Assessing persistence of the American pika at historic localities in California's Northern Sierra Nevada

Abstract The American pika (Ochotona princeps) appears to have experienced a substantial upslope range contraction in the Great Basin in response to climate warming. In California, models predict range contraction, but whether the species' lower elevational limit has already shifted remains unc...

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Main Authors: Joseph A. E. Stewart, David H. Wright
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-12-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.220
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author Joseph A. E. Stewart
David H. Wright
author_facet Joseph A. E. Stewart
David H. Wright
author_sort Joseph A. E. Stewart
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The American pika (Ochotona princeps) appears to have experienced a substantial upslope range contraction in the Great Basin in response to climate warming. In California, models predict range contraction, but whether the species' lower elevational limit has already shifted remains unclear. We located and determined current occupancy at 19 historic pika localities in the northern Sierra Nevada of California, USA, in 2009–2012. We found that 17 localities were currently occupied by pikas at or near the original record location, while at 2 localities pikas appeared extirpated. No strong climate signal was detected in our data; however, the distribution of historic points does not allow us to rule out upslope range contraction in our region. Talus area was closely correlated with pika persistence, consistent with the application of metapopulation theory to pikas. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-de2b6755ed894e8d9ecb50bdeaa598e12025-08-20T02:36:23ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402012-12-0136475976410.1002/wsb.220Assessing persistence of the American pika at historic localities in California's Northern Sierra NevadaJoseph A. E. Stewart0David H. Wright1California Department of Fish and Game, North Central Region, Resource Assessment, 1701 Nimbus Road, Suite A, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, USACalifornia Department of Fish and Game, North Central Region, Resource Assessment, 1701 Nimbus Road, Suite A, Rancho Cordova, CA 95670, USAAbstract The American pika (Ochotona princeps) appears to have experienced a substantial upslope range contraction in the Great Basin in response to climate warming. In California, models predict range contraction, but whether the species' lower elevational limit has already shifted remains unclear. We located and determined current occupancy at 19 historic pika localities in the northern Sierra Nevada of California, USA, in 2009–2012. We found that 17 localities were currently occupied by pikas at or near the original record location, while at 2 localities pikas appeared extirpated. No strong climate signal was detected in our data; however, the distribution of historic points does not allow us to rule out upslope range contraction in our region. Talus area was closely correlated with pika persistence, consistent with the application of metapopulation theory to pikas. © 2012 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.220climate changeelevation rangeextirpationglobal warmingmetapopulationmontane
spellingShingle Joseph A. E. Stewart
David H. Wright
Assessing persistence of the American pika at historic localities in California's Northern Sierra Nevada
Wildlife Society Bulletin
climate change
elevation range
extirpation
global warming
metapopulation
montane
title Assessing persistence of the American pika at historic localities in California's Northern Sierra Nevada
title_full Assessing persistence of the American pika at historic localities in California's Northern Sierra Nevada
title_fullStr Assessing persistence of the American pika at historic localities in California's Northern Sierra Nevada
title_full_unstemmed Assessing persistence of the American pika at historic localities in California's Northern Sierra Nevada
title_short Assessing persistence of the American pika at historic localities in California's Northern Sierra Nevada
title_sort assessing persistence of the american pika at historic localities in california s northern sierra nevada
topic climate change
elevation range
extirpation
global warming
metapopulation
montane
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.220
work_keys_str_mv AT josephaestewart assessingpersistenceoftheamericanpikaathistoriclocalitiesincaliforniasnorthernsierranevada
AT davidhwright assessingpersistenceoftheamericanpikaathistoriclocalitiesincaliforniasnorthernsierranevada