Fish Monitoring on Recently Restored Side Channels of the Bighorn River: A Pilot Study
Josie Eccher
My research will involve a pilot study looking at fish recolonization on recently-restored side channels on the Bighorn River. The Bighorn is the largest tributary of the Yellowstone River and is a blue ribbon trout stream. In 1967, the Yellowtail Dam was built to improve irrigation, control flooding, and provide power. Dams may inhibit the dynamic high-spring snowmelt flows, which results in accelerated side channel senescence. Senescence of side channels results when an accretion of material at the head of side channels and vegetation growth inhibit side channel flows and connectivity at various discharge levels.
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In the summer of 2022, the Bighorn River Alliance received funding to excavate two side channels on the Bighorn River to reactivate flow at certain dam discharge levels. These two side channels are the first of what will eventually be 12 restored sites.
I plan to monitor fish recolonization in the two recently-restored side channels. I have two main research questions: 1) How do differences in year classes of fish compare between the side channels on the Bighorn River? 2) How do fish occupancy and species type change based on time of year and river discharge levels? My research will provide useful information on side channel characteristics and fish recolonization. Data will be obtained using fyke traps, electrofishing, and snorkeling. In addition to fish surveys, habitat, water quality, macroinvertebrate, and substrate surveys will be taken. I will also be assisting with an ongoing snapping turtle nesting study. |
Herbicide Treatment of Tamarix spp. and its Effects on Native Riparian Vegetation
Miranda Furchner
Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.), commonly called salt cedar, is an invasive plant species that was introduced to the United States in the mid-1800’s for soil erosion prevention and has since spread along riparian forest systems in the western United States. The upper northern range of tamarisk is in Montana, where it is understudied. Tamarisk spreads readily, primarily in areas with anthropogenic disturbance. It oftentimes replaces native plant species. This is especially harmful in riparian zones where high levels of species diversity rely on native plants. In my area of study in southwestern Montana, research has pointed to native cottonwoods, Populus spp., curbing the spread of tamarisk when cottonwood establishes a mature canopy. Willow, Salix spp., is one of the main native understories in cottonwood riparian zones and also may limit tamarisk when tamarisk growth is contained via herbicide application.
I selected this study site in collaboration with the Yellowstone County Weed Department, which has been conducting noxious weed treatments along the Yellowstone River in riparian zones of the Pompey’s Pillar area since 2007 and would like to know the effectiveness of herbicide usage on halting tamarisk spread. Fifteen permanent transects were established on the Yellowstone River in the Pompey’s Pillar area, with the land split into three hydrologic zones: the alluvium, the low terrace, and river islands. I will identify vegetation within the transects both pre- and post- herbicide application. At each site I will measure vegetation height, foliar cover (%), bare ground (%), basal cover (%), and vegetation composition of native versus invasive, with particular focus on Tamarisk spp., Populus spp., and Salix spp. It is important to know the best practice for encouraging Montana native plant success in riparian zones. By understanding the effectiveness of herbicide treatment, the Yellowstone County Weed Department can utilize best land management practices in this important ecosystem.
I selected this study site in collaboration with the Yellowstone County Weed Department, which has been conducting noxious weed treatments along the Yellowstone River in riparian zones of the Pompey’s Pillar area since 2007 and would like to know the effectiveness of herbicide usage on halting tamarisk spread. Fifteen permanent transects were established on the Yellowstone River in the Pompey’s Pillar area, with the land split into three hydrologic zones: the alluvium, the low terrace, and river islands. I will identify vegetation within the transects both pre- and post- herbicide application. At each site I will measure vegetation height, foliar cover (%), bare ground (%), basal cover (%), and vegetation composition of native versus invasive, with particular focus on Tamarisk spp., Populus spp., and Salix spp. It is important to know the best practice for encouraging Montana native plant success in riparian zones. By understanding the effectiveness of herbicide treatment, the Yellowstone County Weed Department can utilize best land management practices in this important ecosystem.
Studying the Change in Sex and Reproductive Success of Silene acaulis Due to Early Snowmelt: A Pilot Study
Emma Hardy
The Global Observation Research Initiative in Alpine Environments (GLORIA) is a worldwide network that monitors climate-induced impacts on alpine ecosystems that currently includes over 130 sites spread across six continents. The effects of climate change are going to be felt first in high-elevation environments, therefore the GLORIA network seeks to provide both evidence of climate change and data for land management and mitigation efforts. In 2012, The Beartooth GLORIA site was established on four summits along the Beartooth Plateau in Wyoming. My study aims to monitor seven indicator species’ phenology by recording select plant phenophases along the Beartooth GLORIA summits.
In conjunction with the GLORIA phenology study, the indicator species, moss campion (Silene acaulis), which has unique hermaphroditic characteristics, will be studied more in-depth. This is the third year of GLORIA phenology monitoring in the Beartooths and the first year of Silene acaulis monitoring.
In many plant populations, flowering has advanced earlier in response to warmer temperatures caused by climate change. This could have potential effects on the reproductive success (and consequently the persistence) of important alpine plants, like Silene acaulis. Flowering phenology can influence the reproductive success of a plant through direct abiotic or indirect biotic factors associated with seasonal fluctuations. Silene acaulis is a gynodioecious plant, which is a breeding system that entails the co-occurrence of hermaphrodites and females in a population. In some plant species, female and hermaphrodite reproductive investments respond differently to environmental severity.
The Silene acaulis pilot study will focus on two questions:
(1) Will early snowmelt due to climate change affect the reproductive success of female and hermaphrodite Silene acaulis plants in different elevations and aspects in the Beartooth Mountains?
(2) Will early snowmelt affect the average sex of Silene acaulis plants in different elevations and aspects across years?
In conjunction with the GLORIA phenology study, the indicator species, moss campion (Silene acaulis), which has unique hermaphroditic characteristics, will be studied more in-depth. This is the third year of GLORIA phenology monitoring in the Beartooths and the first year of Silene acaulis monitoring.
In many plant populations, flowering has advanced earlier in response to warmer temperatures caused by climate change. This could have potential effects on the reproductive success (and consequently the persistence) of important alpine plants, like Silene acaulis. Flowering phenology can influence the reproductive success of a plant through direct abiotic or indirect biotic factors associated with seasonal fluctuations. Silene acaulis is a gynodioecious plant, which is a breeding system that entails the co-occurrence of hermaphrodites and females in a population. In some plant species, female and hermaphrodite reproductive investments respond differently to environmental severity.
The Silene acaulis pilot study will focus on two questions:
(1) Will early snowmelt due to climate change affect the reproductive success of female and hermaphrodite Silene acaulis plants in different elevations and aspects in the Beartooth Mountains?
(2) Will early snowmelt affect the average sex of Silene acaulis plants in different elevations and aspects across years?
Nesting Behavior of Snapping Turtles in Prairie Streams
Johanna Royer
Understanding the nesting behavior and nest habitat preferences of snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina) is crucial to understand the potential for anthropogenic landscape modifications to affect populations. Building on previous YRRC research, I will be monitoring the nesting behavior of snapping turtles on a prairie stream this summer. The primary research goals are: 1) Examine differences between habitat characteristics (slope, aspect, plant coverage, substrate) of sites that turtles choose for nesting and random sites. 2) Assess nest site fidelity.
One of our observations suggests that nesting activity is more likely during or after rainfall. Matching the days when turtle activity and nesting has been observed with precipitation and temperature data, I plan to analyze if there is a significant relation between the occurrence and magnitude of rain events and nesting activity in our observed turtle population.
Placing temperature loggers in nests and at random sites also gives me the opportunity to compare incubation temperature data to random sites. As snapping turtles are a species with temperature-dependent sex ratios, this data is especially valuable and has been collected for several years. By analyzing soil samples from previously confirmed nest sites I hope to add another layer of information about the studied nest sites.
I am excited to continue this first ever study on prairie stream dwelling snapping turtles in North America and hope to contribute by combining field work with data analysis in order to find out more about these fascinating reptiles!
One of our observations suggests that nesting activity is more likely during or after rainfall. Matching the days when turtle activity and nesting has been observed with precipitation and temperature data, I plan to analyze if there is a significant relation between the occurrence and magnitude of rain events and nesting activity in our observed turtle population.
Placing temperature loggers in nests and at random sites also gives me the opportunity to compare incubation temperature data to random sites. As snapping turtles are a species with temperature-dependent sex ratios, this data is especially valuable and has been collected for several years. By analyzing soil samples from previously confirmed nest sites I hope to add another layer of information about the studied nest sites.
I am excited to continue this first ever study on prairie stream dwelling snapping turtles in North America and hope to contribute by combining field work with data analysis in order to find out more about these fascinating reptiles!
Seasonal Water Quality Changes in the Bighorn and Yellowstone Rivers
Kalon Sheldon
This summer I will be conducting bi-monthly water quality sampling on the Bighorn, and Yellowstone Rivers. This sampling effort is aimed towards observing the changes in water quality during high and low flows. This study will take place from April to October which will also provide insight into the changes experienced during times of high and low macrophyte populations and capture periods with and without irrigation I will be sampling 10 locations on the Bighorn, three tributaries, and one site within the Bighorn reservoir (four different depths). I have also selected eight different sites along the Yellowstone for sampling.
Similar studies have been conducted since 2020, allowing me to use my data to gain an understanding of water quality changes over a longer period of time. My data may also allow insight into differences between a dammed and undammed river system. The water quality metrics I will measure are: chlorophyll, specific conductivity, dissolved oxygen, temperature, turbidity, blue-green algae. Most of these aspects will be collected with an EXO SONDE, I will also be taking nitrate, nitrite, and phosphorous measurements through the use of grab samples analyzed by Energy Labs.