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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

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

Breeding Ecology, Survival Rates, and Causes of Mortality of Hunted and Nonhunted Greater Sage-Grouse in Central Montana: Author: Sika, Jenny Lyn; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Fish and Wildlife Management; Abstract: Declines in productivity have been implicated in population declines for greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) in several areas, but there is considerable variation in reproductive effort, reproductive success and female survival, both temporally and spatially, and more data are needed. Despite declining populations, sage grouse are still legally harvested in most of their current range, including Montana, and uncertainty about how harvest impacts sage grouse vital rates remains. The reproductive activity, survival rates, and causes of mortality of hunted and nonhunted sage grouse fe...; Download File | View full details

Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) Habitat in Central Montana: Author: Woodward, Jennifer Kristy; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Animal and Range Sciences; Abstract: Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) habitat was studied in central Montana primarily on Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata wyomingensis) dominated rangeland. The primary objective was to compare shrub and herbaceous parameters within (use, random or non-use) and between seasonal habitats (nest, brood, winter). Nesting occurred in areas with greater total shrub cover (15v13%) and height (28v26 cm), and taller live (12v11 cm) and residual grass (9v8 cm) than randomly available. The shrubs under which hens nested were taller (50v44 cm) and more productive (61v51 g) than rando...; Download File | View full details

Oral pathology of the Archosauria: Bony abnormalities and phylogenetic inference: Author: Wolff, Ewan Douglas Stephens; Date: 2007-05-15; Program: Earth Sciences; Abstract: As a reaction to comparative paleopathology, which homologizes human and dinosaur disease, this project proposed that a broad-scale survey of oral pathology in archosaurs would reveal unique relationships in disease. The approach that was created to pursue this study was termed zoological paleopathology. The justification of this approach lies in the differences between the immune and inflammatory response in mammals and archosaurs. This response governs disease progression within the body and the morphology of many lesions. 2,443 skulls and heads were examined for abnormalities from specimen...; Download File | View full details