Transcript The Alexander Resurvey Project and climate change

The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the
southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado
The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the
southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado
SETTING UP THE CONTEXT:
1. Climate change & its effects on organisms
2. Gordon Alexander’s 1958-1960 grasshopper
survey along an elevational gradient
3. Grasshoppers and Climate Change Activity
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/hopper/orthoptera_home.htm
Climate Change
Over the last century, global temperatures have increased by 0.74 + 0.18 C0
1.30 + 0.32 F0
(IPCC 2007)
Deviations from 1961-1990 average
Climate Change
Over the last century, global temperatures have increased by 0.74 + 0.18 C0
1.30 + 0.32 F0
(IPCC 2007)
Deviations from 1961-1990 average
The hottest 11 years on record
in order (since 1880)
2010
2005
1998
2003
2002
2009
2006
2007
2004
2001/ 2011
Warming temperatures may affect organisms in a
variety of ways
i. Phenology (timing of annual biological events)
ii. Distributions
iii. Local Extinctions
Phenology: The timing of annual biological events
For plants: first flush of leaves, first flowering or fruiting dates, when
leaves turn in the fall
For animals: breaking of hibernation or diapause, egg-laying dates,
timing of migration, when different life stages are reached
Warming temperatures may affect organisms in a
variety of ways
i. Phenology (timing of annual biological events)
ii. Distributions
iii. Local Extinctions
Higher elevations: median rate of 11m per
decade
Higher latitudes: median rate of 17 km per
decade
Chen et al 2011
Warming temperatures may affect organisms in a
variety of ways
i. Phenology (timing of annual biological events)
ii. Distributions
iii. Local Extinctions
The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the
southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado
SETTING UP THE CONTEXT:
1. Climate change & its effects on organisms
2. Gordon Alexander’s 1958-1960 grasshopper
survey along an elevational gradient
3. Grasshoppers and Climate Change Activity
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/hopper/orthoptera_home.htm
1958-1960 Gordon Alexander survey
NSF supported project ($25,000)
Goal: document species, distributions &
phenology of local grasshoppers
Don Van Horn
Don Van Horn
1958-1960 - Surveyed grasshoppers at
8 main sites (weekly basis, March-Sept)
Colorado
- Valmont Butte to weather station C1
(foothills to subalpine gradient)
- 1,615 m (5,300 ft) to 3,048 m (10,000 ft)
D1 C1
B1
A1
BOULDER
Chautauqua
Mesa
N
W
1958-1960 Gordon Alexander Grasshopper Survey
Alexander kept extensive field
notes for all weekly collecting
events at each site
- species present
- developmental stages
- abundance
Grasshoppers have 5 developmental stages before they become adults
1958-1960 Gordon Alexander survey
- 4 sites adjacent to weather stations
- A1- D1 Stations set up in the early 1950’s
(currently maintained by Niwot LTER)
D1 C1
B1
A1
BOULDER
Chautauqua
Mesa
Dr. John Marr
N
W
Founded INSTAAR
Mnt Research station
Gordon Alexander survey
Allow us to
- examine the effects of climate change on a community level
Single species studies: Most species advancing
Community level analyses: 25% not advancing
Parmesan & Yohe 2003; Parmesan 2007
- examine the effects of climate change at different sites
Provides
- detailed weather station data to correlate with changes in
phenology
The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the
southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado
SETTING UP THE CONTEXT:
1. Climate change & its effects on organisms
2. Gordon Alexander’s 1958-1960 grasshopper
survey along an elevational gradient
3. Grasshoppers and Climate Change Activity
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/hopper/orthoptera_home.htm
The effects of climate change on the grasshoppers of the
southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado
Students will work in one of four groups
-each group will be in charge of a given life zone
4. Grasshoppers and Climate Change Activity
i) How has climate changed along an elevational
gradient in the Rocky Mountains?
ii) How have grasshopper communities responded
to warming along the elevational gradient?
iii) How might grasshopper phenology be affected
by future estimates of climate change?
http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/entomology/hopper/orthoptera_home.htm
Each group will be responsible for processing the sampling data
associated each of the four sampling site (life zone)
Group 1
Chautauqua Mesa - 1752m (5750ft)
Plains
Gerald M. Fauske
Group 2
Station A1 - 2195m (7200 ft)
Foothills
Gerald M. Fauske
Group 3
Station B1 - 2591m (8500ft)
Montane
Gerald M. Fauske
Group 4
Station C1 - 3048m (10000 ft)
Subalpine
Gerald M. Fauske