Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://scholarworks.montana.edu/handle/1/733
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Item In-nii (Bison bison L.) reintroduction to Amskapiipikini (Blackfeet) Nation homeland: relationships with ksahko (soils)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2022) Tatsey, Latrice Dawn; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Anthony HartshornIn-nii (American Bison) are returning to their Traditional Territories after being nearly wiped out of the Great Plains of North America and Canada. The in-nii are slowly returning to Native American tribes who have the resources to run reintroduction programs like that of the Amskapiipikini (Blackfeet). This in-nii reintroduction presented an opportunity to look at the effects of the return of in-nii to the Amskapiipikini, and what their influences might be on the soils, plants, and water resources of the Blackfeet Nation. This research project was conducted on the Blackfeet Buffalo (In-nii) Ranch and the adjacent RRJ Cattle Ranch, comparing the influence of in-nii and cattle on soil nutrient cycles and soil carbon dynamics. Soil samples were taken from locations on the landscape that were near water sources on lower elevations, mid hillslopes for mid-elevation sites and on hilltops at higher elevations. Soil characteristics included soil organic matter (SOM), nitrate, pH, cation exchange capacity (CEC), and exchangeable calcium, potassium, sodium, and magnesium. Only two (CEC, magnesium) appeared to have been influenced by in-nii and cattle. The remaining soil characteristics were little influenced by grazer type. Substrate-induced respiration was also measured in the lab to see how microbes decomposed SOM (carbohydrates and other molecules) to release energy and CO2; we found no evidence of differences between in-nii- and cattle-influenced soils. Finally, we measured field respiration rates and water infiltration rates at multiple fence line sites; field soil respiration rates increased when soil had water infiltrated after the dry readings, soils also increased the time to absorb water after the first infiltration tests were run. Our preliminary results suggest that the reintroduction of in-nii to these lands has not yet resulted in measurable differences in soil-related properties of the Blackfeet Nation. Even so, the return of the in-nii for the Amskapiipikini is also about understanding the importance of using cultural science when studying the ecology of a system. Doing this can create an understanding of the traditional ways of knowing while bringing cultural healing and restoring connections between Amskapiipikini, in-nii, and land.Item The influence of sampling design on the characterization of in-stream salmonid habitat(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Clark, Christopher Lee; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Thomas E. McMahon; Robert Al-Chokhachy (co-chair); Robert Al-Chokhachy, George Pess and Thomas McMahon were co-authors of the article, 'Using continuous surveys to evaluate precision and bias of habitat inferences from different reach-scale sampling alternatives' submitted to the journal 'Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences' which is contained within this thesis.Pacific salmon have endured widespread population extirpations with some estimates at nearly one third of historical populations. In the western coterminous United States Pacific salmon no longer inhabit upwards of 40% of their historical freshwater range. Reintroducing Pacific salmon has therefore become a common conservation effort. An early step in evaluating potential reintroductions includes quantifying the available habitat, however the quantification, and interpretation of the habitat can be influenced by the sampling design and methods chosen. Reach-based sampling designs have been used extensively to collect fisheries related data; however, few studies have examined how reach-based inferences may be biased, a particular concern given the non-random distribution of factors such as woody debris and the magnitude of site-to-site variability. To address this concern, I collected reach-based habitat data continuously within streams. I then used simulations to resample the streams which were delineated into discrete reaches. During simulations I applied simple random, simple random with unequal probability, and generalized random tessellation stratified sampling designs and chose three habitat attributes that are commonly collected in stream habitat surveys, thought to be important factors for Pacific salmon survival, and expected to be distributed differently across the riverscape. My goal of identifying potential bias and precision under these sampling designs was achieved by summarizing simulations and comparing simulated results across streams, attributes, sampling designs and ultimately the census derived estimate of an attribute. My results indicate the extent of bias and levels of precision varied not only across habitat metrics but also across streams. My analyses suggest the use of reach-based approaches, particularly with low sampling efforts, can result in substantially different estimates of habitat characteristics and erroneous estimates of habitat carrying capacity of fishes.Item Habitat selection of a reintroduced beaver population in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2011) Scrafford, Matthew Allan; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Duncan T. Patten; Geoffrey Poole (co-chair)In 1986, a beaver reintroduction program was initiated in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness (AB), Montana, in an effort to restore this species to the landscape after a nearly 40 year absence. Since reintroduction, the AB has been inventoried yearly by the U.S.F.S. Gardiner Ranger District to document the location of active beaver structures. This study utilized the beaver structure inventory to report habitat characteristics associated with successful beaver colonies in the AB over a 24 year period. In meadows along 3rd order streams, colonies beaver established early (1986 - 1993) were more successful through 2010 than those established later (1994 - 2006), likely because habitat selected early was of higher quality. Odds of beaver colony success increased with greater stream sinuosity and depth, less distance to secondary channels, and less area of point/gravel bars. The amount of willow, although abundant at all locations, was not significantly different for beaver colony locations with varying levels of success. The best habitat for beaver colonies in meadows along 3rd order streams appeared to be on or within close proximity of secondary channels (e.g., sloughs, tributaries) because these locations were sheltered from destructive main stem flooding such that colonies and their structures were more permanent. Locations with evidence of historic use by beaver in meadows along 3rd order streams had less area of point/gravel bars, greater stream depth, and more willow than locations which had never been used by beaver. Successful beaver colonies were also found in smaller meadows on 1st and 2nd order streams although there was less available willow and streams could be intermittent in flow. After 24 years, the beaver population appears to be at carrying capacity, although there is no evidence that willow harvest rates are excessive or even negative. The success of reintroduced beaver populations in the AB is in contrast to conditions on the nearby northern Yellowstone winter range, where colony density is lower, likely because riparian woody vegetation shows more evidence of suppression from ungulate browsing, site potential for willow growth may be less, and negative anthropogenic effects persist.