Occurrence & Persistence of American Pika in a Climate-Altered World
The American pika (Ochotona princeps) is a small herbivorous mammal that inhabits boulder fields in the mountains of western North America. This species is very sensitive to high temperatures and is already being adversely affected by global warming. In association with Kevin Shoemaker, graduate student Mia Goldman and Hall Cushman are working with Jane Van Gunst of the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) to quantify the biotic and abiotic factors that predict the occurrence and persistence of pika populations in the talus slopes of northwest Nevada. Although pikas are renown for inhabiting high-elevation environments, often living above tree line, they also found in low-elevation regions of the Great Basin and our group is focusing its work in these hotter and more arid portions of pika’s range.
A wide range of factors, operating at different spatial scales, may enhance or detract from the occurrence and persistence of pika populations. These factors include topographic and spatial variables such as talus patch size and distance to nearest occupied sites, climate change, and vegetation characteristics within and surrounding pika territories. The spatial arrangement of existing pika territories may also be an important predictor of the occurrence and persistence of this imperiled species. Understanding the importance of these factors, and the scales at which they operate, will be critical for accurately documenting the conservation status of pikas and developing appropriate management actions.
We are using a six-year inventory and monitoring database to address these and other questions. We are also collecting data on the vegetation surrounding occupied and unoccupied talus patches to better understand the importance of plant community composition – and the relative abundance of native and exotic species – in predicting pika occupancy, persistence and recolonization.
A wide range of factors, operating at different spatial scales, may enhance or detract from the occurrence and persistence of pika populations. These factors include topographic and spatial variables such as talus patch size and distance to nearest occupied sites, climate change, and vegetation characteristics within and surrounding pika territories. The spatial arrangement of existing pika territories may also be an important predictor of the occurrence and persistence of this imperiled species. Understanding the importance of these factors, and the scales at which they operate, will be critical for accurately documenting the conservation status of pikas and developing appropriate management actions.
We are using a six-year inventory and monitoring database to address these and other questions. We are also collecting data on the vegetation surrounding occupied and unoccupied talus patches to better understand the importance of plant community composition – and the relative abundance of native and exotic species – in predicting pika occupancy, persistence and recolonization.
