Citizen science project in the high alpine underway
By Geoff Morgan Friday June 05, 2009
Jami Belt, a Master’s degree student at the University of Montana, will conduct a high country citizen science project in Glacier National Park this spring and summer. The high country project will consider the effects of climate change in population demographics of pikas, Clark’s nutcrackers and mountain goats in the high alpine.
Belt’s study is calling on citizen scientists from all walks of life to participate and volunteer for the project. A citizen scientist can be any member of the general public interested in attending a training session and volunteering throughout the summer months. Last year the project boasted 86 volunteers -a number the national park is hoping to maintain this and next year. Educational programs for volunteers with the citizen zcience projects will be held June 8-20.
The project is being sponsored by the Glacier National Park Fund, which is non-profit philanthropic partner of Glacier National Park. The fund supports “priority projects” within the park.
Belt’s high country project presents a few logistical problems: as the study considers species that make their homes in the high alpine, only a short window -through the summer months- exists for monitoring the animals in question.
All three animals considered by the project (pikas, Clark’s nutcrackers and mountain goats) need to be monitored at high elevations. As a result, Belt and her team of volunteers await the melt of winter snows each spring, and must complete their data collection by early autumn.
Photographs and GPS data will be obtained to create a database for each of the three species. Officials affiliated with the project in Glacier National Park are hopeful the data compiled in the study provides useful information on the effects of climate change to species in the high alpine.
Climate change, says Belt, will affect these three species in different ways and therefore the project has identified separate objectives for each of the animals. In one instance, there is concern that pikas might soon be extirpated from the park, while concern also exists that Clark’s nutcrackers might disappear as their food source -the whitebark pine- declines.
Pikas have been known to live at elevations from the high alpine all the way down to sea level. In the high alpine, the animal lives among talus. Talus is a geological formation of small and larger rocks locked in place, much like shale.
“Pikas in general are a species of concern because they are sensitive to warming temperatures,” says Belt.
Clark’s nutcrackers pose a similar problem in Glacier. The birds use the seeds of whitebark pine trees for nourishment, however, the prevalence of blister rust in these trees is quickly destroying the food source, says Belt.
The mountain pine beetle also threatens the whitebark pines, but argues Belt, the major problem in Glacier is blister rust. According to Belt, the population of whitebark pine trees has already declined by 50% in Glacier. An interesting twist in this case: the trees need the birds, just as the birds need the trees.
This poses a double threat for the park’s ecosystem; the Clark’s nutcrackers might exit the park in search of new food, and if that happens, the park’s whitebark pine trees will be in great danger.
This may seem counterintuitive, but the whitebark pine trees need the Clark’s nutcrackers to feed on their seeds, and in so doing, spread the seeds throughout the park.
Finally, the study will consider mountain goats.
The last estimate on mountain goat population and distribution in Glacier was compiled 30 years ago, says Belt. The new study will reconsider the abundance and distribution of mountain goats across the park. The goats generally live at elevations in excess of 4,500 feet, and inhabit regions Belt described as “escape terrain.” The goats prefer ledges, cliffs and rocky outcroppings to inhabit -predators find these locations difficult to access.
If you are interested in volunteering with the High Country Citizen Science Project, contact Belt through Glacier National Park.
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