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Map-based Tests on Controls of Anabranch River Character on the Lower Yellowstone River: Author: Jenkins, Patricia Ann; Date: 2007-12-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Processes responsible for the formation of anabranched river systems are poorly understood. The Yellowstone River, Montana, is a major unimpounded river with over 800 km of anabranched channel. There are from one to seven channels per reach. Current literature identifies at least seven variables that may influence anabranch river character: tributary junctions, bedrock lithology, vegetation, sediment pulses, debris/ice jams, water loss from stream (to groundwater or irrigation withdrawal) and tectonism. Two variables, tributary junctions, bedrock lithology (measured by relative bedrock hardnes...; Download File | View full details

Elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem: Conflicts Over Management and Conservation Prior to Natural Regulation: Author: Zirngibl, Wendy Marie; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: History; Abstract: To the residents of Montana and Wyoming, Rocky Mountain elk long have represented an important resource of sustenance and consumptive recreation. The mission of protection and preservation of the elk by the stewards of Yellowstone National Park often opposes the culture of use beyond its boundaries. Since its inception in 1872, Yellowstone has stood at the core of numerous battles fought locally over the elk, revealing the preeminence of this species among the region's wildlife. Conflicting values and the threat of federal infringement become manifest in elk management and use philosophies thr...; Download File | View full details

Remote Sensing of Wetlands in Yellowstone National Park: Author: Wright, Christopher Kevin; Date: 2004-12-15; Program: Biological Sciences; Abstract: As part of the Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative, satellite remote sensing was used to identify potential wetland amphibian habitat in Yellowstone National Park. Landsat Thematic Mapper imagery was combined with ancillary predictors of wetland occurrence including habitat type, cover type, landform type, bedrock geology, soil attributes, terrain measures, and climate data. Classification trees were used to predict the likelihood of palustrine wetland occurrence across the Yellowstone landscape. Wetland maps generated by this study are intended to address shortcomings of the National...; Download File | View full details

The Search for Archaeal Viruses in High Temperature Acidic Environments and Characterization of Sulfolobus Turreted Icosahedral Virus (STIV): Author: Rice, George Ernest; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Microbiology; Abstract: Viruses of extreme thermophiles are of great interest because they can serve as model systems for understanding biochemical molecular nuances required for life at high temperatures. This two part body of work first reports the discovery and isolation of viruses and virus-like particles from extreme thermal acidic environments (70-92°C, pH 1.0-4.5) in Yellowstone National Park (YNP), and secondly details the characterization of one of these viruses that possesses a capsid structural motif that is found in at least two other families of viruses inhabiting the other two domains of life...; Download File | View full details

Pleasure Ground for the Future: The Evolving Cultural Landscape of Yellowstone Lake, Yellowstone National Park 1870-1966: Author: Youngs, Yolonda Lucille; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Yellowstone Lake is located in the protected federal lands of Yellowstone National Park. This park is situated in the Rocky Mountains and its boundaries reach into the tri-state areas of Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. While many researchers have investigated the history and geography of Yellowstone National Park, Yellowstone Lake has been largely ignored as a topic of research. In order to reconstruct the evolution of Yellowstone Lake as a cultural landscape, this study focuses on Yellowstone Lake temporally and spatially as an important and central area of Yellowstone National Park. This study ...; Download File | View full details

Animal Viewing in Postmodern America: A Case Study of the Yellowstone Wolf Watchers: Author: Young, Jo Anne; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Science and Natural History Filmmaking; Abstract: The purpose of this thesis is to examine the American relationship with wildlife by way of a case study of the Yellowstone wolf watchers. The American relationship with nature and animals changed at a never before seen rate during the modern era because of capitalism and industrialization. Our relationship with animals is now idealized and distorted, and we constantly mourn their loss from our everyday lives. Although we keep the animal in a state of perpetual dying by representations in mass media globally, zoos, parks and pets, these actions are more to further enforce their marginalization ...; Download File | View full details

X-Ray Crystallographic Studies of Sulfolobus Turetted Icosahedral Virus (STIV): A Hyperthermophilic Virus from Yellowstone National Park: Author: Larson, Eric Thomas; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Biochemistry; Abstract: Sulfolobus turreted icosahedral virus (STIV) was isolated from acidic hot springs of Yellowstone National Park and was the first hyperthermophilic virus described with icosahedral capsid architecture. Structural analysis of the STIV particle and its major capsid protein suggests that it belongs to a lineage of viruses that predates the division of the three domains of life. Functional predictions of the viral proteins are hindered because they lack similarity to sequences of known function. Protein structure, however, may suggest functional relationships that are not apparent from the sequence...; Download File | View full details

Assessment of Reproductive Isolation Between Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout and Rainbow Trout in the Yellowstone River, Montana: Author: De Rito, Jr., James Nicholas; Date: 2004-08-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: The genomic extinction of Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorynchus clarki bouvieri) has occurred throughout many parts of its historic range because of displacement and introgression with introduced rainbow trout (O. mykiss). However, fluvial cutthroat trout still retain their genetic integrity while co-existing with rainbow trout in the Yellowstone River drainage, Montana. I assessed whether spatial or temporal reproductive isolation, or both, occurs between these taxa. Time and place of spawning was determined by radio-telemetry of a total of 164 trout (98 cutthroat, 37 rainbow, and 29 cutth...; Download File | View full details

Y ECO: Yellowstone Ecological Center for Observation: Author: Kahler, Bradley Scott; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Architecture; Abstract: The Yellowstone Ecological Center for Observation (Y Eco) is designed to function as an educational facility that employs sustainable and ecological methods. Y Eco incorporates a living machine (an all-natural water purification system utilizing micro-organisms, various plants, etc.), various alternative energy resources (i.e. photovoltaic arrays, vertical wind turbines, hydro-electric in-stream turbines), as well as other passive and active sustainable and ecological design methods. An elevated pedestrian bridge forms Y Eco's "spine" and provides direct access to over 700 acres...; 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

Biodiversity Potential in the Pacific and Inland Northwest: The Relative Importance of Forest Structure and Available Energy in Driving Species Diversity: Author: Verschuyl, Jacob Pieter; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Abstract: Currently, the most common strategy of forest biodiversity managers in the Pacific and Inland Northwest (PINW) is to maintain structural complexity within forest stands and create the full range of seral stages across the landscape. Recent advances in ecological theory reveal that biodiversity at regional to continental scales is strongly influenced by available energy (i.e. factors influencing vegetative growth such as precipitation, temperature, radiation, soil fertility). We hypothesized bird species richness (BSR) exhibits a positive or unimodal relationship with energy across landscapes a...; Download File | View full details

A Comparison of Learning: Integration of a Virtual and Traditional Field Trip into an Introductory Environmental geology Course: Author: Cantwell, Laurie Beth; Date: 2004-12-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Field trips are a common component of geoscience courses. However, time and budget constraints, increased safety considerations and large class size have become common obstacles to teaching in the field. Technology has provided an attractive alternative through the virtual field trip. While there is a wealth of virtual field trips available on the internet, it is unclear how students learn on a virtual field trip and how those trips are best incorporated in Earth Science curriculum. The goals of this study are to establish the learning goals addressed by virtual field trips, determine if virtu...; Download File | View full details

Continuum structural representation of flexure and tension stiffened one-dimensional spacecraft architectures: Author: Larsen, Jeffrey James; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Mechanical Engineering; Abstract: Spacecraft designs are a result of system properties and design variables that ensure the spacecraft will operate to mission objectives. The focus of this effort is a set of global system variables for frequency, length, total mass and the ratio between the payload mass and the support structure mass. These properties will be explored to observe the behavior of the system and develop relationships that govern the trade-offs between the variables and assist mission planners in future spacecraft design. These variables will be observed in one-dimensional structures where the dominating dimension...; Download File | View full details

Structural Studies of Enzymes Involved in Propylene and Acetone Metabolism in Xanthobacter autotrophicus: Author: Krishnakumar, Arathi Mandyam; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Biochemistry; Abstract: X-ray crystallography has been an indispensable tool in understanding the mechanism of the enzymes of the epoxide carboxylation pathway in Xanthobacter autotrophicus. The main focus of this dissertation involves providing the structural basis for the stereoslectivity of the two stereospecific dehydrogenases of the pathway namely R- and S-HPCDH. The crystal structure of R- HPCDH cocrystallized with the substrate has been determined. The key elements of interactions between the enzyme and substrate are electrostatic interactions between the sulfonate oxygen atoms and two arginine residues (Arg15...; Download File | View full details

Nucleotide Dependent Conformational Changes in the Nitrogenase Fe Protein: Author: Sen, Sanchayita; Date: 2005-08-15; Program: Biochemistry; Abstract: Nitrogenase is a complex metal-containing enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of nitrogen gas to ammonia. During nitrogenase catalysis the Fe protein and the molybdenum-iron protein associate and dissociate in a manner resulting in the hydrolysis of two molecules of MgATP and the transfer of at least one electron to the MoFe protein. The role of nucleotide binding and hydrolysis in nitrogenase catalysis is one of the most fascinating aspects of nitrogenase function. The Fe protein upon binding to MgATP undergoes a huge conformational change which is important for subsequent steps of nitrogena...; Download File | View full details

Transforming place at canyon: politics and settlement creation in Yellowstone National Park: Author: Papineau, Diane Marie; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Between 1940 and 1970 the cultural landscape of Yellowstone National Park's Canyon development changed dramatically. The government relocated visitor services away from the rims of the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone to a new development, inaugurating the National Park Service's Mission 66 redevelopment program. Replacing the 70-year-old, "organically grown," rustic settlement was a Modern, preconceived village resembling 1950s suburbia. This study examines how different generations of Yellowstone visitors have experienced two dramatically disparate and contested versions of Canyon a...; Download File | View full details

Rural Residential Development in the Greater Yellowstone: Rates, Drivers, and Alternative Future Scenarios: Author: Hernandez, Patricia Cristina; Date: 2004-05-15; Program: Biological Sciences; Abstract: Rates of immigration and rural land use change in the American West have far exceeded the national average, and have been exceptionally rapid in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Because the Greater Yellowstone is ecologically unique, is still largely undeveloped, and is characterized by unrestrictive land use policies, it is a particularly relevant place to study past and potential future growth in rural residential development. The scientific approach used to investigate trends in rural residential development involved the both the testing of specific hypotheses regarding historical develop...; Download File | View full details

Enhancing the Antibiotic Susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms by Quorum Sensing Inhibition: Author: Huff, Caol Philipp; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Chemistry; Abstract: Biofilm forming bacteria are industrially and medically relevant organisms that are exceptionally resistant to garden variety antimicrobial treatments. This resistance is due in part to a biofilm forming bacteria's ability to sense and communicate with neighboring bacteria. As a result of this intercellular communication, bacteria are able to cooperate as a complex community. This communication system is used to modulate important facets of biofilm behavior and thus is an attractive target for biofilm control and potential antimicrobial agents. Inhibition of the molecular signaling system used...; Download File | View full details

Characterization and isolation of Archael thermophilic hosts and viruses from Yellowstone National Park: Author: Spuhler, Joshua Lupine; Date: 2009-08-15; Program: Microbiology; Abstract: My research is focused on the identification and characterization of new archaeal viruses that inhabit the thermal features of Yellowstone National Park (YNP). I have undertaken the systematic survey of more than 90 different thermal features found in Yellowstone through a variety of means including culturing of hosts, MDA amplification, qPCR for known archaeal viruses, 16S rRNA gene analysis of potential resident archaeal hosts, tangential flow and end point filtration approaches to sample new viruses, and general water geochemical analysis. From this work a new host has been isolated from YN...; Download File | View full details

Spectrophotometric, Mass Spectrometeric and Structural Studies of the Prototypical G Protein Coupled Receptor Rhodopsin: Author: Angel, Thomas Emil; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Microbiology; Abstract: Rhodopsin is the integral membrane protein responsible for black and white vision in low light conditions and is found at high concentration in the mammalian retina. Rhodopsin is a prototypical member of the G protein coupled receptor super family that control much of physiology. Improved understanding of rhodopsin signal transduction and amplification via coupling to the heterotrimeric G protein transducin may reveal conserved activation mechanisms that are relevant to other members of the GPCR super family. Described here are several studies that examine the molecular determinants responsibl...; Download File | View full details

Chemical approaches to probe environmental stress in Archaea: Author: Tarlykov, Pavel Victorovich; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Biochemistry; Abstract: Little is known about strategies and mechanisms employed by thermophilic organisms to adapt to environmental stress. Sulfolobus solfataricus is a thermophile that belongs to Archaea, the third domain of life, and can be found in unusual habitats, such as the hot springs of Yellowstone National Park. This archaeon can tolerate high temperature, extreme acidity and high concentrations of heavy metals and other toxic substances. Thus, S. solfataricus has been chosen by many researchers as a model system for biochemical, structural, and genetic studies. In this work S. solfataricus has been expose...; Download File | View full details

Myxobolus cerebralis in native Cutthroat trout of three spawning tributaries to Yellowstone Lake: a qualitative ecological risk assessment: Author: Murcia, Silvia; Date: 2008-08-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Biology; Abstract: Most environments impose periodic or stochastic stress on natural populations, which increase susceptibility to diseases. Infection by Myxobolus cerebralis (exotic parasite causing salmonid whirling disease) is strongly influenced by a stream's physicochemical attributes and stressors, which may also affect host pathology. Susceptibility to M. cerebralis varies greatly among different species and subspecies of the salmonid host, but little is known about lesion severity or location of infection among the native Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarki bouvieri). In 2002 and 2003 we pe...; Download File | View full details

Postglacial vegetation, fire, and climate history of Blacktail Pond, Northern Yellowstone National Park, WY: Author: Huerta, Mariana Angelica; Date: 2008-05-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: Previous studies in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) suggest intensification of the summer-dry and summer-wet patterns in Yellowstone during the early Holocene when increased summer insolation caused atmospheric circulation patterns to strengthen. To examine this hypothesis further, pollen and high-resolution charcoal records were analyzed from Blacktail Pond to reconstruct fire and vegetation histories near the present transition between summer-wet and summer-dry conditions. The site currently lies in Pseudotsuga parkland with Artemisia steppe at lower elevations around the pond. The site supp...; Download File | View full details

Competition Potential between Sauger and Walleye in Non-Native Sympatry: Historical Trends and Resource Overlap in the Middle Missouri River, Montana: Author: Bellgraph, Brian Joseph; Date: 2006-05-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: Sauger Sander canadensis populations throughout Montana and North America have exhibited declines over the past few decades. Sauger population abundance declined in the middle Missouri and Yellowstone rivers of Montana in the mid-1980s following a period of drought. Higher flows resulted in a rebound of the lower Yellowstone River population; however, the middle Missouri River population has remained at low abundance. Various factors may contribute to the reduced population abundance of sauger in the middle Missouri River, including interspecific competition with walleye Sander vitreus. Histor...; Download File | View full details

Bird response to landscape pattern and disturbance across productivity gradients in forests on the Pacific Northwest: Author: McWethy, David Burch; Date: 2007-08-15; Program: Ecology and Environmental Sciences; Abstract: Managing forest lands for biodiversity is a common goal in the public and private forests of the Pacific Northwest and is typically achieved through harvests that result in an array of vegetation structural conditions that provide suitable habitat for a number of species. The assumption is made that the causative factors of biodiversity do not vary geographically and that silviculture, as a management tool, can be applied similarly across different biophysical locales. The primary aim of this research is to better understand how species respond to both local and landscape-scale forest structur...; Download File | View full details

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