Dissertation Research: Climatic constraints on American pika distribution and abundance

论文研究：气候对美洲鼠兔分布和数量的限制

基本信息

批准号：
1011209
负责人：
Robert Guralnick
金额：
$ 1.5万
依托单位：
University of Colorado at Boulder
依托单位国家：
美国
项目类别：
Standard Grant
财政年份：
2010
资助国家：
美国
起止时间：
2010-07-01 至 2013-06-30
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1011209&HistoricalAwards=false
关键词：
Dissertation Research Climatic constraints American

项目摘要

The American pika is a small mammal that inhabits high-elevation rock slopes throughout the western United States. Reports that pika populations are declining in the Great Basin region have raised concerns that these populations may be particularly sensitive to climate change, in part because high-elevation ecosystems are disproportionately threatened by warming temperatures. Two years of preliminary data across 69 sites suggest that precipitation patterns impact pika distribution in the southern Rocky Mountains. This research will be extended through focused monitoring of climate and pika densities at 25 sites. Gene frequencies will be compared among pika populations to determine how climate and habitat may have constrained the dispersal of pikas across this region. The intellectual merit of the proposed research lies in its investigation of why climate is impacting the pika and similar sensitive species.This research will have several broader impacts. It will inform conservation efforts for the pika and other species that may be threatened by climate change. Mechanistic studies such as this are critical to developing the understanding needed for sustainable management of biological resources in a changing world. Second, undergraduate students will continue to play an integral role in this research. Finally, it will support develoment of a Colorado pika citizen science program that will empower local citizens to get involved in science and conservation.

美国皮卡（Pika）是一种小型哺乳动物，栖息在整个美国西部的高海拔岩石上。报道说，大盆地地区皮卡人口正在下降，这引起了人们对这些人群可能对气候变化特别敏感的担忧，部分原因是高海拔生态系统受到温暖温度的威胁不成比例。在69个地点进行了两年的初步数据表明，降水模式会影响南部落基山脉的皮卡分布。这项研究将通过重点监测25个地点的气候和皮卡密度来扩展。将比较皮卡种群中的基因频率，以确定气候和栖息地如何限制皮卡在该地区的分散。拟议研究的智力优点在于它对气候为什么影响皮卡和类似敏感物种的研究。这项研究将产生更广泛的影响。它将为皮卡和其他可能受到气候变化威胁的皮卡和其他物种的保护工作。诸如此类的机械研究对于发展不断变化的世界中生物资源的可持续管理所需的理解至关重要。其次，本科生将继续在这项研究中发挥不可或缺的作用。最后，它将支持科罗拉多州皮卡公民科学计划的发展，该计划将使当地公民能够参与科学和保护。