109812 research outputs found
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Hope in the Midst of Trajedy
No full texthttps://scholarworks.umt.edu/grad_portfolios/1539/thumbnail.jp
CLIMATE CHANGE AND BEHAVIORAL PLASTICITY: MIGRATION, PARTURITION, AND PHENOLOGICAL MISMATCH IN NORTHERN ROCKIES ELK
No full textThe survival and reproduction of large herbivores depend on the synchronization of life-history events with ephemeral resource availability. Migratory ungulates have navigated this seasonality by relying on environmental cues (e.g., snowmelt or green-up) to predict when to migrate to distant foraging areas. However, anthropogenic climate change is rapidly altering environmental baselines. This dissertation investigates the intersection of climate change, behavioral plasticity, and reproductive ecology in a partially migratory elk (Cervus canadensis) population in Alberta, Canada. Integrating 22 years of longitudinal monitoring data (2002–2024) of individual elk with remotely sensed NDVI and statistical modeling, I examine how three coexisting migratory tactics navigate a landscape where the phenological patterns of resource availability are changing. First, I synthesize how climate change alters herbivore nutrition, distinguishing between shifts in duration versus phenological timing of resources. I then estimate a multidecadal baseline of migratory behavior using models of net-squared displacement and a machine-learning approach to estimate parturition from GPS movement data. I find that while reproductive timing remains relatively stable, migratory behavior exhibits divergent trends between migratory tactics. Western migrants maintain a fixed schedule constrained by highelevation environments, while eastern migrants display plasticity, shifting their spring migration later over time. Finally, I identify the mechanism driving these trends, revealing a novel phenological trap driven by decoupling of local and distant forage resource cues. I demonstrate that the winter range (the cue) is phenologically delaying (+0.66 days/year), while the eastern summer range (the target) is advancing (-0.76 days/year). Eastern elk appear to rely on a delayed forage productivity threshold on the winter range to trigger spring migration. This reliance on a decoupling cue mechanistically forces them into a widening mismatch, from a state of jumping to trailing the green wave. Finally, I test the demographic consequences of this asynchrony. I detected a marginally significant decline in summer calf survival associated with phenological trophic mismatch. Although adult females appear buffered from direct nutritional costs, the burden of mismatch might be shifting to the next generation. Collectively, these findings challenge the assumption that behavioral plasticity acts as a universal buffer against climate change, demonstrating how plasticity can paradoxically accelerate mismatch in complex environments when environmental information becomes unreliable
Ecology-Driven Machine Learning for Predicting Risk of Spread for Aquatic Invasive Species.
No full textEffective management of aquatic invasive species (AIS) requires predictive tools that leverage environmental and ecological data to forecast spread into uninvaded areas. However, species distribution models (SDMs) often struggle to capture key invasion processes such as dispersal, propagule pressure, and biotic interactions. This thesis integrates ecological, dispersal, and environmental predictors within a machine learning framework to enhance AIS risk prediction and model transferability across space.
In Chapter 2, 61 novel predictors were developed for 2,203 Minnesota lakes to model zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) occurrence, incorporating variables related to propagule pressure (e.g., boat visitation), community composition (e.g., fish species richness), and water chemistry (e.g., calcium, pH). Models trained with environmental variables alone achieved moderate performance (mean True Skill Statistic, TSS = 0.77). Adding water chemistry and biodiversity predictors modestly improved accuracy (ΔTSS = 0.03–0.05), while including dispersal-based predictors produced the largest gain (mean TSS = 0.95; ΔTSS = 0.22). The most influential predictors were boat visitation, road-network distance to source populations, global human modification, calcium concentration, winter precipitation, and native fish community structure. Chapter 3 evaluated geographic transferability for zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) using five machine learning algorithms and two ensemble approaches across intrastate (Minnesota) and interstate (Wisconsin) domains. Species identity (η²ₚ = 0.33) and algorithm choice (η²ₚ = 0.18) explained most performance variation, while environmental novelty (MESS) had a smaller but significant effect (η²ₚ = 0.027). Zebra mussel models, led by Random Forest, were highly transferable (TSS = 0.868 intrastate; 0.892 interstate), with strong correspondence between within-extent and transferred predictions (Kulczynski TSS = 0.915–1.000) and minimal uncertainty (SE ≤ 0.032). Eurasian watermilfoil models were more variable (TSS = 0.729–0.831) but improved under ensemble methods. This work demonstrates that integrating species ecology with informative predictors in robust algorithms can substantially improve predictive modeling of aquatic invasions. The resulting modeling pipeline, including scripts for generating predictors and uncertainty maps, provides managers with a transparent and adaptable tool to guide AIS risk assessment and support proactive decision-making
Oral Presentation and Performance Session I
No full textOral Presentations and Performances UC 327: Laws of the Lands UC 329: Media, Music, and Mobilizing Movements UC 330: The Politics of Placemaking in Indigenous and Settler Spaces UC 331: On Empire, Displacement, and Anti-war Education UC 333: Examining Culture and Power in Psychology and Psychiatr
Remembering Brian Kahn
No full textBrian Kahn was a Montana radio legend. As host of the long-running and award-winning “Home Ground Radio,” Brian interviewed hundreds of influential Montanans, asking who they are, what they think and what they are doing about it. Today we’re reairing our conversation with Brian from 2019. He talked about his approach to storytelling, activism, collaboration and problem solving. We also discussed his book, “America: Rediscovering my Country,” which documents a 50-day trip across the United States aimed at exploring diversity along many dimensions. His inquisitive spirit and Montana roots taught us how community can be built and appreciated in the most, or least, diverse environments.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/anewangle_podcasts/1388/thumbnail.jp
Standardizing Vocalization Types of Black-billed Cuckoos
Get PDFVocalization patterns in black-billed cuckoos (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) remain understudied. This project aims to standardize their vocalization types by identifying and categorizing distinct call types, along with key spectral features such as frequency, duration, and entropy, to create a consistent vocal repertoire for the species. A bird’s vocal repertoire refers to the full collection of sounds it produces, including both songs and calls.
I analyzed existing audio recordings from Xeno-Canto, focusing on the two primary call types of the black-billed cuckoo: the “cadence coo” and the “rattle.” The goal was to establish a standardized framework for describing these vocalizations and to clearly define the distinguishing characteristics of each call type.
Through this analysis, I found that modulation index, median time, and entropy were the three most influential spectral properties separating cadence coos from rattles. Modulation index reflects the variation in frequency over time; entropy measures how tonal or noisy a call is, with higher entropy indicating greater acoustic complexity; and median time identifies when the midpoint of the call’s energy occurs, helping describe its temporal structure. By examining the relationships between these properties, I was able to reliably differentiate between the two call types.
Standardizing these vocalizations supports passive acoustic monitoring—a non-invasive and increasingly vital method for avian population surveys. Additionally, the methodology developed here can be adapted to other species, contributing to broader research in soundscape ecology and enhancing acoustic survey techniques
Oral Presentation and Performance Session III
No full textOral Presentations and Performances UC 327: Technology, Consumer Culture, and Marketing UC 329: Voices of Creative Writing UC 330: Articulating Anthropological Approaches UC 331: Historical Accounts of Labor and More in Las Américas and Beyond UC 332: Creative Works of Interwoven Relationships UC 333: Biodiversity in a Warming World UC 3rd floor meeting room foyer: Sound of Us Interactive Experienc
Final Portfolio
Get PDFThis narrative provides a comprehensive reflection on my academic and professional development throughout the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at the University of Montana. Framed by the Advanced Integrated Practice (AIP) model and the Just Practice Framework, the paper explores the integration of theory, personal values, and experiential learning across the ten core social work competencies. Drawing from practicum experiences with the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT), the Montana Safe Schools Center (MSSC), and private practice at Meadowlark, I demonstrate growth in critical self-reflection, clinical skill development, advocacy, and systems-based theory. Special emphasis is placed on the application of trauma-informed care, somatic and polyvagal theory, and social justice-oriented frameworks to guide direct service and macro-level interventions. The narrative also highlights critical engagement with policy, organizational leadership, and research-informed practice.https://scholarworks.umt.edu/grad_portfolios/1443/thumbnail.jp
Grief Into Growth: MSW Portfolio
Get PDFhttps://scholarworks.umt.edu/grad_portfolios/1440/thumbnail.jp