A Comparison of Wolf Depredation Sites in Areas With Migratory and Resident Elk

As large carnivores recover in many wilderness areas and mixed-use landscapes, wildlife management agencies must seek ways to minimize private property damage while maintaining viable populations. Although much is known about carnivore-livestock conflicts, drivers of these processes in the Northern Rocky Mountains are still emerging amid the dynamic conditions of recovering predator populations (gray wolves [Canis lupus] and grizzly bears [Ursus arctos horribilis]), declining elk productivity, and the re-distribution of migratory and resident elk subpopulations. There has been little research to date that examines the influence of fine-scale elk distribution and movements on patterns of livestock depredation. In this study, we analyze four years of cattle depredation data, two years of summer and fall wolf predation data (n = 4 wolves), and three years of elk movement data (n= 86 elk) to assess the influence of migratory and resident prey on the location and occurrence of wolf depredations on cattle. Wolves living in migratory elk areas face low densities of their preferred prey in summer, when elk depart for higher elevations inside Yellowstone National Park (YNP), while wolves living in the resident elk area have access to abundant elk year round. Wolves living in both areas have the potential to interact with several thousand head of cattle. We used logistic regression to compare the relative influence of landscape features on the risk of livestock depredation in the migratory and resident elk areas. Locations of wolf-killed cattle showed differences between the migratory elk area and the resident elk area. Depredation sites in the resident elk area were associated with habitats closer to roads and with high elk density, while depredation sites in the migratory elk area were associated with dens, streams, and open habitat away from the forest edge. Our findings indicate that knowledge of ungulate distributions and migration patterns can help understand and predict hotspots of wolf conflict with livestock

Pair Formation in Structured Populations

This issue was undated. The date given is an estimate.26 pages, 1 article*Pair Formation in Structured Populations* (Castillo-Chavez, Carlos; Busenberg, Stavros; Gerow, Ken) 26 page

Frequency Analysis of Equivalent Property-Damage-Only (EPDO) Crashes at Intersections

Traffic crashes are burdening societies with severe costs in terms of public health and economic loss. Intersection-related crashes are responsible for a large proportion of these losses due to their higher frequency and severity. Understanding the factors contributing to intersection crash frequency and severity is essential to mitigate their grave consequences. This study covered the analysis of roadway risk factors, influencing the frequency of equivalent property-damage-only (EPDO) crashes at intersections. The study included developing a negative binomial modeling framework to examine nine years of intersection crash records in the state of Wyoming. The modeling results revealed the key role of pavement friction in intersection safety and EPDO frequency. The findings also demonstrated that intersection location, grade, road functional classification, road surface type, the presence of guardrails, right shoulder type, and horizontal curvature all influence the EPDO crash frequency at intersections

Reducing Standard Errors by Incorporating Spatial Autocorrelation into a Measurement Scheme for Soil Carbon Credits

Several studies have suggested that geostatistical techniques could be employed to reduce overall transactions costs associated with contracting for soil C credits by increasing the efficacy of sampling protocols used to measure C-credits. In this paper, we show how information about the range of spatial autocorrelation can be used in a measurement scheme to reduce the size of the confidence intervals that bound estimates of the mean number of C-credits generated per hectare. A tighter confidence interval around the mean number of Ccredits sequestered could increase producer payments for each hectare enrolled in a contract to supply C-credits. An empirical application to dry land cropping systems in three regions of Montana shows that information about the spatial autocorrelation exhibited by soil C could be extremely valuable for reducing transactions costs associated with contracts for C-credits but the benefits are not uniform across all regions or cropping systems. Accounting for spatial autocorrelation greatly reduced the standard errors and narrowed the confidence intervals associated with sample estimates of the mean number of C-credits produced per hectare. For the payment mechanism considered in this paper, tighter confidence intervals around the mean number of C-credits created per hectare enrolled could increase producer payments by more than 100 percent under a C-contract

Reflection of Dietary Iodine in the 24 h Urinary Iodine Concentration, Serum Iodine and Thyroglobulin as Biomarkers of Iodine Status: A Pilot Study

Background: The iodine status of the US population is considered adequate, but subpopulations remain at risk for iodine deficiency and a biomarker of individual iodine status has yet to be determined. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a 3 day titration diet, providing known quantities of iodized salt, is reflected in 24 h urinary iodine concentration (UIC), serum iodine, and thyroglobulin (Tg). Methods: A total of 10 participants (31.3 ± 4.0 years, 76.1 ± 6.3 kg) completed three, 3 day iodine titration diets (minimal iodine, US RDA, (United States Recommended Daily Allowance), and 3× RDA). The 24 h UIC, serum iodine, and Tg were measured following each diet. The 24 h UIC and an iodine-specific food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) were completed at baseline. Results: UIC increased an average of 19.3 μg/L for every gram of iodized salt consumed and was different from minimal to RDA (p = 0.001) and RDA to 3× RDA diets (p = 0.04). Serum iodine was different from RDA to 3× RDA (p = 0.006) whereas Tg was not responsive to diet. Baseline UIC was associated with iodine intake from milk (r = 0.688, p = 0.028) and fish/seafood (r = 0.646, p = 0.043). Conclusion: These results suggest that 24 h UIC and serum iodine may be reflective of individual iodine status and may serve as biomarkers of iodine status

Fisher Consistency - the Evolution of a Concept: It's Hard to Get It Right the First Time

23 pages, 1 article*Fisher Consistency - the Evolution of a Concept: It's Hard to Get It Right the First Time* (Gerow, Ken) 23 page

Raptor Nest Use in Relation to Coal-bed Methane Development in Wyoming

More than 15,000 coal-bed methane (CBM) wells have been constructed over the past ten years in the Powder River Basin of northeastern Wyoming, USA. This development overlaps breeding territories of at least 19 raptor species, with largely unknown consequences to raptor nest use and success. Our objectives were to determine 1) temporal and spatial trends in raptor nest occupancy in relation to CBM development, and 2) local habitat characteristics that may mitigate disturbance caused by energy development. Using nest locations for 19 raptor species and the locations of CBM wells constructed in the Powder River Basin from 2003-2011, we quantified the level of energy development impact to each nest. Then, using associated nest use data, we compared the nest use of impacted and non-impacted nests. Preliminary analysis showed that raptor nest use (for all species pooled) decreased as CBM well development occurred at closer proximities to the nest, and nest use gradually increased with time since initial well construction. At the species level, red-tailed hawks (Buteo jamaicensis), great-horned owls (Bubo virginianus), golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) and ferruginous hawks (Buteo regalis) exhibited patterns similar to those described above; however, the effect of CBM development may be influenced by local topography and habitat type. Our results will assist land managers seeking to balance the needs of raptor populations with energy extraction activities, and provide insight into species-specific tolerance levels for disturbance associated with energy development. Jason Carlisle, Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Zoology and Physiology, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3166, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071 [email protected]