nitrite toxicity, test results showed a wide range of tolerance. The 96-hour LC50 for the single species of Diptera exceeded 123 mg/liter NO2-N; the 96-hour LC50 range for the other tests was between 0.25 and 2.4 mg/liter NO2-N. The addition of 10 mg/liter chloride ion in nitrite tests on P. badia and Ephemerella grandis resulted in a 3- to 10-fold decrease in 96-hour LC50 values. The tolerance to ammonia of the most sensitive of the insect species tested was greater than that reported in the literature for most species of fishes. Except for A. variegata, the range of acute toxicity of nitrite to the insects tested was similar to that reported for fishes
Follicular Development of Beef Heifers Exposed to Bulls During an Estrus Synchronization Protocol that Included a 14-D CIDR, PGF2 ALPHA and Timed Artificial Insemination (AI) and GNRH (Poster)
Get PDFThe objective was to evaluate the effect of presence of a bull on ovarian follicular development and its relationship to fertility in beef heifers using an estrus synchronization protocol that included a progesterone (P4)-containing, controlled internal drug release devices (CIDR) for 14 days, PGF 2alpha (PG, and, timed AI (TAI) and GnRH. Heifers were then assigned randomly to be exposed to bulls (BE; n = 41) or not exposed to bulls (NE; n = 38). Heifers were exposed to bulls on the day of CIDR insertion (d -32) and remained with bulls until day 3 (d 0 = day of PG injection). The heifer bull ratio was 20 to 1. CIDRs were removed 14 days (d -18) after insertion. On day 0 each heifer was injected with PG and bulls removed from BE heifers. Ovaries of each heifer were imaged ultrasonically. Heifers were observed for estrus during the next 60 h, 2x daily. Diameters of the DF at the time of CIDR removal and PG injection (d 0) did not differ between BE and NE heifers and averaged 10.3 ± 0.3 mm (mean ± SE) and 10.9 ± 0.3 mm, respectively. There was no difference in number of antral follicles between BE- and NE-treated heifers (1.7 ± 0.1 and 1.5 ± 0.1, respectively). Diameter of DF did not affect the proportion of heifers that showed estrus or time to estrus of heifers in either treatment. Diameter of DF increased (P < 0.05) linearly as body condition score (BSC) increased. Presence of mature bulls during an estrus synchronization protocol that included a CIDR for 14 days does not appear to influence ovarian follicular dynamics or the expression of estrus after PG in beef heifers. This may not be the mechanism whereby the presence of bulls increases fertility in the bovine. However, the relationship between DF diameter and BCS supports the concept that “more fit” females ovulate larger follicles which in turn improve fertility
Inquiry, Pedagogy and Technology: Automated Textual Analysis of 30 Refereed Journal Articles (Poster)
Get PDFThe storehouse of human knowledge and experience is vast, complex, messy and growing exponentially. To cope with the information explosion, scholars in many knowledge domains rely on sophisticated information technologies to search for and retrieve records and publications pertinent to their research interests. But what is a scholar to do when a search identifies hundreds of documents, any of which might be vital or irrelevant to his/her work? More and more scholars are turning to automated content analysis technologies to achieve what they do not have time to do themselves; characterize the global features of a large corpus of work and identify relationships between significant concepts and themes. This study is an informal analysis of 30 refereed journal articles identified using Google Scholar and the keyword set {inquiry, pedagogy, technology, and mathematics or science}. Mathematics (15) and science articles (15) published between 2014 and 2016 were selected, downloaded, and analyzed using Leximancer (http://info.leximancer.com/), a textual analytics tool that extracts an unbiased dictionary of terms from source documents, discovers concepts, and constructs a thesaurus of terms associated with each concept. Findings are presented using textual, tabular, and graphical formats
Editors Column
Get PDFWhat do rubber chickens, physical literacy, and libraries have in common? How can you communicate with patrons in real time at a self-serve library? When is failure a good thing? These are just a few of the fantastic questions that come up in this year’s conference issue of PNLA Quarterly. It is always a pleasure to solicit articles from our presenters at the August PNLA conference each year. As editors, we attend the conference but rarely are we able to show up at every program on our wish list. Seeing the creative articles that come out of the original presentations just a few months later is truly a delight and a reminder that we are so fortunate to have many engaged, bright professionals in the region