Transcript PowerPoint intro

Climate Change, Grass Phenology,
and Elk in the Yellowstone
Ecosystem
Paradise Valley,
Montana
http://www.cyclegreateryellowstone.com
http://www.picturenice.com
Elk Migration
http://www.nps.gov/yell/naturescience/northrng.htm
http://trib.com
Grass phenology affects elk migration
Phenology= timing of green-up (think spring!)
Elk follow green-wave of grass up elevation from spring to fall
http://billingsgazette.com
Early spring: green grass in low elevations and agriculture
http://wecanblaze.com/tag/foto-friday/
Mid Summer: Green wave starts to move up in elevation
https://www.facebook.com/EarthReins
Late summer: greenest grass is at high elevations
http://www.destination360.com
What will happen with Climate
Change?
-Earlier spring
-Shorter growing season
-What will happen with to the elk?
http://billingsgazette.com
Couch Potato Elk
http://durangoworldamerica.blogspot.com/2011/03/elk-bearing-down-on-man-in-picture-is.html
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http://bostinno.streetwise.co/2013/03/10/best-iphone-apps-for-fitness-iphone-apps-for-working-out-and-nutrition/couch-potato
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http://blog.julielubick.com/2010/10/29/paradise-valley-montana/julie_lubick_photo_47233-email
Piekielek 2012
http://www.ntsg.umt.edu/project/modis
This NDVI map
represents the timing
of the start of green-up
in this season.
Piekielek 2012
Does this help us understand elk
migration?
http://sev.lternet.edu/content/plant-line-intercept-transects
How do we know what stage of grass the elk are
eating? Chlorophyll
http://scienceprojectideasforkids.com/
2010/photosynthesis/
http://science-at-home.org/kid-question-why-is-grass-green/
Conducting elk scat transects
http://www.cees.iupui.edu/education/DSE/Wetland%20Exploration.htm
Will conduct a transect to count
total elk scat and the timing of greening
of grass that the elk are consuming at
6 different time periods
http://www.oldtimecandy.com/jolly-ranchers.htm
Jolly ranchers=elk scat
Pink= early greening grass
Blue= mid season greening grass
Purple=late season greening grass
Green= Agriculture
Directions:
1.) Assign a recorder, a counter , and a
collector.
2.) Go to flag and record the date on the
flag.
3.) Connect the two flags with the same
date with the string. Make sure the
string is in a straight line.
4.) Walk along the string, and count all the
jolly ranchers that are within arms
length from the center.
5.) Recorder should record the total
number of each color of Jolly Rancher
6.) Count up the total number of each
color and make a bar graph.
7.) Look at map and determine where the
elk in your transect are eating.
http://www.sdnhm.org
Discussion: How will climate change affect elk
migration?
http://www.thelastbestcabin.com/images/hm-cabins-for-rent-vacation-rentalmt.jpg
Who cares about Phenology?
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/Rocky_Mountain_Bull_Elk.jpg
http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/11/1110_hothomes/image/montana4.jpg
https://www.ourbank.com/FSB/media/img/rancher-montana-small.jpg
http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Events/2011-Yellowstone/i-g2j4ZMf/0/L/IMG2557-L.jpg