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From the Old to New West: changes in landownership and land use in the Crazy Mountains, Montana from 1900 to 2000: Author: Nygaard, Kimiko Jean-Lena; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Land and life across the Mountainous West are changing rapidly. Traditionally, mountain localities of the western United States have been centers of natural resource extraction and production. Many of these settings however, are being redefined as part of an amenity-oriented, economy and lifestyle. Whereas Old West landscapes reflect industries of mining, farming, ranching, and logging, the New West has become a spatial arena for recreation, tourism, and second-home development. Consequently, different land use ethos and land management practices between residents have led to conflict over res...; Download File | View full details

Factors Affecting Nest Survival of Three Species of Migrant Songbirds in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Author: Carle, Robin Jean; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: In the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), spatial patterns of habitat types and human land uses create an overlap between high-intensity human disturbance and productive habitat types at low elevations. This overlap suggests concern for species such as Neotropical Migrant songbirds, whose populations may depend on the productivity of individuals breeding in low-elevation habitats. We examined patterns of nest survival of three songbird species within the GYE to determine the relative importance of covariates of interest at nest-, patch-, and landscape-level spatial scales to nest survival. W...; Download File | View full details

An Examination of International Studies in Undergraduate Agricultural Curricula at 1862 Land Grant Institutions: Author: Brooks, Shannon Elizabeth; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Agricultural Education; Abstract: The purpose of this study was to ascertain the status of international agricultural education at 1862 land grant institutions, by answering the question, what are our 1862 land grant institutions doing to integrate international studies into their undergraduate agricultural curricula? There were two investigations conducted, (1) a content analysis and (2) a survey. A website based content analysis was conducted. A qualitative analysis of the contents of 57 land grant institution's college of agriculture' websites identified current trends in agriculture with regard to international themes. The...; Download File | View full details

Perceptions of the Montana Land Grant System Held by Legislators and Faculty: Author: Duffey, Lisa Marie; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Agricultural Education; Abstract: A survey was conducted to determine the perceptions of the agricultural components of the Montana land grant system: College of Agriculture (COA)/Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and Extension Service (ES), held by Montana legislators and faculty working in the system. Surveys were mailed to 150 legislators (85 returned) and 198 faculty members (85 returned). Responses were analyzed using SPSS 12.0. Results found that legislators and faculty preferred an administrative structure with one leader for all three components of the agriculture land grant system. Overall, both populations agreed...; Download File | View full details

Land, Life, and Feme Sole: Women Homesteaders in the Yellowstone River Valley, 1909-1934: Author: Walker-Kuntz, Sunday Anne; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: History; Abstract: This thesis focuses on women homesteaders in Yellowstone County, Montana during the boom years of 1909 to 1934. The historical and cultural phenomenon of American homesteading and its legal framework are discussed, but emphasis is on homesteaders in Montana who did not migrate to the state great numbers until the early twentieth century, particularly after 1909. This study relies principally on data from primary documents including the records of the General Land Office, Census Bureau data, oral histories, and homestead legislation. The data is used to describe and analyze the patterns of home...; Download File | View full details

Evaluating and Monitoring Invasive Plant Processes: Author: Repath, Charles Fitts; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; Abstract: Non-indigenous plant species (NIS) are a concern for both natural area land managers and the public. These species are perceived negatively despite the fact that the processes and impacts related to NIS are not fully understood. Also, control is generally conducted without understanding NIS population ecology. As a result, few NIS populations have been successfully controlled. We studied the population ecology of NIS in natural areas. First, Linaria vulgaris was monitored at different spatial scales over three years to determine its invasiveness, and also to determine which life history states...; Download File | View full details

In the shadow of the dam(med): Author: Cuthbertson, Joshua David; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Architecture; Abstract: Settlers developed the American West by controlling and subduing the processes of nature. This thesis explores architecture that reveals those processes, not subdues them. A prime example of this is the area along the North Platte River in southeastern Wyoming. The area's quick settlement has resulted in poor land development that threatens the area's current, agriculture-dependant, livelihood. Reservoirs developed to support the agricultural industry have reached the end of their useful lives, and now threaten the water supply. Once such reservoir, located in Guernsey, Wyoming, is silting a...; Download File | View full details

spatial Cognition among Montana Eleventh and Twelfth Grade Agricultural Education Students: Author: Price, Danielle Nicole; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Agricultural Education; Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine high school student's spatial cognition abilities to identify features and attributes in agriculture production images, projected in two-dimension (2D) or three-dimension (3D). The effects of selected demographics on spatial cognition were examined. The population consisted of 101 high school students from selected secondary agricultural education programs during the Fall Semester of 2003. Criteria for participation were that the class size be 10-15 students enrolled in 11th or 12th grade. The agricultural classes were randomly assigned as either par...; Download File | View full details

Prioritizing Private Land For Conservation Easement Riparian Corridor Conservation Along The West Gallatin River: Author: Holscher, Erik Edward; Date: 2005-05-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Several studies have been done that utilize a Geographic Information System GIS) to analyze and rank riparian habitat for conservation potential based on natural resource data. There is also a growing body of literature that describes the importance of landowner surveys when planning land management strategies. The objective of this study is to combine both of these techniques to create an integrated approach for conservation and planning efforts with emphasis on riparian zones. Publicly available GIS data was used to map existing natural resource data for the Gallatin River riparian corridor ...; Download File | View full details

Habitat-Based Species-Specific spatial Prediction: Geographical Distribution of Spiranthes diluvialis: Author: Pidgeon, Leo Edward; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Influenced by the spirit of the American conservation tradition, federal and state land management agencies are mandated to protect threatened plant species. Field surveys conducted by the Montana Natural Heritage Program indicated the presence of a rare orchid, Spiranthes diluvialis, in southwest Montana wetlands. A study of state-managed wetlands conducted at Missouri Headwaters State Park was requested to determine existing suitable species habitats, to identify species populations, and to develop a conservation management strategy based on habitat evaluation. The objective of this project ...; Download File | View full details

Human capital accumulation among Native Americans: an empirical analysis of the national assessment of educational progress: Author: Fischer, Stefanie Jane; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Applied Economics; Abstract: Native Americans have low levels of human capital accumulation. In 2005, only 21% scored at the proficient level on the NAEP math test compared with 37% of all other test takers. One cause of their low human capital accumulation may be factors that commonly explain low academic performance among other minority groups within the United States, such as school quality and family background. Alternatively, Native American students may perform low academically due to factors that are unique to this population such as living on Native land or the political institutions that govern them. This paper w...; Download File | View full details

Evaluation of Habitat Suitability Models for Elk and Cattle: Author: Hohler, Deborah Dorothea; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Animal and Range Sciences; Abstract: Managing elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) and cattle habitats in the western United States is confounded by the complex interactions of these species and by diverse private and public land management goals. Managers often use quantitative models as tools in land resource management yet many of these models have not been validated. I evaluated modified versions of existing elk and cattle habitat suitability index (HSI) models on four ranches in Montana and Wyoming to evaluate their ability to predict feeding site selections on non forested habitats. Animal locations were determined from aerial surv...; Download File | View full details

Other Spaces, Other Voices: Heterotopic Spaces in Island Narratives: Author: Storment, Ryan Lee; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: English; Abstract: Islands periodically reappear and manifest themselves within our cultural texts as locations for fantasy and the exotic. On the surface they are often remote locations that simply serve as interchangeable backgrounds, but their reoccurrence is usually due to their unique ability to be molded. They are served up as blank slates, much like early visions of the western United States, where we meet the Other or encounter exotic voices. Because of this, islands are perceived as spaces with no Western historical narrative or structure so it becomes simply to move Western structures and complex issue...; Download File | View full details

Building a Raman laser pump source capable of generating flexible pulse durations while maintaining high spatial quality: Author: Wagemann, Stephen Scott; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Physics; Abstract: A detailed characterization of a Raman pump laser throughout the construction process is reported. Due to specific requirements for the pulsed Raman experiment, there were no commercially available pump lasers capable of meeting our specifications. The pump source must produce high energy pulses of 50mJ to 100mJ with variable duration centered at 200ns. To create this pump source, the pulses are gated from a CW source and then amplified with a high gain Nd:YAG amplification system. High spatial quality is also a necessity as the laser needs to be coupled into a small diameter waveguide functio...; Download File | View full details

Spin-Label Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Characterization of Heterogeneously Functionalized Dendrimers: Author: Walter, Eric Dale; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Chemistry; Abstract: Dendrimers are roughly spherical macromolecular polymers that can provide a molecular framework for the attachment of various functionalities. The range of application can be vastly expanded when attached with a heterogeneous mix of functionalities tailored to meet a specific need. The effective application requires the acquisition of several new techniques. First, chemical control of the average ratio of functional groups and analytical methods to determine the ratio. Secondly, a determination of the distribution of ratios. and finally, a method whereby the spatial distribution is determined....; Download File | View full details

Temporal Changes in the spatial Patterns of Weak Layer Shear Strength and Stability on Uniform Slopes: Author: Logan, Spencer Carl; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Avalanche forecasting involves the prediction of spatial and temporal variability of the stability of the snowpack. Greater spatial variability increases the uncertainty of forecasts and reduces the ability of a forecaster to extrapolate snowpack stability reliably. A greater understanding of the spatial patterns of stability, and how they change through time, could improve avalanche forecasting. I examined temporal changes in shear strength and stability of three persistent weak layers at three different sites. Sites were located on uniform slopes to minimize factors that introduce variabilit...; Download File | View full details

The spatial ecology and mating system of black bears (Urus americanus) in New Mexico: Author: Costello, Cecily Marie; Date: 2008-08-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Biology; Abstract: In summary, our results show that high rates of male dispersal and female philopatry combine to create a spatial genetic structure that generates low rates of inbreeding and little need for kin discrimination among potential mates. Thus, evidence supports the hypothesis that inbreeding avoidance is achieved by means of male-biased dispersal in black bears. Our results also suggest the general pattern of male-biased dispersal is modified by competition for mates or resources....; Download File | View full details

Distance delivered education at Montana State University - supplementing or supplanting campus registrations: an exploration of changing patterns over time: Author: Godwin, Ian Chandler Paterson; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Education; Abstract: The problem addressed in this study was that university system and institutional administrators need to know who (geographically and demographically) the consumers of online courses and programs are. The purpose of this comparative study was to identify student populations and registration patterns over an eight year period in on-campus and online courses offered by Montana State University. Whether or not distinct student populations could be identified based on the mode of course delivery (on-campus vs. online) was established through analysis of spatial and demographic data. The design of t...; Download File | View full details

Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation and Establishment of Six Montana Native Legumes Species: Author: Metcalf, Sarah Jean; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Land Rehabilitation; Abstract: Legume species have been known to increase soil N content and are incorporated into land restoration seed mixes in hopes of improving degraded soils and plant communities. The goals of this project were to determine effects of soil type, soil moisture, inocula and fungicide treatments on legume establishment, N₂ fixation capacity and plant biomass for six individual native legume species. In potted greenhouse studies, legumes were grown in five field soils to verify nodulation without inocula. In a second phase, plant biomass was measured in two soils at two moisture contents (60 and 8...; Download File | View full details

Anti-Stokes generation in a continuous wave raman laser: Author: Murphy, Sytil Kathleen; Date: 2008-08-15; Program: Physics; Abstract: The continuous-wave Raman laser system differs from other Raman systems in that it uses cavity enhancement to augment the pump laser source rather than a high-power pulsed laser source. Through interactions of the pump laser with the Raman active medium, all Raman systems can produce both red-shifted, Stokes, emission and blue-shifted, anti-Stokes, emission. Previous, continuous-wave Raman laser systems have focused on the Stokes emission. This dissertation presents theory and data on the anti-Stokes emission. Specifically, it investigates the anti-Stokes mode structure and the emitted power a...; Download File | View full details

An Analysis of Whirling Disease Risk in Western Montana: Author: McGinnis, Stephanie Ann; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Biological Sciences; Abstract: Myxobolus cerebralis, the causative agent of whirling disease, has been a major contributor to the loss of young trout in numerous streams within the Intermountain West (Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyoming). Currently there are no effective management procedures for mitigating the effects of this disease because it is not fully known why the parasite has severe effects in some trout populations while remaining fairly benign in others. Characteristics of the parasite, hosts, environment, and their interactions, may partially explain varying responses of wild rainbow trout populations to whi...; Download File | View full details

Absolute Architecture-Scaled Experience: Author: Ankeny, Samuel Robert; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Architecture; Abstract: Located near the edge of the North American Plate, in the great west of the United States, is an area known as the Colorado Plateau. Encompassing four states Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, it is also known as the four corners region. This Area has been widely recognized as one of the most powerful landscapes in the world and holds special meaning to the Native peoples of America. It is an area which is known to produce irregularities in the earths geomagnetic field. These irregularities have been described as many different things from spirits to extraterrestrials.¹ More nota...; Download File | View full details

Satellite monitoring of current and historical development patterns in Big Sky, Montana: 1990-2005: Author: Campos, Natalie Monique; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Land Resources and Environmental Sciences; Abstract: The goal of this study was to map current and historical development patterns in Big Sky, Montana. Object-oriented classifications of a high-resolution Quickbird image and a fused Quickbird and LiDAR image were compared. Results demonstrated that object-oriented classification can be used to overcome the difficulty associated with pixel-based classification of high-resolution images through the addition of contextual metrics to the classification process. The fused classification resulted in decreased errors of commission and omission for each class, but the differences between the classificat...; Download File | View full details

Common Loon Nesting Ecology in Northwest Montana: Author: Paugh, Justin Isaac; Date: 2006-08-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: Common Loons (Gavia immer) are found across the northern continental United States and in Canada and Alaska. The common loon is long lived, with delayed breeding maturity and low fecundity. Surveys indicate Montana's Common Loon population remains stable, but lakeshore development and watercraft recreation are increasing. While the effects of these changes are unclear, research investigating reproductive success over a gradient of habitat conditions, at multiple spatial scales is lacking. The objectives of this research were to investigate vital rates and the relationships between daily nest s...; Download File | View full details

Now and all are important: a post-structural critique of humanism, Aldo Leopold's The Land Ethic and Disney/Pixar's Wall-E: Author: Dye, Charles Eugene; Date: 2008-12-15; Program: Science and Natural History Filmmaking; Abstract: Feelings of hopelessness and meaninglessness have become hallmarks of American society. As a filmmaker and film educator it is clear I share a responsibility to address these defining issues. Using some of the ideas of Zygmunt Bauman, Jacques Derrida, Neil Evernden, Claude Levi-Strauss, Bill Nichols, Nell Noddings, José Ortega y Gasset, Edward Said, and Erwin Straus, I observe this problem to be a result of dispassionate humanism -a machineworld story considered appropriate in the current social construction. From this critical perspective, I then analyze Aldo Leopold's "The La...; Download File | View full details

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