ScholarWorks

ScholarWorks is an open access repository for the capture of the intellectual work of Montana State University (MSU) in support of its teaching, research and service missions. MSU ScholarWorks is a central point of discovery for accessing, collecting, sharing, preserving, and distributing knowledge to the Montana State University community and the world.

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Gerrard-strain Rainbow Trout are not piscivorous in a shallow, polymictic reservoir
(Oxford University Press, 2026-01)
Furey, Kaitlyn M.
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Guy, Christopher S.
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Liermann, Bradley W.
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Saffel, Patrick D.
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Schmetterling, David A.
Objective. Georgetown Lake (Montana, USA) is renowned for its multispecies salmonid fishery. Although many anglers target kokanee Oncorhynchus nerka in Georgetown Lake, the body length of kokanee has typically been considered unsatisfactory. To reduce the density of kokanee and increase the average size, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks began stocking the piscivorous Gerrard strain of Rainbow Trout O. mykiss (hereafter “Gerrard”) in 2015 to consume kokanee. In 2020, preliminary evidence suggested that the average length of kokanee greater than 200 mm increased by almost 40 mm. Methods. To assess the efficacy of biocontrol through the introduction of a piscivore to predate on kokanee, we examined the diet composition of all potential predators (three strains of Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis) to determine the amount of predation on kokanee and to understand the feeding ecology of all potential predators. Results. There was little evidence of piscivory in any predator and no evidence of Gerrards consuming kokanee. Gerrards exhibited a generalist feeding strategy, and there was dietary overlap and no difference in trophic position among Gerrards and other predators. Conclusions. From a biological-control perspective, there is no benefit in continuing to stock Gerrards to reduce kokanee densities in Georgetown Lake. These findings underscore the challenge of predicting predator–prey relationships, as diet plasticity can lead to unexpected dynamics based on resource availability and habitat structure within aquatic ecosystems, highlighting the importance of evaluating management interventions, such as biocontrols, in different ecosystems.
Audio Forensic Interpretation of the Trump Rally Assassination Attempt (July 13, 2024)
(Audio Engineering Society, 2025-11)
Maher, Robert C.
This is a case study describing the rapid audio forensic assessment of recordings from the assassination attempt against presidential candidate Donald Trump in Butler, PA, on Saturday, July 13, 2024. Audio from the podium microphones revealed gunshot sound sequences of ballistic shock waves and muzzle blast sounds consistent with rifle bullets traveling at supersonic speed. Additional independent audio evidence was captured by cell phone videos recorded by individuals in the crowd at the time of the shooting. The acoustical consistency between the podium microphone signal and the audio from the numerous user-generated cell phone videos provided strong confidence of authenticity. Within a few hours of the incident, audio forensic analysis identified ten audible gunshots, with the first eight coming from a single position consistent with the subsequent identification of the would-be assassin’s body and two other shots attributable to law enforcement officers.
Ecology of methyl-coenzyme M reductase encoding Thermoproteota
(Elsevier BV, 2025-12)
Jay, Zackary J.
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Kellom, Matthew
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Eloe-Fardrosh, Emiley
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Hatzenpichler, Roland
The recent demonstration that members of at least three classes of archaea affiliated with the Thermoproteota superphylum are involved in the production of the climate-active gas methane has sparked discussions about how well we understand the diversity of methanogens. Here, we show that members of all three of these lineages, as well as several other, yet uncultured and physiologically uncharacterized groups within the Thermoproteota that encode the key enzyme of anaerobic methane cycling, methyl-coenzyme M reductase (MCR), are widely distributed in anoxic ecosystems. We postulate that the taxonomic, metabolic, and ecological diversity of methanogenic and MCR-encoding Thermoproteota are poorly understood, and that the contribution of methylotrophic and thermoproteotal methanogenesis to methane production is largely unknown. We hypothesize that thermoproteotal methanogens could contribute, potentially substantially, to methane emissions in many anoxic environments that harbor methylated precursors, including wetlands, sediments, peat, rice paddies, wastewater sludge, and geothermal systems. We highlight the necessity to experimentally test the (eco)physiology of these widely distributed archaea using both culture-dependent (in vitro) and culture-independent (in situ) approaches to assess their potential contribution to methane emissions. Last, we stress the importance of remaining agnostic about the physiology of MCR-encoding Thermoproteota in the absence of experimental data because most of these archaea also carry the genetic potential to grow non-methanogenically.
Academic capture in the Anthropocene: a framework to assess climate action in higher education
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2024-02)
Lachapelle, Paul
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Belmont, Patrick
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Grasso, Marco
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McCann, Roslynn
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Gouge, Dawn H.
Higher education institutions have a mandate to serve the public good, yet in many cases fail to adequately respond to the global climate crisis. The inability of academic institutions to commit to purposeful climate action through targeted research, education, outreach, and policy is due in large part to “capture” by special interests. Capture involves powerful minority interests that exert influence and derive benefits at the expense of a larger group or purpose. This paper makes a conceptual contribution to advance a framework of “academic capture” applied to the climate crisis in higher education institutions. Academic capture is the result of the three contributing factors of increasing financialization issues, influence of the fossil fuel industry, and reticence of university employees to challenge the status quo. The framework guides an empirical assessment evaluating eight activities and related indices of transparency and participation based on principles of climate justice and the growing democracy-climate nexus. The framework can be a helpful tool for citizens and academics to assess the potential for academic capture and capacity for more just and democratic methods of climate action in higher education. We conclude with a series of recommendations on how to refine and apply our framework and assessment in academic settings. Our goal is to further the discussion on academic capture and continue to develop tools that transform higher education institutions to places of deep democracy and innovative climate education, research, and outreach to meet the challenges of the Anthropocene.
Integrating herbicide application and seeding techniques to restore native plant diversity in crested wheatgrass-dominated rangelands
(Wiley, 2026-04)
Bugoni, Peter
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Mangold, Jane
Introduction. Restoring native plant diversity in crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum)-dominated rangelands is a persistent challenge in ecological restoration across western North America. Dense, long-lived stands of this exotic grass suppress native seedling recruitment, hinder habitat restoration, and reduce ecosystem resilience. Identifying herbicide and seeding strategies that enhance native establishment is therefore critical for improving rangeland restoration outcomes. Objectives. We evaluated whether herbicide intensity, seeding configuration, and their interaction influenced suppression of A. cristatum, establishment of seeded native grasses and forbs, and shifts in plant community composition across three crested wheatgrass-invaded sites. Methods. We applied glyphosate at low (1.1 L/ha) and high (2.3 L/ha) rates, plus an unsprayed control, combined with two drill-seeding configurations across three crested wheatgrass-invaded sites in Montana. Each site was drill-seeded with six native grasses and six native forbs; vegetation was sampled in late June to early July in each year following treatment. Cover, density, and community composition were analyzed for all treatment combinations. Results. Higher glyphosate intensity consistently reduced A. cristatum cover across sites. Seeded native grasses showed modest increases under some herbicide–seeding combinations, while seeded forb establishment remained low. Community analyses indicated significant treatment effects, with herbicide intensity contributing more strongly to shifts in community composition than seeding configuration. Conclusions. Pre-seeding herbicide applications reduced A. cristatum dominance and modestly improved native grass establishment, but forb establishment remained limited under all treatments. Across sites, herbicide intensity was a stronger driver of early restoration response than seeding configuration.