Mountain Prairie

Geographic Perspectives

Mountain PrairieRegional NewsAnimals and Plants of the RegionRegional EcosystemsLive Maps and DataStatesRegional ThemesAbout the Node

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The Big Sky Institute at Montana State University is an interdisciplinary center dedicated to creating, applying, and communicating science-based knowledge. The BSI Ecological Informatics Lab brings together natural sciences, geographic information systems (GIS), statistics, modeling, information technology, and computational programming with a comprehensive goal of making ecological data more useful to society.

Mountain Prairie

MPIN header [Image: Aaron Jones, Big Sky Institute]

The Mountain Prairie Information Node is a collaborative project between the Big Sky Institute, USGS Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center, and other partners.

This site provides biological information organized by geography and by theme. Select from the categories below to get started.

	About the Node Read about the history of this regional NBII node and goals for the future.
	Animals and Plants of the Region Learn about the region's native biodiversity, including birds, invertebrates, mammals, plants, and species in need of conservation.
	Live Maps and Data Find maps and geospatial data related to carbon sequestration, butterflies and moths, whirling disease, and regional ecosystems.
	Regional Ecosystems Discover the Great Plains, Greater Yellowstone, Northern Rockies, and Prairie Pothole ecosystems.
	Regional News Read news articles related to regional natural resource issues.
	Regional Themes Explore regionally-significant topics such as carbon sequestration, climate, fire, invasive species, water, and wildlife disease.
	States Browse data and information organized by state.

Conferences of Interest

Mountain Prairie Region

Map of the 6-state Mountain Prairie Region
[Image: Aaron Jones, Big Sky Institute]

Mountain Prairie News

Media Advisory: Congressional Briefing: Thinking Regionally, Acting Locally [Mon Jul 19 15:05:05 EDT 2010]
Decision makers need a toolbox full of ideas to understand the large-scale impacts of their choices—to secure water for cities and wildlife, to adapt to climate change, to meet the nation's energy needs and to better conserve biodiversity. Scientists are developing new tools that help decision makers and the public understand the consequences of different choices at the scale of entire lands... Read more...

The fight for the Flathead [Tue Jul 13 18:49:30 EDT 2010]
During the Western Governors' Association meeting in Whitefish, Mont., journalists and dignitaries flew over the threatened landscape around Glacier National Park.... Read more...

Get the Buzz on Pollinators: [Wed Jun 23 16:01:27 EDT 2010]

It’s National Pollinator Week, and you can get the inside buzz on North America’s pollinators by listening to re-broadcast podcasts about the essential birds, bees, bats, and even beetles that pollinate your food and flowering plants, and make our wild areas beautiful and healthy. You can also find out about USGS research on our nation’s... Read more...

USGS Scientists Among Lead Authors Named for Next IPCC Report [Wed Jun 23 14:11:54 EDT 2010]
U.S. Geological Survey scientists Margaret Hiza Redsteer and Asbury (Abby) H. Sallenger have been named as lead authors in the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). “We are delighted to see Margaret and Abby’s selection to the IPCC’s Assessment Report,” said Matt Larsen, Associate Director for Water at the U.S. Geological Sur... Read more...

USGS Science Helps Disaster-Struck Communities Understand Flash Flooding [Tue Jun 15 06:47:10 EDT 2010]
The Little Missouri River in Southwest Arkansas experienced a flash flood Friday, with waters that rose over 20 feet in just 5 hours, killing 20 people. In response to this severe and unusual flooding the USGS deployed a team of scientists to document and study the flow and height of the floodwater as it coursed down the Little Missouri River and its tributaries.Related PodcastsScien... Read more...

Scientists to Discuss the Future of Water in Afghanistan [Fri Jun 11 09:00:00 EDT 2010]
Population growth in the Kabul Basin, Afghanistan, due in part to returning refugees, is estimated to lead to a sixfold increase in drinking water needs by 2057. The U.S. Geological Survey is working in partnership with the Afghanistan Geological Survey to address questions of future water availability.What: The USGS will present information on future water availability in Afghanistan based o... Read more...

Fargo Spared as Red River Rises Less Than Feared [Mon Mar 22 00:00:00 EDT 2010]
The North Dakota city avoided widespread flooding, but the lands around it were less lucky.... Read more...

Freeze Slows Thaw That Is Swelling Red River [Sat Mar 20 00:00:00 EDT 2010]
After packing more than a million sandbags and building miles of temporary dikes to hold back the surging Red River, Fargo, N.D., got lucky on Friday with a sudden drop in temperature.... Read more...

Democrats Wary As Two Senators Decide to Retire [Thu Jan 07 00:00:00 EST 2010]
Sudden decision by Sens Christopher J Dodd of Connecticut and Byron L Dorgon of North Dakota to retire shakes party leaders; sends signal that Pres Obama is facing perilous political environment that could hold major complications for midterm elections in 2010 and his own agenda; Dodd and Dorgan have decided to retire rather than wage uphill fights for re-election against possibly stronger Republi... Read more...

Where There?s Smoke ... There?s a Trade-In [Fri Dec 25 00:00:00 EST 2009]
As temperatures drop, efforts to curb pollution from burning wood are clashing with tradition.... Read more...

Echo Hawk Announces Signing Ceremony with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation []
Title:Echo Hawk Announces Signing Ceremony with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation Release Date: 4/8/10 4:10 PM Description: Washington, D.C. ? Assistant Secretary ? Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk today was joined by the Department of Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) employees, tribal leaders from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Na... Read more...

Recovery Act Savings Fund Four More Indian School Projects in Ariz., N.M., and S.D. []
Title:Recovery Act Savings Fund Four More Indian School Projects in Ariz., N.M., and S.D. Release Date: 4/29/10 10:18 AM Description: WASHINGTON, D.C. - Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Larry Echo Hawk announced today that savings in the Indian Affairs' American Recovery and Reinvestment Act construction projects will be used to start four additional high-priority school projects in Arizona, New... Read more...

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