Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Vital rates, annual abundance, and movement of white sharks in the northeastern Pacific(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2020) Kanive, Paul Edward; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Jay J. Rotella; Jay J. Rotella, Salvador J. Jorgensen, Taylor K. Chapple, James E. Hines, Scot D. Anderson, Barbara A. Block were co-authors of the article, 'Size-specific apparent survival rate estimates of white sharks using mark-recapture models' in the journal 'Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences' which is contained within this dissertation.; Jay J. Rotella, Taylor K. Chapple, Scot D. Anderson, Timothy White, Barbara A. Block and Salvador J. Jorgensen were co-authors of the article, 'Estimation of regional annual abundance and evidence for increasing numbers of white sharks off California' which is contained within this dissertation.; Jay J. Rotella, Taylor K. Chapple, Scot D. Anderson, Mauricio Hoyos-Padilla, Barbara A. Block, Salvador J. Jorgensen were co-authors of the article, 'Connectivity between the central California and Guadalupe Island white shark populations' which is contained within this dissertation.Reliable estimates of populations' vital rates and abundance are fundamental requirements for making assessments and informed management decisions regarding any species. For large marine fish species whose movements are extensive throughout ocean basins, data for individuals are difficult to acquire. Without empirical data, large assumptions must be made about a species' vital rates (i.e. survival and fecundity) to make population assessments, which can potentially lead to erroneous results. Using mark-recapture and acoustic-telemetry data, I conducted analyses estimating vital rates, annual abundance, and coastal movement for white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) off California, US. First, I used a novel approach to estimate size-specific annual apparent survival rates and to test for differences in survival between sexes after accounting for imperfect sex assignment. Our results provide little evidence for differences in sex-specific survival rates. However, I estimated the first size-specific annual apparent survival rates for sub-adult and adult white sharks. Second, I estimated annual abundance for four white shark demographic groups off the coast of California over an eight-year study period. The estimated total annual population of sub-adult and adult white sharks increased from 180 to 266 individuals during the study. Additionally, group-specific population growth rate point estimates were all > 1.00, which indicates that all groups had positive annual positive growth during the study period, although, uncertainty around those estimates were greater for sub-adults than adults and does not rule out other possibilities for population trajectories. Finally, through collaboration between Mexico and the US, I was able to analyze a comprehensive acoustic telemetry dataset that explored connectivity between two main aggregation sites that form the northeastern Pacific population of white sharks. I found that movement between the two regions was rare and more probable to be sub-adult sharks. These analyses underscore the value of collecting and analyzing empirical data to develop reliable estimates of vital rates for a top marine predator. The work also illustrates the ongoing need to cultivate international research collaboration to include data from both the US and Mexico to make accurate population inferences for the northeastern Pacific population of white sharks.Item The effects of climate-warming on solitary bees and their interactions with plants(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Slominski, Anthony Hayden; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Laura Burkle and Jia Hu (co-chair)The ecological consequences of anthropogenic climate-warming remain poorly understood for pollinators. In order to better understand these consequences, and thus the consequences of climate-warming for pollination services, we must determine how pollinator life histories mediate responses to climate-warming. To help address these research needs, we conducted three studies. First, we used field-collected solitary bee species (i.e., Osmia spp. and Megachile spp.) to investigate how overwintering life stage (i.e., adult versus prepupae), body size, and sex influenced solitary bee survival, weight loss prior to emerging, and timing of emergence in response to manipulated seasonal temperature and the durations of seasons. Second, we manipulated the amount of asynchrony (days) between female solitary bee emergence and flowering periods. We used a mesocosm-based experimental design to investigate the effects of phenological asynchrony on the female lifespan, female interaction rates with flowers, and reproductive success. In a third study, we manipulated the amount of phenological difference between conspecific male and female solitary bees (i.e., the degree of protandry; males emerging prior to females), and investigated the influence of sex-specific phenological responses to temperature on male-female interactions and reproductive success. Our main findings and subsequent conclusions were that i) compared to bees that overwinter as prepupae, patterns in weight loss prior to emergence, adult longevity, and timing of emergence suggested that post-emergence fitness in adult-wintering bees may decrease under climate-warming as a result of increased energy depletion at the time of emergence, increasing asynchrony with flowering periods, and sex-specific phenological responses, ii) asynchrony between a spring-active female solitary bee species (i.e., Osmia cornifrons) and flowering periods caused reductions in offspring body size and reduced interaction rates between females and flowers, which could have consequences for both bee and plant reproductive success, and iii) when the degree of protandry was either reduced or increased from an intermediate level, the probability of female offspring production tended to decrease. This suggests that changes in the degree of protandry may influence the fitness tradeoffs associated with protandry, resulting in consequences for current and future solitary bee reproductive success.Item The 2011 Dear Colleague letter: a quantitative analysis of Title IX's impact on sexual violence management(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2019) Aderholdt, William David; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Sweeney WindchiefThis is a nationwide policy analysis of the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter - a policy which changed how institutions of education responded to reports of sexual violence. Due to the substantial requirements placed on institutions of higher education as a result of this guidance, there is a need to determine how the policy has impacted the management of sexual violence. To accomplish this, Clery Act data from 2001-2017 were collected from 3,634 institutions of higher education from throughout the United States. Uniform Crime Data, a national crime database, was used as a comparison to determine if any changes to reporting rates were also present in the general population of the United States. The Integrated Postsecondary Data System, a database comparing institutions of higher education, was used to determine if institution characteristics (degree program, sector, residential classification, and size) changed how the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter impacted the management of sexual violence. The datasets were analyzed using single- and multiple-group interrupted time-series analysis. The results of this examination found the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter increased reports of sexual violence through the Clery Act by 350%. Three primary conclusions of this study include: 1) The 2011 Dear Colleague Letter caused a significant increase in the management of sexual violence by institutions of higher education; 2) This increase was not due to an increase in reporting by the general population; and 3) Institutions of higher education implemented the 2011 Dear Colleague Letter guidance despite unique characteristics; however, there existed significant differences between these groups.Item Assessment of non-lethal tools to assign sex, stage of maturity, and reproductive condition in Burbot Lota lota(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) McGarvey, Lauren Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Christopher S. Guy; Molly A. H. Webb (co-chair); Christopher S. Guy and Molly A. H. Webb were co-authors of the article, 'Description of gametogenesis and assessment of non-lethal tools to assign sex, stage of maturity, and reproductive condition in burbot Lota lota' which is contained within this thesis.; Christopher S. Guy and Molly A. H. Webb were co-authors of the article, 'Assessment of gonad size measured by ultrasound to assign stage of maturity and reproductive condition in burbot Lota lota' which is contained within this thesis.; Christopher S. Guy and Molly A. H. Webb were co-authors of the article, 'The assessment of non-lethal tools to identify mass ovarian follicular atresia in burbot Lota lota' which is contained within this thesis.Non-lethal tools (plasma sex steroid concentrations and ultrasound) were assessed to assign sex, stage of maturity, and reproductive condition (non-reproductive and reproductive) in Burbot Lota lota from Lake Roosevelt, Washington. Gonadal tissue, plasma samples, and gonadal sonograms were collected from Burbot. Gonadal tissue was processed for histological analysis to describe gametogenesis and confirm sex, stage of maturity, and reproductive condition. Plasma testosterone (T) and estradiol-17beta (E2) concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma 11-ketotestosterone (11- KT) concentrations were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Gametogenesis was described by gonadal histology during the entire reproductive cycle. Plasma sex steroid profiles, gonadosomatic index, and ovarian follicle diameter were also described during the entire reproductive cycle. Plasma 11-KT concentrations were used to assign sex with 81% accuracy during the entire reproductive cycle, and plasma 11-KT and E2 concentrations were used to assign sex with 98% accuracy during the reproductive phase (i.e., November to March in Lake Roosevelt). In females, plasma T concentration, plasma E2 concentration, and month were used to assign stage of maturity with 87% accuracy, and plasma T concentration and plasma E2 concentration were used to assign reproductive condition with 98% accuracy. In males, plasma 11-KT concentration, girth at the urogenital pore, and month were used to assign stage of maturity with 73% accuracy, and plasma T concentration was used to assign reproductive condition with 90% accuracy. Ultrasound was used to assign sex with 97% accuracy, and ultrasound measurements of gonad size were a promising tool to assign stage of maturity and reproductive condition. Non-lethal tools (plasma sex steroid concentrations, gonad size measured by ultrasound, and ovarian follicle diameter) were also assessed to identify mass ovarian follicular atresia in female Burbot. Plasma T concentrations and ovarian follicle diameter were promising tools to identify mass ovarian follicular atresia. Nonlethal tools to assign sex, stage of maturity, and reproductive condition will enable fisheries biologists to assess indices of reproductive potential for the Burbot population in Lake Roosevelt. Indices of reproductive potential can be used characterize and monitor population demographics, improve models of population growth, establish sustainable harvest regulations, monitor the effects of management actions, and monitor the effects of environmental stressors.Item Double secret probation, bias, and equity: a university conduct review(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Education, Health & Human Development, 2018) Kaminski, Katherine Renee; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Tricia SeifertBias issues in this country are real. Individuals are not treated equally and equitably because of their identities, their values, and their choices. This bias happens in places of employment, in the criminal justice system, in every day interactions and conversations. Bias is real, whether implicit or explicit, and too often compassion and equity seem to fall to the background when determining what is right and how we treat others or hold them accountable. Recent literature has found inequities in how k-12 students as well as the individuals in the criminal justice system are proportionally misrepresented by race and gender, with students of color suspended at a rate far greater than their white peers. Turning to higher education, media accounts suggest students who take part in university athletics or fraternities/sororities may receive preferential treatment. This could be because of monetary incentives from donors and alums of these organizations to the university or money that comes into the community and university because of athletic events. Therefore, the student conduct system at universities must also be investigated to determine if 'double secret probation' exists only on the movie screen or inequities in disciplinary consequences are indeed present. From a pragmatic perspective, the goal of this study was to understand the degree to which possible biases in higher education discipline systems exist and use that understanding to inform future practice. Through quantitative analyses, four years of discipline data from two public institutions were investigated to determine if students were suspended at a rate proportionate to the population by gender, race, affiliation with athletics or the fraternity/sorority system, as well as an overall violation 'score' based on their complete conduct history. Analysis showed that men and students of color were represented at higher rates in the suspension population than they were in the overall violation population. Controlling for all other predictor variables, gender, race, and a student's complete discipline record combined to create a violation 'score,' were all found to be statistically significant. There is still a lot of work to do in higher education, and specifically as a result of this study, in working with university conduct systems to realize and understand their implicit biases so that they and administrators may create and contribute to an environment in higher education where all students are treated equitably within the system.Item Getting naughty with nature : 'R-rated' wildlife film(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Arts & Architecture, 2015) Collins, Kevin Michael; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Lucia RicciardelliUnlike most genres of film and television, which feature a wide spectrum of content maturity, wildlife programs are generally family-friendly, rarely venturing into 'R-rated' territory. Perhaps owing to the genre's longstanding association with science and academia, as well as network regulations and censorship, wildlife programs typically eschew profanity, gratuitous gore, and overt sexuality - particularly of a human nature. In recent years, the Internet has permitted a profusion of 'R-rated' wildlife series. Three of the more virally successful 'R-rated' wildlife series available on YouTube include True Facts by Ze Frank, Green Porno starring Isabella Rossellini, and Wild Sex starring Dr. Carin Bondar. Inspired by the popularity and critical acclaim of these series, I have produced the first episode of my own 'R-rated' wildlife series, InSex Episode 1: 'Luminescent Lovers.' In this paper, I explore the creative merits of True Facts' humorously incongruous narration, Green Porno's richly symbolic animal costumes, and Wild Sex's clever analogies between human and animal behaviors. I then discuss how I integrated some of these series' best qualities into 'Luminescent Lovers.' I argue that the 'R-rated' approach, brimming with compelling humanity, can make scientific concepts more fun, relatable, and accessible, facilitating the assimilation of knowledge and attracting viewers who might otherwise shun wildlife media.Item The effect of the sex of the counselor on the counseling relationship(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1972) Western, Jonnee Givens; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: S. Gordon SimpsonItem Counselor awareness of feelings of sexual attraction between counselor and client(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1976) Stefferud, Barbara Lee Camp; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Richard K. HorswillItem Female sexuality : an overview for counselors in training(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1978) Sessions, Sally BaumeItem Sex ratio studies on the wheat stem sawfly, Cephus Cinctus Nort(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1950) McGinnis, Arthur James