Pikas in Peril: Multi-Regional Vulnerability Assessment of a Climate-Sensitive Sentinel Species
Project ID: J8W07100025
Federal Agency: National Park Service
Partner Institution: Oregon State University
Fiscal Year: 2010
Initial Funding: $205,297
Total Funding: $364,573
Project Type: Research
Project Disciplines: Biological
National Park: Pacific West Region
Principal Investigator: Epps, Clinton
Agreement Technical Representative: Garrett, Lisa
Abstract: This is a collaborative project between the National Park Service (NPS) and Oregon State University (OSU) for the purpose of studying the genetic connectivity of pika populations in five NPS units. OSU researchers will use individual and population-based genetic analyses to systematically estimate genetic distances among individuals and gene flow among patches or populations in NPS units in two very different habitats (talus vs. lava beds). Genetic distances among individuals or gene flow among groups reflect (in part) the degree that individuals are related and that populations are interacting via dispersal. Thus, researchers will use variation in genetic distance or gene flow to infer how landscapes (e.g., dispersal barriers, habitat type) and distance influence dispersal within and between metapopulations of pika. Habitat-based models of landscape resistance to dispersal will be evaluated in a GIS and optimized by assessing correlation with genetic distances or gene flow estimates. This research will optimize resistance models separately in each park to determine whether dispersal rates vary with habitat type and to develop locally-appropriate connectivity models. This project will generate valuable data directly applicable to the core mission of NPS and the general public in addressing key questions associated with climate change and its impact on sensitive species.
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