Digital Commons Network^™

Chmy 143n.00: College Chemistry Ii, Kimberly A. Stanek

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Hsta 101h.50: American History I, Jonathan W. Hall

University of Montana Course Syllabi, 2021-2025

No abstract provided.

Environmental Defense Center V. Bureau Of Ocean Energy Management, Eliot M. Thompson

Public Land & Resources Law Review

The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the district court’s grants of summary judgment and injunctive relief against BOEM for violating the ESA and CZMA. The Ninth Circuit found BOEM violated NEPA, CZMA, and the APA by failing to adequately consider the environmental impacts of well stimulation treatments. The Ninth Circuit also reversed the lower court’s grant of summary judgment against the Environmental Defense Center for their NEPA claims.

Umsgp The Emergency: A Sci-Art Facilitative Process And Collective For Um, Diana Six, Eric Jensen

University Grant Program Reports

Thanks to a UM Small Grant, over the last year we developed a scientist-artist collective to communicate pressing issues in ecology. The collective, called The Emergency, facilitated collaborations between scientists and artists to produce works to reach broad audiences in unique and effective ways on ecological problems in the Anthropocene.

Contributors, Honorable Mentions, Sponsors

The Oval

No abstract provided.

Montana Kaimin, April 27, 2023, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Optimizing Whole Genome Sequencing From Fecal Samples In Snowshoe Hares, Jessica J. Powell, Cynthia K.S. Ulbing, Tim B. Wheeler, L. Scott Mills

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Genomic analyses can provide powerful insights into important issues in conservation biology, including rapid estimates of overall genetic diversity and related population genetic parameters. Noninvasive DNA sampling, such as from fecal samples, is an affordable, efficient, and broadly applicable field collection method that has been utilized in many genetic analyses. However, the efficacy of whole genome sequencing from fecal samples collected under field conditions is relatively unexplored. Here, I will present initial results from an experiment designed to test the quantity and quality of genomic material obtained from snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) fecal pellets. A collaborative research program at the …

Behavior Prioritization In Drosophila, Erin Szalda-Petree, Ellis Mckean

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Animals must prioritize their needs to decide how to act in a way that meets their physiological needs and matches their environmental context. Since behaviors are often carried out at the expense of others, it is important to understand how these binary options are evaluated and prioritized in an animal’s nervous system. We aim to understand how internal states such as hunger are signaled to the brain. Further, we ask, how does an organism integrate multiple signals and ultimately decide how to respond? When a pair of Drosophila melanogaster males are placed in a small chamber with a high-quality food …

Role Of Riok3 In Innate Immunity, Hope Smelser

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

The cellular innate immune response is the first line of defense against viral infection. A robust response is necessary to fight infection, but an overblown response can kill the cell and damage surrounding tissue. Understanding how the innate response is regulated can elucidate better means of preventing and ending viral infections. Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), an RNA virus, is a pathogen of particular importance due to its deadly effects on domestic livestock and humans. Our lab investigates RVFV's effects on proteins involved in the cell's innate antiviral response. Although the precise roles of RIOK3 remain controversial, it has been …

Perceived Post-Graduate Job Prospects Of University Of Montana Wildlife Biology Students, Andrew C. Marriner

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Perceived Post-Graduate Job Prospects of University of Montana Wildlife Biology Students.

The wildlife biology job growth over the next decade is projected to be 1% (US Bureau of Labor Statistics 2022). In courses and through personal experiences students are made aware of the challenges of pursuing a career in this field. I want to determine the perceived post-graduate job prospects current UM Wildlife Biology students hold. Do current students have a positive or negative perception of their job outlook? Further, I want to determine how well students think they have been prepared for a career in this field by our …

Out Of The Frying Pan And Into The Fire: How The Presence Of Hunters Affects The Diel Activity Patterns Of Ungulates In Lubrecht Experimental Forest., Shawn M. Parsons

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Diel activity patterns of large mammals are shaped by predator-prey dynamics but can also be adapted to the species’ environment. The avoidance of predation risk by prey in both space and time can affect predator-prey overlap and reduce risk of mortality. Here, I examine if rifle hunting affected the diel activity patterns of ungulates in Lubrecht Experimental Forest, Montana. I deployed 30 infrared wildlife remote cameras across 29 different sites using a stratified random design over three months before, during, and after the Fall 2022 Montana rifle hunting season. Using timestamps from these photos, daily activity patterns were tracked for …

Comparing Differences For Non-Introgressing Genes In Chickadees, Eliana Lowe, Scott A. Taylor, Georgy Semenov, Rena Schweizer

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Hybridization between species plays a very important role in the overall evolutionary history of many taxa. The study of hybrid zones can also provide insight into how species are responding to environmental factors such as climate change and changes in species interactions. The hybrid zone between the northern black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) and the southern Carolina chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) provides an insight into how hybridization is affecting two distinct species. As climate change worsens and Carolina chickadees are pushed more north to avoid sweltering temperatures, the hybrid zone is actively moving with them about 1 kilometer …

Metabolic Versatility In Melainabacteria, A Close Relative Of Cyanobacteria, Sophia Marie Miller, Kathryn Bick, Heidi E. Abresch

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

A New Member of Melainabacteria, the Closest Relatives of Cyanobacteria

Melainabacteria are the recently discovered, closest non-photosynthetic relatives of cyanobacteria, the organisms responsible for the oxygenation of Earth's atmosphere. Previous work has shown that Melainabacteria live in a wide range of environments, including deep groundwater, anoxic sediments, and the digestive tracts of termites and mammals. These bacteria have been suggested to play a significant role in the latter environments and may contribute to neurodegenerative and gastrointestinal disease in human populations. However, our knowledge of Melainabacteria diversity and metabolism is still very limited, principally because no member of this group has …

Inhibitory Signaling From A Critical Hub Neuron Drives Behavior Selection And Frequency, Wyatt T. Ploot

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Both animals and humans must constantly make decision in dynamic environments. Situational assessment and appropriate response selection are crucial processes that determine the ability of an organism to survive and thrive, or fail and die. Understanding how the signaling by neurons and circuits ultimately lead to behavioral decisions is a critical question that may lead to the identification of mechanisms that address out-of-context behaviors. To understand how neurons send important information that leads to a behavioral decision, I am using the powerful genetic model, Drosophila melanogaster, and the choice to engage in aggressive behavior between males. My focus is …

Effects Of Warming And Drying On The Survival And Performance Of Giant Salmonfly Nymphs (Pteronarcys Californica), Kailie Todd, Jackson Birrell

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This study examines how warming and drying affect the performance and survival of giant salmonfly nymphs (Pteronarcys californica), which are important economically, ecologically, and culturally throughout the mountain west. My experiments were motivated by a dam malfunction that occurred in late November 2021 on the Madison River in Montana that caused the river to dry rapidly downstream of the dam and reduced flow by 70% for 50 hours. The effects of such events on aquatic insects are unknown, and my experiments were designed to assess how long salmonfly nymphs could survive in still water as well as in …

How Do Zooplankton Communities In Gravel Pit Ponds Respond To Restoration?, Meredith Claire Eiden

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Zooplankton are microscopic organisms that are integral to food webs in aquatic environments, and their diversity and composition can serve as biological indicators of ecosystem condition and function. Studying zooplankton assemblages can provide a useful tool for practitioners working in restored ponds, yet they are often overlooked in restoration assessments. To examine zooplankton community recovery in gravel pit ponds, I first compared zooplankton communities in two gravel pit ponds near Fort Missoula while they were still owned by Knife River Construction (2015) and then after initial restoration actions were completed (2022). Second, I compared current zooplankton communities in these actively …

Mitochondrial Dna Diversity In West Mexico, Emma Zoiss

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Despite attempts at systematic research, we are still missing critical information about pre-Hispanic populations in the Aztatlán region, one of the least studied regions of pre-Hispanic Mesoamerica. The Aztatlán region is located in West Mexico and extends from Sinola to Jalisco, including regions in Durango, Michoacán, and Zacatecas. This research will focus on those individuals recovered from an archeological site referred to as Tizapán el Alto, located in the highlands of the Lake Chapala Basin. The integration of genetics into our understanding of the past affords a better understanding of the archaeological record, and broader context of the populations of …

Investigating Naïve Stem Cell Maintenance With Fbf Mutants In C. Elegans Germline, Deanna E. Cuello

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Stem cells are essential to establish tissue via proliferation and differentiation. We study stem cells of Caenorhabditis elegans germline as a model for development and differentiation. The distal tip cell (DTC) houses the stem cell niche which contains ~200 mitotically dividing cells. As germline stem cells move proximally the cells begin to differentiate while entering meiotic division (Austin and Kimble, 1987). Amongst the stem cells, previous research distinguished two populations, those that are naïve stem cells and others that are committed to differentiation (Cinquin, et. al, 2010).

We study stem cell regulation by two RNA-binding proteins, FBF-1 and FBF-2 that …

Ph Regulator Ae2 Is Important For Brain Development, Celia Elizabeth Keil

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly) is a model organism that undergoes many of the same processes for brain development that humans do. Work from our lab finds that pH regulation is important for brain development. The pH regulator, Ae2, is present at the cell membrane where it expels bicarbonate ions in exchange for chloride. Importantly, humans also express ae2 (SLCA4). It is not a well-studied protein, but low levels of SLCA4 are hypothesized to be associated with primary biliary cirrhosis. In other organ systems, the Ae2 exchanger was found to be important for development. Thus, we aimed to determine if …

The Role Of Serca In Neural Development And Brain Tumors, Hannah Madison Christman

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Ion channels are essential for neural function, playing a variety of necessary cellular roles including excitability, maintaining ion gradients, and volume control. While the role of ion channels in neurons is well-defined, much less is known about excitability in neural progenitor cells. Recently it has emerged that these neural precursors may be affected by channelopathies, indicating a critical role of ion channels in neural development. Using the model system Drosophila melanogaster (fruit fly), I investigated the role of the ion channel SERCA (sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ATPase). SERCA is a vital calcium ion pump located on the wall of the …

Bear Smart Um: Creating A University Campus Safe For Bears And Students, Kailie Blanco, Emily Cook, Ridley Hudson, Nieset Lefevre, Ellie Lowe, Josh Moyar, Kailie Todd

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

Bear Smart UM: Creating a University Campus Safe for Bears and Students

Biological Sciences

Universities nestled in the mountains across the globe like the University of Montana may find themselves dealing with human-bear conflict while lacking the proper resources to approach management. At UM, there has been an increase in bear activity over the past five years and it is expected to continue to increase. Developing a plan to prevent bear activity on campus is often costly, time-consuming, and tedious. Our student group’s solution includes two intertwining parts: A bear management plan and educational outreach surrounding bear safety. The recommendations …

Umcur 2023 Program Pdf

University of Montana Conference on Undergraduate Research (UMCUR)

This program includes the schedule for oral presentations and posters.

Montana Kaimin, April 13, 2023, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Ctr. For Biological Diversity V. United States Fish & Wildlife Serv., Ali Stapleton

Public Land & Resources Law Review

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the District Court of Arizona’s decision to deny a proposed mining plan becuase the operations exceeded the boundaries of a valid mining claim. The issue the court addressed is whether a permanent occupancy of waste rock and tailings on land, absent the discovery of valuable minerals, is a reasonable use related to mining activities. The Ninth Circuit decision effectively prevented mining companies from amending the 1872 Mining Law on the administrative record. Motions for a rehearing and a rehearing en banc were denied.

Montana Kaimin, April 6, 2023, Students Of The University Of Montana, Missoula

Montana Kaimin, 1898-present

Student newspaper of the University of Montana, Missoula.

Friends Of The Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum, No. 41, University Of Montana--Missoula. Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum

Philip L. Wright Zoological Museum (UMZM) Newsletters

Bring on the Biodiversity Data -- Museum Studies Certificate Program Starting This Fall -- Passion for Parasites -- 2023 Graslie Curiosity Interns: Ivie Carvo and Luke Johnson -- Redefining Identification Tecniques of Prey Remains in Merlins (Falco Columbarius) -- Who's in the Museum -- Museum Memories -- From the Curator

Arithmetic: Craft Or Art? A Recursive (Re)View Of Paul Lockhart’S A Mathematician’S Lament And Arithmetic, Jennifer S. Thom

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Paul Lockhart is a former computer programmer, elementary teacher, research mathematician, university professor, and somewhat more recently a K-12 mathematics teacher and author. Lockhart’s first written composition appeared two decades ago in 2002. All of 25 pages, his essay A Mathematician's Lament began like this:

A musician wakes from a terrible nightmare. In this dream he finds himself in a society where music education has been made mandatory ... Educators, school systems, and the state are put in charge of this vital project. Studies are commissioned, committees are formed, and decisions are made—all without the advice or participation of a …

Department Of Mathematical Sciences Newsletter, Spring 2023, University Of Montana--Missoula. Department Of Mathematical Sciences

Newsletters from the Department of Mathematical Sciences at UM

Nontraditional Math Majors / Elizabeth Gillaspy -- From Crayons to Co-Degree / Cory Palmer -- George F. Votruba 1934 - 2023 -- Notes from the Chair / John Bardsley -- GOALS 2022 at UM: Report on an International Workshop for Graduate Students / Patrick Kreitzberg -- Gloria Hewitt Featured on EvenQuads Card -- Jon Graham’s Other Job: Mathcounts Coach & Mentor / Matt Roscoe -- Would you like to try a Mathcounts Problem? -- Update on the Honor Roll of Donors -- Degree Recipients 2022-2023 -- Spring 2023 Scholarships & Awards -- Diana M. Thomas, BA '91, Wins Math Research …

2023 Friends Of The University Of Montana Herbarium Newsletter, Peter Lesica

Newsletters of the Friends of the University of Montana Herbarium

Reviving Interest in the MONTU Diatom Collection / Heidi Abresch -- Notes from the Board / Scott Mincemoyer -- What Good Are Herbaria / Peter Lesica -- Farewell to Shannon -- Introducing Giovanna Bishop -- MONTU Activities

Baking Up Mathematics A Review Of Eugenia Cheng’S How To Bake 𝝅: An Edible Exploration Of The Mathematics Of Mathematics, Katryne Dubeau

The Mathematics Enthusiast

Mathematics – the word alone can strike fear into the hearts of students, parents, and educators alike. This emotional response seems to be not only acceptable, but almost expected and, should you differ, then you are considered either a genius or a bit insane. “How could someone like math?”, they think.