Research to Make a Difference
UM’s wildlife biology professor Mark Hebblewhite helped solve the mystery of declining numbers of elk in the West Fork of the Bitterroot. Hebblewhite and his graduate students worked with MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks over the past three years to collar elk, study vegetation in the area and document calf mortality to figure out what’s killing the elk.
Local residents and wildlife biologists became concerned when elk numbers dropped by more than half from 2005 to 2009. Many residents figured wolves were to blame. Researchers found otherwise.
The researchers found that 36% of the elk calf mortalities were caused by mountain lions. Wolves killed just five percent of the calves.
“When we look at the number of elk calves that we can document were killed by wolves, the number is fairly insignificant,” says project co-leader Hebblewhite. “For instance, we didn’t have even one confirmed wolf kill this past year. Not to have even one out of 36 confirmed elk calf fatalities is shocking to me.” Read the full story in the Nov.-Dec. 2014 issue of Montana Outdoors.
Research Highlights
Largest research grant in UM history
In May, UM received a $45 million cooperative agreement award from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Three CFC faculty are working under the grant award: Libby Metcalf, Cara Nelson and Winsor Lowe, Director of Wildlife Biology.
New fish discovered
Professor Lisa Eby and wildlife biology PhD student Mike LeMoine discovered the Cedar Sculpin - a new fish species they found with partners from the U.S. Forest Service.
Professor named most influential scientist
Thomson Reuters compiled a list of the most influential names in science, based on the number of their papers cited by others in the field. Regents Professor of Ecology Steve Running made the list this year.
Research on support for elk management
Professors Libby Metcalf and Alex Metcalf conducted a study of Montana residents' willlingness to accept elk management actions to limit the spread of brucellosis. Their results were used by the state's Fish and Wildlife Commission.
Climate office provides data to the state
The Montana Climate Office, led by professor Kelsey Jencso, supplies the state with climate data through the Montana State Library and its official climate data layer.
