studying treeline to assess climate change by jasmine mcbeath mentors: dr. lisa graumlich greg...
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Studying Treeline to Assess Climate Change
By Jasmine McBeath
Mentors: Dr. Lisa GraumlichGreg PetersonErika Rowland
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Overview of Climate ChangePerceptible climate change during a single lifetime:
• Annual average surface air temperature1
– 14˚C from 1961-1990– 14.5 ˚C in the 90s
• Other evidence2
– Rising sea levels– Decreased snow cover/retreating glaciers– Altered species’ distribution– Changes in the hydrological cycle and precipitation– Increased climate variability
• El Niño Southern Oscillation• North Atlantic Oscillation
1 Lovejoy, T. 2004. “What is Climate Change?” Climate Change and Biodiversity.
2 Lovejoy, T. 2004. “Recent Climate Trends.” Climate Change and Biodiversity.
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Biotic Effects
Altered biological interactions and ↓ biodiversity:• Human induced change:
– Fragmented habitats– Introduction of exotic species– Added chemicals– Altered climate
• Migration response toward the poles and upslope• Birds, marine animals, insects• Reptiles and plants
• Studying the past reveals climate change and species’ migrations– Key organism: Trees
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Current ProjectGoal: Improve accuracy of climate change models
Methods:– Tree-ring analysis
• Age structure and establishment patterns
– Experiments on treeline seedlings• Seedlings planted close to other trees, or under herbs• Microclimate altered with warming devices and watering
– Compare establishment patterns to climate patterns and species distribution
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Step 1: Sampling Sites
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Sites at Treeline
• Boundary from trees to plants• Limited by water, temperature, nutrients
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• Mounted, prepared and sanded core samples
• Counted rings using microscope
Step 2: Recording DataTree cores
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• Microtomed samples
• Counted rings using microscope
Step 2 Cont: Recording DataSeedlings
1mm
Diagram modified from
http://porpax.bio.miami.edu/~cmallery/255/255hist/255methods.htm
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Step 3: Analysis and Context
• Comparing climate to tree growth
• Example Site: Bitterroots, MT– Look at regional climate changes– Look at establishment patterns
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Higher Temperatures, Longer SummersClimate context of site
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Increasing HeatClimate context of site
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Retreating GlaciersClimate context of site
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More SnowmeltClimate context of site
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Step 4: Our Data Analysis
Tree Core
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1mm1mm
Seedling Cores
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Acknowledgments
I would like to thank Erika Rowland and Greg Peterson for their valuable input and guidance. I would also like to thank Dr. Lisa Graumlich and NASA for the opportunity to analyze this particular sample.