BRD Activities in Montana
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BRD Activities in Montana |
- In cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Agricultural Research Service, the BRD is conducting
experiments on the use of prescribed fires to enhance biological control of leafy spurge, an exotic pest plant found
throughout the northern Great Plains. Results of these studies will benefit ranchers as well as State and Federal land
managers.
- The Grasslands Initiative is under way to assess the biological resources of the Great Plains and to share information
that helps ensure survival of native plants and wildlife, while accommodating economic activity. The Initiative is a
partnership among BRD and other Department of Interior bureaus, Federal and State agencies, and private
organizations in Montana and 12 other Great Plains states.
- BRD scientists are investigating contamination from ore deposits in the upper Clark Fork River in western Montana.
Evidence of contaminants has been found in invertebrates and fish. This study traces the path of various heavy metals in
the food chain and their effect on survival, growth, and behavior of rainbow trout.
- The Gap Analysis Program (GAP) is a national program that uses geographic information systems to integrate satellite
imagery with other data sources in mapping the diversity of plants and animals. In Montana, GAP activities are
conducted by the BRD in collaboration with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, the Department of
State Lands, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, the Montana State Library, and the Montana
Natural Resource Information System. Others involved are the Natural Heritage Program, the Bureau of Indian Affairs,
the IBM Corporation, and the University of Montana.
- At the University of Montana in Missoula, the BRD is studying the effects of habitat fragmentation on grizzly bear
populations. As areas of Montana are developed and wildlife habitat becomes fragmented, grizzly bear populations
may decline.
- A BRD veterinarian is stationed at Bozeman, Montana, to provide dedicated technical assistance regarding brucellosis
in bison and elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. This individual is also a member of the Technical Committee of
the Greater Yellowstone Interagency Brucellosis Committee.
- Aquatic scientist are assessing mining waste impacts on Federal lands in Montana and Idaho. Results of these studies
will be used to direct restoration efforts on lands managed by the Department of the Interior. This project is a
cooperative effort of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the
U.S. Geological Survey, and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe.
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Last Updated: Wednesday, 09-Apr-2003 07:22:54 MDT
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