Scholarship & Research
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Item Pollinator conservation and restoration in semi-natural ecosystems(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2022) Glenny, William Robb; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Laura Burkle; This is a manuscript style paper that includes co-authored chapters.Semi-natural ecosystems are areas with biological and physical characteristics that resemble natural ecosystems but are also affected by anthropogenic disturbances. Semi-natural ecosystems are also areas with high insect pollinator diversity. Land management actions within semi-natural ecosystems may therefore be important to counteract future declines of insect pollinators. However, current restoration strategies for insect pollinator communities are based on evidence from agricultural ecosystems, which have frequent human interventions to ensure plant success, neglect the importance of nesting materials, and primarily benefit generalist species. To inform management actions for the conservation and restoration of insect pollinators in semi- natural ecosystems, I (1) synthesized the current understanding of the effects of common land management actions on insect pollinators on public lands in the US, (2) identified habitat characteristics which structure the taxonomic and functional diversity of bee communities, (3) evaluated the strength of influence of mechanisms associated with diet breadth across groups of bee species and (4) designed a conceptual model which can be used to select flowering plant species to provide food resources for bee communities in semi-natural ecosystems. Management actions that increase the abundance of floral and nesting resources to support bee species from different functional groups are required to conserve and restore insect pollinator communities in semi-natural ecosystems. I found that (1) management actions have positive, neutral, and negative effects on insect pollinators, but research trends vary depending on the taxon and habitat type, (2) the taxonomic and functional diversity of bee communities are structured by the abundance of both floral and nesting resources, (3) patterns of abundance across space and time have a more positive effect on the diet breadth of bumble bee species compared to non- bumble bee species, and (4) wildflower species that receive a high visitation rate and richness, occupy functionally important positions within bee-flower interaction networks, and are spatially and temporally widespread are important to provide bee communities with food resources in semi-natural ecosystems. These wildflower species may be particularly important to include within seed mixes to revegetate semi-natural ecosystems and provide food resources for insect pollinators.Item Spanish Creek water quality(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Nealen, Carolyn Ruth; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Greg FrancisSpanish Creek's water quality was monitored over several months, through collection of data from nine parameters. Specific data from two sites were compared to determine the impact of recreational use upon overall stream health. Macroinvertebrates were also sampled. Data was graphed and analyzed for patterns. Results suggest that Spanish Creek's water quality is Good and that recreational use does not negatively impact stream health.Item Field science experiences in paleontology: shaping science stewardship in high school learners(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2019) Lepore, Taormina Jean; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Greg FrancisHow do field science experiences shape a sense of conservation and stewardship in learners? This study analyzed separate groups of female-identifying and male-identifying 9th grade high school students (N=80) on their first field paleontology experience at Rainbow Basin Natural Area, California. Likert-style surveys and written self-reflections indicate relative consistency in pre- and post-treatment responses student-to-student, through when paired with qualitative responses, the power of science stewardship and a personal sense of connection to public lands becomes markedly apparent. Future studies in the realm of science stewardship in field paleontology will help illuminate the impact of field paleontology on science learners.Item Livestock depredation by grizzly bears on Forest Service grazing allotments in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2017) Wells, Smith Laura; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Lance McNewGrizzly bear population growth and range expansion over the last several decades in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) has led to increased human-bear conflicts, including livestock depredation on public land grazing allotments. A better understanding of patterns and relationships between grazing allotment management and grizzly bear depredation of livestock is needed for adaptive, sustainable management in the ecosystem. Historic U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service livestock grazing records, grizzly bear habitat attributes, and documented livestock depredations by grizzly bears were collated for 316 public land grazing allotments within the grizzly bear Demographic Monitoring Area (DMA) during 1992-2014. Spatio-temporal relationships between annual livestock depredation counts and grazing allotment characteristics were modeled for each allotment during the study period at two spatial extents, representing daily and annual grizzly bear activity areas. As the Yellowstone grizzly population expanded during the last several decades, more public land grazing allotments were exposed to potential livestock-grizzly bear interactions and results indicated that both livestock stocking and grizzly bear habitat characteristics in and around allotments were related to documented depredations during 1992-2014. Annual numbers of livestock and grizzly bear density on allotments had a large, positive effect on average livestock depredation event counts. Allotment size and summer grazing both were related to higher depredation event counts while the presence of bulls and/or horses was related to lower counts. Allotments with less rugged terrain, lower road density, relatively higher vegetative primary productivity, greater amounts of whitebark pine, and further from forest edge on average were associated with higher average livestock depredation event counts. Managers and livestock producers could use these results to support adaptive management approaches and long-term planning such as increasing herd supervision, especially in areas with quality grizzly bear habitat and high grizzly bear density, or altering grazing management strategies and grazing locations to limit potential livestock depredation events. Results provide insight into historic livestock-grizzly bear conflicts on public lands in a large, complex ecosystem and although challenging, results could support cooperative management strategies to sustain the grizzly bear population and livestock operations in the GYE.Item American Zion: Mormon perspectives on landscape from Zion National Park to the Bundy family war(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Letters & Science, 2017) Quammen, Betsy Gaines; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Michael ReidyThis dissertation is about Mormon views on landscape and resource use from Euro-American settlement in what is today southern Utah and southeastern Nevada, to the current range battles over public lands. In journals, articles, interviews, videos, and blog posts, a record of grazing and extraction during early settlement through the opening of tourism and modern federal management exists; these materials portray religious and utilitarian views on landscape and justify land use accordingly. Opinions over the appropriate use of federal lands, cultural biases and differing notions of ownership present a wide disparity on regional and national perceptions of suitable uses of federal property. Most urban Americans want to access public lands for reasons other than resource extraction. Western ranchers and their supporters, on the other hand, want to use public land for economic purposes. A group of Mormon ranchers justify their position through ancestry, entitlement and religious beliefs. The result has been a protracted conflict, in Mormon homeland, between the federal government, regional residents and the broader American public. This dissertation tracks early land use by Southern Paiute and Mormons; the history of grazing on federal lands and the establishment of national parks and monuments in Mormon country; and current armed conflicts over land use.Item Private use of public lands : Canyon Ferry Lake cabin lease sites(Montana State University - Bozeman, 1987) Clark, Steven Ray; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Richard L. HainesItem State land management in Montana(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1942) Murray, Henry T.Item Economic significance of federal ownership of Bureau of Land Management administered lands on selected Montana county incomes(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1964) Infanger, Carlton A.Item State entrusted grazing lands : a study of regulation and price(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1977) Gaarder, David KarstenItem Public land survey for agricultural education(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1996) Gislaine, Rahelimihajandralambo Adele