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Transformation in Rocky Mountain National Park: The Effects of Climate Change and Human Intervention - Softcover
As Rocky Mountain National Park celebrates its 100th year anniversary in 2015, reflection on the past century reveals a recent transformation that is occurring. A warmer and drier climate across the West has contributed to this transformation. Record drought over several years including higher summer and winter temperatures, have favored some species in the park, but have harmed others. Rocky Mountain has experienced an unprecedented outbreak of mountain pine beetle infestation that has killed upwards of 70 percent of adult pine trees on the western side of the Continental Divide. The infestation has also killed thousands of pine trees on the eastern side of the park, but there the infestation has been less severe. Chapters in this book discuss in detail how higher temperatures have favored the winter survival of the pine beetle, thereby increasing its numbers and how drier summers have decreased the defenses of pine trees against the lethal attacks. The trend toward a warmer and drier climate has advanced the timing of spring snowmelt by two weeks, leaving many ecosystems with little water during the warmest months of the year, influencing the potential for severe forest fires. Distribution of the diminutive pika has been affected in the alpine regions of the Rocky Mountains as a result of climate change. Riparian ecosystems in the park already heavily damaged by decades of over browsing by elk are further compromised by the drier climate. This work explores many of the challenges to wildlife habitats in Rocky Mountain occurring from climate change and past management policies. There is no other book that spans the many environmental issues that have transformed the park and the current efforts of the Park Service to respond to these climate and manmade challenges in maintaining Rocky Mountain as a premier national park. The extensive information composing the eleven chapters of this work, make it a must read for anyone who values the park and wishes to understand the many challenges that are occurring there.
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About the Author:
Thomas Gootz spent his career in pharmaceutical research. He has contributed to over 100 peer reviewed publications in journals including Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy and the Journal of Biological Chemistry. Tom has applied his scientific training in biology to the study of wildlife and nature. He has also been very active in nature photography around the world, sharpening his skills as both a photographer and speaker. Tom has spent considerable time reading and learning about wildlife and he is committed to sharing his interests with others. He is particularly interested in the threats to our environment from global climate change. He is currently a director, Association for Responsible Development in Estes Park, Colorado.
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- PublisherThomas Gootz Consultants
- Publication date2014
- ISBN 10 0990430200
- ISBN 13 9780990430209
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages256
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