Published Papers by MPG Scientists

Biocrusts Lichen and Moss

The term biological soil crust (or biocrust) encompasses the diverse community of moss, algae, lichens, and cyanobacteria living within the top inch of soil. Biocrusts form in all terrestrial ecotypes, but people often overlook them in favor of larger species. Biocrusts stabilize the soil by aggregation, reducing erosion. They increase soil fertility by enhancing nutrient cycling. A healthy biocrust increases infiltration and plays a role in succession towards a diverse and functioning ecosystem. They are especially important in arid and semi-arid ecosystems.

Towards the goal of restoring land to healthy ecosystem function, we consider all facets of the land, not just the vascular plants that may inhabit it. Unaided, biocrusts may take from decades to a century to reestablish after degradation. We would like to determine the most effective and practical methods to restore biological soil crusts.

Research and updates found here include projects on moss, lichens, and biocrust as we delve into this charismatic and important part of the ecosystem.

Mammals

We seek to understand the distribution and abundance of mammals.  Several monitoring projects are underway. 

Elk- Elk numbers fluctuate through the year with herds of several hundred animals moving onto the ranch in the fall and winter.  Fewer elk stay around to raise their calves in the spring and summer.  We track herd size, the habitat they use for feeding, and the amount of biomass available to them for forage.  We are curious about how elk habits will change in response to changes in vegetation communities as restoration activities proceed. 

Bears- The lower elevation draws and drainages at MPG were de-vegetated by herbicide applications and sheep and cattle browsing.  As of the summer 2012, we have planted more than 30,000 trees and shrubs in these drainages.  The plantings will provide cover for animals using the draw bottoms as travel corridors between the upland forests and the floodplain forests.  Many of the shrubs we have planted, such as hawthorns, choke cherries, and serviceberry, will provide food for bears.  Our bear monitoring efforts seek to document how many bears we have now and where they travel. 

Click here for a link to a list of mammals we have seen and photos.

Click here for links to our best mammal footage.

We would like to do more small mammal research. Please contact us with ideas for collaboration.  (Click here to contact us.)

Avian Ecology

We seek to understand how birds use the habitats available and how that will change as we work to create more diverse plant communities.  We also host researchers that document migrations of raptors and songbirds across MPG. 

In this section of the research pages, you will find links to reports and updates from all the researchers involved with avian ecology, posted chronologically.  The links will show you more in-depth reports on our findings. The three main projects covered here are:

Songbird Counts- A grid of sampling points covers MPG with 560 points.  We visit each point 3 times a year, once in winter and twice during the songbird breeding season.  We record, by ear or by sight, all the birds near that point for 10 minutes. 

Songbird Banding- The University of Montana Bird Ecology Lab, UMBEL, runs several trapping stations at MPG as part of their regional songbird monitoring program.  UMBEL sets up very fine nets that are nearly invisible to birds in brushy habitats.  Songbirds fly into the nets and become entangled.  The researchers take the birds from the nets and affix a numbered band to their leg before releasing them. 

Raptor Research- The Raptor View Research Institute monitors raptor populations on MPG and counts raptors that migrate past MPG in the spring and fall.  Raptor View researchers have placed transmitters on osprey and golden eagles that use the Bitterroot Valley.