2016 Projects

Climate Impacts on Mountain Goat Movements in Glacier National Park

Project Website - Luke Dittrich, Hannah Brown

Glacier National Park is often referred to as the "Crown of the Continent". It is located in western Montana and encompasses over 1,000,000 acres. The terrain in the park has been shaped by repeated glaciation; the resulting landscape complete with steep ridges, deep basins, and U-shaped valleys (Chadwick, 1977). The park contains diverse ecotypes, and elevations in the park range from roughly 1000 - 3000 meters above sea level. About 1/3 of the area of the entire park can be classified as alpine habitat, categorized by high elevations, persistent snowpack, extreme low temperatures, extensive frost coverage, high winds, and slow-growing, stress adapted plant communities (Chadwick, 1977). 

Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) have a native range in the Cascade and Rocky Mountain Ranges of the western U.S. between the latitudes of 43 and 63 degrees N (Figure 1.)(Fox et al. 1989). They prefer rugged, windswept, alpine ridges during winter months (Poole et al. 2009). Mountain goat space use is strongly correlated with escape terrain, as predation risk is a main concern for survival (Richard et al. 2014). This is terrain that is particularly rocky and steep, where predators are unable to follow. They generally move into steep and broken terrain when pursued by large mammalian predators, such as wolves (Fox et al. 1989). Forage availability and quality is an important factor influencing mountain goat habitat selection. During winter months, deep snowpack covers most of the summer foraging areas. (Fox et al. 1989). Goats tend to limit their movements in snow to save energy because unlike other ungulates, they tend to walk through snow instead of bounding over it (Richard et al. 2014). Mountain goat habitat association with escape terrain is higher in the winter months due to their limited movement abilities (Poole et al. 2009). 

Our GPS collar data comes from the mountain goats of Logan Pass, which is located fairly centrally in Glacier National Park. The goats at Logan Pass are increasingly subject to human interaction, and as a result they are a target for further study (NPS, 2013). Collar recorded location every two hours between 11/3/15-5/28/16 for four different goats. Weather data was acquired from collection stations located within the park. Our project is primarily focused on temperature. We ask, “How is mountain goat space use influenced by temperature"? We analyzed distance traveled, area of goat range, elevation changes, slope changes, and vegetation cover at different temperature points to determine if there is a direct correlation between temperature and goat movements in our acquired data.

Interpolating Climate Data in Yellowstone National Park

Project Website - Brooke Burrows, Fatima Aliyari

Interpolation is the process of finding a value between two points on a line or curve. This tool, interpolation, is not only useful in statistics, but is also useful in science, business or any time there is a need to predict values that fall within two existing data points. In this project different techniques of interpolation are compared and evaluated using ArcMap tools and extensions.

To find the best method of interpolation, we adopted two different policies. 
1- We excluded 3 of the air temperature stations and 1 of the precipitation stations and interpolated based on the remaining sites data. This enabled us to compare the interpolation results with recorded data in the excluded stations to see how well the interpolations are working.

Spatial Analysis of Land Cover and Land Use Changes within the Upper Antigua Watershed in Veracruz, Mexico

Project Website - Jake Salcone, Kathryn Powlen

This webpage was created to present a spatial analysis of land-cover and land-use changes within the Upper Antigua watershed, in Veracruz, Mexico. This watershed, along with two similar watersheds within Veracruz, are currently being studied by an interdisciplinary team of Mexican and American researchers, via the support of an NSF Coupled Nature-Human Systems (CNH) Grant.  The goal of the NSF project is to evaluate the hydro-ecology of the watersheds and the socio-ecological impacts of a payment for watershed services program.  This spatial analysis evaluates changes in forest cover within two sub-basins (Pixiquac and Gavilanes) of the Upper Antigua watershed before and after the payment program was initiated. SPOT and Landsat imagery since 1993 are used to identify deforestation trends.  A comparison is made between areas that receive payments and areas that do not.

Modeling Riparian Zones within the Colorado River Basin

Project Website - Kevin McCartney, Sean Frey, Alyssa Anenberg

This study aims to provide a preliminary analysis of potential riparian zones in the Colorado River Basin. Topographic data will be used to create a stream network for the Colorado River. A Maxent model will be fit with existing US Fish and Wildlife Service riparian data and topographic indices. Further data will be acquired from the US Geological Survey and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service. Relative probability rasters produced from this model will be validated with ancillary soils data and high-resolution aerial imagery. Eventually, topographic indices that are determined to be correlated with the presence of riparian zones in the Maxent model will be incorporated with spectral indices derived from remotely sensed imagery in future modeling efforts. Ultimately this model can be used to evaluate perennial and seasonal riparian vegetation cover across the study area, and to evaluate native versus invasive woody vegetation in the riparian zones.

Predicting the Potential Distribution of Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in the United Stated using Maxent Model

Project Website - Tosapol Dejyong, Subashini Subbaiah

We investigated the potential distribution of Spotted Lanternfly in the US using MaxEnt model. Our study found the potential risky places in the US are the midwest and mid-atlantic regions based on the climatic factors that are favourable for the species to thrive. Based on this study, it is evident that the economic importance of the crops are at risk. Our investigations can help the land managers prioritize resources and minimize damages and also establish a first line of defence against this invasive species before they become established. Also our study will provide awareness among the general public on this distinct and sedentary insect.

Spatial Distribution of Water Budgets Across the Platte River Watershed in Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska

Project Website - Trevor Keevil, Francisco Garcia Albarido Guede

This project examined the spatial distribution of water budgets across the Platte River Watershed in Colorado, Wyoming, and Nebraska. The comparison of hydrologic raster models of water input and output in this area established a quantitative method for evaluating differential distribution of water resources. The results from this project suggest that during 2015 a majority of the Platte River Watershed had a positive water balance. However, a few areas primarily situated near riparian grasslands or water bodies had a negative water balance. Understanding and modeling variations in a watersheds water balance has valuable applications for managing and maintaining local environmental conditions.

Similar to this study, recent ecological analyses have identified riparian woodland habitats in the Platte River Basin as at risk environments. This is commonly attributed to anthropogenic factors from intensive damning of the upper river portions, expansive irrigation farming and industrial and domestic water use altering the overall water balance (Davis et al., 2006). These changes in hydrologic cycle across the Platte River Watershed have altered riparian grassland habitats and overall stream water flow. Unfortunately, these environments provide an important habitat for multiple endangered species, including whooping cranes, interior least terns, piping glovers, and pallid sturgeons (National Research Council, 2004). The interpretations from this project and previous analyses suggest that resources should be invested to preserve and maintain these at risk habitats in order to mitigate any future habitat degradation.

Updated: August 29, 2009 © 2009 All Rights Reserved.
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80522 USA