Sierra forests and wildlife will feel impact of climate change
source: http://www.tahoedailytribune.com/article/20080616/NEWS/361739819/1068/NEWS&parentprofile=-1
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- JanforGore
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The Sierra Nevada has been characterized as the “canary in the coal mine,” or early alarm for deleterious effects of rising temperatures resulting from climate change, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
But all parts of the Sierra won’t be treated equally. Despite Truckee-Tahoe’s more northern latitude, the area likely will be hit harder than the taller mountains to the south.
“The area around Tahoe and Donner Summit, for example, would be more affected than Kings Canyon,” said Josh Viers, an assistant research ecologist at the University of California, Davis.
And so Tahoe National Forest has been picked as an open-air laboratory for climate change — a focal point in a global issue — with researchers from academic bodies, conservation groups and the Forest Service gleaning whatever they can learn from the surrounding woods.
“When I started, I was a naysayer, ready to poke holes in global warming,” said Carol Kennedy, the watershed project manager for the Tahoe National Forest. “I don’t poke holes anymore.”
Retreating trees
Perhaps easiest to predict and already in progress in some cases is the steady retreat of vegetation away from rising low-elevation temperatures and toward ever-shrinking snow melt, Viers said.
However, not all species and ecosystems will move at the same rate, he said.
“What has been documented at higher elevation is the leading edge is moving up much slower than the trailing edge, and species are feeling the squeeze,” Viers said. “In practice, the ponderosa pine is pretty hard hit.”
But all parts of the Sierra won’t be treated equally. Despite Truckee-Tahoe’s more northern latitude, the area likely will be hit harder than the taller mountains to the south.
“The area around Tahoe and Donner Summit, for example, would be more affected than Kings Canyon,” said Josh Viers, an assistant research ecologist at the University of California, Davis.
And so Tahoe National Forest has been picked as an open-air laboratory for climate change — a focal point in a global issue — with researchers from academic bodies, conservation groups and the Forest Service gleaning whatever they can learn from the surrounding woods.
“When I started, I was a naysayer, ready to poke holes in global warming,” said Carol Kennedy, the watershed project manager for the Tahoe National Forest. “I don’t poke holes anymore.”
Retreating trees
Perhaps easiest to predict and already in progress in some cases is the steady retreat of vegetation away from rising low-elevation temperatures and toward ever-shrinking snow melt, Viers said.
However, not all species and ecosystems will move at the same rate, he said.
“What has been documented at higher elevation is the leading edge is moving up much slower than the trailing edge, and species are feeling the squeeze,” Viers said. “In practice, the ponderosa pine is pretty hard hit.”
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- groups:
- Green, Earth and Science
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- tags:
- Green, Earth and Science, Environment, Climate Change, 5 more
