Survey of Vaccine Beliefs, Misconceptions, and their Origins
Sierra Hentges
Vaccination safety has been called into question in recent years (Mercola, 2014). Some parents have therefore opted out of vaccinating their children, seeking religious or personal exemptions or simply homeschooling. This drop in vaccination numbers has led to a resurgence of childhood illnesses, like whooping cough and measles. These cases are appearing all over the United States, including the state of Montana (Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, 2015). The dissemination of misinformation is primarily responsible for the reappearance and damage caused by these preventable diseases. This research aims to identify (1) reasons for mistrusting vaccines, (2) the types of people in which certain misconceptions prevail, and (3) what news sources these individuals rely upon.
A pilot study has been conducted at Rocky Mountain College by student Sierra Hentges and Dr. Holly Basta. We will send out an electronic survey via email to fellow universities, schools, hospitals, etc. around the state of Montana. By analyzing the data, we will map out each response given by the zip code they provide. From this we can map out common misconceptions, beliefs, and other demographics by county. By breaking down the results and mapping each statistic by county, it would be beneficial to overlay them with outbreaks of preventable diseases.
A pilot study has been conducted at Rocky Mountain College by student Sierra Hentges and Dr. Holly Basta. We will send out an electronic survey via email to fellow universities, schools, hospitals, etc. around the state of Montana. By analyzing the data, we will map out each response given by the zip code they provide. From this we can map out common misconceptions, beliefs, and other demographics by county. By breaking down the results and mapping each statistic by county, it would be beneficial to overlay them with outbreaks of preventable diseases.
Using Camera Traps to Document Carnivore Presence in Whitebark Pine Stands in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
Jacob Myers
RMC students have conducted carnivore distribution studies for the past two years in the Absarokee Beartooth Wilderness (ABW). This research has focused on developing survey techniques that are sensitive to Wilderness Area Ethics and effective at recording carnivores and other mammals. My research looks to continue to utilize these successful carnivore detection methods with a focus on establishing long-term study plots in high elevation whitebark pine communities in the ABW and initiating a survey of whitebark pine stand health. By establishing permanent study plots and monitoring the health of the whitebark pine stands
and the presence of carnivore species we hope to gain a better understanding of the distribution of carnivores in this habitat, how these sites are changing over time, and how it affects species diversity in subalpine and treeline ecosystems.
and the presence of carnivore species we hope to gain a better understanding of the distribution of carnivores in this habitat, how these sites are changing over time, and how it affects species diversity in subalpine and treeline ecosystems.
Plant-Microbe Interactions in Saline, Alkaline Lake Basins in the Upper Yellowstone Watershed
Noah Oloff
Endophytic fungi can form symbiotic relationships with grasses. This relationship may improve the fitness of the grass species, in part by enhancing the host’s ability to tolerate abiotic stresses such as alkalinity and salinity. Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge and Big Lake Wildlife Management Area have been identified as important biological sites in the central Montana Lake Basin. The sites are large lake basins marked by saline, alkaline mud flats and surrounded by short grass prairie. Salt tolerant grass species like Puccinellia nutalliana (Nuttal’s alkaligrass), Distichlis spicata (inland saltgrass), and Thinpyrum poniticum (tall wheatgrass) grow at both sites. This research project seeks to determine the presence and abundance of fungal endophytes in P nutalliana, D. spicata, and T. ponticum, and link the presence and abundance of grasses and their associated fungal endophytes to soil conditions along a saline/alkaline gradient. Environmental impacts from damming, water diversion, and climate change are creating more saline/alkaline environments in the Yellowstone River area. Examining endophyte-plant mutualisms in these saline rich environments could help could help scientists, conservationists, and managers determine how well endophytes promote plant fitness and facilitate restoration efforts in similar saline habitats. This project will be conducted with the support of RMC SEED and MT EPSCoR.
Rock Fall Hazard Assessment for the Eagle Formation in Billings, Montana: Analyzing the Major Weathering and Erosional Processes to Better Explain Rock Fall Events
Alethea Shaules
The Eagle Formation (The Rimrocks) in and around Billings, Montana is a prominent bedrock hill slope. As the rock undergo weathering and erosion, and the city continues to develop atop and below the Rimrocks, it poses a threat of rock fall to many. During the past decade, several homes and other property have been extensively damaged due to slab detachment from the cliff face. Hazard assessment data have been collected by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology for decades on 11 monitored areas of concern. Past data collection has included monthly measurements of slab movement on particular areas of concern; vertical and horizontal displacement of the slabs, along with continuous temperature and precipitation on the measurement days. Coming up with new ways of collecting data and identifying other potential processes that might influence rock fall are important in explaining rock fall hazards along the Rimrocks. Slab movement may be affected by seasonal changes in weather (primarily precipitation and temperature) and, may also be affected by the presence vegetation within the fractures. With the use of dendrochronology (tree ring data), and lichenometry (lichen growth), together with continued measurement of slab movement, and collection of precipitation and temperature records, this project looks to identify other factors influencing rock fall hazards on the Rimrocks. Age of the fracture vegetation, temperature, and precipitation will be compared to slab movement over time. Where relationships exist, statistical analyses can be used to help highlight which factors have a greater effect on slab movement. Also, incorporating the study of geomorphology, structure, sedimentology and stratigraphy, will help to better understand the weathering and erosional characteristics of this formation. Hazard assessment data will be collected over a period of 12 months. The use of LiDAR technology would also provide valuable information; which has not been used in this area. We are currently in discussions with UNAVCO, a non-profit university-governed consortium that facilitates geoscience research and education using geodesy based in Boulder, Colorado, to have a technician scan a location of interest along the Rims using Terrestrial Laser Technology Scanning (TLS) equipment in the fall semester. This would provide sub-centimeter resolution of the 3-dimensional cliff face. This data resolution will help identify small scale slab movements over time. LiDAR technology will provide quantitative data for slab movement in order to help explain small scale changes to the cliff face that might influence larger scale rock fall events. Knowing which processes have greater effects on slab detachment, will better explain rock fall on the Rimrocks, and could help aid in the prediction of these hazards in the future. Rock fall hazard assessment is crucial for the continued protection and safety of the public.
Determining Island Ownership in the Yellowstone River
Cameron Woods
My YRRC project is a collaborative effort between Our Montana and the YRRC that seeks to address the following question: What is the ownership status of islands within a Yellowstone River study area extending approximately 12 miles upstream of Pompeys Pillar. This stretch of river is ecologically, culturally, and economically important. Clearing up ownership issues related to islands upstream of Pompey's Pillar National Monument and encouraging the State to manage them as parks would allow more people the opportunity to experience the cultural and recreational value of this section of the river. So far we have identified 8 candidates eligible for public ownership. My project involves working with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to analyze satellite images and historic aerial photos. I am also developing a tutorial style report of my methods and workflow so that this GIS workflow can be replicated by future RMC students.