Richard Sojda's Research Projects

Information Sheets

Migratory Birds

Habitat Quality, Climate, and Waterbird Fitness in Montane Wetlands

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge has initiated an adaptive resource management plan (Lower Lake plan) with the primary objective to return the submerged aquatic vegetation community to a historical composition observed prior to the construction of water control structures. Researchers at NOROCK are conducting a mark-recapture study, concurrent with the implementation of the Lower Lake plan, to quantify survival and recruitment for several species of waterbirds that utilize Lower Lake habitats for reproduction. This approach will provide a unique opportunity for the Refuge to advance understanding of montane wetlands and the migratory birds dependent upon them, while testing key assumptions of Refuge wetland management.

Trumpeter Swan Resources

The trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator) is the largest species of waterfowl in North America. The following Trumpeter Swan Resources are presently being modified and include 1) trumpeter swan mark recapture database-- designed to assist managers, biologists, and other interested parties in tracking the movements of neck collared swans, 2) time series analysis, and 3) models for supporting management decisions.

The regional node of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) develops natural sciences learning tools, and supports a large database of biological information on many species and issues throughout the Mountain Prairie information area, and develops decision support tools for a variety of projects including trumpeter swan research at NOROCK. On the web at: http://mpin.nbii.gov.

Modeling

Brine Contamination to Prairie Potholes from Energy Development in the Williston Basin

In the United States, the Williston Basin occupies 143,000 square miles and includes portions of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Superimposed over this landscape is the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) which includes critical wetland and grassland habitats of importance to breeding, nesting, and migrating waterfowl, and wetland and grassland birds. A potential impact of oil field activities on these important habitats is brine contamination from co-produced waters that leach from oil well reserve pits, injection wells, and transport lines. Previous studies have identified contamination of wetlands and groundwater resources, including drinking water aquifers, located on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), tribal, and public lands; and, numerous groups have expressed concern over the potential risk of contamination. Currently, the extent of such contamination across the Williston Basin is unknown, and there is a need for scientific-based information to assess this threat.

Risk Assessment and Decision Support System for Wildlife Friendly Wind Power

Wind energy development is emerging as one of the major controversial issues facing migratory bird management. The long term objectives of this research project are to develop a three dimensional conceptual model of how birds use important landscapes, collect data to validate the model (before development aspects), and then use a decision-support system to evaluate the effects of a wind energy project (after development aspects) on migoratory birds. This project is part of a Department of the Interior multi bureau effort (Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, and National Park Service).

Using Artificial Intelligence to Detect Bird Migration Events in NEXRAD Data

The goal of this project is to conduct research that allows scientist to distinguish between precipitation and birds in NEXRAD weather radar data which would lead to the development of a landscape model of bird migration that incorporates spatial and temporal components. Collaborative partnerships include the Department of Computer Science at Montana State University, the Department of Biological Sciences at University of Southern Mississippi, the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center, the USDI-Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (in association with the U.S. Department of Energy).

Investigations and Mapping of the Surficial Geology of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge and the Surrounding Centennial Valley

Near-surface surficial geology of Centennial Valley and Range controls near-surface ground water flow in this region. In this study, thermal anomalies shown by the thermal imagery will be examined and compared to possible geologic features controlling ground water discharge. Additionally, surficial geologic issues throughout the basin will be studied.

Modeling Wetland Communities Based on Groundwater Discharge as Predicted from Thermal Imagery and Geomorphology

Researchers and managers at Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge wish to more fully comprehend the effects of activities on the magnificent wetlands complex of this region. This project examines the ecological connections among specific vegetative communities and their relationships with groundwater discharge conditions that are, in turn, driven by the glacial and post glacial geomorphology of this spectacular high mountain valley. The Refuge is also a key research site because of USGS collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which must optimize water management for wetland birds in the Refuge in relation to agricultural water rights, cattle grazing, and wilderness values.

Restoring Montana’s Pothole Wetlands: Demonstration Sites and Adaptive Management

Pothole wetlands are some of the most valuable, yet most vulnerable, of Montana’s wetlands. Federal, state, and private programs are designed to conserve these wetlands through protection, restoration, and management. Collaborative research between NOROCK and its partners is intended to provide the science needed for an increasingly important and complex wetland conservation effort. This project will examine land use practices in relation to sedimentation, groundwater hydrology, wetland vegetation, and greenhouse gas emissions in wetlands.