 Jami Belt, M.S. Wildlife Biology
Advisor: Paul Krausman
Funding Source(s):
Glacier National Park Fund
National Park Service
Project Duration: 2008- 2009
UM Project Affiliation: WBIO – Boone and Crockett
- Use observational data gathered at least 3 times per season during 1 hour surveys by volunteers (citizen scientists) to develop an estimate of abundance and distribution of mountain goats in Glacier National Park.
- Conduct a temporal population count ("mountain goat days") in mid- August at all survey sites to determine the efficacy of this approach as an annual population index. This will be done in conjunction with aerial mountain goat surveys to compare detectability of goats during ground and aerial methods.
- Enlist volunteers to conduct surveys at known talus habitat sites and to identify additional pika habitat to assess detectabilty of pikas
- Develop sampling protocols for volunteer- based long-term monitoring of mountain goats and pikas to detect potential climate change impacts
- Assess efficacy of observational data from volunteers as a means of developing population and distribution estimates.
I have mapped 36 mountain goat and 20 pika survey sites. I have trained 74 volunteers and 12 Glacier National Park employees as citizen scientists to survey mountain goats and pikas. To date citizen scientists have complete 134 mountain goat surveys (including at least one survey at 31 of the 36 mountain goat suverys sites during July/early August and one survey at 35 of the 36 mountain goat survey sites during "mountain goat days". I am aiming to have each site surveyed at least once more this season. I am developing a GIS-based viewshed analysis of each site to determine th portion of sutiable potential mountain goat habitat that is visible .
Surveys have been conducted 34 surveys at 13 of the 20 pika sites, but many of the pika sites have not been accessible until recently due to persistent snow covering their talus habitats. Citizen scientists have surveyed and documented 12 additional pika sites.
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