Can Wyoming’s wildlife keep pace with climate change? The case of the American pika.

Contemporary climate change threatens wildlife populations across the globe. In nearly every ecosystem, the places where species live and the likelihood that they will survive, are changing rapidly. In Wyoming, climate change is one of five conservation challenges identified in the State Wildlife Action Plan. Behaviors, which are immediately flexible, may provide animals with a way to keep up with novel dynamics. We examine how well temperature-sensitive wildlife can adjust to warming temperatures using the American pika as a model organism. Results of our work will inform ongoing agency efforts to conserve wildlife, and to prioritize conservation actions in the face of shifting climate.

Embere is a PhD candidate with the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at the University of Wyoming. She is interested in the ecological effects of climate change, and whether wildlife can adjust to new conditions. Prior to joining the Coop Unit, Embere served as the Research Director for the Conservation Research Center of Teton Science Schools in Jackson. She received her MS in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology from Iowa State University, and her BS in Wildlife Ecology & Management from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

This event is co-hosted with the Jackson Hole Bird and Nature Club. Food will be provided by Hole Food Rescue.

The Alliance Summer Speaker Series is sponsored by: