Publications
Exploring Peace within the Cognitive-Affective Structure of the Destination Image of Glacier National Park
Peace designation significantly influences the destination image of Glacier National Park (GNP), a component of Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park, by shaping visitors' affective experiences and behavioral intentions. A conceptual model tested with survey data from 379 park visitors revealed that natural environment, social atmosphere, peace designation, and infrastructure collectively impact the affective image of GNP. Social atmosphere, peace designation, and affective image were key predictors of visitors' behavioral intentions, underscoring the potential for peace designations to enhance visitor engagement and management strategies in national parks.
Functional flows: an environmental flow regime benefits riparian cottonwoods along the Waterton River, Alberta
An environmental flow regime implemented in the Waterton River, Alberta, significantly benefited riparian cottonwoods (Populus trichocarpa and P. angustifolia) by increasing minimum flows and introducing gradual recession after spring peaks. The study found that these 'functional flows' enhanced tree growth and colonization, particularly by raising the minimum discharge from 0.93 to 2.27 m³/s. Tree ring analyses revealed improved growth patterns in established trees, while spatial distributions indicated that cottonwood colonization elevated with increased flow. Historical comparisons across four dam operation intervals—pre-dam, early post-dam, drought period, and environmental flow regime—highlighted the ecological benefits of regulated flows for riparian ecosystems.
Thermal tolerance of meltwater stoneflyLednia tumananymphs from an alpine stream in Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park, Montana, USA
Research on the meltwater stonefly Lednia tumana reveals critical insights into its thermal tolerance limits, with lethal temperature maxima (LTM) of 32.3 ± 0.28°C and 31.05 ± 0.78°C under acclimation temperatures of 8.5°C and 15°C, respectively. While these metrics did not show statistically significant differences, they suggest potential vulnerabilities to rising stream temperatures in alpine ecosystems. The study employed controlled water bath experiments to measure critical thermal maxima (CTM) and LTM, providing a foundation for assessing the impacts of climate change on this species, which is limited to glacial and snowmelt-driven streams in the Waterton–Glacier International Peace Park and a candidate for endangered species listing. Predicted chronic temperature maxima were 20.6°C and 20.2°C for the two acclimation treatments, underscoring the need for further research on long-term thermal effects.
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