Studying Treeline to Assess Climate Change By Jasmine McBeath Mentors: Dr. Lisa Graumlich Greg Peterson Erika Rowland

Overview of Climate Change Perceptible climate change during a single lifetime: Annual average surface air temperature 1 –14˚C from –14.5 ˚C in the 90s Other evidence 2 –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 “What is Climate Change?” Climate Change and Biodiversity. 2 Lovejoy, T “Recent Climate Trends.” Climate Change and Biodiversity.

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

Current Project Goal: 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

Step 1: Sampling Sites

Sites at Treeline Boundary from trees to plants Limited by water, temperature, nutrients

Mounted, prepared and sanded core samples Counted rings using microscope Step 2: Recording Data Tree cores

Microtomed samples Counted rings using microscope Step 2 Cont: Recording Data Seedlings 1mm Diagram modified from

Step 3: Analysis and Context Comparing climate to tree growth Example Site: Bitterroots, MT –Look at regional climate changes –Look at establishment patterns

Higher Temperatures, Longer Summers Climate context of site

Increasing Heat Climate context of site

Retreating Glaciers Climate context of site

More Snowmelt Climate context of site

Step 4: Our Data Analysis Tree Core

1mm Seedling Cores

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.